THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
+++ Calling All BitStream Readers!
[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ BCE Sets Sights on True Convergence
+++ Quebecor Unveils New Internet Strategy
+++ U8TV's The Lofters Receive Thousands of Houseguests
+++ Reality-Based Internet Show Set to Raise Cash
+++ Canadian Magazine Search Engine Now Online
+++ NB Launches Online Wellness and Literacy Plan
+++ Ontario Media Development Corporation Created
///// DEALS //////////
+++ CBC Expands Wireless Partnerships
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Technicallyhip.ca: Expats@Work
+++ Technical Group Connects with Non-Profits
+++ George Brown Internship Program
///// INFRASTRUCTURE //////////
+++ CIRA Temporarily Crashes Under Its Own Weight
+++ StatsCan Looks at Internet by Cable
///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ Canadians Turning Off TV to Log Onto Web
+++ Canadian Youth Surf More than Americans
[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ New Media 2001
+++ Event 35
[-- HARD-WIRED: TOUGH TALK FROM A SKEPTIC --]
+++ Stupid Is as Stupid Surfs
Return to top of page
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
+++ Calling All BitStream Readers!
Your friends at MMSG (MultiMediator's parent company)
thought you would appreciate the following opportunity.
MMSG is conducting a survey on online shopping habits. Now
that the holiday dust has settled, we're trying to get a
better idea of why some people flock to the Web and others
still prefer to walk to the store. We're looking for as
many students and working folks as we can find to complete
the survey. Everyone who participates will be entered into
a draw for a $100 gift certificate for HMV.com. The survey
only takes 5 minutes to complete online, and you can
increase your odds of winning by passing on news of the
contest to others. Don't drag your feet; the contest ends
February 18, 2001. To dive in and begin the survey, simply
click on the link below. Thank you for participating, and
best of luck in our draw!
http://216.167.108.22/mmsg/survey.html
Return to top of page
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ BCE Sets Sights on True Convergence
Is this what they mean by convergence? Bell Canada
Enterprises (BCE) took a giant step in that direction on
Monday with an announcement of a plan to "develop a new
technology that will integrate always-on high-speed
Internet access with satellite television and enhanced
digital storage." This will allow the company to combine
Bell ExpressVu, its leading satellite TV service, with its
Sympatico High Speed Edition DSL Internet access service
along with content from Bell Globemedia, its multi-media
company that includes broadcaster CTV and the Globe and
Mail newspaper. This new technology is code-named
"ComboBox."
http://www.bce.ca/en/news/releases/bce/2001/02/05/5698.html
+++ Quebecor Unveils New Internet Strategy
Quebecor has announced that they will combine its Internet
operations in a stock swap that will see the company
folding its CANOE portal into Netgraphe, a search engine
company. Under the proposed deal, CANOE's assets would be
sold to Netgraphe in exchange for 157.8 million Netgraphe
common shares valued at $394.5 million. Quebecor Media
would control about 63.2 per cent of the merged company's
shares. Netgraphe has 182 employees while CANOE has 224
staff members. Quebecor spokesman Luc Lavoie is quoted as
saying it is too early to discuss operational issues,
including rumours of more layoffs.
http://www.quebecor.com/htmen/0_0/7_0_1.asp?NewsID=160
Return to top of page
+++ U8TV's The Lofters Receive Thousands of Houseguests
What if you gave a house-warming party and everyone came?
Fans of Alliance Atlantis's The Lofters are flocking to
their Web site in record numbers. In the first week the
U8TV.com Web site received over one million page views and
a total of over 100,000 unique visitors. The eight Lofters
are under 24 hour surveillance as they live, work and play
in their full- equipped downtown Toronto loft/Internet TV
station where they also produce 13 different daily Web shows.
http://www.u8tv.com
+++ Reality-Based Internet Show Set to Raise Cash
Now that we have reality TV, why not reality Internet?
That's the premise behind Starmaker TV, an Internet
program that will be broadcast much like reality-based TV.
The Web site is the creation of Chris Healy and Troy Skog.
The pair have written a film entitled "Laughter in the
Dark," but lack the funds to actually commit the work to
celluloid. So they are turning to the Internet in an
effort to raise money. The station will allow candidate
actors to "grow into" their roles in the film, which Healy
calls a combination of "Deliverance, Lord of the Flies,
Alien and Jaws." (Source: CanadaComputes.com)
http://www.starmakertv.tv
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
MULTIMEDIA NEEDS MORE THAN "GEE-WHIZ" ANIMATION
It needs the right voice... Paul Boucher
More than a voice... a persona for your application
25 years of bilingual voice performance experience
Hear Paul Boucher at
http://www.therightvoice.com
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
Return to top of page
+++ Canadian Magazine Search Engine Now Online
It has taken months of back-breaking work, but what is
being billed as "Canada's first and only magazine search
engine" has been launched by The Canadian Magazine
Publishers Association (CMPA). The Magomania Web site took
to the ground running when it was officially launched at
the beginning of February, thanks to months of detailed
planning. Users logging onto the site will already find a
full archive of material. The Magomania site features
detailed Table of Contents from hundreds of Canadian
magazines, article abstracts, sample articles and the
ability to order subscriptions online.
