The Hollywood Reporter reports: “When it comes to live television, there is perhaps no better sign of a normal spring than a full day of games from the NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament. For the broadcasters of the annual tourney, CBS and Turner Sports, its return after an unprecedented cancellation last year was a welcome one.”
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Today, The Games Fund announced the launch of a $50 million early-stage investment fund which will support video game companies within Europe and the US.”
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Streaming platforms Twitch and Facebook Gaming have seen considerable growth in the first quarter of 2021, but YouTube Gaming has stumbled.”
Variety reports: “Streaming media service Plex, looking to grow its free, ad-supported video business, announced that it raised more than $50 million in Series C financing from existing investor Intercap.”
Variety reports: “For years, rumors persisted that Lucasfilm was developing movies based on “Star Wars” characters Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But by 2018, after disappointing box office returns for other stand-alone “Star Wars” films like “Solo,” both projects stalled.”
Variety reports: “Power agency CAA and its eponymous foundation have launched a new program to help storytellers accurately portray marginalized communities and sensitive social issues.”
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Epic Games has closed a $1 billion funding round “to support Epic’s long-term vision for the metaverse,” the company announced today.”
TechCrunch reports: “ConsenSys, a key player in crypto and a major proponent of the Ethereum blockchain, has raised a $65 million funding round from J.P. Morgan, Mastercard, and UBS AG, as well as major blockchain companies Protocol Labs, the Maker Foundation, Fenbushi, The LAO and Alameda Research.”
Music Business Worldwide reports: “The DIY artist sector’s annual revenues grew 34.1% in 2020, generating $1.2 billion globally, according to trusted analysis platform Midia”
Variety reports: “Ask any executive what the music business was like in the ’00s and their face may take on an expression more commonly associated with narrowly averted disasters like car accidents or, more accurately, attempted robberies. Due to peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms like Napster and Limewire, U.S. recorded-music revenues lost more than half their value in the early years of the 21st century…”
