Magnitude Network, the Chicago-based website design and streaming company owned by CMGI, announced at the RAB last week that it will become part of iCast, a New York-based company also owned by CMGI that is developing a multimedia entertainment portal.

Under the deal, Magnitude will become a channel within iCast called "iCAST Music" and will abandon its website design services in favor of a concentration on providing audio streaming.

The firm also took advantage of the RAB event to announce a streaming plan for radio broadcasters with a new, lower price point -- $500/month per station for unlimited streaming. (The firm will also retain rights to a 15-second "gateway" ad at the beginning of each stream accessed by a listener).

The streaming itself will be provided by Activate, a Seattle-based company also owned by CMGI.

As for iCast itself, it is a long-delayed CMGI project that underwent management upheavals last year; click here for a November Industry Standard story on the subject. As of today, the iCast site still consists only of a placeholder Flash animation.




Critical Mass Media president John Martin was named head of Clear Channel's Website Services Group last week. The group helps facilitate the development of Clear Channel's over 450 station websites and will take on additional websites after Clear Channel's acquisition of AMFM is complete.

Martin's responsibilities will include coordinating the technical infrastructure, content, marketing, and sales of the websites.

Martin joined then-Jacor-owned Critical Mass Media in 1991 after serving as VP/GM of Evergreen KHYI/Dallas-Ft.Worth.

Martin will retain his title at Critical Mass Media, but EVP/Research Operations Carolyn Gilbert moves up to EVP/GM of the research and direct marketing firm. Meanwhile, SVP/Clear Channel Internet Group Jenny Sue Rhoades's new role in the firm's Internet strategy is currently in discussion.



From yesterday's CNET News: "In case you hadn't noticed, dot-com mania has taken over the airwaves.

"Although ad spending may have peaked during the holidays and the Super Bowl, online companies need no special occasion to continue bombarding the consuming public with billions of dollars in TV commercials, radio spots and newspaper advertisements, as well as Web marketing initiatives.

"But with so many Internet companies operating in the red, how long can they keep pouring money into these campaigns? The issue has become even more difficult recently as investors have begun to demand bottom-line evidence that they should keep buying stock in businesses that have yet to show a profit..."

And lots of dotcoms seemed to get little or no long-term (e.g., more than one week) value from their Super Bowl spots. Read the full story in CNET News here.

Part Two:

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