Digital Entertainment Network (DEN. net)^[1] was a multimedia dot-com company. A Dot-com company, or simply a dot-com, is a company that does most of its business on the Internet, usually through a Website that uses the popular

Founding

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 of 1999, and produced 26 original series aimed at teenage boy subcultures, including gay teens, Christian kids and extreme sports enthusiasts.

Website Development

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. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following

Collapse

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. Marc Collins-Rector (born in 1960 is an American businessman best known for founding Digital Entertainment Network, an online Streaming video broadcaster and a notable A sex offender is a person who has been criminally charged and convicted of or has pled guilty to or pled Nolo contendere to a Sex crime. ^[5]) resigned. ^[4] A 75 million dollar IPO was cancelled in February 2000; in May the company told its remaining staff (it had laid off over 100 people earlier) that it no longer had any money with which to pay them;^[6] later it filed for bankruptcy. ^[7] 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. Brock Pierce (born November 14, 1980 in Minnesota) is an American actor best known for playing the title role in Disney's First Kid ^[8][9]

Legacy

Many of the DEN alumni have gone on to create other internet sites including suicide girls,^[10] current. tv,^[11] Proxicom,^[12] Revver, Disney, Hollywood Records, MTVI, Procter & Gamble, Warner Reprise Records, the Aspen Comedy Festival, Nike, Dark Horse Comics, The Emmys, IXL, Static, Warner Bros Music, South Park, Marilyn Manson, HBO and MTV, Intuit, CNN^[13]. DEN and its founders have been the subject of many subsequent media articles^[14] and parodies^[15].

External links

Radar Fast Company - A high-flying Web start-up, DEN imploded among allegations of drug use, guns, and pedophilia

References

1. ^ ascertain-ment.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
2. ^ patft.uspto.gov. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
3. ^ highbeam.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
4. ^ ^{a b} "Digital Entertainment Network: Startup or Non-Starter? A sex scandal clouds Webcaster DEN's IPO", Business Week, November 15 1999. Retrieved on 2007-11-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran  
5. ^ Florida Sex Offender Registry. Retrieved on 2007-11-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria.
6. ^ Doan, Amy. "DEN Is A Hollywood-Style Cautionary Tale", Forbes, August 15 2000. Retrieved on 2007-11-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran  
7. ^ news.com.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
8. ^ radar.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria.
9. ^ Ryan, Michael. "The Last Pixel Show" (3 pages), News, ZDNet Australia, 7 November 2000. Retrieved on 2007-11-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran  
10. ^ suicidegirls.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
11. ^ current.tv. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
12. ^ findarticles.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire
13. ^ CNN taps Bondy, shuffles exex - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety
14. ^ usatoday.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria.
15. ^ fuckedcompany.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria.