VOD Story of the Week
Streaming platforms Netflix and Now TV have seen a drop in subscriber numbers, while Apple TV and Disney + are on the rise. 17.27 million homes had access to Netflix in 2022 compared to 17.15 million in 2023 which is a decrease of -0.7%. While 6.98 million homes had access to Disney+ in 2022 which increased by 4.3% to 7.28 million in 2023.
Podcast Story of the Week
YouTube is set to launch a new platform for podcasts to create a more podcast-friendly place. It will include features a content creator needs to start podcasts on the platform and including performance metrics and revenue insights. People will now be able to post podcasts under YouTube’s “create" button, which currently offers the options to upload a video, create a text post and start a livestream.
Social Media Story of the Week
Instagram and Facebook will now be charging users to be verified on the social media platforms as Meta follows in the footsteps of rival platform Twitter. Mark Zuckerberg, announced in a Facebook post on Sunday 19th of February that the service would first roll out in Australia and New Zealand later this week. It will cost $19.99 if using the Instagram website or $24.99 of using Instagram on iOS and Android. As well as offering a blue badge, the service offers “extra impersonation protection”, improved reach for verified users and direct access to customer support.
TV Story of the Week
Channel 4 have coordinated an advertising appeal for the Disasters Emergency Committee. The media owner has partnered with Recipe to create a 90-second spot, voiced by Daniel Craig, that will run across ITV, UKTV, Channel 5, Sky, STV, Warner Bros. Discovery and Ocean Outdoor. All media owners have donated advertising inventory to support the appeal. The spot features footage of the devastating earthquake that has taken 44,000 lives and affected 18 million people since it first struck on the 6th of February.
