Google’s results were even better than the rest of the industry, thanks to YouTube.
Netflix Earnings; Netflix and Gaming; Models, Not Mediums
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.
Instagram’s Evolution
Instagram’s shift away from being a photo-sharing app is very much inline with the service’s continuous evolution.
Amazon Buys MGM, The Streaming Opportunity, Anti-Monopoly vs. Antitrust
Amazon’s purchase of MGM makes sense strategically, but also points to bigger ambitions; it also highlights how a lot of antitrust talk is actually anti-monopoly.
Distribution and Demand
Distribution on the Internet is free; what matters is controlling demand. AT&T and Verizon didn’t understand the distinction.
AT&T’s Original Bad Deal, Discovery + WarnerMedia, The Streaming Landscape
AT&T bails on its streaming ambitions; they can’t undo the mistake of buying Time Warner, but merging WarnerMedia with Discovery is a nice recovery.
An Interview with Brad Stone about Amazon Unbound
An interview with Brad Stone about his new book about Amazon, how the company has changed, and his outlook for a post-Bezos future.
Roku’s Earnings, Roku and YouTube’s Streaming Ads, Roku and YouTube’s Dispute
Both Roku and YouTube are winning in advertising; Roku, though, wants to win its negotiation with Google, and use PR to do so.