By David Farrell
CRTC dissects retail mobile sector
The retail mobile market remained the largest telecommunications market sector, with revenues of $27.1 billion in 2018, a growth of $2.63 billion (10.7%), over 2017 revenues.
These revenues represented over 55% of all retail telecommunications revenues in 2018. The sector was one of two retail telecommunications sectors, the other being fixed Internet, that reported revenue growth in 2018 – all other sectors reported declines. In 2018, subscribers increased by 4.8% over the prior year to 33.2 million, and average revenue per user (ARPU) increased by 6.6% to $69.61. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins reached 41.0% in 2018. — CRTC Communications Monitoring Report
The Globe and Mail, the PMO and a $12M tax break
Through 2017 and 2018, as reporters for The Globe and Mail were busy covering the Justin Trudeau government, the newspaper’s management, including its editor-in-chief, repeatedly engaged with the Prime Minister’s Office in a very different way, campaigning through meetings and emails for millions in research-and-development funding and tax law changes that could benefit the paper’s owners, according to emails and documents (allegedly) obtained by Canadaland and the accounts of former government officials. — Jesse Brown, Canadaland
Hollywood is putting the squeeze on composer fees
Netflix is hardly the first entertainment company to pursue buyouts with composers: CBS made an unsuccessful attempt in the 1980s. The Discovery Channel is seeking to directly license music from composers via buyouts as it rewrites terms of contracts with production studios, according to industry sources close to the discussions. Discovery has informed composers and musicians that it will require composers and musicians to sign licensing contracts similar to those used by Scripps Networks Interactive, which it acquired last year, according to the same individuals. — Kathryn Kranhold, Billboard
UK firm set to acquire Cineplex chain
Cineplex Inc. has agreed to be bought by British theatre chain Cineworld in a $2.8B deal that, if approved, would create the largest cinema empire in North America, the company announced on Monday. Cineplex is the dominant theatre banner in Canada, with a 75 percent share of the box office, operates 1,700 screens nationwide. — Jake Edmiston, Financial Post
The business of local TV news will enter its downward slide
Because of cord-cutting and young people’s changing relationships with the places where they live, the audience for local TV news is aging. Just 18 percent of adults 18 to 29 years old say they often get news from their local television stations. That’s compared to 57 percent of those 65 years and older. The graying of the local television news audience will continue. — Rachel Davis Mersey, NiemanLab
Social media predictions 2020: Private communication, TikTok and attribution
Social media management platform Hootsuite survey of 3,110 marketers, interviewed industry analysts and conducted extensive research to predict the five trends that will be prevalent in the new year. — Paige Murphy, AdNews
Politics, porn and toxic world of deepfake
Deepfakes are videos produced through the use of artificial intelligence. Melding images and sound, using things like face grafts, body transfers or voice imitations, they make people appear to say things they never said and do things they never did. They appear so real it is often difficult to tell if they are fake.
For now, the vast majority of deepfakes, 96 percent to be more precise, target women, mostly celebrities, where one woman's face is placed to appear on another's body, many times in the making of fake pornographic videos.
The bigger concern is this: Deepfakes could be used to spread misinformation, mess with politics, and manipulate electorates by fooling journalists and voters. And there are real-life examples already playing out across the world. — Al Jazeera News
Google: A year in search
The jobs of tomorrow: LinkedIn’s 2020 emerging jobs report
LinkedIn’s third-annual Emerging Jobs Report, highlights the fastest-growing jobs around the world, skills associated with them, and the cities and industries where these jobs are located.
Over the coming weeks, the platform will be sharing insights by country to dig deeper into workforce trends around the world, which you can explore here. Whether you’re looking for a new gig or want to get ahead in the rapidly-changing world of work, these insights show you how jobs, careers, and skills are changing so you can explore the right next step for you.
Here’s what you should know about this year’s emerging jobs. — Guy Berger, LinkedIn
