The latest consumer satisfaction show remarkable results for on-line retailers. Here's an article about it in Internet.com

http://ecommerce.internet.com/news/news/article/0,,10375_1586921,00.html

Nielsen says on-line gaming doubled in Europe last year.

Nielsen has launched a 1.0 million plus "MegaPanel" research service in which internet users agree to let embedded Nielsen software track their on-line web use and e-commerce activity [in exchange for contest prizes, etc.]

Here's an article about it in InternetNews.com:  http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/1587681

What up with the Overture acquisition of search engine company Alta-Vista?

Here's a good article about it in InternetNews.com:  http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/1587871

What are Dot-Spots?

mPhase is teaming with Lucent to deliver a DSL video solution using Lucent's transport with the mPhase digital video switch and a digital settop box [being designed for mPhase by Bell Labs].

NDS has focused on a suite of products [called Value@TV] designed to simplify the production of interactive content.

Mediacom reported strong fourth quarter and full year 2002 growth. http://www.mediacomcc.com/corporate_pressroom.php

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030224/4892086s.htm

Various news sources are pointing to a possible announcement by Microsoft this week to incorporate Rights Management Services into Windows servers, at least initially to control the information in Office files over a corporate Intranet.

Microsoft devs Windows Rights Management Services. Tool to plug corporate leaks [The Register]

Here's some other things Microsoft has to say about DRM:

http://www.microsoft.com/issues/essays/2002/06-03digitalrights.asp

 

December 2, 2002 - Nielsen and Ucentric announced a deal on audience measurement software''. Here's how Nielsen described the deal...

"Nielsen Media Research and Ucentric Systems announced today an agreement to create television audience measurement software that will track usage of personal video recorders on multiple television sets. Many digital set-top boxes will be powered by Ucentric Multi-TV PVR applications. Under the agreement, Nielsen software will be integrated into the Ucentric system.  This will enable Nielsen to collect tuning, recording and playback information from every TV set in the home connected to the Ucentric system."

Nielsen's Feb 20, 2003 press release announced a seven year agreement with NBC to provide audience measurement services. The release also referred to a "digital encoding sytem" as follows:

"The agreement also builds on a strong engineering foundation between the two companies.  NBC has agreed to implement Nielsen’s digital encoding system to be used in Nielsen’s new metering system for producing television ratings.  The new Active/Passive metering system will be introduced in 2004.  In sample homes, the A/P Meter will identify programs, stations and networks from electronic codes embedded in programs at the distribution source.  NBC and Nielsen engineers will work closely together as new digital distribution systems come to the market."

This is the press on the FCC's UNE-P ruling last Thursday (Feb 20, 2003)

The FCC UNE-P ruling: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-231344A1.pdf

Chairman Powell's dissenting opinion: http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2003/db0220/DOC-231344A3.pdf

Gilder's Article in the WSJ:  http://www.gilder.com/Gilder.comNews/GGWSJ02.19.03.htm

From Cato:  http://www.cato.org/new/02-03/02-20-03r-2.html

From Progress and Freedom Foundation: http://www.pff.org/pr/pr022003FCCunevote.htm

From The San Jose Mercury News: http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/5224826.htm

From Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37942-2003Feb20.html

From the NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/business/21PHON.html?dlbk

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/business/21COMP.html?dlbk

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/business/21BROA.html?dlbk

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/business/21IMPA.html?dlbk

From USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/regulation/2003-02-23-martin_x.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2003-02-21-fccside_x.htm

From Mediaweek: http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1823133

From America's Network:  http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=47359

Here's Bell South's Response: http://bellsouthcorp.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=42268&;PROACTIVE_ID=cecfcccecdc7cdcbcbc5cecfcfcfc5cececfc6cdcececccfcbc5cf

HDNet is the first 24/7 HDTV cable channel. Charter is the first cable company to launch the HDNet.