Top Silicon Valley VCs Invest $1 Million to Play 'MinoMonsters'

November 10, 2011

Game startup MinoMonsters Inc. has secured $1 million from a pool of investors that includes Andreessen Horowitz, SV Angel, Y Combinator, Yuri Milner, General Catalyst, Ignition Partners, Raymond Tonsing and Alexis Ohanian. Additionally, TJ Murphy has joined chief executive officer Joshua Buckley as co-founder and president to lead the game’s development and technology strategy.

The funding enabled MinoMonsters to open its office in San Francisco, and will go towards expanding its team and completing the fledgling company’s flagship title MinoMonsters, a battle and trading game for iPhone and iPod touch devices.

Buckley does not yet have a track record, which is unsurprising since he is not yet 20 years old. Murphy was formerly product manager at Zynga, creator of the social game, Warbook, and co-founder of the social gaming platform Social Gaming Network.

MinoMonsters is designed to inspire people to play with their friends by making it easy to connect and share the game, a quality that that company said is lacking in existing mobile titles. The action takes place in a cinematic, secret world of pet monsters, and players need to win the trust of their captured monsters by feeding and otherwise caring for them, and then must strategize how best to use their special powers to win battles. If the game lives up to its billing, the potential for merchandising, animated programs and other uses of the intellectual property is obvious.

The company is aware of the Pokémon parallels but said its visual artistry, emotional heart and use of the most current technologies mean that MinoMonsters recaptures that magic while creating a unique and engaging experience for today’s audience and usage patterns.

“MinoMonsters presents the opportunity to change mobile gaming forever. The extraordinary team over at Mino HQ has built a title that combines deep emotional engagement with the joy of mobile gaming … a perfect mix,” said David Lee, founding managing partner, SV Angel. “We see tremendous opportunities in the mobile games market and this is why we are fully vested in what they are doing.”

Each of the monsters has its own personality, and the gameplay is suited to mobile, with short sequences that can be completed in a short amount of time while players are taking a break or waiting for something.

“I’ve worked on a variety of blockbuster social titles such as CityVille, FarmVille and FrontierVille in my career, but once I met with Josh to talk about his ideas for MinoMonsters, I knew this company had the potential to change the mobile games industry,” said TJ Murphy, president of MinoMonsters. “It is not very often that something comes along that truly has the potential to reinvent a genre and become part of today’s pop culture. I am thrilled to be a part of this world class team.”

Related links:

http://www.minomonsters.com

AllThingsD – http://tinyurl.com/6sr9kpd

SFGate – http://tinyurl.com/7yyg2jz

Intel and Toyota Partner on In-Vehicle Future [with demo video]

digitalmediawi

November 10, 2011

Intel Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. have launched an initiative to develop the next generation of in-vehicle entertainment and information systems, with particular attention to mobile device connectivity.

Reducing driver distraction is a key aspect of their collaboration. The companies therefore will focus their research on touch, gesture and voice technologies for user interaction, striving for the most intuitive controls possible. Intel and Toyota also will investigate effective ways to integrate vehicles with the home to provide a seamless connection across all areas of people’s lives, including new connectivity tehnologies.

The partners also note that the automotive infotainment and telematics market are expected to rise from $5.6 billion in 2010 to $8.7 billion in 2018 according to research from Strategy Analytics. This means the connected car is the third-fastest growing technological device, according to the Mobile Future coalition.

“Intel has been conducting research related to the connected car for years, and with the support of Toyota will extend that research to advanced services that will benefit the driver and passengers in many ways,” said Staci Palmer, general manager of Intel’s Automotive Solutions Division. “Through this joint effort, we hope to improve the driving experience by enabling a seamless connection between mobile devices and the vehicle so when brought together they naturally adapt and work in harmony.”

Related links:

http://blogs.intel.com

http://www.toyota.com/about/our_news

http://www.mobilefuture.org

AnyClip Adds Warner Bros. Movies

digitalmediawi

November 10, 2011

AnyClip Media Ltd. signed a content licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution that will give its users access to their favorite moments from Warner Bros. Pictures’ library of feature films, including select Harry Potter and Batman movies, Ocean’s Eleven, Sex and the City, 300, Superman, The Wizard of Oz, Lethal Weapon, Dirty Harry (pictured), Casablanca, Se7en and The Shining.

