8.22.14

Entertainment:

·         Movie theaters will become more interactive if the startup Audience Entertainment succeeds in allowing the audience to play together as part of an ad campaign

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/21/audience-entertainment-sdk/

·         Amblin TV preps for a ‘Minority Report’ series

o   http://deadline.com/2014/08/minority-report-series-godzilla-writer-max-borenstein-823100/

·         A24 and DirecTV have acquired Liam Hemsworth’s thriller ‘Cut Bank’

o   http://deadline.com/2014/08/a24-directv-acquire-liam-hemsworth-thriller-cut-bank-823029/

·         Miramax refinanced its operations and was advised by Barclays

o   http://deadline.com/2014/08/miramax-bolsters-funding-822811/

·         Vega, Baby! has added a boutique North American acquisitions and distribution arm

o   http://deadline.com/2014/08/vega-baby-releasing-film-distribution-823059/

·         ‘If I Stay’ opens at a strong $1.1MM last night

o   http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-i-stay-earns-727011

·         Universal Pictures plans to create a Marvel-like universe around Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon

o   http://variety.com/2014/film/news/universal-veers-from-superhero-trend-for-a-monster-plan-1201286166/

·         David Yates is tapped to direct the first installment of JK Rowling’s new Harry Potter themed series ‘Fantastic Beasts’

o   http://variety.com/2014/film/news/harry-potter-director-to-return-for-fantastic-beasts-spinoff-exclusive-1201286193/

·         Paul McCartney leads the Hot Tours with sold out shows across the US

o   http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6229097/hot-tours-paul-mccartney-is-no-1-with-sold-out-us-tour

Tech:

·         Facebook is pushing for online companies to adopt its plan to let mobile apps operate seamlessly like the world wide web by linking pages inside of your browser

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/08/facebooks-plan-to-make-apps-work-like-webpages-gathers-momentum/

·         Amazon Prime Air is has recently hired former aerospace engineers from NASA and a number of former Microsoft researchers to expand

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/20/despite-faa-setbacks-amazon-prime-air-makes-notable-engineering-nasa-and-aerospace-hires/

·         Plusnet, a popular UK ISP, states that Netflix is more popular than YouTube in the UK

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/08/21/uk-isp-says-netflix-is-more-popular-than-youtube/

·         Instagram adds three new tools for brands to advertise on the platform

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/08/21/instagram-adds-tools-for-brands-starts-to-look-like-a-real-ad-platform/

·         Federal Court rejects Aereo’s bid to be considered a cable company

o   http://www.fastcompany.com/3034735/fast-feed/federal-court-rejects-aereos-request-to-be-considered-a-cable-company

·         Coin, a digital credit card holder, is launching today in beta

o   http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/22/6053967/coin-beta-is-ready-to-swipe

Deals:           

·         Bubbly, a voice-based social media platform, was acquired by Altruist Group

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/22/voice-based-social-media-platform-bubbly-acquired-by-altruist-group/

·         Under Armour is trying to poach Kevin Durant from his Nike endorsement contract by offering him as much as $285MM over 10 years

o   http://www.businessinsider.com/under-armours-plan-to-take-down-nike-2014-8

Business:

·         Shake Shack picks JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley to lead its IPO

o   http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/21/us-shakeshack-ipo-idUSKBN0GL15Y20140821

·         Microsoft is set to unveil Windows 9 on September 30^th

o   http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/21/6052807/windows-9-preview-press-event-september

Exec Moves:

·         Island Records promotes Steve Yegelwel to SVP

o   http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/6228937/island-records-promotes-steve-yegelwel-to-svp

Retail:

·         Gap plans to open 40 new franchises in emerging markets, specifically India

o http://www.cnbc.com/id/101938938

Startups:

Government:

Other:

·         WME music agent and board member, Peter Grosslight, has passed away at 68

o   http://deadline.com/2014/08/peter-grosslight-dead-william-morris-music-agent-822948/