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Tuesday February 16, 2021

Facebook is also building an audio chat product that would compete with social networking app Clubhouse, reports the New York Times. In early stages of development, the product is known internally as Fireside, sources told the paper.

TikTok’s sale of its American operations to a group including Oracle Corp. and Walmart Inc. has been paused indefinitely, according to the Wall Street Journal, as President Biden reviews efforts to address potential security risks from Chinese tech companies. “We plan to develop a comprehensive approach to securing US data that addresses the full range of threats we face,” said National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne. The previous administration had pushed for a forced sale. “The Trump administration didn’t think out what they were doing very well, in my opinion,” said former TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer on Fox Business Network’s “The Claman Countdown.” Still, added Meyer, who resigned last summer as the company was facing pressure from the Trump administration, “There are issues about transparency and accountability that need to be worked out, and it needs to be an industry-wide solution…that’s what the Biden administration should put their efforts, is to making sure that … there’s accountability, at the end of the day.”

Discovery Inc. and Snap Inc. announced a new content and advertising partnership around the Olympic Games, showcasing discovery+ and Eurosport’s Games content and coverage, shared through a new Eurosport Olympics daily Show on Snapchat’s Discover platform. Spanning this summer’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the partnership will seek to grow and sustain engagement, as well as introduce new audiences to discovery+ and Eurosport’s sports content.

Dating app Bumble launched trading on public markets on Thursday, with shares priced at $43. By Friday’s close, the stock had risen to $75.48 – making 31-year-old CEO, Whitney Wolfe Herd, the world’s youngest female to take a company public in America, a billionaire.

Analyst firm LightShed Partners have formed venture investment company LightShed Ventures, focused on early-stage tech, media and telecom startups. LightShed Ventures Fund I will invest $75 million principally in the Seed and Series A rounds of category-defining private companies across the TMT ecosystem. The company was co-founded by general partners Richard Greenfield, Walter Piecyk and Brandon Ross, who formed LightShed Partners in 2019, and Jamie Roberts Seltzer, most recently at Waverley Capital. “LightShed Partners will serve as the foundation for what we do at LightShed Ventures,” said Greenfield. “Our unique, thematic research remains our life blood. The principles behind our research will underpin our investments. But the research itself is just the start of our flywheel. Everyone knows we have one of the biggest megaphones in TMT to amplify our ideas and strengthen our brand and mindshare.”

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and rapper/entrepreneur Jay-Z are investing 500 Bitcoin (about $24 million) in a fund, Btrust, aimed at making Bitcoin “the internet’s currency,” with initial adoption in Africa and India. Established as a blind irrevocable trust, the endowment will take “zero direction” from the founders, said Dorsey.

Consumer spending on the top 100 non-game subscription apps rose 34% in 2020, to $13 billion, according to Sensor Tower. In the US, consumers spent nearly $5.9 billion, up 26% from 2019.

In collaboration with MESA, SMPTE is bringing the media industry’s first human- and machine-readable Language Metadata Table into its public review process, The vetted and approved list of language codes will be available for public comment, implementation, and validation. The LMT register is intended to give media companies, content owners, video service providers, and others a controlled vocabulary and standardized set of codes for accurately and consistently identifying spoken and written language.

Top social platforms’ adherence to media responsibility has improved significantly, according to IPG Mediabrands’ latest Media Responsibility Index. Across nearly all 10 Media Responsibility Principles, platforms delivered an average lift of 11%, with the largest increases in the agency network’s Promote Respect and Accountability principles, as well as many platforms improving their efforts to reduce Hate Speech and Misinformation/Disinformation. “We created the Media Responsibility Index with the belief that social platforms would welcome our Index as a helpful tool, rather than being perceived as another ranking. This current Index shows that the platforms heard our call to action and moved swiftly to work together to be better and contribute to a more positive future for advertising and our world,” said Elijah Harris, Global Head of Social, Mediabrands’ agency Reprise.

Brightcove announced the launch of Brightcove Cloud Playout, a feature that enhances Brightcove’s end-to-end video platform, enabling content owners and organizations to program a scheduled playout of both on-demand video assets and live footage of events into a single stream for a broadcast-grade “live TV” experience. Early adopters of this capability include AMC, BookMyShow, and more. In March, SXSW Online will be the first Brightcove customer to utilize Cloud Playout for its conference and festivals.

