Hollywood, Silicon Valley and AT&T? It’s a Deal

HOLLYWOOD, SILICON VALLEY AND AT&T? IT'S A DEAL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Laura Holson]
On Monday, the William Morris Agency, the Hollywood talent shop, will announce that it is teaming up with the Silicon Valley venture capital firms Accel Partners and Venrock to invest in digital media start-up companies based in Southern California. What makes the combination unusual, though, is the addition of AT&T as a limited partner. While there has been a spate of deals recently as entertainment and technology companies try to capitalize on their shared interest in new media, many people view wireless carriers as too controlling, particularly when it comes to offering new software and content on today’s more sophisticated, Web-friendly cellphones. This deal is an indication of how quickly online and mobile entertainment are transforming the wireless carriers and perhaps a recognition — on all sides — that a failure to act now could leave the partners vulnerable to interlopers who seek to upend their traditional businesses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/media/03morris.html?ref=today...
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