The Republican National Committee sued Google on Friday, alleging Google’s political spam filtering has cost the RNC at least $75,000 in lost donations, and could lead to long-term losses in the millions of dollars. “Google has relegated millions of RNC emails en masse to potential donors’ and supporters’ spam folders during pivotal points in election fundraising and community building,” claimed the RNC less than three weeks before the midterm elections. “The timing of Google’s most egregious filtering is particularly damning.” Responded Google spokesperson José Castañeda, ”As we have repeatedly said, we simply don’t filter emails based on political affiliation. Gmail’s spam filters reflect users’ actions.”

Apple is rolling out iOS 16.1 today, an update that will include the launch of Apple Fitness+ for iPhone. The move allows subscribers to use the service without an Apple Watch. Other features include iCloud Shared Photo Library, Key Sharing in the Wallet app, and the Apple Card savings account option, among others.

Google announced the new Android 13 (Go Edition), along with the fact that there are now over 250 million monthly users powered by Android GO, a mobile operating system for entry level devices. Updates include Google Play System Updates; the Discover feature; and Material You, enabling users to customize their phone’s color scheme.

Pinterest has struck licensing deals with record labels Warner Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Merlin, and BMG to expand its Idea Pins feature. The deal gives users access to thousands of new tracks available from artists including Dan+Shay, Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé, Twenty One Pilots, Zach Bryan and more.

Three new features rolled out for Snapchat subscription service Snapchat+. Now, users can have their Snapchat Stories expire at intervals other than 24 hours; choose an accent color to surround the camera when taking a photo; and designate different sounds for friends so they can tell who Snapped them.

YouTube has raised the price on the YouTube Premium Family plan from $17.99 to $22.99 per month, a hefty 28% jump. “We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we realize how hard this may be for our members,” said a YouTube rep. “This new price reflects the complete value of YouTube Premium and will allow us to develop even more Premium features and continue to support the creators and artists you watch and listen to on YouTube.”

Despite record global downloads for consumer apps in 3Q22 – 38.7 billion, up 8% over 3Q21 – global consumer spend on apps is down 5%, to $32.4 billion, according to data.ai. The top five apps in the third quarter remained unchanged from the quarter prior in downloads (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp Messenger, Snapchat), spend (TikTok, YouTube, Tinder, Disney+, HBO Max) and monthly active users (Facebook, WhatsApp Messenger, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok).

Cedara, the carbon intelligence platform, has partnered with TPA Digital to support its goal in becoming carbon neutral and ultimately reach net zero. TPA Digital will also leverage their climate solutions as a proof-of-concept to inform and advise its roster of clients on best practices to reduce the carbon footprint of their digital media spend and to achieve the advertising industry’s collective goal of becoming net zero by 2030.

Content security program Trusted Network Program announced a new multi-tiered membership model that will provide greater flexibility, efficiency and transparency to content owners and service providers in the media and entertainment industry. The TPN membership model, accompanied by a new platform, is set to launch in February 2023. “Now that TPN is wholly under the ownership of the MPA, we are focused on providing application and cloud Best Practices and assessments, improved usability through our new platform, and real value and flexibility to all stakeholders in the entertainment industry,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association.

DataCore Software announced the new Perifery Panel for Adobe Premiere Pro. The Perifery Panel streamlines access to content for DataCore Swarm and Perifery users on Adobe Premiere Pro, significantly improving the efficiency of media production workflows. Offering a seamless connection to DataCore’s Perifery-powered appliances and Swarm object storage software platform, the new panel enables access to media content and metadata for users in the media and entertainment industry.

THE METAVERSE

Sixty-one percent of Gen Z agree that the development of immersive experiences in the metaverse will create jobs and boost economic activity, according to Cassandra report “Fact or Science Fiction – What’s Real in the Metaverse.” Other findings include:
· 65% of Gen Z strongly rely on technology to help manage their finances – and the rise of cryptocurrencies, NFTs and blockchain technologies has added to their interest and engagement in the space.
· 43% of Gen Zs report that they understand cryptocurrencies.
· 57% of U.S. trendsetters are excited to use the metaverse in the future
· 59% of youth today report they always try to have more than one stream of revenue, such as crypto.
“Gen Z enjoys the aspect of creative freedom, and as the metaverse and new technologies are developed, they’re eager for new opportunities to collaborate and connect,” said Kathy Sheehan, SVP, Cassandra. “Gen Z has trust in the digital world and can see great value in what the metaverse has to offer.”