The service makes it possible to discover or search for specific scenes, and then use them – legally – in emails, blogs or other content to evoke the emotional experience of the movie. For example, just try to look at this photo of Clint Eastwood without thinking, “Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” Each clip also comes with links to purchase the movie, giving studios another way to realize the value of their catalog and raise awareness of their legacy.

As part of this new agreement, AnyClip will tag full feature films from the Warner Bros. library with thousands of relevant data points like lines of dialogue, actor and director names, movie title and other characteristics, resulting in short clips that are indexable, searchable and embeddable no matter where they end up online. The company’s library currently offers more than 50,000 clips from over 12,000 films licensed from Universal Pictures, Vivendi Entertainment, indie distribution firms such as First Look and Virgil Films, and other sources.

“Our agreement with Warner Bros. will give loyal movie watchers and online innovators access to scenes from some of the most famous films of all time,” said Oren Nauman, chief executive officer of AnyClip. “Our SEO-friendly video player is easily customizable and fits anywhere on the web allowing everyone to benefit from having high-quality, fully searchable and licensed movie clips.”

In addition to its free consumer service, AnyClip has affliations with video websites as well as for companies based on dating, fashion, sports, travel and more.

AnyClip was founded by Jerusalem Venture Partners and GTI. Its board members include: Mickey Schulhof, former president and chief executive officer of Sony America and Sony Media and Entertainment; Erel Margalit, founder and managing partner of JVP; and Art Levitt, former chief executive officer of Fandango, president of Disney Regional Entertainment and chief executive officer of Hard Rock Café International.

Related links:

http://www.anyclip.com

http://www.warnerbros.com

http://www.WarnerArchive.com

Online Radio Pioneer Live365 Names CEO

digitalmediawi

November 10, 2011

Internet radio and broadcasting pioneer Live365, which against all odds has been operating since 1999, announced Ed Schaffer has been named chief executive officer. He succeeds Mark Lam, who held the position since 2004.

Lam led the 2010 redesign of the Live365 website and mobile presence, so the appointment of a new chief operating officer comes as the company continues to expand with new mobile applications, distribution channels and growth initiatives.

Schaffer (pictured) most recently was vice president, Business Operations, MediaWorks at Monster Worldwide. Before that he was vice president, Finance & Marketplace Operations at oDesk Corp., having been general manager, Intuit Developer Network at Intuit Inc.

The Live365 platform and radio network includes more than 250 genres of music and talk, produced by over 5,000 broadcasters from over 150 countries.

“I am excited to join a true pioneer in digital media and help lead the charge for Live365,” Schaffer said in a statement. “With millions of listeners and thousands of broadcasters, the company is poised for a new phase of growth. I look forward to leveraging my results-driven leadership experience to help seize the significant opportunities that exist for the company and its technologies.”

Related link:

http://www.live365.com

Neustar Completes $650 Million Acquisition of Targusinfo

digitalmediawi

November 10, 2011

Sterling, Va. – Neustar, a Sterling, Va.-based provider of network addressing, routing and policy management services to the telecom and Internet industries, said it has completed its $650 million acquisition of Vienna-based Targusinfo, a developer of information services designed to help clients gain real-time insight into customers and prospects.

The deal was first announced a month ago.

Lisa Hook, Neustar’s president and chief executive officer, said the acquisition “significantly expands Neustar’s ability to offer a more diverse portfolio of services in the $30 billion real-time information and analytics market.”

Targusinfo processes more than 100 billion transactions a year, generating $149 million in revenue over the last 12 months. The company specializes in caller ID and online information services, such as lead verification and scoring.

Targusinfo will become Neustar’s third division, along with Carrier and Enterprise Services, and be led by Dennis Ainge, the company’s former executive vice president of corporate development.

This article was also published in Potomac Tech Wire.

