Coronavirus T.I.M. News Hub - week 16

Telecom traffic

COVID-19 update: AT&T's core network traffic increases at a lower rate
Fall of the roaming empire: telecom groups face revenue loss as travel collapses
DNA's customers use the most mobile data in Europe and reach the top of mobile data usage worldwide
Turkcell's data usage up 35% since late March
Altice Portugal reports 60% growth in fixed telephony traffic
Safaricom fixed internet use rise 70% as customers stay at home during pandemic
Irish telcos agree Covid-19 measures with govt to keep customers connected
Internet capacity remains sufficient - says the updated BEREC summary report
NBN uploads soar during COVID-19 lockdown
Melita records considerable increases in fixed voice, internet, TV usage since Covid-19 crisis start

Media events

Tour de France postponed to August and September
New Federal Coronavirus Guidelines Specify When Movie Theaters Could Reopen
PGA Tour targets June return without spectators
‘Contagion’ Director Steven Soderbergh Leads DGA Committee on Resuming Production
There will be no Comic-Con this year for the first time in 50 years

Media supply and demand

Discovery throws free content for families onto its streaming apps
Roku sees higher active account numbers in Q1 but withdraws FY outlook amid pandemic
ITV Hub sees 82% year-on-year jump in consumption hours in Q1
YouTube sees news content viewership increase by 75%
Virgin Media offers 17 more channels for free to all TV customers
Euskaltel, R and Telecable clients add 100 free films to TV offer

Telecom impact

Dish cuts jobs as coronavirus impacts business: report
Vodacom to spend ZAR 500 mln in 2 months to bolster network capacity and resilience during lockdown
Shaw Communications announces temporary layoffs in response to Covid-19 pandemic
NBN Co launches USD 150 mln COVID-19 relief, assistance fund
Poland watchdog postpones 5G auction
Telefonica Germany to reopen shops in 14 states
Orange confirms that its Annual General Meeting will be held on 19 May and adapts its dividend policy
Orange announces cut to 2019 dividend due to Covid-19

Media impact

LIVE NATION TO SLASH COSTS BY UP TO $500M THIS YEAR AS BOSS MICHAEL RAPINO SACRIFICES $3M ANNUAL SALARY
ESPN Asks Talent For A 15% Pay Cut, Sees Lower Ad Revenues, Viewer Impressions
L.A. Times to Furlough Workers as Ad Revenue ‘Nearly Eliminated’
Cinemark Launches $250 Million Debt Sale
Can AMC Theatres Afford to File for Bankruptcy During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Walt Disney Co. Enters New $5 Billion Credit Agreement
Amazon to hire 75,000 more workers to cope with demand
Axe swings over Dentsu salaries as holding company fights economic battle
Publicis Groupe Discloses $500 Million Cost-Cutting Plan As It Issues Q1 Results Early
Job losses, pay cuts and furloughs hit Omnicom,  CEO tells staff in memo
Canal Plus ‘won’t pay’ final Top 14 rights fee instalment
Report: Covid-19 “devastating impact” on TV advertising
Foxtel ‘fails to make’ A$12m A-League rights payment
Troubled AMC Theatres Plans to Raise $500 Million in Private Offering
Facebook and news agency AFP launch new initiative against Covid-19 misinformation in France

Metadata

COVID-19 mobile app available to governments for a symbolic euro
UK Becomes First To Use Apple, Google COVID-19 Tracing App
Apple and Google say their coronavirus-tracking tech will remain 'opt-in' only, and governments won't be allowed to require people to use it
NHS in standoff with Apple and Google over coronavirus tracing
COVID-19 Tracker Is Now Available On Android Phones Via Google Play
Google unveils Maps, Search and YouTube features in India to help people combat coronavirus
Apple just released a tool that shows how well people in your area are staying home. Take a look.
Apple releases aggregated mobility data from Apple Maps to help track Covid-19 measures
Human-fronted contact tracing essential: Singapore COVID-19 app lead

