AWN Headline News

Kaydara Inc., a worldwide leader in real-time 3D/2D production systems for film, television, games and broadcasting, has announced that it has received an additional US$5 million in funding. The investment will support future product development and marketing strategies. Investissement Desjardins, a company known for its interest in fledgling technology companies, led this first round of investment.

France-based Infogrames has announced that it has gained the gaming rights to the TV animated series, MEN IN BLACK, PEANUTS and the live-action film and TV versions of LA FEMME NIKITA. In addition, Infogrames is also in talks to secure the license for TERMINATOR and MEN IN BLACK 2. The rumored bids for the TERMINATOR property are upwards of US$10 million. Games for the first two TERMINATOR films were created by video game producer Ocean, which Infogrames acquired in November 1996.

* Saturday, February 10, 2001. North Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

Warner Home Video has shuffled its management into new posts in light of increased revenues from the company's DVD sales. Sales executive John Quinn has been promoted to the new post of VP, supply chain management and logistics. The 15-year veteran of Warner Home Video will oversee all aspects of manufacturing, physical distribution, customer service, vendor management and inventory systems. Exec. VP of worldwide marketing and development, Thomas Lesinski has been raised to the new position of executive VP and general manager for the U.S. Lesinski joined Warner Home Video in 1993.

Image Courtesy of Josell Public Relations

* Saturday, March 10 Sunday, March 18, 2001. Durango, Colorado, U.S.A.

A week after the Super Bowl cut its numbers greatly, THE SIMPSONS rebounded with an outstanding 27th place finish, garnering a 9.8 rating/15 share. KING OF THE HILL climbed into 59th place with a 6.4 rating/10 share. At #79, FUTURAMA beamed down a 4.9 rating/8 share. Lifting itself out of WB's ratings basement a little, THE PJS finished in the 106th slot with a 2 rating/3 share. However, UPN's GARY & MIKE sunk further into the cellar with a 1.6 rating/3 share. Its Friday night toon partner, CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH placed 121st, with the worst rating of the week for UPN, a 1.3 rating/2 share.

AWN's stock ticker features the most prominent publicly traded companies in the world of animation. AWN, Inc. makes available certain financial information from third party information providers. AWN does not give advice in any such fields, and has not reviewed, and in no way endorses the validity of such data. This information is provided solely as a means to keep our readers informed of the market performance and trends of certain companies. AWN strongly suggests that one seek advice from a competent professional regarding any investment or financial issues.

Microsoft has signed a deal with Lego to create games for its upcoming next-generation console, Xbox. As part of the deal, Lego will also create online activities for the children's section on Microsoft's Websites. Financial terms were not released. In recent years, Lego has aggressively moved to leverage its multicolored interlocking building bricks franchise into new technology. Lego-produced CD-Roms have proven successful and Lego Mindstorms are high-tech robots that utilize microcomputers.

Internal tensions have risen at embattled German media firm EM.TV & Merchandising over whether or not to accept German mega-firm Kirch Group's proposed bail out. CEO Thomas Haffa, whose family owns 50% of EM.TV shares, has been reported to favor the Kirch deal. Rumors have suggested that he even asked supervisory board chairman, Nickolaus Becker, to step down from his post. Becker along with other members of the board favor a deal with U.S.