From the New York Times: "Looking to evolve with its youthful audience, the MTV cable network is reinventing itself again: It will integrate its two cable channels with its Internet Web site to create what its executives are calling 'a multimedia version of the MTV brand.'

"Among other elements, the new plan for the channel aims to take advantage of the wounding of the music-sharing Web site Napster, by offering viewers, for a fee, first access to new music. MTV also aims to persuade cable operators to expand the distribution of the second MTV channel, MTV2, by using its promotional power to tout the advantages of the operators' high- speed Internet connections...

"It was essential to incorporate instant messaging into the MTV Web site, (president of MTV's interactive division Nicholas) Butterworth said, because the main thing young viewers are doing on the Internet while they watch television is communicating with friends. MTV intends to expand greatly the "radio player" icons on its Web site, offering more diverse kinds of music. And it hopes to connect fans of that music and of the various artists that appear and MTV and MTV2 through the messaging."

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From LocalBusiness.com: "MeasureCast has laid off 13 members of its staff, LocalBusiness.com has learned...

The company had 35 people and is now down to 22, communications director Sven Haarhoff confirmed. The layoffs were in all areas of the company. There are no plans for further layoffs at this time. The senior executive staff remains in place, he said.

"'It was a painful decision to lay off some of our employees,' he said, but 'it is necessary to enable the company to weather the current downturn in the economy, while still providing products and services.'

"'Revenue is coming in, the company continues to sign up customers, and orders have not slowed down,' he said. MeasureCast's customers are both broadcasters and advertising agencies."

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...

... This sounds like it might be reasonable "right-sizing." Back in the 1995, Strategic Media Research had AccuRatings up and running in over 70 markets, generating several million dollars a year in profitable revenues, with a staff of only 12 dedicated full-time employees (plus some shared executive and adminstrative staff from Strategic). -- KH ...

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From DotComScoop: "IUMA, one of the original Internet destinations for music, has found a buyer in European-based Vitaminic. The Redwood City, CA company was ceased business operations last month when its parent eMusic pulled the plug on the site. Terms of the deal were not announced...

"IUMA expects to restart suspended services within a week, according to the statement.

"'Within a week, IUMA is scheduled to begin accepting new artists and relaunch all IUMA services including new submissions, site stats, charts, features, the IUMA A&R affiliate network and all revenue-sharing programs. Over the next few months, Vitaminic will allow IUMA to extend its functionality with e-commerce, subscription, syndication and mobile features, providing the extensive artists community with new opportunities to reach a wider audience and earn additional revenues,' read (a) statement."

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From the press release: "NetRadio today announced that it had completed a restructuring of approximately $9.6 million of debt owed to Navarre Corporation.

"Navarre is NetRadio's largest shareholder and, prior to its initial public offering in October 1999, NetRadio's parent corporation. Under the terms of the restructuring, Navarre has forgiven $5.5 million of the debt in exchange for a $1 million prepayment by NetRadio to be made March 26, 2001. These transactions leave a current balance owed to Navarre of approximately $3.1 million, due in November 2001."

Read the press release here.

April 2, 2001	Digital Media Outlook: New York, NY
May 3-4, 2001	Streaming Media Asia 2001: Hong Kong

Reprinted from Friday...
This is in response to yesterday's reported death of the Kerbango Internet radio appliance...

"I thought it to be a great idea."

I was especially distressed to see that 3COM has abandoned the Kerbango product as seven of our music streams were listed in their excellent data base from the beginning. We were looking forward to even greater Internet audiences when the product hit the stores as at one time over 65% were "tuning in " to Sunlite Radio, from the links on their home page.

I agree, however, with Kurt that when 3COM announced it would only work on high speed connections (I have that at the office, but not home), I was very concerned about the success of the project.

Still, as it was originally conceived, I thought it to be a great idea. I am very sorry to hear of this news.

Allan Winters, President Sunlite Broadcasting

"Like building a radio with AM only..."

The other thing that I think hurt Kerbango was its ability to receive (only) MP3 and Real streaming. Not having Windows Media access is like building a radio with AM only (or FM only, depending on which streaming you like better).

I think there is a future for a Kerbango-type product, but it has to be as ubiquitous as a standard radio for it to succeed.

Rich Petschke, President RIS Solutions