CNM Short Takes

MadeinMTL makes over Montreal tourismMadeinMTL is a rich media application site that enables the user to explore Montreal through more than 15,000 photographs, 500 texts, 50 hours of video, 40 sound bites, as well as 25 short films that truly capture the spirit of the city in a virtual experience. MadeinMTL is both an environment as well as an exploration tool. Its user navigation seamlessly exhibits multiple windows where users select, search and view urban itineraries in an organic environment that reflects not only the essence of the city but also that of its producers and collaborators. In fact, MadeinMTL is the accomplishment of more than 50 local artists who offer their personal preference of destinations in the city. What distinguishes MadeinMTL.com from other city websites is its immersive technology combined with its power to dynamically build personalized itineraries according to the user’s frame of mind. The site enables each visitor to quickly find a venue or product within the city. By using images, sound and video to instantly recreate the ambience of Montreal, the experience gives an accurate impression of being there. All these vignettes serve to capture the city’s character, which causes those who make Montreal their home to fall in love with it and intrigues those who come to visit. When Montreal digital media distribution firm Locomotion was looking for a new media partner to produce the online component to its series of mini-documentaries produced and broadcast on TV (on CTV and TV5), it approached new media producer BlueSponge with the idea of expressing Montreal’s identity and spirit online in a different way than in a traditional website. The result is the ultimate tourist guide, a website that gives the user the actual feeling of one of the most lively cities in the world. MadeinMTL is rich in information, well equipped in terms of navigation tools, and is a true work of art. MadeinMTL.com is powered by Urban Operator, a multi-platform (web, wireless, TV) digital content system for the promotion of cities, regions, events or brands that create a singular representation of a city online, with multiple entries to find, locate and explore the places that compose the fabric and moods of Montreal. Urban Operator is a compelling application that reinvents touristic exploration and widens the possibilities of mobile media delivery. Plan your trip to Montreal at http://www.madeinmtl.com today. Sony sings a new tune with ConnectThe North American operations of Sony Corp. stepped up their presence in the digital music distribution and retailing game over the past week. On November 9, Sony of Canada Ltd. announced that the company’s Connect online music service will be available here in Canada starting November 16. One catch, though: the service, which is already up and running south of the border, only allows playback on devices featuring Sony’s SonicStage software that can handle Sony’s proprietary ATRAC3 audio compression technology. Guess who makes most of the players running the aforementioned?Another Sony subsidiary signed an online music deal of its own three days earlier. Sony/ATV Music Publishing will make its catalog and repertoire available on the Qtrax ad-supported peer-to-peer music download network. Sony’s music publishing arm represents the work of such artists as The Beatles, Beck, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and more. Qtrax, which is owned by New York’s Brilliant Networks, is slated to launch early in 2007. Kaboose delivers a new BabyzoneToronto-based kids-and-family website operator Kaboose Inc. has relaunched its online property targeting expectant mothers and new parents. Babyzone.com is the largest independent Web property in the US to focus on parenting and pregnancy issues, according to Kaboose. On November 3, just shy of its 10th anniversary, the site was updated with a new look and feel that included intuitive category pages devoted to a wide range of topics, as well as a streamlined design. Kaboose also enhanced two popular interactive features on Babyzone: its Calendars, which allow both current and prospective parents to set up planners based on ovulation cycles and their term of pregnancy; and its Baby Pages, which allow proud parents to set up and share virtual scrapbooks. The site also now features a new VideoZone featuring instructional videos and a RecipeZone offering user-contributed recipes. Abcon, Globalive partner on FreeFoneOut-of-home advertising firm Abcon Media announced that it will leverage the network of advertising-supported pay phones operated by Globalive Communications Corp. in an effort to broaden its public profile. Globalive’s FreeFone free public telephones are billed as "North American’s only public courtesy telephone and digital advertising system" and allow users to make free calls in exchange for viewing multimedia ads on screens fixed to the phones. Abcon Media, which specializes in ad installations in the form of glass murals, giant banners and fixtures on parking lot boom barriers, will use FreeFone’s digital signage capabilities to offer additional reach to its clients. Both firms are headquartered in Toronto. Kenny vs. Spenny on the XboxBreakthrough Entertainment’s riotous showcase of humiliation between buddies made its way to Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox console earlier this month. Kenny Hotz, one of the two stars of the Kenny vs. Spenny show, appeared on the Xbox Live head-to-head online gaming network earlier this month challenging all comers at Activision Inc.’s World War Two shoot-’em-up title Call of Duty 2. Meanwhile, Hotz’s best friend and mortal rival Spencer Rice played cheering section for the competition. The duo appeared as part of Xbox Live’s "Game With Fame" event, which allows gamers to play online against personalities from the worlds of sports, show business and more. Other past contestants have included rapper Ludacris, The Strokes, Jack Black, Green Day and more. Chalk Media to offer $2.5M new share issueInteractive learning solutions provider Chalk Media Corp. is turning to Toronto private investment bank M Partners Inc. to raise additional money for operations and general expenses. The best-efforts equity offering could raise as much as $2.5 million if fully subscribed and will consist of new Chalk Media common shares, each with a warrant attached. For its part as broker in the deal, M Partners will receive a 7% cash commission and an additional 7% in warrants. The TSX Venture Exchange must still approve the deal before it can be finalized. Advertising old, advertising newAlthough online advertising and other forms of digital promotion are growing exponentially, some in the industry still turn to old media to get their message out. In the same vein as Google Inc. revealing its plans to become a power in the newspaper advertising market last week, Canada’s own LiveDeal.ca announced that it’s turning to print ads as well as Web banners to promote its local online classified advertising service. Next month, a campaign designed by award-winning agency Bensimon Byrne will kick off in southern Ontario papers such as the Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator and Guelph Mercury, as well as on the Olive Canada Web advertising network. All three newpapers and Olive Canada are owned by Torstar Corp., also a partner in LiveDeal.ca. The campaign will also feature a Google AdWords component to drum up buyers for merchandise listed in key categories such as automobiles, real estate and property rentals. Fun Technologies wins eGaming Review awardEGaming Review Magazine, a division of London UK-based Pageant Media, bestowed top honours on Toronto’s Fun Technologies Inc. at a recent awards ceremony. The Canadian firm was named "Skill Game Operator of the Year" by eGaming Review based on the "innovation, entertainment, usability and originality" of its casual and skill game offerings, according to a media release. "It’s an honour to be recognized by eGaming Review for our innovation and leadership," Fun Technologies CEO Lorne Abony said in the release. The firm owns and operates some of the top online games in the skill/casual segment, including Solitaire, Bejeweled 2, Zuma and Luxor.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | November 15, 2006

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