Hollywood Reporter reports: “While the streaming era is a boon for video consumption, some on Wall Street are warning that new streaming platforms won’t be the biggest financial beneficiaries, with money flowing primarily to content creators earning top dollars amid the streaming wars and low subscription prices also keeping eventual margins razor thin.”
Billboard reports: “European independent labels body IMPALA has said it will formally challenge Tencent’s plans to buy up to 20% of Universal Music Group, citing competition concerns for consumers and independent music companies.”
VentureBeat reports: “Genvid Technologies has raised $27 million in funding for its interactive streaming engine. Galaxy Interactive, the division of merchant bank Galaxy Digital, led the round, bringing the startup’s total funding raised to $47 million.”
The Verge reports: “This year, TikTok became one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. The shortform app finally reached over a billion active users worldwide and, in the US, it provided a launching pad for the biggest song of the year. But while influencers have struck it rich on smaller platforms like Pinterest and Snapchat, TikTok’s sponsorship marketplace has been slow to develop.”
Hypebot reports: “Dolby Laboratories and Warner Music Group (WMG) have partnered to make the label’s music available in Dolby Atmos, the immersive surround sound audio format.”
The Verge reports: “Instagram has shared new details on how its app uses machine learning to surface content for users, stressing that, when making recommendations, it focuses on finding accounts it thinks people will enjoy, rather than individual posts.”
VentureBeat reports: “After a lengthy consultation period sparked by hedge fund and activist investor Elliott Management, eBay has confirmed that it’s offloading its ticket marketplace StubHub to Viagogo in an all-cash deal worth $4.05 billion.”
gamesindustry.biz reports: “Cloud-based casual gaming platform AirConsole has closed a Series A funding round worth $3 million. Led by Ringier Digital Ventures, funds will be used to grow the AirConsole game library and develop partnerships with TV operators and manufactures.”
Variety reports: “Starz has launched its direct-to-consumer StarzPlay streaming app in Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico and the U.K. and plans to roll it out in another 20 territories in 2020.”
Hollywood Reporter reports: “In 2013, Nickelodeon pulled its library from Netflix in an attempt to stem its free-falling linear ratings. Now, Viacom’s kid-focused cable network has pivoted in the opposite direction: supplying the streaming giant with new film and TV series, including a SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff, in a Nov. 13 deal valued at north of $200 million.”
