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New Media News Every Morning

EA inks deal with Gigamedia for Taiwan operation of NBA Street Online

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nba.pngElectronic Arts Inc. and GigaMedia Limited have entered into an agreement to launch and operate NBA Street Online in Taiwan. The game will be released in Q1 2008 in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as the second online title by Electronic Arts for the Asia region following the success of EA Sports FIFA Online in Korea.

NBA Street Online is the perfect combination of customization, convenience, and community in a casual lifestyle game. It features special elements that are designed specifically for the online multiplayer experience including matchmaking, specialized player customization, and the ability to create own clubs to play online with friends and defend one’s court. NBA Street Online allows up to six gamers to simultaneously compete in tournaments against one another and even against the best of the real NBA league.

The cooperation between Electronic Arts and GigaMedia is expected to provide the best gaming experience for players in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Working closely with Electronic Arts development teams, GigaMedia will provide marketing, community management, customer and technical support, and other valuable services as the operator of the game.

Originally posted on November 20, 2007 @ 11:48 am

SXSW and ON Networks to host first awards honoring original digital entertainment series

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sxsw.pngON Networks (ON), in partnership with South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, will recognize the best in digital entertainment with the Greenlight Awards, a competition aimed at discovering the next great, original and episodic digital series. Submissions will be reviewed from December through February 15, 2008 culminating at an exclusive event during SXSW 2008, March 7-15. Detailed information about submission criteria and requirements, celebrity judges and other contest information will be available in early December on the SXSW and ON websites.

Unlike traditional television series, which are limited by broadcast schedules and narrow distribution, digital series vary in length and are available to consumers anywhere and anytime via the web, mobile devices, gaming consoles, IPTV and digital cable systems. As a result, digital series give advertisers, writers, talent and producers global access to potential audiences and a new revenue channel.

The winner of this new media challenge will be announced at the Greenlight Awards event during SXSW 2008, and will receive $10,000.00 cash and a distribution deal from ON.

Originally posted on November 19, 2007 @ 2:24 pm

Revision3 and Blip.tv ink content promotion partnership

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revision3.jpgBlip.tv and Revision3 have entered into an agreement to cross-promote their top shows.

The partnership will begin with cross-promotion between Revision3’s Web Drifter and blip.tv’s Geek Entertainment TV. Web Drifter is a comedy program that introduces viewers to the creators of some of the most outrageous sites on the Web, and GETV reports “from deep inside the Internet bubble,” interviewing the best, sometimes brightest and definitely the geekiest of geeks. Each show will run postroll advertisements promoting the other show.

The next round of promotions will be between blip.tv’s Make, a production of O’Reilly & Associates and Revision3’s Systm. Both shows focus on do-it-yourself projects for the common geek.

Originally posted on November 15, 2007 @ 12:45 pm

thePlatform chosen as PBS KIDS Sprout’s online video publisher

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sprout.pngthePlatform has been tapped by PBS KIDS Sprout as the backend video platform for the 24-hour preschool network’s website.

thePlatform will manage the publication and delivery of online video clips from Sprout’s lineup of children’s shows to the network’s website. The site currently offers video clips from popular preschool shows such as Angelina Ballerina, Barney and Friends, Berenstain Bears, Bob the Builder, Caillou, Dragon Tales, Fireman Sam, Make Way for Noddy, Pingu, Sagwa: The Chinese Siamese Cat, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, Thomas & Friends and Zoboomafoo. Sprout was created as a partnership among Comcast Corporation, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop and is available on digital cable and satellite television to 35 million homes.

thePlatform currently provides online video publishing and management for a host of well known consumer brands, including BBC, CNBC, CBS’ College Sports TV, Court TV, Comcast, Hearst, Helio, PRIMEDIA, Scripps, Sony/BMG Music, Vongo, Telstra, Verizon Wireless and dozens of other companies.

Originally posted on November 15, 2007 @ 12:55 pm

imeem and Nettwerk Music Group announces marketing partnership

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nettwerk.pngimeem and Nettwerk Music Group announced a comprehensive audio, video and marketing partnership. The companies will collaborate to enable imeem users to discover new music from Nettwerk through artist-based sponsorship, marketing and promotion initiatives.

imeem launched the first ad-supported and interactive music streaming service earlier this year to offer both music and video in partnership with major and independent record labels. Nettwerk’s entire audio and video digital catalog is available for interactive on-demand streaming on imeem, including popular artists Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies, Dido, Sum 41, and Sarah McLachlan. The imeem community can listen to their favorite artists, discover new music through friends with similar tastes, and express themselves by creating custom playlists and slideshows to share on imeem and across the web.

Originally posted on November 9, 2007 @ 9:14 am