Variety reports: “Jack Myers is a ubiquitous presence in the advertising community. Now he wants to become an even bigger part of the business. Myers, a former CBS executive who now operates a consulting and content business known as MediaVillage, is eager to help TV companies stage “upfront” presentations that can be streamed to audiences and clients around the world, a service he thinks is likely to be in greater demand.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “Nearly every major studio soon will have its own streamer, but what separates a theatrical title from straight-to-digital remains elusive as producers complain that execs “keep moving the target.”‘
Variety reports: “NBC News is considering whether its venerable “Today” morning show might also serve as an all-day streaming-video outlet. In a memo issued Monday, NBC News Digital staffers were told that the company plans to explore streaming opportunities for “Today” and intends to shift some employees assigned to video “to focus on preparing for a streaming experience.”’
The Verge reports: “We’ve all been there: you have a sudden itch to watch a specific movie, and, after a cursory search of Netflix, you realize it’s not there. Next step: Google. Type in a search query for where that particular movie is streaming. It’s not on Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. It is, however, available via HBO Now, and this is where the decision paralysis hits.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “Days after Bob Iger’s Feb. 25 resignation as CEO of Disney, the surprise move is still stuck in Hollywood’s craw like a piece of gristle. “I still can’t get my brain around the abruptness,” says a top executive. Having talked through the several theories floating around, he says, “None of it adds up to me.”’
VentureBeat reports: “Oxford VR (OVR), a U.K.-based virtual reality (VR) startup that emerged from Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry back in 2017, has officially launched a VR-based therapy to help people overcome social anxiety. While VR is still struggling to gain adoption outside of gaming, health care is one area where it has been making real inroads.”
Variety reports: “On Tuesday, an appeal by Amazon, Google, Pandora and Spotify that seeks to overturn the Copyright Royalty Board’s 2018 decision to raise by 44% the royalties paid to songwriters by streaming services will come before the U.S. Court of Appeals.”
Deadline reports: “Media shares and markets opened higher Tuesday after a sickening plunge the day before saw the DJIA’s worst point loss ever and a rare circuit breaker temporarily halt trading. Walt Disney joined the rally, up more than 3% in mid-morning, shrugging off a report that the conglom’s domestic parks will likely need to shutter on coronavirus fears.”
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “The PGA Tour on Monday unveiled new nine-year U.S. media rights deals with existing partners ViacomCBS’ CBS and Comcast’s NBC Sports and the Golf Channel as well as with new streaming home ESPN+, part of the Walt Disney Co.”
VentureBeat reports: “DoNotPay, the digital lawyer that shot to prominence for its bot that helps drivers appeal parking tickets, has launched a new product aimed at consumers. With the DoNotPay Subscription Sharing Chrome extension, anyone can share access to their online accounts — like Spotify, Netflix, Disney+ — without divulging their password.”
