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Tag: livestream

  • Turmoil in Thailand: Livestream Durian Sales Spark Controversy Over Pricing Amid Surplus

    Turmoil in Thailand: Livestream Durian Sales Spark Controversy Over Pricing Amid Surplus

    Last Tuesday, a significant event took place, featuring Suphajee Suthumpun, Thailand’s deputy prime minister and commerce minister, and one of the country’s most influential online merchants, Pimrypie. Pimrypie is recognized for her diverse range of products, from her brand of fish sauce to luxurious perfumes. The occasion was held in anticipation of a 33% increase in Thailand’s durian production this year, and it attracted approximately 800,000 viewers. Within hours, it generated roughly 200,000 orders. However, the announcement of the price sparked a significant controversy.

    Concerns Over Low Pricing

    Farmers expressed apprehension that the government’s indication of a low price could set a maximum price instead of a minimum price for wholesalers. They argued that the significant discount could depress farm gate prices in an already burdened season. Puk Pimsorn, a durian seller who sources directly from orchards, argued that selling durians for 100 baht per kilogram would result in retailer losses, particularly at 100 baht per fruit. This pricing could impact the market by driving consumers towards cheaper options over quality produce, leaving other sellers unable to compete without suffering losses.

    Sommai Panasri, a durian shop owner, shared similar concerns, suggesting the campaign would further strain durian retailers already struggling with economic slowdown, rising fuel costs, and expensive transportation. Additionally, Panusak Saipanich, president of the Thai Durian Association, noted that a retail price of 100 baht left farmers with meagre or no profit once logistics and middleman fees were accounted for.

    Despite the growing backlash, Pimrypie clarified that the livestream intended to support durian growers and highlight the sector’s challenges, not to distort market pricing. She added that she had never organized such a vast campaign before and had incurred personal losses exceeding 10 million baht from the sales.

    Government Response and Durian Market Conditions

    The Ministry of Commerce responded swiftly to the controversy. A deputy spokesman clarified that the promotion only applied to “secondary-grade” fruits with visual imperfections. Suphajee distanced herself from the campaign, stating the ministry only sets standards and does not organize or endorse individual sales promotions. She noted the 100-baht price as a “sales-promotion technique,” not a value indicator, and reassured that market prices remain satisfactory.

    Durian is one of Thailand’s most profitable agricultural exports. The country is currently preparing for a potential excess, caused by increased cultivation due to strong prices in the late 2010s. This year’s rise in output is being exacerbated by global economic uncertainty, which is making consumers more cautious, increasing transport costs, and extreme heat, which is expected to yield smaller, lower-grade fruits.

    Competition is also intensifying, particularly as Vietnam expands its market share, now holding over 40% of the market within just three years. Meanwhile, Malaysia, though it exports smaller volumes, has built a reputation for high-quality durians that command higher prices.

    Despite the stable prices of Thai export-grade durians and the market not collapsing, the sector is preparing for a significant test in May when peak harvest volumes are expected to arrive. To mitigate potential issues, the commerce minister has outlined a strategy aimed at stabilizing prices and supporting growers by increasing domestic consumption and expanding overseas sales.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the controversy regarding the durian market in Thailand?
    There were concerns that the government’s indication of a low price for durians might set a maximum rather than a minimum price for wholesalers, which could potentially depress prices at farm gates.

    What was Pimrypie’s response to the backlash on the livestream?
    Pimrypie clarified that the livestream was intended to support durian growers and highlight the sector’s difficulties, not to distort market pricing. She revealed that she had incurred personal losses exceeding 10 million baht from the sales.

    What is the government’s approach to mitigate potential issues in the durian market?
    The government’s strategy involves stabilizing prices and supporting growers by increasing domestic consumption and expanding overseas sales. The plan includes expanding export routes, investing in storage and processing, and training farmers in live commerce and content creation to reduce reliance on middlemen.

  • YouTube TV might soon allow users to download shows for offline watching

    YouTube TV might soon allow users to download shows for offline watching

    Most streaming services allow their users to download content for offline watching, which is especially helpful while on the go. Spotify and HBO both offer this option to their customers, but not YouTube TV, at least not for the moment.

    The good news is Google plans to add this nifty feature to the Android app. Apparently, there are strings in the app’s code that refer to this particular feature that’s not yet available. Also, the latest YouTube TV update on Android devices introduces a new alert, which notifies the users about incomplete downloads.

    The strings in the code clearly mention the ability to download shows for offline watching, which will be available in the “downloads” tab of the app. They also refer to a “Download” button that’s not yet available in the YouTube TV app.

    Although the feature was only discovered in the Android app, we expect Google to make it available to YouTube TV users on iOS as well probably at the same time. So, if you’ve been waiting for such a feature know that it will be coming, and very soon apparently.

