Disney wants to see how big pickleball can get: The sport got a popularity boost over the last two years, prompting ESPN to make a low-risk bet on its streaming future.
PC slump slams peripheral and accessory market: The ripple effects of reduced consumer spending are creeping beyond PCs. Webcams, which were backordered during the pandemic, saw a 50% decline in sales in Q4.
TikTok bans in colleges go viral: The fallout from students and teachers could be indicative of wider pushback against banning the app.
Disney to bring Hulu ad targeting to its streaming properties: Move should bring efficiencies as Netflix looks to bulk up its ad tier.
Spotify’s layoffs put profit over growth: 6% of its global workforce is being let go as a result of macroeconomic challenges and slower increases in listeners.
Second “Avatar” hits a milestone, but theaters aren’t celebrating: Cinemas are shuttering, unable to compete effectively with streaming.
The workers building the metaverse don’t believe in its potential: Nearly half of game developers think the immersive space won’t pan out, and advertiser interest could slow.
The kids’ ad dollars are all right: While some sectors have seen slower ad growth, that’s not the case when it comes to childrens’ programming.
India regulators challenge Google business models: Accused of abusing its dominant position to push pre-installed software, Google failed to allow users to uninstall apps or choose preferred search engines.
YouTube TV looks to become more user friendly: Content library, live tabs are revamped to include personalized programming suggestions.
TikTok broadens effort to call out state-controlled media: US, China among countries added to labeling program in bid for greater transparency.
Microsoft is the latest to resort to layoffs: The company is reducing its headcount by 5% as it pivots to plug AI into its key products, subscriptions, and cloud services. But AI still has a lot of hurdles to jump.
Possible jail time for tech execs over content moderation: The UK’s Online Safety Bill raises the stakes for tech companies that don’t take child safety precautions. Expect long-term contention.
Warner Bros. Discovery is enlisting partners to grow outside the US: The company’s debt is making it turn to Amazon’s Prime Video in France.
Podcast production tones down: Difficulty in finding new shows makes creation a poor use of resources in the slower-growing industry.
Slowing growth forces Beijing to capitulate to Big Tech: Facing the weakest growth in decades, China seeks cooperation with the EU and will loosen its iron grip on tech monoliths to spur the economy.
Cancel culture comes for EVs: The Wyoming state senate’s EV ban proposal targets other states’ gas vehicle bans. It’s a political antic that puts a spotlight on challenges for the EV industry.
Netflix thinks its next big hit will come out of South Korea: Many of its major shows in 2022 came from abroad, and Netflix is trying to expand in Asia-Pacific.
TikTok’s recommendation oversight could usher in a new era for social media: The embattled app promised regulators access to its algorithm, which could mean similar changes for competitors.
After years of growth, esports hits a bump in the road: Competitive gaming leagues are experiencing slower viewer growth and could lose share to metaverse campaigns.