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“The Breaker Upperers” kicks off with an ingenious premise: What if you could pay an agency to take care of your awkward romantic break-ups? And what if that agency was run by two longtime friends who are starting to drift apart? The film was a big hit in New Zealand last year and is now … Read moreOriginal Content podcast: ‘The Breaker Upperers’ filmmakers know that breaking up is the worst
Spotify doubled down on podcasts last week with a double deal to buy podcast networks Gimlet and Anchor. Those acquisitions were initially undisclosed, but Spotify has quietly confirmed that it spent €300 million, just shy of $340 million, to capture the companies. That’s according to an SEC filing — hat tip Recode’s Peter Kafka — which reveals that … Read moreSpotify says it paid $340M to buy Gimlet and Anchor
If you’re a video creator in 2019, you’re probably thinking about a long list of publishing destinations: YouTube, of course, but also Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and more. StayTuned Digital is a new startup trying to help video creators and publishers push their content to multiple platforms. The company, which bills itself as “content’s best … Read moreStayTuned Digital helps video creators publish and measure everywhere
There’s serious concern around press freedom in the Philippines after Maria Ressa, the CEO of independent media company Rappler, was arrested last night. Ressa, who was CNN’s bureau chief in Manila and then Jakarta prior to starting Rappler in 2011, was arrested on cyber libel security charges for an article published in 2012, according to … Read moreCEO of Rappler, a media company critical of the Philippines government, is arrested
Brightcove just announced that it’s acquiring Ooyala’s online video platform business. The deal brings together two long-lasting players in the online video industry. Brightcove was founded in 2004 and went public in 2012, while Ooyala was founded in 2007 and was acquired by Telstra before management bought back the company last fall. (Back when it … Read moreBrightcove acquires Ooyala’s video business for $15M
Shortly after BuzzFeed News employees revealed that they had voted to unionize, its editor-in-chief said the company wants to meet with them to discuss voluntarily recognition. Employees announced today that they are organizing as BuzzFeed News Union under the NewsGuild of New York. “Our staff has been organizing for several months, and we have legitimate … Read moreBuzzFeed News employees vote to unionize
California Governor Gavin Newsom earlier today proposed a so-called digital dividend that would let consumers share in the profits generated by California-based tech companies that have been “collecting, curating and monetizing” their users’ personal data. Newsom added that he has asked his administration to develop a proposal for a “new data dividend for Californians, because we … Read moreJim Steyer runs the powerful nonprofit Common Sense Media; now he’s using his influence to battle big tech
Four new animated Marvel series, plus a crossover special, are coming to Hulu. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Hulu has greenlit “MODOK,” “Hit-Monkey,” “Tigra & Dazzler Show” and “Howard the Duck.” The characters will then come together in a special titled “The Offenders.” These aren’t exactly A-list, or even B-list, Marvel characters. Howard the Duck … Read moreHulu greenlights ‘Howard the Duck’ and three other animated Marvel shows
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo and writer-director Dan Gilroy — who worked together on the creepy crime thriller “Nightcrawler” — have reunited for a new Netflix Original film, “Velvet Buzzsaw.” While “Nightcrawler” wasn’t perfect, it was tense and unsettling, filled with eerily beautiful shots of nighttime L.A., plus a career-best performance from Gyllenhaal. It’s hard to … Read moreOriginal Content podcast: Netflix’s ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ is lethally dull
Freshman Congresswomen and meme queen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is headed to Netflix. The streaming service said this week that it has snapped up ‘Knock Down the House,’ a Sundance award-winning documentary profiling the campaigns of four female progressive candidates, including Ocasio-Cortez, in the 2018 midterm election. The documentary raised money via a Kickstarter campaign last year and it … Read moreNetflix reportedly paid $10M for campaign documentary featuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez