1. Netflix is planning to launch an ad-supported tier in early 2023, executives said during the company's second-quarter earnings call.
Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said that while Netflix is busy clearing more licensed content for the offering, "certainly not all" of the company's library would be available for the lower-priced option. However, Sarandos doesn't view the smaller catalog as a disadvantage, saying that Netflix has always been a "recommendation engine" that helps users find something to watch from its vast library of titles. The ad-supported tier would put Netflix in competition with other free,
ad-supported streaming services like Hulu and Tubi. It's unclear how much Netflix would charge for the tier, but it's likely that it would be significantly less than the company's current $13/month standard plan. Sarandos said that launching an ad-supported tier has always been part of Netflix's plans, but the pandemic has accelerated the timeline. He added that he expects the ad-supported tier to be popular in markets where free, ad-supported TV is already common.
2. This probably doesn't bode well for Elon Musk's chances at wriggling out of his $44 billion Twitter takeover bid. Today, Delaware's Court of Chancery has ruled in Twitter's favor for an expedited trial in the Musk acquisition case, with Musk and Co. given just five days to present their argument as to why Musk should be allowed to pull out of the deal. The case has been scheduled for October. The ruling comes after months of back-and-forth between
Twitter and Musk, who first announced his intention to take the social media company private at $420 per share back in August. Since then, questions have been raised about the financing of the deal, with some speculating that Musk may not have had the funding lined up when he made his initial announcement. This latest development is likely to add more pressure on Musk, who is already facing challenges at Tesla, his electric car company. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to convince
the court that he is serious about taking Twitter private, but given the recent string of setbacks, it seems like an uphill battle.
3. YouTube’s latest move in its gradual integration of eCommerce tools is a partnership with Shopify, which enables Shopify merchants to feature their products across YouTube channels and content. This partnership could prove to be a valuable asset for Shopify merchants, as YouTube is one of the most popular online platforms, with over 2 billion monthly users. By featuring products on YouTube channels and content, Shopify merchants will be able
to reach a wider audience and potentially boost sales. The partnership is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to greatly benefit Shopify merchants who are looking to increase their reach and sales.
4. Google is investigating reports that some URLs are disappearing from the recipe search results carousel without also disappearing from the normal search results. This potential bug has caused concern among webmasters and SEOs who rely on the recipe carousel to drive traffic to their sites. Google has not yet released a statement on the issue, but we will update this story as more information becomes available. In the meantime, if you have noticed
your site's URL disappearing from the recipe carousel, you can try resubmitting your URL to Google through the Search Console.
5.Twitter is testing a new feature that would add a "❤ By Author" label to tweets when the author likes one of the replies. The label would appear beneath the tweet and would be visible to anyone viewing the thread. Twitter has not commented on why they are testing this feature, but it is possible that it could be used to highlight popular or interesting replies. The label could also help to discourage harassment, by making it clear that the author
has endorsed a particular reply. It is not yet clear when or if this feature will be rolled out to all users, but it is certainly an interesting development.
6. In the United Kingdom, fake reviews may soon become illegal. This comes as a response to increasing concerns about the accuracy of online reviews. While many merchants and marketers have used this review tactic to boost brand visibility, big tech companies are starting to take notice. In particular, Google has been cracking down on fake reviews, and the new law would mirror Google's policies. The proposed law would make it illegal to post
fake reviews, and violators could face fines of up to £10,000. This would be a major victory for consumers, who often rely on online reviews to make purchasing decisions.Critics of the proposed law argue that it could stifle free speech and lead to censoring of legitimate reviews. However, proponents argue that the law would simply ensure that consumers are getting accurate information about products and services. With fake reviews becoming increasingly prevalent, it remains to be seen whether
the UK will enact this law.
7. According to the National Retail Federation, a record 42 percent of people in 2021 planned to purchase their final holiday gifts before December 18. The main reason for this is that people are increasingly concerned about availability and shipping time. So they’re buying sooner than they used to. This is confirmed by Adobe’s 2021 report, which found that customers have begun to spread their shopping outside of the traditional holiday
season. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, as people become more accustomed to shopping online and dealing with shipping delays.
