News digest 22.03.2021
DISNEY FORECAST TO STEAL NETFLIX’S CROWN AS WORLD’S BIGGEST STREAMING FIRM BY 2024
Disney+ is predicted to overtake Amazon Prime Video in 2024 to become the world’s second most popular streaming service after Netflix.
However, as of January this 2021, Disney+ offered only 4,500 hours of content compared with 40,000 on Netflix and 50,000 on Amazon. The new streaming star has a target of adding more than 100 new titles to the service each year.
BYTEDANCE, TENCENT AND OTHER CHINA’S TECH GIANTS TEST WAY AROUND APPLE’S NEW PRIVACY RULES
A new way to track and identify iPhone users was launched by China Advertising Association. The Chinese side claims that such a solution “does not stand in opposition to Apple’s privacy policy” as the association “is currently actively communicating with Apple”.
According to FT, California-based company would be wary of taking strong action, despite a clear violation of its stated rules.
CHINA’S GOVERNMENT ASKS ALIBABA TO SHED ITS MEDIA ASSETS — THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMPANY INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC OPINION
Officials were appalled at how expansive Alibaba’s media interests have become and asked the company to come up with a plan to substantially curtail its media holdings.
The notable ones include stakes in the Weibo blogging platform and several popular Chinese digital and print news outlets, as well as the South China Morning Post, a leading English-language newspaper in Hong Kong. Several holdings are in USA listed companies.
GOOGLE WILL REDUCE PLAY STORE CUT TO 15 PERCENT
Starting on July 1st, 2021, Google is reducing its 30% cut, which it takes from each Play Store digital purchase for all Android developers, on the first $1 million they make each year.
According to Google, that change means that 99% of Android developers that sell digital goods or services will see a 50% reduction in fees. The new policy will apply to developers of all sizes.
PINDUODUO IS NOW CHINA’S BIGGEST E-COMMERCE PLATFORM
In 2020, Pinduoduo said it had 788.4 million annual active buyers, a 35% jump from 2019 and surpassing the 779 million users at e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings. Total revenues in the fourth quarter amounted to $4.07 billion, an increase of 146% from the same quarter of 2019, boosted by soaring demand for online groceries.
APPLE IS WORKING ON REMOVING COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES
A team of experts conducted a study and found that vendors are using Instagram to sell counterfeit iPhone batteries, accessories, and cables.
The company is negotiating with law enforcement agency, vendors, social media and marketplaces representatives
VISA BACKS THE FIRST-EVER CREDIT CARD THAT ALLOWS BITCOIN PAYMENT
Hong Kong-based payment and cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com announced a global partnership with Visa.
Users can convert their crypto into one of the supported fiat currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, euro, British pound and others, pay with their card and make cash withdrawals anywhere Visa is accepted.