Top News
* Walt Disney Co. is now the only bidder for the assets of 21st Century Fox Inc., after Comcast Corp. decided to bow out of the race, Reuters reports, citing a Comcast statement. Comcast said that it reviewed the assets but "never got the level of engagement needed to make a definitive offer."
* Netflix Inc. said users streamed more than 140 million hours of content per day, or 1 billion hours of content per week, in 2017. Also, according to a company news release, an average member watched around 60 movies on Netflix in 2017.
* The Federal Communications Commission returns to the spotlight this week as the agency is set to vote on overhauling its net neutrality regulations. On Dec. 14, the commission will hold its monthly open meeting. The most high-profile item on the agenda is FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal to overturn the 2015 Open Internet Order.
* As advertisers navigate fragmented audiences and vocal consumers on social media, diversity has transitioned from being an issue of compliance to a business-critical engine for success, ad executives and experts said in interviews.
Regulation & policy
* In advance of the Federal Communications Commission's upcoming vote to overhaul its net neutrality regulations, the agency said it is actively working with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to coordinate online consumer protection efforts. The FCC and FTC said that they intend to enter into a memorandum of understanding that outlines which agency will handle various issues in the wake of the FCC's Dec. 14 vote aimed at overturning the Open Internet Order of 2015.
* With a final tax reform bill moving closer to passage by Congress, analysts said the legislation has a mixed appeal for large U.S. technology companies, some of which already pay effective tax rates below the proposed 20% federal rate. Both the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would lower the corporate tax rate to 20% from 35%, though the House would implement the new rate a year sooner, in 2018.
Internet & OTT
* Netflix unveiled its slate of original documentary shorts for 2018. The company said it will stream "Ram Dass, Going Home" April 6, "Ladies First" March 9, "The Trader (Sovdagari)" Feb. 9, and "End Game" on May 4.
* Netflix rolled out its user interface in Greek. Starting at €7.99 per month, the interface will use local language and currency in addition to offering original programming, the company said.
* Alphabet Inc. unit Google Inc. unveiled three new photography apps to test experimental technology. According to an official blog post, the apps are Storyboard, Selfissimo! and Scrubbies.
TV Networks
* Disney | ABC Television Group named Mike Napodano senior vice president and chief technology officer of the company, Multichannel News reports, citing a company statement. Napodano previously was president and co-managing partner at Channel Media Solutions.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a mixed opening for the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Hang Seng dropped 0.59% to 28,793.88, while the Nikkei 225 slid 0.32% to 22,866.17.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 gained 0.16% to 7,465.70 and the Euronext 100 climbed 0.20% to 1,046.20.
On the macro front
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, the PPI-FD report, the Redbook, and the Treasury budget are due out today.
Featured news
The Daily Dose Europe: TF1 in talks to buy Axel Springer's stake in auFeminin; Nokia COO exits: TF1 Group confirms discussion with Axel Springer SE to acquire the latter's indirect stake in auFeminin.com, while Monika Maurer is stepping down as Nokia Corp.'s COO.
The Daily Dose Asia-Pacific: Germany says China using LinkedIn to recruit informants; SoftBank funds OneWeb: SoftBank Group Corp. is investing another US$500 million in U.S.-based satellite broadband provider OneWeb, while NTT DOCOMO announced a new share buyback plan.
China defends web censorship policies; Google settles Indonesian taxes: Wang Huning of China's Politburo Standing Committee defended the country's censorship of the web at a state-backed World Internet Conference, while Google fully settles the back taxes it owed Indonesia.
The week in OTT: Verizon, NFL ink streaming deal; Sling TV adds CuriosityStream: Verizon Communications Inc. struck a multiyear streaming deal with the National Football League, while DISH Network Corp.'s Sling TV will offer CuriosityStream as a premium add-on "channel" for $6 per month.
M&A Replay: Telemundo Station Group to buy 13 TV channels; Cineworld buying Regal for $5.9B: S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a wrap-up of U.S. companies' media and communications deal announcements and completions from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8.
M&A Replay: European deals: Cineworld to buy Regal; UK delays Fox/Sky deal verdict: Cinema operator Cineworld Group plc struck a deal to acquire U.S. rival Regal Entertainment Group, while the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority postponed the release of its provisional findings on the 21st Century Fox/Sky plc deal for mid-January 2018.
Netflix adds more Asian content offerings; HBO launching 5 originals in Asia: Netflix is further ramping up its Asian content offerings, while HBO (US) unveiled five new original productions in Asia.
Featured research
Economics of Networks: Blazer Pass set to hit the market, representing RSN industry 1st: The regional sports network industry will see its first direct-to-consumer offering with a recent announcement that NBC Sports Northwest will launch a regular season 15-game package for $34.99.
Global Multichannel: Middle East and Africa TV Everywhere: 2017 update: TV Everywhere service rollouts have picked up again in 2017, with two new services launching. Meanwhile, other operators are increasing the live channels and on-demand content available on their TVE platforms.
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 Dec. 8.
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