DailyDolan: September 2014

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

9.30.14

Entertainment:

· Popcorn Time, the ‘Netflix for pirates’, is now available on iOS

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/30/popcorn-time-finally-comes-to-ios/

· Intergi Entertainment, a video ad platform, has rebranded itself as Playwire Media

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/30/intergi-entertainment-rebrands-itself-as-playwire-media-to-chase-video-ads/

· Hulu has inked a deal to stream all South Park episodes

o http://www.socaltech.com/hulu_gets_all_of_south_park/s-0057154.html

· SoftBank is now interested in a stake in Legendary as its talks with Dreamworks Animation have cooled down

o http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/japans-softbank-eyes-stake-legendary-736612

o http://online.wsj.com/articles/softbank-dreamworks-animation-talks-cool-1412025651?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

· Weinsteins signed a distribution deal that allows Netflix and IMAX to screen ‘Crouching Tiger 2’ at the same time

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/regal-wont-show-crouching-tiger-2-imax-843490/

o http://www.fastcompany.com/3036440/fast-feed/netflix-enters-the-original-movie-game

· Disney and Shiki Theatre Company are bringing ‘Aladdin’ to Tokyo

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/aladdin-musical-japan-steve-mcqueen-european-film-academy-award-843006/

· ‘Godzilla’ topped the charts for DVD/Blu-Ray sales last week

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/godzilla-captain-america-dvd-blu-ray-sales-rentals-843243/

· Please see below for Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest trailer for his film ‘Inherent Vice’

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/inherent-vice-trailer-paul-thomas-anderson-movie-first-look-843275/

· Virgin Media is demanding to know why the cost of the English Premier League TV rights have increased

o http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/uk-cable-giant-virgin-media-736684

· The NHL will use GoPro footage to reveal players’ POV during games

o http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/30/6873117/gopro-nhl-pov-footage-included-in-games-on-tv

Tech:

· eBay has taken Carl Icahn’s advice for a leaner company and will spinoff PayPal, Goldman Sachs is advising eBay

o http://www.wired.com/2014/09/ebay-paypal-split/

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/30/ebay-paypal-split/

o http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/30/us-ebay-divestiture-idUSKCN0HP13D20140930

· Facebook ads will follow users across multiple devices with Atlas

o http://www.wired.com/2014/09/facebook-launches-atlas/

· General Catalyst commits $10MM in its GC Stripe Platform Fund to help scale out Stripe

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/30/general-catalyst-commits-10m-for-startups-to-stripes-payments-ecosystem/

· Tango Music Pix is a new app that allows users to make slideshows with their friends on Tango, and it will push the slideshows to Facebook and/or Twitter

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/29/tango-music-pix-returns-to-the-app-store-for-its-official-launch/

· Please see below for 10 startups that launched at Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/30/10-fresh-startups-debut-at-er-accelerators-demo-day/

· Spotify has launched in Canada with a catalogue of 20 million songs

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/30/spotify-launches-in-canada-with-a-catalog-of-20-million-songs/

· Nordeus and Win partnered to release a sports-betting game, ‘Sportster’, on Facebook

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/30/nordeus-and-win-launch-a-social-sports-betting-game-on-facebook/

· Ello’s CEO has slammed Facebook calling it more of an ad platform than a social network

o http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-30/interview-ello-ceo-wants-to-be-the-anti-facebook

Deals:

· Move, an operator of online real estate businesses, was acquired by News Corp for roughly $950MM

o http://www.socaltech.com/move_acquired_by_news_corp_/s-0057166.html

o http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/news-corporation-to-buy-move-a-real-estate-listings-site/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Mergers%20&%20Acquisitions&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

Business:

Exec Moves:

Retail:

Startups:

· Netpulse, a media and data services company focused on fitness, has raised $18.6MM in its Series D

o http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/netpulse

Government:

Other:

· A Muslim NFL players was penalized for his religious celebration

o http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/09/30/unsportsmanlike-penalty-for-muslim-nfler.html

o http://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/9/30/6872467/abdullah-prayer-celebration-does-being-muslim-in-the-nfl-come-with-a-15-yard-penalty

Monday, September 29, 2014

9.29.14

Entertainment:

· Dreamworks Animation is in talks with Softbank to be acquired for $3.4B, the stock is currently up by 25%

o http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/source-dreamworks-animation-sale-talks-736164

o http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/business/media/japanese-company-is-said-to-bid-for-dreamworks-animation.html?gwh=7C0792B94B972EEBBBDFCF67B16104C1&gwt=pay&assetType=nyt_now

