Variety reports: “Taiwan has launched a grant scheme to boost the island’s status as a global hub for virtual reality production. It is offering finance to projects co-produced by companies established in Taiwan and internationally, but excluding those from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.”
The Verge reports: “T-Mobile officially owns Sprint. The merger was formally completed today after clearing a number of legal hurdles over the last year, including a Department of Justice review and lawsuits from a number of states. The combination turns the United States’ third and fourth largest wireless carriers into a far more substantial third place competitor to Verizon and AT&T.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “The agreement will see Fox’s full suite of channels, including Fox News, FS1, Fox Business and Fox Deportes, as well as the local Fox television stations, remain available to Comcast cable subscribers.”
TechCrunch reports: “Roto VR, startup which markets an interactive, ‘360 degree’ chair, has raised £1.5 million in a funding round led by Pembroke VCT. Others in the round include TVB Growth Fund, managed by The FSE Group.”
Billboard reports: “Eight months after announcing it had renewed licensing deals with “two of our four major label partners,” Spotify ticked a third off its list on Wednesday in a joint announcement with Warner Music Group.”
The Verge reports: “As the social distancing efforts push everything from school to socializing into video chat, networks have seen huge surges in traffic — and new anxieties over how digital networks will stand up under the strain.”
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Epic Games has promised a $1 million to the first person who provides proof of a smear campaign against Houseparty. The social platform, which Epic purchased last year, allows users to join in group video chats and play games with each other.”
Billboard reports: “French entertainment and telecom conglomerate Vivendi said Tuesday that it has closed its sale of a 10 percent stake in Universal Music Group to a consortium led by Chinese online giant Tencent.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “With the NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL all currently inactive, virtual sports tournaments now stand alone in a vacant market, and organizations are taking advantage as dealmaking heats up and broadcast networks welcome live competitive content.”
nScreenMedia reports: “Many people are turning to Pluto TV in this time of crisis. News, already the services most popular category, has seen channel usage increase 100% in just 21 days. Will the increased usage persist after life returns to normal?”
