APPS + PLATFORMS
Facebook’s Instagram tweaked the way auto-play videos appear on its platform. Previously, all auto-play videos on Instagram played without sound by default, no matter what the settings were on the device they were being viewed on. (Instagram Stories was an exception; it always followed a device’s default settings.) Now, if an Instagram user chooses to turn the sound on for a video, the sound will stay on for all subsequent videos they view during that session. That includes videos in the Instagram feed, the Explore tab, Instagram Stories, or users’ profiles. It also includes both organic video and ads. Users can still turn audio off by tapping the speaker icon in the bottom left of videos. And new sessions will once again default to no audio.
VIRTUAL + AUGMENTED REALITY
Well that’s tantalizing. Microsoft sent out invites to a small number of journalists, beckoning them to an October 3 event in San Francisco. All that’s really known at the moment is that the event will focus on the company’s next efforts in mixed reality technology. “This event is an opportunity to hear where Microsoft is headed next – and to experience Windows Mixed Reality for yourself,” the invitation reads. According to Mashable, Microsoft won’t use the event to unveil a new HoloLens mixed reality headset. But that doesn’t mean the company won’t roll out new hardware of some sort. It’s all a bit mysterious at the moment; we’ll know more on October 3.
PROGRAMMING
Volume 5 of RWBY, the anime series from the Fullscreen-owned digital entertainment company Rooster Teeth, is hitting theaters – for one night, anyway. On Thursday, October 12, the first chapter of the new installment will be screened theatrically in almost 500 locations. Rooster Teeth has partnered with the cinema-event distributor Fathom Events to help put on the screenings, which will run at 7:30 pm ET. Audiences will also get to see an exclusive featurette, which includes interviews with the show’s talent and crew. Volume 5 officially premieres on October 14; it’ll be available on First, the company’s SVOD service.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Variety reports that Sanjay Sharma is leaving All Def Digital, Russell Simmons’ hip-hop-oriented digital media startup. Sharma had served as the company’s CEO for the past three years. He reportedly plans to launch his own digital media venture.
Shareablee is expanding its team as it prepares to launch a new advertising category, Social Addressable Advertising, using social behavioral data to develop media plans across platforms. Pat Ruta joins the company as Chief Business Officer and Jack Flanagan joins as Executive Vice President of U.S. Sales. Ruta spent 17 years with television ad tech provider Visible World, leading it and its subsidiary, AudienceXpress, to an acquisition by Comcast. Flanagan led Timeline Labs to its acquisition in 2015.
Branded Entertainment Network announced a new hire. The company has named Kristin Glushon as EVP of Client Development. She’ll be tasked with driving BEN’s growth, with a focus on developing relationships with domestic and global brands, as well as with media agencies. She’ll report directly to CEO Gary Shenk. Glushon joins the company from Orion Worldwide, where she most recently served as SVP of New Business for the company’s Client Strategy Group.
TRIVIA
San Junipero, the much-lauded installment of Netflix’s Black Mirror, won big at the Emmys on Sunday. Which actresses played the younger versions of Yorkie and Kelly, the episode’s main characters? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and state.)
Our Last Trivia Question: This singer-songwriter whose full name includes Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel irked some people recently with his negative comments about the music industry. Answer: Seal. Kudos to Andrew Bellamy-Producers Guild of America/NY, Andy Pittman-TAMU/TX, Holly Hearn-H2 Concierge Marketing/FL, Joel Dearing-Virtual News Center/IN, Susan Nessanbaum Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/CA, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union/CA, and Lorrie Shilling CA
