(From CTV.ca) Although labels get some royalties from the play-along games' makers, they are often bypassed on image and likeness licensing deals, which the bands control and which account for a rising proportion of musicians' income.

Meanwhile, the Recording Industry Association of America pegged its U.S. members' sales at $10.4 billion in 2007, down 11.8 per cent from the year before and with a further drop expected for 2008. Full Story

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) December 29, 2008 -- This January More2Girls Inc is launching an interactive magazine for Teen girls that is delivered in the form of a desktop application. This is a new delivery model for magazine subscriptions; one that other publications are likely to follow. To view a demonstration on how it works, go to http://www.more2girls.org/how-it-works.

Theft, hackers, security breaches, plagiarism and piracy issues are just a few of the plethora of cyber risks that could be a direct threat to your corporate image.  While insurance coverage is a necessity to stave off these risks, you must have a risk management strategy in place to complement your insurance program.

IQ-I Insurance can assist your company in developing a complete cyber risk management action plan.  In addition, the team has many of the resources to properly advise your company and provide professional contacts to handle your situation expediently.
 
For more information please contact:  
Colette Hustwick 416.234.6389 coletteh@jdimi.com  
or Ian Morris 416.234.6382 ianm@jdimi.com

Help strengthen the Canadian Interactive Media Industry by completing the 2008 Canadian Interactive Industry Profile Questionnaire!
 
The Canadian Interactive Alliance/L’Alliance interactive canadienne (CIAIC) is looking to build a complete profile of Canada’s  interactive media industry, including all companies in Canada that work in or service the interactive media industry, either completely or partially.

Click on this link to begin the survey.

The 2008 Canadian Interactive Industry Profile (CIIP) will assist the CIAIC in strengthening the Canadian interactive industry by increasing investment and partnering opportunities and improving the business climate for interactive media. Since the interactive industry is not routinely tracked by government agencies such as Statistics Canada, it is up to the industry to produce a comprehensive economic and operational profile to present to relevant decision makers.

(From Mediacastermagazine) The economic downturn will slow growth and innovation in many areas but will create attractive investment opportunities in the communications and media sectors in the new year. Full Story

(From Media In Canada) Canada's first interactive video game promotion is coming to Toronto's Dundas Square through Toronto-based Outdoor Broadcast Network (OBN). Full Story

The Talent Speaker Series will bring games industry professionals into classrooms across Ontario. This program is part of the ongoing GameON (GO) series and will be tailored to different areas of the game industry: GO Games, a broad overview of the video game industry, GO Design, focusing on video game design, and GO Code, examining video game programming.   The purpose of the Talent Speaker Series is to provide students of video game development an opportunity to connect with professionals currently working in the industry. The Talent Speaker Series is an exciting program that will introduce students to unique opportunities that exist with some of the most dynamic video game companies in Ontario.

From The Globe and Mail - NEW YORK — Americans may be cutting back on holiday shopping, but they are still buying video games – nearly $3-billion (U.S.) worth in November, according to data from market researcher NPD Group.

U.S. retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories jumped 10 per cent last month from a year ago to $2.91-bllion, boosted by strong sales of Nintendo Co.'s Wii, Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 along with the alien shooter game Gears of War 2. (Full Story)

(From The Toronto Star) WATERLOO–Research In Motion Ltd. has lined up an agreement to acquire Chalk Media Corp. (TSXV:CKM) for $23.1 million in cash.

RIM also said Thursday it is lending the Vancouver-based mobile-media software maker $2.2 million to provide working capital until the deal is completed. (Full Story)

The Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture, announced the investment of $3.3 million from Ontario’s Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund in 16 innovative initiatives. The recipients and their projects were announced at a news conference held on November 26, 2008 at the Ontario Trade & Investment Centre.

(From the Globe and Mail) In a corner of the office Jeffrey Elliott and Raja Khanna share at GlassBox Television sits the one thing on which they just can't agree: a set of aging, brown corduroy couches. The two entrepreneurs, who teamed up this summer as co-CEOs of the upstart broadcasting company, are in sync on the big issues—how the TV business is in a profound state of flux as broadcasters either embrace or fortify themselves against the Internet; how teenagers who've abandoned TV for the Web can be lured back with the right content; and how, in the wake of massive industry consolidation, a small, independent channel can still wedge itself in among the networks. Full Story

LONDON, ON – December 8, 2008 – Big Blue Bubble is proud to announce that Hockey Allstar Shootout was released today on WiiWare™! The release of Hockey Allstar Shootout marks the first hockey game on the platform and is destined to become an instant fan favorite amongst sports enthusiasts and casual gamers alike.