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  • YouTube was briefly down across the globe

    YouTube was briefly down across the globe

    Millions of users felt their hearts skipping a beat yesterday as YouTube experienced a major blackout. A glance at downdetector.com shows the problem was global and lasted for about an hour for some users.

    Reports started piling up on Twitter yesterday at around 8 p.m. CDT, complaining of disappearing videos and YouTube showing only ads. Most people lost the connection to YouTube servers altogether. The outage affected YouTube Premium users, too.

    There’s no official statement from YouTube regarding the issue, so the reasons behind the outage remain a mystery. At the moment, the service seems to be fully operational. Were you affected by the temporary outage?

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  • Pomelo launched in-app livestream shopping with Davika Hoorne

    Pomelo launched in-app livestream shopping with Davika Hoorne

    Pomelo has launched in-app shoppable Livestream starring famous Thai actress Davika Hoorne.

    The new service is based on its in-app Livestream technology rolled out last month. With the new shoppable functionality, Pomelo offers its customers “an engaging and interactive dimension” of the digital retail experience, the company said in a statement.

    During the in-app Livestream, Pomelo’s customers will be able to interact with Davika Hoorne, receive the actress’ fashion opinions and purchase items immediately.

    Pomelo also hosts a weekly live show called ‘Live On Pomelo’, featuring the brand top picks and latest collections.

    Pomelo’s in-app shoppable livestream with Davika Hoorne will be available on March 18.

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  • Livestreaming in China on the boom during coronavirus crisis

    Livestreaming in China on the boom during coronavirus crisis

    Taobao Live, Alibaba Group’s live streaming platform, saw a sharp rise in brand activity this past month as merchants slowly resumed their operations and looked for ways to reach consumers in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

    In early February, live stream sessions on the platform had increased by 110 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Taobao Live. Driving that growth was the surge of businesses using online tools to maintain sales and engagement with consumers while their physical stores remained shuttered and millions were confined to their homes to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, officially known as Covid-19.

    Public facilities, retail stores, offices and schools throughout the country are now cautiously reopening after an extended closure. But virus fears still loom – despite a drop in new cases of infections – and more time is needed to bring economic activities and production levels back to normal.

    For merchants across different industries, live streaming has become an important tool not only to offset the decline in an offline business but also to encourage creativity in marketing and developing customer relationships. This month, Taobao Live users would have seen chefs broadcasting cooking tutorials in restaurant kitchens, real-estate agents giving tours of apartments, celebrities and singers performing in an online concert from their homes, rural farmers promoting their fruits and vegetables and even auto dealers showcasing the interior of luxury cars.

    Auto brands such as BMW are leveraging live streaming to introduce consumers to car models, interiors and experience of test drives.

    “We want to make it easier for different clients across sectors to make use of live streaming and help them more quickly resume operations,” said Yuan Yuan, head of content operations at Taobao Live.

    Her task force worked closely with other Alibaba business units, such as DingTalk, Tmall, Taobao and Juhuasuan, to connect with more merchants – removing barriers for them to register accounts, as well as providing training and marketing resources.

    “The project turned out to be more than a way to support brands. It also helped some discover their potential in live streaming,” said Yuan. “It was truly impressive to see how nimble and decisive our brand partners were. Their management capabilities helped transform a crisis into an opportunity.”

    Shanghai-based cosmetics brand Forest Cabin temporarily closed about half of its 337 stores across China due to the virus. Its stores that did remain open found few shoppers. In an interview on January 31, founder Sun Laichun said sales had dropped 90 percent during the Spring Festival holiday, traditionally a peak season for shopping.

    If circumstances continued, he estimated a loss of up to RMB30 million (US$4.26 million) a month and possible bankruptcy in under two months. But the band embarked on a turnaround strategy with live streaming at its center, and in just 15 days, Forest Cabin’s sales surpassed the same day last year by 45 percent.

    The brand trained 1600 shop attendants on how to host a live stream on Taobao Live and was soon adding some 3000 new loyalty members a day, up from the typical average of 800 to 1000 people. Sun, himself, joined in and hosted a two-hour session on Valentine’s Day in front of more than 60,000 viewers. By the end of the session, he had sold nearly 400,000 bottles of camellia moisturizing oil and generated close to RMB400,000 in sales.

    While online-only represented about 25 percent of Forest Cabin’s sales before, it now accounts for 90 percent. “The results were beyond my imagination,” Sun said.

    For some brands, live streaming is not just a standalone marketing tool but can be used strategically alongside other online resources to drive sales for new products. On February 13, Chinese technology brand Xiaomi tapped Taobao Live, among other live stream channels, to broadcast the launch of its new flagship smartphone, Mi 10, from its Beijing headquarters. The phone officially went on sale the next day during Xiaomi’s Tmall Super Brand Day, which rallies all the resources across the Alibaba ecosystem to create a smaller version of the company’s annual 11.11 mega-sale for a single brand, and became the top-selling smartphone on Tmall, leading to over RMB300 million in total sales for the brand.

