Disney’s rumored acquisition of 21st Century Fox is all about competing with Netflix; whether or not that is a good thing depends on your frame of reference.
Snapchat’s Redesign, Spiegel’s New (Old) Vision, Tencent and Spotify
Snap has a more cogent vision than the one it presented in its S-1; the problem is it might be too late. Tencent, meanwhile, fresh off its Snap investment has picked up a piece of Spotify.
The Pollyannish Assumption and Bright Lines, YouTube’s Market Power, Google vs Amazon
Society collectively decides what is wrong through laws: that’s a useful bright line for platforms. Then, YouTube is demonstrating its market power, and Google and Amazon are acting like monopolies.
Meredith Buys Time Inc., Meredith’s Business, About the Koch Investment
Meredith is buying Time Inc.; most media coverage is focused on the Koch investment, but Meredith itself is far more interesting as a publisher that is succeeding.
Popping the Publishing Bubble, Revisited; BuzzFeed’s Struggles; Axios’ Success
News from BuzzFeed in particular suggest the digital publishing bubble may be bursting. Axios, meanwhile, shows that subscriptions aren’t the only answer — but niche may be.
Disney to Buy 21st Century Fox?, Two Strategies for Content Companies, Netflix and ESPN
Disney may buy portions of 21st Century Fox; it is a deal that makes a lot of sense for both sides, particularly when you consider how the industry has been fundamentally changed.
More Spectacles Mea Culpas; The Athletic in the New York Times; Google, Facebook, Apple, and Subscriptions
More mea culpas about Spectacles, then the CEO of The Athletic gives an explosive interview to the New York Times. Plus, more news about Google and Facebook’s subscriptions offerings, and Apple’s interference.
Netflix Earnings, Netflix’s Price Raise, Additional Netflix Notes
Netflix had another great set of earnings that highlight the company’s sustainable differentiation. The company’s ability to raise prices does the same, as well as its clearly disruptive role.
Goodbye Gatekeepers
Harvey Weinstein was a gate-keeper — a position that existed in multiple industries, including the media. That entire structure, though, is untenable on the Internet, and that’s a good thing.
Roku’s IPO and Origin Story, Netflix Versus Roku and the Conservation of Attractive Profits, “Weak” Aggregators
Roku’s origin story explain Netflix’s strategic acumen — which, by extension, explains why Roku is a risky bet. Then, Roku explains “weak” aggregators, that aren’t really aggregators at all.