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Read our latest daily deep dives, hot takes, and exciting updates about the entertainment world. Check out the latest insight from your favourite analyst, or search by coverage areas - music, entertainment and fandom, creator economy and social.

Google, Facebook, and the coming big tech disruption

Tim Mulligan

12 Dec 2018

Facebook Google Strategy

2018 has turned out to be the year in which the seemingly invulnerable tech majors started to come unstuck. So far, Facebook has fallen the furthest in both the eyes of regulators and the general public upon whom it depends for multi-billion revenues.

3 min read

The move toward the Cloud is real and happening in 2019

Tim Mulligan

10 Dec 2018

aws cloud computing Innovation

Following araft of announcements at AWS reIgnite , Amazon Web Services (AWS) held a private press and analyst session last week to talk about its new tool AWS Elemental Media Connect . This new tool allows broadcasters to securely distribute live video feeds via the cloud.

4 min read

Superstars and specialist services: Will OTRO bring value to fans, footballers, and their financiers?

Georgia Meyer

7 Dec 2018

digital content Mobile content Online video

As debates on the sustainability of various digital content business models continue to play out live, OTRO, a new entrant to the market offers an opportunity to marry competing points of view. OTRO: the overview Otro is a new digital content offering for football fans: exclusive content, documentar...

4 min read

Friends for life? Warner Media and Netflix renegotiate frenemy deal

Tim Mulligan

6 Dec 2018

Friends Netflix Warner Media

The revelation that Warner Media(previously Time Warner, and acquired by AT&T in June 2018) has negotiated a clause in its 2019 licensing agreement with Netflix for ageing sitcom Friends highlights the existential challenge facing TV players in the streaming era (per The Hollywood Reporter ).

3 min read

Cover image for Friends for life? Warner Media and Netflix renegotiate frenemy deal

Sport1 to drop US-centric channel in favour of esports

Alistair Taylor

5 Dec 2018

DAZN esports KEK

German broadcaster Sport1 is replacing its US sport focused channel for the very first German-speaking esports channel. Sport1 announced last week that the channel dubbed eSports1 will launch in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on January 24th 2019, replacing Sport1 US.

4 min read

Independent labels grew global market share to 39.9% in 2017

Mark Mulligan

4 Dec 2018

Music music industry Independent labels

The global independent label trade body WIN has just published the third edition of the Worldwide Independent Market report. As regular readers will know, MIDiA Research has conducted this study on behalf of WIN for each of the three editions, collecting an unparalleled volume of data from many hund...

3 min read

Cover image for Independent labels grew global market share to 39.9% in 2017

Orange has bold ambitions for financial services

Tim Mulligan

4 Dec 2018

banking mobile money Orange

Last week, Orange held a press and analyst briefing to discuss its plans for Orange Bank and the progress to date. Orange is one of Europe’s leading converged telcos. It is aggressively rolling out fibre broadband services across its footprint.

4 min read

In for a penny, in for a pound: Netflix and the imminent Pinewood Studio agreement

Tim Mulligan

4 Dec 2018

Pinewood Studios Netflix Television

Over the weekend news brokeabout streaming video on demand (SVOD) global leader Netflix being in advanced stages of its negotiations with the owners of Pinewood Studios (UK), to secure a long-term lease on the facilities.

3 min read

Cover image for In for a penny, in for a pound: Netflix and the imminent Pinewood Studio agreement

Digital sports viewing will increasingly become a shared experience

Tim Mulligan

30 Nov 2018

Eleven NFL Sports

On November 28 Eleven Sports, the streaming SVOD insurgent, announced the rollout of a potentially disruptive feature called ‘ Watch Together ’. Watch Together adds private video group functionality to create a shared viewing experience for groups of friends and fans.

3 min read

Cover image for Digital sports viewing will increasingly become a shared experience

BT unveils BT Plus v2.0

Tim Mulligan

27 Nov 2018

BT wifi Video

BT will be offering a WiFi guarantee as part of the next iteration of BT Plus, its premium home broadband and 4G bundle. This includes a new Smart Home Hub 2 (router) along with one disc that connects to the router to improve connectivity throughout the home.

