Here are the latest updates on news affecting Los Angeles' startup and tech communities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow dot.LA on Twitter for more.
Today:
- Peacock Will Be Available on Google and Android Devices in July
- Snap Debuts at 'NewFronts' Showcase for Potential Advertisers
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Peacock Will Be Available on Google and Android Devices in July
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQxMjk3My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTcyNTcyM30.ovhO534ibGlL_YlkstiBbv4VDVVToMLOkyajgZw3Fys/image.png?width=980" id="a5ac1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="390b7cd8d014d507d9ac9be3e7cac3f9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /> <p>NBC's new streaming service Peacock has added Google and Android devices — including Andriod TV and Chromecast — to the apps that will stream its nearly 15,000 hours' worth of content beginning July 15. NBC has already announced plans to launch on Apple and Xbox.<br></p><p>Streaming will be free (but not ad-free) through October 15. Viewers can also level-up to the ad-free service for an additional $5/ month. </p><p>The service <a href="https://dot.la/nbc-peacock-streaming-service-2645721883.html" target="_blank">launched in mid-April across Comcast's platforms</a>, where it hopes to add value for its parent company's 28.6 million customers. </p><p>Peacock's library will include a flock of NBC favorites like Parks & Recreation, 30 Rock and Law & Order: SVU; movies from Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Animation such as Jurassic Park, E.T. and Shrek; and news segments, talk shows, original series and content from Telemundo. Peacock will also offer a selection of live sports (once those migrate back), and in 2021 will have exclusive rights to The Office.</p><p>As we <a href="https://dot.la/nbc-peacock-streaming-service-2645721883.html" target="_blank">reported in April</a>, speculation is that part of Comcast's strategy is to retain Pay-TV customers while also guiding a controlled move toward streaming, so it doesn't lose out as more customers shift toward cord-cutting. </p>Snap Debuts at 'NewFronts' Showcase for Potential Advertisers
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3495a1de57e0e24a1b96e5e0c7d82395"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HQ7JwIwrWY0?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>For the first time, Snap is presenting at today's NewFronts, the digital media world's annual summit of presentations to woo prospective advertisers. The event is being held virtually this year.<br></p><p>The Santa Monica-based firm describes the occasion as "a culmination of hard work that's been happening at Snap around content and video advertising for years."</p><p>Snap will be highlighting a collection of data points:</p><ul><li>As of June 22, Snapchat reaches over 100 million people in the U.S., including 90% of people aged 13-24</li><li>229 million people worldwide reportedly use the app every day</li><li>The company now also has more daily users aged over 25 than all of Twitter's self-described "monetizable user base"</li><li><span></span>Total daily time spent watching shows on Discover more than doubled from Q1 2019 to Q1 2020</li><li>Average time spent watching by people over 35 also doubled from Q1 2019 to Q1 2020</li></ul><p>Snap will also share results of a study from Nielsen that found, for example, that a Bud Light ad campaign on Snap was nine times more efficient at reaching the target audience than television advertising. Nielsen also found that the platform provided an average 23% bump on top of TV campaigns, across 20 separate ad campaigns that appeared on Snap. </p><p>The company will also be announcing a new unscripted original series at the event, as well as the renewal of <em>Driven</em>, a docuseries that the company says reached over 15 million viewers in its first installment.<br></p><p>Across all Discover, 45 shows have reached monthly audiences exceeding 15 million viewers, the company says, and the platform now operates with over 350 partners in 15 countries. </p>From Your Site Articles
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Here are the latest updates on news affecting Los Angeles' startup and tech communities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow dot.LA on Twitter for more.
