10.27.14

Entertainment:

·         MovieTickets.com says today that it will roll out a technology that makes it possible for theaters to authenticate tickets bought and displayed on smartphones without the need for scanners

o   http://deadline.com/2014/10/movietickets-com-smartphone-tickets-without-scanners-862534/

·         Fandango added 873 screens in 13 states with new partnerships

o   http://deadline.com/2014/10/fandango-new-theaters-ziegfield-tcl-chinese-862430/

·         SNL ratings rose with Jim Carrey as its host

o   http://deadline.com/2014/10/saturday-night-live-ratings-jim-carrey-host-861644/

o   http://recode.net/2014/10/26/last-nights-saturday-night-live-highlight-on-youtube-jim-carrey-sells-lincolns-like-matthew-mcconaughey/

·         Alibaba has expressed interest in purchasing Mark Rachesky’s 37.4% stake in Lionsgate

o   http://deadline.com/2014/10/alibaba-control-lionsgate-mark-rachesky-859935/

·         Joseph Gordon-Levitt will direct a digital video short in 4K ultra-high-definition, using a moderately priced new Samsung camera under a deal announced this morning

o   http://deadline.com/2014/10/joseph-gordon-levitt-samsung-uhd-short-859543/

·         Please see below for an interesting article on spend for original shows on digital TV

o   http://deadline.com/2014/10/studios-wary-produce-original-shows-digital-859489/

·         Please see below for a review on ‘Interstellar’

o   http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-interstellar-1201338475/

o   http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/interstellar-reviews-stunning-sentimental-agonizingly-close-to-a-masterpiece-20141027

Tech:

·         Amazon and Apple have encountered a new problem, a consumer shift in priorities from ownership to access of content/product

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/10/apple-amazon-problem-people-dont-want-buy-stuff-anymore/

·         Amazon has unveiled a new Fire TV Stick - a $39 Chromecast competitor

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/27/amazon-fire-tv-stick/

·         PhotoSpotLand helps photographers take better photos by offering a shared experience community

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/26/photospotland-wants-to-help-you-take-better-photos/

·         Google rolls out an invite system for its new email app – Inbox by Gmail

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/24/google-rolls-out-an-invite-system-for-its-new-email-app-inbox-by-gmail/

·         FitBit announced three new fitness wristbands

o   http://www.fastcompany.com/3037640/fast-feed/fitbit-announces-three-new-fitness-wristbands-to-help-you-get-off-your-butt

·         Amazon just launched a crowd sourced publishing program

o   http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/27/7078149/amazon-just-launched-a-crowdsourced-publishing-program

Deals:

·         Deezer bought Stitcher to add talk radio and podcasts to its music platform

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/24/deezer-buys-stitcher-to-add-talk-radio-and-podcasts-to-its-music-platform/

·         Nest to acquire Revolv, a home automation unit, but won’t sell it

o   http://recode.net/2014/10/24/nest-acquires-home-automation-hub-revolv-but-will-stop-selling-it/

Business:

·         Sequoia Capital continues to expand internationally

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/27/sequoia-goes-even-more-global-in-a-year-of-firsts/

·         Please see below for a list of today’s major funding stories

o   http://venturebeat.com/2014/10/27/funding-daily-todays-tech-funding-stories-in-one-place-8/

·         Roku is considering an IPO

o   http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/roku-video-streaming-service-is-said-to-consider-i-p-o/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=I.P.O./Offerings&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

·         Twitter to announce its Q3 earnings today

o   http://mashable.com/2014/10/27/twitter-q3-earnings-preview-2014/

Exec Moves:

·         Condé Nast is restructuring its digital operations and has appointed Fred Santarpia — previously involved in the launch of the company’s video-entertainment properties — to be EVP and chief digital officer

o   http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/conde-nast-reshuffles-digital-group-to-be-headed-by-video-exec-fred-santarpia-1201340086/

·         AEG Live has hired a pair of promoters, Laura Davidson and Oscar Tuttiett, to help build its Goldenvoice division in the UK

o   http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6296786/aeg-live-staffs-up-goldenvoice-unit-in-the-uk

Retail:

·         Beyonce is launching a street wear line with Topshop

o   http://www.fastcodesign.com/3037635/fast-feed/beyonce-launching-a-new-streetwear-line-with-topshop

Startups:

·         Enjoy, a company created to change the way people buy and experience the things that matter, raised $30MM in venture from Andresseen and Kleiner Perkins

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

·         Olacabs, an aggregator of car rentals and point-to-point cab services, raised $210MM in its Series D

o http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ani-technologies

Government:

Other:

·         Stephen Hawking joined Facebook on Friday

o   http://www.wired.com/2014/10/stephen-hawking-joins-facebook/

·         Elon Musk compares building AI to summoning the demon

o   http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/26/elon-musk-compares-building-artificial-intelligence-to-summoning-the-demon/

·         Las Vegas could be the new home of an NHL team

o   http://nypost.com/2014/10/24/las-vegas-could-be-the-new-home-of-an-nhl-team/

·         Hélène Pastor, Monaco's richest woman, was shot in her car

o   http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-23/murder-hits-monacos-pastor-real-estate-empire#r=hp-sf