· UK producers Liza Marshall and Kris Thykier have launched Archery Pictures

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/uk-producers-liza-marshall-kris-thykier-launch-archery-pictures-842853/

· UK Broadcasters to copy the US broadcast business model to capitalize on retransmission fees

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/itv-channel-4-retransmission-fees-bskyb-virgin-media-841061/

· Rupert Murdoch made $29.2MM last year

o http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rupert-murdochs-21st-century-fox-733133

· Amazon Studios sets ‘Alpha House’ season 2 for binge-viewing release

o http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/amazon-sets-alpha-house-season-2-premiere-for-binge-viewing-mode-1201316210/

· UMG has partnered with ad placement agency Mirriad and Havas

o http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/6266592/umg-partners-with-science-fictional-ad-placement

· Telefonica’s Movistar TV has increased its subscriber base by 31% since last year

o http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2014092935462/movistar-tv-increases-subscribers-in-struggling-market.html#axzz3EiuxNaQh

Tech:

· GoPro announced three new cameras today, the new flagship Hero4Black can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second, and the stock is up roughly 6%

o http://www.wired.com/2014/09/go-pro-hero-4/

· Facebook launched Atlas to better compete with Google Ad Sense

o http://www.wired.com/2014/09/facebook-launches-atlas/

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/28/facebook-atlas-relaunch/

· Garmin has unveiled Vivosmart, a smartwatch and activity tracking device

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/29/garmin-vivosmart-review-part-activity-tracker-part-smartwatch-all-awesome/

· 365Scores, an app to keep sports fans updated with the latest sports news, raised $5.5MM

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/29/365scores-5m-funding/

· OurCrowd, Israel’s AngelList, plans to invest $100MM in startups next year

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/26/ourcrowd-2/

· Google rolls out new display ads for mobile devices

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/29/google-rolls-out-new-display-ads-for-mobile/

· Shyp, an app that sends someone to your home to package and ship your goods, launched in NYC

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/29/shipping-startup-shyp-comes-to-new-york-and-soon-miami/

· GumGum has rolled out a new programmatic ad platform for in-image advertising

o http://www.socaltech.com/gumgum_rolls_programmatic_ad_platform_for_images/s-0057138.html

· Samsung to offer the Google Play Music Service free in Brazil

o http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/6266580/samsung-to-offer-google-play-music-service-free-in-brazil

· Instagram is reportedly blocked in China amid Hong Kong protests

o http://recode.net/2014/09/28/instagram-reportedly-blocked-in-china-amid-hong-kong-protests/

· Please see below for an interesting article on investing like a ‘tech tycoon’

o http://online.barrons.com/news/articles/SB52784017629588234037504580174334015580258?mod=BOL_hp_highlight_1

Deals:

· Tibco Software announced that Vista Equity Partners will take the company private for $4.3B

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/29/tibco-goes-private-for-4-3-billion/

· Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, a leading bagel making company, was acquired by JAB Holding Company for $374MM

o http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/joh-a-benckiser-to-buy-bagel-maker-einstein-noah-for-374-million/?_php=true&_type=blogs&module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Mergers%20&%20Acquisitions&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=0

· Lenovo will close its $2.1B acquisition of IBM’s x86 on Oct. 1^st

o http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/29/us-lenovo-ibm-deals-idUSKCN0HO08N20140929

Business:

· Yahoo! to shut down Qwiki, Yahoo Education, and The Yahoo Directory

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/26/yahoo-to-shut-down-qwiki-yahoo-education-and-the-yahoo-directory/

o http://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/9/29/6863825/rip-old-yahoo

· Microsoft has launched the Xbox One in China

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/28/its-official-finally-microsoft-launches-xbox-one-in-china/

· Alibaba paid $459MM for a 15% stake in the Chinese hotel tech company - Beijing Shiji Information Technology

o http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/28/us-alibaba-deals-idUSKCN0HN0I920140928

Exec Moves:

· Shine Group’s CEO, Alex Mahon, will leave the company and Sophie Turner Laing will step in as the new CEO

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/sophie-turner-laing-ceo-merged-shine-endemol-core-842681/

· Lisa Eisenpresser has been hired as a consultant at Relativity Digital

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/relativity-hire-raises-eyebrows-lisa-eisenpresser-842083/

Retail:

Startups:

· Anki, a racing game that uses AI and robotics, has raised $55MM in its Series C from JP Morgan, Andreessen Horowitz, and others

o http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/anki

o http://recode.net/2014/09/26/robotic-toy-carmaker-anki-raises-55-million/

Government:

· The ISIS Campaign spend nears $1B

o http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/09/29/isis-campaign-already-costs-close-to-1b.html

Other:

· Today is National Coffee Day

o http://mashable.com/2014/09/29/national-coffee-day-2014/

Friday, September 26, 2014

9.26.14

Entertainment:

· MoviePass, a subscription service to make it cheap for movie goers to attend theaters, has raised $2.2MM

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/26/offering-a-subscription-service-to-make-movies-cheaper-moviepass-premiers-2-2-million-financing-round/

· Fred Seibert has joined forces with Betaworks to create a video technology incubator called Thirty Labs

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/25/fred-seibert-thirty-labs/

· Universal has unveiled the trailer for ‘Blackhat’ starring Chris Hemsworth

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/blackhat-trailer-chris-hemsworth-michael-mann-841186/

· John Legend has signed an overall deal with Legendary TV

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/john-legend-legendary-tv-deal-get-lifted-production-company-841325/

· Obama has named CAA’s Bryan Lourd to the Kennedy Center Board

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/bryan-lourd-kennedy-center-board-member-president-obama-caa-841384/

· Mobile First is a new app that aims to help social media celebs make money from their online audiences

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/mobile-first-entertainment-social-media-app-840630/

· Endemol Beyond and Tubular Labs have announced a partnership to offer advanced technology to its talent and channel partners

o http://deadline.com/2014/09/global-showbiz-briefs-fremantle-international-sets-mipcom-slate-canal-group-pacts-with-showbox-more-841269/

· Starz launches two episodes of its Lebron James comedy titled ‘Survivor Remorse’

o http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/starz-tries-two-free-throws-for-lebron-james-comedy-survivors-remorse-1201314460/

· YouTube star, Michelle Phan, has launched her own music label in partnership with Cutting Edge Group

o http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/youtubes-michelle-phan-launches-music-label-1201313733/

· Denzel Washington’s ‘The Equalizer’ opened to a strong $1.5MM Thursday night

o http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-denzel-washingtons-equalizer-735889

· Chinese movie ticket sales allegedly rose 43% last year

o http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinese-online-movie-ticket-sales-735881

· Please see below for a list of new titles coming to Netflix this October

o http://www.indiewire.com/article/django-unchained-catching-fire-and-more-available-to-watch-on-netflix-this-october-20140925

· Netflix streaming traffic has increased by 350% during the last 10 quarters

o http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2014092635425/netflix-streaming-grows-by-triple-digits.html#axzz3ERNbuYoX

Tech:

· Facebook has tapped Stripe to power its buy button

o http://www.fastcompany.com/3036310/fast-feed/payments-company-stripe-to-power-facebooks-buy-button

· Thom Yorke’s new album is the first ‘paygated’ bundle from BitTorrent

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/26/bittorrent-paygated-bundle/

· RogerVoice is a new app that will help deaf people make their first phone calls

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/26/with-rogervoice-deaf-people-can-make-their-first-phone-calls/

· SevenVentures Pitch Day offers startups to win €7MM for a 7 minute pitch

o http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/26/sevenventures-pitch-day-offers-startups-e7m-in-prizes/

· Tesla has just opened its 200^th supercharger station in Oxnard, CA

o https://twitter.com/TeslaMotors/status/515293273749856256

· Easel TV has launched an ad engagement platform tool

o http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2014092635439/easel-tv-launches-ad-engagement-platform-tool.html#axzz3ERNbuYoX

Deals:

· Blackhawk Network, a leading pre-paid and payments network, has acquired Parago, a marketing solution company that drives customer acquisition, for $290MM

o http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NY21572.htm

· Starboard Value LP, a company that holds a significant stake in Yahoo!, is pushing for Yahoo! to partner with AOL

o http://online.wsj.com/articles/starboard-pushes-for-potential-yahoo-aol-tie-up-1411748457?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

· Intel to invest up to $1.5B in two Chinese mobile chipmaker companies

o http://recode.net/2014/09/25/intel-to-invest-up-to-1-5-billion-in-two-chinese-mobile-chipmakers/

Business:

· Amazon is diligently working on making its own deliveries

o http://www.wired.com/2014/09/amazon-takes-big-step-toward-competing-directly-ups/

o http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-26/amazons-grand-plan-to-avoid-holiday-delivery-snafus-again#r=hpt-ls

· Please see below for an article on the current state of venture capital innovation

o http://www.wired.com/2014/09/venture-capital-for-innovation/

· Marc Andreessen went on a tweet storm yesterday ranting about startups’ burn rates