Today:
- New Streaming Data Underline Quibi's Struggles
- John Legend Takes to Wave's Virtual Stage
- TIkTok Reportedly Rakes in $200M
- Snap Rolls Out Pride Lenses For U.S. Regions
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New Streaming Data Underline Quibi's Struggles
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGUVJwNjF1THhaY2wybHQxWjJ5SmNGSDd6QXQ5dmhsMS13VWxCUVU4SWNFOTVqWWxZY3NxZkJjOWhLVEk4T2RFbmUxaUZ4NFQ5Yzc4dWR5WTlXeW9MdW1LOFExNVdpQzQ1ZC1ZT0lUWDl0aUxILU8xUmx4clJ6M0tBUWdFVmJDM244TVh3MmprQyZobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmxoMy5nb29nbGV1c2VyY29udGVudC5jb20mcz0xODkmaD04NDUyMTY4Mjk0YTE5OGMwOTJkZjU3YmNhZmU5OGNjNjBjOGIxZWM0ODRlMDVlN2U4Y2Y2YTc5YzIwZDE3MTk5JnNpemU9OTgweCZjPTExNzU4Mjg2MTgiLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNTk5MzgyMTg5fQ.a-Q2gq9m-vL_Iua4-8EQquKRzs9Akc6d5ULBzBYCjbM/img.jpg" id="202ee" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab3309389162b7f848f0f8304aeeb8c8" /> <p>Things started so rosily for Quibi, with a fat $1.75 billion fundraise, loads of content deals with A-listers, and a <a href="https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/quibi-sells-out-advertising-inventory-150-million-1203380540/" target="_blank">sold-out advertising slate</a>. But lately it's been nothing but bad news. </p><p>Recent reports have depicted all kinds of troubles: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/quibi-jeffrey-katzenbergs-on-the-go-streaming-bet-adjusts-to-life-on-the-couch-11588266129" target="_blank">low demand</a>, <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/04/quibi-marketing-megan-imbres-leaves-launch-1202915748/" target="_blank">executive departures</a>, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/advertisers-seek-to-revise-deal-terms-with-streamer-quibi-11590519825" target="_blank">unhappy advertisers</a>, an <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-05-04/elliott-management-funds-ekos-lawsuit-against-quibi" target="_blank">ongoing intellectual property lawsuit</a>, and a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/quibi-katzenberg-whitman-streaming-startup-11592157291" target="_blank">potential rift between its two chiefs</a>, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman. All this on top of a global pandemic that has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/11/business/media/jeffrey-katzenberg-quibi-coronavirus.html" target="_blank">done no favors to the company's initial value proposition</a> of serving the "on-the-go" moments of consumers' lives.</p><p>Quibi is apparently trying to respond. Variety reported on Wednesday that the L.A.-based mobile-first, short-form video platform has been <a href="https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/quibi-streaming-roku-amazon-fire-tv-1234637152/" target="_blank">negotiating with Amazon and Roku</a> to accelerate its availability onto connected devices. Company executives have also <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/quibi-asks-senior-executives-to-take-10-pay-cut-11591206642" target="_blank">reportedly taken pay cuts</a>. </p><p>Data provided to dot.LA by <a href="https://www.justwatch.com/us/about" target="_blank">JustWatch, an analytics firm</a> with offices in L.A. and Berlin, show that in May, Quibi and its content library captured just 0.5% of the U.S. streaming audience's interest. Netflix led the way at 31%, followed by Amazon Prime Video at 18%, Hulu at 11%, and Disney+ at 8%. </p><p>Industry observers have frequently cited Quibi's lack of a hit show, combined with its nonexistent back catalog of familiar favorites, as a key reason why it has struggled since its April launch.</p><p>JustWatch's data suggest that <em>Reno 911!</em>, which debuted on Quibi in early May, was far and away the most popular show on the app last month. The firm estimates that the rebooted police satire was four times more popular than the runner-up, <em>The Stranger</em>, and 12 times more popular than Quibi's third-ranked title, <em>Most Dangerous Game</em>.</p><p>Quibi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. </p>John Legend Takes to Wave's Virtual Stage
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwMDU4MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMzQxNzg2Nn0.EWmJ9avEF-GlUzE4JTaXXPCP_opTqqoefsDLj9HvRX8/image.jpg?width=980" id="f35ac" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6319a8cc4e2b1540a0423135472fae0a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /> <p><em></em>Wave, an entertainment technology company that turns performers into digital avatars and puts them on virtual stages where they can entertain and interact with fans, announced that John Legend will perform on the platform on Thursday, June 25th at 3:00pm PT.<br></p><p>Legend had previously been slated to participate in the L.A.-based entertainment firm's "One Wave" virtual concert series, but no date had been announced before Wednesday.</p><p>The performance, <a href="https://go.wave.watch/johnlegend" target="_blank">available via YouTube and Twitter</a>, will feature new songs from the EGOT winner's upcoming album, "Bigger Love." Leveraging the Wave platform's interactivity, attendees will be able to send "visual gifts" throughout the performance, with 100% of the proceeds going to Legend's FREEAMERICA criminal justice reform campaign.</p><p>Wave is partnering with PEOPLE for the Legend performance. Sponsors also include Yamaha and Valence, a "new social network addressing diversity by connecting Black talent with economic opportunity." The Ad Council will also be providing public service announcements and resources during the show for fighting racial injustice.</p><p>Fresh off <a href="https://dot.la/wave-virtual-concerts-2646166627.html" target="_blank">a $30 million Series B fundraise,</a> Wave has hosted over 50 events, for up to 400,000 people at a time.</p>TIkTok Reportedly Raked in $200M
