Digital Entertainment Network

Programs

DEN produced and distributed a number of programs aimed at specific young male demographics. That included Chad's World, which targeted gay viewers and included Seann William Scott in the cast, Tales from the Eastside, which targeted Latinos, The Chang Gang, which targeted Asians, Redemption High which starred Judge Reinhold and targeted Christians, Frat Ratz, which targeted frat boys, and Fear of a Punk Planet, which targeted punks, included Joe Escalante from The Vandals in the cast, and shared a name with the band's 1990 album.

Controversies

DEN became indicative of excess in the era of the dot-com bubble, with high pay for executives while not generating any revenues and very little traffic.

In October 1999, a young man from New Jersey identified only as Jake W. filed a lawsuit alleging that Collins-Rector had sexually molested him for 3 years beginning in 1993 when he was 13 years old. The lawsuit was filed just prior to DEN's scheduled IPO, causing concern among potential investors. and leading to the resignations of Collins-Rector, Shackley, and Pierce, leaving Ritts in charge

In July 2000, Alex Burton, then an 18-year-old DEN actor, Mark Ryan, a second DEN employee, and an unnamed third plaintiff who was 15 years old at the time, filed suit against Collins-Rector, Shackley and Pierce, alleging rape, assault, and death threats. Attorney Jacob Arash Shahbaz, who represented the plaintiffs, indicates that the lawsuit was settled confidentially but the three were reportedly awarded $2,000,030 in a judgment and $1 million in accrued interest in 2011. A renewal of judgment was filed in November 2019 against Collins-Rector and Shackley, citing an additional $4.8 million in accrued interest.

The controversy and turmoil caused by the allegations led DEN to withdraw its IPO and subsequently filed for bankruptcy in August 2000.

In 2014, Michael F. Egan III filed suit, alleging he was sexually assaulted by Goddard, Singer, Neuman, and Ancier at parties hosted by DEN executives but the suits against Neuman and Ancier were dropped. Ancier sued Egan and his attorneys, with the attorneys ultimately apologizing to Ancier and Neuman, saying the allegations were false.

Following the bankruptcy of DEN, the company's trustee alleged possible fraudulent sale of assets prior to its bankruptcy.

References

References

1. Volpano, Lou. (1999). "Analysis of Initial Public Offering DEN (>en)".
2. Gorenfeld, John. (2007-11-05). "FAST COMPANY".
3. Smits, Garry. "LPGA commissioner Ritts resigns {{!}} Jacksonville.com".
4. KAPLAN, KAREN. (1999-04-05). "Viewing TV-Style Programs in the DEN". Los Angeles Times.
5. KAPLAN, KAREN. (1999-10-07). "Coming Soon to a Monitor Near You". Los Angeles Times.
6. KAPLAN, KAREN. (1999-05-31). "Online Show Producer to Get Cash Infusion". Los Angeles Times.
7. Dunn, Ashley. (1999-09-30). "Microsoft in Entertainment Initiative". Los Angeles Times.
8. (1999). "CONSENT TO CONVERTIBLE BRIDGE FINANCING".
9. (2014-04-24). "Bryan Singer & Other Hollywood Sex Ring Defendants Exposed As Investors In Shady Company Run By Pedophile — READ The Shocking Proof". Radar Online.
10. Masters, Kim. (2014-04-30). "Bryan Singer Sex Abuse Case: The Troubling History Behind the Accusations". The Hollywood Reporter.
11. MENN, JOSEPH. (2000-02-10). "Web Start-up DEN Replaces Top 2 Execs, Drops IPO Plan". Los Angeles Times.
12. Menn, Joseph. (2000-02-18). "DEN Layoffs". Los Angeles Times.
13. (1999-08-12). "DEN Appoints Former Microsoft Exec to Tech Post". Los Angeles Times.
14. MENN, JOSEPH. (2000-05-07). "How a Visionary Venture on the Web Unraveled". Los Angeles Times.
15. Menn, Joseph. (2000-06-15). "DEN Files for Bankruptcy Court Liquidation, Owes 200 Creditors". Los Angeles Times.
16. MENN, JOSEPH. (2000-08-02). "DEN Investigated on Alleged Fraud in Liquidation". Los Angeles Times.
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18. Angelo, Jesse. (1999-10-01). "MONEY FOR NOTHING? DEN PAYS EXECS BIG FOR NO REVENUES".
19. MENN, JOSEPH. (2000-07-08). "Teen Worker Sues DEN, Its Founders on Sex Charges". Los Angeles Times.
20. Grover, Ronald. (1999-11-14). "DEN: Startup Or Non Starter?".
21. DUNN, ASHLEY. (1999-11-04). "3 Co-Founders Quit Before DEN IPO". Los Angeles Times.
22. MENN, JOSEPH. (2000-07-26). "3 Former DEN Workers File Suit". Los Angeles Times.
23. MENN, JOSEPH. (2001-03-03). "DEN Sex Suit Expanded With Additional Allegations". Los Angeles Times.
24. Schwarz, Hunter. (2014-04-18). "Alleged Bryan Singer Associate Was Sued In 2000 For Sexual Abuse By X-Men Actor".
25. Siegel, Tatiana. (2020-07-31). "Bryan Singer's Traumatic 'X-Men' Set: The Movie "Created a Monster"".
26. Handel, Jonathan. (2014-05-05). "Lawyer for New Bryan Singer Accuser Shows Photos, Says He Has Physical Evidence". The Hollywood Reporter.
27. Faughnder, Ryan. (2014-04-22). "Three Hollywood executives deny accusations of teen sex abuse". Los Angeles Times.
28. (2014-04-21). "Three New Men Named By Bryan Singer Sex Accuser In Lawsuit: Former Hollywood Honcho Garth Ancier, Ex-Disney Boss David Neuman & Broadway Producer Gary Goddard". Radar Online.
29. Handel, Jonathan. (2014-06-10). "Sex Abuse Accuser Files New Case Against David Neuman". The Hollywood Reporter.
30. Handel, Jonathan. (2014-06-04). "Sex Abuse Case Against David Neuman Withdrawn". The Hollywood Reporter.
31. Faughnder, Ryan. (2014-06-05). "Michael Egan drops his sex abuse lawsuit against David Neuman". Los Angeles Times.
32. Faughnder, Ryan. (2014-06-27). "Garth Ancier sues sex-abuse accuser Michael Egan, attorneys". Los Angeles Times.
33. Sewell, Abby. (2015-06-07). "Michael Egan's former attorneys apologize for false Hollywood sex abuse claims". Los Angeles Times.