Telecom relief funds

AT&T supports nurses, physicians with three months of free FirstNet service
Cisco starts new financing programme to support customers, partners
MTN Group provides ZAR 250 mln relief package to tackle Covid-19 pandemic
BT outlines commitments to supporting NHS during Covid-19 crisis
Hrvatski Telekom donates HRK 4 million to help fight coronavirus
Bell acquires 1.5 mln protective face masks for frontline healthcare workers in Canada

Media relief funds

Verizon Media Donates $10M In Ad Credits, Launches 'Yahoo Life'
Google will donate $1 million to San Francisco Bay Area families impacted by COVID-19, with another $1 million coming from Sundar Pichai
Google creates Journalism Emergency Relief Fund to support local news
Journalism Emergency Relief Fund - How to apply
Netflix, AMACC launch MXN 25 mln industry support fund
Netflix Expands Hardship Fund to $150 Million as Crews Remain Anxious About Coronavirus Shutdown
World Rugby unveils $100m global relief package
NUJ proposes windfall tax on tech groups to support news media through Covid-19 crisis

Coronavirus T.I.M. News Hub - week 15

Telecom traffic

• Updated BEREC report on the status of internet capacity in light of Covid-19 crisis
• Special emergency session of the Broadband Commission pushes for action to extend internet access and boost capacity to fight COVID-19
• COVID-19 – Openreach Update on Future G.fast and FTTP Plans
• Reports show internet traffic stabilising as conferencing, streaming keep demand high
• BEREC makes public summary reports on status of internet capacity
• Vodafone fixed broadband usage up more than 50% in Italy and Spain
• Tracking COVID-19’s Impact on Global Internet Performance (Updated April 6)
• Telefonica reports jump in calls abroad over fixed network during Covid-19 crisis
• NBN Co sees peak download throughput jump 18% to 13.1 Tbps
• Kazakhtelecom reports 20% jump in data traffic
• Vodafone NZ network traffic grows 20-100% from February, international roaming plunges 99%
• COVID-19 broadband usage starts to plateau—OpenVault
• Australian operators form work group to manage congestion caused by covid-19 pandemic
• Euskaltel traffic up 90% on landlines and 65% on mobile
• Global Video Downloads Increase, Due To Broadband Slowdowns
• Romania fixed internet traffic up 21%, mobile internet up 12% amid Corona crisis
• Google's video chat service adds 2 million users a day amid coronavirus
• Irish Minister sign regulations for temporary release of extra spectrum
• UPC Switzerland sees mobile calls nearly double
• DNA's strong growth in voice traffic hits the morning - the need for bilateral talks has grown during the exceptional period
• Microsoft Teams breaks daily record with 2.7 billion meeting minutes, tops mid-March high by 200%
• Verizon & AT&T Report Number Of Phone Calls Are Up Over 30%
• Wi-Fi Calling Up 101%, Voice Calls 36%: Study

Telecom retail impact

• Belgium allows telecom shops to reopen
• Belgian regulator provides guidelines for reopening telecom shops
• A1 to reopen ten more shops from 14 April

Other telecom impact

• GSMA condemns attacks against mobile phone masts
• 5 Reasons Why 5G Has Nothing to do with COVID-19
• WhatsApp limits mass message-forwarding to try and stop the wild spread of coronavirus misinformation
• KPN sees limited impact on Q1 results from pandemic
• Covid-19 crisis to hit telecom revenues this year - TIM CEO
• Eutelsat sees marginal revenue impact from Covid-19 pandemic, plans 30% dividend cut
• Smartphone sales to fall 23% this year due to Covid-19 impact - study

Media consumption

• Snapchat Viewership Soars, Both For Pandemic News, Gaming
• Brits Turn To Trusted Media During COVID-19 Lockdown
• Europe: VoD up 41%, live streaming down 30%
• Data: Covid-19 reshaping content consumption
• Survey: Younger Users Increase Mobile and CTV Usage

