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Yep, Google’s in the Content Business. And Now It’s Fessing Up to Its Machinima Investment.

Peter Kafka in Media on May 21 at 3:18 pm PT

Like we told you earlier this month: Google has invested in Machinima, one of the most popular networks/channels on Google’s YouTube. Google — that’s Google Inc., not Google Ventures — now confirms that it led the $35 million round, along with previous investors Redpoint Ventures and MK Capital. My sources previously told me the deal would value Machinima at around $190 million.

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King.com Appoints EA Social Games Producer to Rule New London Studio

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 21 at 3:10 pm PT

King.com, one of the fastest-growing social games companies on Facebook, has opened a new game studio in London that will be led by Electronics Arts and Playfish veteran Catharina Lavers Mallet. While an executive producer at EA, Lavers Mallet worked on major titles like The Sims Social. The London studio is expected to hire about 40 employees and to work with the company’s headquarters there in addition to other offices in Hamburg, Stockholm, Milan, Romania, Malta and San Francisco.

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Spotify Launches in Australia

Peter Kafka in Media on May 21 at 1:46 pm PT

Spotify opened for business in Australia and New Zealand today. The move broadens the streaming music service’s reach as it raises a new round of funding that should value the company at $4 billion by the time it closes. Last month rival service MOG announced an Australian expansion but hasn’t launched yet.

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Facebook Closes Down 11 Percent in Second Day of Trading

Mike Isaac in Social on May 21 at 1:06 pm PT

Shares of Facebook stock sank 4.2 points in their second day of trading on the Nasdaq, ending the day at $34.03, a somewhat expected downturn after a lackluster start last Friday. The stock opened at around ten percent under where it closed on Friday, most likely due to lack of underwriter support in propping prices up by exercising the “greenshoe” option.

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Carlyle Group Leads $100 Million Round for Video Service

Peter Kafka in Media on May 21 at 1:01 pm PT

Avail-TVN, a company that helps process and manage video for cable systems and other services, has raised $100 million in a round led by the Carlyle Group, along with previous investors including Columbia Capital, Valhalla Partners, Novak Biddle and Pioneer Ventures. Avail-TVN used $27 million of the round to buy UK-based On Demand Group, which provides video-on-demand services outside the U.S. Last year, it generated more than $200 million in revenue.

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FTC Adds Privacy Expert to Help Shape Public Policy

John Paczkowski in News on May 21 at 12:42 pm PT

The Federal Trade Commission will soon have a new adviser to shape its thinking on Internet and mobile market issues. Paul Ohm, a University of Colorado law professor and former federal computer-crimes prosecutor, will join the agency in late August, taking over for Columbia University professor Tim Wu. At the FTC, Ohm, who has been at the forefront of a lot of debates about how best to apply Fourth Amendment privacy rights in the 21st century, will advise commissioners and staff on policy and enforcement cases.