Related links:

http://www.neustar.biz

http://www.targusinfo.com

Press release – http://tinyurl.com/7uzen8s

Photo by Flickr user lrargerich/Luis Argerich, used under Creative Commons license

COO Peter Liguori to Leave Discovery Communications

digitalmediawi

November 10, 2011

Peter Liguori, chief operating officer of Discovery Communications, will leave the company at the end of the year. Discovery Communications confirmed the move and said the position will be eliminated following his departure.

During his nearly two years with Discovery, Liguori led the launch of joint ventures OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, and his responsibilities included oversight of Marketing, Discovery Studios, Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs, Business Affairs, and Media Technology, Production and Operations. He also served as interim chief executive officer of OWN after Christina Norman left the network in May, until Winfrey took over.

“My time at Discovery has been incredibly rewarding,” Liguori said in a statement. “Every day I was inspired to work alongside highly talented and hard-working staff who never ceased to surprise with their passion, expertise and commitment. It has been a privilege to have contributed to Discovery’s mission and to have helped so many networks and brands grow their ambition and accelerate their creative momentum.” He went on to thank the members of the senior management team, employees at all leverls, and to Discovery’s president and chief executive officer David Zaslav in particular “for his partnership and friendship and for giving me the opportunity to stretch new creative muscles in the nonfiction space.”

Prior to joining Discovery, Liguori served in numerous leadership roles across the media industry, including chairman, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Co.; president and chief executive officer of News Corp.’s FX Networks; senior vice president, Marketing for a joint venture at Fox; and senior vice president of Marketing at HBO.

Zaslav said, “Pete’s leadership, enthusiasm and creative vision have brought a fresh and important perspective to Discovery. Around the world, our programming, marketing and promotional efforts have greatly benefited from his energy, experience and creative eye. I am particularly grateful to Pete for tackling some pretty challenging special assignments, including the launches of our joint venture networks – The Hub, OWN and 3net. Pete is just a terrific guy and talented executive, and I want to thank him for the many significant contributions he has made at all levels of Discovery Communications.”

Discovery Channel president Clark Bunting previously announced that he will retire when his contract expires in March 2012, after 27 years with the company. Chief financial officer Bradley Singer has decided to leave when his contract expires at the same time.

Related links:

http://www.discoverycommunications.com

Variety – http://tinyurl.com/6mqt5dr

Hollywood Reporter – http://tinyurl.com/7j7nqb3

AdWeek – http://tinyurl.com/86s3d8u

Deadline Hollywood – http://tinyurl.com/cmnm3mo

Nickelodeon Targets Cross-Platform Moms

digitalmediawi

November 9, 2011

Nickelodeon today announced NickMom, a multi-platform destination that will include a two-hour programming block on Nick. Jr. television. The new brand will make its first public appearance Monday, Nov. 14, as a multimedia blog on Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect.com before evolving into a lighthearted “mom-focused” site complete with editorial, photos, videos, gaming and community.

The broadcast TV block will follow sometime in the fourth quarter of 2012. NickMom on Nick Jr. will be a two-hour mix of original humorous long- and short-form features expected to include talk shows, stand-up and sketch comedy, hidden camera, game shows and more that will air nightly starting at 9 p.m. ET and then replay immediately afterwards.

At its core, NickMom will be a destination for the “relatable, ridiculous and irreverent” humor that moms say they like most, according to Nickelodeon, even though it’s unclear where that leaves dads. Development deals for over 30 projects are in place with the likes of: Eyeworks USA (The Biggest Loser); Mad Cow (Madeleine Smithberg, co-creator, former executive producer of The Daily Show); actress and author Annabelle Gurwitch (You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up; Fired!; Dinner & a Movie); and Emmy award-winning Hugh Fink (head writer, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; and writer, Saturday Night Live).

“Today’s moms who grew up with Nickelodeon have a renewed relationship with us through their kids, and now we have something for them as adults in NickMom,” said Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon Networks, a division of Viacom. “This generation of moms is very different than any one before it and we are very excited to offer a destination that is unique in today’s entertainment landscape with content that taps into the Nickelodeon’s comedic DNA.”

