WRAL-TV (Ch. 5, CBS) Raleigh-Durham started TotalCast datacasting service as part of its DTV signal, using Triveni Digital technology, companies said. Service transmits broadband content direct to PCs, using portion of DTV signal. Content includes video-on-demand of station’s news shows, custom news Web content, computer games, short videos, software, local programming. Content is received via accessDTV Digital Media Receiver PCI card installed in PCs.
Frustrated by reluctance of high-tech industry chiefs to testify at upcoming hearing on copy protection and digital rights management standards, Sen. Hollings (D-N.C.) has told 3 trade associations he expected them to help him obtain witnesses.
FCC Wireless Bureau set June 19 start date for auction of broadcast Ch. 60-69 spectrum, which is expected to be used for wireless devices. New date is close to June 15 auction opener that Paxson Communications recently had sought for bidding on 747-762 and 777-792 MHz bands.
Ultra CompactFlash line of high-speed storage cards was introduced Mon. by SanDisk. New cards are designed to be used by advanced photographers with high-performance digital cameras that require advanced cards to quickly shoot many high-resolution images, Sunnyvale, Cal., company said. New card has sustained write speed of up to 2.8 Mbps, which SanDisk said was more than twice sustained write speed of company’s standard CompactFlash products. They also are fully compatible and interchangeable with all CF digital cameras, CF card readers and adapters, company said. New cards are available in 128, 192, 256, 384 and 512 MB at prices of $100-$500, representing slight premium over standard CF cards. Company said it would start shipping new cards “immediately in the U.S. and worldwide, with the exception of Japan, which will start shipping next month.” SanDisk Senior Worldwide Sales and Mktg. Vp Nelson Chan said: “The technology behind SanDisk Ultra CF cards employs advanced controller algorithms to enhance the performance for use in the latest generation of… new high-megapixel digital cameras.” Camera manufacturers that indicated they would be supporting new SanDisk cards included Canon and Nikon.
Videogame consoles and handheld systems will be top- selling toys online this holiday season, according to survey by comparison shopping Web site BizRate.com. Company said it asked online toy retailers to predict holiday’s “must-have” toys for online shoppers, and videogame category was pick of 61% of toy e-tailers surveyed. Top response was Xbox, followed by PlayStation and Game Boy. BizRate didn’t specify whether PlayStation meant PlayStation 2 console or legacy PlayStation console or whether Game Boy referred to Game Boy Advance or older Game Boy handheld platforms. Meanwhile, BizRate said online toy sales were expected to generate $379 million in 4th quarter, up from $304 million year ago, while holiday toy sales are predicted to finish at $217 million this time, up from $167 million in year. Other findings by BizRate included: (1) 33% of respondents said upgrading customer service features was most important merchant initiative to prepare for holiday selling season. (2) 48% considered free shipping to be most utilized incentive by online shoppers. (3) 34% said on-time delivery was most important value to online consumers. (4) 72% of online toy orders on average were made by women.
Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) plans to buy 19% stake in Japanese game maker Square as part of Yen 14.9 billion ($124.4 million) deal. Sony, which currently holds no stake in Square, will buy 11.2 million newSquare shares at $11 each. Deal, expected to close Oct. 26, would make SCE 2nd-largest shareholder in Square. Companies plan to collaborate on online games as well as titles for Sony’s PlayStation 2.
DirecTV Broadband signed multiyear sales pact with Verizon, extending previous 2-year agreement. Under agreement Verizon’s Advanced Data will expand coverage to sell DirecTV DSL service in Dallas, L.A., Portland, Ore., Seattle and Tampa. Previously, Verizon, which also has sold DirecTV entertainment-based satellite service, covered major East Coast cities from Me. to Va. While DirecTV Broadband officials declined comment on number of DSL subscribers gained, CEO Ned Hayes said that company served “tens of thousands” on East Coast. DirecTV Broadband, which operated as Telocity before it was acquired by Hughes Electronics in April, also has agreement with Qwest Communications.