parasite Parasite Makes Oscar History as First Foreign Language Film to Win Best Picture Bong Joon-Ho's critically acclaimed thriller sweeps the 2020 Oscars, becoming the first non-English film to win Best Picture and breaking a major psychological barrier in Hollywood.
youtube premium YouTube Premium Reaches 20 Million Subscribers as Ad Revenue Surges Google reveals that YouTube Music and Premium combine for 20 million paid subscribers, while YouTube TV doubles its user base to 2 million. The platform also reports a significant jump in overall ad revenue for 2019.
netflix Netflix Rejects Ad-Supported Model Despite Investor Pressure Netflix CEO Reed Hastings firmly rejects an ad-supported tier, arguing that competing with Google, Facebook, and Amazon for online ad revenue is too difficult and not worth the privacy trade-offs.
siriusxm SiriusXM Finalizes Pandora Purchase to Form Global Audio Giant SiriusXM officially completes its acquisition of Pandora, creating the world's largest audio entertainment company with over 100 million listeners. The merger combines satellite radio subscriptions with ad-supported streaming to dominate the digital audio market.
netflix Netflix Introduces Smart Downloads to Automatically Manage Offline Episodes Netflix rolls out a new Smart Downloads feature that deletes watched episodes and automatically grabs the next one. The tool aims to save storage space and help users binge-watch offline without manual file management.
google Google Search Adds Watchlist Feature for Movies and TV Shows Google Search now allows mobile users to save movies and TV shows directly to a Watchlist. The new feature makes it easier to track and access entertainment options across various platforms.
facebook Facebook Buys PlayGiga to Expand Cloud Gaming Efforts Facebook acquires Madrid-based cloud gaming startup PlayGiga for around 78 million euros to enhance its streaming capabilities. The move supports Facebook's broader strategy to grow its gaming business beyond traditional advertising revenue.
podcasting Podcasting Transforms Into Corporate Mainstay After 15 Years of Growth The podcasting industry reaches a major milestone in 2019 as massive corporate investments fundamentally shift the medium's independent roots. Advertising revenues and high-profile acquisitions signal that audio shows are now big business.
pbs PBS Local Stations Expand to Over 100 Markets on YouTube TV PBS and YouTube TV launch a new partnership bringing over 100 local PBS stations and PBS Kids channels to the live TV streaming platform. The deal significantly broadens public television's reach among cord-cutters across 75 percent of U.S. households.
apple music Apple Launches Inaugural Music Awards, Crowns Billie Eilish Top Artist Apple unveils its first-ever Apple Music Awards, honoring Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and FINNEAS for their massive cultural impact in 2019. Eilish takes home the top prize as Global Artist of the Year.
spotify Spotify Pushes New Button to Boost Podcast Listening After Massive Investments After spending up to $500 million on podcast content in 2019, Spotify introduces a new button targeting users who have not yet explored podcasts on the platform. The feature aims to convert dedicated music listeners into podcast consumers as the company plans even more spending.
google Disney Plus Tops Google's 2019 Year in Search Trends Google releases its 2019 Year in Search data, revealing Disney Plus as the top trending search term in the United States. The list highlights the massive influence of streaming services, tech products, and internet culture on the year's biggest queries.
facebook Facebook Portal Devices Drop Account Requirement, Add Streaming Apps Facebook's Portal smart displays now allow users to log in with just a WhatsApp account, removing the need for a Facebook profile. The devices also gain new streaming services, business tools, and augmented reality features to boost sluggish sales.
reelgood Streaming Guide Reelgood Raises $6.75 Million to Expand Universal Dashboard Reelgood, a universal streaming aggregator, raises $6.75 million in Series A funding led by Runa Capital. The platform helps users navigate over 300 streaming services while licensing its highly accurate viewing data to major tech and media companies.
apple Billie Eilish Dominates Inaugural Apple Music Awards Apple introduces its first-ever Apple Music Awards, recognizing top artists through a mix of editorial picks and streaming data. Billie Eilish takes home three major trophies, including Global Artist of the Year.