    Sportswear giant Adidas also hosted an exclusive online debut of its limited-edition Superstar sneaker during its Super Brand Day last week. Its “See Now, Buy Now” stream, which lets consumers make real-time purchases of featured items from their mobile phones, drew 2.23 million viewers and generated more than RMB200 million in sales in 10 hours. The format has become so popular among brands that product debuts on the platform are now scheduled up to the end of April, said Taobao Live.

    The spread of the virus has also taken a heavy toll on the restaurant business. Last year, earnings over the Spring Festival holiday represented about 15 percent of the annual revenue of China’s food and beverage industry, which totaled RMB4.67 trillion, per a report released by the China Cuisine Association earlier this month. The survey found that about 73 percent of companies chose to close all of their offline stores in response to the coronavirus. The CCA also estimated that consumers – many who called off family reunions to avoid face-to-face contact during the outbreak – canceled about 94 percent of food orders ahead of Chinese New Year. Beijing-based restaurant chain Meizhou Dongpo, for example, said it canceled 11,144 table reservations across its 100-plus stores during January 21-30 and lost about RMB17 million over the Spring Festival period.

    With offline businesses at a standstill, Meizhou Dongpo began leveraging its brick-and-mortar staff to virtually connect with consumers and drive sales to its online store. Its chefs appeared in live streams to show viewers how to make traditional delicacies like homemade glutinous rice balls ahead of the Lantern Festival. This allowed the brand to share its craft with fans and receive direct feedback on things such as popular dishes. The sessions also directed consumers to products like braised pork belly in the chain’s Tmall flagship store, creating another revenue stream for the restaurant.

    Businesses have also taken the opportunity to train employees and build partnerships based around live streaming. China’s second-largest home-improvement and furniture retailer, Easyhome, said staff from 232 of its stores nationwide broadcast 4810 sessions last week to 3.58 million viewers. Meanwhile, in collaboration with brand partners such as Estee Lauder, Lancome, Kiehl’s, Vans and Baodao Optical, Intime department store launched an initiative encouraging staff to stream from their homes.

    Idle factories and traditional markets, like the wholesale marketplaces in the Chinese city of Yiwu, are also using the tool to bring in business. Taobao said it plans to hold an online market on February 27 for all brick-and-mortar business owners, including the 3000-plus Yiwu-based merchants already registered on Taobao Live.

    To help more small- to medium-sized enterprises learn how to effectively use live streaming for business, Taobao University, Alibaba’s education platform for e-commerce operators, will also stream a free online course on February 25, covering topics from developing followers and campaign planning to live-hosting techniques. Brands including Volkswagen, Nike and Mars have also set up training sessions through Taobao University to help employees get the most out of the live streaming platform.

    Taobao Live said it is now collaborating with even more industries to bring their offline experiences and products online. These include tourism agencies, fashion shows and museums, such as the National Museum of China, Suzhou Museum and Dunhuang Museum.

    “The future of shopping will be more dynamic, interactive and driven by real-time feedback. Livestreaming offers a peek into that future and new possibilities,” said Yuan.

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  • Live streaming becomes a growing livelihood in Vietnam

    Live streaming becomes a growing livelihood in Vietnam

    Broadcasting video games and selling goods using live-streaming is now a real profession in Vietnam, where a tech-savvy population lives and breathes social media. Pham Thanh Nam has been “shooting” people for a living for the last five years, not in real life, but in a game, he broadcasts to thousands of viewers every day.

    Nam, or Nam Blue, one of the most popular Vietnamese streamers of the first-person shooting game PUBG, broadcast his games on Facebook for six hours a day, and now has 1.5 million followers.

    The 29-year-old who has given up his business to focus entirely on streaming says: “A decade ago most Vietnamese would have said gaming has no future, but game streaming is now a job. Many people and I take seriously.”

    Industry insiders say top streamers in Vietnam earn thousands of dollars a month from followers’ donations and ads. Many companies, seeing the rising popularity of game streaming, are now paying streamers to promote their products to young consumers.

    This makes Nam one of an increasing number of Vietnamese choosing streaming as their profession amid the country’s increasing Internet penetration and e-commerce growth.

    Broadcasting games and selling products are currently the two most popular streaming jobs. Bre Miller, a product design manager at Facebook, said in June 2019 that Vietnam has among the largest number of people in the world watching live game streams.

    Last year Vietnam had 15 million esports players and 5.2 million people who regularly watched esports streams, according to digital platform developer Appota.

    Industry insiders estimate there are thousands of Vietnamese streaming games on Facebook, thanks to the rising interest in competitive gaming.

