Mobile Fix — July 26
Beach Edition — a little lighter than usual as our beach holiday has — for once — coincided with beach holiday weather — even in Cornwall. So I am sharing what I am reading and the key news, but not too much in terms of views.
There is one thing I’d like you all to read; some personal news as I close out my time with TMK and go back to being independent after the summer. I am keen to talk and plot with potential collaborators, partners and clients so do get in touch if you think we could help each other in any way. More to follow as I develop my plans.
Facebook earnings better than expected — shares are up over 50% in 2019
The money shot is their success at holding DAUs constant in the US — we wonder how that breaks down for Instagram? The full investors deck is here
Snap post record user growth and added 13m DAU — where does the time these people now spend on Snap come from? Much better revenue too — full stats here
I am fascinated by Vertical Video — the new scripted series that are featuring on Snap, Facebook Watch etc so was heartened by this quote from the results;
90% of Snapchatters who completed the first season of “Endless Summer,” a Snap Original produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, went on to watch season two in its first month.
Snap are commissioning new shows and looking at celebs like Arnie and Selena Wiliams as well as Internet Creators
newTV
Britbox launch plans revealed — to me it’s underwhelming and why ad free? ITV excel at selling ads — and have little experience selling subscription. I predict that within 12 months there will be ads on Britbox. The take from Variety is good
The FT argues that ITV need more & better shows than Love Island to compete
The FT also look at Disney as a predator in the media business
And the NYT ask just how big is YouTube?
Email Newsletters
As you make have noticed email newsletters are in vogue right now. VC form A16Z have invested in Substack and their announcement is a good summary of the sector.
Vanity Fair cover the Substack news and think we are at peak newsletter — the timing of which is slightly bitchy as it coincides with the launch of the new email newsletter by Graydon Carter — former editor of Vanity Fair.
For another project I was digging back and found our first Fix was in February 2010 — so slightly ahead of the pack. Hopefully our plans for evolving Fix will keep us ahead.
DTC
Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian: “Data and creativity are not mutually exclusive” Amen
Why are Digitally Native Brands Revolutionizing Retail, and Why No Brand is Safe
Good thread on DTC brands diversification
Good thread on DTC brands and advertising
VC on How to Build a Breakout Brand
Retail
Nike goes the distance with omni-channel retail transformation
The Next Level of Personalization in Retail
Beyond shelf space: As DTC brands grow up, multi-brand retailers are shifting strategies
Walmart CEO praises Amazon and reveals what he admires most about the tech giant
Alibaba welcomes U.S. small businesses to sell globally on its platform
Omnichannel Is Dead. The Future Is Harmonized Retail
The future of holding companies will be built around audiences, not industries
Iconic brands lose their luster
Five Chinese high street fashion brands to watch as they go global
China
One of the new areas I plan to focus on is scripted IP for the platforms and whilst my mandarin is poor I have been watching these Chinese dramas;
Chinese vertical dramas made for phone viewing show the future of mobile video
ByteDance spurs TikTok’s global expansion by snapping up music tech from AI start-up Jukedeck
China’s short video apps are expanding into longer formats
Quick Reads
Good Benedict Evans post on computers that can see
The latest Data report from SimonKemp — essential data
PE giant Blackstone invests in mobile ad tech
Brands are demanding more personalised creative — As we know from Spirable
The Fall Of Mic Was A Warning -Digital news isn’t easy
The FT say Apple Watch must not become big brother
I spent 24 hours living on SoftBank services like Uber, WeWork, and Oyo
More on how gig economy workers are exploited by their employers
The 26-year-old woman behind Facebook’s plan to make its own currency
Mirror owner in talks to buy Johnston Press assets like the Yorkshire Evening Post. So much potential to improve my user experience when checking the latest Leeds United news — get rid of the pop up ads, Google surveys, outstream video windows and Taboola nonsense.
Flashes and Flames ask Can magazines and newspapers save each other?
Excellent thread on the rise of privacy and how only Apple is well positioned
The ultimate guide to social commerce
The Definitive Resource For Takeaways From Cannes
Finally …make time to watch the Great Hack on Netflix. Good learning on how Facebook can work extremely well — albeit here by bad actors. Likely ramifications for Politics and for Privacy.
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