Wednesday, December 7, 2005


Network LIVE Expands In UK
Los Angeles-based Network LIVE, a digital programming joint venture of America Online, XM Satellite Radio, and AEG, said that they have added two executives and opened an office in the UK. The firm said that it has added Any Brilliant as Executive Vice President, International, and Managing Director John Gaydon. Brilliant was most recently with Live 8, and has also served at HBO, ESPN and other firms. Gaydon was most recently at Eagle Rock Entertainment. Network LIVE is developing digital live p (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005(Full story)

Thomson, Twentieth Century Fox Signs Digital Cinema Deal
Thomson and Twentieth Century Fox said today that the twoc ompanies have signed a strategic agreement to roll out digital cinema in the North America. Twentieth Century Fox has agreed to use digital projection systems from Technicolor, Thomson's digital cinema business. The deal follows an earlier discloser by Thomson of deals with DreamWorks SKG, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros. Twentieth Century fox will distribute its films digitally and pay a virtual print fee to Technicolor for sc (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005(Full story)

eHobbies Taps Amazon For Ecommerce Services
Los Angeles-based eHobbies.com announced this morning that it has signed on with Amazon Services LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, to use Amazon's online web site and ecommerce platform. Amazon will provide the technology platform and fulfillment network for eHobbies. eHobbies will use the Amazon tools ot manage merchandising, marketing, and customer service. The move means that Amazon.com customers can use their username and password to log in and purchase products and tap into existing Amazon.c (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005(Full story)

Diodes Targets Buy Of Analog IC Firm
Westlake Village-based Diodes, a manufacturer of discrete analog semiconductors, said yesterday that it is in talks to acquire Anachip, a Taiwanese analog IC firm. Diodes said that it is looking to pay $30M in cash for Anachip, a manufacturer of power management ICs for consumer products, LCD monitors, 802.11 wireless access points, and other electronics. Diodes said that Anachip had revenues of $35M in 2005. Anachip is owned by Lite-On Semiconductor, two Taiwanese venture capital firms, and cur (More info...)
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Epicor Buys CRS Retail Systems For $121M
Irvine-based Epicor said Tuesday that it has acquired CRS Retail Systems, a New York-based provider of merchandising and point-of-sale (POS) software, in a deal worth $121M. Epicor said that it purchased CRS from Accel-KKR, the private investment firm, in an all cash transaction. CRS provides retailers with real-time store, catalog, and online information and point of sale software. Epicor said that it plans to use the company's .NET and service-oriented architecture (SOA) to provide retailers w (More info...)
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Cash Frequent Flyer Miles For A Space Trip
Frequent flyers on Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic airways will start being able to cash in their frequent flyer miles for a trip to outer space. According to the company, frequent flyer miles will be able to be traded in for seats on Virgin Galactic, Branson's new space tourism startup. Virgin Atlantic said that its Flying Club members will need to earn two million miles on its flights to earn a trip to space, including a three day training session before the flight. Seats on the new spac (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2005(Full story)