With the ink still drying on the recently passed Secure Digital Music Initiative, Rioport Inc., announced separate partnerships with MTV Networks Online and the Universal Music Group that will go a long way towards making the rapidly growing catalog of digitally downloadable music even more readily available.

As part of the first pairing Rioport will deliver digitally downloaded audio content and MTV Networks Online will furnish content and promotional support in exchange. Included in the deal is an equity stake in RioPort for MTV Online and a share of digital downloaded music sales, as well as online promotion for RioPort on all of MTV Networks online sites, including MTV.com, VH1.com, Nick.com, SonicNet and the forthcoming super-site currently titled The Buggles Project, slated for launch by the end of this year.

Both parties cited a desire to provide digitally downloadable content within the parameters of the newly established SDMI which brought together the Recording Industry Assosciation of America, the major labels, and product manufacturers on a proposal that will work to gradually phase out illegally downloaded MP3 files. With the passage of the SDMI the larger companies have begun to step from the shadows where they waited uncertainly to see if there would be a way to harness the explosive new technology that makes digitally downloadable music possible.

MTV Networks Online president Fred Seibert explained the company's motivations for making the deal in a press release issued by the network.

''Our audience demands and expects that we help them download music. RioPort provides us with the opportunity to be able to do so in a secure and easy way that is SDMI compliant,'' said Fred Seibert, president of MTV Networks Online. ''With this agreement, RioPort is our private label download solution, aggregating content, providing music management software, and licensing and marketing the production of consumer hardware devices,'' he added.

David Watkins, president of the RioPort Division sounded a similarly optimistic note regarding the partnership in a release issued by the company.

''This partnership with MTV Networks Online solidifies our leadership position at the forefront of secure digital distribution,'' said Watkins. ''This partnership allows us access to the universe of music fans and consumers who want to be able to download the latest music in the easiest to use format.''

RioPort's deal with Universal means the audio content furnished to MTV Online will include music from major labels under the Universal umbrella such as A & M, Geffen, Interscope, Island, Def Jam, MCA, Universal and Motown.

Watkins trumpeted the agreement with Universal as a chance to play legally downloaded music with SDMI-compliant players expected to be available later this year and as the first of many such arrangements to come.

''Universal Music Group's support of the RioPort platform is great news for digital audio enthusiasts worldwide,'' said David Watkins, president of RioPort, Inc. ''RioPort and Universal will work closely together to integrate and promote Universal's music content with our RioPort.com web site and SDMI-compliant Rio portable digital audio players. We hope that our agreement with Universal is one of many that will deliver popular music content to RioPort customers.''

Larry Kenswil, President, Electronic Commerce and Advanced Technology, Universal Music Group echoed Watkins' enthusiasm in the same statement. ''UMG will support our artists by providing the broadest and deepest reach for their music. We encourage SDMI standards and are happy that RioPort is one of the first to announce a compliant device.''