    Each of Nam’s streaming sessions gets around 500,000 views and a peak of two million. Nam’s followers surged 2.5-fold in just over a year.

    He also manages a group of 12 other streamers. His audience comprises mostly of males aged 24-35. They could become a supporter of his page by paying VND47,000 ($2) a month in return for exclusive content.

    This rising popularity of game streaming in Vietnam is aligned with the global trend. On Facebook Gaming, the streaming time grew by 210 percent last year to 356 million hours, according to live-stream production tool provider StreamElements.

    Dang Thai Son, marketing director of Appota, said the increasing popularity of live streaming and esports among young Vietnamese means they could gradually replace traditional forms of entertainment.

    Live shopping

    Commercial streaming is also gaining traction among Vietnamese shoppers.

    Hong Quan visits a fashion store in Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan District every day, not to shop for clothes, but to film them with a phone camera and stream the images to thousands of viewers.

    Since he constantly appears in the shop’s live videos and even offers discounts, the 20-year-old university student could be mistaken for the shop owner thought he is only hired to host live Facebook videos to market the goods.

    Quan, who has been doing this job for almost a year, says: “Streaming is not a usual job for most people, but I take it seriously. It offers good pay with short working time for a student like me.”

    On the Facebook news feed, a user can find dozens of live videos in which a variety of products like clothes, footwear, sunglasses, watches, and skin care products are presented, often by a host wearing an attractive outfit and with an enthusiastic and fun attitude.

    Sellers could appear on the stream themselves, or hire someone like Quan to sell the products for two or three sessions a day, each last 90-120 minutes.

    Quan is paid VND300,000 ($13) per session, but he is usually hired for the whole month for VND10 million ($434), which includes a commission on orders, the same amount an office employee might earn.

    “I could get shop owners 20-30 orders per session, adding to their revenues from the brick-and-mortar store.”

    Since Facebook introduced its live streaming feature in 2016 small businesses in Vietnam have been taking advantage of it to promote their products just like in China and Thailand.

    Vietnam ranks seventh in the world in the number of Facebook users, 58 million, according to U.K. advertising agency We Are Social.

    It accounted for 30.9 percent of e-commerce web traffic in Southeast Asia in the third quarter of 2019, second only to Indonesia, according to Malaysian market researcher iPrice Group.

    All this means small businesses can use live streams to reach new buyers and even as their main selling channel since it saves them the cost of listing on large e-commerce websites or buying expensive target ads.

    A streamer only needs a smartphone and a good Internet connection to do the job. Advanced streamers could buy a lighting kit to better showcase products. Once the streamer has ended the session, sales staff start making phone calls to customers to confirm orders.

    While setting up a stream is simple, doing it well takes great skill and effort. Thao Sang, a senior college student in Ho Chi Minh City who sells clothes, often has to talk non-stop for three hours to keep her audience interested.

    “There were times when I lost my voice or got sick after sessions.”

    Besides, there is pressure to achieve sales targets while women streamers say they have to suffer sexual and abusive comments to earn a salary of VND200,000-300,000 ($9-13) for a 90-minute session.

    But all the effort is worth it when customers place orders. Mai Hoa of Hanoi, an avid Facebook user, has in recent months been watching four or five live streams a day from her favorite shops to find clothes and accessories.

    Last month the 25-year-old received a 30 percent discount on a skin lotion and lipsticks for just sharing the stream with three public groups.

    “It took me less than a minute to place the order, and I received exactly what I wanted three days later. The physical shop was in Saigon, but it was also beneath my fingertips.”

    Buyers say real-time interaction is what they like most about live streams, as they can ask questions or make suggestions by just typing a comment instead of having to wait for hours or days after sending a message to an inbox.

    The engagement also benefits sellers since they can ask their audience to share the stream with friends and groups to increase their reach. Streamers often reward sharers with discounts or limited products, and can thus attract 250,000 views and 20,000 comments in a session.

    Communications expert Nguyen Ngoc Long says streaming has become trendy because Facebook prioritizes live streams more than texts and regular videos, and sellers love this because they can reach more people.

    Some companies have been using celebrities and social media influencers to promote their products on live streams.

    Even Singapore-based shopping giant Lazada has been using the live streaming feature since 2017. Its app has a LazLive section for Vietnamese sellers to promote their products.

    Long says, “Live streaming will continue to be popular in Vietnam for the next five to 10 years.”

  • Disney+ is removing content but not the way that Netflix does

    Disney+ is removing content but not the way that Netflix does

    Disney+ is certainly off to a great start. Back in November, 10 million subscribers signed up in the first 24 hours although some of those were Verizon customers taking advantage of a free year of service. Others might have signed up for a free seven-day trial that everyone gets to use one time to try the service. The video streaming app might not have as wide a range of content as Netflix, but with titles from the Disney Channel, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm (including Star Wars) and National Geographic, there is something for everyone.

