Business

BRUSSELS: Tech companies with millions of European users or active in at least two sectors will be classified as online gatekeepers subject to tough new EU rules aimed at curbing their power, three people familiar with the matter said on Thursday (Dec 10). The criteria defining online gatekeepers which control access to people, services and information are expected to hit Alphabet unit Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon. The yardsticks will be set out in the Digital Markets Act (DMA) which European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will present on Dec 15. The draft rule lays out a list of dos and don'ts for digital gatekeepers. There could still be changes due to ongoing discussions at the European Commission, the people said. The proposed DMA has seen multiple modifications in recent months in response to legal concerns and conflicting demands within the EU executive. "It is going to be a fairly short list of gatekeepers," one of the people said, adding that … [Read more...] about New EU rules to define gatekeepers by users, areas of business: Report

REUTERS: Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal on Thursday said it will give local U.S. advertisers access to buy more digital and streaming TV advertising inventory and introduce the ability to target those ads to consumers by their region, as the media company looks to gain more revenue from small to mid-sized businesses. NBC Spot On, a program that serves advertisers on NBCUniversal's local TV stations, will expand to let local businesses buy ads on its streaming service Peacock, and on NBCUniversal content that appears on Google's YouTube and Apple News. The move is another step in NBCUniversal's push to simplify how advertisers of all sizes purchase ads across all the platforms where viewers watch content, including TV and streaming services. NBCUniversal said it will also double the amount of ad inventory local advertisers can access on the NBC App, which has content from networks including MSNBC, Bravo and E!. Local advertisers will now be able to target their ads to viewers … [Read more...] about NBCUniversal adds more digital, streaming ad options for local businesses

TOKYO/NEW YORK -Sony Corp will buy AT&T Inc's animation business Crunchyroll for US$1.175 billion, the two companies said on Thursday, as the Japanese electronics conglomerate aims to beef up its entertainment content and distribution businesses. The deal will give Sony access to Crunchyroll's 3 million paying subscribers across more than 200 countries and regions, helping Sony compete more globally with entertainment giants such as Netflix. Sony's Funimation Global Group, a U.S. animation distributor with 1 million paying subscribers, will own Crunchyroll, currently part of AT&T's WarnerMedia segment. AT&T has been looking to monetize its non-core assets since CEO John Stankey took over in June. The latest deal will allow it to invest in other focuses of WarnerMedia, including content creation and gaming. Despite Crunchyroll's loyal following among anime fans, AT&T felt the anime streaming service was too niche for the broader audience its streaming service … [Read more...] about Sony to buy AT&T’s anime business for US$1.18 billion to expand global footprint

LONDON: Britain's biggest retailer Tesco said on Wednesday all conditions had been satisfied for the US$10.6 billion sale of its businesses in Thailand and Malaysia to C.P. Retail Development Company Limited and the deal should be completed this month. Tesco agreed the deal in March. It said that CP Group had now reviewed and was satisfied with the formal notice of approval from the OTCC in Thailand. This, combined with the approval received from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs in Malaysia on Nov. 10, means there are no further conditions outstanding and the disposal is expected to complete on or around Dec. 18. (Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Edmund Blair) … [Read more...] about Tesco says conditions satisfied for US$10.6 billion sale of Asia business

advertisement advertisement advertisement 2020 was one of those years that will “live in infamy” as President Franklin D. Roosevelt put it. And, with the first weeks of 2021 giving its predecessor a run for its money, there has been little time to come up for air, pause, reflect, and respond to any of the events we have endured. advertisement advertisement But, for those of us who are committed to change, it is imperative that we do just that. One of the greatest inequities the last year brought to the surface in glaring detail, was the disproportionately negative impact of the economic downturn on Black-owned businesses. Because Yelp is in the business of helping businesses, this is where we felt we could be the most intentional and authentic in our response. From that starting point, our plan grew to encompass five strategies that we’ve observed have been put into practice by other companies to support Black-owned … [Read more...] about This is how companies can meaningfully support Black-owned businesses