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TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
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Facebook and Instagram are launching new subscription options in the EU, including a 40% price reduction for ad-free usage and an alternative to view less personalised ads, in response to EU regulatory demands. (Facebook)
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OpenAI is reportedly exploring the development of a web browser that integrates its ChatGPT chatbot and may potentially enter agreements to power search features for various platforms, positioning itself as a new competitor against Google in the browser and search market. (Reuters)
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The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for Google to divest its Chrome browser, seeking to dismantle Google’s dominance in online advertising and search. (Marketing Dive)
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The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recommended an investigation into Apple and Google's dominance in mobile ecosystems, aimed at preventing anti-competitive behavior. (CNBC)
Audiences
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Brands can effectively engage with female-led trends through authenticity and timely action, leveraging strategies such as embedding cultural nuances, with 66% of young adults enjoying hidden brand messages. (Emarketer)
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2025 predictions suggest a year full of contradictions for consumers and marketers, specifically for brand loyalty, privacy and economic uncertainties. (Marketing Dive)
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"Lost" led as the number one library series on streaming platforms the week of October 21-27, with a significant viewing time of 1.03B minutes in the US, while "The Lincoln Lawyer" retained the top overall spot. (The Hollywood Reporter)
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New drama "Landman" attracted 5.2M viewers across Paramount+ and Paramount Network, marking it as the top series debut on Paramount+ in two years. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Platforms
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TikTok has enhanced its appeal to SMBs with the global launch of Symphony Creative Studio, part of its Symphony AI suite, enabling advertisers to generate customised TikTok videos in minutes. (DigiDay)
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Meta plans to introduce advertisements on Threads, its X competitor, as early as January 2025, starting with a small group of advertisers, despite the platform not being expected to significantly drive revenue in the near future. (The Verge)
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Pinterest has launched celebrity-curated gift guides and a new shoppable wishlist feature, contributing to an 18% revenue increase and a growth in monthly active users to 537M. (Marketing Dive)
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Apple has started selling its own advertising inventory for Apple News, transitioning from using third-party vendors to handle ad sales. (Marketing Dive)
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WhatsApp is introducing new user feedback mechanisms to control business messaging, allowing users to express their preferences on receiving marketing or unwanted spam. (TechCrunch)
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Bluesky, now boasting over 21M users, is diverging from conventional social media models by fostering a 'democratic republic'-type platform that emphasizes user data control and open-source access.(Marketing Brew)
Content
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The launch of Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming platform in seven Southeast Asian territories marks a significant strategic expansion. (Variety)
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WWE Network is set to shut down its streaming services in the UK and the rest of Europe by January 1, 2025, as all premium live events will move exclusively to Netflix. (Advanced Television)
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Disney's Hulu and Fox Entertainment have renewed their streaming content partnership for another four years. (Variety)
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Universal Pictures' comprehensive campaign for "Wicked," demonstrates the mutual benefits of brand collaborations such as extended brand reach and enhanced audience engagement. (Marketing Brew)
Tech &
AI-
Google AI Overviews now appear in 30% of travel-related queries, reflecting a 700% increase from September to October, with significant implications for SEO strategies in the travel industry, especially for businesses needing to manage visibility during peak travel seasons. (Search Engine Land)
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Perplexity has introduced a "Buy with Pro" feature for its Pro subscribers in the U.S., allowing seamless purchases directly from its AI search engine with free shipping, and plans to expand merchant support by providing insights into search and shopping trends. (The Verge)
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Taking a cue from X, Threads is testing AI-powered summaries of trending topics. (Tech Crunch)
Location-based
entertainment-
IAAPA Expo 2024 showcased new ride vehicles for upcoming theme park attractions, with reveals for parks including Canada's Wonderland, SeaWorld Orlando, Kings Dominion, VidantaWorld in Mexico, and Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. (Attractions Magazine)
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Disneyland Paris has introduced a new dynamic pricing system for dated tickets, where prices fluctuate based on demand and seasonality. (WDWNT)
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The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has announced the winners of the 31st Annual Thea Awards at SeaWorld Orlando, celebrating global innovations in themed entertainment. (Blooloop)
Travel &
hospitality-
TikTok has transformed modern travel planning, with 70% of EU users and a sizable Gen Z US demographic booking based on platform recommendations. (National Geographic)
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Delta Airlines is offering first-class passengers the option to pre-order a Shake Shack cheeseburger on routes flying out of Boston over 900 miles starting December 1. (Restaurant Business Online)
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The phenomenon of "set-jetting," where travellers visit filming locations from popular TV shows and films, is increasing in popularity, leading to significant spikes in search traffic for these destinations. (BBC Travel)
Gaming
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Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios are collaborating to create immersive, real-life Minecraft attractions featuring an initial investment over £85M for attractions in the US and UK, set to launch between 2026 and 2027. (Merlin Entertainment)
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Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth lead the 2024 Game Awards nominations, each securing seven spots including Game of the Year, highlighting their significant impact in a year marked by fewer top-tier game releases. (BBC)
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Kadokawa Corporation has confirmed receiving a buyout offer from Sony, driven by interests in expanding Sony's gaming and multimedia portfolio, which complements Kadokawa's holdings in games, anime, and manga. (IGN)
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now stream 50 games they already own via Xbox Cloud Gaming, marking an expansion in Microsoft's cloud services that allows for playing owned games across various devices. (The Verge)
