TV advertising is having a good week at the upfronts, and it may be more resilient than expected. That, though, means the crash will be even more abrupt.
Jeff Bezos at the Code Conference, Recent Amazon News
Jeff Bezos gave a great interview at the Code Conference, and while the whole thing is worth watching, I wanted to highlight a few items that touched on Stratechery topics. Plus, three recent Amazon stories that show how the company is winning.
Defending Facebook, Amazon Video Direct
The actual details of the Facebook Trending News scandal probably don’t warrant the outrage; what is more interesting is how Facebook found itself in hot water. Then, Amazon Video Direct is very interesting, but not because it’s going to be a YouTube competitor anytime soon.
Twitter to Stream NFL Thursday Night Games, About That Gmail April Fool’s Joke
First, a deep dive into Twitter’s deal with the NFL and why it’s not about the money. Then, why Gmail’s failed April Fool’s joke was so outrageous and worrying.
Follow-up, Snapchat’s Deal with Viacom, Verizon Exploring Yahoo Purchase, Disney
Follow-up on The Reality of Missing Out, including why I’m worried about Pinterest. Than, why I’m a bit wary of Snapchat’s deal with Viacom, but a believer in the idea of Verizon buying Yahoo. Finally, a reiteration of my Disney optimism.
SideCar’s “Innovation”, Facebook Stadium and Twitter’s Conundrum, Tidbits
SideCar feels that Uber was unfair, but the truth is the company didn’t understand that product matters more than technical expertise. Plus, why Twitter doesn’t have an natural acquirers, and several other tidbits from this week.
The FANG Playbook
The FANG companies — Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google — are far more similar than you might think. Their rise in value is no accident, and it is connected to Aggregation Theory.
Netflix Goes Global, iPhone Worry
Netflix’s surprising announcement that the company was extending its service to nearly every country on earth was impressive in its execution, what it said about the company’s strategy, and it raised interesting points about Aggregation Theory and Netflix’s future opportunities. Plus, there is a lot of smoke when it comes to worries about the iPhone.
Star Wars Grosses >$500 million, Disney: Cable or Content?, Goldman Sachs Recants on Microsoft
Star Wars has significantly exceeded expectations, yet Disney’s stock is down. The question is what matters: content, or cable networks? I argue it is the former, and that Disney’s future is bright.
Apple Drops Planned Live TV Service, YouTube’s Top Ten Videos of 2015, Apple and the NFL?
Apple gives up on its rumored live TV service, which should come as no surprise to Stratechery readers. YouTube’s top video list is a hint as to why. Might apple bid on the NFL to get the train rolling?