Media events

• London’s West End Will Be Closed Until June Due to the Coronavirus Crisis
• Venice Film Festival Rules Out Digital Option
• British Open cancelled, rest of golf major schedule reworked
• Bob Iger Floats Temperature Checks at Disney Parks, but Wall Street Sees Two Years Before Normalcy Returns
• Edinburgh Festival goes digital
• All Microsoft events will be digital-only until July 2021
• Broadway Extends Shutdown to June Due to Coronavirus
• Disney Furloughs Hit Film Labels, Including Marvel and Lucasfilm
• Universal Studios to Keep U.S. Theme Parks Closed Through ‘at Least May 31’

Video supply

• Salto: the launch of the TF1, M6 and France TV platform postponed to the fall
• Iflix Asian Streamer Cuts Jobs as Coronavirus Adds to Debt Woes
• Comcast opens its VOD vaults further amid COVID-19 crisis
• Comcast Makes More Than Two Dozen More Entertainment Networks and Subscription Video Services Available for Free
• Eleven Sports offering free content In Italy And Portugal

Media and internet impact

• M6 and TF1 ask to defer Euro 2020 rights payments
• Lagardere proposes not to pay a dividend
• Formula 1 bosses take pay cut and furlough staff as teams discuss further cost cap
• Swiss public broadcaster furloughs 600 employees due to Covid-19 crisis
• Sky Deutschland in talks with German Football League over advance payments for TV rights
• WPP 'Can't Rule Out' Job Cuts
• Eventbrite lays off half its workforce as coronavirus crushes events business
• Alphabet’s drone service has completed more than 1,000 deliveries during the past two weeks of the coronavirus crisis.
• Facebook CPMs Crash, Fall To All-Time Low
• Channel 4 to furlough 10% of staff, executives take 20% pay cut
• Yelp lays off 1,000 employees and furloughs 1,100 more

Telecom and internet metadata

• Facebook asks users about coronavirus symptoms, releases friendship data to researchers
• Facebook is developing new tools for researchers to track if social distancing is working
• Alphabet (GOOGL) Tracks Coronavirus Cases Using Location Data
• Behind the global efforts to make a privacy-first coronavirus tracking app
• EU data watchdog pitches pan-European COVID-19 app 
• EC sets out rules for Covid-19 mobility tracking
• Data guardian seeks pan-European Covid-19 action
• EU privacy regulators to develop guidance on using location data to track covid-19
• Vodafone using crowdsourcing app to fight coronavirus
• Vodafone Foundation and scientists at Imperial College London team up to use crowdsourcing app to help in the fight against Coronavirus
• Verizon Media Launches COVID-19 Search Engine For Research

Telecom support plans

• BT pledges no coronavirus-related job cuts; CEO Jansen donates salary to charity
• ICASA orders zero-rated access to websites providing coronavirus public information
• Intel boosts COVID-19 aid, research to $60 M
• Telenet offers Yelo Play free to hospitals, care homes
• Maxis offers 1GB of data per day during covid-19 crisis
• DNA provides a food bag service to hundreds of seniors
• Sunrise partners with Zurich and Bank Cler to back vouchers for small firms closed by coronavirus
• Makedonski Telekom donates internet for long-distance learning
• Digi offers free Covid-19 digital insurance plan for 200,000 customers
• Cable One donates USD 300,000 to support Covid-19 relief
• OTE buys beds, monitors for hospital ICUs
• LIBERTY GLOBAL ANNOUNCES CREATION OF $4 MILLION COVID-19 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE FUND

