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New Media News Every Morning

Al Jazeera launches YouTube Channel

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aljazeera.jpgAl Jazeera English today announced the launch of its YouTube Channel. Content will include segments from its top shows such as Frost Over The World, Everywoman, and Inside Iraq.

Al Jazeera is also releasing web-only programs, starting with Political Bytes. The program is a global conversation hosted by its UN correspondent Mark Seddon.

“We believe that YouTube is a perfect platform to reach out to our audience and to give wide and easy access to new viewers around the world. We have significantly built on our distribution since launch and now reach well in access of 90 million cable and satellite households worldwide. With YouTube’s community of millions of online users this is set to dramatically increase,” said Nigel Parsons, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English

Originally posted on April 16, 2007 @ 9:22 am

Adify raises $19 Million to fuel growth of build-your-own network

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Adify Corporation, provider of technology and services that power online vertical advertising networks, announced that it has secured $19 million in Series B financing led by US Venture Partners (USVP). The round includes previous investor Venrock Associates, and strategic financing from GE Media, Communications and Entertainment (a unit of GE Commercial Finance), NBC Universal, Inc. and Time Warner Investments. Adify raised an $8.25 million Series A round last year.

Adify is working with Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI) to power its Sponsored Blogroll program. Combining ad space from washingtonpost.com and high-quality, independent bloggers, Sponsored Blogroll enables marketers to reach a broad audience across the Web in a single buy. Major national advertisers such as Marriott and Lufthansa have signed on as sponsors for the travel blog section of the network.

Adify’s unique Build Your Own Network offering has quickly become a powerful tool for traditional media companies seeking to expand their advertising offerings and to extend their brands in the evolving Web 2.0 publishing environment.

Originally posted on April 18, 2007 @ 10:09 am

YouTube rival taps thePlatform

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thePlatform, a broadband video application service provider, announced that it has signed a deal to provide content publishing and distribution services for the Internet video venture to be launched by NBC-Universal and News Corp. The joint venture will include thousands of hours of full-length, premium content from major networks and film studios that will be distributed to hundreds of millions of consumers via some of the biggest portals on the Web.

“With a seven year history of managing online video on behalf of some of the most well known consumer brands, thePlatform has a proven record of success that should serve us well,” said George Kliavkoff, Chief Digital Officer, NBC Universal and interim CEO of the NBCU/News Corp. joint venture. “Together, we will provide our partners with an efficient system for managing, syndicating and generating revenue from broadband video.”

Originally posted on April 18, 2007 @ 9:28 am

IAC launches online initiative for Black Community

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IAC announced that it will launch an online destination for the Black community featuring topical content, relevant services and a platform for community interaction. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. has been appointed CEO of the initiative, which is scheduled to launch in January 2008 and will be based in Charlotte, NC. The yet-to-be-named site aims to bring the best the Web has to offer to the U.S. Black population, specifically catering to the community’s distinct needs and interests. It will be part of IAC Programming, created in 2006 to grow branded online content properties that engage passionate communities.

“There exists enormous opportunity in today’s online landscape to provide Blacks with an experience that engages their unique communities through a collective voice,” said Mr. Taylor. “There are 40 million African Americans in the U.S., and we estimate an additional 20 million Blacks from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. IAC is poised to provide exceptional content and services for this growing and underserved population.”

Originally posted on April 18, 2007 @ 10:45 pm

Dalai Lama to do webcast from Maui

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p_1small.jpgDalai Lama’s teachings from Maui will be delivered to the global audience in real-time through a webcast of his presentations on April 24 and 25.

The known spiritual and political leader’s teachings on “The Approach to World Peace” and “Eight Verses of Training the Mind: A Buddhist Philosophical Discourse” will be delivered online through the efforts of the Maui Community College, Stanford University, VX30, SUN Microsystems, The Tibet Fund, and the office of the Dalai Lama.

“We are extremely honored to be part of this historic event on Maui and are thankful for the collaboration between the community and business partners to enable His Holiness’ messages of inspiration and peace to reach the masses, including over 140 Tibetan refugees living in exile,” said Shep Gordon, chairman of the Organizing Committee of Dalai Lama Maui 2007, which is coordinating the visit by the world leader.

The 14th Dalai Lama is both the spiritual leader and the exiled head of state for Tibet. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his ongoing nonviolent struggle for a negotiated solution to the status of Tibet, which has been under the control of the government of China for decades.

Originally posted on April 17, 2007 @ 10:25 am