8. It looks like the metaverse is going to be a pretty commercial place. According to a survey conducted in May 2022, over 35 per cent of respondents said they were comfortable with advertising in a metaverse space. That means that, for every three people you meet in the metaverse, one of them is
going to be trying to sell you something. The other 25 per cent of respondents said they were undecided, which means they're probably going to be swayed by whatever company offers them the best deal. And the remaining 40 per cent? They're just not comfortable with the idea of marketing and advertising in a virtual world. You can't really blame them - after all, who wants to be bombarded with ads while they're trying to escape from reality? Still, it looks like the metaverse is going to be a
pretty commercial place.
9. Stripe, the payments processor last valued at $95 billion, has seen the internal value of its shares slashed by 28%, sources told the Wall Street Journal. This is the latest high-profile fintech company to experience a significant valuation cut as the market downturn begins to hit the sector especially hard. The valuation cut comes as Stripe prepares to go public through a direct listing on the stock exchange. While the exact cause of the
valuation cut is not clear, it is likely due to concerns about the overall health of the fintech sector in light of the current economic conditions. Fintech companies have been under pressure in recent months as investors have become increasingly cautious about investing in risky new ventures. Stripe's valuation cut is a sign that even well-established fintech companies are not immune to these pressures. While it remains to be seen how this will affect Stripe's plans for going public, it is
clear that the current market conditions are having a major impact on the fintech sector.
10. There are high expectations for Yuga, the new gaming platform from Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). The founders of BAYC have achieved a rare success in the tech world with their NFT project, and now they hope to replicate that success with Otherside, a metaverse gaming platform. There is a lot of pressure on the startup to deliver a great product, and they have a big task ahead of them. However, the community is confident that they will be able
to meet the challenge and create an amazing gaming experience. Only time will tell if they will be able to live up to the hype, but there is no doubt that Yuga has a bright future ahead of it.
11. Hulu has been on a roll lately, with new subscriptions outpacing those of Disney's flagship streaming platform, Disney+, in 18 of the past 24 months. And total new subscriptions to Hulu have exceeded those to Disney+ in each of the past 12 months. What's behind Hulu's success? Well, for one thing, the company has been loading up on more adult-focused entertainment in a bid to expand its reach to a wider variety of viewers. This strategy
appears to be paying off, as Hulu is now attracting a larger share of 18-49 year olds than any other streaming service.So if you're looking for something to watch that's a little edgier than what you'd find on Disney+, give Hulu a try. You might just be surprised at what you find.
12. Woody Harrelson's dispensary, The Woods, is the real deal according to Leafly's review. It may not be surprising, as Harrelson has been an advocate for cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and environmentalism for decades. The Woods is a place where you can find high-quality cannabis products and services. The dispensary is located in a convenient location and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The prices are fair and the
selection is good. If you're looking for a dispensary that is the real deal, then The Woods is worth checking out.
13. A recent study by Georgia State University has found that video game players show enhanced brain activity and decision-making skills. While this may come as a surprise to some, it's actually good news for gamers. The study found that playing video games can improve your ability to think quickly, make decisions, and problem-solve. So, if you're looking for a way to give your brain a workout, gaming may be the answer. And, who knows, you may
even find yourself getting better grades in school or performing better at work. So, next time someone tells you that gaming is a waste of time, you can tell them that you're actually enhancing your brain power. Who knows, maybe you'll even be able to teach them a thing or two about gaming.
14. In the latest string of troubling times for Shopify, the company is cancelling its internship program and pulling back job offers. According to The Globe and Mail, the company is halting hiring to focus on addressing its plummeting stock price. The cancelled internships, meanwhile, mostly impact students and could put their graduating status in limbo if they can't find a new role. In other words: Shopify is in big trouble and things are only
getting worse. So, if you're considering a career in e-commerce, you might want to look elsewhere. After all, who wants to work for a company that can't even keep its interns?
15. It's no secret that Samsung has been gunning for a piece of the gaming market for a while now. The company has been building a massive advertising ecosystem to support how publishers and brands reach consumers through gaming experiences on its smart televisions and mobile devices. And it looks like their efforts are paying off: the number of gamers in the Samsung TV Universe increased significantly in 2021 to nearly 20 million, up from 16.4
million in 2020. Gamers spent an average of just over two hours per day gaming on Samsung devices last year, and the company is hoping to increase that number even further in the coming years.
