Netflix Wins Big at Golden Globe Awards
Netflix ruled the night at the 78th Golden Globe Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This year’s awards ceremony, hosted on both coasts by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, was overshadowed by controversies surrounding its governing body, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which faces ethical questions after a recent Los Angeles Times investigation. These include …
Twitter Adding Subscription Service, Seeks to Double Revenue by 2023
In an effort to increase and broaden revenue streams, Twitter is unveiling subscription products, in which users will pay content creators for newsletter subscriptions, bonus tweets, and other content they like, according to Axios. The move will help Twitter, which hasn’t been known to drastically innovate in recent years, grow less dependent on ad revenue. …
Bidding War Begins Over Oprah’s Harry and Meghan Interview
A sit-down interview Oprah Winfrey recently did with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has led to a bidding war in Great Britain between Comcast’s Sky and free to air broadcaster ITV, according to Variety. Neither the BBC nor Netflix are in the running. The CBS primetime special with Oprah marks the first for the couple …
Spotify Expanding to 85 New Markets This Week
Spotify just announced at its “Stream On” event that it’s setting up service in 85 new countries this week, according to TechCrunch. Those markets will encompass more than 1 billion prospective listeners. “Having more listeners on our platform creates more opportunities for artists and podcasters to make a living from their work. And more creators …
Texas to Receive Federal Aid for Historic Winter Storm Damage
President Biden approved a major disaster declaration in Texas on Saturday, according to NPR. Over the past week, millions have been without electricity and water in the aftermath of a major snowstorm that wreaked havoc statewide. Biden plans to visit Texas this week. His emergency declaration will ensure federal funding for 77 counties. He is …
Perseverance Rover Makes Successful Mars Landing
NASA’s Perseverance rover has landed on Mars in its historic mission to the red planet. It sent back its first images after landing at about 1 p.m. PST, according to BoingBoing. “This landing is one of those pivotal moments for NASA, the United States, and space exploration globally — when we know we are on …
Walmart to Raise Pay for 425,000 Employees
Walmart workers will soon see a bump in their paychecks to an average above $15 an hour, which will impact approximately 425,000 employees, the chain’s executives just announced, according to CNBC. Walmart is the largest private employer nationwide with around 1.5 million employees. Executives say the company plans to continue to provide opportunities for its …
Nielsen Debuts Tool to Track TV Diversity
Nielsen is implementing a new device to measure the amount of diversity on television, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The new tool, Gracenote Inclusion Analytics, will offer metrics that include the amount of screen time people of color get on television compared to the numbers they represent in the general population. The move comes after …
Nestle to Start Selling a Vegan KitKat Bar
Excellent news for the vegan and plant-based communities: the craze will soon be coming to some stores worldwide as Nestle is launching a vegan KitKat bar, according to ABC News. The chocolate candy bar, named KitKat V, will be made using 100 percent sustainable cocoa and is certified vegan. The option will still be true …
Trump Acquitted in Impeachment Trial, Again
The Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial for inciting insurrection, according to BoingBoing. While the vote came to a 57-43 majority, the tally was short of the 67 votes actually required for conviction. Only seven Republicans voted in favor of conviction during Saturday’s vote. While no witnesses were …