Media and internet support plans

• SoundCloud Unveils Initiatives to Support Musicians on the Platform
• Etsy Launches 'Stand With Small' Campaign
• ITV cancels directors' bonuses to help manage costs during Covd-19 crisis
• ITV supports NHS Charities Together campaign to thank NHS staff
• APPLE MUSIC LAUNCHES $50M ADVANCE FUND FOR INDEPENDENT LABELS HIT BY COVID-19 IMPACT
• Twitter CEO to spend USD 1 bln on new charity for Covid-19 relief, girl's education
• Snapchat launches AR lens for Covid-19 donations
• Scandinavian media poised to receive state aid to mitigate virus fall-out
• Xandr Donates $200K, Delivers PSAs, To Help Coronavirus Fight
• Lagardère proposes the transformation of its dividend into the creation of a “Covid solidarity fund” for its employees
• ViacomCBS Launches $100 Million Coronavirus Relief Fund

Pharma news

• Bill Gates is funding new factories for 7 potential coronavirus vaccines, even though it will waste billions of dollars
• Coronavirus may 'reactivate' in cured patients, Korean health authority says
• Denmark-based startup BluSense develops 12-minute COVID-19 diagnostic test

Macro news

• EU countries use looser state aid rules to uphold troubled firms
• EU in push for digital transformation after COVID-19 crisis
• Lockdown to cost £2.4bn a day as economy crashes
• Austria’s government presents COVID-19 exit schedule
• EU ministers to agree virus rescue plan, not ‘coronabonds’
• EU to debate strategy to exit virus lockdown
• EU announces €15 billion to fight virus in developing countries
• Eurogroup agrees on €540 billion corona-package

Coronavirus T.I.M. News Hub - week 14 - UPDATED

Network traffic

• Steam sets new concurrent user record for the third time in as many weeks
• Vodafone New Zealand voice traffic jumps 70% amid covid-19 lockdown
• Euskaltel maintains national expansion plan, sees data surge
• Moldova mobile data traffic up 29% year-on-year in 2 weeks to 23 March
• Gebruik van WhatsApp in Spanje met 700% gestegen
• AT&T Sees Wi-Fi Calling Jump 76%, Texting 46%
• Microsoft announces Teams for consumers, Skype daily active users up 70% to 40 million
• Comcast says voice and video calls have skyrocketed 212 percent during widespread self-isolation
• Comcast’s Broadband Network Supports Usage Spikes
• Comcast says peak internet traffic up 32% since start of March
• Comcast claims video-on-demand is hitting record highs
• Windstream data traffic up 30% since mid-March
• Video, IM, Texting Drive Mobile During COVID-19 Crisis
• Video conferencing app downloads go through the roof
• Video Streaming to TVs Soared 85% in U.S. in First Three Weeks of March, Nielsen Says
• Italy: TV viewing up 108min a day during Covid-19
• Conviva: Daytime Viewing Up As Much As 43% in March 17-23 Week
• Portugal: TV consumption up 40%
• Report: Global streaming up 20%; Primetime shifts
• Zattoo records 13% increase in viewing time in March
• BBC sees record demand for kids content on iPlayer, BBC Bitesize
• Xumo, Verizon Fios See Big Increases in Video Usage
• Netflix leads on downloads, but YouTube Kids grabs more hours
• Dutch listen to more radio since coronavirus measures
• Voice traffic growth slows in Portugal, still up 34% compared to early March
• Digital News Subscriptions Grow During COVID-19 Crisis
• Coronavirus Disruption Leads to Jump in Cloud Services Use
• Masmovil, Yoigo unveil new health, education and entertainment services
• How Snapchatters are adapting to the COVID-19 health crisis
• Facebook debuts standalone Messenger app on Mac and PC
• Tracking COVID-19’s Impact on Global Internet Performance
• Study: European daytime broadband usage up 65%
• Vodafone says upstream broadband data flows have doubled in some markets
• Eurona satellite internet connections up 60% during lockdown
• Surge in downloads amid coronavirus will see consumer app spending double over five years, report says
• Consumers spent record $23.4 billion on apps in Q1 2020, thanks to being stuck indoors
• Vodafone to add 4 Tbps of capacity to its networks due to COVID-19
• AT&T sees surge in cloud-based VPN usage due to COVID-19
• Cellular network traffic up 10-20%; carriers tell FCC networks are holding - Network operators told the FCC that voice has emerged as the “new killer app”

