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Streaming multiple channels of music has proven a big hit with satellite customers, so it seems natural that DMX---a subsidiary of TCI Music (soon to be renamed Liberty Digital), and the company responsible for bringing audio to 2.6 million dish owners---would move to the Internet. Last week, DMX announced a multi-year, multi-phase global distribution agreement under which the DMX music service will be transmitted on Lycos' network of websites.

As part of the alliance, DMX says it will be prominently featured as a major music programmer for the Lycos Radio Network, "enabling millions of consumers to listen to DMX music from their computers." Lycos (whose family of websites include Tripod, WhoWhere, Angelfire, MailCity, HotBot, HotWired, Wired News, Webmonkey, Suck.com, and MyTime.com) says that online radio listeners will have available 30 or more streaming feeds of digital music "selected to meet their personal profile." According to DMX, the channels will stream dynamic programming, with continuously fresh playlists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information for each song---artist name, song title, album name, etc.---will be displayed onscreen while the song is playing.

With this agreement, DMX continues its reach into online distribution. DMX also recently announced the launch of DMX Axis, which the company describes as an Internet-delivered music service that delivers highly customized music programming to the worldwide commercial marketplace. Launching in the summer, DMX Axis is intended to allow customers to select, update, and download new songs and schedules through the Internet.

Lee Masters, president and CEO of Liberty Digital, stated that "A large part of DMX's future is in distributing its music service via the Internet. By developing interactive music services with one of the leaders in the online industry, DMX will further establish itself as the premier provider of digital music. The agreement with Lycos provides new brand and revenue opportunities for DMX, and increased value to Liberty Digital's portfolio of Internet companies."