Entertainment Close-up back issues from April 2009:
Premiere Expands HD Capacity on Astra.
Apr 01, 2009 ... SES Astra, a SES company, announced that the German pay-TV channel Premiere has contracted one and a half additional transponders on Astra's prime orbital position 19.2 degrees East. With the additional bandwidth Premiere plans to extend its HD offer. Premiere launched its HD ...
Panasonic Avionics Inks Broadcasters.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Panasonic Avionics, a provider of in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC) systems, announced that it has entered into multi-year agreements with five major television news groups to provide live news and information via its proprietary Panasonic Airline Television Network. ...
HitFix Secures Funding.
Apr 01, 2009 ... HitFix has secured $950,000 in first-round financing from an established angel group and private investors, and stated that it is exceeding both traffic projections and revenue targets, despite the difficult economy. An entertainment destination, HitFix delivers breaking news, ...
Shazam Extends Mobile Music Discovery App to BlackBerry.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Shazam, a mobile music discovery provider, announced the availability of its application for BlackBerry smartphone users; allowing them to discover, purchase and share music anywhere they go. Shazam on BlackBerry smartphones is a featured application available within BlackBerry ...
Yahoo Mobile for Web Launches.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Yahoo announced the availability of Yahoo Mobile, an open and highly-personalized mobile starting point to the Internet, on both the mobile Web and as an Apple iPhone app, allowing consumers to discover, stay connected and stay informed through their mobile devices. ...
Family Room Entertainment Shares Go to Pink Sheets.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Family Room Entertainment's (FMYR's) securities, as of March 27, have been delisted from quotation on the OTC:BB and will trade on the Pink Sheets due to the company's inability to report its second quarter 2008 results in a timely manner. FMYR also intends to file a Form 15 ...
Tamagotchi and Epiphone Launch 'Music Star' Sweepstakes.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Going backstage is closer than you think with the Tamagotchi Music Star "Wanna be a Music Star?" sweepstakes. The company said that kids can enter the sweepstakes and win a variety of prizes including an exclusive customized Tamagotchi Music Star Epiphone Firebird Studio guitar, ...
EA's 'Madden NFL 10' Kicks Off in August.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Electronic Arts (EA) announced that Madden NFL 10 will be available in North American retail stores on Friday, August 14. The football franchise ushers in a new era with advancements that bring the NFL fan everything they see on Sundays, minus the grass stains. ...
Viejas Casino Hosts Women's Professional Billiard Season Opener.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Viejas Casino again hosts the top players of the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) through April 5. The event marks the 13th time that Viejas has hosted a WPBA Classic Tour stop. The 64 player field will be made up of the top 45 Exempt Professional players, with ...
Station Casinos Posts 4Q Results.(Financial report)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Station Casinos announced the results of its operations for the fourth quarter ended December 31. In a release dated March 31, the company stated: - The company's net revenues for the fourth quarter ending December 31, were approximately $289.8 million, a decrease of ...
Video Display Offers ATM Replacement Monitors.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Video Display announced the introduction of its Display Concepts new drop-in replacement monitor for NCR and Diebold ATMs. The new model V084S1 display is an 8.4" flat-panel LCD to replace existing LCDs or upgrade older 10" CRTs. The company stated that a smart design approach ...
BitGravity Chosen by David Lynch Foundation to Broadcast McCartney, Ringo.
Apr 01, 2009 ... BitGravity, a next- generation Content Delivery Network (CDN), and the David Lynch Foundation announced the selection of BitGravity's BG Live highly-scalable flash-based video stream service for both live broadcasts of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Starr will ...
155 East Tropicana to Skip Interest Payment On Notes.
Apr 01, 2009 ... 155 East Tropicana announced that it will not make the April 1st interest payment on its Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the Notes). The company stated that it will continue normal operations under the direction of its existing management team and will continue to pay employees ...
