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A (New) Starz is Born

Matt Kelly — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:35:28 +0000

SAN JOSE, November 13, 2006, (PodTech News)–Are the Starz aligned for downloading movies? At last week’s Dow Jones VentureWire Consumer Technology Conference is San Jose, Bob Clasen, Starz‘ president and CEO, spoke with PodTech’s Matt Kelly about the company’s acquisition of IDT Entertainment, and its entrance into the content creation arena and the challenges it will face as it produces live-action and animated programming, and distributes it to consumers in theaters, on DVDs and over the Internet in both the domestic and international markets.

Reporter’s Notes: Starz is taking the content creation game seriously–just today it announced the formation of a new motion picture studio, Overture Films, which will produce, acquire and distribute eight-to-twelve full-length feature films a year. The new studio will be headed by Chief Executive Officer Chris McGurk and Chief Operating Officer Danny Rosett. Both are industry veterans with significant experience in film production, marketing and distribution at Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios Inc., prior to MGM’s 2005 sale to a group of investors led by Sony Corp.

- Matt Kelly

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Tags: Dow Jones, VentureWire, Bob Clasen, Starz, IDT Entertainment, Overture Films

Panel: You Want to Hear Me and See Me — Right?

Jason Lopez — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:47:58 +0000

What happens when you get a bunch of experts in a room and ask them all sorts of questions, like: when will I be able to watch shows over the Internet? You realize how complex things are, how little you know, and how foggy the future is to the experts. Here is a podcast of the day-two panel discussion “You Want to Hear Me & See Me — Right?” at the Dow Jones Consumer Technology Ventures conference held in San Jose, Calif.

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Revver CEO Steven Starr Gets “Revverized”

Matt Kelly — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:57:48 +0000

SAN JOSE, November 9th, 2006 (PodTech News)–Modern consumers are not only tech savvy, they’re also thirsty to be tuned in, unplugged, and turned on at all times and instantly with innovative digital products. This past week Dow Jones brought together the most promising consumer-oriented startups along with industry-leading executives and investors at VentureWire’s Consumer Technology Ventures in San Jose. Revver is one such startup that rewards content creators and owners for their original work by monetizing user-generated videos online. Revver CEO Steven Starr spoke with PodTech’s Matt Kelly.

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Tags: Dow Jones, VentureWire, Revver, Steven Starr

Old Media “Gets It” Better Than You May Think

Jason Lopez — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:00:54 +0000

The Web 2.0 mantra is that old media — NBC, Hearst, Disney, etc. — are too incompetent to be successful on the Web. The reality is that old media has invested a lot of time, effort and money in positioning their valuable offline properties to make money online. Some of them are licking their chops because they say the game is not about making programs per se, but satisfying listeners and viewers — about which they are fiercely competitive. Albert Cheng, executive vice president of digital media for the Disney-ABC Television Group says it’s just a matter of time before old media makes its move.

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Tags: Web 2.0, Disney, Albert Cheng

Sony’s Kaz Hirai on Playstation 3 and the Future of Home Entertainment

Matt Kelly — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:22:47 +0000

SAN JOSE, November 8, 2006 (PodTech News)–Sony launches the PlayStation 3 later this month — its most important product launch in years. Featuring Blu-ray technology and other features, the new device has a lot is riding on it. Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Kaz Hirai is on the front lines as the company attempts to capitalize on the convergence of gaming and entertainment, while ensuring a smooth rollout of the PS3 for the upcoming holiday season. Hirai spoke with PodTech’s Matt Kelly after the keynote interview on day two of the Dow Jones VentureWire Consumer Technology Ventures conference in San Jose, Calif.

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Tags: Sony, PlayStation 3, Blu-ray, Kaz Hirai, Dow Jones VentureWire

Anytime, Anywhere Perspective from Neilsen Analytics Larry Gerbrandt, General Manager and Senior VP

Jennifer Jones — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 07:41:24 +0000

Understanding what consumers are doing with new media is instrumental. Speaking together at the Dow Jones VentureWire Consumer Technology Ventures Conference, Larry Gerbrandt tells PodTech’s Jennifer Jones about iPod research that will move the needle for executives assessing podcasts.