Traffic on broadband networks rose by more than half and average broadband usage approached one-half a terabyte at the end of 2020, according to the Q4 2020 OVBI (OpenVault Broadband Insights) report from OpenVault, Per-subscriber average data usage for 4Q20 was 482.6 GB per month, a 40% increase over the 344 GB consumed in 4Q19 and a 26% increase over the 3Q20 average of 383.8. At the same time, broadband providers saw subscriber increases of 6.5%, creating a net effect of 51% more broadband traffic. 4Q20 median usage rose 54% year-over-year, to 293.8 GB per month from 190.7 GB in 2019.

Creative company Gravity Road has launched a gaming, sponsorship and esports marketing practice, and has, through holding company, brandtech group You & Mr Jones, made a strategic investment in gaming venture fund Griffin Gaming Partners. GSP provides Gravity Road with early strategic access to key partners across the global gaming ecosystem. GGP’s investments include gaming messaging platform Discord, interactive virtual concert business Wave, and mobile competition platform Skillz.

Gaming organization XSET named HyperX, manufacturer of high-performance components, their official peripheral and memory partner. This partnership exclusively outfits XSET’s roster of pro gamers and content creators with HyperX’s products including headsets, keyboards, mice, mousepads, microphones, eyewear, power, and memory. The initiative also supports and highlights the shared missions of XSET and HyperX in creating cultural moments.

Jadu launched its mobile augmented reality experience, Curse of Calypso, with a slate of experiences launching this year. The interactive musical AR experience features Canadian-American rock band Palaye, and gives fans the ability to interact with their hologram-enhanced surroundings.

In more AR news, Apple released a new iOS app to promote the Apple TV+ space drama “For All Mankind.” The app, “For All Mankind: Time Capsule,” allows users to uncover memories from the lives of Danny Stevens (Casey Johnson) and his parents, astronauts Gordo (Michael Dorman) and Tracy Stevens (Sarah Jones), in the decade between season one and season two. “AR presents a new and exciting opportunity to bring the world of ‘For All Mankind’ literally into the homes of the audience in a way that hasn’t been possible before,” said Ron Moore, creator and executive producer of “For All Mankind.” “Using this technology allows the audience to immerse themselves into the series by interacting with objects, people and media in an impactful and meaningful way that will bring them even closer to world we’ve created.”

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Fox Television Stations is introducing a new advertising service, FLX, that allows advertisers to purchase across linear Fox TV stations as well as OTT and CTV options. The service offers programming from Fox Entertainment, Fox News, Fox Sports, and Tubi. Fox’s partnership with the pre-buy planning platform MediaOcean has expanded to include the new FLX service.

Twitter is exploring revenue streams outside of targeted advertising, including subscription products, according to Bloomberg. Sources say one idea under considering is giving users the ability to pay people they follow for exclusive content, or “tipping. “It’s important to note we are still in very early exploration and we do not expect any meaningful revenue attributable to these opportunities in 2021,” said Bruce Falck, Head of Revenue Products.

TheViewPoint, a Saas video ad monetization platform for CTV/OTT publishers, is now certified by Innovid, an independent omni-channel advertising, and analytics platform built for television, to run Interactive CTV ads. “Interactive ad formats are boosting viewers’ engagement and enhance their interactions with ads,” said Daniel Elad, CSO at TheViewPoint. “They have a huge potential to outplay all conventional ad types not only in terms of their engagement levels, but also ad completion and view rates.”

Clinch, a provider of cross-channel dynamic creative optimization technology to advertisers, announced a partnership with location technology platform Foursquare to bring enhanced, real-time attribution measurement to omnichannel DCO. With Foursquare Attribution, Clinch’s creative technology will be able to measure foot traffic driven by digital campaigns across retail store locations, restaurants, car dealerships, and more. “We are focused on building full spectrum omnichannel solutions that work seamlessly across all digital environments from one unified platform. Foursquare is a key component to measure, understand, and report true omnichannel campaign effectiveness,” said Oz Etzioni, CEO at Clinch.

Also teaming up are video advertising platform SpotX and LG Electronics, with SpotX serving as the primary supply-side platform throughout the US, EMEA, and Latin America. SpotX is also providing LG with demand facilitation services to connect media buyers with the OTT video inventory available on LG smart TVs and will give buyers the ability to purchase that inventory programmatically through the SpotX platform or the demand-side platform of their choice. “This global partnership signifies a growing trend of device manufacturers recognizing the power of owning the glass to not only manage content distribution and access but also aggregate unique audience data,” said Mike Laband, SVP, Platform at SpotX. “LG is in the best position possible right now to make the leap and expand its advertising business with programmatic, and we’re excited to collaborate with the team in any way possible.”

