9 min read

May 18 2023 - TikTok Sans-ity, Upfronts & AI

May 18 2023 - TikTok Sans-ity, Upfronts & AI

👋Happy Thursday friends. I promise, we're getting to the end of "ad sales events with the word "up" in them". The strike continues on, AI dominates the world and TikTok remains in the news. All that and more below –

Quick Take

  • TikTok is officially banned in Montana (kind of)
  • Elizabeth Holmes is officially going to jail (and has a small bill to pay)
  • You can now book an Uber boat in Greece
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Top Stories

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, was ordered by a judge to pay $452 million in restitution to defrauded investors. Her request to stay out of prison while appealing her conviction was denied by a three-judge panel. Holmes is scheduled to report to prison on May 30 and requested this date to get her affairs in order. Her ex-boyfriend and former Theranos president, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, is also responsible for paying the restitution and has already begun serving his prison term.

Montana has become the first state to ban TikTok, with a law prohibiting its operation and availability in the state. The ban will take effect in January 2024 unless TikTok is sold or the rule is blocked by a court. The law faces legal challenges and concerns about First Amendment rights.

Warner Bros. Discovery presented its annual upfront at Madison Square Garden, revealing new ad products for its upcoming streamer, Max. The platform launches on May 23 and will offer a $9.99 per month ad tier featuring various ad capabilities. These include traditional pre- and mid-roll ads, takeovers, longer pre-roll ads sponsoring an ad-free experience, pause ads, carousel ads, extendable ads, reveal ads, and locator ads. The upfront also introduced WBD Stream, a digital advertising platform for targeted cross-screen buying. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery announced the establishment of a diversity-focused sales division and highlighted its partnership with data measurement companies VideoAmp, Comscore, and Nielsen.

The New York Times has introduced its stand-alone audio app, New York Times Audio, exclusively for All Access and News subscribers on iOS. The app aims to enhance subscriber retention and engagement by offering a dedicated space for audio content, including popular podcasts and exclusive offerings. It also enables data collection and in-app audio ads, aligning with NYT's audio strategy and its focus on both subscription and advertising revenue.

Uber has made several announcements at its annual Go/Get product event. Users in the US who don't have the Uber app can now request a ride by calling a dedicated line. The company is also introducing family accounts for teens aged 13 to 17, allowing them to request rides and deliveries with parent approval. Parents can track the trips in real time and communicate with drivers. Additionally, Uber is expanding car seat options, offering boat bookings in Greece, launching group grocery orders, and enabling video messages for deliveries.

