9.12.14

Entertainment:

·         Netflix is having a difficult time expanding into continental Europe due to regulations

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/09/netflix-europe/

·         Please see below for a Wired series of how scientists are studying clues in cinema about perception – today’s article overviews higher frame rate on cameras, which poses new opportunities and challengers for filmmakers

o   http://www.wired.com/tag/cinema-science/

·         Kevin Connolly inks a deal with 20^th Century Fox TV

o   http://deadline.com/2014/09/kevin-connolly-20th-century-fox-tv-deal-833537/

·         DirecTV to launch a Hispanic online TV service by the end of this year

o   http://deadline.com/2014/09/directv-ceo-hispanic-online-tv-service-launch-year-end-833503/

·         MGM is reviving Orion Pictures

o   http://deadline.com/2014/09/mgm-revives-orion-pictures-town-that-dreaded-sundown-833190/

·         TNT to adapt Mark Wahlberg’s ‘Shooter’ from Paramount TV

o   http://deadline.com/2014/09/shooter-tv-show-mark-wahlberg-tnt-832989/

·         Netflix to day and date release the 3D printing documentary ‘Print the Legend’ on Sept. 26

o   http://deadline.com/2014/09/netflix-print-the-legend-3d-printing-trailer-832934/

·         SXSW brought in $315MM to Austin, TX in 2014

o   http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/6251245/sxsw-2014-brought-315-million-to-austin

·         Facebook is poaching YouTube content creators to draw more viewers to its videos

o   http://www.fastcompany.com/3035652/biz-of-youtube/a-facebook-star-is-born-social-network-makes-a-play-to-steal-youtubes-talent

Tech:

·         Google offers early stage startups $100k in cloud platform credit for 1 year – to be eligible for the credit the startup must be less than 5 years old and have less than $500k in annual revenue

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/12/google-offers-early-stage-startups-100000-in-cloud-platform-credits-for-1-year/

·         Intro to Computer Science is the most popular freshman course at Harvard

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/12/intro-to-computer-science-is-now-the-most-popular-freshman-class-at-harvard-here-why-that-matters/

·         Facebook is testing an option that allows posts to disappear with a time limit

o   http://fortune.com/2014/09/11/facebook-snapchat-delete-posts/

·         eBay to launch a new in-app mobile ad network in Q4

o   http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/11/ebay-advertising-mobilephone-idUSL1N0RC33I20140911?type=companyNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=companyNews

Deals:

·         HP acquired Eucalyptus, the makers of an open source system that helps companies build cloud computing services in their data centers

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/09/hp-eucalyptus/

·         Pandora inked a licensing deal with BMG that ensures a working royalty structure that benefits both companies

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/11/pandora-signs-deal-with-bmg-to-stream-hits/

·         E-book publisher, Vook, acquired Byliner, a startup that publishes ad-hoc online articles and sells them to readers

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/11/vook-byliner/

·         Conversant was acquired by Alliance Data for $2.3B in cash and stock

o   http://www.socaltech.com/conversant_acquired_by_alliance_data_in___3b_deal/s-0056885.html

·         Eventjoy, a mobile ticketing platform, was acquired by Live Nation’s Ticketmaster

o   http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2014/sep/11/ticketmaster-acquires-eventjoy/

·         Blackmagic Design has acquired Eyeon Software to enter the visual effects business

o   http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/blackmagic-enters-vfx-business-acquisition-732438

·         Vail Resorts bought Park City Mountain from Powdr for $182.5MM

o   http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-11/vail-resorts-buys-park-city-mountain-plans-biggest-u-dot-s-dot-ski-resort#r=hpt-ls

·         Google+ has acquired Polar, an app that creates and hosts basic online polls

o   http://recode.net/2014/09/11/polar-polling-app-acquired-by-google/

Business:

·         Salesforces pours $6MM into San Francisco schools, and computer science education

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/12/salesforce-education/

·         The Oculus VR CEO donated $31MM to build a VR lab at University of Maryland, his alma mater

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/11/brendan-iribe-center-for-computer-science/

·         ArtCorgi launches ArtCling, which makes it is easier to commission artwork that will stick to your walls

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/11/artcorgi-launches-artcling/

Exec Moves:

·         Virgin Money has named Glen Moreno as its chairman as the possibility of an IPO nears

o   http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/virgin-money-names-new-chairman-as-it-contemplates-i-p-o/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Revolving%20Door&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

·         Endemol has hired Rico Martinez as Programming Chief for its US Digital Unit

o   http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/endemol-hires-rico-martinez-as-programming-chief-for-u-s-digital-unit-exclusive-1201304525/

Retail:

·         TOMS Shoes partners with Target to release a budget friendly holiday collection

o   http://www.fastcompany.com/3035662/fast-feed/toms-partners-with-target-for-a-new-budget-friendly-holiday-collection

Startups:

·         Tink, a European personal finance app, raises $4MM in its Series A led by Sunstone Capital

o http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/12/tink/

Government:

Other:

·         Nicole Kidman’s father suddenly died in Singapore of possible unnatural causes

o   http://www.thewrap.com/death-of-nicole-kidmans-father-under-investigation-in-singapore/

·         Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of manslaughter – he could receive 15 years in jail, or be fined and spared incarceration entirely

o   http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/09/12/pistorius-found-guilty-of-manslaughter.html