(From The Globe and Mail)

KYOTO, Japan — Nintendo Co. Ltd. said sales of its Wii game console more than doubled during the Thanksgiving holiday week in the United States, defying the sweeping retail gloom in the wake of a global economic crisis. President Satoru Iwata's comments come as a rare bright spot at a time when companies around the world are cutting production and lowering their outlooks amid the global downturn. Full Story

VANCOUVER December 3, 2008 – The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards announced the extension of their submission deadline today due to an unprecedented response from the industries they award. Top titles from Video Games, Animation and Visual Effects from all around the world are expected to enter the global award show.

NEW YORK, NY – December 2, 2008 – Heavy.com, the Web’s leading independent video site, today announced the appointment of David U.K. as Managing Director of Heavy Worldwide. U.K. will oversee all revenue streams at the popular video brand for 18-49 year old men, which counts Molson Canada, Unilever, Virgin Mobile, Warner Bros. Canada, Labatt’s, Maple Pictures, Burger King, Mercedes, Bell Mobility, Toyota and Sony among its many advertisers. Co-CEOs and co-Founders Simon Assaad and David Carson made the announcement.

Please see below the proposed list of upcoming Ontario IT missions to the U.S. for the reminder of 2008 through 2010. These missions are of interest to Security, Wireless, Telecom, VoIP and Content companies interested in accessing the U.S. market in a highly cost-effective manner. Spaces limited to 8 companies per mission and include turn-key exhibit space within the award-winning Ontario pavilion. Pre-register early and save $400 or more. The programs would target:
 
ASIS (Anaheim, CA) – Security
CTIA (San Diego, CA) – Wireless & Content
The Cable Show (D.C.) – Media, Wireless, Telco
Internet Telephony (Miami, FL) – VoIP, Social Networking
Incoming delegation of US buyers (Prime and sub-prime contractors)
 
* programs subject to change

For Immediate Release

VANCOUVER, BC - Media2o Productions (formerly ChalkTV) - creators of Connected Life, Canada's most popular Web-based technology show - has joined forces with Backbone magazine to launch the groundbreaking new online program Backbone TV.

Please note that it is still possible to sign up for the event Canada @ Game Connection AMERICA GDC (San Francisco) 2009. A discount of 35% on an accreditation / registration package for Canadian video game developers exhibiting as sellers is offered. There is still room for a few companies only!
 
Information about registration, all details and entry procedures can be found on this link: http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/email/appel_inscription.asp?idAppel=138&lang=en
 
For further information on Telefilm Canada’s special offer for the Game Connection event please contact:

Claudia Marcoux Consultant, Canada @ Game Connection
claudiamarcoux@telus.net
604-464-5055

(From Mediacaster Magazine) - The TELUS Innovation Fund invests in film, television, and new media projects creating the next forms of entertainment. The TELUS Innovation Fund supports a minimum of 3 projects per year with funding up to $100,000 for each project. Full Story

Toronto (November, 19 2008) – marblemedia’s innovation and dedication to their work in new media was recognized yesterday with two trophies from The Canadian New Media Awards (CNMA). marblemedia went through a rigorous interview and evaluation process by Deloitte & Touche to win the prestigious Company of the Year Award and producer and partner Mark Bishop took home the award for Producer of the Year.

(November 18, 2008 – Toronto, Canada) Toronto-based marblemedia and Corus Entertainment announced today the first winner of the Innovative Storytellers Award: Ryerson graduate student Afzal Huda, who will receive a grant and industry mentorship as part of the award. Launched as a $20,000, five-year educational initiative with Ryerson University’s new Master of Arts in Media Production program, the award is given to an outstanding Ryerson graduate student whose thesis explores the connection between content, new technologies and audiences.

In preparation for Game Developers Conference in San Francisco from March 23-27, 2009 the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) and Interactive Ontario are working together to share information with Ontario-based companies attending this event about opportunities in advance of and on the ground at GDC.

Did you know Technology Errors & Omissions policies are not all created equally? On the surface they all seem the same but you could be left with only a worthless piece of paper in the event that you get sued.  You might not be covered!

Is your digital gaming company taking full advantage of the tax benefits offered through the government? The Canadian income tax rules offer generous incentive programs for digital gaming companies investing in innovation. For example, for every $100 of Ontario salary identified as eligible Scientific Research and Experiment Development (SR&ED) activities, your company could be entitled to up to $33 in tax credits. Alternatively, for small and medium size Canadian controlled private companies, your company could be entitled to up to $68 in tax credits or refunds, which can make the after-tax cost of an Ontario SR&ED salary as low as $32.