Media Measurement Firm Rentrak Acquires Media Salvation

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Portland, Ore. – Rentrak (NASD: RENT), a provider of media audience
measurement services, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Media
Salvation, a provider of sales and financial reporting systems and services to
movie studios.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Media
Salvation was founded in 2009 by David Cortese, formerly CIO at Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment, who will become SVP of digital studio services at Rentrak.

Portland,
Ore.-based Rentrak said the deal will secure an additional major studio to its
roster of entertainment clients, and allow it to integrate all of its existing
products with TV network and studio financial and distribution systems, like JD
Edwards and SAP.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2blpyq9

http://www.rentrak.com

Centro Gets $22.5 Million for Automated Media Buying Software

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Chicago – Centro, a provider of digital media services, has
raised $22.5 million in new financing from FTV Capital.

Founded in 2001,
Chicago-based Centro offers automated digital media buying software for online
local and display ads.

The company says its Transis platform has been adopted
by ad agencies such as Boelter + Lincoln, Burrell Communications Group and
Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

Centro will use the new funds to invest in software
development and expand its sales force.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2fqnjjn

http://www.centro.net

USA Today Acquires Product Reviews Network Reviewed.com

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

McLean, Va. – Publisher Gannett’s (NYSE: GCI) USA Today said on Tuesday
it has acquired Boston-based Reviewed.com, a group of 12 product-review
websites focused on technology products such as digital cameras, camcorders and
high-definition televisions.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Reviewed.com will continue to operate in Boston under its current management.

Dave Hunke, the president and publisher of USA Today, called the acquisition
"an important step as we develop our integrated consumer media strategy.
We believe this combination of our consumer technology coverage and access
along with their reviews and audience will be a winning one for our
customers."

Each Reviewed.com site features standardized, scientific
reviews and comparison tools designed to help consumers make informed
purchases. The company conducts its testing in dedicated facilities.

The
network — which includes sites such as DigitalCameraInfo.com,
TelevisionInfo.com, CamcorderInfo.com, PrinterInfo.com and HeadphoneInfo.com —
reaches an average of 1 million monthly unique readers.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2chvyjd

http://www.reviewed.com

Wild Needle Raises $2.5 Million for Mobile Social Games

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Mountain View, Calif. – Wild Needle, a start-up developing
social gaming technology, has raised $2.5 million of an expected $3 million
first round of funding, VentureBeat reported, citing a regulatory filing.

Founded in 2010, Mountain View, Calif.-based is still in stealth mode, but says
on its website that it is hiring a team to "build the next generation of
incredibly fun, incredibly social, mobile games."

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/23que5f
(VentureBeat)

http://wildneedle.com

SCVNGR Lands $15 Million for Mobile Location Game

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Boston – SCVNGR, a developer of mobile software technology
used in games and other applications, has raised $15 million in new financing,
led by Balderton Capital.

Previous backers Google Ventures and Highland Capital
Partners also participated in the investment round.

Founded in 2008,
Boston-based SCVNGR’s platform is used to develop, manage and deploy
interactive location-based mobile games, tours and experiences.

The SCVNGR game
allows mobile users to check-in, complete challenges and unlock rewards at over
12,000 real-world locations.

 

Related Links:
http://www.scvngr.com

Budget TV Maker Vizio to Release Smartphone, Tablet

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Irvine, Calif. – Vizio, a maker of low-cost LCD HDTVs,
announced on Monday that it plans to expand into the mobile market with the
release of a smartphone and tablet computer. The VIA Phone and VIA Tablet will
run Google’s Android, and feature touchscreens and video cameras. No pricing
details were mentioned for the devices, which will be introduced at the Consumer
Electronics Show before launching this summer.

 

Related Links:
http://www.vizio.com

Missing Kids Organization to Bring AMBER Alerts to Facebook

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Alexandria, Va. – The National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children said on Monday it plans to expand its AMBER Alert program to
social network Facebook later this month. The program, which issues
geographically targeted bulletins on missing or abducted children, currently
operates through local TV and radio stations, digital highway signs, Internet
and wireless services providers and the trucking industry. Since its inception
in 1997, the program has been credited with the safe recovery of 525 children.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/26276j5

http://www.ncmec.org  

Barnes & Noble: Holiday Comparable Store Sales Were 9.7%

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

New York – Bookseller Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS) said on Monday that
the company saw its largest retail sales day in its nearly 40-year history on
Dec. 23, and that comparable store sales were 9.7% for the nine-week period
ending Jan. 1, 2011. The company noted that its Nook e-book reader device was a
key sales driver during the period.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2b7z3u8

Samsung Galaxy S Smartphone Sales Top 10 Million

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Los Angeles – Electronics maker Samsung has sold 10 million
of its Galaxy S smartphones since introducing the device in June, Bloomberg
reports. According to IDC data, Samsung ranked fourth in smartphone sales
during the third quarter of 2010, behind Nokia, Apple and RIM.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/297fomw
(Bloomberg)

Craig McCaw Resigns as Chairman of Clearwire

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Kirkland, Wash. – Craig McCaw, the telecom pioneer who
helped build wireless companies Nextel and XO Communications, has resigned as
the chairman of Clearwire, the wireless company he founded in 2003, according
to an SEC filing. McCaw had served as chairman of Clearwire for more than seven
years. The move comes as majority owner Sprint Nextel reportedly declined its
option to buy notes from Clearwire, which has been trying to raise upwards of
$1.2 billion to continue building out its nationwide mobile broadband network.

 

Related Links:
http://www.clearwire.com

http://tinyurl.com/28rtk5k
(SEC)

http://tinyurl.com/2b7abzk
(Bloomberg)

1...1,0781,0791,080...1,459Page 1,079 of 1,459