CNM Short Takes

IMAT and VentureToronto launch new VC portalVentureToronto.com and Interactive Multimedia Arts and Technologies have teamed up to launch a new site matching venture capital and entrepreneurs. VentureToronto.com was introduced at an event at the Marriott Hotel Eaton Centre. The site may appear similar to countless others, but executives hope local content and privacy will prove to be key differences from the rest of the pack. Chapters Online offers radio listening enjoymentChapters Online Inc has launched a new Internet radio station, www.chapters.ca/radio. The station features 23 channels of different format music. Like the recently announced FMCanada.com sites, listeners will be able to skip or pause tracks. Of course, they will also be able to buy the CDs being played from Chapters through an interactive feature. NYC-based RadioMOI.com is providing the behind-the-scenes muscle employing Real Audio technology.IMagic wraps up IBC2000 interactive TV demonstrationSt. John NB-based iMagicTV has just wrapped up a demonstration of its interactive television products in conjunction with Optibase at IBC 2000 in the Netherlands. Optibase provided the video server platforms, and iMagicTV provided the software to manage the content.CTV chooses overseas company for database managementCTV Inc has chosen The Bulldog Group Inc, Amsterdam, to provide management and distribution software for the broadcaster’s considerable database of content. Bulldog’s web-based product will allow CTV to manage, track, search and view its digital and legacy data.First .ca registrar announcedNepean-based Internic.ca has become the first registrar of the .ca registry, managed by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. Internic met the various criteria including Canadian presence, lack of criminal convictions, and technical capabilities to score the right to assign .ca domains to third-parties.Media convergence has downside, says studyBC residents don’t believe the current convergence of media empires is good news for objective, balanced news coverage. A huge majority, 85 per cent, told a study by Market Explorers that media convergence puts too much power in the hands of only a few major players, and 73 per cent agreed that Canadians won’t get objective and balanced news coverage from one big newsroom. The figures were similar across demographic and income levels. Not surprisingly, young people 18-34 didn’t have a particularly strong interest in the issue, while it was much more important to residents 55 years or older.Cinemaworks, Elastic sign new master service agreementVancouver based Cinema Internet Networks Inc (CinemaWorks), and Elastic Networks Inc, GA, have signed a two-year agreement whereby CinemaWorks will provide installation services of Elastic equipment in various hotels throughout North America. Elastic’s equipment delivers IP-based services for Internet access and other high-speed applications.NTT, Advanced Cultural hook up for copyright protectionNippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp and Advanced Cultural Technologies (ACT), Vancouver, have embarked on a software project to protect content copyrights. ACT says it has renewed a R&D contract with NTT and will soon launch a market test of NTT’s Content ID system with high-resolution digital images from its own online bank of artwork and cultural artifacts.Money Honey creates buzzVirtuecast.com, Toronto, has launched regular Internet broadcasts of Money Honey, an insider’s look at Canada’s small and mid-cap companies. The show is hosted by producer Jessica Goldman. The format is designed to appeal to investors in their early 20s and 30s.KING breaks Argentine marketKING Products Inc, Mississauga, a supplier of interactive multimedia web payphones, has won a contract from Ascom Argentina. The contract is the first KING has won in the country.CAB hosts The Dotcom Showdown at Calgary conventionNew media companies are being invited to join a $10,000 contest at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ annual convention in Calgary November 14. Five Canadian companies will have the opportunity to make a business pitch to a judging panel at the radio and television broadcasters show. Contestants will receive feedback on their ideas and presentation, and one will walk out a little richer.Chalk.com wins streaming video contractChalk.com, Vancouver, has been chosen by Targus Inc to provide streaming video for Targus’ web site. The videos will be displayed through a customized video player that provides online shoppers with an interactive tool for price and product information, promotions, support and education.NAC will demonstrate learning over broadband InternetWhile paying a visit to Israel next month, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, in partnership with the National Research Council, the Communications Research Centre and CANARIE Inc, will demonstrate collaborative learning over the broadband Internet. Youths in Israel, Palestine and Canada will share their emotional responses to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy via a live video hookup.Lotus Awards to feature web more prominentlyThere are more web design categories than ever in this year’s Lotus Awards. The awards are open to any company or individual located in British Columbia, and will be held November 23. This year, five awards will be handed out for interactive media, including for banner ads or campaigns, web-rich media, corporate or association site, ecom site, and best self-promotion site.Cognicase acquires two more e-business firmsCognicase Inc, Montreal, has purchased ACME Multimedia Inc and Enter.net Inc. ACME is a web integration and communication specialist, and Enter.net is a web integrator that has also developed an Internet billing software and a security gateway access software.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | September 20, 2000

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