Category: Media

Streaming-only films now eligible for Academy Awards (sort of)


The Academy of Arts and Sciences is this week making a painful concession to modernity. It’s finally allowing streaming-based movies the chance at an Oscar — though only because the coronavirus is seriously screwing with the traditional film release cycle. Specifically, the Academy decided during a meeting Tuesday to suspend its traditional rules governing which films are eligible. If you aren’t aware of the ins and outs of Hollywood‘s relationship with streaming-based services, the Academy has a rule that means a movie must be available to watch in a theater. Specifically, the rule was a film must be available “for paid admission…

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HBO Max streaming service (yes, another) to launch at the end of May


WarnerMedia today revealed its streaming service, HBO Max, is launching at the end of May. That’ll make it the latest massive media conglomerate to put forth an entrant in the increasingly crowded streaming wars. Where all of HBO meets your favorite shows, movies, and new Max Originals. Streaming May 27. Sign up for updates: https://t.co/e3U0f0wgAV pic.twitter.com/SbBjZ0smb8 — HBO Max (@hbomax) April 21, 2020 HBO Max works in much the same way any streaming service does: it’ll be a handful of originals augmenting a veritable treasure trove of classics. HBO would seem to be a big winner in the bidding over…

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Digital marketers need to be constantly ‘plugged in’ — which is risky during the pandemic


Did you know TNW Conference has a track fully dedicated to exploring how technology will shape the ever-evolving marketing landscape this year? Check out the full ‘Rebrand‘ program here. I can’t speak for the entire digital community, but I can share my observations as well as the perspective of many I know in the industry. I hope this helps others who are feeling the same way. Many of us are uniquely attuned to news and social media updates. During a crisis, this is heightened. We have awareness on steroids. Productivity > fear I can’t stop consuming, feeding off every blog…

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Studio Ghibli releases free video background wallpapers to hide your shitty home decor


Ashamed of your terrible home decor? Fear not: The acclaimed Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli has just released a series of wallpapers to hide your tie-dye tapestries, bloodstains, and Audrey Hepburn posters. And you wanna know the best part? They are free. That’s right — F R E E, as long as you don’t use them for commercial purposes or advertising. Among the eight background options are stills from Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Arrietty, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Laputa’s Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa Valley of the Wind, Ponyo, and Princess Mononoke. Whichever you choose is your call. Get…

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NBC launches Peacock streaming service for Comcast customers


NBCUniversal today launched Peacock, its entrant in the streaming wars. While it’s only available to a limited number of select Comcast subscribers, it still officially marks the new platform’s introduction to the world, and it didn’t come a moment too soon. Peacock, officially announced in January and rumored about for some time before that, today rolled out to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex subscribers. Those subscribers will have an early preview of the service’s Premium tier, though the original shows that come with that tier won’t debut until next year. Read: ViacomCBS reportedly joining the streaming wars… again For those who don’t…

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Life imitating art: Quarantined people remix famous paintings with household items


As everyone tries to distract themselves from the awfulness of the world, a clever social media campaign has sparked a new interest in art — or, at least, in imitating art with common household items. It’s exactly as goofy as it sounds, and provides a much-needed jolt of levity — and I guarantee you’ll not look at your favorite paintings the same way again. Several countries around the world have urged citizens to remain indoors and forgo direct human contact except where necessary. The J. Paul Getty Museum, perhaps rightly seeing its moment to strike a blow for art appreciation,…

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Quibi’s not even here yet and it’s already being sued


The developers of Quibi now in the middle of a legal battle on the cusp of the app’s launch. Supposedly their signature “Turnstyle” technology is based on a patent from media company Eko — or at least that’s the basis of the latter’s infringement lawsuit. One of Quibi‘s claims to fame is that its shortform videos can be viewed differently depending on whether your phone is oriented vertically or horizontally. It’s not much of a distinction, in my humble opinion, but it’s something. Eko, on the other hand, claims this technology as its own — the company makes interactive video…

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A Last of Us series is coming to HBO — so what’s next?


HBO this week announced it was adapting The Last of Us, that one zombie game that scooped up every known Game of the Year award a few years ago, into a TV show with the creator of Chernobyl. So if we’re making video games into streaming series, what intellectual properties would actually make good shows. Hey @Neil_Druckmann … let’s make a show.https://t.co/wWLmPcsrEI — Craig Mazin (@clmazin) March 5, 2020 We don’t yet know much about the series, other than the game’s writer, Neil Druckmann, will be involved. I hope it focuses on someone other than game protagonists Joel and Ellie. Both were portrayed to…

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A massive cache of stolen OnlyFans videos have been dumped online


Someone has leaked terabytes of content stolen from OnlyFans, a subscription site popular among influencers, sex workers, and pornographic actors. Photos and videos of specific users and performers is now out from behind the site’s paywall, meaning content creators are no longer able to profit from their work. And it doesn’t seem like there’s anything they can do. If you’re unfamiliar with OnlyFans (be honest with me now), it’s a site where viewers can pay a fee to view photos and videos put up by content creators. Ostensibly it would allow the latter to profit from their work, but it’s…

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Redbox now offers a free streaming service — here’s how it works


Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. With so many players in the streaming space, it can be easy to overlook some of the smaller players that might offer a better experience for a cheaper price. So with that in mind, Redbox is now offering a free, ad-supported streaming option on its site and app. There’s not much to it yet, but if you just want a free way to watch some Family Feud and Unsolved Mysteries, it’s a thing that exists. The service,…

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