CNM Short Takes

ZAQ tapped to provide games for Liberate ITV systemMontreal-based ZAQ Inc. has signed a licensing and distribution agreement with Liberate Technologies covering the distribution of interactive TV games. The three-year agreement, with an automatic renewal provision, allows Liberate to use and sub-license the rights to ZAQ’s Cannonball, Memory, Blackjack and Quiz games. "We are extremely pleased that our company was picked as an initial provider of games for the Liberate platform worldwide," ZAQ CEO Paul Allard said in a release. Critical Mass wins four digital marketing awardsOn Nov. 28, Critical Mass, Toronto, picked up four awards at the Digital Marketing Awards including Best of Show for the Mercedes-Benz C-Coupe campaign. That same campaign won another award for the Integrated campaign category. The company was also named finalist for both the Mercedes corporate site MBUSA.com in the International web sites category and the NIKE iD in the transactional B2C web sites category. Alias/Wavefront releases PortfolioWall Version 1.53D software maker for the entertainment and design markets, Alias/Wavefront has announced the worldwide availability of PortfolioWall v. 1.5. The software allows users to view, collaborate and manipulate data through a simple touch-screen interface. Originally unveiled at Siggraph 2001, PortfolioWall’s digital corkboard allows companies to bring products to market faster by revolutionizing the design and production review cycle. The product is compatible with Maya and Studio databases, as well as a wide variety of industry-standard data display formats. Tri-Vision sued over TV screening technologyGlobal Cable Inc., Trenton GA, is suing Tri-Vision for not releasing information over a product dubbed ProtecTV the Toronto-based firm helped develop in conjunction with Caption TV, a firm owned by Diane LaPierre of Calgary. The suit alleges that Tri-Vision has failed to release all information regarding a software application that would allow parents to filter out offensive language from all television and VHS programming. Aliant Telecom announces plan to deliver TV to the desktopAliant Telecom has made a technology breakthrough that allows high-quality television to be delivered to the personal computer. The subscription-based application will operate on Aliant’s advanced broadband network, which will enable viewers to surf the web while watching TV. Using MPEG 4 video technology, Aliant will deliver high-quality TV to the personal computer using only 500 kbs of its broadband network. According to Aliant, PC requirements are modest. Users need to have a minimum Pentium II-enabled computer running IE 5.0 or higher with 64 Mbytes of RAM. The company anticipates introducing this service in Atlantic Canada before the end of this year. Channels to be available include Bell Globemedia’s TSN, ATV and CTV as well as other popular Canadian and American channels. @Wallace Studios gets feature film location@Wallace Studios and its partner Cityscape have teamed up to buy the Gooderham & Worts historical site, a location used by as many as 700 films. Located near King and Parliament in Toronto, the 170-year-old former distillery has been home to films, such as The X-Men, Bell the Child, Chicago and many more. New cultural trade initiative launched by Copps, PettigrewA new international cultural trade development initiative has been launched by the Departments of Canadian Heritage and Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The introduction of this program follows up on the government’s commitment to invest an additional $32 million over three years to enhance cultural trade and brand Canada internationally. Trade Routes will build on the efforts of federal partners including Industry Canada and DFAIT in enhancing Heritage’s participation in Team Canada by tailoring support to match the unique needs of the arts and cultural sector. NewKidCo announces revised resultsNewKidCo International issued revised results in the wake of bad inventory news. The company now reports lower revenues of US$2 million for the third quarter. Jawz Inc. loan called in by Thomson KernaghanThomson Kenaghan and Co. Ltd., on behalf of Canadian Advantage Limited Partnership and others, has issued a demand to Toronto’s Jawz Inc. for payment of its principal amount of US$3,770,000 under its credit facility, and also filed note of its intention to enforce security, according to a media release issued by Jawz. Naked News available to U.S. TV audiencePopular Canadian webcast Naked News is now available with new episodes as a pay-per-view feature on Viewer’s Choice. The series, which features newscasters stripping as they deliver stories, can be ordered for $3.99 per show, and new shows will air every Friday. The show has also been picked up by iN DEMAND pay-per-view in the U.S. Plans are in the works, say company executives, for a feature film and worldwide distribution. Radiant announces plans to go public after reverse takeoverVancouver’s Radiant Communications Ltd. has signed an engagement agreement with Canaccord Capital to develop a framework for going public. As part of the agreement, Canaccord will be the lead manager in the private placement of up to $5 million of securities. These funds will be used by Radiant to complete its expansion and fund further growth. Radiant has signed a letter of intent with Castle Bay Enterprises Ltd. to complete a reverse takeover that will constitute a qualifying transaction for the CDNX. Canadians prefer shopping on .ca sites: pollThe Canadian Internet Registration Authority has released a poll of just over 1,000 Canadian Internet users which reveals that most would rather shop on a site registered with a Canadian top-level domain. Among the findings: 81% agree that Canadian businesses should use .ca for their web site; 71% prefer to use .ca sites because they know the business is Canadian; 73% associate .ca domain names with Canadian companies; and 81% associate .com web sites with American companies

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | December 13, 2001

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