Autosound industry was represented at Window’s XP preview Wed. in N.Y. when Aiwa America announced first car stereo CD/receiver to use Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio (WMA) for playback CDs with compressed music files. Company last year was first to introduce car decks with MP3 playback, which also is incorporated in new CDC-MA01 that ships next month at $349.95. Using WMA or MP3 compression, consumers can transfer several hours of music from PCs to blank CDs for mobile playback. Despite greater compression ratio that makes WMA files just 1/3 size of MP3 files, Microsoft has said audio quality is same. Other features of top-shelf CDC-MA01 include 4-channel amp at 50 w per channel, motorized front panel that flips down and away to expose CD slot -- and retracts to disguise player with plain black panel when car’s ignition is turned off. It also has front panel input jack for other music sources, such as cassette player or flash-memory portable. Soundfield-shaping processor adjusts stereo imaging for driver’s position at touch of single button. Aiwa package also includes steering-wheel-mounted wireless remote control for in-dash player.
Pegasus Communications and DirecTV, whose acrimonious split over programming distribution pact triggered series of lawsuits, reached agreement on new seamless marketing deal, SEC filing said. New pact “preserves” Pegasus’s right to sell premium services Cinemax, HBO, Showtime and The Movie Channel to its customers, filing said. DirecTV sells services from several of its satellite frequencies, filing said. Also part of revised pact is sports programming and local TV channels. Pegasus will continue to retain 10-20% of revenue tied to those programming packages and be responsible for sales, marketing, billing and customer services, it said. DirecTV has right to terminate agreement on 90 days’ notice.
Standout titles at Electronic Arts (EA) game showcase in N.Y.C. this week included Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 for PS2. EA spokesman told us title, currently in pre-alpha stage of development cycle, was scheduled to ship next spring. He said Need for Speed was key franchise from company’s EA Games division and it spent time evaluating capabilities of PS2 before developing title for system. Objective, he said, was to gain “photo realism” with cars featured in game. Title features more than 20 licensed vehicles from car makers including Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche rendered with more detailed graphics than had been possible in past. Cars in game, he said, are about 60% complete at this point. Other titles at game showcase included Cel Damage, debut title for Xbox next month that will ship in mid-Dec. for GameCube. Also spotlighted were Command & Conquer Renegade for PC (Feb. 12), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for Game Boy Advance/Game Boy Color/PC/ PlayStation (Nov. 16, day and date with feature film of same name), James Bond 007 in Agent Under Fire for PS2 (Nov. 17), Motor City Online (Oct. 30), NBA Live 2002 for PS2 (Oct. 30) and Xbox (Dec. 4), Knockout Kings 2002 for PS2/Xbox, Sid Meier’s Sim Golf for PC (late Jan.-early Feb.), The Simpsons Road Rage for GameCube (Dec.), PS2 (Nov. 20) and Xbox (Nov. 13), The Sims Hot Date for PC (Nov. 13), SSX Tricky for GameCube (Dec. 4), PS2 (Nov. 13) and Xbox (Dec. 18), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002 for PC/PS2 (mid-Feb.).
Enix America is backing release of PlayStation title Dragon Warrior VII Nov. 1 with million-dollar marketing campaign that will include extensive print ads, co-op marketing programs with videogame retailers, online promotions and contests, PR campaign to mainstream media. Enix Pres. Paul Handelman said campaign “represents our most aggressive push to date for a single product, as it targets not only the dedicated videogame audience, but also strategic vertical markets as well.”
Mattel is actively looking for partners in interactive market to move its action figure franchise Masters of the Universe to videogame arena. Boys New Media Senior Vp Amy Boylan said: “Because of the natural fit with He-Man and the core gaming audience, He-Man has generated a tremendous amount of interest with gamers. Based on such a groundswell of support, we have decided to seek out a partner in the interactive space that is capable of bringing this classic brand ’to life’ on the new game systems.”
Kodak will cut additional 3,500-4,000 jobs this quarter worldwide as part of continuing cost-reduction effort, company said Wed. as it reported decreased sales and profit for 3rd quarter. Company said that by year-end it would “have completed or initiated cost actions that will result in total employment reduction in the range of 6,500 to 7,500.” Kodak said revenue dropped 8% to $3.3 billion from $3.6 billion same quarter year ago as profit fell to $96 million (33? per share) from $418 million ($1.36). CEO Daniel Carp blamed weakened sales on “economic downturn [that] intensified,” adding “all signs suggest the weakness will continue into next year.” But he said: “I am pleased that in these challenging times, Kodak generated strong cash flow by reducing inventories and restraining capital expenditures. This allowed us to pare debt and positions Kodak to benefit once the economic rebound begins.” Imaging sector has been hit hard by economic slowdown. Earlier this month, competitor Polaroid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it attempted to restructure $950 million in debt.
TDK Mediactive signed 5-year worldwide licensing agreement with Hallmark Entertainment Distribution and BDSP to develop and publish games based on book series Dinotopia created by James Gurney. Platforms covered by license include current and next- generation videogame consoles, Macintosh, PC, cellphones, PDAs. First game is to ship in 2002 to coincide with U.S. broadcast of Hallmark TV miniseries on ABC.
Showtime Networks executive Mark Greenberg extols virtues of TiVo device that allows his children to pause live TV, but Greg DePrez of Starz Encore Group believes operators can offer much fresher material out of head-end. They were among 7 panelists discussing next generation of video-on-demand (VOD) at VoD Summit in N.Y.C. Tues. They agreed, however, that hybrid of network and personal video recorder (PVR) devices based in home would be embraced by cable industry for immediate future. For example, Greenberg, exec. vp-corporate strategy & communications at Showtime, likes ability to skip commercials on home PVR. However, DePrez, vp-subscription VoD at Starz, says PVRs are “nice, but they don’t predict what you're going to watch.”
EPA began new electronics collection, refurbishment and recycling project with Region 3 states Del., Md., Pa., Va., W.Va., Washington, D.C. Called eCycling, year-long project will partner EPA and state and local govts. with electronic manufacturers, recyclers and waste transporters to evaluate methods for collection and recycling of consumer electronics products, EPA spokeswoman Bonnie Smith said: “The EPA role is really a coordinating role, recognizing there is a potential to recycle a lot of these electronics and that each state does have its own [recycling] process.” Data developed will guide development of cost-effective and sustainable collection system to remove end-of-life computer equipment and TVs from municipal waste systems, she said. EPA Environmental Analyst Claudette Reed said: “The purpose of the project is to see if we can amass the kind of volume that allows recyclers to benefit from the process.” She said agency approached individual consumer electronics and computer manufacturers and industry groups and had “worked closely” with EIA, JVC, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony.
Legislation to mandate management of end-of-life consumer electronic products hasn’t gained traction in states because of expectations raised by govt.-industry initiative to develop voluntary program to dispose of products in environmentally aware way, according to state regulators. But that could change if sustainable models for management of waste electronics aren’t evolved soon, state officials said. About 25 states and local govts. are involved in National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI) that’s seeking to reach agreement to avoid patchwork of state and local regulations.