https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/royal-wedding-watched-by-29-2m-people-nielsen

About 39% of U.S. adults say Netflix offers the “best original programming” among subscription-video services, per a Morgan Stanley survey.
— Read on variety.com/2018/digital/news/netflix-best-original-programming-hbo-amazon-hulu-showtime-survey-1202817673/

Rachel Botsman, the author of “Who Can You Trust?”, talks about how trust works, whether in relation to robots, companies, or other people. Technology, she says, speeds up the development of trust and can help us decide who to trust. But when it comes to making those decisions, we shouldn’t leave our devices to their own devices.
— Read on hbr.org/ideacast/2017/12/how-technology-tests-our-trust

MGM is re-launching Orion Classics and has named Mike P. Nelson’s thriller The Domestics starring Kate Bosworth as its first release and the studio says it will focus on multi-platform and specialized releases and acquisitions.
— Read on deadline.com/2018/05/orion-classics-relaunches-mgm-label-kate-bosworth-the-domestics-first-release-date-1202395251/

Privacy and anti-monopoly advocacy groups launched the Freedom from Facebook campaign on Monday, demanding that the Federal Trade Commission force the social media giant to break up into four separate companies. Sensing a moment of weakness, activists hope to establish stronger privacy protections and cross-platform communication.
— Read on gizmodo.com/the-movement-to-break-up-facebook-has-begun-1826190338

Facebook is ghosting publishers, but what if publishers could recreate the best parts of Facebook on their own sites?

— Read on www.fastcompany.com/40573008/this-new-tech-could-help-publishers-move-past-facebook-dependency

The Obamas have created a production entity called Higher Ground Productions under which they will produce shows for Netflix.
— Read on www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-barack-obama-netflix-20180521-story.html

Report: Obama Pleads With Jay-Z to Prevent Other Hip Hop Artists Meeting With Trump
— Read on www.infowars.com/report-obama-pleads-with-jay-z-to-prevent-other-hip-hop-artists-meeting-with-trump/

As it does with retail, grocery stores and subscription VOD, Amazon looms large over the pay TV business. It’s becoming clearer that Amazon could even further extend its reach into the industry.
— Read on www.fiercecable.com/video/editor-s-corner-how-far-can-amazon-reach-into-pay-tv

AT&T has received the FCC’s permission to conduct a 28 GHz demo that will give gamers at the Electronic Entertainment Expo an up-close look at how a 5G connection can give them a live gaming experience virtually anywhere there’s network coverage.
— Read on www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/at-t-gets-ok-to-do-5g-immersive-gaming-demo-at-e3

Veteran TV exec Vernon Sanders has joined Amazon Studios as co-head of television. He will over creative and production units for Amazon Prime Video.
— Read on variety.com/2018/digital/news/amazon-studios-vernon-sanders-co-head-tv-1202817795/

The new deal, which is nearing completion, is expected to begin in October 2019, and will mark a three-fold increase over what NBCUniversal is currently paying.
— Read on www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-wwe-close-massive-five-year-1-billion-deal-smackdown-1113701

The pricing and some other features seem awfully familiar.
— Read on slate.com/technology/2018/05/youtube-music-sounds-like-spotify-apple-music-one-thing-could-set-it-apart.html

Way more Americans watched Harry and Meghan Markle’s nuptials than tuned in to see William marry Kate Middleton.
— Read on www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/05/royal-wedding-ratings-meghan-markle-prince-harry

In Focus: Connected TVs’ Ad-Supported Future – VideoNuze
— Read on www.videonuze.com/article/in-focus-connected-tvs-ad-supported-future

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have set a deal to create new programming with Netflix, the streaming service announced Monday.
— Read on www.thewrap.com/barack-michelle-obama-sign-multi-year-production-deal-netflix/

The 2018 Billboard Music Awards are currently at an all-time low in the key demo according to Sunday’s overnight numbers.
— Read on variety.com/2018/tv/news/billboard-music-awards-american-idol-finale-ratings-1202817689/

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has spent a year acting as a cheerleader for community support groups, especially those focused on addiction recovery. But scratching the surface of these organizations reveals the need for a referee, instead. Without that, there’s nothing to protect the most vulnerable people on the platform from this impenetrable tangle of altruism and e-commerce.
— Read on www.theverge.com/2018/5/21/17370066/facebook-addiction-support-groups-rehab-patient-brokering

What next for Sir Martin Sorrell? He won’t be beaten, and any suggestion that he is somehow past it, that his last act will be in leaving WPP, was always going to be proven wrong.
— Read on www.mediavillage.com/article/wpp-and-sir-martin-sorrell-now-what/

Tom Brady regularly has participated in the Patriots’ OTAs in the past, but the quarterback will not be at the opening of the voluntary session Monday, a source told ESPN.
— Read on www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23561332/tom-brady-not-present-start-new-england-patriots-voluntary-otas

In a trailer for the next episode of David Letterman’s Netflix series, Howard Stern recalls Donald Trump’s fixation on his daughter, Ivanka.
— Read on deadline.com/2018/05/howard-stern-david-letterman-donald-trump-ivanka-trump-netflix-1202395160/

Amazon Alexa Losing Market Share To Google, Others – 05/18/2018
— Read on www.mediapost.com/publications/article/319473/amazon-alexa-losing-market-share-to-google-others.html

Judge Sides With Contact Lens Purchasers In Antitrust Suit Over Search Campaigns – 05/21/2018
— Read on www.mediapost.com/publications/article/319477/judge-sides-with-contact-lens-purchasers-in-antitr.html

Will “Deadpool 2” make Disney re-consider making R-rated movies?
— Read on variety.com/2018/film/box-office/deadpool-2-disney-fox-merger-1202817235/

‘Outside’ Promotes Summer Sporting, Music Events – 05/21/2018
— Read on www.mediapost.com/publications/article/319466/outside-promotes-summer-sporting-music-events.html