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BUILDING B has received $17.5 million in funding for its next-generation set-top box. The company plans to release a box that merges content available on broadcast television with the niche content available on the web. It is remaining tight-lipped about its plans, but has hinted at using wireless to distribute mainstream content, and broadband Internet to deliver less popular programming. Andy Lack has joined its board of directors.
AMERICAN AIRLINES is suing GOOGLE for selling trademarked keywords to rival airlines. The suit alleges that Google is profiting from the sale of American Airlines trademarks, confusing customers and diverting them from the American Airlines site. A federal judge found the practice legal two years ago, when GEICO sued for similar reasons.
DIRECTV has been barred from airing TV ads that claim consumers and home-theater installers prefer its satellite TV picture quality over cable. A US District Court Judge found that the studies cited in the ad were misleading. Consumers were asked to compare a digital DirecTV signal and an analog cable signal. Theater installers were asked an “unfair and misleading” question to start their survey.
DOW JONES‘ MarketWatch.com has embraced social-networking features, launching MarketWatch Community. Users can create personal profiles, submit comments and rank their favorite news items. User tagging is also supported. Tagged stories are added to the “community cloud,” allowing users to find related stories.