4 min read

BT Sport continues to drive innovation

Tim Mulligan

23 Nov 2018

5G BT Sports EE

BT Sport will broadcast this weekend’s EE Wembley Cup live on YouTube using remote production over EE’s 5G network; a world first according to BT Sport. The sporting event is an exhibition football tournament featuring a range of YouTube high-profile stars including Spencer Owen, F2 Freestylers ...

4 min read

Huawei is a force to be reckoned with in 5G

Tim Mulligan

22 Nov 2018

5G EE Huawei

Huawei held its annual global mobile broadband forum event in London this week. It was a great opportunity for the network vendor to demonstrate its leadership in 5G and appease key stakeholders on security concerns.

4 min read

Taylor Swift, label services, and what comes next

Mark Mulligan

22 Nov 2018

Label services label services deals Major labels

Taylor Swift has done it again, striking a deal with UMG that includes a commitment from the world’s largest label group to share proceeds from Spotify stock sales with artists (per The Guardian ), even if they are not recouped (i.

5 min read

The implications of Amazon’s bid for Fox’s regional sports networks

Tim Mulligan

21 Nov 2018

21st Century Fox Fox Online video

Hot on the heels of 21CF (21stCentury Fox) securing a renewal of its multi-year distribution deal with the leading US pay TV operator AT&T; 21CF’s regional US Sports networks are now in play. According to CNBC , tech major Amazon is bidding for all 21CF’s 22 regional sports TV networks.

3 min read

Why AT&T is renewing its Fox distribution relationship

Tim Mulligan

19 Nov 2018

Fox fox networks Strategy

Yesterday, leading US telco AT&T publicly announced the multi-year renewal of its programme distribution deal with Fox Networks Group. AT&T negotiated the deal with 21stCentury Fox assets, which will go to Disney once their takeover of Fox is finalised early in 2019.

2 min read

The English Premier League and the risks ahead

Tim Mulligan

19 Nov 2018

English Premier League EPL Video

Last week’s appointmentof Susanna Dinnage to the post of chief executive of the English Premier League marked a watershed moment in the history of Europe’s most valuable sports league. For a start, history has been made with the blunt recognition that Dinnage is the first female chief executive ...

3 min read

MIDiA Research welcomes veteran telco analyst Paolo Pescatore to team

Mark Mulligan

16 Nov 2018

MIDiA Analyst Team MIDiA Research Paolo Pescatore

I am very pleased to announce that seasoned and respected analyst Paolo Pescatore is joining MIDiA’s analyst team, to head up our new Telco Consumer Services research stream. Paolo has spent the last 20 years covering telecoms, media and technology (TMT) research and advising leading telcos and te...

2 min read

The Meta trends that will shape 2019

Mark Mulligan

16 Nov 2018

midia predictions 2019 predictions

MIDiA has just published its annual predictions report . Here are a few highlights. 2018 was another year of change, disruption and transformation across media and technology. Although hyped technologies – VR, blockchain, AI music – failed to meet inflated expectations, concepts such as privacy,...

5 min read

Cover image for The Meta trends that will shape 2019

5G represents a marriage made in heaven for the cable industry

Tim Mulligan

14 Nov 2018

5G cable telco

Last week MIDiA Research was invited to participate on a panel at the Cable Next Gen Europe event in London, to discuss convergence and the impact of 5G for cable providers. The gathering largely focused on sharing best practices, innovation and technology road map for the next few years.

3 min read

Quick Take: Activision Blizzard results and why engagement matters now more than ever

Karol Severin

12 Nov 2018

Activision Activision Blizzard Engagement

Activision Blizzard reported its Q3 results late last week. Despite beating guidance on net income, which reached $260 million, the company’s stock plummeted following the announcement. The key worries include engagement, success of future games within franchises like Call of Duty and Destiny, as ...

2 min read

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