Wednesday, October 15, 2014

10.15.14

Entertainment:
·         HBO will launch a standalone streaming service next year that won’t require users to have a cable subscription, comparable to Netflix
·         Bono has apologized for offering users the free U2 album
·         Amazon Cloud Drive will now be available on the Amazon Instant Video application, meaning customers can now play their personal videos and view their photos on supported devices
·         Please see below for a live blog of Time Warner’s investor meeting
·         Worldview Entertainment was hit with a $55MM lawsuit by its ex-CEO Christopher Woodrow
·         National Geographic Channel has greenlit three new reality survival series
·         Warner Bros.’ CEO has plans to cut $200MM from the TV and film studio's annual budget
·         Russia’s leading independent media company, CTC Media, is taking stock after Vladimir Putin signed amendments to a mass media law that impose further restrictions on foreign ownership of mass media companies
·         HBO is celebrating the Friday premiere of documentary series ‘Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways’ with a live-streaming concert on Facebook
·         Every ‘Friends’ episode is coming to Netflix in 2015
·         DC unveils its next 8 superhero movies, including Aquaman, Shazam, and two Justice League films
Tech:
·         The superintendent of financial services for the state of New York, said that the state will not require digital-currency software developers to have a license
·         Yahoo launched a new magazine called Yahoo DIY, which is aimed at do-it-yourself enthusiasts
·         The Disney Accelerator had its demo day Tuesday to show off the nine companies that will emerge out of the accelerator
·         Google unveiled a new Nexus 6 smartphone, tablet and set-top box, signaling plans to compete with Apple for high-end consumers
Deals:
·         Qualcomm has agreed to acquire U.K.-based CSR for ~$2.5B to tool up for the Internet of Everything
·         Thismoment raises $17.6MM in its Series D to turn YouTube videos into branded content
·         Great Western Bancorp Inc., the U.S. unit of National Australia Bank Ltd., stock has advanced after a scaled back IPO
 Business:
·         Microsoft says it’s building a version of Windows that will offer something akin to Docker, the next big thing in cloud computing
·         According to a report from NBC News, Apple will start paying for the costs of egg freezing for their female employees beginning in January, following in the footsteps of Facebook
·         King Digital’s stock has fallen 50% from its IPO price – they are the makers of Candy Crush
·         Please see below for an interesting article on logistics companies
·         Please see below for an interesting article on why companies are doing spinoffs
Exec Moves:
·         Chris McCarthy, EVP of MTV and General Manager of MTV’s sister networks MTV2 and mtvU, will also lead Logo TV as the network’s General Manager
·         Ross Martin is the new EVP of Marketing, Strategy, and Engagement at Viacom
·         Eric Levin is the new EVP and CFO at Warner Music Group
Retail:
·         Walmart is offering a range of products available for next-day delivery, with the opening of two new fulfillment centers in the US to better compete against Amazon
·         Patagonia is going to invest over $13MM to help create a new $27MM fund to purchase more than 1,000 rooftop solar power systems in Hawaii
·         Nike is suing 31 companies that make fake Converse shoes, including Walmart, H&M, Tory Burch and many more
Startups:
·         Let, a teen social networking app with a focus on gamification, is announcing that it has raised $600k in seed funding
·         Fresvii is coming out of stealth today with a new platform dubbed AppSteroid that allows smartphone gamers to use voice chat with other players in mobile games
Government:
Other:
·         Toyota has recalled 1.75 million vehicles globally to repair braking and fuel-system defects

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