Billy Ray Cyrus to Release New Album.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Pushing deeper into his rock and country music roots, Billy Ray Cyrus is set to release Back to Tennessee, his newest CD for Walt Disney Records. The album features 12 new tracks, including "Butterfly, Fly Away" a moving duet between Billy Ray and his daughter, Miley Cyrus, ...
River Rock Entertainment Authority Posts 4Q Financial Results.(Financial report)
Apr 01, 2009 ... The River Rock Entertainment Authority, the operator of the River Rock Casino in Sonoma County, California, announced fourth quarter and year end operating results for the period ended December 31. In a release on March 31, the company stated: - Net revenues for the ...
ALEC Weighs-in On FCC, States' Sovereignty over Cable & Video Franchising.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) urged federal regulators considering statewide cable and video franchising authority to respect state sovereignty and to avoid inappropriate federal overreach. In a release dated March 31, ALEC stated: - A docket ...
Coca-Cola Tests New Flat-Screen Beverage Vender.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The Coca-Cola Company will soon offer consumers a way to purchase ice-cold beverages with "interactive entertainment" thrown in. Introduced in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics and showcased at Simon dTour live, new high-tech interactive vending machines are being tested this ...
Cloning Einstein Hits The Charts with U2 Cover.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Philadelphia-based fivesome Cloning Einstein (Toucan Cove/Universal), who previously hit the Top 10 of the FMQB AC Chart in 2008 with their debut single "I Believe," are finding success again with their follow up single, a smooth jazz remake of the U2 Classic "I Still Haven't Found What ...
Musicians Institute Honors Stanley Clarke.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Stanley Clarke received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Musicians Institute (MI) during MI's spring commencement ceremony at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre. MI's Vice President of Education Beth Marlis awarded the degree, the first ever granted by the school. ...
1 Beyond Unveils HexDFlex, Professional Turnkey Video Workstation.
Apr 01, 2009 ... 1 Beyond, a provider of high performance editing, tapeless workflow and storage systems for the video professional, announced the 1 Beyond HexDFlex, which it called the industry's first turnkey 16-processor professional video workstation capable of running Windows XP and Vista ...
Fox Reality Channel's Original Series 'American Idol Extra' Returns.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The second episode of Fox Reality Channel's Original series, "American Idol Extra," returns to its regular time slot this Thursday at 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET/PT, with an exclusive sneak peek Wednesday at 1 a.m. ET/10 p.m. PT. Fox said that viewers tuning in this Thursday will see ...
Gallows Inks with Sire / Warner Bros. Reprise Records.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Hertfordshire, UK hardcore punk rockers Gallows have inked a deal with Warner Bros. Records. According to a release, their second full-length album and first for Sire in the USA, entitled "Grey Britain," will be released on May 5. The 13 thematically-linked song strong album was ...
BIO Announces The B-52s as Entertainment.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced that The B-52s will be performing during the 2009 BIO International Convention Welcome Reception. The reception is hosted by BioGeorgia, and part of a full schedule of events for the global event for biotechnology, taking ...
Fox News Channel Touts First Quarter Ratings.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Fox News Channel (FNC) stated that it expanded its ratings lead among its cable news competition in all categories during the first quarter (Q1) of 2009, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in viewership according to Nielsen Media Research. Marked by President Obama's first months in ...
Churchill Downs' TwinSpires.com to Offer Wagering on Keeneland Spring Meet.
Apr 01, 2009 ... TwinSpires.com, a national advance-deposit wagering platform owned by Churchill Downs, will offer the 2009 spring meet from Keeneland Race Course, which opens its season on Friday, April 3. "This spring will be exciting as we add Keeneland to our Kentucky racing program along ...
Hasbro to Webcast Earnings Conference Call.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Hasbro announced that it will webcast its first quarter results via the Internet. The webcast will take place on Monday April 20, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, following the release of Hasbro's financial results. The webcast will be available to investors and the media ...
