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Latest Podcast

Ben Thompson

  • Aggregation and Antitrust, BuzzFeed Makes News, BuzzFeed’s Valuation in Perspective

    The differing approaches to antitrust in the U.S. and Europe could mean completely different outcomes in the long run for aggregation companies. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed has raised a new round and seems to be doing better than ever, which is great news for journalism. Plus, how to think about startup valuations.

  • Aggregation and the New Regulation

    Because of the Internet realities described by Aggregation Theory a smaller number of companies hold an increasing amount of power. However, an increasing focus on market forces reduces the latitude for bad behavior, and the incentives — and means — to hold those companies to account are greater than ever.

  • Amazon Continued and the Role of Journalism, Three Streaming Developments: HBO, Amazon Prime, and ESPN

    The Amazon story continues, and it is striking how there is zero common ground between people who work in tech and the journalists who cover it. Will this mark a shift in the relationship? Plus, what HBO’s Sesame Street deal, Amazon’s Top Gear deal, and NBC’s Premier League deal say about the future of streaming.

  • The New York Times on Amazon, Jeff Bezos’ Email, Why Work for Amazon

    The New York Times has a very in-depth critique of Amazon’s work culture. Some of what was reported was truly deplorable, and Jeff Bezos wrote that he agrees; other parts, though, deserve a much more nuanced and respectful discussion than what the New York Times provided.

  • China’s Yuan Depreciation, The Yuan’s Effect on Apple, The Yuan and Unicorns

    The most important story of the week has been China’s ongoing depreciation of the Yuan. Clearly, the company that will be impacted the most is Apple, but there is a a potential impact on Unicorns as well.

  • The Liability Shift and the Apple Pay Opportunity, The Apple Pay Advantage, MCX Unravels

    The upcoming liability switchover offers the best ever chance for Apple to drive Apple Pay adoption, at least in the United States. Apple should put all its efforts behind making it happen, even if it helps Android Pay too. Plus, MCX unravels.

  • Do You Trust Larry Page?

    With the establishment of Alphabet Larry Page is setting himself up to pursue his vision of how the world should be, and in the process challenging assumptions about how businesses should be run and the means through which progress is achieved.

  • Verizon Changes Rate Plans, The Importance of Upgrades, iMessage and the U.S. Market

    Verizon announced they were changing the structure of their phones plans away from subsidies and towards phone financing. I think it’s less of a big deal than many are painting it to be, and if anything, it will help the iPhone. Plus, why iMessage is particularly important in the U.S.

  • ESPN Follow-up, BAM Tech and Bundle Logic, No Apple MVNO and the Apple TV

    A follow-up to my piece on ESPN

  • Why Disney and ESPN Will Be OK

    An increasing number of questions are being raised about the future of the pay-TV bundle, and of ESPN. The former may indeed be doomed, but that doesn’t mean the latter is in as much trouble as people think: after all, Disney is the master of differentiated content.