Network build-outs (5G and FTTH)

• Spain postpones auction of 5G-ready frequencies in 700 MHz band
• Proximus lowers dividend to accelerate investment in fibre roll-out
• Hutchison, HKT, China Mobile to launch 5G service in Hong Kong on 1 April
• New T-Mobile US with combined resources to launch on April 1, 2020
• T-Mobile completes takeover of Sprint, Sievert starts as CEO
• Report: Coronavirus will delay 5G markets
• SK Telecom: 5G subs heavy media users
• French regulator confirms delay to 5G auction
• Telefonica to halt fibre installations until lockdown over - report

Telecom retail stores

• Swisscom considers reduced hours for employees
• Bouygues Telecom to tap partial unemployment scheme for retail staff
• Veon trading update points to pressure on sales from shop closures, lower roaming
• Hutchison Drei Austria employs staff from closed shops for customer service from home

Telecom support programs

• Waoo! provides free access to Skidos children's education app as coronavirus shuts schools
• Telia Lithuania donates EUR 100,000 to help fight pandemic
• AT&T offers customers 15 GB extra hotspot data, free delivery
• T-Mobile US to donate up USD 0.5 mln for healthcare workers, families in need
• iliad Group sets up solidarity fund to help very small- and medium-sized subcontractors
• Coronavirus: Orange sets-up 8 million euro crisis fund in Europe, Africa and the Middle East
• Comcast commits $500 million to help its workers affected by coronavirus; top execs donate salary
• FCC approves USD 200 mln covid-19 telehealth programme

Metadata

• In coronavirus fight, oft-criticized Facebook data aids U.S. cities, states
• Pinterest CEO and a team of leading scientists launch a self-reporting COVID-19 tracking app
• Apple CEO Cook Questioned by Senators on Covid-19 Screening App
• Google uses location data to show which places are complying with stay-at-home orders — and which aren’t
• Google Reveals Location Data to Help Public Health Officials
• European coalition to develop “privacy-preserving” tech for contact tracing

Media events (B2B and B2C)

• MIDEM 2020 Conference Cancelled, Reboots as Digital Edition
• Hannover Messe cancelled because of coronavirus
• ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit Is Telling Fans Hard Truth: Coronavirus Could Cancel Football Season
• Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Canceled Due to Coronavirus
• Uefa suspends Champions League indefinitely, postpones June play-offs
• LFP dealt further blow as beIN suspends rights payments
• Fox Predicts Return of Sports In 3Q, 4Q
• ‘Morbius,’ ‘Ghostbusters’ Sequel and More Sony Movies Pushed Back to 2021
• ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Release Pushed to December
• Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Wipe Out All of Summer Blockbuster Season?
• Eurovision Sport negotiates archive access with federations
• Edinburgh Festivals Called Off Due to Coronavirus Concerns
• Alternatieve Songfestival live vanuit Studio 21 in Hilversum
• After Coronavirus Cancellation, SXSW Partners With Amazon Prime on Online Festival
• SALTO: A FULL DEPLOYMENT THAT COULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE FALL
• BeIN offers entertainment upgrades to offset Covid-19 impact
• HBO unveils free 500-hour streaming plan, incl ‘Sopranos’ & ‘The Wire’
• Megafon offers free access to fitness videos
• Cannes Lions Canceled for 2020
• Amazon to delay Prime Day event due to coronavirus, outlines cloud risks
• ‘Artemis Fowl’ Will Skip Theatrical Release and Debut on Disney Plus
• ‘Black Widow,’ ‘Eternals,’ ‘Indiana Jones 5’ and More Disney Films Get New Release Dates
• China’s Film and TV Production Makes Partial Restart After Coronavirus Hiatus