Research and Markets Adds Report: 2009 Worldwide Motion Pictures & Video Production Industry Report.(Report)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2009 Worldwide Motion Pictures & Video Production Industry Report" report to its offerings. In a release, Research and Markets said that report highlights include: The Motion Pictures & Video Production Industry ...
Take180.com Launches.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Take180.com officially launches its site with three new original participatory web series, "My Date," "I <3 Vampires," and "Electric Spoofaloo." All episodes are 180 seconds (3 minutes) in length or less, the group noted. Take180 is a new website featuring shows made ...
Youbet.com Inks Renewals Racing Content at Keeneland Deal.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Youbet.com announced that the company has renewed its agreement with the Keeneland Association to carry all of Keeneland's 2009 racing content. Youbet Express customers will be able to watch and wager on all Keeneland races, including the $400,000 Ashland Stakes on April 4, ...
LeGuide.Com Group Reiterates Its Negative Response to GoAdv's Tender Offer.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The LeGuide.com supervisory board summoned a meeting on March 24th and examined the offer that was made to LeGuide.com shareholders on March 20th by the company GoAdv. In a release dated March 31, the company stated, in part: This offer is strictly identical to the ...
LifeLock Offers 'Celebrity Apprentice' Sweepstakes Promotion.
Apr 01, 2009 ... One lucky winner and a guest will get an up-close look at the boardroom on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice" courtesy of a new sweepstakes promotion offered by LifeLock, the company reported. A provider of identity theft protection, LifeLock is offering a trip for two to New York ...
X-Men April Promotion Getting Underway at 7-Eleven.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Superheroes have proven super for Slurpee season at 7-Eleven stores in past years with all the affiliated accessories, like cups, straws and Slurpee flavors. This year, 7-Eleven plans to continue to ride the wave of comic book-to-movie genre with a storewide tie-in to the ...
China Youth Media Unveils Koobee Campus Network.
Apr 01, 2009 ... China Youth Media, a China focused youth marketing and media company, announced that it has rolled out the Koobee Network, a dedicated campus Internet TV network targeted to China's 30 million plus college students. Launched in cooperation with China Youth Interactive, a Chinese ...
Rachael Ray Marks 500th Episode.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Rachael Ray, winner of the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show, celebrated its 500th episode on April 1st. The episode featured celebrity interviews, special appearances, surprise guests, a high energy production number and a fond look back at highlights from the past three ...
The Children's Internet Reschedules Annual Shareholder Meeting.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The Children's Internet announced that it has rescheduled its Annual Shareholder Meeting to May 29. The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at their corporate offices located at 2377 Gold Meadow Way, Gold River, CA 95670. The company is also making the meeting available via webinar ...
CasinoBellini.com Updates Site.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A Casino Bellini Spokesperson announced the launch of the site's updated games and promotions departments. The changes, developed in nearly all 10 casino language variations, include the addition of creative content and chic design elements, which developers expect will further ...
2K Sports Releases Don King Boxing.
Apr 01, 2009 ... 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, announced that Don King Boxing is now available in retail stores throughout North America for the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and Nintendo DS. "Don King Boxing is a game that was tailor-made ...
San Francisco's Classic Cinema Presents 'The Wizard of Oz'.
Apr 01, 2009 ... San Francisco's Classic Cinema will celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz at a movie/book event, with screenings on Thursday April 9 at 7:15pm and Saturday April 11 at 2:15pm. Author Evan I. Schwartz will release his book, Finding Oz: How L. Frank Baum Discovered ...
SkyZip to Debut at Dollywood.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Starting in May, Dollywood guests will be able to fly like an eagle over the 150 acre theme park and experience the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains with the opening of SkyZip. SkyZip is the first multiple station zip-line experience to open in a U.S. theme park. ...
Syndicaster Offers Broadcasters Real-Time 'on Location to Web' Services.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Critical Media's Broadcaster Services Group, a provider of online video eco-systems for broadcast content managing real-time ingestion, clip creation, publishing, distribution and syndication, announced the addition of an "on location" upload feature to its real-time broadcast-to-online ...
