Netflix rival Quibi to launch short video platform in April January 9, 2020 A new streaming service hoping to shake up the crowded on-demand market with its bite-size videos has announced that it will launch in the US in April. Quibi, which has raised an eye-watering $1bn (£766m), has assembled some of the biggest names in Hollywood to produce original shows that are 10 minutes or shorter. Read [...]
Government ‘minded to intervene’ in Daily Mail’s i newspaper takeover January 9, 2020 The government today said it was “minded” to intervene in the Daily Mail owner’s £50m takeover of the i newspaper. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) warned the deal, which was agreed with current i owner JPI Media in November, could raise public interest concerns. Read more: Watchdog gives hold separate order [...]
Twitter trials function to block all replies January 9, 2020 Twitter is trialling a new feature that allows users to block replies on their posts in a bid to cut down on online abuse. The social media giant announced the trial at Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show, and will be brought in alongside an option to choose who can reply to posts. Read more: General [...]
DEBATE: Was the British Museum right to bypass BP as a sponsor for its Arctic exhibition? January 9, 2020 Was the British Museum right to bypass BP as a sponsor for its Arctic exhibition? Marine Tanguy, chief executive of MTArt Agency, says YES. I completely understand why the British Museum would be embarrassed to take the sponsorship of BP while discussing the Arctic in its next exhibition, one of the regions most affected by [...]
BBC commercial arm ‘has more to do’ as streaming competition heats up January 9, 2020 The BBC’s commercial division must up its game if it is to fend off fierce competition from deep-pocketed streaming rivals, according to the public spending watchdog. In 2018 the broadcaster created BBC Studios by bringing together its commercial production and distribution arms into one distinct body. Read more: BBC ‘may not be sustainable’ in current [...]
Public affairs giant Cicero joins Havas’ AMO network ahead of potential acquisition January 8, 2020 The UK’s largest public affairs agency Cicero is set to join AMO, a network of communications firms owned by or affiliated to Paris-based media giant Havas. Cicero, which is currently based in the City, will move into Havas’ Kings Cross headquarters this weekend. Read more: PR giants embroiled in war of words after Tulchan appoints [...]
BBC iPlayer bags best ever festive fortnight thanks to Gavin and Stacey boost January 8, 2020 The BBC has hailed its most successful Christmas catch-up period ever as viewers clamoured for top shows such as Gavin and Stacey. BBC iPlayer booked 203m requests to download or stream programmes between 20 December and 2 January – up more than a third on last year and a new record for the platform. Read [...]
Kantar poaches former ITV exec Ian Griffiths as new finance director January 7, 2020 Market research firm Kantar today said it has appointed ex-ITV bigwig Ian Griffiths as its new chief financial officer. Griffiths, who has served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer at the broadcaster before announcing his departure in 2018 , will take up the new role on 16 January. Read more: Kantar boss to [...]
‘Don’t be evil’: Google abandoned motto and lost its way, says former exec January 6, 2020 Google’s former head of international relations has hit out at the company’s human rights record and corporate culture in a blog post detailing why he left the tech giant. Ross LaJeunesse, who left Google in May last year after 11 years at the firm, claimed that “standing up for for women, for the LGBTQ community, [...]
Vice UK blames Brexit uncertainty as media group posts wider loss January 6, 2020 Vice UK has taken aim at Brexit uncertainty after the youth-focused media group revealed ballooning losses and a decline in revenue. The millennial mainstay reported a pre-tax loss of £2.9m for the 12 months to 31 December 2018, up from £2.2m the previous year, while turnover dropped by a third to £17.3m. Read more: Buzzfeed [...]