Media staff and salary cuts, profit warnings

• WPP cuts awards, reduces top salaries and freezes hiring amid Covid-19 crisis
• Ad giant WPP launches £2bn savings plan as Covid-19 hits business
• UK ad market faces drop of 50% in April
• Fox Corp. Joins Other Media Cos. in Suggesting Pandemic May Affect Results
• RTL Group withdraws outlook for 2020 and dividend proposal for 2019 due to the coronavirus outbreak
• Bouygues Telecom suspends guidance for 2020 due to Covid-19 uncertainty
• Disney unveils raft of pay cuts to deal with Covid-19
• Disney to furlough employees amid coronavirus crisis
• Top Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky Executives to Donate Salary Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• Endeavor Officially Announces Pay Cuts as Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell Forgo Salaries
• IHEARTMEDIA FURLOUGHS EMPLOYEES; CEO BOB PITTMAN GIVES UP $1.5M SALARY FOR REMAINDER OF 2020
• ITV Executive Board Takes 20% Pay Cut During Coronavirus Lockdown
• Dazn to suspend rights fees for cancelled games - report
• Lionsgate Layoffs Hit Feature Film Marketing and Distribution Department
• Cinemark Cuts Employee Wages Temporarily After Coronavirus Closes Theaters
• IATSE Estimates Up to 95% of Its Members Are Out of Work Due to Coronavirus
• Airbnb has reportedly dropped its internal valuation to $26 billion as the coronavirus halts travel worldwide

Media support programs

• National Geographic Society Launches Fund For Journalists Covering COVID-19
• Facebook to invest USD 100 mln more in Journalism Project during coronavirus crisis
• Facebook announces $40 million grant to U.S. small businesses
• Google commits USD 800 mln worth of help during coronavirus oubreak
• SONY LAUNCHES $100M COVID-19 RELIEF FUND, INCLUDING MONEY FOR ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
• Jeff Bezos will donate $100 million to help food banks that are facing shortages due to the coronavirus outbreak
• Sling TV to donate movie rental profits to purchase healthcare supplies through Good360, Covid-19 response efforts
• Film Academy Donates $6 Million to Support Motion Picture Employees Affected by Coronavirus

Macro and politics

• Macy’s, Kohl’s have about 5 months of cash available putting them at risk from extended closures, analysts say
• J.C. Penney furloughs most of its 90,000 workers as stores remain closed until further notice
• Shipments Of TV Sets Now Projected To Sink By 9% This Year
• These 16 companies are working on coronavirus treatments or vaccines — here’s where things stand
• Europe’s COVID-19 App Attack
• Orbán to rule by decree with new powers to ‘silence critics’
• Centre-right leaders ask Tusk to expel Orban’s Fidesz from EPP
• EU Commission expects deeper recession than in 2009
• CARES Act Telecom Funding Includes $300M for FCC Telehealth, USDA ReConnect Program
• Apple is reportedly worried that people won't have the money to buy new iPhones this year, and it's an ominous sign of what's to come for people's finances
• Foxconn plays down 5G iPhone production claims
• Global mobile phone sales to fall 13% in 2020 on Covid-19 impact - study
• Start-ups cut nearly 4,000 jobs in March as coronavirus impact ripples through tech
• Europe races to rescue its tech industry as start-ups fight for survival
• eBay is waiving seller fees for new businesses to help shuttered retailers move online
• U.S. Jobless Claims Soar to Once-Unthinkable Record 6.65 Million
• ‘We are writing history, not an economics textbook’, Conte tells Germans
• Evaluating the initial impactofCOVID-19 containment measures on economic activity
• OECD portal Tackling coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus T.I.M. News Hub - week 13 - UPDATED

Telecoms traffic

• T-Mobile tracks ‘dramatic’ spike in messaging, launches low-cost phone plan
• AT&T, Verizon see consumers dial up voice usage
• Phoning It In: COVID-19 Drives Consumers Back To Speaking On Phones
• Telstra voice services impacted by high number of calls to government agencies
• 70% increase in Facebook Messenger group video calls: Report
• Virgin Media sees a 95% upstream traffic spike during daytime hours
• Vodafone New Zealand sees 50% mobile data usage growth in one week
• VPN traffic surging in response to increased telework
• How Zoom, Netflix, and Dropbox are Staying Online During the Pandemic
• Covid-19 travel restrictions to cost operators USD 25 bln in roaming revenues
• Coronavirus has led to a 775 percent increase in usage of Microsoft Azure cloud services
• BEREC report on the status of internet capacity

