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New Media News Every Morning

CBS acquires Last.fm for $280 million

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lastfm.jpgCBS Corp. announced its acquisition of Last.fm for $280 million. The social network, organized around musical tastes, leveraging each user’s musical profile to make personalised recommendations, connect users who share similar tastes, provide custom radio streams, among others. The company claims more than 15 million monthly users, including more than 4 million in the U.S.

“Last.fm is one of the most well-established, fastest-growing online community networks out there. Their demographics also play perfectly to CBS’ goal to attract younger viewers and listeners,” CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said.

Originally posted on May 30, 2007 @ 6:58 am

GoDaddy to the rescue

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godaddy1.jpgGoDaddy.com, the world’s leading domain name registrar, announced that it has reached an agreement with RegisterFly and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to transfer over RegisterFly’s portfolio of website names to GoDaddy.com. The move will help resolve problems involving hundreds of thousands of domain names around the world.

RegisterFly customers have been affected by recent problems and the impending loss of RegisterFly’s accreditation as a domain name registrar. GoDaddy.com will notify RegisterFly customers of the switch and automatically move their domains for them. Customers can get support and answers to any questions they have at a dedicated GoDaddy.com hot line and a designated welcome Web page. Once the switch is complete, more than 850,000 domain names will have been moved.

“We worked with ICANN to effect a migration of the RegisterFly domains to GoDaddy.com and help those customers left in limbo. It’s what many RegisterFly customers asked us to do. After they are moved over to GoDaddy.com, all RegisterFly customers will once again be able to manage and renew their domain names with confidence and will also enjoy the world-class support we provide all our customers. We expect the move to be completed over the next week,” GoDaddy.com CEO and Founder Bob Parsons said.

Originally posted on May 30, 2007 @ 6:00 am

Filed Under: Web

Joost inks deal with CAA

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caa.jpgJoost has inked a content agreement with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a talent and literary agency. CAA will assist Joost in its efforts to find content for distribution on its online entertainment platform.

“CAA will provide Joost greater access to programming through our relationships with networks, studios, record labels, artists and independently-controlled content libraries,” Michael Yanover, head of business development at CAA, said.

Originally posted on May 25, 2007 @ 7:05 am

CNN to give away online videos for free

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cnn.jpgCNN announced that it is giving away its online video service for free starting July 1.

“People don’t like to pay for stuff on the Internet. We’re not going to deny it, but we also had to make sure from a cost perspective that we got to the stage where it made sense to offer it for free,” Jennifer Martin, CNN Spokeswoman said.

Pipeline, CNN’s premium online service, will move to the free section and subscribers will get prorated refunds. Pipeline, which featured as many as four live streams of news as well as archived video, launched in December 2005 and had been offered in various subscription models (including day passes).

Originally posted on May 25, 2007 @ 6:50 am

Skype co-founders invest in Asian 3D social networking company

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frenzoo.jpgAmbient Sound Investments (ASI), established by the four co-founding engineers of internet telephony software company Skype, will acquire a stake as part of a Series A funding round in 3D social networking company Frenzoo, to bring to market an exciting new online experience across the region.

Frenzoo enables teenagers and young adults to connect with their friends and become budding fashionistas. Frenzoo users can express themselves by personalizing their own virtual 3D characters, and play mix-and-match with a variety of branded clothes, footwear, accessories, furniture and lifestyle items.

“We are attracted to Frenzoo’s unique technology and business model” said Toivo Annus, Managing Partner at ASI. “Integrating 3D and social networking opens up a world of opportunities for both users and advertisers. Asia is a dynamic and growing market, and we look forward to helping Frenzoo bring this service to life.”

The Frenzoo experience utilizes the company’s RealFashion 3D Engine that simulates users’ character, clothing and living environments in true 3D, leveraging recent advances in graphics hardware.

Originally posted on May 29, 2007 @ 7:31 am