    Just two weeks after its debut on Disney+, The Mandalorian was the most-watched television series in the U.S. on any platform. The episodic series is part of the Star Wars universe and has already had a breakout “star” in Baby Yoda. The series is so important to the service that some Disney+ subscribers have already let their monthly subscription lapse  now that the first season of The Mandalorian has ended. Unlike Netflix, Disney drops its new episodes weekly instead of all at once, and those departing Disney+ say that they will return in the fall when the show’s second season is expected to premiere. By leaving Disney+ and returning for The Mandalorian’s next season, these consumers are saving $6.99 for each month they wait on the sideline.

    Fans of The Mandalorian aren’t the only “things” that are leaving Disney+. Several movie titles have disappeared from the app. Films such as Home Alone, Home Alone 2, The Sandlot, Dr. Dolittle, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ended their run on Disney+ once the calendar hit 2020. Unlike Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streamers, Disney removed these movies without making any announcement; the other services provide their subscribers with an advanced warning to give them one last shot at watching a particular film or series before it is removed.

    Disney has been promoting new additions to Disney+ and has never hinted that non-classic content would stay on the service forever. As for classic Disney movies, a spokesman said last year that “there will not be a ‘rotating slate’ of licensed movies each month […] With Disney Plus, beloved classics from the Disney vault will now stream in a permanent home, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King — the entire 13-film Signature Collection — all available on day one.”

    Polygon’s sources say that legacy deals made before the development of the streaming site is the reason for the departure of non-classic titles. Once those deals are completed, the movies removed could return to Disney+ permanently. For example, one of the top movies on Disney+ is Marvel’s Black Panther. In 2026, streaming rights for the film revert back to Netflix where the movie was found before the launch of Disney’s video streamer. Ironically, Disney does own all of the content on Disney+ even though it must abide by previously agreed to contracts with other streamers.

    There remains the possibility that some deals could be renegotiated. That’s how Disney was able to wrest away Star Wars: The Force Awakens from Starz. As it is, besides Black Panther, Netflix is expected to have Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Coco and some other films back in its inventory by 2026. Sure, that seems so far away but before you know it, it will be time for Disney to jettison those titles.

    Speaking of Netflix, as of last month one million of the latter’s subscribers were “stolen” away by Disney+ according to brokerage firm Cowen & Co. And while that might not have Netflix executives quaking in their shoes, a survey conducted by Rosenblatt Securities analyst Bernie McTernan found that 29% of Disney+ subscribers dropped a rival streaming service to join Disney’s offering; 9% specifically left Netflix. Disney’s goal is to hit 60 million to 90 million paying customers worldwide by the end of its fiscal year 2024. At last count, Netflix had 158.3 million global subscribers.

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  • Here’s how to watch Apple’s first Music Awards winner show live

    Here’s how to watch Apple’s first Music Awards winner show live

    After issuing a plethora of new hardware this year, starting from new iPads and finishing with the AirPods Pro, Apple is reserving a stage today entirely for its new adventures in content and media. Multimedia.

    It took on cable and Netflix with the upcoming Apple TV channels and TV+ subscription streamer. Game streaming and distribution platforms like Steam or Google’s upcoming Stadia will face the casual but formidable Arcade undertaking. News aggregators and standalone publishers now have another potentially huge platform to consider – News+.In one fell swoop, Apple wiggled its way right smack in the center of the news and entertainment industry, moving swiftly from a hardware to a content creation focal point. None of these newfangled Apple services can take on the established players on its own just yet, but Apple is catching up quickly.

    It just announced… its Music Awards today, “a celebration of the best and boldest musicians of 2019 and the enormous impact they have had on global culture this year.” According to Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and International Content:

    The Apple Music Awards are designed to recognize the passion, energy and creativity of the world’s favorite artists,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and International Content. “The musically diverse group of inaugural winners have sparked deep social conversation, influenced culture and inspired our customers around the world. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate them.

    Who won? Well, Billie Eilish is Artist of the Year, of course, and the “WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” is Apple Music’s Album of the Year with over a billion streams. Billie, together with her brother Finneas, also got the Songwriter of the Year award from Apple.

    Lizzo is a Breakthrough Artist of the Year, while for Song of the Year Apple pegged the “Old Town Road” hit by Lil Nas X that became the most streamed song on Apple Music. The physical award itself? We are glad you asked about this raging minimalism, here it is:

    Each award features Apple’s custom silicon wafer suspended between a polished sheet of glass and a machined and anodized aluminum body. The wafers start as a perfect 12-inch disc of silicon with nanometer-level flatness. Copper layers are deposited and patterned by ultraviolet lithography to create connections between billions of transistors. The result of this multi-month process, before it is sliced into hundreds of individual chips, is stunning and distinctive. In a symbolic gesture, the same chips which power the devices that put the world’s music at your fingertips sit at the very heart of the Apple Music Awards.