http://www.magomania.com
+++ NB Launches Online Wellness and Literacy Plan
The Government of New Brunswick has created a unique Web
site designed to encourage New Brunswickers to become more
physically active in time for the 2003 Canada Winter Games
in Campbellton-Bathurst. Succes NB Success will promote
wellness and literacy through the use of cyber coaches who
will encourage and support individuals, families and
various groups in New Brunswick to set personal reading
and physical activity goals. "This initiative will give
our children and all New Brunswickers a motivational and
educational tool to help them enhance the quality of their
lives through reading, numeracy and physical activity,"
Premier Bernard Lord said.
http://www.snbs.gnb.ca
http://www.gov.nb.ca/cnb/news/pre/2001e0066pr.htm
Return to top of page
+++ Ontario Media Development Corporation Created
It might sound like a case of musical names, but The
Ontario Film Development Corporation (OFDC) has become The
Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC). The new
agency will be charged with creating new jobs and
promoting Ontario's "world-class cultural media
industries" said former Finance Minister Ernie Eves and
Helen Johns, Minister of Citizenship, Culture and
Recreation. With $30 million in funding over the next five
years, the OMDC will encourage strategic business
partnerships among "the converging cultural media
industries, including film and television production, book
and magazine publishing, sound recording and interactive
digital media."
http://www.ofdc.on.ca/pdf/news/OMDC%20NRE.pdf
http://www.ofdc.on.ca
///// DEALS //////////
+++ CBC Expands Wireless Partnerships
CBC/Radio-Canada is expanding its wireless services
through an agreement with Microcell i5, the producers of
Fido cellular phones and wireless browsers. Fido's new
wireless information portal was launched on February 1st
and includes up-to-the-minute news from the CBC. In
addition, Rogers AT&T has expanded its mobile offerings to
allow Canadians access to French-language news services
via their wireless products.
http://cbc.ca/wireless
Return to top of page
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Technicallyhip.ca: Expats@Work
This ain't no rock band. Technicallyhip.ca is a new Web
site intended to serve as an online community for Canadian
technology pros working outside of Canada, especially
those in the US. By keeping in touch with the Canadian
technology scene, the site also hopes to become a valuable
mentoring and door-opening resource for Canadians wanting
to establish business connections outside the country. "By
connecting Canadians in the US together and informing them
of what is happening here, we aim to improve the flow of
ideas, experience, information... and maybe, just maybe,
people," says site supporter Brent Holliday.
http://www.technicallyhip.ca
+++ Technical Group Connects with Non-Profits
The Technical Volunteer Web has been created in order to
connect technical volunteers and students with non-profit
groups under a new collaboration between the Vancouver
Community Network (VCN), Vancouver Community College and
Volunteer Vancouver. The project will connect "technical
volunteers in voluntary sector organizations with a larger
technical resource network that can provide additional
recruitment, training and support to complement the non-
profit organization's volunteer program." "Many small to
medium sized non-profit organizations depend on volunteer
support to build and maintain their information and
communication technology (ICT) capacity," said VCN
Coordinator of Volunteer Services Carolyn Nantais.
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/vcn/involve
Return to top of page
+++ George Brown Internship Program
George Brown College in Toronto has released details on
its Internship Program at the School of Graphic
Communications. As of January 2001 the top students in
their final semester from Graphic Design, Sign Graphics
and Digital Media programs will be eligible to gain
industry through a practical work experience consisting of
either one day per week over fourteen weeks commencing
February 2001, or for a three week period in May 2001. For
more information, call (416) 415-2136 or e-mail
sbatacha@gbrownc.on.ca.
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
SEARCHING FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE?
Our new media recruiting specialists can help!
For the best and brightest new media talent, contact
MultiMediator PixelScout ... 'Great People - Great Careers'
e-mail info@pixelscout.com or call (416) 410-7704
http://www.pixelscout.com
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
///// INFRASTRUCTURE //////////
+++ CIRA Temporarily Crashes Under Its Own Weight
It was a case of digital hurry-up-and-wait when the system
that registers Canadian Internet domain names crashed last
week. Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)
reports that problems may have started when it released
over 41,000 domain names that they had been holding back.
Most of those domain names had been previously registered
under the old system and it was the last chance for owners
to re-register the names. CIRA had already extended the
grace period until February 1st. Procrastination being the
guiding light, many waited until the last moment to file
their claims. (Source: Digital Desk)
http://www.cira.ca
Return to top of page
+++ StatsCan Looks at Internet by Cable
The latest paper from Statistics Canada examines the
results of increasing demand for high-speed Internet
access, in particular the new entrants in the market. It
notes that cable companies are transforming their
extensive wireline networks, making them capable of bi-
directional communications. It also includes indicators
that describe "the extent of the deployment of the
necessary cable infrastructure and the degree to which
Canadians use these services" as well as market
penetration, industry concentration and growth prospects.
