How Comcast, AT&T and Verizon are upping their digital game; Group Nine Announces 25 new video projects; Meredith Launches New Slate of Programming..

Daily news updates on the video business and must-know headlines. [View this email in your browser]( This section includes stories that can be accessed and read by Members Only. Want to become a member? Keep scrolling. Already a member!? *High five yourself* then...keep scrolling. [I]( Verizon Gearing up to Launch Three New OTT Video Initiatives?]( say Yes]( [How Pay-TV Operators are Keeping Their Heads Above Water in a Digital World]( [T]( is How Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter are fighting for Influencers]( [Become a Member]( More from VideoInk (free content) This section of headlines is original from VideoInk but not behind our paywall. [The video in T-Mobile’s quad bundle will be me-too, not disruptive (GUEST)]( [Meredith Corp Talks Video, Brand Safety, and Advertising at NewFronts]( [G]( Nine Announces 25 New Video Projects Across its Digital Brands]( [ICYMI -- Check out Mastering the Ins & Outs of Live Streaming, with Zype's Steven Tripsas]( Live streaming has been the "Little Engine that Could" of the video business for so many years, always on the cusp of lift off. With the success of HQ, has live streaming taken off? This session, presented by Zype, will discuss the pathway to launching and operating a live broadcast program. Zype is a cloud video distribution service for OTT that makes it easy for content owners to connect directly with their audiences. [Take this Survey for a Chance to Win a Months Subscription to VideoInk & Grapevine]( More & more marketers are looking at the influencer channel as a permanent staple in their marketing plans. To that end, we've teamed up with VideoInk to conduct a survey of the marketers and experts in our network to discover how brands are activating influencers and the best practices for Influencer Marketing in 2018. Help us build better brand-influencer collaborations by taking this [quick survey]( for our upcoming 2018 Brand-Influencer Trends Report. [Pulled From VideoInk's]( Bank]( More than 61% of consumers feel that as long as content is of good quality, they do not care if it’s branded. Additionally, 3/4 of consumers don't mind ads if they are entertaining. -RYOT Studios Upcoming Events... Stay on top of industry trends, don't miss these upcoming events. [Register Here]( ["Survey Says" Brands Reveal Influencer Marketing Spend and Approach]( May 8]( FREE TO ATTEND THANKS TO GRAPEVINE: Influencer Marketing has undeniable staying power. We audited hundreds of brands and agencies to understand budgets, target platforms and types of campaigns being done. This session will not only present our finding but put them into context about the shifts and changes happening in the world of Influencer Marketing. Takes place Tue, May 8, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PDT. [Sign up today.]( [Talking Cannabiz -- The Opportunity and Opportunity Costs for Brands Looking to Advertise on Marijuana-focused Video a]( Branded entertainment, sponsored content and advertising are crucial to the health of a video-based business, but what if you' re programming content around a seemingly "controversial" topic like marijuana? SPEAKERS: Alex Nahai, Founding Partner, 420TV Howard Bowler, founder and Creative Director of Green Point Creative. When? Thu, May 17, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM PDT. [Sign up today!]( [Game On! Understanding Twitch and the eSports Revolution on May 22]( Almost every assumption about consumer behavior in a digital world is challenged by eSports. Appointment viewing is dead -- not in eSports; attention spans are low -- not in eSports; interactive environments are hard to build and replicate -- not in eSports. Join us for a session that unravels the mystery around eSports. PANELISTS: Twitch's Nathan Lindberg and Abrams Artists Agency's Miles Lozano. The session takes place May 22, 2018 1:00 PM PDT. [Sign up today]( FREE For VideoInk Members || $30 for Non-Members [Don't Miss Brightcove's Annual PLAY Conference]( 21-22]( Join us in Boston May 21-22 for Brightcove's annual [PLAY Conference.]( Learn best practices from industry leaders and discover the latest in online video. Use VideoInkPLAY for 50$ off [registration](. Brief News - Highlights + Must-Know Snippets This section of headlines is for newsletter subscribers only - brief, to the point, and not needing the deeper industry analysis you'll find on VideoInk's homepage. Facebook Orders Dark Comedy Series Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones Catherine Zeta-Jones is starring in Facebook Watch's newest dark comedy "Queen America." Facebook has given a straight-to-series order to the 10-episode show, which is created and written by Meaghan Oppenheimer ("Fear the Walking Dead"), and follows Vicki Ellis, a renowned and ruthless pageant coach who is at risk of losing her reputation of being the best pageant coach in all of Oklahoma. Group Nine's NowThis Launches Another Snapchat Series NowThis will be launching a new program to break news for Snapchatters worldwide. The show will provide real-time updates for younger audiences around breaking events. "NowBreaking" will cover stories targeted at millennial and Gen Z audiences. Launched in 2012, NowThis is one of the largest social brands in the world with more than 2.6 billion monthly views. The company has eleven content verticals, including: News, Politics, Entertainment, Future, Her, Money, and Sports. Digitas Becomes the Exclusive Partner for Knotch's New Planning Tool Digitas is now the exclusive beta agency partner for Knotch’s new planning tool Blueprint, a data product intended to bring transparent intelligence to the content planning process. The product combines Knotch’s proprietary measurement platform with industry benchmarks to find and recommend the best partners and creative themes for a brand's future content efforts. Philo Partners with Pandora to Offer Subscribers Free Music Subscription Philo, the $16/mo OTT TV service has partnered with Pandora to offer three months of Pandora Premium (usually $9.99/mo) for free to both new and current subscribers. The offer is limited to the first 200,000 Philo subs who take advantage of the promo, which is set to run through October. YouTube Red Launches New Series From Antenna Pictures YouTube Red, the Google-owned SVOD service, is launching "The Sidemen Show" from Blue Ant-backed Antenna Pictures, according to a report from the Hollywood Reporter. The project, which is a seven-part unscripted series, follows several internet celebrities as they perform various challenges. According to THR, episodes were filmed in locations including the UK, Marrakech, Russia and Austria. YouTube TV Partners with MLS Team Orlando City SC Orlando City SC supplements its broadcasting group with the addition of a multimedia rights agreement with YouTube TV. The new live TV streaming service will exclusively stream all locally televised matches live, including the pre, halftime and post-game shows, for the remainder of the season. All 18 remaining locally televised matches will now be available to stream live on a dedicated Orlando City YouTube TV channel. Send Us Your Digital Release Dates Premiering your series on go90? Facebook? 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