Tony Hawk Foundation said game maker Activision donated $50,000 to it. Funding will be used to assist foundation in its efforts to finance and promote public skateboarding in parks nationwide, it said. Foundation is nonprofit endowment created by pro skater Hawk. With donation, Activision became foundation’s first Gold Level sponsor. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is one of Activision’s top-selling game franchises.

“DTVLink” is “baseline” term and logo approved by CEA Video Div. board to be applied to IEEE-1394 digital video products capable of interfacing with other gear. Logo requires that product use 1394 serial connection, conform to EIA-840 technical standard, and use Digital Transmission Content Protection. CEA said “matching logos” program would help retail salespeople determine product compatibility and ease purchasing decisions for consumers.

Previously undisclosed aspect of Superbit DVDs from Sony’s Columbia TriStar Home Video (CTHE)entails embellished soundtrack, we have learned. Although not mentioned in studio’s publicity materials or technical backgrounder packaged with discs, Superbit DVD’s have pushed Dolby Digital 5.1 surround to 448 kbps data rate that’s maximum current DVD players can resolve -- up from 348 kbps that’s standard for conventional DVDs and for DTV broadcast sound. Result is audibly clearer nuances in special effects and ambient sounds against foreground dialog and audio. For example, in addition to hearing automobile traffic in background “surround” channels, extra audio bits enable viewer to discern direction of cars. Meanwhile, DTS soundtrack on Superbit DVDs remains at “standard” 750 kbps, Sony spokesman told us. DTS surround format is capable of “full” 1.5 Mbps data rate, but that seldom is implemented even theatrically and can’t be handled by processors in current and legacy DVD players. Spokesman said Sony/CTHE had “prioritized” Superbit DVDs for better video, doubling video transfer rate to 6-8 Mbps from conventional DVD’s 3-4 Mbps by shedding value-added features. In doing so, companies still were able to boost Dolby Digital spec but left DTS soundtrack unchanged in belief that its quality already was highest attainable with current DVD players.

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.

“Tech Center” has been opened at Alpine Web site (www.alpine1.com), billed as 24-hour marketing and product resource for authorized Alpine dealers. First-time registration requires password available from Alpine sales reps. Tech Center has owner’s manuals, technical White Papers, product photos, frequently asked questions, marketing materials such as product literature, sales guides, newsletters.

Action figure toy maker AnJon signed licensing agreement with Dragon’s Lair and distribution agreement with software maker Digital Leisure. Deals will allow AnJon to make games of characters including Dirk the Daring and new characters that players will encounter in new Dragon’s Lair 3D videogame shipping next year from Digital Leisure.

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.”

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.”

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.).

Amazon.com said it still wants to increase selection at its Web site and improve shopping experience for customers to help it achieve goals of improving sales and reaching profitability. As example of what e-tailer already had achieved on those fronts, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos told analysts in conference call Oct. 23, after our deadline, that Amazon “more than doubled the selection in our consumer electronics store” over last year to “over 45,000 items.”