Top news
* The U.S. is considering ways to obstruct Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.'s lead in the telecom equipment space and to offer funds to its European rivals, Nokia Corp. and Ericsson, London's Financial Times reports, citing two sources. The planned funding into Huawei's rivals is intended to allow them to compete with the financing terms the Chinese company offers to its clients.
* About 40 U.S. state attorneys general are expected to partake in an ongoing probe against Facebook Inc., Reuters reports, citing a source with knowledge of the matter. States have raised concerns that Facebook and other big tech companies engage in anti-competitive practices, expose consumer data to potential data breaches and push up advertising prices.
* The U.S. added a number of Chinese entities to its trade blacklist over their alleged involvement in human rights violations, a claim China denied, suggesting it may retaliate. The U.S. Commerce Department added Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd. and 27 other Chinese entities to a trade blacklist over alleged human rights violations against Muslim minority groups in China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, according to a draft filing by the Bureau of Industry and Security.
Film & Advertisement
* E.W. Scripps Co. unveiled a new tool to help local advertisers connect with audiences across a range of over-the-top video and television providers. Called Scripps Octane, the new service will also allow advertisers to track impressions and optimize their advertising campaigns, according to an Oct. 7 news release. Customers can choose from Scripps Octane Premium or Scripps Octane Regular.
* NBCUniversal Media LLC moved its Universal Television and Universal Content Productions under a single business unit, called NBCUniversal Content Studios. The company also announced the appointment of Bonnie Hammer as chairman of the newly created unit.
Internet & OTT
* Microsoft Corp. plans to extend internet access to 40 million unserved and underserved people around the globe by July 2022 via the Airband initiative, according to an official blog post. The company plans to initially target underserved populations across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
* Amazon.com Inc. unveiled Fire HD 10, the next generation of its largest tablet with a faster processor and longer battery life. The company also introduced Kindle Kids Edition, a dedicated reading experience built just for kids, the company said.
* The European Commission is requesting Facebook and the Libra Association to answer questions in relation to the cryptocurrency project's financial stability, as well as risks of money laundering and data privacy, London's Financial Times reported. The EC also expects responses on how the Libra project would manage reserves, protect customer data and tackle potential extensive use of the digital currency.
* In other Facebook news, the social media giant agreed to pay $40 million to settle charges by advertisers claiming that the tech company overstated the average amount of time users watched video on its platform, Fortune reports. The class-action suit, which was filed three years ago, said Facebook inflated video views by up to 900%.
* Hulu LLC became the latest streaming service to add download feature to its platform. The feature is available on iOS for viewers on Hulu (No Ads) plan. Viewers will be able to download up to 25 titles across five different devices and will have up to 30 days to watch their downloaded content.
Technology
* The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider a bid by the University of Wisconsin's patent licensing arm to restore its legal victory against Apple Inc., Reuters reports. The two parties are embroiled in an altercation over computer processor technology that the university claimed the Apple used without permission in certain iPhones and iPads.
* Cloud-based enterprise work management software provider Upland Software Inc. acquired Altify, a customer revenue optimization cloud service for sales and the extended revenue teams. Upland Software paid $84.0 million in cash for Altify.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower opening for the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Hang Seng rose 0.28% to 25,893.40, and the Nikkei 225 lifted 0.99% to 21,587.78.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 fell 0.31% to 7,175.52, and the Euronext 100 was down 0.96% to 1,062.34.
On the macro front
The Producer Price Index - Final Demand and the Redbook Index for retail sales are due out today.
Click here to read about today's financial markets, setting out the factors driving stocks, bonds and currencies around the world ahead of the New York open.
Featured news
The Daily Dose Europe: Online content in EU; Dialog Semiconductor's acquisition; BBC's iPlayer revamp: The European Union will vote on a resolution to have stricter scrutiny of social media content, Dialog Semiconductor PLC agreed to acquire Germany-based chip supplier Creative Chips, and the British Broadcasting Corp. plans to roll out a revamped version of iPlayer.
The Daily Dose Asia-Pacific: Google to take on TikTok; Japan Display to get ¥50B; Wanda rejects Ironman bid: Google LLC held talks to buy a video-sharing startup to challenge ByteDance's TikTok, Japan Display Inc. expects to receive at least ¥50 billion in commitments, and Wanda Sports Group Co. Ltd. declined to enter talks to sell its triathlon business.
The US Week Ahead: FTC to consider changes to federal children's privacy law: The FTC noted the evolving internet marketplace in explaining its interest in updating the law, including "Internet of Things devices, social media, educational technology, and general audience platforms hosting third-party child-directed content."
M&A Replay: Tencent to acquire stake in Funcom; Huawei denies plans to buy Oi: Tencent Holdings Ltd. is acquiring a 29% stake in game developer and publisher Funcom SE, while Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. denied that it plans to acquire Brazilian operator Oi SA.
M&A Replay: Cable One completes Fidelity Communications acquisition; Apple buys IKinema: Cable One Inc. completed the purchase of Fidelity Communications Co.'s data, video and voice business and certain related assets for about $525.9 million, while Glowpoint Inc. closed its merger with collaboration technology company Oblong Industries Inc.
M&A Replay: Apple acquires UK technology company; Abertis completes Hispasat sale: Apple acquired U.K.-based animation technology solutions developer IKinema Ltd., while toll roads operator Abertis Infraestructuras SA completed the sale of its stake in Spanish satellite operator Hispasat SA to Red Eléctrica Corporación S.A.
The Week in OTT: HBO Max content deal; Amazon-Disney ad dispute: HBO Max struck a content deal with "Sesame Street" producer Sesame Workshop, while Amazon and Walt Disney Co. locked horns over terms for carrying Disney apps on Fire TV devices.
Featured research
Economics of Internet: State of French OTT video: Subscription: France reached 7.7 million over-the-top subscriptions as of year-end 2018, driven primarily by the growth of Netflix Inc.
Broadcast Investor: Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Inc. expands into 9 new markets: Allen Media Broadcasting LLC announced an agreement with USA Television Holdings LLC and USA Television MidAmerica Holdings LLC to acquire 11 TV stations in nine markets for $290.0 million, or an 8.4x forward seller's cash flow multiple.
Economics of TV & Film: Broadcast networks maintain strong focus on originals: We estimate the historical and projected breakdown for spend on original and acquired content for the top U.S. English-language broadcast networks.
Economics of Networks: Frndly TV enters crowded virtual multichannel space: A family-friendly virtual multichannel service, founded by two former Sling TV executives, has entered this crowded space.
The Best Of: Kagan research and analysis, editor's picks: Presenting the editor's top picks from Kagan's exclusive research and analysis for the week ended Oct. 4.
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