Author Archive

@ SXSWi: Ronen And Cuban Go Live With Pay TV-Internet Debate

March 12, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
@ SXSWi: Ronen And Cuban Go Live With Pay TV-Internet Debate

Mark Cuban and Avner Ronen met in person for the first time just before their Pay TV vs. Internet debate here at South by Southwest Interactive—about 20 minutes before their session was interrupted by a fire alarm. But they argue like a married couple that’s been together for 20 years, complete with sharp barbs....
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Battery Ventures Closes New $750 Million Fund

March 12, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Battery Ventures Closes New $750 Million Fund

Battery Ventures has closed a new $750 million, giving it nearly $4 billion under management—and providing another sign for soothsayers looking for proof of recovery in venture capital action. The veteran VC firm, which prides itself on multi-stage investments, says Battery IX gives it the flexibility to make small investments in startups and larger...
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Video: Murdoch: Newspaper Ad Model Isn’t Dead

March 12, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Video: Murdoch: Newspaper Ad Model Isn’t Dead

News Corp.. (NYSE: NWS) Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch celebrates his 79th birthday with a cameo on his own Fox Business Network. Among the topics ... the newspaper ad model not dead yet (if we were Gawker we’d have to follow that with “neither am I”); iPad will attract more media and eventually a...
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Plastic Logic Can’t Deliver On Que; Delays E-Reader Shipments By Months

March 12, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Plastic Logic Can’t Deliver On Que; Delays E-Reader Shipments By Months

Another e-reader company is finding it more difficult than expected to deliver devices. Pre-order customers for the Plastic Logic Que proReader are getting an e-mail from CEO Richard Archuleta about an extended delay in delivering the device, highly anticipated because of its sleek form factor and large screen. During CES, where Que was one...
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Why MySpace Co-Presidents Aren’t Worried About Growth

March 10, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Why MySpace Co-Presidents Aren’t Worried About Growth

MySpace (NYSE: NWS) pulled up the curtain a little this week, letting in some light on a makeover still very much in progress and marking a debut of sorts for Co-Presidents Mike Jones and Jason Hirschhorn as a team. By walking reporters through their road map, the two hope to move the story from...
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Viral Video Hitmaker OK Go Does Just That; Parts Ways With EMI

March 10, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Viral Video Hitmaker OK Go Does Just That; Parts Ways With EMI

In another bit of EMI news, less vital to the company’s future than today’s latest change at the top, OK Go and Capitol Records have parted ways after nine years through mutual agreement. OK Go asked; EMI agreed. OK Go is best known for its viral videos—and was touted by previous EMI management...
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Without Colbert, Stewart, Hulu Could Cede Some Ground To Viacom

March 9, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Without Colbert, Stewart, Hulu Could Cede Some Ground To Viacom

Barring a last-minute fix or change of strategy, at midnight Tuesday Hulu.com will switch from a co-host for online video of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report to a referral engine for the popular shows. Viacom (NYSE: VIA) execs like to call it a test but after 21 months it’s...
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Yahoo Nets Hockey Night In Canada Streaming Rights

March 9, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Yahoo Nets Hockey Night In Canada Streaming Rights

Canada continues to stick it to the U.S. when it comes to hockey. Not only do they get the gold medal, now Canadians can watch Hockey Night in Canada streamed live on Yahoo Canada for the rest of the season. (For those who made it through the Vancouver closing ceremonies, the table top hockey...
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Variety Follows Oscars With Cuts, Including Chief Film Critic

March 9, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
Variety Follows Oscars With Cuts, Including Chief Film Critic

Variety followed up Sunday’s Academy Awards with a different batch of envelopes, handing out pink slips to eight editorial staffers—including chief film critic Todd McCarthy and theater critic David Rooney—in its latest reorg. Reed Business Information has sold or plans to sell most of its U.S. titles that rely heavily on advertising but has...
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NYT Book Review Spins Off For E-Readers; Sony First

March 8, 2010
By Staci D. Kramer at paidContent
NYT Book Review Spins Off For E-Readers; Sony First

The search for revenue by deconstructing the New York Times (NYSE: NYT) into its most valuable pieces for various platforms continues. Up next: the New York Times Book Review for e-reader. NYT marketing exec James Dunn mentioned the new subscription effort during a session of the Digital Publishing Alliance (DPA) and E-Reader Symposium, according...
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