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Play well
Are they going? Is not it ?
They go.
Roku is bringing YouTube TV back to his devices after a months-long clash with Google that spilled over into Congress. Roku and Google have finally agreed on a multi-year extension of the Roku distribution of the YouTube and YouTube TV apps, Axes reported.
In April, Roku warned customers that YouTube TV may not be available on its devices any longer if the two sides fail to come to an agreement. In fact, Google has taken down the app – and it has threatened to deny its general YouTube app to new Roku users, if no deal is reached this month.
The Smoking Gun was Google’s demand for preferential treatment of YouTube inventory, which Roku called anti-competitive. And it’s still unclear whether the new distribution agreement grants the rights to sell Roku ads on YouTube (as it does with other ad-supported apps). Previously (and possibly now), Google kept all advertising revenue on Roku to itself, a special status that meant Roku missed out on hundreds of millions of dollars.
Some members of the Democratic Congress, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, have publicly supported Roku. She warned that competitors cannot always trust Big Tech to “act fairly in the market.”
The cursed haters
Facebook has found a new way to bypass App Store commissions with a site where users can buy “Stars†in their web browsers rather than through the Facebook app, TechCrunch reports.
Stars are a form of currency on the platform, in the sense that users share them in the form of tips during live video feeds. Until now, the stars were only available through the Facebook app where Apple or Google received a share of every dollar. But the new site uses Facebook Pay rather than Apple or Google’s payment systems, so Facebook receives the entire purchase.
Facebook normally avoids channeling users to external sites. (Even its in-app browser functionality is a mess.) But in this case, it offers bonus stars on top of the extra 30% if users access the web.
Facebook is actively researching new payment methods to bypass built-in purchase fees. Last month, Facebook introduced custom subscription or affiliate style links so iOS content creators can avoid Apple’s triple tithe.
The inclusion of Facebook Pay is also notable. Facebook needs transaction data from its owned and operated properties to return the conversion attribution data it has lost because Apple does not allow cross-site pixel tracking.
The company recently has set up an incentive program which reduces ads for brands that direct customers to Facebook stores for purchases – which brands don’t like so much because most people don’t use Facebook Pay.
A worm in the apple?
Apple has apparently compromised on a strict interpretation of its new privacy rules.
Starting this year, Apple began requiring developers to seek consent from each user before collecting data for ad targeting and other purposes. But apps, including platforms like Facebook and Snapchat, are finding ways to capitalize on their unsubscribed user base by anonymizing data and grouping people into cohorts. Cohorts are the new programmatic trend because they allow (in theory) targeting and attribution without user-level tracking.
Apple, being Apple, did not bless this tactic or hit it as a violation, the Financial Time reports.
But Apple will likely take action, IP addresses and location data can still be associated with these users, despite requests not to be tracked. The IP address, device type, and location can be critical for performance. (Has an app ever got stuck in the wrong language?)
Facebook and other data consumption apps are committed to using only anonymous and aggregated user data, and they operate under Apple’s constant control like the Eye of Sauron. But still, what are these promises for?
“If there is a historical precedent in advertising technology, these black boxes hide many sins,†said Cory Munchbach, COO of BlueConic. “It is not unreasonable to assume that this leaves a lot to be desired.”
But wait, there is more!
Bumble goes retail with Bumble Shop, selling dating clothes and games. [Adweek]
Verizon overrides user opt-out preferences in its attempt to collect browsing history. [Ars Technica]
FuboTV finalizes the acquisition of the French sports streaming service Molotov. [release]
How far have the tech IPOs of 2021 outperformed those of last year? A lot. [The Information]
Scott Galloway: “Super apps†are the future. [Medium]
Apple is granted a stay by an appeals court for delaying payment plans outside of iOS apps. [The Verge]
You are engaged!
MadHive hires Jeff Fagel as Marketing Director. [Broadcasting & Cable]
OAAA Foreign Trade Association adds industry veterans Laura Colona, ​​Rick Robinson. [release]
Stagwell Media Network names Jon Schaaf, Shannon Pruitt and Rick Acampora in its C sequel. [release]
The IAB hires Jessalin Lam to lead the Learning, Development and DCI programs. [release]
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