Also: MySpace hands over sex offender data | Where to buy an iPhone | CNN switches tack | Electronic Arts signs China deal | China backs down on naming bloggers | The Sci Fi Channel's long-form content | Channel 4's public seminars | ITV's web drama | flickrvision.com
"You can make money from blogging!" gushes Howard Lindzon after confirmation that his Wallstrip financial video blog has been acquired by CBS.
The "addicted entrepreneur" lists in almost painful detail how he pulled the idea together and started up with $600,000 from angel investors and friends. His role of honour - which is the kind of polar opposite of a five-word Webby Awards speech - lists everyone that was ever involved, and then finishes by saying that a turn on the Letterman show would be a great encore. No harm in trying, I suppose.
CBS picked up Wallstrip for "single digit millions", according to Liz Gannes on NewTeeVee. Lindzon has said that much of that original $600,000 is still in the bank, and that he'll play a consulting role in the CBS-owned Wallstrip. The presenter Lindsay Campbell and producers Adam Elend and Jeff Marks will be employed by CBS. (Howard Lindzon)
MySpace hands over sex offender data
MySpace has agreed to release information about 7,000 registered sex offenders to a group of attorneys after some amount of wrangling. The social net originally refused, citing data privacy laws, but eventually capitulated to requests from legal representatives of several US states. MySpace identified the profiles using special web ID and verification software. (Wall Street Journal)
Where to buy an iPhone
More iPhone ruckus, this time on who will be the official distributor for Europe. A survey by Canalys showed that 50% of the UK's iPod owners would consider swapping for an iPhone, but lack of 3G capability seems to be drawback for the more demanding EU market. If Apple does add 3G network support for the Europe launch, the most likely networks to carry the iPhone are 3 and T-Mobile. If the handsets stay the same as the US models, without 3G, Apple would probably opt for a mix of network operators. (New York Times)
CNN switches tack
CNN is switching strategies for its online news with the introduction of local content and advertising, reports the Wall Street Journal. An imminent deal with Internet Broadcasting will give CNN access to local TV news from 70 US stations and also give the broadcaster a minority stake in the firm. CNN hopes the content will differentiate itself from its rivals MSNBC and Yahoo, both of whom use Reuters and AP news. And CNN is no doubt hoping to tap the booming web ads market: the local web ads sector in the US doubled to two years to $5.7bn last year. (Wall Street Journal)
Electronic Arts signs China deal
Electronic Arts is investing $167m in a 15% stake of The9, a Chinese online gaming firm. The9 will have exclusive rights to publish FIFA Online in China and this deal is part of EA's strategy to partner with regional operators in Asia. China is currently the world's second biggest web market with 140m web users - 30m of which are online gamers. (AFP)
China backs down on naming bloggers
Also in China, authorities has back down over plans to force bloggers to register their real names when they start new blogs. Instead, bloggers will be encouraged to adhere to a self-discipline code, part of which encourages them to use their own name. Web users say the proposal was an attempt to increase control over web content, but the government says it is trying to discourage slander and porn. You decide. (Reuters)
The Sci Fi channel 's long-form web content
The Sci Fi channel was trumpeting Heroes as its highest-rating show yesterday, shortly before it was revealed that the BBC has just scooped the series. The success of Heroes is partly down to the channel trial of long-form content on its web TV service - the site claims a 502% increase in users between February 2006 and February 2007. (Release)
Channel 4's public seminars
Martha Lane Fox is taking part in a series of public seminars and workshops run by Channel 4 as part of its 25th anniversary events. The lastminute.com co-founder will talk to James Kirkham from digital strategists Holler and Adam Gee, C4's commissioning editor for new media factual, on how to make it in multimedia. Another "Four Days in June" session includes The Office producer Ash Atalla on comedy and Last King of Scotland director Kevin Macdonald in a session on film. (Channel 4)
ITV's web drama
ITV's first made-for-broadband TV show launched this week on the revamped ITV.com. Web Lives is a "character-led documentary" which drifts between the characters that are variously involved with musicians, cyber celebrities, online daters, Second Lifers and social networkers. The graphics are, erm, astonishing. (ITV)
Gratuitous link of the day
Quite fascinating: flickrvision.com. Similarly twittervision.com. Thanks Ben ;-)
