Lately, streaming networks have been particularly busy releasing new content, and the response has been very positive. Shows like “House of Dragons” and “Bridgerton” are keeping viewership high across various platforms. In fact, according to Netflix, users are more engaged than ever, spending over 10 hours a month on the platform, which is significantly higher […]
Nothing is actually free
When we post a picture, upload a story on a blog, or tweet about the latest news on Elon Musk, we contribute to the social media business. And, regardless of how we do it, it doesn’t cost us anything, or at least that’s how we perceive it. But, in reality, there are several ways social […]
M&A and SPACs—how the media sector finally secures funds
The last 12 months have brought significant changes to the financial markets, with the rise of retail investors, the SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) boom, and the merger and acquisitions flow. Those trends have also reached the media industry. As an introduction, a special purpose acquisition company, also known as a blank-check company, is a […]
Spotify rides the wave of audio news
Spotify’s diversification strategy is finally showing results. The firm has been investing for years in podcasts to move away from its core business, music. So far, the tactic is working. Demand for audio news is still rising, and ads within those podcasts are bringing in revenue. Spotify has become the podcast king in little over […]
Parler, an online home for conservatives
It’s a common catchphrase among the right that the left has captured social media. They argue that the platforms are only banning or tagging content from specific right-wing figures such as President Donald Trump, while not taking issue with leftist commentators. After the defeat of Trump in the elections, millions of users have decided to […]
Spotify’s podcast aspirations
After two years of making massive purchases in the podcasting industry, Spotify may be planning to launch a subscription service for podcasts, a step that only a few firms have taken so far. Traditionally, podcasts have been open to consumers, funded mostly by advertisements but not subscriptions. The previous attempts to turn the sector upside […]
Where did Quibi go wrong?
Three months ago, the streaming service Quibi was launched with some fanfare and we devoted one of our posts to it (read Quibi, the new streaming platform for mobile devices). Its success so far has been quite limited. Its founders have blamed the pandemic for the app’s flop, but its problems may not stop here. […]
Local outlets struggle during COVID-19
As we settle in our quarantines, we have more time in our hands to read the news—and sometimes obsessively. Thus, it’s not surprising that since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Western hemisphere, news readership has surged dramatically. But what has also drastically changed is newspaper revenue. With businesses closing, the number of ads has plunged, […]