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Tags: Dow Jones, VentureWire, Larry Gerbrandt, Jennifer Jones, iPod

Yahoo: Marco Boerries, SVP, Connected Life

Jennifer Jones — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 07:31:46 +0000

Yahoo is making headway by being bold and thinking young. Jennifer Jones of PodTech interviews Marco Boerries at the Dow Jones Venture Wire Consumer Technology Ventures Conference about Yahoo’s strategies for connecting users whether they are on the road, at home or at work.

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Tags: Yahoo, Jennifer Jones, Marco Boerries, Dow Jones, Venture Wire

Building Humans, Cell to Organ

Jennifer Jones — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 01:34:50 +0000

Tengion is a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, developing new human tissues and organs derived from a patient’s own cells. Tengion’s patented technology has the potential to allow adults and children with organ failure to have functioning organs built from their own tissues. At the Dow Jones Venture Wire Health Care Innovations conference, PodTech’s Jennifer Jones talks with CEO Steven Nichtberger about how his company is planning to save lives through these scientific advances.

Tags: Tengion, Dow Jones, Steven Nichtberger

Health Care VC Waiting for Stem Cell Market to Grow

Jennifer Jones — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:47:19 +0000

Despite President Bush’s veto of the embryonic stem cell bill almost two months ago, many venture capitalists consider the stem cell market to be viable… though just not yet for some investors. When and why will a venture capitalist invest in a stem cell company? How does the venture industry view the stem cell controversy? Jennifer Jones of PodTech.net talks with Dr. Edgar Engleman, managing partner of Vivo Ventures, and probes their investment strategy and perspective today.

Tags: Dr. Edgar Engleman, Vivo Ventures

Andy Kessler: End of Health Care as We Know It

Jason Lopez — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:13:22 +0000

Venture capitalist Andy Kessler says silicon is going to do to the health care industry what it has done to portable devices and the Internet. Where will it start? With diagnostics, according to Kessler, who delivered the lunch keynote at the Dow Jones VentureWire Health Care Innovations conference in Redwood City, California. PodTech’s Jason Lopez bumped into him for this podcast just before lunch, which included a juicy little steak… no cholesterol checkups provided.

Tags: Andy Kessler, health care, Dow Jones, VentureWire

Venture Capital Insights on Health Care Financing

Jennifer Jones — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:49:32 +0000

Getting money for a Series B round in health care deals results in a “down round” at least 50 percent of the time. Ralph (Chris) Christoffersen, a general partner at Morgenthaler Ventures, tells PodTech’s Jennifer Jones how his firm helps CEOs manage through the process of getting financed in the current market environment.

Tags: Ralph (Chris) Christoffersen, Morgenthaler

The Gate Keeper Speaks: The FDA at the VentureWire Health Care Innovations Conference

Jason Lopez — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:54:48 +0000

Patients desire improved treatments, voters call for safety, biomed startups want drug approval to continue in business and big pharma is after big profits. The Food and Drug Administration must grapple with these issues, which are only getting more complex. Dr. Steve Galson, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, took the stage at the Dow Jones VentureWire Health Care Innovations 2006 in Redwood City, California, on September 12th, 2006. In this keynote interview Galson tells interviewer Brian Gormley — associate editor of the Dow Jones publication Venture Capital Analyst —what is on the mind of the FDA lately.

Tags: Food and Drug Administration, Steve Galson, Brian Gormley

FDA: No Such Thing as No Drug Risk

Jason Lopez — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:38:13 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is a constant balancing act to determine how much risk to consumers is acceptable in the drug approval process. No risk would result in few drugs coming to market. Some risk allows more. But Dr. Steve Galson, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, tells PodTech’s Jason Lopez that the fate of drug companies — including startups that must get approval to stay in business — are not part of the Administration’s consideration. They spoke at Health Care Innovations 2006.

Tags: Food and Drug Administration, Steve Galson