e-Studio LIVE e-Studio1000: compact addition to e-Studio family of live webcasting solutions; system includes e-Studio V2.0 software suite, Real Networks

AENTV (Alternative Entertainment Network), a producer and syndicator of streaming content, has teamed with Bill Nye to produce 50 new mini-episodes of the popular children's science show, Bill Nye The Science Guy. Co-executive produced by Nye and AENTV President and CEO Drew Cummings, the episodes will be streamed on both Nye's and AENTV's websites. Cummings has already penned syndication deals with Microsoft, Ask Jeeves, and CompuServe, and he also plans to approach entities operating "more youth-related sites," including Nickelodeon and Disney.

Vertigo Multimedia Producer Playout Manager: allows users to create playlists of graphics and animations built using Discreet Logic's frost superscript

Dalet Digital Media TeamNews: tool for creating, editing and publishing stories on-air and online, including over the Internet, interactive TV and WAP-enabled

PRODUCTION SWITCHER Pinnacle PDS 9000: now shipping; a 36-input, 2.5 M/E production switcher aimed at mid-market live production, specifically news and

MULTIFORMAT SAFE AREA GENERATOR Broadcast Video Systems DSA-100 SDI: generates and inserts all required safe action, safe title and center cross graticules

Avid DS HD: offers integrated picture and audio editing, compositing and animation; features paint, titling and project management tools; applications

OK, so it's mid-2002, and you are wondering how Webcasting is doing. Is now the right time to jump in? The topic of whether it is a profitable business or a pit can be summed up in four letters — CARP. No, not the fish — the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel.