CNM Short Takes

Filament Communications promotes new serviceOttawa’s Filament Communications, formerly Animatics, has launched a new Usability Consulting Group. The service, which offers end-user research and testing from the early stages of site-building, is being promoted with a new direct marketing campaign in the U.S. and Canada. Paper mock ups feature prominently in the process, which is designed to detect flaws in web sites before going to launch.Quebecor comes in peaceQuebecor Media Inc is reassuring staff that its ownership of Vidéotron ltée is good news for subsidiary Netgraphe. Netgraphe issued a press release saying Quebecor’s new controlling position will open markets in Europe and accelerate development of Netgraphe’s new media products.Knowledge House sells centre to McKenzie CollegeMcKenzie College, Halifax is the proud new owner of the Centre for Distance Education Ltd which it has acquired from Knowledge House. In return, Knowledge House has secured a 10 per cent ownership stake in the college, with the potential to increase that to 20 per cent within two years. McKenzie has recently made a strong run at becoming a new media hotbed. The transfer isn’t expected to impact current enrolments.Aliant subsidiary iMagicTV registers to go IPOMarket-watchers will be curious to see if iMagicTV, an Aliant Inc subsidiary, follows through with its intention to initiate an IPO. The company has set the offer at a preliminary price of US$11-13 for 11.8 million shares, quoted on the NASDAQ and listed on the TSE. Last Wednesday’s TSE meltdown, however, may dissuade executives from jumping into the fray too quickly.nject wins ECMA website building contractVancouver-based nject has won a contract to build a site for the East Coast Music Awards. Executives say the win will help it entrench its east coast office. News of the win was accompanied with the announcement of nject’s acquisition of popgun media.Telus offers free web space for non-profit groupsTelus Corp is offering a free web presence for non-profit and community groups through Alberta.com. Users will be able to use an HTML conversion application to create the site. Executives are spinning the service as an alternative town hall, featuring bulletin boards, search functions and web pages.Deadline for .ca registration extended to December 1Existing .ca domain name holders have been given until December 2000 to re-register their name. As of October 30, 37,000 out of 98,000 expected re-registrants had not yet applied. After Nov. 30, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority warns that existing holders of the top-level domain names may experience interruption in their service. Names will continue to be reserved through Jan. 31, 2000.Iceberg media raises $10 million in new financingIceberg Media.com Inc, Toronto, has raised $10 million in new financing as both Newfoundland Capital Corp Ltd and Standard Broadcasting Corp Ltd have increased their equity stake in the streaming media broadcaster. Standard now holds 19% of the company as does Newfoundland Cap.Inpix launches on-demand web programming with PixTV.netInpix Media, Montreal, has opened an office in Montreal coincident with the launch of a new on-demand video broadcasing site, PixTV.net. The site currently offers three web programs including how to, science and technology. The company intends to offer English programming in its first season. Many of the company’s management are former executives with TVA.GIS, LuraTech to deliver digital imaging over InternetGIS Global Imaging Solutions Inc, Toronto, has teamed with CA-based LuraTech to offer imaging services such as backlits, murals, posters and banners over the Internet. GIS will use LuraTech’s proprietary image compression technology, which executives say will allow a smooth transition to the JPEG 2000 standard.Itemus pays $56 million for U.S. rich media producerToronto-based Itemus Inc is paying US$56 million in stock for NYC-based Shooting Gallery Inc. Itemus will spin the film, television and music development and distribution into a new company which will be a client of the new Shooting Gallery subsidiary. The Shooting Gallery management team and facilities will remain intact. The transaction is expected to close in January 2001. Shooting Gallery has a network of digital media centres located in key U.S. and Canadian markets offering services, resources and facilities to traditional and new media companies, including in the braodband, wireless, and enhanced television arenas.B.C. man to post Canadian election results in real timeA British Columbia man is set to defy federal election law by posting results in real time. The move would give western Canadians access to poll results from the Maritimes before polls closed in the western provinces. The results will be posted at http://www.ElectionResultsCanada.com if Paul Bryan pursues his plan.24/7 wins email newsletter contract with HMVHMV.com has contracted Toronto-based 24/7 Media Inc to manage its weekly email newsletter, HMV.communique. The squib is sent to over 60,000 subscribers in Canada and the U.S. With this contract, 24/7 increases the number of permission-based email addresses to more than two million. HMV is the latest in a string of companies to outsource their services to 24/7 including Compagnie.com, AddBonus.com, Bay-street.com and Funcow.com.Unique Broadband drops PixStream lawsuitUnique Broadband Systems Inc (UBS), Concord ON, has dropped a suit against PixStream Inc of Waterloo ON. The suit had accused PixStream of misappropriating technology for delivering video signals over the Internet. As a settlement, UBS will receive $25 million, subject to the acquisition of PixStream by Cisco Systems Inc. PixStream will admit no liability.Jawz, Verizon target ebusiness security needs of large firmsJawz Inc, Toronto, and giant Verizon Communications have struck a deal to provide the Jawz line of security products to Verizon customers. The Jawz products will be marketed as a value-added application and will complement and support the existing suite of data communications products and services currently offered by Verizon.CATA no longer party to blank tape levy hearingsThe CATAalliance has been struck from the list of participants engaged in setting a new blank tape and media levy currently before the Copyright Board. CATA executive director David Paterson told Canadian NEW MEDIA that paperwork demands were onerous, and that the association could not comply with burdensome requests to poll the association’s members on a wide range of topics. A motion was filed to disqualify hearing participants who did not respond to requests for information. Paterson said lawyers for the hearing participants wanted in-depth information about the association’s members including business plans and financial details.Baddeck New Media Festival award winners announcedFreshmilkTV, a German new media company, took home the Entertainment Website Award and Best of Show for its site at the Baddeck New Media Festival awards show. Other winners at the prestigious event include the Drop the Beat site, CanadianParks.com, the National Film Board’s disk-based Between the Lines, Chilly Beach: Shut Your Space Hole, Studio X Labs and Angela Anaconda On-Line. The full list of winners and honourable mentions can be found at www.airchoice.com/binmf/EvDetails.asp?Event_ID45.Excite.ca expands shopping tools for subscribersExcite Canada has expanded its shipping site to include cross-border comparisons and product review previews. The overhaul was done in response to research that indicates a lack of comprehensive product information is a key hindrance preventing Canadians from shopping online.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | November 1, 2000

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