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PassAlong Powers Digital Song Store for USA Network's "Nashville Star"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 15, 2006 - 9:49am.
Franklin, Tenn. - PassAlong Networks, which operates legal music file-sharing services, announced on Wednesday that it will power a digital song download store for USA Network's country music reality TV series, "Nashville Star". The site will offer live recordings of contestants and guest star performances throughout the season. Tennessee-based PassAlong also operates digital music stores for Musicland and Procter & Gamble.
tags: Music | USA | PassAlong | Digital Song Store | Nashville Star |

Virgin Mobile USA Offers Exclusive Ringtones from Cash Money Records

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 26, 2006 - 8:27am.
Warren, N.J. - Virgin Mobile USA said on Thursday that it has partnered with Universal Music's Cash Money Records to offer exclusive ringtones from Cash Money artists. Through Virgin Mobile USA's "First Dibs" program, five ringtones from artists including Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh and Hot Boyz will be available exclusively to its subscribers through February.
tags: Mobile | Music | Ringtones | USA | Virgin | Records | Cash |

SNK Playmore USA to Ship "The King of Fighters Neowave" in March

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 26, 2006 - 8:23am.
Wall, N.J. - SNK Playmore USA, the U.S. arm of the Japanese video game publisher, said on Thursday that it will release "The King of Fighters Neowave" for Microsoft Xbox in March. The game supports online multiplayer gaming through the Xbox Live service.
tags: Games | USA | SNK | The King of Fighters Neowave |

Virgin Mobile USA Extends Mobile Content Deal With MTV Networks

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 9, 2006 - 5:01am.
Warren, N.J. - Wireless network operator Virgin Mobile USA said on Monday that it has extended its partnership with MTV Networks, and will provide additional exclusive mobile content from MTV and Comedy Central. Under the deal, Virgin Mobile USA will become the exclusive carrier for "Total Request Live" and "Direct Effect" branded mobile content, and will continue to offer non-exclusive mobile content from other programs like "The Daily Show."
tags: Deals | USA | Mobiles | Virgin Mobile | MTV Networks |

Humax USA Portable Media Player to Offer DirecTV 2Go

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 3, 2006 - 7:57am.
Las Vegas - Humax USA, the U.S. arm of the Chinese consumer electronics maker, announced on Tuesday that it has developed a hard drive-based handheld portable media player, which will initially be utilized for satellite TV operator DirecTV's DirecTV 2Go service. The device features a 4-inch LCD display, and can connect directly to digital video recorders for transfer of recorded TV shows. Humax USA did not provide pricing details for the Portable Media Player, which it plans to release later this year at retail, in addition to deployment through DirecTV.
tags: DirecTV | USA | Media Player | Portable | Humax |

Motricity to Power Mobile Game Community for Virgin Mobile USA

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 16, 2005 - 4:26am.
Durham, N.C. - Motricity, a provider of online mobile gaming community development tools, announced on Wednesday that Virgin Mobile USA will use its services to create a mobile gaming community for its subscribers. North Carolina-based Motricity's service will provide player profile management, game ratings and reviews, leaderboards and buddy lists for the Virgin Mobile USA Players Club.
tags: Motricity | USA | Virgin | Mobile Game | Mobiles |

DirecTV to Launch First Original Series, "CD USA"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 1, 2005 - 4:36am.
El Segundo, Calif. - Satellite TV operator DirecTV on Tuesday announced plans to launch its first exclusive original programming series. "CD USA" will feature live performances from artists including Sean Paul, Goo Goo Dolls, Ben Harper and David Gray, interspersed with music news, interviews and gossip. Based on the popular "CD UK" program on ITV in the U.K., "CD USA" will also be produced by Blaze Television, and is slated to premiere on Jan. 21, 2006.
tags: DirecTV | CD | USA | Original Series |

Movielink Wins Summary Judgment in USA Video Patent Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 1, 2005 - 3:57am.
Santa Monica, Calif. -- Movielink, an Internet-based video-on-demand service joint venture between a number of Hollywood movie studios, announced on Tuesday that it has received a favorable ruling in a patent infringement suit brought by USA Video Technology Corporation. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware granted Movielink's motion for summary judgment against USA Video, which sued Movielink in April 2003 claiming the company infringed on its "system and method for a user to request, and have delivered over an electronic network, a digitized video program." Connecticut-based USA Video provides businesses with streaming video and video-on-demand delivery technologies, and holds several patents on such technologies. "We vigorously defended against the USA Video infringement claims because we knew that Movielink was not infringing its patent. We are pleased, but not surprised, that the court has agreed with us," said Movielink CEO Jim Ramo. Movielink is a joint venture between MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.
tags: Video | USA | Movielink | Patent Dispute |

DigitalStream-USA Gets Investment, Releases New XVD Audio/Video Codec

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 24, 2003 - 10:05am.
Tokyo -- DigitalStream-USA, a developer of audio and video compression technology, announced on Thursday an undisclosed equity investment from BHA Corp, as well as the release of its new XVD codec, offering streaming and playback of video over IP networks. Japanese peripheral manufacturer I-O Data will release the first XVD-enabled product in the form of an advanced PCI card for video editing and compression, expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2003.
tags: Video | Audio | USA | Investment | Releases | DigitalStream | XVD | Codec |

Vivendi Says USA Interactive Lawsuit Is "Without Merit"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 17, 2003 - 1:50am.
Paris -- Vivendi Universal said on Thursday that a lawsuit filed earlier this week by USA Interactive is "without merit". In a statement, Vivendi said that the USA Interactive lawsuit was filed to gain leverage in the negotiations regarding Vivendi's ongoing asset disposal program, but that the lawsuit will not interfere with the program. "Vivendi Universal continues to focus on returning to an investment grade credit profile during the first half of 2004 by continuing to reduce the company's leverage," the company said.
tags: USA | Vivendi | lawsuit | Without Merit |

USA Network Signs Deal to Promote TV Programs on Yahoo

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 3, 2003 - 2:04am.
Los Angeles -- USA Network, a cable TV network owned by Vivendi's Universal Television Group, announced on Monday a promotional agreement to run advertisements for several of its television programs on Yahoo online properties. The deal represents USA Network's largest advertising commitment to an Internet media company and Yahoo's first multi-program upfront deal or advance long-term commitment with a cable advertiser. USA will promote programs including "Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story," "Nashville Star," "Traffic" and "The Dead Zone" on Yahoo's front page, as well as in the company's movies, TV, news, sports, mail and My Yahoo sections.
tags: Deals | Yahoo | USA | Promote | TV Programs |

Vivendi Raises $240 Million With Sale of Warrants of USA Interactive

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 12, 2003 - 3:28am.
Paris -- As part of its bid to raise cash, Vivendi Universal said on Wednesday that it has entered into an agreement to sell 28 million warrants of USA Interactive to an affiliate of Deutsche Bank. The share price of Vivendi fell about 7 percent on the news. Under the transaction, Universal will receive about $240 million in cash. Warrants, which are similar to options, allow their owners to buy stock in a company at a pre-established price.
tags: VC | USA | Vivendi | Warrants |