Netflix turned in another quarter of disappointing earnings (as expected); the company’s planned foray into gaming, meanwhile, highlights how digital businesses are different.
ESPN+ Rights Deals, ESPN+ Increases Prices, Black Widow’s Streaming Numbers
Disney’s tactics around ESPN+ are coming into line with streaming’s strategic opportunities; plus, Black Widow streaming numbers show how release windows are changing.
Instagram Exclusive Content, Value Chain Conflicts, Facebook Bulletin
Exclusive Content on Instagram, like Super Tweets, is a compelling product for both the company and creators. It’s also why Bulletin is more compelling than it seems.
Starfield, an Xbox Exclusive; Xbox Cloud Gaming; New Consumer Paradigms
Microsoft’s E3 announcement give more shape to its cloud gaming ambitions, and highlight how difficult new consumers paradigms are today.
Distribution and Demand
Distribution on the Internet is free; what matters is controlling demand. AT&T and Verizon didn’t understand the distinction.
Fearing Spotify?, Apple’s Earnings, Margins and Chips
Why I’m not worried about Spotify, plus Apple’s earnings, including why the M1 might be helping margins.
Spotify’s Surprise
Spotify’s new subscription podcast offerings embrace the open ecosystem of podcasts in multiple ways.
Netflix Earnings, Competition and Buybacks, Sony Signs Netflix Deal
Netflix grew more slowly than it expected because it had fewer hits than it expected; then, Sony is winning in streaming by not playing.
Podcast Subscriptions vs. the App Store
Apple’s new Podcast Subscription service is what the App Store should be: a great Apple experience competing for customers.
Sovereign Writers and Substack
Substack is at the center of media controversy, most of which misses the point that sovereign writers — not Substack — are in control.