MediaPlayNews reports: “Streamers Disney+, Google-owned YouTube TV, and Fox’s free ad-supported Tubi platform were the only direct-to-consumer advertisers during Fox Sports’ Feb. 9 broadcast of Super Bowl LIX from the Superdome in New Orleans. With Super Bowl ads costing as much as $8 million for a 30-second spot, Disney, YouTube TV spent big dollars promoting content and synergies between Disney+, Hulu and ESPN, and sports-streaming.”
Cord Cutters News reports: “FuboTV, a leading sports-centric live TV streaming platform, is making its mark on traditional television. The company announced today that its owned and operated linear network, Fubo Sports, will be distributed on over-the-air (OTA) stations in over 100 markets across the United States. This expansion includes major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, bringing Fubo Sports to more than 12 million traditional TV households.”
Deadline reports: “Cricket Media, the 50-year-old children’s media company known for its namesake print magazine, has acquired majority control of kids streaming outlet Sensical. The streaming service launched in 2021 under Common Sense Networks, the for-profit affiliate of Common Sense Media. Eric Berger, the former Sony exec who headed up Crackle and other digital operations, had run Sensical since its inception and will take the helm of the merged company as CEO.”
GamesBeat reports: “Sharge, a wireless charging supplier, has raised $1.53 million for the Kickstarter launch of its Loomos AI Glasses in just a five days. The Loomos AI glasses feature a 450mAh battery, giving it market-leading battery life of 40 hours on standby. It also will have a Sony 16MP camera for 4K photos (4656 x 3496), immersive open-ear audio with dual DSP amplifiers and 5.1 virtual surround sound for ultra-clear, theater-grade performance.”
TechCrunch reports: “We’ve officially experienced an AI Super Bowl, people. As everyone tuned in to watch the annual championship game, the biggest buzz wasn’t just about the Eagles’ blowout win and Kendrick Lamar performing his Grammy-winning diss track at the halftime show. It was also about AI being a consistent theme in several of the multi-million dollar ad spots.”
Games Industry Biz reports: “Valve has published a dedicated page advising developers on what type of advertising is and isn’t allowed on Steam. As noted by GamingonLinux and SteamDB, this policy has been in place for five years and was previously listed on its Pricing page. Valve has now moved its advertising guidelines to its own page on Steamworks, providing examples of which types of advertising are and are not allowed in games.”
Media Play News reports: “The meteoric rise of free ad-supported streaming television channels continues to proliferate following Paramount’s acquisition of Pluto TV in 2017, and Fox’s acquisition of Tubi in 2020. By making premium content available for live streaming on free services, these companies supercharged the growth of FAST channels, with 70% of consumers now saying they tried a free streaming platform in 2024, according to new data from Hub Entertainment Research.”
Cord Cutters News reports: “In a surprising move that seems to contradict its recent reputation for content purging and cost-cutting, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has released a collection of 30 films for free viewing on YouTube. This unexpected act of generosity has delighted film fans and sparked curiosity about the company’s motivations.”
Music Business Worldwide reports: “Music licensing platforms for short-form video, advertising, games, and other visual media are big business – and attract a lot of attention from deep-pocketed private investors. Sweden’s Epidemic Sound was valued at $1.4 billion in a $450 million funding round in 2021, in which Blackstone Growth (BXG) and EQT Growth acquired stakes in the company. Epidemic is reportedly now eyeing an IPO.”
TechCrunch reports: “Fizz, the college social app, is looking for ways to enhance and expand its platform, and a recent new hire is poised to help drive these ambitions. The company has brought on David Vasquez, who previously served as TikTok’s head of creator monetization and a product lead for TikTok Shop, as Fizz’s new head of product.”