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI4MTA2NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTI4NDc0M30.F2EmQwLKpL0bqpvqRnKtfsESZGRp-fL7HNtQzPApv1I/img.jpg?width=980" id="f162f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c9e4b7ecdb23a3681081ff2365c5e5fa" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><em>The Information</em> <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tiktoks-u-s-revenues-expected-to-hit-500-million-this-year" target="_blank">reported Wednesday</a> that TikTok earned between $200 million and $300 million in revenue worldwide in 2019. The news site also said the Culver City-based social media phenomenon's 2020 revenue goals are $500 million in the U.S. alone. These figures follow <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-27/bytedance-is-said-to-hit-3-billion-in-profit-as-revenue-doubles?sref=QjdS4d5U" target="_blank">a separate report from</a> <em><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-27/bytedance-is-said-to-hit-3-billion-in-profit-as-revenue-doubles?sref=QjdS4d5U">Bloomberg </a></em><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-27/bytedance-is-said-to-hit-3-billion-in-profit-as-revenue-doubles?sref=QjdS4d5U">last month</a> that TikTok's parent company ByteDance raked in $17 billion in 2019, and pocketed over $3 billion in profit.<br></p><p>A TikTok company spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny the figures, saying "we don't publicly share company data or revenue metrics."</p><p>In response to <em>The Information's </em>report that TikTok is considering hiring an American executive to oversee its sales team, the spokesperson said, "We are always looking at new opportunities to scale and attract great talent for our teams."</p><p>TikTok, which is <a href="https://dot.la/kevin-mayer-leaves-disney-for-tiktok-chapek-regime-moves-on-2646028687.html" target="_blank">now under the leadership of former Disney streaming executive Kevin Mayer</a>, will be participating later this month in the <a href="https://www.iab.com/events/newfronts-2020/#index-1" target="_blank">NewFronts, the digital media world's jamboree of presentations to woo advertising buyers</a>, which will be virtual this year.</p>Snap Rolls Out Pride Lenses For U.S. Regions
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwMDU4Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjI1MTkyM30.4r9f-Ek_dqXAquPqNEemT4LZu26rUe-0-EhYp0Nxkjc/image.png?width=980" id="9d768" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e2ed82098da7c317b825f37551a1847" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Courtesy of Snap
<p>June is Pride Month, and instead of the annual in-person festivities, <a href="https://lapride.org/" target="_blank">L.A. Pride</a> has been celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of virtual events. Now, Snap is adding augmented reality (AR) to the mix. The Santa Monica company released five new AR lenses on Wednesday in partnership with L.A.'s <a href="https://www.pridemedia.com/" target="_blank">Pride Media</a>. The "community of storytellers, innovators and influencers" reaches over 6 million monthly unique users, which Pride says surpasses any other LGBT media brand.</p><p>The new lenses, which is Snap-speak for the digital overlays that transform a camera image, "spotlight diverse, queer-identifying changemakers advancing equity for all people in every U.S. state," according to a company statement. The release is paired with the annual "<a href="https://www.advocate.com/champions-pride" target="_blank">Champions of Pride</a>" issue from <em>The Advocate</em>, a Pride Media subsidiary publication.</p><p>A Snap spokesperson describes the five new lenses as "art gallery-style spaces" that help Snap's young-leaning users learn about LGBTQ+ and BIPOC advocates. These include "Mighty" Rebekah, a 13-year-old who successfully lobbied for an LGBTQ-inclusive school curriculum in her home state of New Jersey, and Brandon Wolf, the first survivor of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando to testify before Congress.</p><p>Snap tapped five designers from its official <a href="https://lensstudio.snapchat.com/creators/" target="_blank">lens creator cohort</a> to represent five U.S. regions. Each creator has regional ties and either identifies as LGBTQ+ or an ally, the company says.</p><p>Brielle Garcia, designer of the Pacific West lens, says, "I wanted to work on a Pride lens that was not just a celebration of the past, but a celebration of our future. I hope these Lenses can be an encouragement to everyone in the LGBT community. Encouragement that people as unique as you can have success in business, politics, art, or anything you can dream of. This message is important to me because this kind of success has not always been available to us. So many amazing people have come before us to pave the way and this is a celebration of their success and a guide to what you can achieve."</p><p>Joshua Keeney, repping the Northeast, says, "The takeaways that I want people to have with this Lens is that there is incredible diversity within the LGBTQ community, that everyone can be a champion in their own way, and can bring changes to their own communities."</p>From Your Site Articles
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- Snap Stops Promoting Trump In its Discover Platform - dot.LA ›
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Snap Inc unveiled a flurry of new features and products at its partner summit on Thursday. The Santa Monica company held its event virtually this year due to the coronavirus.