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Rundown
  • TikTok has unveiled its own custom font, TikTok Sans, which is designed to enhance legibility and reading retention. The font features bigger openings, clearer strokes, and simpler shapes to improve distinguishability and reliability across languages. It is initially available in several languages and will expand to more in the future. TikTok Sans also includes anti-spoofing features, such as replacing a zero with a line through it. The font aims to reflect TikTok's diverse community and is being rolled out globally.
  • Netflix revealed during its first-ever upfront week appearance that it has nearly 5 million monthly active users globally for its ad-supported plan. The streaming giant highlighted its upcoming slate of shows and films, showcased its executives, and shared data indicating the growth of its ad-tier members. Netflix also announced new sponsorship options, Top 10 opportunities for brands, and a partnership with Nielsen for measurement solutions.
  • According to data from Pew Research, a majority of US Twitter users have taken a break from the platform over the past year, and active users are tweeting less frequently since Elon Musk's takeover. Pew's report indicates that 60% of Americans who used Twitter in the past 12 months have taken a break for several weeks or more. In addition, the average number of tweets per month from the platform's most active users declined by around 25% since the acquisition.
  • Oscar Mayer has rebranded its iconic Wienermobile as the "Frankmobile" to align with its shift to all-beef franks. The transformation reflects the brand's commitment to taste and its lighthearted "Keep it Oscar" platform. As part of the promotion, anyone named Frank can visit the Frankmobile to receive a coupon for a free pack of hot dogs. The rebranding includes new decals and renamed accessories like Frank Whistles and Frankfurters. Fans can track the Frankmobile's upcoming stops on the company's website.
  • OpenAI is reportedly preparing to release an open-source AI model, following mounting pressure from open-source alternatives. The company's previous AI models, GPT-4 and GPT-3.5, were closed source, raising concerns about transparency and competition. No specific timeline for the release was mentioned. The move comes as open-source engineers are seen as formidable competitors in the AI arms race, surpassing both Google and OpenAI. The recent availability of sophisticated machine-learning models from Meta has further fueled the boom in open-source development. OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comment.
  • Tesla known for avoiding traditional advertising, is breaking its longstanding tradition, announced by Elon Musk at the annual shareholder meeting. Musk's statement, which drew applause, marks a notable shift for the brand. After two decades of avoiding it, Tesla aims to address declining brand perception and favorability.
  • Coach has installed an AR mirror on its SoHo store, using augmented reality to attract customers. The mirror displays a real-time video of customers with virtual versions of Coach's bags, capturing the attention of passerby's and increasing in-store traffic. Within a week, window display attention rose by 93.5% and in-store traffic increased by nearly 50%.
  • BlizzCon, the annual event hosted by Blizzard Entertainment, will be returning as an in-person event on November 3rd and 4th at the Anaheim Convention Center. After a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues, Blizzard is expected to make significant announcements regarding games like Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, World of Warcraft, and Hearthstone
  • Paramount+ and Showtime are set to merge into a single service called Paramount+ With Showtime on or around June 27, 2023. Current subscribers of both services will have access to all movies and TV shows under one subscription without any price increase.
  • Instagram now allows users to add GIFs to their comments on posts and Reels. This feature, previously available to a limited number of users, has now been unlocked for global use. The GIFs are sourced from Giphy's library and can be accessed by tapping a new GIF button in the comment typing box. Additionally, Meta is introducing new editing abilities for Instagram Reels, including the ability to split videos, adjust their speed, and replace clips nondestructively. These updates were announced during a creators workshop in Mumbai, India, where Meta also unveiled the release of Instagram Gifts for the Indian market, enabling creators to earn money from their Reels.
  • Sony has announced that it will be hosting a PlayStation Showcase event on May 24th. The hour-long stream will feature upcoming games for both the PS5 and the PS VR2. Sony Studios, third-party partners, and indie creators will present several new creations during the event. Anticipated games include Spider-Man 2, Wolverine, and possibly Death Stranding 2. The announcement also hints at the unveiling of new intellectual properties. With E3 not taking place, Sony and other publishers are organizing their own major news events.
  • Stability AI has released StableStudio, an open-source version of its commercial interface, DreamStudio, for generating Stable Diffusion images. The company claims that this move demonstrates its commitment to advancing open-source development within the AI ecosystem. Stability AI plans to engage in bounties, hackathons, and UI/UX research to foster collaboration and creativity. It's worth noting that Stability AI did not develop the Stable Diffusion model or own the intellectual property associated with it. Recent rumors of financial difficulties and a potential management restructuring have also surrounded the company.
  • Meta and BMW have been working on using AR and VR in cars to address the challenges of interacting with virtual objects while in motion. They have made progress by combining inertial motion sensor (IMU) data from a BMW with Meta's tracking system, enabling them to demonstrate VR and mixed reality experiences in moving cars. The precise positioning system of the car could allow for rendering virtual content outside the vehicle, such as identifying landmarks.
  • Saucony and Galen College of Nursing have launched the NIL Student Nurse Initiative, providing endorsement deals to four top nursing students. The program, created by Doner agency, aims to support and elevate the next generation of elite student nurses. The students will serve as paid brand ambassadors, with their profiles featured on Saucony and Galen's social platforms. The initiative recognizes the hard work and dedication of nursing students and aims to contribute to the future of healthcare.
  • Uber Eats has partnered with Disney+ to create a miniature tasting menu inspired by Marvel Studios' "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" to celebrate the film's release on Disney+. The Quantum Cafe offers small portions of popular Uber Eats restaurant dishes, including sushi, chocolate gateau, fish and chips, chow mein, pizza, veggie burger, salad, dal, naan bread, samosas, and doughnuts. The mini menu is available in London, Bristol, and Manchester through the Uber Eats app for £5.99.
  • Lyft has appointed Erin Brewer as its new CFO amid layoffs and a weaker earnings forecast. Brewer, formerly from Charles Schwab, brings experience in managing high-growth businesses. Lyft recently reported lower-than-expected revenue and adjusted earnings for the second quarter. The company aims to drive growth and profitability with Brewer's expertise as it faces competition from Uber.
  • Brian "FaZe Rug" Awadis, an esports influencer, has joined the direct-to-consumer (DTC) trend by launching 1UP Candy, a DTC candy business targeting the Gen-Z livestreaming audience. The company plans to promote its sour gummy candy through a social media challenge led by Awadis and other livestreamers. They have also partnered with Cash App to offer exclusive access to Cash App Card holders before the general public. 1UP Candy is privately funded by Awadis and his co-founder and CEO, Matt Weiss, and aims to leverage Awadis' large social media following to drive sales.
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Published by:

Joe Nash

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