Google critics call for EU to fast-track competition crackdown November 12, 2020 A group of 165 companies and industry bodies has urged the EU to accelerate its crackdown on Google’s alleged anti-competitive practices, warning planned new laws will take too long to come into force. In a joint letter to EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager, seen by Reuters, the critics accused Google of unfairly favouring its own [...]
Tiktok owner Bytedance to book $27bn in ad revenue this year November 11, 2020 The Chinese owner of viral video app Tiktok is reportedly on track to pull in at least $27bn (£20.4bn) in advertising revenue by the end of the year. Bytedance, which generates the vast majority of its revenue from ads, has previously stated that its target for overall revenue in 2020 is $30bn, meaning the figure [...]
Esports brand Fnatic launches crowdfunding campaign after raising $10m November 11, 2020 Shoreditch-based Fnatic is launching a crowdfunding campaign on the back of an increased interest in esports and a recent internal funding round. Venture capital firm Beringea led the $10m round with participation from existing investors Unbound, LVL1 Global and JHD, bringing total investment in Fnatic to nearly $35m. Fnatic, which is the second most watched [...]
Tiktok challenges Trump sale order ahead of deadline November 11, 2020 Tiktok has filed a legal petition challenging an order made by outgoing US President Donald Trump that would force the viral video app to sell its US business by tomorrow. In August Bytedance, the social media firm’s parent company, was given 90 days to divest its US operations due to concerns about national security. The [...]
Top home entertainment solutions to get you through lockdown November 10, 2020 We’ll all be spending the next few weeks in the house, and even Christmas looks likely to be a subdued affair this year. So why not console yourself by pimping out the living room in which you’ll be whiling away your precious hours? Here’s our pick of the top home entertainment solutions on which to [...]
Xbox Series X fires first salvo against PS5 in new console war November 10, 2020 After months of leaks, speculation and anticipation, the first batch of Xbox Series X consoles have been delivered to fans. Microsoft has shipped its new flagship console two days before arch rival Sony’s PS5, kicking off what promises to be the most closely-fought console war in generations. Both the Xbox Series X and the PS5 [...]
EU accuses Amazon of ‘distorting’ competition in ecommerce market November 10, 2020 The EU has accused Amazon of distorting competition in online retail markets by misusing data from third-party sellers on its platform. In a statement today, competition tsar Margrethe Vestager said Amazon “systematically” relied on non-public business data of traders on its site. She accused the tech firm of using this data to benefit its own [...]
Netflix poaches ITN boss Anna Mallett to lead UK production November 10, 2020 Netflix has swooped on the chief executive of TV production giant ITN as the streaming giant bolsters its credentials in the UK. Anna Mallett will oversee Netflix’s production in Britain as well as local language productions across much of the rest of the world outside the US. Mallet currently leads ITN, which produces news programming [...]
Softbank ‘considers moving Vision Fund’ from London to Abu Dhabi November 10, 2020 Japanese tech investment giant Softbank is reportedly considering moving the unit that manages its $100bn (£75.6bn) Vision Fund from London to Abu Dhabi. The move has been under discussion for several weeks, the Financial Times reported, citing people with knowledge of the talks. The relocation of Softbank Investment Advisors, which manages the Vision Fund, is [...]
Acast and Patreon team up to launch subscriber-only podcast service November 10, 2020 Acast and Patreon have joined forces to launch a new service that will allow podcast creators to make exclusive content available to subscribers across all major platforms. The tie-up will allow creators on the Patreon membership service to distribute private, patron-only podcast episodes to listeners on apps including Apple and Amazon Music. “At Patreon, we’re [...]
