Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA by Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

U.S. antitrust regulators are clearing activist investor Carl Icahn‘s purchase of another $1.5 billion of shares of Yahoo. Icahn launched a proxy fight last month to remove Yahoo’s board after the company rejected Microsoft’s $47.5 billion takeover bid. (Iwantmedia 6/2, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080530/ap_on_hi_te/icahn_yahoo_antitrust 5/30)

Microsoft and Google want to use vacant airwaves to expand the $24.5 billion market for mobile Web services, creating “Wi-Fi on steroids.” But broadcasters say the plan would disrupt television signals. The Federal Communications Commission is running tests to help decide the matter. (Iwantmedia 6/2, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=asZMcmQU6s24 6/2)

As of early Sunday, 80,000 people signed up on Facebook as a fan of “Sex and the City,” the weekend’s unexpected No. 1 film in North America. Also: A new study from BlogHer and Compass Partners suggests that traditional media are losing female mindshare to the Web. (Iwantmedia 6/2, http://blog.clickz.com/080601-92309.html 6/2, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/business/media/02carr.html 6/2)

It’s interesting that fans have responded in so many digital mediums yet Carrie can’t figure out how to text in the movie. Even my mom can text for god’s sake. The only character in SATC who seemed mildly enabled on a digital top was Samantha and that’s purely based on the fact that she carried an iPhone. If the fans have broken through to the digital era, why haven’t the characters?

Kevin Ferguson, known as Kimbo Slice, became a Web sensation after he posted video clips of his bare-knuckle fights on YouTube. Ferguson is the star performer of the Elite XC fight league, which is making its live television debut on CBS. The network hopes to lure men ages 18-34. (Iwantmedia 6/2, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/31/sports/othersports/31mma.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 5/31)

Nunez, top, wrestled Bruner as Jeffry Yurk officiated. Open fingered gloves are worn to provide some protection but allow competitors to use their grip. Photo: Karen Tam for The New York Times

CBS will be the next network to enable embedding of clips of its shows like CSI, Star Trek and CBS Evening News with Katie Couric on third party sites and services, according to Silicon Alley Insider. (Cynopsis 6/2)

Warner Music chief Edgar Bronfman: “The record industry is a purchase model. That model is going to continue, but there will also be subscription models. There will be advertising revenues. There will be access models. And there will be what I call a network licensing model.” (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ed013f78-2de3-11dd-b92a-000077b07658.html 5/30)

Time Warner Cable plans to let subscribers access Internet video on their television screens as part of a new home networking system. (http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN3030690720080530 5/30)

Liberty Media may emerge as a buyer for Time Warner’s AOL Internet-access business, says Citigroup analyst Jason Bazinet, who put the chances of a deal at 40%. “While this declining business anchors Time Warner stock, it would bring a cash-generating business to Liberty.” (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aNfJ7nHgxFTg 5/30)

Terry Semel, the former CEO of Yahoo and Warner Bros. Entertainment, plans to make a run at acquiring private-equity investor Teddy Forstmann’s marketing and talent agency IMG. Semel is said to be aiming to transform IMG into a media company and bolster its digital operation. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/06022008/business/3b_star_gazing_113547.htm 6/2)

Turner is pasting together its Web properties — CNN.com, TNT.com, TBS.com and others — to form a sizable, brand-friendly advertising network. The cable-centric company will begin packaging ad inventory from 19 different Web sites, including partner sites NBA.com and PGA.com. (Iwantmedia 6/2, http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/digital-downloads/broadband/e3i4a78a69f13b8af058d11b8fa889da6f3 6/2)

TBS premiers a sassy new web series today called Commuter Confidential sponsored by Match.com and Revlon, consisting of candid conversations with 4 different women about life, love, food, etc. A total of 20 episodes will premiere online and on air with a branded commercial pod during the 11 pm slot on TBS from June 2-27. (Cynopsis 6/2)

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