Praise be to the end of the day recovery! Frankly, I didn't even expect it.
I contend, however, that we'd be at least .10-.15 cents higher were it not for Wired.
Talk about a piggyback? Wired in its reporting of the lawsuit against Ziff-Davis and Softbank Holding by a principal former SIMer, sure piggybacked Hayton onto the lawsuit, even though Hayton isn't even involved or named as a defendant. And Wired complains that NETZ's 39 million dollar revenues press release piggybacked Doubleclick's IPO?
I guess to some, objectivity has funny ways. Particularly when it comes to piggybacking.
Earlier I compared Wired to Vanity Fair. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am mistaken. More and more it's reporting resembles that of Star, Globe and The National Enquirer, with a little bit of People sprinkled in. Its intention, of course, is to attempt to make technical news flashy, because flashy sells. That Stock Detective chimed in also is no surprise. Because Wired had already blasted, it was easier for SD to get in some digs. Like I said: Everybody loves a sucker punch, don't they?
In any event, here's something for comparative purposes (I don't recall if this has been posted here before):
Subject: Interesting
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 1998 17:57 EST
From: Qincog
Message-id: <1998033022575600.RAA25192@ladder03.news.aol.com>
Monday March 30, 3:37 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
7th Level and AudioNet Team to Deliver Streamed Animated Characters for
Use in Online Advertising and Promotion
Other Applications of "Intelligent Agents" Include Online Training and
Customer Support
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 1998-- Demonstrating its movement and
focus into the online universe, 7th Level Inc. (NASDAQ: SEVL - news) has
entered into an agreement with AudioNet, the premier broadcast network
on the Internet.
AudioNet will host streaming audio and provide a showcase for 7th
Level's streamed animated characters, or ''intelligent agents,'' for
broad use in Internet-based advertising and promotion, including options
for custom-produced characters and interactive advertisements.
7th Level's technology is the first of its kind for producing and
streaming real-time, media-rich, interactive, intelligent animated
characters to increase the effectiveness of online advertising,
promotion and corporate communication. With a daily audience of more
than 400,000 listeners and viewers, AudioNet is the largest broadcast
network on the Internet.
''This will revolutionize Internet advertising the same way Disney's
original Steamboat Willie changed the face of filmed animation,'' said
Richard Merrick, 7th Level's Chief Strategist.
''For the first time, advertisers will be able to bring their ads to
life the same way characters like Tony the Tiger, Mr. Clean and the NBC
Peacock create personality, brand identity and drive sales on TV. But,
by using our technology over the Web, those characters will be
interactive with the viewer and editable in real-time.''
7th Level will produce the ads using either custom-designed characters
or advertiser licensed or owned characters. Key to broadcasting them
over the net is 7th Level's new Studio 7 animation player, integrated
with RealNetwork's (NASDAQ: RNWK - news) RealAudio player and
Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT - news) NetShow.
Through this combination, new animation or advertising messages can be
updated transparently to users as needed and can be embedded within Web
pages compatible with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape (NASDAQ:
NSCP - news) Navigator. Both AudioNet and 7th Level will initiate the
marketing effort immediately.
Donald Schupak, 7th Level Chairman, said today's announcement is the
first of several anticipated marketing collaborations for distribution
of its technology to diverse user bases including Web developers,
intranet applications, training and advertising agencies.
''The new technology will enable 7th level to leverage its technology
into a high margin revenue stream supported by the growing base of ad
spending on the Web, corporate and IT training and other applications
that would benefit from real-time intelligent interactive animation,''
he said.
According to industry analysts, Internet advertising spending increased
more than 300% to approximately $344 million for the first half of 1997
and is expected to total just under $1 billion for the year, jumping to
more than $7 billion in 2002.
''AudioNet's streaming distribution network and hosting services,
combined with 7th Level's breakthrough Internet animation technology,
creates a unique tool for companies to deliver interactive promotional
and corporate messages to their audiences,'' said Todd Wagner, CEO of
AudioNet. ''We believe this will have a profound effect on Internet
communication and we are excited to be the first company to offer it.''
''Web site developers and advertisers alike are constantly searching for
new ways to attract visitors to their sites,'' said Merrick. ''What
better way than by adding entertaining and intelligent personality to
enhance the experience. 7th Level is the first company to offer this
unique and compelling feature for the Web and AudioNet is a perfect
partner to showcase it.''
Schupak also announced that 7th Level was in discussions with other
parties for the marketing and use of streaming animated characters as
''intelligent agents'' for online training and customer support. ''7th
Level's agent technology can be customized for use within corporate
intranets and extranets to deliver interactive and personalized training
programs to company employees,'' he explained.
''Animated guides can greet customers at a company's Web site to provide
help, product information or account status. Studio 7 agent technology,
when combined with streamed media, provides a unique platform to enhance
standard Web sites.''
AudioNet, the largest broadcast network on the Internet, Webcasts audio
and video content including radio and television programming, the
play-by-play of professional and college sporting events, live music
concerts, over 2000 full-length CDs and hundreds of audiobooks to a
daily audience of more than 400,000 visitors.
The company also provides turnkey Internet broadcasting solutions for
companies who wish to deliver business communications including trade
shows and conferences, shareholder meetings and quarterly earnings
announcements, news conferences and product launches, and other public
announcements to a mass or targeted audience.
AudioNet has built a real-time multimedia distribution network that
delivers a vast amount of content to the largest simultaneous audience
on the Internet. For more information on AudioNet and its live and
on-demand programming, visit audionet.com.
7th Level (www.7thlevel.com) is positioning itself as a leading
developer of Internet technologies which support the creation of 2D and
3D web applications for entertainment, consumer and commercial
customers.
Could someone post this on the SI board?.....(I'm not a member).....Thanx. |
