Digital Entertainment Network (DEN.net)[1] was a multimedia and web television dot-com company.
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Rector hired traditional media executives from Broadcast TV, Film, Commercials, Documentary and Cable to create a destination website featuring serialized "6 minute shows" on the internet.
Launched in 1996, it raised 72 million dollars from a combination of private investors and venture capital firms. The site launched in May 1999, and produced 26 original series aimed at teenage boy subcultures, including gay teens, Christian kids and extreme sports enthusiasts.
After a substantial amount of hype, the site itself turned out to be rather conventional for the time. DEN developers wrote the ports for Windows Media Player, Quicktime and Real Player for the Linux OS, which helped enable sites like youtube and myspace. DEN Developers also obtained a patent for delivering video advertising over the internet.[2] DEN.NET Streaming media content was delivered in three formats and three different download speeds. DEN signed record breaking advertising deals with sponsors such as Ford,[3] Microsoft, Pepsi, Penzoil, Blockbuster Entertainment and DELL.
Many industry observers noted that DEN was a quintessential example of the excesses and lack of control of the dot-com craze.[4]
The company's troubles mounted after its three founders, including its chairman Marc Collins-Rector (who settled a lawsuit alleging a sexual relationship with a child and registered in Florida as a sex offender.[5]) resigned.[4] A 75 million dollar IPO was cancelled in February 2000.
DEN later filed for bankruptcy.[6] Subsequently, civil lawsuits from boys employed by DEN alleged sexual abuse and coercion using drugs and guns by Collins-Rector, co-founder Chad Shackley, and DEN Executive VP Brock Pierce.[7][8]
Many of the DEN alumni have gone on to create other internet sites including suicide girls,[9] current.tv,[10] Proxicom,[11] Revver, Warner Reprise Records, the Aspen Comedy Festival, Dark Horse Comics, IXL, Static, Intuit, DEN - Desi Entertainment Network, Mooring Tech, Inc.[12][13][14] DEN and its founders have been the subject of many subsequent media articles[15] and parodies.[16]
www.den.net is again active and seems to have a collection of the old content as well as some new content, but has recently become hacked.