Telecoms metadata

• EU’s Breton defends COVID-19 telecoms data acquisition plans
• Slovakia to track coronavirus victims through telecoms data
• WHO calls for privacy focus in virus tech use
• European Data Protection Supervisor: data sharing to combat COVID-19 is legit

Telecoms other

• Telia Company to give updated 2020 outlook as soon as possible due to increased uncertainty as COVID-19 impacts TV & Media unit - Board of Directors adjust 2019 dividend proposal
• COVID-19 Leading To Shortfall Of Phones, Smart Devices

Media events

• Fifa opens video archive to serve fans in isolation
• UEFA.tv offers classic match re-runs
• All the virtual concerts, plays, museums and other culture you can enjoy from home
• Olympic Games Will Be Postponed a Year Due to Coronavirus
• Tony Awards Postponed Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

Media streaming impact

• Exclusive: Disney+ Sees Huge Subscription Spike As Homebound Audiences Clamor For Content
• CuriosityStream viewing up 70%, Pluto TV up 73% in news
• Comscore: TV Viewing Up 40% For Cable TV News Networks, 13% Higher For Top Broadcast Networks
• Comscore Finds In-Home Data Usage Surging
• Netflix Streaming Traffic Hits All-Time Highs on AT&T Networks
• WarnerMedia records 20% increase in TV viewing in week from 14 March
• Disney+ rolls out in Europe
• Limelight: “Disney ups pressure on streaming services”
• Why Are Music Streams Down If Everyone’s Stuck at Home? Experts Weigh in

Media impact

• AMC Theatres Furloughs CEO and Staff as Coronavirus Pandemic Closes Cinemas
• More Than 500 Cinemas in China Reopen as Coronavirus Threat Recedes
• China Moves to Re-Shutter All Cinemas Nationwide
• DPG and Roularta confirm the use of temporary unemployment
• Coronavirus - Roularta suspends the publication of two free titles for five weeks
• Netflix's Ted Sarandos says coronavirus-related shutdown won't disrupt content, for now at least
• Netflix Experiences Temporary Outages Across U.S., Europe
• Endeavor Lays Off 250 Across Company, Exploring Wide Salary Cuts
• ITV reduces programme budget by £100m as ad market deteriorates
• Coronavirus Hits ITV as Programming Budget Cut by $116 Million
• ITV in “unprecedented and uncertain times”
• ITV warns of increasing Covid-19 impact on advertising revenues
• TF1 puts its financial performance objectives on hold
• France’s TF1 prepares for “significant” Covid-19 impact, as ads & production hit
• Publicis Groupe Cuts Freelance, Other Outsourced Work
• LAGARDERE: 2020 guidance is suspended
• Twitter Withdraws Q1 Guidance Due to COVID-19 Impact
• Twitter warns of Q1 operating loss on advertising slump during pandemic
• Discovery Withdraws 2020 Fiscal Outlook, Draws Down $500 Million Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
• Comcast Warns Virus Crisis "Could Have a Material Adverse Impact on Our Results"
• Technicolor withdraws 2020-2022 guidance in view of Covid-19
• Sony may cancel profit revision due to coronavirus impact
• ViacomCBS, Following Disney, Comcast, Announces $2.5 Billion Debt Sale
• Facebook reports jump in messaging, softer ad revenues in countries hit by Covid-19
• Coronavirus Transforms Facebook into Major News Hub Again
• FROM AMAZON TO FACEBOOK, DIGITAL ADVERTISING IS IN A STATE OF SHOCK
• Facebook, Google Could Lose Over $44 Billion in Ad Revenue in 2020 Because of Coronavirus
• Forecast: Sports to lose $2bn media revenue in 2020
• Telenet replaces Play Sports programming with Play More content
• Health, trust and journalism: a Coronavirus Plan for the Media
• Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice

Media funds

• Patreon Establishes ‘What The Fund’ Grant To Offset Economic Uncertainties Caused By Coronavirus
• EMERGENCY CORONAVIRUS FUND FOR SONGWRITERS WORTH UP TO $43M LAUNCHED BY GEMA IN GERMANY
• Entertainment Industry Foundation Launches Coronavirus Response Fund
• Netflix donates $1.2m to BFI, Film & TV Charity’s Covid-19 fund
• SPOTIFY PLEDGES $10M FUND TO SUPPORT ARTISTS HIT BY CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
• Variety to Contribute Portion of TV Season Award Proceeds to Support Industry Organizations Impacted By Covid-19
• EMERGENCY FUNDS TO SUPPORT FREELANCE ARTISTS IN THE NEW/CREATIVE/IMPROVISED MUSIC COMMUNITY.
• SoundCloud teams with Twitch to help musicians get paid from livestreams

Macro

• White House, Senate Agree On $2 Trillion Coronavirus Rescue Plan
• Senate Approves Massive $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Bill
• House Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus Bill as Lawmakers Promise Additional Aid
• When $2.2 trillion is not enough
• How the coronavirus stimulus bill helps you
• Theater Owners Chief Says Coronavirus Stimulus Will Help Cinemas Survive
• France creates $4.3 billion coronavirus relief program to save struggling startups
• Eurogroup nearing agreement to use bailout fund against pandemic
• Germans and Dutch set to block EU ‘corona bonds’ at video summit
• EU Parliament votes financial assistance for countries affected by COVID-19
• Leaders clash over stimulus against pandemic, pass hot potato to Eurogroup

RTL Group: 2019 results, targets 2020 and 2025, update to strategy

19Q4

• streaming subs (Videoland + NOW) 1.44m (paying subs: Videoland +29% yoy, Now +45% yoy)
• established Format Creation Group (FC Group): develops non-scripted formats for RTL broadcasters & their streaming services, focus on entertainment formats, reality & game shows
• acquires 50% of M6 tech unit Bedrock (used by M6 Replay & Salto, also RTL BE, RTL HU, RTL Croatia), 3rd-parties may buy into Bedrock

2019

• streaming rev EUR 135m

Outlook 2020 (incl early assesment of corona virus outbreak)

• rev growth 2-3% to EUR 6784-6851m (TV ad rev slightly down, Fremantle growth 4-6%)
• adj EBITA stable = EUR 1156m (excl additional streaming startup losses) or down 7% = EUR 1075m (incl such losses at max)
• content spend Videoland & TV Now EUR 350m (2019: 85m)

Targets 2025

• streaming subs 5-7m
• streaming rev >EUR 500m
• content spend per annum EUR 350m
• EBITDA break-even by 2025

Strategy

• to increase reach & improve monetisation
• 3 pillars
• Strengthen core (families of channels, digital channels)
• consolidate footprint incl through acquisitions
• increase non-ad rev from platform operators
• invest in content & sports rights
• increase oper efficiency
• started to review strategic options for BroadbandTV and SpotX
• cost reductions
• Expand growth businesses (streaming, production, technology)
• build national streaming champions (standalone or via partnerships) to complement Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+
• hybrid business model: SVOD, AVOD, 3-rd party & originals
• diversify Fremantle portfolio, increase scale, focus on drama
• create open ad-tech platform based on Smartclip
• Foster alliances in European media
• RTL AdConnect partnered with ITV, RAI, Medialaan
• Ad Alliance (Germany) partnered with Media Impact (Axel Springer and Funke Mediengruppe)
• Dutch Ad Alliance integrated sales activities of RTL NL, BrandDeli, Adfactor, Triade Media)
• Bertelsmann Content Alliance in DE