    In addition, Apple will be streaming live its signature Music Awards event with a “bespoke performance from Billie Eilish at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park.” We can’t wait to see the spectacle that Apple has made out of its first award show, and you can tune in on December 4 at at 6:30 p.m. Pacific | 3:30pm Eastern for the staged festivities.

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  • Disney+ is already rocking the streaming industry with incredibly early milestone

    Disney+ is already rocking the streaming industry with incredibly early milestone

    One full year of hyping after Disney formally threw its hat in the Netflix-dominated video streaming ring, the most highly anticipated new platform of 2019 finally made its commercial debut yesterday, November 12. Today, November 13, the Mouse House is already boasting about the insane subscriber numbers of Disney+, which might explain why it was initially so tricky for so many users to access their family-friendly content.

    According to CNBC, which is quoting an official company announcement, no less than 10 million people have signed up for the surprisingly affordable and incredibly extensive VOD service roughly 24 hours after its Tuesday launch. While the platform’s free 7-day trial makes it impossible to know how many of those “subscribers” will actually end up paying for the service, the figure remains outstanding, giving Disney the perfect start in a very competitive and increasingly crowded market.

    It’s obviously not fair to make these comparisons, but Netflix barely added 6.8 million paying subscribers worldwide between July and September this year for a grand total of more than 158 million people, with Hulu, which just so happens to also be owned by Disney, lagging far behind, at around 28 million subscribers as of the end of Q1 2019, up by 3 million compared to the previous quarter.

    It’s almost hard to imagine just how fast Disney+ will be able to expand its reach when it becomes available around the world. Don’t forget, the November 12 launch was a US, Canada, and Netherlands-only thing, which makes the 10 million milestones that much more impressive. Then again, one important thing that may have helped inflate the number somewhat artificially (apart from the aforementioned free trial) is Verizon’s killer deal for both new and existing customers.

    Of course, Apple TV+ started off with a similarly “unfair” advantage over Netflix earlier this month, as recent iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, and Apple TV buyers are all eligible for a free year of service, and we’re not seeing the Cupertino-based tech giant crowing over the platform’s achievements… yet.

    Clearly, the Disney+ debut can be considered a smash hit, which obviously makes sense given the sheer size and mainstream appeal of its library, as well as the low $6.99 monthly rate, all the premium features and perks included in that price, and the fact you can even share your account with family members and friends… for the time being.

  • Spotify wants to track your location ‘from time to time’, which feels wholly unnecessary

    Spotify wants to track your location ‘from time to time’, which feels wholly unnecessary

    Launched way back in 2014, Spotify’s Premium Family plan was revised a couple of years later to allow up to six different users on the same account to stream unlimited music with no ads or interruptions in exchange for only $14.99 a month in total. The catch is the primary account holder and all other family members need to reside at the same address to qualify for this deal, which is a pretty old rule that the service wasn’t very preoccupied to enforce until recently.

    Last year, Spotify tried to crack down on rulebreakers that share their accounts without being related or living in the same place, but unsurprisingly, a lot of people reacted negatively to the company’s attempts at “verifying”, aka tracking, their location. Consequently, the new verification policy, which was merely being tested on a relatively small scale in a handful of markets, got abandoned before reaching a general implementation phase.
    But surprise, surprise, it appears the platform’s legal terms were discreetly modified last month to include a section bound to cause a lot of controversy yet again. In addition to asking for home address verification from all Spotify Premium Family subscribers upon first activating one such account, the service may now ask “from time to time” for “re-verification” in order to “confirm that you are still meeting the eligibility criteria.”
    In other words, Spotify wants to check on your location “from time to time”, which sounds like a pretty sketchy behavior from an app that really doesn’t need that kind of information to do what it does best. For what it’s worth, a company spokesperson highlighted in a short statement to Cnet that Spotify does not store your location data or keep tracking you once the verification procedure is completed. Also, all sensitive data is encrypted and “can be edited by the plan owner as needed.”
    Still, given all the scandals involving the misuse of this type of information by so many tech giants, services, and apps, it’s easy to understand why Spotify subscribers might feel nervous sharing their location (using GPS coordinates no less) from “time to time.” There’s also the question of Spotify’s definition of the word “family”, as real-world family members often live apart.
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  • Disney+ will offer 4K video, four simultaneous streams and more for only $6.99 per month

    Disney+ will offer 4K video, four simultaneous streams and more for only $6.99 per month

    Disney+, the beloved entertainment company’s new streaming service, will launch on November 12th priced at $6.99 per month. During the D23 Expo held in Anaheim, the company revealed some additional information about the Netflix competitor. For example, instead of dropping a whole season of an original show at one time, Disney will release them on a weekly basis. And the House of Mouse will allow Disney+ subscribers to stream content to as many as four devices at the same time and will not charge extra for 4K video streams. Subscribers will also be able to create up to seven different user profiles.

