4 Mar, 2021
Okta agrees to buy Auth0 for $6.5B; Arizona House bill targets app stores
By Hassan Aftab
* Identity management platform provider Okta Inc. agreed to acquire rival Auth0 Inc. in a stock transaction worth about $6.5 billion. Auth0 will operate as an independent business unit under Okta upon the deal's completion.
* The Arizona House of Representatives passed a bill preventing the likes of Google LLC and Apple Inc. from stipulating a certain payment system for app developers, CNBC reported.
➤ Economics of Internet: North America subscription OTT video 5-year outlook
Big launches from the likes of AT&T Inc., Comcast Corp., The Walt Disney Co. and ViacomCBS Inc. could lift the North American over-the-top subscription video market through 2025 although revenue gains in the competitive, crowded market may taper from the 22.2% growth in 2020.
➤ Data Dispatch: LatAm box office revenue drops to $1.5M in January
Mexico contributed the highest January box office revenues in Latin America with $1.1 million.
➤ Amazon, Shopify competition grows following business e-commerce platform deal
Amazon.com Inc.'s purchase of the Australia-based company Selz signals potential interest at Amazon to build out its own set of online storefront tools for small to medium sized businesses after seeing Shopify Inc.'s success in the market, retail analysts said.
TECHNOLOGY
* House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky urged Google CEO Sundar Pichai to detail its policies with regard to controlling extremist content on YouTube LLC and enforcement efforts to safeguard viewers.
* The Mexican Supreme Court sided with national telecommunications regulator Federal Institute of Telecommunications over its so-called "preponderant agent" label for América Móvil SAB de CV, Reuters reported, citing a court statement. The label reportedly meant to restrain América Móvil's dominance.
* Microsoft Corp. unveiled Group Transcribe, a new iOS app that offers real-time transcription and translation for in-person meetings and conversations. The app supports various languages in more than 80 locations, and uses the phone's microphone to capture live transcripts.
INTERNET AND OTT
* National Football League Inc. is nearing rights agreement with media partners allowing Amazon Prime Video to carry Thursday night games, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
* NBC Sports' regional sports networks, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California and NBC Sports Washington, will go dark on DISH Network Corp. and live TV streaming platform Sling TV LLC on April 1 amid a carriage dispute, TVAnswerman.com reported, citing a statement by an NBCUniversal Media LLC spokesperson.
* Amazon Fire TV's users will now be able to access over 400 additional channels from 20 providers, including Sling TV and YouTube TV, Android Central reported, citing an official statement. In addition, Amazon will reportedly allow Alexa support for all Live TV programming.
* WhatsApp Inc. is now offering private and secure one-to-one voice and video calls on its desktop app. The Facebook Inc.-owned messaging app will expand the feature to include group voice and video calls in the future.
* In more WhatsApp news, South Africa's Information Regulator banned the messaging platform from sharing the contact information of the users of its messaging application without the prior authorization of the watchdog, Reuters reported, citing a statement.
* Facebook deleted five networks from Thailand, Iran, Morocco and Russia in February. The social media platform also identified and removed the military-linked networks' presence that it previously removed for coordinated inauthentic behavior in Myanmar.
* Twitter Inc. is experimenting with a new means of showing tweets that contain links to product pages on a shop's website, TechCrunch reported, citing a company confirmation.
* Parler Inc. again sued Amazon Web Services Inc., repeating claims of a breach of its contract to host the platform's website and app. Parler is seeking a jury trial as well as "trebled and exemplary damages" against Amazon Web Services and its parent entity Amazon.
* Netflix Inc. partnered with French publisher Hachette's Les Editions Albert René to develop an animated limited series based on the comic book Asterix and the Big Fight. The series will release on the streaming platform in 2023.
* In more Netflix news, the streaming service is rolling out a new Fast Laughs feature for iPhone users in certain countries. The feature, which provides a full-screen feed of funny clips from Netflix's comedy roster, will be tested on Android soon.
FILM AND TV
* Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. is cutting nearly 5% of its staff amid an adverse economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Hollywood Reporter reported, citing a company statement.
* Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Ltd. filed for Chapter 11 as part of an asset purchase deal with Altamont Capital Partners LLC and Fortress Investment Group LLC's affiliates, Variety reported. The theater operator will reportedly reorganize its lease obligations and shutter some underperforming locations.
* Warner Media LLC unveiled an expanded entry-level Access Writers initiative meant to amplify underrepresented voices and historically marginalized narrative writers to offer a broader pathway into the TV industry.
* Disney will shutter at least 60 of its physical retail stores in North America before year-end, as the company shifts focus on its e-commerce business, CNBC reported, citing a statement. The closures will reportedly affect 20% of about 300 Disney Stores worldwide.
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