AI-powered creator platform Triller unveiled Metaverz, a virtual integrated digital, technology, media, and entertainment platform. Inside the Metaverz, fans can attend a virtual concert or make their way past the velvet rope of a virtual nightclub and venture into a VIP room to interact with celebrities, influencers and creators. “We are extremely excited to debut the Metaverz and open up direct access to creators from all corners of the world,” said Mahi de Silva, CEO of Triller. “We are now on the frontline of the future of creator content – from NFT-backed collectibles and memorabilia to virtual concerts to gaming and shopping, the Metaverz ecosystem will be groundbreaking.”

The WB Movieverse has launched with a Web3 Movie Experience of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” The experience allows owners to watch an extended version of the film in 4K UHD, access more than eight hours of special features, discover hidden AR collectibles and more.

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ADVERTISING

“Your ads, your choice,” promised Google with the rollout of My Ad Center, a feature that allow users to control the type of advertisements they see across Search, YouTube, and Discover. When signed into Google, users can access My Ad Center directly from ads on Search, YouTube and Discover, and choose to see more of the brands and topics they like and less of the ones they don’t. They can also turn off ad personalization completely. “It’s our responsibility to strengthen the ways we keep you in control of your ad experiences, while ensuring that every day, people are safer with Google,” said Jerry Dischler, Google’s VP/GM, Ads in a company post.

Advanced advertising company OpenAP announced an investment from Snowflake Ventures, the venture capital arm of Snowflake, the Data Cloud company. Snowflake is the first non-television publisher to take an ownership stake, joining Fox, NBCUniversal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Fox Corporation has tapped Magnite to serve as the launch partner to power programmatic campaigns for OneFOX video inventory across the company’s entertainment, sports, streaming and news portfolio. “Magnite’s programmatic expertise and industry-leading technology make them the perfect fit to connect buyers with FOX audiences across all our properties,” said Dan Callahan, SVP Data Strategy and Sales Innovation at Fox Corp. “We have been impressed by what Magnite has created to support our inventory monetization efforts and look forward to the growth of our relationship.”

Wunderkind has partnered with GumGum, a contextual-first digital advertising platform. The strategic integration will deliver contextually relevant ads to users across Wunderkind’s marketplace to help advertisers maximize their reach to key audiences at a time when they are most likely to engage.

Cinema advertising network National CineMedia and Spotlight Cinema Networks have formed a strategic sales relationship, the Elevate Cinema Network. The collaboration will combine nearly 1,500 NCM screens with Spotlight’s existing network of over 1,200 screens to bring Elevate’s network to 2,700 screens available for cinema advertising through Spotlight.

EMX by Big Village, the programmatic technology group focused on the planning, buying, and measurement of CTV and omnichannel media, announced it is approved by Kroger Precision Marketing, the retail media business of The Kroger Co., to make Kroger retail sales data available to advertisers within its SSP through EMX’s Data Connected Private Marketplace offering. The collaboration will enable advertisers to create custom audiences using KPM’s data to reach 120 million households in the US and activate via a Data Connected PMP.

Integral Ad Science has added a post-bid brand safety and suitability measurement solution to its ongoing partnership with TikTok. Through an integration with the IAB Tech Lab’s Open Measurement Software Development Kit, IAS provides advertisers campaign insights into brand safety and brand suitability aligned to Global Alliance for Responsible Media standards on the TikTok platform in select markets.

Yahoo has expanded its partnership with DirecTV Advertising to include set-top box data. The move enables Yahoo’s demand-side platform clients to activate TV usage data from DirecTV households for planning, activation and measurement of campaigns across DirecTV and other inventory.

GAMING

Netflix is expanding its gaming efforts, including “very seriously exploring a cloud gaming offering,” said VP of Game Development Mike Verdu. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, Verdu said, “We’ll approach this the same way as we did with mobile — start small, be humble, be thoughtful — but it is a step we think we should take. The extension into the cloud is really about reaching the other devices where people experience Netflix.” The streaming company has plans to launch an additional studio in Southern California, according to a Netflix spokesperson, overseen by Chacko Sonny, former executive producer for Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch franchise.