Chief Executive Evan Spiegel kicked things off with brief remarks, including an announcement that Snap is partnering with Headspace, also based in Santa Monica.
"Soon, directly in Snapchat, Headspace will offer meditations and tools that help Snapchatters check in with their friends and family, and stay healthy," Spiegel said.
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Yesterday, Headspace closed a <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1805085/000180508520000002/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml" target="_blank">$47.7 million raise</a>, part of their <a href="https://dot.la/headspace-raises-93-million-2645125732.html" target="_self">Series C</a> that was $53 million in equity and $40 million in debt.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TmSp4evm_dSEn_Ka12rjSqcec-CFgHoi66UT302sh4FrGDPbh5tVyaxEdZel5aEEAYm1gne6xpd7VKAzl7_Snh6JadvdjowBI-ohUBICFy8iHMwfT0viQy6-BTMsoa_IaAWLucwL" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGVG1TcDRldm1fZFNFbl9LYTEycmpTcWNlYy1DRmdIb2k2NlVUMzAyc2g0RnJHRFBiaDV0VnlheEVkWmVsNWFFRUFZbTFnbmU2eHBkN1ZLQXpsN19Tbmg2SmFkdmRqb3dCSS1vaFVCSUNGeThpSE13ZlQwdmlReTYtQlRNc29hX0lhQVdMdWN3TCZobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmxoNC5nb29nbGV1c2VyY29udGVudC5jb20mcz0yNTYmaD05NTJiYzg0NWJjNzgxZGI3ODI4OWNlYTdmODU3YTg1OTQ3ODIxMTYyYjU1MjBlOGQ0NTdmMWRhOGYxMjA0ZDkzJnNpemU9OTgweCZjPTQwODc1NDU2NTgiLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjMwMjU4NzYxfQ.GiR-ns6eWZYfMR55DmLALnK9XSL4AUlgC2jbzDcmDwA/img.jpg" id="bad19" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ff360c24f8e2cd3916894de77132b652" alt="" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Snap Inc. Chief Executive Evan Spiegel kicked off this year's partner summit, which was held virtually due to coronavirus fears.</small>
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Spiegel also noted that the Snap app will soon feature a new toolbar with tabs for chat, maps, camera, friends and its Discover platform.<br/>
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Much of the presentation centered around AR, which the company has been building on for eight years. That work shows up on Snap's app in the form of "lenses," which overlay digital features onto a camera's subject. Lenses are developed by Snap and also by independent users.
</p><p>Snap claims about 1 million lenses are available in total and that over 170 million users engage with them on a daily basis, nearly 30 times each day.
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A procession of Snap executives followed Spiegel in rapid succession, introducing new features and partnerships related to their divisions. Here are a few of the highlights:
</p><h2>Snap's AR Lenses Get Supercharged
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Snap's Lens Studio, a desktop app for third-party developers and artists to develop their own lenses, will now allow developers to upload their code into the studio platform and use their own machine learning models to create lens designs.
