CNM Short Takes

NewKidCo releases new Tom and Jerry game for N64NewKidCo International Inc has released "Tom and Jerry in Fists of Fury’ for the Nintendo 64 video game console. The title is the first of three Tom and Jerry titles expected to be released by the end of the year, including "Tom and Jerry in House Trap" for the PlayStation console and "Tom and Jerry in Mouse Attacks" for the Game Boy Color. The games are being published by Warner Brothers Consumer Products. NewKidCo is the former SoftQuad Corp. Sams Online to purchase MediatropolisSams Online Inc, which currently runs the online retail arm of Sam the Record Man, is buying Toronto-based Mediatropolis Inc, an online marketing and new media professional services company focused on the online music retailing industry. The merged entity will work to create stronger one-to-one interactivity for entertainment companies and their artists online.Finalists chosen for Alliance’s online TV show U8TVTwenty-five men and women ranging in age from 19-29 have made the cut and are living the U8TV lifestyle until early December when the final eight will be chosen for the reality-based webcast and TV show.Rogers launches ITVRogers Communications Inc has launched its new interactive television service, due to commence in southern Ontario next month. The service provides Internet to the tube through a conventional cable line, a digital box and TV remote. Users, however, won’t be able to both surf and watch TV at the same time. Rogers and partner Microsoft Corp are working to improve the system for future phase releases.Hip Interactive boosts top line with strong earnings growthToronto-based Hip Interactive Corp witnessed a quarter-over-quarter sales increase of 75% to $36.2 million in the third quarter this year, and a growth in earnings from $1.29 million to over $4.5 million. The games company expects even better numbers going into the traditionally strong fourth quarter.Teletoon posts new siteKids’ broadcaster Teletoon has launched a new website redesigned by Toronto-based Yfactor. The new property includes games, contests, viewing schedules and community event pages. Yfactor’s other clients include Magna International, ACTRA Toronto, Alcan Aluminum, Cedara Software, and the Family Channel.eNblast to move Hollywood Canada film and TV onlineToronto-based eNblast Productions Inc has acquired Hollywood Canada Production Ltd, including its film and TV programs and its Hollywood Canada Magazine. The new owners plan to turn Hollywood Canada into an online brand name for television and film programming in Canada. Independent producers will be able to connect with potential sponsors, broadcasters and investors by webcasting their television and film trailers on hollywoodcanada.com, to be launched as a blast.TV channel in early January.First Marketing Magazine digital marketing awards: Dec. 6 Canada’s first awards show recognizing digital marketing excellence will be held Dec. 6 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto. The Digital Marketing Awards, produced by Marketing Magazine, will run in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Marketing Online Conference and Expo.Madonna concert brought to you by Virtuecast.comVirtuecast.com, Toronto, has partnered with Microsoft Corp’s MSN to webcast a live show by pop superstar Madonna in Canada and Australia. The show is set to air live from London November 28 at 8 PM GMT at www.msn.co.uk/madonna, and at madonnamusic.com.2001 Banff Rockie awards expanded to include webcasts The international program competition at the 2001 Banff Television Festival has been broadened to include original webcasts in any of the 14 competition categories. The event takes place June 10-15, with entries for the competition being accepted from now until Feb. 19/01.Transcontinental and Globe Interactive create French portalGlobe Interactive and Transcontinental Publications Inc have joined forces to launch a French-language financial portal. The new site, to be created around the www.lesaffaires.com site, will integrate the tools currently available on the globeinvestor.com and globefund.com site, and is expected to be available in February next year. It will have its own team of reporters, and use content from several of Transcontinental’s French-language financial publications.GlobalMedia wins contract from WorldHockeyNet for siteVancouver-based GlobalMedia.com has won a contract from WorldHockeyNet.com to develop the site’s presence and revenue models. The site will offer content about teams and players, live chat, and web cams. The site is expected to launch Jan. 29/01.Knowledge House introduces new e-learning platformKnowledge House Inc, Halifax, has launched a new e-learning platform designed to crack a collaborative, problem-based learning market expected to be worth $53.3 billion in 2003. The product will be sold on an ASP basis outside the companies own proprietary programs, set to begin in the first quarter of 2001.Thomson helps to build international e-universityCanadian-owned Thomson Learning has struck a deal to develop and deliver online learning materials for Universitas 21, an international network of 18 universities. Universitas 21 is developing an e-university that can certify students across multiple jurisdictions. Thomson will produce new curricula, courseware and delivery platforms specifically designed for distance learning. The courses will be delivered over the Internet, augmented by satellite TV when necessary. Participating Canadian universities are McGill, UBC, and the University of Toronto.Eastlink rolls out digital cable, high speed access in PEIMaritime-based EastLink plans to expand its digital cable and high speed Internet offerings in Charlottetown and launch them in Summerside, Prince Edward Island by spring 2001. The services are currently available in limited areas of Charlottetown. The expansion was made possible due to the $9 million technological infrastructure upgrade that EastLink announced in June.Webgrrls renamed as DigitalEveDigitalEve has launched in Canada. Part of a global, non-profit community of women interested in new media, the organization, formerly known as Webgrrls, is dedicated to linking women from diverse backgrounds and raising awareness around their present and future roles in the digital world. Headquartered in Toronto, DigitalEve Canada has several chapters across the country, the most recent of which was launched in Ottawa on Nov. 13. The organization is run by volunteers and holds seminars and training sessions to further the professional development of women in new media. Membership is free.Vidéotron lays off 44 staff with 34 set to go in JanuaryVidéotron Communications Inc has laid off 44 management, professional and non-unionized employees, and told 34 more that they will be let go in January. Management says the measure was necessary to meet budget targets for the current fiscal year. More layoffs could result in the wake of discussions between the company and its unions, set to begin within days. Vidéotron was recently purchased by Quebecor. The the staff who have been given a one-month reprieve are needed to ensure a smooth transition say officials.ZAQ partners to provide set-top games for PowerTVZAQ Inc, Montreal, has signed a letter of intent with PowerTV Inc, Cupertino, to market ZAQ’s suite of interactive games globally. PowerTV will launch SofaGAMES, the application platform over which ZAQ’s products will be distributed, to 17 operators who have already adopted the operating system, including Rogers Cable Inc. ZAQ executives say it will derive revenue from subscription fees, transaction costs and advertising revenue. No value for this deal was announced.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | November 29, 2000

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