Centro announced an integration of its Basis platform with AdsWizz, a digital audio advertising solutions company. The integration gives programmatic buyers using Basis access to over 200 million monthly uniques by enabling them to connect to the AdsWizz Marketplace and other audio publishers on the AdsWizz platform. “The AdsWizz and Centro integration enables marketers and publishers to capitalize on the increasing engagement of audio,” said Alexis van de Wyer, CEO of AdsWizz. “We’re seeing that the growth of listening audiences is translating to a similar growth in programmatic audio advertising. Recognizing the needs of the market to access this desirable medium, AdsWizz sees Centro’s Basis as a strong addition to our group of demand partners.”

Disney+ hit 94.9 million subscribers in 4Q20, and ESPN+ nearly doubled the number of subscribers versus year-ago, with 12.1 million. Hulu rose 30%, to 39.4 million. Direct-to-consumer revenue in the quarter jumped 73%, to $3.5 billion.

Tubi, a division of FOX Entertainment, has expanded its “News on Tubi” offering in the US with the addition of nearly 80 24-hour, live local news feeds from major television station owners that include Cox Media Group, Hearst Television, Scripps and TEGNA. Including Tubi’s current offering of 17 Fox Television stations and Altice USA’s News 12 New York, Tubi will carry nearly 100 local station feeds in 2021, covering 58 designated market areas, with stations to be rolled out throughout the year.

Netflix is opening a new office in Canada, said Co-SEO Ted Sarandos in a blog post, noting the streamer has spent $2.5 billion in the country since 2017. “We want to build on that momentum and make a new home for Netflix in Canada – opening an office and hiring a dedicated content executive to work directly with the Canadian creative community,” Sarandos said. “We could only have dreamed in 2012 when our first original production began filming in Ontario (“Hemlock Grove”) what an important part of our business Canada would become.” Netflix already has a production hub in Toronto.

AVOD Haystack News has expanded its content agreement with Bloomberg Media to add Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg Quicktake to its recently launched portfolio of live viewing options. “Our audience and watch-time growth continues to break records and the addition of Bloomberg’s high-quality, award-winning live business and global news further fortifies our content offerings,” said Daniel Barreto, Co-Founder and CEO of Haystack TV.

A&E announced the launch of The Table Is Ours, a new original podcast that explores Black identity, vulnerability and achievement through conversations with influential voices in the Black community. The 15-episode series was conceived of and created by Amira Lewally and Kirby Dixon, who will also host.

Kantar has partnered with podcast platforms Megaphone, ACAST, and Midroll. “As these are direct integrations, with multiple platforms, we can be even more accurate in exposure ID for dynamically inserted ads of these podcasts – especially critical as we enter a cookieless world,” said James Jarzab, VP, Partnerships, Kantar.

Female and Latina-owned digital media company Canela Media announced the launch of Canela News, a free live-streaming newscast for US Latino cord cutters. The Spanish-language daily newscast will cover topics relevant to US Latinos, including breaking news, sports, immigration, and more. On March 8, Canela News will begin broadcasting daily live 30-minute segments Monday-Friday at 6p and repeats at 9p on the advertiser-supported streaming service Canela.TV, which will also be distributed on FAST channels. There will also be a daily segment focused completely on sports.

Discovery Inc.’s Magnolia Network, whose October debut was delayed due to the pandemic, will offer an expanded slate of originals on streamer discovery+ starting July 15, the same day the Magnolia app launches with over 150 hours of content. The Magnolia linear network – a joint venture with “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines – will take over linear network DIY in January 2022. “Our plan has evolved along the way, but our original vision for this network has remained the same,” said the Gaineses. “It is our ongoing desire to create a space, whether in a streaming environment, or on linear television, where people who watch a show on our network leave feeling like it was time well spent.”

The Fox Now and Fox Nation apps are now on VIZIO SmartCast. SmartCast viewers can access live and on demand episodes of top Fox shows, Fox Sports, local news from Fox’s 17 owned and operated stations, FS1, FS2, FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network, as well as Fox’s new programming service FoxvSoul.

Cinedigm announced a content distribution partnership with Rockbot, the out-of-home streaming TV service, to distribute four Cinedigm video channels to Rockbot’s business-to-business streaming media network. “At Cinedigm we remain focused on extending the reach of our AVOD services and ad-supported television networks as widely as possible,” said Tony Huidor, GM of Cinedigm Networks. “We are excited and eager to partner with innovative and emerging platform partners like Rockbot because we know the future of video streaming extends beyond the living room.”