Digital Entertainment Network

The Digital Entertainment Network was a multimedia and web television dot-com company.[1]

Founding

The Digital Entertainment Network was originally created by Ralph Press, who owns the trademark. Several months after its creation, people who created another Digital Entertainment Network contacted Press, asking him to sell the domain name for $100. Press' domain was tden.com while the other Digital Entertainment Network's domain was den.net. The original Digital Entertainment Network runs as a music store, and its creator is the proprietor of teachmepiano.us.

Dot-com

Marc Collins-Rector hired traditional media executives from broadcast TV, film, commercials, documentary and cable including former Disney TV president David Neuman, to create a website featuring serialized "6 minute shows". Founded in 1996, it raised $72 million from a combination of private investors and venture capital firms. The site opened in May 1999, and produced 26 original series aimed at teenage boy subcultures, including gay teens, Christian kids and extreme sports enthusiasts.[2]

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 RealPlayer 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.[3] 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,[4] Microsoft, Pepsi, Penzoil, Blockbuster Entertainment and DELL.

Collapse

Many industry observers noted that DEN was a quintessential example of the excesses and lack of control of the dot-com craze.[5] The company's troubles mounted after its three founders, including its chairman Collins-Rector (who became a registered sex offender) resigned.[5][6] A 75 million dollar IPO was cancelled in February 2000. DEN later filed for bankruptcy.[7] Subsequently, civil lawsuits from Michael Egan[8] and other 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.[9][10]

Legacy

DEN alumni created other Internet sites including suicide girls,[11] current.tv,[12] Proxicom,[13] Revver, Warner Reprise Records, the Aspen Comedy Festival, Dark Horse Comics, IXL, Static, Intuit, DEN - Desi Entertainment Network, Mooring Tech, Inc.[14][15][16] DEN and its founders have been the subject of many subsequent media articles[17] and parodies.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "ascertain-ment.com" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  2. ↑ "nypost.com". Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  3. ↑ "patft.uspto.gov". Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  4. ↑ "highbeam.com". Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Digital Entertainment Network: Startup or Non-Starter? A sex scandal clouds Webcaster DEN's IPO". Business Week. November 15, 1999. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  6. ↑ "Florida Sex Offender Registry". Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  7. ↑ "news.com.com". Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  8. ↑ http://www.411mania.com/movies/news/322866
  9. ↑ "radar.com". Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  10. ↑ Ryan, Michael (7 November 2000). "The Last Pixel Show" (3 PAGES). News (ZDNet Australia). Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  11. ↑ "suicidegirls.com". Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  12. ↑ "current.tv". Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  13. ↑ "findarticles.com". Business Wire. 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  14. ↑ "buytough.com". Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  15. ↑ "DEN - Desi Entertainment Network den.in". Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  16. ↑ Bernstein, Paula (2001-06-14). "CNN taps Bondy, shuffles exex". Variety.
  17. ↑ "usatoday.com". USA Today. 2004-06-14. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  18. ↑ "fuckedcompany.com". Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-11-15.