Broadband TV News reports: “BMW Group is bringing the streaming service Paramount+ to its cars. The owners of vehicles with BMW or MINI Operating System 9 are able to stream Paramount+ content offerings on the control display whenever the vehicle is stationary, for example during charging stops or breaks on longer journeys, allowing them to watch blockbusters, originals and shows such as Star Trek Discovery.”
GamesBeat reports: “Azra Games has defied the funding gods and raised $42.7 million in funding to accelerate development of its Project Legends mobile role-playing game. The Web3-based game has been in the works roughly since Mark Otero, CEO and a veteran entrepreneur, founded the company in January 2022. In interview with GamesBeat, Otero said the company’s energies in creating its RPG are focused on providing thrilling gameplay, visceral combat, and immersive storylines.”
TechCrunch reports: “Nvidia shares hit a record high on Monday, closing at $138.07 as Wall Street anticipates earnings updates from Microsoft, Meta, Google and Amazon on their AI infrastructure spending. The stock’s climb has been stupefying — surging nearly 180% this year, following a rapid climb last year; it’s also a reflection of Nvidia’s renowned stronghold on the AI chip market, 70% to 95% of which is controlled by the outfit, per estimates by Mizuho Securities.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “Amazon is expanding its Prime Video advertising business, bringing ads to five major new markets next year. Ads on Prime Video will come to India, Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand in 2025. The company announced the expansion at its Amazon UnBoxed conference in Austin, Texas.”
Games Industry Biz reports: “UMX Studio has secured a $4.5m all-cash investment. The Saudi Arabian studio says it will use the funds from investment company Jetapult to “support the expansion of [its] existing portfolio, expand audiences across global markets, and build games in new genres.” The company says the investment “comes in the context of the exponential growth of the gaming and e-sports sector in the MENA region, and with the Saudi National Gaming and Esports entity aiming to make the country a global gaming hub by 2030.”
Deadline reports: “Max is to launch in seven markets across Asia on November 19. The Warner Bros. Discovery streamer will go live in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong, as it continues to rollout around the world. Several plans will be available, details of which will follow in coming weeks and vary by country and provider partners.”
Music Business Worldwide reports: “It’s no secret that Latin Music has become a huge part of the US music industry (not to mention the music industry in many other countries as well). In 2022, Latin Music revenues in the US surpassed the USD $1 billion mark for the first time, and in 2023, they hit a new record at around $1.4 billion. This year, Latin Music could easily set a new annual record once again.”
IGN reports: “The world of soccer video games took another twist today after Konami and FIFA — for years rivals on the virtual pitch — signed their first deal following the end of EA Sports’ long-running FIFA games. But don’t get too excited yet, it’s just for esports. Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series had for years tussled with EA Sports’ all-conquering FIFA series before finally pivoting to the free-to-play eFootball. EA has largely cornered the market, locking up the rights to the Premier League, La Liga, and other popular leagues, with Konami left fighting for scraps.”
VentureBeat reports: “The number of AI video generation models continues to grow with a new one, Pyramid Flow, launching this week and offering high quality video clips up to 10 seconds in length — quickly, and all open source. Developed by a collaboration of researchers from Peking University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Kuaishou Technology — the latter the creator of the well-reviewed proprietary Kling AI video generator — Pyramid Flow leverages a new technique wherein a single AI model generates video in stages, most of them low resolution, saving only a full-res version for the end of its generation process.”
Ad Week reports: “Today, on the last day of Advertising Week, DirecTV announced it will launch MyFree DirecTV, a dedicated free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platform, on Nov. 15. When it launches, MyFree DirecTV will give viewers direct access to curated FAST channel content and an extensive on-demand library, with additional channels slated to join the MyFree DirecTV platform throughout 2025 and beyond.”
