TechCrunch Reports: “During the first six months of 2019, advertisers spent $57.9 billion on U.S. digital advertising, according to the latest report prepared by PwC for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (an online advertising trade group).”
Variety reports: “Netflix, burning boatloads of cash with a projected $15 billion content budget for 2019, is adding to its debt load once again. On Monday (Oct. 21), Netflix announced plans to offer approximately $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of junk bonds, in both U.S dollar and euro denominations.”
Forbes reports: “Shares of Snap Inc. (SNAP) have had a fantastic run in 2019, with the stock more than doubling. But with earnings for the third quarter due out on October 22 at the end of the trading day, the pressure will be on the company to deliver.”
TechCrunch reports: “French startup MadBox is raising a $16.5 million (€15 million) Series A funding round from Alven. The company is developing mobile games and handles everything from start to finish, from game design to publishing and user acquisition.”
VentureBeat reports: “It’s been a big year for Saber Interactive. It started in March when World War Z sold more than 1 million copies when it debuted in April. The year got bigger when longtime id Software producer and game director Tim Willits announced he was joining Saber in August, adding a high-profile name to its roster.”
Hypebot reports: “Here Bobby Owsinski outlines why the rise of streaming culture has largely nullified the viability of a blockchain-based system for selling music, and why services like Audius, which do utilize blockchain tech, are more susceptible to piracy.”
Variety reports: “Los Angeles-based virtual reality startup AmazeVR has struck a deal with Atlas V and Felix & Paul Studios to distribute the studios’ immersive content on its platform.”
Variety reports: “Quibi, the short-form mobile TV service founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg, announced a pact with T-Mobile to be the official telecommunications partner for its April 2020 launch.”
TechCrunch reports: “China’s TikTok today launched an education program in India as the popular short-video app looks to expand its offering and assuage local authority in one of its biggest markets. This is the first time TikTok has launched a program of this kind in any market, a spokesperson told TechCrunch.”
VentureBeat reports: “Mobile game publisher Tilting Point has acquired in-game offer and video ad optimization platform Gondola, bolstering its ability to offer developers a shot at extending the time that gamers play a given title.”