Twenty-six percent of mobile gamers will download an app because it has better functionality than the website, according to a survey from Digital Turbine In partnership with GWI. Other highlights include:
· 52% of mobile gamers will be influenced to download an app if it is from a trusted/known brand or developer.
· Only 15% of mobile gamers would delete an app over privacy issues.
· 59% of mobile gamers typically play while watching TV.
· 44% of users delete an app because they got bored of it and it did not sustain their attention.
· 65% won’t install an app if they have to pay for it.

Comcast is giving up on G4 TV. The game-focused network was relaunched in 2021 following a 2002-2014 run. “Over the past several months, we worked hard to generate that interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results,” wrote Comcast’s Spectacor CEO Dave Scott in a memo. “This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately.”

LAWSUITS

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Google, claiming the company’s broad application of facial recognition technology in Google Photos, along with voice recognition technology in its home products, is a violation of the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act. “All across the state, everyday Texans have become unwitting cash cows being milked by Google for profits,” reads the complaint. Responded Google, “AG Paxton is once again mischaracterizing our products in another breathless lawsuit. We will set the record straight in court.”

Twitter is asking a judge to toss out a class-action complaint accusing the company of asking for users’ contact information for security purposes then using the data for ad targeting. Twitter argues that its internal use of contact information was consistent with statements in its privacy policy, and says the Lauren Price, the woman who brought the case, can’t establish that she was injured by Twitter’s alleged use of her contact information. “Twitter did not sell – or even disclose – her information to advertisers, and there is no allegation in plaintiff’s complaint … that Twitter sold account holder information to anyone. Nor could there be,” wrote Twitter in documents filed with the U.S. District Court judge. “The complaint should be dismissed.”

STREAMING

Netflix beat Wall Street estimates for 3Q22, with global subscribers up to 223.09 million from 220.67 million in the quarter prior, and revenue of $7.9 billion versus estimates of $7.8 billion. “After a challenging first half, we believe we’re on a path to reaccelerate growth,” said the company in a letter to shareholders. “The key is pleasing members. It’s why we’ve always focused on winning the competition for viewing every day. When our series and movies excite our members, they tell their friends, and then more people watch, join and stay with us.”

Netflix is rolling out a new feature worldwide that enables users transfer all of their personalized viewing data to a new account. “People move. Families grow. Relationships end. But throughout these life changes, your Netflix experience should stay the same,” wrote Netflix Product Manager Timi Kosztin in a blog post. The feature is being introduced ahead of Netflix’s planned 2023 crackdown on password sharing.

UTA returned to Advertising Week last week with programming themed “The New Business of Entertainment,” including insights about how brands should prioritize entertainment marketing opportunities. “In an era of entertainment abundance, creators have become more important than ever,” said Shelby Bier, marketing analyst for UTA Entertainment & Culture Marketing. “UTA’s new research found that consumers prioritize ‘quality content’ as the number one indicator for subscribing and staying subscribed to a streaming service. And nearly 75% of consumers define quality content as programming that comes from creators with unique POVs or celebrities they admire. This gives brands the opportunity to partner with talent at the creative level so they can scale their vision across cultural touchpoints and deliver on increased ROI.”

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and VIDAA USA, the company developing and managing the VIDAA platform on Hisense Smart TVs, struck an agreement to add Crackle streaming services and a Crackle-branded remote control button on devices powered by VIDAA OS. The button will be available starting early next year on Hisense TVs sold in the US.

Family Entertainment Television has launched FETV and FMC on Philo. “With our continued expansion of FETV and FMC among virtual providers, we look forward to building on our ratings momentum for both networks,” said Cara Conte, SVP of Affiliate Sales for FETV and FMC.

Blue Ant Media has launched its FAST channel HauntTV on VIZIO WatchFree+ in the US. VIZIO will premiere two exclusive original series from Blue Ant Media during its Fall Fest line-up: “Haunted Gold Rush” and “Hotel Paranormal.”

Also launching on VIZIO WatchFree+ is MagellanTV channel Space Science Now, featuring a collection of premium space and science documentaries and series.

Vidgo has introduced VidgoMás, a new premium subscription plan that features 42 live and on-demand Spanish-language channels, including content from Univision and UniMás local broadcast stations, as well as Fox Deportes, Discovery Familias and other all-around entertainment options.

News site Semafor launched, promising to build “a new kind of trusted news source for this interconnected world, based on journalistic transparency and a platform that delivers shared facts while giving a voice to a range of informed, competing views.” The site was created by Ben Smith, former EOC of Buzzfeed, and former Bloomberg CEO Justin Smith.

Cynopsis Team