Jamie Foxx Featured on Uptown Magazine Cover.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The April/May issue of Uptown Magazine (on newsstands April 7th) features "The Triple Threat," a cover story about Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx and what drives his ongoing success. Uptown has created three covers featuring Foxx as an Actor, Musician and Comedian. ...
ABI Research: Telco Video Transcoder Market to Reach $116 Million in 2009.
Apr 01, 2009 ... The global market for the transcoders used by telcos to convert video content from one digital format to another will return revenues of $116 million in 2009, according to new data from ABI Research. The lion's share of that 2009 revenue will come from North America. Later, as ...
Barrington Broadcasting Releases Annual Report.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Barrington Broadcasting Group announced that it posted its annual report (the Annual Report) on Barrington's website (barringtontv.com) on March 31. The Annual Report is being furnished pursuant to the Indenture governing the Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (the Notes) ...
MTI Micro Inks Alliance with OEM of Portable Chargers.
Apr 01, 2009 ... MTI MicroFuel Cells (MTI Micro), the developer of Mobion off-the-grid portable power solutions and a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology (MTI), announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement with a US-based Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of universal chargers to ...
Samsung Announces Availability Dates for Next Generation LED HDTVs.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Samsung Electronics America, a provider of consumer electronics, revealed the market availability for its new family of Flat-Panel TVs: LED HDTV Series 8000, 7000 and 6000. The new portfolio of LED HDTVs use edge-mounted LEDs as their primary light source rather than traditional ...
Verivue Rolls Out New MDX 9020 Switch.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Verivue announced the expansion of its media distribution portfolio with the introduction of the MDX 9020 Media Distribution Switch. The mid-range MDX 9020 extends the performance of the MDX 9200 to a compact form factor, allowing operators to choose the most optimal-sized ...
Bitstream Releases Pageflex Chart.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Pageflex, a division of Bitstream and a developer of enterprise variable data publishing and web-to-print solutions, announced the release of Pageflex Chart. This new product enables customers to enhance personalized documents with graphically-rich variable charts and graphs ...
Samsung Brings Out 2009 Spring Blu-ray Line.
Apr 01, 2009 ... Samsung Electronics America, a provider of consumer electronics, announced availability for its Spring 2009 Blu-ray line-up, led by the flagship BD-P4600. As a slim and wall-mountable Blu-ray player, the BD-P4600 offers multimedia features in a design form factor. The BD-P3600 ...
Document Capture to File 10-K After Two-Week Extension.
Apr 01, 2009 ... In a release dated March 31, Document Capture Technologies, an IP-driven provider of the design, development and sale of next-generation mobile scanning technologies, announced that it has filed a two-week extension with the SEC delaying its annual 10-K filing, originally due March 31 for ...
Hearst-Argyle Survey: Consumers Engaged More with Local TV News.(Survey)
Apr 06, 2009 ... Respondents to a new survey of local TV viewers around the country said they are more engaged with advertising within local TV newscasts than each of four other "traditional" media evaluated: 55 percent vs. 45 percent for direct mail; 57 percent vs. 43 percent for magazines; 64 percent vs ....
Carrie Underwood Country Music Entertainer of the Year.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Winners have been announced for the 44th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, a star-studded ceremony broadcast on the CBS Television Network from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. More than half a million fans voted in the Entertainer of the Year category, and named Carrie Underwood ...
Tata Communications and Dimension Data Team for Cisco TelePresence Market.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Tata Communications, a provider in the new world of communications, and Dimension Data, the $4.5-billion specialist IT services and solutions supplier, have signed an agreement to support the Cisco Systems Telepresence suite of products on a worldwide basis. Dimension Data, one ...
The Dallas Morning News Starts Reduction in Force.
Apr 06, 2009 ... As part of cost-cutting measures previously announced by parent company A. H. Belo, The Dallas Morning News has begun a company-wide reduction in force. As A. H. Belo said in January, this initiative will affect approximately 500 jobs across all of its properties, but numbers ...