General Mills and Reckitt Benckiser have signed up as charter sponsors. Nick Jr. currently delivers Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies, Go, Diego, Go!, Yo Gabba Gabba (pictured), Max and Ruby, Team Umi Zoomi and other programs to 73 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV, with supporting educational entertainment content on the website.

Related links:

http://www.ParentsConnect.com

http://www.NickJr.com

AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft Strike Online Ad Partnership

digitalmediawi

November 9, 2011

New York – Banding together to take on market leader Google, AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft have announced an online advertising partnership that will allow the companies to offer each other’s display ad space to their respective clients.

“This partnership will create an opportunity where advertisers and publishers alike can benefit from easier access to – and demand for – high-quality inventory,” said Rik van der Kooi, corporate vice president of the Microsoft Advertising Business Group. “The fact that we’re joining together to offer this kind of access to quality – yet each with our own differentiated ad offerings – is something that will benefit the market as a whole.”

The companies said they plan to integrate their respective bidding technologies by early 2012, and will continue to compete with each other for both advertisers and publishing partners.

This article was also published in Potomac Tech Wire.

Related link:

Press release – http://tinyurl.com/cky4tr3

Photo by Flickr user geographyalltheway.com, used under Creative Commons license

Howard T. Owens Named President at NatGeo Channels U.S.

digitalmediawi

November 9, 2011

Changes in the executive suite at National Geographic Channels bring digital experience to the fore. Taking over as president of National Geographic Channels US is Howard T. Owens, who most recently was a founding partner and a lead managing director at Reveille LLC, with responsibility for reality and scripted television, digital and branding, production, legal and finance.

Owens (pictured) succeeds Steve Schiffman, who had been with the company since 2002, effective immediately. This and other changes were announced by David Lyle, chief executive officer, National Geographic Channels US and Global Programming, who assumed his responsibilities in August.

Lyle also named Courteney Monroe to the newly created position of chief marketing officer for the U.S. channels. She joins the company in January from HBO, where she was executive vice president, Consumer Marketing and Digital Platforms.

Additionally, Lyle promoted Michael Cascio to executive vice president, Programming for National Geographic Channel US. Owens and Monroe will report to Lyle, while Cascio will report to Owens.

The company’s domestic channels, owned jointly by the Fox Networks Group and the National Geographic Society, include the National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Mundo.

“I am delighted to have superb executives like Howard, Courteney and Michael in these critical roles for our networks as we build on the success of our highest-rated summer in NGC’s history,” Lyle said in a statement. “I have known Howard for more than a decade, and I am confident he is the right person at the right time to take our network into our next era. His leadership, creativity, passion and vision are unmatched in this business, and is just what we need to drive our networks forward.”

In-Car Digital Audio Threatens Broadcast Radio

digitalmediawi

November 9, 2011

When Americans listen to music, they’re most often doing so in their car. And even with all of the Bluetooth and docking gadgets in the marketplace, they’re still likely to be listening to an AM/FM radio or CD. But that may not be the situation for much longer, according to a new report from The NPD Group.

“Smart devices streaming music could end up being the largest threat to CDs and broadcast radio since the dawn of digital music,” Russ Crupnick, senior vice president and entertainment analyst for The NPD Group, wrote in the report Entertainment Trends in America. The growth in car audio systems with integrated digital music players will cannibalize every other listening option.

The automotive locale is due primarily to the huge amount of time Americans spend driving – or in traffic jams, of course. In fact, nearly two out of three Americans said that the majority of their music listening took place in the car during the prior three months, a decline of two points since last year, and 80 percent of them did so by turning on the radio at least some of the time.

Just over half (53 percent) of motoring music fans listened to CDs, down four percentage points over the prior year. Listening via an iPod touch, iPhone, Android smartphone or other similar device more than picked up that difference, increasing nine percentage points to a total of 29 percent and accounting for 3.5 hours per week per person.

Crupnick predicts these trends will gain momentum in the near future. “A tipping point is approaching when vehicles and portable devices move from a tethered connection to a more integrated one,” he wrote.

Related links:

http://www.NPD.com

https://www.npd.com/lps/EntertainmentTrends2011

Photo by Flickr user dsearls/Doc Searls, used under Creative Commons license