Top News
* Verizon Communications Inc.'s plans to launch a new online TV service are facing delays, Bloomberg news reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Sources said the carrier has so far been unable to close deals with many of the most-watched networks, and the planned launch has been delayed until fall and could be delayed further. Internal discussions regarding the specifics of the service and executive turnover on the company's video team also are part of the reasons for the delay.
* Analysts weighed in on the impact of Walt Disney Co.'s decision to end its Netflix Inc. partnership as the streamer's shares reacted sharply negative to the news. "The traditional TV 'dinosaurs' will give Netflix a bigger fight than we have seen so far," FBR Capital Markets analyst Barton Crockett said in an Aug. 9 note.
* Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, meanwhile, told Reuters that the streaming giant is engaged in "active discussions" to continue streaming Marvel and "Star Wars" films after its content deal with Walt Disney ends in 2019.
Film & TV Programming
* NBC Sports Group's U.S. announcer team is on the ground in the U.K. for the soccer circuit's opening weekend. The coverage will emanate on-site across three days from three different grounds: the Arsenal-Leicester City season opener Aug. 11 from Emirates Stadium at 2:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN (US); Manchester City against Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. on Aug. 12 from the American Express Community Stadium at 12:30 p.m. on NBC (US); and Manchester United hosting West Ham from Old Trafford on Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. on NBCSN.
* Disney, Lucasfilm, 21st Century Fox Inc.'s Twentieth Century Fox Film and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. won the dismissal of allegations of antitrust violations against the studios by the video editing company VidAngel, Multichannel News reports. VidAngel purchases copies of physical discs, removes the swearing and nudity and then streams it to its subscribers. The judge said the studios' refusal to engage in licensing discussions "with a company that they allege is operating an infringing service is a rational business decision," according to the report.
* HBO (US) offered a "bounty payment" of $250,000 to hackers in July, Variety reports, citing a copy of the HBO message sent by an anonymous hacker to select journalists. According to the report, the HBO message dated July 27 was an effort to secure more time from the hackers while it assessed the situation.
Technology
* Snap Inc. saw an earnings miss, soft user growth and weak implied guidance overshadow optimistic executive commentary on its second-quarter earnings call.
* Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. unit Google Inc., canceled an internal meeting over diversity after employees expressed concerns regarding their safety, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing an email Pichai sent to staffers. Pichai had scheduled a meeting Aug. 10 to discuss employees' concerns following the firing of a Google engineer for writing an internal memo on gender inequality. Conservative commentators, according to the report, published the names of certain employees, which led to the safety concerns.
Internet & OTT
* Netflix placed a second-season order for women's wrestling comedy series "GLOW" set in the mid-1980s. The new season will feature 10 episodes, the company said.
* Netflix placed a straight-to-series order for an untitled project from Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff, the creators of the political thriller "Fauda." The streaming giant said it will premiere the second season of "Fauda" in 2018, while a second series, titled "Hit and Run," from the duo is also in development.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower opening for the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Hang Seng dropped 2.04% to 26,883.51, and the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.05% to 19,729.74.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 was down 1.21% to 7,300.56, and the Euronext 100 was down 1.06% to 986.29.
On the macro front
The consumer price index and the Baker-Hughes Rig Count report are due out today.
Featured news
The Daily Dose Asia-Pacific: SoftBank bets US$2.5B on Flipkart; WWE launches OTT service in China: SoftBank made a major investment in Flipkart Internet Private Ltd. through its Vision Fund, while World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.'s streaming service WWE Network will launch Aug. 18 in China.
Hires and Fires: US Media & Comm management moves through Aug. 9: Amazon, Google, Disney: S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a weekly rundown of executive changes in the media and communications industries.
Hires and Fires Europe: European Media & Comm moves through Aug. 9: Orange, BT, Telecom Italia: S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a biweekly rundown of executive and board changes in the European media and communications industries.
Foxconn investing US$10B in Wisconsin; Grab gets US$2B from SoftBank, Didi: S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a roundup of recent investment deals and updates in the Asia-Pacific technology, media and communications sector.
The Daily Dose Europe: Altice plans SFR Group buyout; AMC Networks preps Spanish OTT: Telecom investor Altice NV is planning a full buyout of SFR Group SA after crossing the 95% ownership threshold, while an AMC Networks Inc. unit is developing an over-the-top service that will be launched in Spain.
Featured research
Economics of Networks: Cable Program Investor: Table of contents for Issue No. 237, published August 2017.
Economics of Internet: State of US online video: Ad-supported: While momentum in recent years in the OTT video space has tilted toward the subscription and virtual service provider models, the ad-supported video market continues to generate significant revenues.
Economics of Advertising: Nielsen's out-of-home study shows 9% lift in sports events viewing: For years, many cable networks with large out-of-home viewing have complained about Nielsen Holdings' lack of tracking in this area, something which is finally being addressed.
Economics of Networks: Disney OTT may impact future premium output deals: Walt Disney's strategy reversal regarding over-the-top is likely to have rippling effects throughout the industry and ultimately disrupt the lucrative premium-network window.
Global Multichannel: QVC international revenue slides 4% in Q2: QVC Group's international segment was once again negatively affected by foreign exchange, causing a drop in revenues.
Economics of Networks: TV One hit by low ratings, high launch support in Q2: Ad revenue for TV One fell 5.9% year over year for the second quarter.
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