Wegener Schedules 2Q Earnings Announcement Date.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Wegener, a provider of equipment for television, audio and data distribution networks worldwide, announced that it plans to report its second quarter of fiscal 2009 operating results prior to the market open on Monday, April 13. Wegener will host a conference call to discuss its ...
SWE-Dish Satellite Terminal Okayed for XTAR System Operation.
Apr 06, 2009 ... SWE-Dish Satellite Systems, a DataPath company specializing in compact mobile satellite communications (SATCOM) equipment, has received XTAR approval for the SWE-Dish Suitcase CCT120 ultra-portable SATCOM terminal to operate on its X-band satellite system. The Suitcase CCT120 is ...
iDirect and NewWave Broadband Ink Maritime Network Deal.
Apr 06, 2009 ... VT iDirect, a subsidiary of VT Systems, announced that NewWave Broadband has ordered US$2 million in satellite communications products to expand its maritime VSAT service and grow its land-based market. The contract includes the acquisition of multiple iDirect 15000 Series ...
Trusonic to Provide Music and Messaging to Brown Shoe Retail Locations.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Fluid Music Canada's Trusonic, a provider of Internet delivered music and messaging services for retailers, announced that Brown Shoe Company, through its Brown Group Retail and Brown Shoe Company of Canada divisions, will deploy Trusonic's in-store music and messaging solution to ...
Rubberduck Media Lab Earns Red Herring 100 Europe.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Red Herring has announced that Rubberduck Media Lab, a provider of mobile TV, was named a Winner of the Red Herring 100 Europe, an award given to the top 100 private technology companies based in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region each year. Red Herring's lists of ...
GAC to Re-Air Country Music Awards Show.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Great American Country (GAC), the network that gives fans an in-depth look at the Academy of Country Music Awards, will bring all the great music and touching moments captured in this year's event for fans to enjoy all over again with an exclusive encore presentation of the 44th Annual ...
Rentrak Theatrical Reveals Box Office for Weekend of April 3.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Rentrak Theatrical, a business unit of Rentrak, announced the weekend theatrical box office estimates for the weekend period of April 3 through April 5, according to the company's Box Office Essentials theatrical box office data collection and analytical service. The twelve ...
Allscripts Launches EHR App for iPhone.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Allscripts has introduced Allscripts Remote, a new iPhone native application that provides physicians virtually anytime, anywhere access to and control of Allscripts Electronic Health Records (EHR). With Allscripts Remote, physicians can now safely make critical medical ...
Supercomputer Pioneer David R. Miller Dies.
Apr 06, 2009 ... David R. Miller, a pioneer in scientific computer design and supercomputer development, died March 30th in Parker, CO, at the age of 82. Miller, founder of Comcor, and Denelcor, designed and built analog and digital computer systems at the height of the cold war and early years ...
Hispanic Advertising Industry Pioneer Lionel Sosa Honored by AHAA.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Lionel Sosa, an independent marketing consultant, nationally-recognized portrait artist, and expert in Hispanic consumer and voter behavior, received one of the industry's highest honors - the Eduardo Caballero Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Association of Hispanic Advertising ...
Emmis Enters and Grupo Radio Centro Ink LMA for Los Angeles' KMVN.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Emmis Communications announced it has entered into a long-term Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) for KMVN-FM (93.9) with Mexican broadcast company Grupo Radio Centro. The LMA for the Los Angeles radio station will start on April 15, and continue for up to seven years, for $7 ...
Grupo Radio Centro Enters into LMA with Los Angeles Radio Station KMVN-FM.
Apr 06, 2009 ... Grupo Radio Centro, a Mexican radio broadcast company, announced that it has entered into a local marketing agreement (the "LMA") with Emmis Communications, a U.S. radio broadcasting company. Under the LMA, the company will provide programming to, and sell advertising time on, ...