</p><p>New "local lenses", meanwhile, will use 360 image capture, user snaps, and other data in conjunction with 3D-reconstruction, machine learning and distributed cloud computing technology to "build a representation of the physical world...and map whole city blocks", allowing a new level of AR mapping onto users' surroundings.<br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-proxy-image">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/noG69l2PVnA65ULsOOPgW7Xp4FpYKqFV9xUaeaYa7YnRbBZs8MkjbDthgIpA7OvRYZg-LCcvNot0jtJ8FRZQDNN5ADNwSdP877v6ow77tNDZH72xoN34vtCe8RlDgL2Tw0qmJ2Vt" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGbm9HNjlsMlBWbkE2NVVMc09PUGdXN1hwNEZwWUtxRlY5eFVhZWFZYTdZblJiQlpzOE1ramJEdGhnSXBBN092UllaZy1MQ2N2Tm90MGp0SjhGUlpRRE5ONUFETndTZFA4Nzd2Nm93Nzd0TkRaSDcyeG9OMzR2dENlOFJsRGdMMlR3MHFtSjJWdCZobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmxoMy5nb29nbGV1c2VyY29udGVudC5jb20mcz01OCZoPWQ0Y2FhNDRjMjIzMzkyNDlhZWIzYjNmNjE3MDBlNGYyNmRlMjcxYTg1YTA5OTAwMjAxMjUyZjMzNjZkZDk4YTcmc2l6ZT05ODB4JmM9OTA1ODk3MzY1IiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjUxNTAyNX0.SNGaZJd7hPfiKjSVvlfm4dHmeiYDA9VUmj-GVtmj7hs/img.jpg" id="0fef6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f1a05da6c285d6565bf937f44f95b605" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Snap's local lenses will allow users to transform cities with AR</small></p><p>
Snap's scanning feature will soon enable users to point their cameras at plants, dogs, nutritional labels and brands to get more information, such as the type of plant, dog breed, health information and company histories. Scan will also begin accommodating voice activation. Users will be able to ask Snapchat to add on AR features like a new hot-pink hairdo or a cuddly bearhug.<br/>
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"Today Scan helps you learn more about what you're seeing in front of you," a Snap executive said. "Tomorrow, it will give you results based on what you're saying."
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/lPCKYXFE7SHLjON_DieZv4I5dbw3gz6yUPJ-uKJI1XGNvCSPheZJKey5sjJjgHvOE_0PYY36AkMhKSAm5Jb7v_JjK7VYOKPLekWUav0Ll-QQPmUXVOopaQtnb4beGci6wonmRAWJ" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGbFBDS1lYRkU3U0hMak9OX0RpZVp2NEk1ZGJ3M2d6NnlVUEotdUtKSTFYR052Q1NQaGVaSktleTVzakpqZ0h2T0VfMFBZWTM2QWtNaEtTQW01SmI3dl9Kaks3VllPS1BMZWtXVWF2MExsLVFRUG1VWFZPb3BhUXRuYjRiZUdjaTZ3b25tUkFXSiZobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmxoNS5nb29nbGV1c2VyY29udGVudC5jb20mcz0zMTYmaD0yZGE4MDU1MDk1MjQ3NDQwMTFlZDRiZjhiY2NiZWYwYjU0Mzc3OGRkZjc3ZmUyODc4OTQ0ODA0ZDhjNDdmNGJiJnNpemU9OTgweCZjPTM3MDMxMTU5MjEiLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjE5NzMzNDgyfQ.gXwXAA0dyohFB4tvwBIDLrS_RRNZ_392NmnjqntTQcg/img.jpg" id="4d716" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ddedbe0f3e0c26190b71c04cc900645e" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Snap's scanning technology got an upgrade </small></p><h2>
Snap's Discover Platform Inks New Partnerships with Disney, ESPN and Sports Leagues <br/>
</h2><p>Snap announced expanded partnerships with Disney, ESPN, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS, the NBA and the NFL for its Discover platform. These multi-year deals will reportedly include shows repurposed for mobile viewing, original content, and highlights. </p><p>
The company also introduced Happening Now, "aimed to be the fastest way for Snapchatters to consume breaking news." Updates from partners including the Washington Post, Reuters and Bloomberg will appear in mobile-friendly format.
</p><p>
Snap announced several new shows as well, including unscripted, scripted and docuseries formats. It also renewed four original series.
</p><h2>Snap Ramps Up Integration With Brands and Companies
</h2><p>
Snap Minis, designed by third-party developers, are new utility features that integrate into Snap users' chat windows. As The Information <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/snap-plans-expanded-developer-platform-that-echoes-wechat" target="_blank">reported</a> last month, this functionality resembles Chinese chat platform WeChat, which takes a cut of in-app purchases. In <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21286537/snap-minis-snapchat-partner-summit-2020-announcements" target="_blank">an interview with The Verge</a>, Spiegel explained that Minis represent Snap's expansion into e-commerce.