    Netflix, on the other hand, is known for releasing entire seasons of new shows at one time, encouraging the binge-watching crowd to watch a complete season of a show in one sitting. While it allows up to five profiles to be created, Netflix subscribers must pay more ($15.99 per month) for 4K resolution and to stream on four devices simultaneously. This is a strange position for Disney to be in, as many fans of its theme parks will attest to (a one-day ticket to one park is a princely $109). But there is plenty of competition for your subscription dollars and Disney+ needs to bring in some revenue before it can even think about matching Netflix in terms of cost.

    “With less than three months until launch, Disney+ will soon entertain and inspire audiences of all ages for generations to come, and we’re excited to preview some of the amazing original content being created for the service exclusively from our world-class brands today at the D23 Expo. Storytelling is the cornerstone of The Walt Disney Company and we’re thrilled to unveil a new slate of original shows from the Star Wars and Marvel cinematic universes, along with popular television franchises set to return with all-new series streaming only on Disney+.”-Kevin Mayer, chairman, Direct-to-Consumer & International segment, Disney.

    Disney+ will be a mixture of classic Disney movies and animation (don’t forget that Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox means that the service will include every episode of The Simpsons) and original shows. The company has access to quite a few popular titles that will be used to create new adventures of popular characters. As pointed out earlier this year in a report from Loup Ventures, how many times can someone watch The Lion King? More likely to drive growth for Disney+ will be new episodes using the same characters from popular Disney classic cartoon and live films.

    Disney announced yesterday that new originals are in development for Disney+ including:

    • The Mandalorian-the first live-action episodic series based on Star Wars which will follow “the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.”
    • High School Musical: The Musical: The Series-based on the popular High School Musical movies, this show “follows a group of students as they countdown to opening night of their school’s first-ever production of High School Musical.”
    • Lady and the Tramp-A “retelling” of the 1955 animated cartoon, but with real animal stars and CGI.
    • Noelle-A holiday-themed movie starring Anna Kendrick and Billy Eichner.
    • Encore!-This series brings former high-school musical castmates together to recreate shows they performed many years ago.
    • The World According to Jeff Goldblum-Enough said.

    Other shows announced include the return of Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire in a new series, Muppets Now which will reunite Kermit and Miss Piggy, and another live-action Star Wars show. The latter will focus on Obi-Wan Kenobi and will star Ewan McGregor.

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  • Spotify brings its lightweight Stations app

    Spotify brings its lightweight Stations app

    Spotify users in the United States will have one more alternative app that will allow them to listen to their favorite radio station starting today. Suggestively named Stations, Spotify’s lightweight app was originally launched in Australia last year.

    Although it’s still considered an experiment, Stations is aimed at users to prefer a more streamlined music experience. It’s worth mentioning that while the app was initially available to Android users only, Spotify released an iOS version last month.

    Starting today, Stations is available in the United States on both Android and iOS platforms. If you’re not a premium Spotify customer, you’ll hear ads in Stations, but if you pay for the music streaming service, you’ll get special features and ad-free listening.

    Also, Stations allows users to filter music by genre, decade, activity and more, but the more the app is used, the more in-depth options users will have at their disposal. Of course, the option to customize your own playlists is available as well.

    If you’re living in the US and give the app a try, you can now download Spotify Stations for free via App Store and Google Play Store.

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  • SKT to provide first 5G live TV sports broadcast

    SKT to provide first 5G live TV sports broadcast

    SK Telecom has revealed plans to offer the world’s first live TV sports broadcast using a 5G network for the SK Telecom Open 2019 golf tournament.

    The tournament, which will be held as part of the KPGA Korean Tour, will be live broadcast on JTBC’s dedicated Golf TV channel and OTT video service oksuku using SK Telecom’s 5G network.

    The tournament, which commences today, will be broadcast live for selected areas using 5G coverage deployed for the third, fourth and ninth holes of the course.

    The company will also temporarily create a special section on the oksuku OTT platform to offer 5G-based live streaming and related video clips of the golf tournament.

    “As 5G-based live broadcasting is subject to no physical constraints, it can be widely utilized in areas including sporting events and on-site news reports,” SK Telecom VP and head of 5GX media business group Kim Hyuk said.

    “SK Telecom will continue to work closely with broadcasting networks to contribute to the advancement of the broadcasting system through 5G technologies.”

    The agreement follows soon after SK Telecom signed agreements with South Korea’s top three terrestrial television broadcasters to jointly develop a live broadcasting system based on the operator’s 5G network.

