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Loann Kaji, Ryan Kaji and Shion Kaji. Photo by Getty.

Creator Economy

startups entertainment

Pocket.watch’s Streaming Expansion

By Isabelle Sarraf · May 22, 2023 2:09 PM PDT

Pocket.watch, a TI 50 startup and entertainment company that helps young YouTube stars such as 11-year-old Ryan Kaji develop original shows, games and toys, is bringing its ad-free streaming service to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Stream platforms this summer. The move will bring kid creator content to Comcast’s 16 million customers.Ryan and... Pocket.watch, a TI 50 startup and entertainment company that helps young YouTube stars such...

Art by Mike Sullivan.

YouTube Undercuts Amazon on Streaming Push

By Sahil Patel · May 19, 2023 6:00 AM PDT

YouTube and Netflix are the most-watched streaming services in America. But it is Amazon that has come closest to building a streaming version of cable TV with its Prime Video Channels service, which lets Prime subscribers easily sign up for a wide range of streaming services run by other companies. It’s an enormously profitable business,... YouTube and Netflix are the most-watched streaming services in America. But it is Amazon that has...

TikTok chief operating officer V Pappas testifies before Congress in September 2022. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg

The Fighter: V Pappas and the Battle for TikTok’s Future

By Margaux MacColl · April 21, 2023 9:00 AM PDT · 3 comments

V Pappas awoke to the sound of dragons. It had been one week since Pappas’ boss, Shou Zi Chew, was questioned for five grueling hours by members of Congress, and the chief operating officer of TikTok was enjoying their first vacation in months. (Pappas uses the pronouns they and them and recently changed their name to V from Vanessa.) They... V Pappas awoke to the sound of dragons. It had been one week since Pappas’ boss, Shou Zi...

Disney CEO Bob Chapek. Photo by AP

Bob Chapek is Finally Pushing Disney Out of its Comfort Zone

By Jessica Toonkel · March 9, 2022 6:00 AM PST

Disney CEO Bob Chapek. Photo by AP

entertainment media/telecom

Bob Chapek is Finally Pushing Disney Out of its Comfort Zone

By Jessica Toonkel · March 9, 2022 6:00 AM PST

Bob Iger only left the building at Walt Disney Co.’s headquarters at the end of December, and his successor as CEO, Bob Chapek, is already doing things differently. In the months since Iger’s departure, Chapek has developed plans to launch a cheaper ad-supported version of its flagship Disney+ streaming service and has explored... Bob Iger only left the building at Walt Disney Co.’s headquarters at the end of December,...

Disney CEO Bob Chapek. Photo by Bloomberg.

startups entertainment

Disney’s Streaming Slowdown Shows Pitfalls Ahead

By Martin Peers · Nov. 10, 2021 5:00 PM PST

The streaming wars are starting to get interesting. Today, Disney reported a dramatic slowdown in subscriber growth at its Disney+ service—it added just 2 million subscribers in the September quarter, the weakest growth since the service’s launch two years ago. More strikingly, Disney executives indicated that Disney+ won’t return to meaningful... The streaming wars are starting to get interesting. Today, Disney reported a dramatic slowdown in...

ViacomCBS executives, and SpongeBob, celebrate the merger of Viacom and CBS in 2019. Photo by Bloomberg.

entertainment crypto

Are SpongeBob NFTs a Dopey Idea? Maybe Not

By Martin Peers · Oct. 13, 2021 5:01 PM PDT

If you’re allergic to the catchy buzzwords executives and investors love to throw around, you might not want to read the next sentence, given the risk of anaphylactic shock. ViacomCBS has become “one of the first major media and entertainment companies to enter the metaverse in a significant way,” thanks to a partnership that will bring its TV... If you’re allergic to the catchy buzzwords executives and investors love to throw around, you...

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