The full report is available for downloading in PDF format
at the address below.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/Data/56F0004MIE01002.htm
///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ Canadians Turning Off TV to Log Onto Web
What's bad for the goose is good for the mouse in the
recent Statistics Canada survey of television usage. The
report estimates that television viewing reached a two-
decade low in the fall of 1999, with viewers in almost
every province spending less time in front of their TV
sets. Canadians watched television for an average of 21.6
hours per week, almost one hour less than in 1998, and
well below the peak of 23.5 hours set in 1988. The report
also indicates that some of these declines might be
attributed to the fact that Canadians are spending more
time attending movies and logging on to the Internet. In
1999, about 42% of households contained at least one
regular Internet user, up from 36% in 1998.
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/010125/d010125a.htm
+++ Canadian Youth Surf More than Americans
Do you know where your kids are? If they're Canadian,
they're probably on the Internet. A new Forrester Research
study indicates "Canadian young people spend 2.5 more
hours online a week than young Americans and are 95% more
likely to use a high-speed Internet service such as the
@Home service from Canada's cable companies." Canadian
kids are 66% more likely to be Napster users although they
are less likely to use the Internet to check movie
listings, financial information, play games or purchase
products. Forrester says that means online companies
should pay special attention when marketing to the two
youth markets. (Source: Financial Post)
http://www.forrester.com
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
MULTIMEDIA NEEDS MORE THAN "GEE-WHIZ" ANIMATION
It needs the right voice... Paul Boucher
More than a voice... a persona for your application
25 years of bilingual voice performance experience
Hear Paul Boucher at
http://www.therightvoice.com
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
Return to top of page
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ New Media 2001
February 11-13, 2001 in Victoria, BC
newmedia@uvic.ca
+++ Event 35
February 22, 2001 in Vancouver, BC
Meet and party with some of Vancouver's freshest talents
in new media
http://www.vfs.com/~achia/class35
achia@vfs.com
Return to top of page
01001110100100010101010101110011101001001001001110010001001
[-- HARD-WIRED: TOUGH TALK FROM A SKEPTIC --]
Stupid Is as Stupid Surfs
By 'The Hacker'
bitstreamhacker@bigfoot.com
How about this headline from The Globe and Mail on January
23rd: "Investors told to beware stock advice on Net."
Apparently, Canada's provincial stock market overseers got
together, talked amongst themselves, realised that
unscrupulous promoters were in the habit of spreading
inflated numbers (or outright lies) via Internet chat
rooms and bulletin boards, and decided to make this
pronouncement to protect us from ourselves. Right. Next
we'll see: "Investors warned: 'Don't take wooden
nickels.'" Do they really think the average investor is
that stupid? I suppose there must be a few people out
there with more money than brains who respond to get-rich-
quick Spam. Or drop everything in a rush to log into their
e*trade account when they read a Usenet posting reporting
that Gullible.com is about to post record earnings. My
guess is though, that these unfortunate souls have either
already been separated from their excess funds, or they
*like* chasing rainbows and should be encouraged -- or at
least not frightened away -- as a means of providing
liquidity to the financial markets in these unsettled
times. Let's face it, there have always been unprincipled
folks who've gotten rich by means of false rumours. Bre-X
insiders didn't need the Web to leave a whole lot of
apparently sensible people poorer but wiser.
/////
'The Hacker' is a veteran of the Canadian interactive
scene who, for obvious reasons, wishes to remain
anonymous. The statements and opinions expressed in Hard
Wired are solely those of the author and not BitStream's
publisher, its affiliates or advertisers. So don't kill
the messenger, OK?
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
SEARCHING FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE?
Our new media recruiting specialists can help!
For the best and brightest new media talent, contact
MultiMediator PixelScout ... 'Great People - Great Careers'
e-mail: info@pixelscout.com or call (416) 410-7704
http://www.pixelscout.com
||||||||||||| Please Support Our Advertisers ||||||||||||||
Return to top of page
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Reach thousands of Canadian Interactive professionals
with just one buy! Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective!
For rates: (416) 364-1455 Ext. 100 or
sales@multimediator.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
[-- ABOUT MULTIMEDIATOR'S BITSTREAM --]
MultiMediator's BitStream is a free e-mail newsletter
published every two weeks by MultiMediator - Canada's
Multimedia Guide (http://www.multimediator.com/).
Send your multimedia industry news and information to:
bitstream@multimediator.com
(Please do NOT send attachments.) If you contact companies
or individuals mentioned here, please tell them you saw
them in MultiMediator's BitStream.
Copyright 2001 MultiMediator. All rights
reserved. "BitStream" is a trademark of MultiMediator
Partnership. The content of BitStream may be reproduced
in any medium for non-commercial purposes as long as
proper credit is given.
No tribbles were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
-----------------------------------------------------------
TO SUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to:
bitstream-on@multimediator.com
