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?”
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Hyper casual games are taking over the mobile market, representing 78% of the most downloaded new mobile games of 2019.”
Deadline reports: “Broadcaster Tenga broke its silence about a swirl of suitors, acknowedging it received four unsolicited offers but saying it’s not currently in talks after two bidders withdrew and the process is stalled with the other two.”
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Artificial intelligence and data processing firm Anybrain has received €1 million investment from venture capital firm Trust Esports.”
VentureBeat reports: “A new PC VR app called Spaces enables users to join Zoom meetings and other video calls from within VR. The app was developed in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen many people around the world working from home and using virtual meeting tools such as Zoom.”
The Verge reports: “Facebook has pledged to invest $100 million in the news industry at a time when the ongoing coronavirus pandemic means that accurate reporting is more important than ever. $25 million will be provided in grant funding for local news through the Facebook Journalism Project, while the remaining $75 million will come in the form of “additional marketing spend” to worldwide news organizations.”
Variety reports: “The BBC will donate £700,000 ($856,000) to the U.K.’s Film and TV Charity in support of coronavirus relief. The donation is aimed at those out of work because of halted production caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on freelance workers.”
Billboard reports: “Sony Corp. issued its first statement Friday outlining how its myriad business lines have been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The conglomerate didn’t provide detailed estimates of the financial toll of the global health crisis, but summarized how its various business units have been affected, including its entertainment divisions.”
Variety reports: “Hooq, the multi-territory streaming service in Asia backed by WarnerMedia and Sony, filed Friday for voluntary liquidation in Singapore. In recent weeks it had been reported that the company had failed to make full remittances to some of its in-production original series.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “David Hyman, The Hollywood Reporter’s 2020 Raising the Bar honoree, has survived (and thrived) on the front lines of the streaming revolution.”