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  • SKT to help broadcasters create 5G livestream system

    SKT to help broadcasters create 5G livestream system

    SK Telecom has signed agreements with South Korea’s top three terrestrial broadcasters to develop new media solutions and business models based on 5G technology.

    The operator has signed memoranda of understanding with Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to jointly develop a 5G-based 4K ultra high definition live broadcasting system and test the system at sports games and other events.

    SK Telecom also plans to work with each broadcaster to develop 5G-based content and explore joint opportunities in digital advertising, augmented reality and hologram technology.

    In January, SK Telecom entered an agreement with US broadcaster Sinclair Broadcast Group to establish a joint venture to lead development of next-generation broadcasting solutions in the US.

    The operator has also just revealed plans to merge its broadband subsidiary and South Korea’s largest pay TV provider SK Broadband with the market’s second largest player t-broad to create a media company with around 8 million subscribers.

    Separately, SK Telecom announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Yonsei University Health System to introduce the first 5G powered digital hospital.

    The companies have agreed to develop a 5G network and specialized 5G-based solutions for the Yongin Severance Hospital, which is scheduled to open in February next year and so will be built from the ground up to support 5G solutions.

    SK Telecom will provide its AI speaker NUGU to allow patients with physical difficulties to control their beds, lighting and TVs with their voice, or call for assistance in case of emergencies. The hospital will also offer 5G-powered augmented reality indoor navigation and a hologram solution for remote visits to patients in isolation wards.

    Other solutions being planned or considered include quantum cryptography for advanced cybersecurity, as well as facial recognition for contact-free biometric access control for buildings and other rooms.

  • Netflix removes key feature from its iOS app

    Netflix removes key feature from its iOS app

    AirPlay is a feature found on iOS and Mac devices that allows users to send audio, video, photographs, screenshots and more between Apple devices sharing a similar network. Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, AirPlay will let a home with multiple HomePod speakers in different rooms, share the same song throughout the house. And with several smart TV manufacturers adding support for the feature, content from an iOS or Mac device can be viewable on certain large-screen smart TVs.

    There have been a number of complaints from iPhone and iPad users stating that AirPlay was no longer working with Netflix. That was unusual because the iOS version of the streaming video app has supported AirPlay since 2013. The complaints from iOS users state that when they tried to use AirPlay in the Netflix app, a pop-up error message appeared that said, “Cannot play title. Please try again later.”

    But there is a reason why AirPlay no longer works with Netflix. As a result of what it is calling “technical limitations,” Netflix has pulled AirPlay support from its iOS app. This is actually noted by the video streamer on its support page. Considering that this was an iOS feature that Netflix had supported for over five years, it is strange that AirPlay would all of a sudden no longer work with Netflix. The company has not divulged the details of the “technical limitations” that have forced it to stop offering AirPlay support (more on that later).

    This isn’t the end of the world for Netflix subscribers used to employing AirPlay. After all, the Netflix app can be installed or is already installed on a number of smart television sets. But using AirPlay does make it easier for iOS users with Netflix to stream content from their own account to a smart TV that does not have their Netflix login information.

    “We want to make sure our members have a great Netflix experience on any device they use. With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn’t a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV vs. what isn’t) or certify these experiences. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices.”-Netflix< The Netflix support page lists some other options that iOS users can try in order to cast Netflix from their phone or tablet to a compatible television. With the Netflix 2nd Screen option, subscribers open the Netflix app on their iOS device and television, signing into the same account on both devices. The mobile device and the TV must share the same Wi-Fi network. On the mobile device, the user needs to tap on "Cast" found in the upper or lower right of the screen, and select the television that he/she wants to view Netflix on. After deciding which show or movie to watch, the user hits play and the selected content will appear on the TV. Another option, found on Philips, Polaroid, Sharp, Skyworth, Soniq, Sony, Toshiba, and Vizio TVs, will allow you to Chromecast Netflix from your iOS device to your television. Simply open the Netflix app on your iOS device, and tap on the "Cast" icon in the upper or lower right hand side of the screen. Select the device you want to watch Netflix on, choose a television show or movie, and hit play. Last month, Apple became a Netflix competitor by unveiling Apple TV+. This is a video streaming service that will be available this fall on iOS devices along with certain smart TVs. There will be new, original programming from Apple along with content from HBO, Showtime and others. Could this new rivalry be behind the "technical limitations" that forced Netflix to stop supporting AirPlay? After all, it does seem strange that Netflix was able to support AirPlay for from 2013 until now, just when Apple introduces a service that will compete with it. Netflix, of course, will never admit to this. And regardless what the true reasons are, the bottom line is that iOS users will have to resort to the aforementioned alternatives if they want to cast any streaming Netflix content from their iPhone or iPad to their smart TV.

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