2008 06-17 MediaBytes: VERIZON - TIGER WOODS - NBC - ADOBE - EA - TAKE TWO - BRIGHTCOVE - MOVE NETWORKS

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Watch Shelly’s commentary on VERIZON’s (NYSE: VZ) decision to block access to the Usenet hierarchy.

Tiger Wood’s helped NBC (NYSE: GE) receive the highest overnight ratings for the US Open in six years. The golfer, whose quest for the US Open spilled over into Monday, is responsible for a 21% increase over last years ratings, as well as the third best for a Sunday in U.S. Open history.

ADOBE’s (NASD: ADBE) second quarter profit rose 41%. The software manufacturer reported $272.7 million of income compared to $223.3 million a year ago. Adobe’s profit is a result of a demanding world market, which makes up roughly half of Adobe’s consumers.

ELECTRONIC ARTS (NASD: ERTS) deadline to acquire TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE (NASD: TTWO) has come and gone again. The video game manufacturer is expected to extend its $2 billion bid for Strauss Zelnick’s GTA-4 money machine, which has been holding out for more money. Take-Two has already shipped 11 million copies of Grand Theft Auto 4, which should give Take-Two some negotiating leverage.

BRIGHTCOVE has gutted and rebuilt its streaming video player for better long-form capabilities. Brightcove, which is popular with news content producers and short form producers like TMZ, is making a move to acquire more long-form content partners. The move is directly targeted at competitor MOVE NETWORKS, who provides the player for ABC, FOX, the CW and ESPN.