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Universal Music Group and satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications are in talks to launch a new 24-hour music channel, sources confirm.

The as-yet-unnamed channel—an intended alternative to the likes of MTV and Fuse—is scheduled to bow early next year on EchoStar's Dish Network. Andy Schuon, formerly president of programming at Infinity Broadcasting, is taking a lead role in the development of the new venture, sources say.

Schuon was previously under the UMG umbrella as chief of the now-defunct farmclub.com and is also a veteran of MTV. A representative from UMG could not be reached for comment at press time. EchoStar declined to comment. The Dish Network—rival in the satellite TV space to News Corp.'s DirecTV—currently claims more than 10 million subscribers. BRIAN GARRITY



Three major studios—Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros.—have announced that they will release films on Toshiba/NEC/Sanyo's high-definition DVD format during the next few years.

The studios are the first to announce support for one of the next-generation DVD formats apart from Sony, which is one of the developers of the competing HD format Blu-ray.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment will issue select titles on HD DVD in fourth-quarter 2005, which is when Toshiba will launch its first HD DVD player/recorder in the United States. Paramount Home Entertainment will release new and catalog titles on HD DVD starting in 2006. Warner Home Video and its sister division, New Line Home Entertainment, have not announced specific HD DVD release schedules. JILL KIPNIS



The Recording Academy has named Brian Wilson the MusiCares 2005 person of the year. Chosen for his accomplishments as a musician and humanitarian, Wilson will receive his honor at the MusiCares benefit dinner, to be held Feb. 11, 2005, at the Palladium in Los Angeles. Proceeds from the evening, which will include an all-star tribute to Wilson, go to MusiCares' financial assistance program, which provides medical and financial aid to members of the music industry. MELINDA NEWMAN



Videogame company Atari has appointed music industry veteran Jim Caparro president/CEO. Caparro will run day-to-day operations for the company while Bruno Bonnell, who gave up the CEO and president positions to make room for Caparro, will continue as chairman/chief creative officer.

In its most recent fiscal period ended Sept. 30, Atari recorded a loss of $16.9 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $71.4 million. For the first six months of its current fiscal year, Atari's net loss totals $5.7 million on revenue of $181.7 million.

Caparro has a track record of leading companies to fiscal prosperity. While the videogame business may be new to him, its distribution mirrors the music industry in many ways, particularly in that Atari sells to practically the same account base. While he has a long background in distribution, Caparro put himself on the map through a series of innovative policies when he headed PolyGram Group Distribution during the 1990s. ED CHRISTMAN



The senior executive lineup at Sony BMG Music Entertainment France has been finalized.

The company is now headed by former Sony Music France president/CEO Olivier Montfort as chairman/CEO.

Christophe Lameignere, previously BMG France president, is named Sony BMG France executive VP/president of the music division. Montfort reports directly to London-based Maarten Steinkamp, head of Sony BMG Music Entertainment operations in Continental Europe. Lameignere reports to Montfort and Steinkamp.

Alain Prigent is named senior VP. Prigent, formerly senior VP at Sony Music France, will oversee finance, administration, IT, operations and sales. He reports to Montfort. TOM FERGUSON



Greg Thompson, former GM/executive VP of Elektra Entertainment, has joined the advisory board of digital music label Digital MusicWorks International. Thompson's role, according to DMI CEO Mitchell Koulouris, will be to advise artists and the music industry about the advantages of digital downloads. In other DMI news, the label has signed three-time Grammy Award nominee Liz Story. The pianist previously recorded for Windham Hill and RCA Records. MELINDA NEWMAN



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