Apple to Invest in Original, Exclusive Podcasts: Report
Billboard reports: “Apple is reportedly planning to fund exclusive, original podcasts for its listening platform — as competition around the potentially lucrative podcast industry heats up.”
First Look Media’s Topic Plans to Launch Subscription VOD Service
Variety reports: “Can Topic execute a solid pivot into premium video? The digital storytelling outlet of Pierre Omidyar’s First Look Media thinks it can put together a niche Netflix-style subscription-video service curated to appeal to young ‘culture cravers.’”
Ubisoft Reveals Over 100 Games For Its Uplay+ Subscription Gaming Service For September
VentureBeat reports: “Ubisoft revealed a list of more than 100 games that will be available on Uplay+, the subscription gaming service that will debut on September 3. First unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 2019) in June, Ubisoft said it will offer more than 4,000 hours of gameplay for the single-player versions of the titles alone. It will charge $15 a month for Uplay+.”
Landr Raises $26 Million For AI-Powered Music Creation Tools
VentureBeat reports: “Landr, a Montreal-based startup developing an AI-powered creative platform for musicians, today announced that it has closed a $26 million series B funding round led by Sony Innovation Fund, microphone manufacturer Shure, and state-owned financing corporation Investissement Québec and Fonds de solidarité FTQ.”
Disney Hires Former PlayStation Portfolio Boss To Head Up Games Licensing
gamesindustry.biz reports: “Disney has made a key appointment that should significantly boost its video games strategy, bringing in a former PlayStation exec into the fold. John Drake spent five years at the platform holder working on, and eventually leading, Sony’s portfolio and content acquisition efforts.”
HBO Sets New Single Season Emmy Nom Record With 137 & Beats Netflix
Deadline reports: “Last year Netflix for the first time ever beat HBO in noms, 112 to 108, but in the end both took home 23 wins total. This year, HBO took the Emmy nom crown back and set a new network nom record for a single season with 137 Emmy noms. Netflix counts 117 noms today.”
Patreon Raises $60 Million to Take Membership Funding Model to a ‘New Level’
Billboard reports: “Patreon — the membership funding platform that lets fans support musicians like Pentatonix and Amanda Palmer with monthly payments — has raised $60 million in late-stage funding from investors, co-founder and CEO Jack Conte announced Tuesday (July 16).”
Quibi Partners With NBC News To Launch Two Daily News Shows Aimed At Millennials
Deadline reports: “Quibi is to launch two daily news shows aimed at millennials after striking a deal with NBC News. The broadcaster’s news operations becomes the first producer to partner with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman’s short-form digital service for its curated daily news strand Daily Essentials.”
Tim Goodman: What If WarnerMedia Got a Redo on the HBO Max Reveal?
Hollywood Reporter reports: “The upcoming streaming service is still confusing. What’s on it? How much does it cost? It didn’t have to be this way, writes The Hollywood Reporter’s chief TV critic.”
WhatsApp and Telegram Media Files Aren’t So Secure After They Reach Your Phone
The Verge reports: “While they’re known for strongly encrypting messages in transit, apps like WhatsApp and Telegram may not always be able to keep files safe after they’re on your phone. Today, researchers from Symantec explain how hackers could use a malicious app to subtly alter media files sent through the services.”