</p><p>
The initial slate of Minis includes partnerships with L.A.-based Atom Tickets, which will make it easier for Snap users to plan a group movie theater outing, and L.A.-based Mammoth Media, which will allow users to share predictions with their friends. Quick meditations from Headspace, flashcards for studying from Saturn Technologies, and coordination planning for Coachella are also among the new Mini features.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="24c0443afd6b2cf19c2cdee8e7ece210"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qye-qIdwV8M?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The Next Small Thing from Snapchat...Minis! | Snap Partner Summit 2020</small>
</p><p>
Minis will begin to roll out next month, the company said.<br/>
</p><p>Separately, Snap will also allow other applications to incorporate its AR tech.
</p><p>
"We built one of the world's most powerful AR cameras so you don't have to," an executive said.
</p><p>
Apps that will integrate Snap's AR functionality include Triller, which allows users to create their own music videos; MLB's Ballpark app, wherein teams will offer customized lenses for fans; and a new app from Nike that challenges users to reach their fitness and wellness goals.
</p><p>
And through "dynamic lenses," Snapchat will import lenses from other apps, including Houseparty and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.
</p><h2>Snap's Maps Functionality Allows Friends to Find Each Other and Local Businesses </h2><p>
"In an effort to help out local businesses," Spiegel said, "we're rolling out Places on the Snap Map, highlighting places that are popular with our community and easily allowing the places we love to let people know they're open for business."
</p><h2>Snap Unveils A New Slate of Games </h2><p>
Finally, Snap announced several third-party games that will now allow users to bring in their Bitmoji digital avatars, including Scrabble Go, developed by Culver City-based Scopely Inc.
</p><p>
Snap also introduced 10 new games that will be available on its platform. Bitmoji Paint, for example, designed by Snap's internal studio, "is a global canvas where millions of players in the Snapchat community come together to contribute to one massive collage," an executive described.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ao0_jttyGxutXvbjt7iGiX7APxlqGHN6_0klGCDLBaM-lzqP_zZ6NqGPDlJIo9m6pGnJ3sJKDfGQ6kM5BRN0iRL_rc6rPOanEK_Hxpupn7edhPBIOEnot1kxPIsnLMyFdePF92Kr" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGYW8wX2p0dHlHeHV0WHZianQ3aUdpWDdBUHhscUdITjZfMGtsR0NETEJhTS1senFQX3paNk5xR1BEbEpJbzltNnBHbkozc0pLRGZHUTZrTTVCUk4waVJMX3JjNnJQT2FuRUtfSHhwdXBuN2VkaFBCSU9Fbm90MWt4UElzbkxNeUZkZVBGOTJLciZobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRmxoNS5nb29nbGV1c2VyY29udGVudC5jb20mcz04NzImaD1kZjk2YmQ3N2RkZTM0NzI3NzU0NjMyYTAwMGI4NGY0ZTgxNzMxMjM5YWJlZDc3ZjM1ZDM5MGNiNTk2YmNhNTliJnNpemU9OTgweCZjPTI5NjYxMzUxNDYiLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjQwODYzNzU5fQ.hTGPfUuha55Nt1T7919wvkut2mVsjePpVvj8juLZYrY/img.jpg" id="1b95f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f110ec2ebe9582dc56e22d1615379fb9" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Snap's slate of games continues to grow</small></p><p>
Spiegel returned to the stage to close out the keynote section of the summit before it dispersed into several virtual rooms to elaborate on specific announcements.<br/>
</p><p>
"We believe that the Snapchat generation will help create a world built on real friendship, shared success, positivity and possibility – putting people, the environment and our values first," he said in his closing remarks. "We are all kind, smart and creative and we will build a brighter future together."
</p><p>
The summit comes as Snap has found itself at the center of a fraught back-and-forth with the president. Earlier this month, the self-described camera company made headlines by deciding to <a href="https://dot.la/trump-snapchat-2646151172.html" target="_blank">stop promoting President Donald Trump's account</a> on its Discover platform, where users watch Snap-curated content. The company did not directly address the issue on Thursday.
</p><p>
In response to Snap's announcements, Credit Suisse wrote that it is "feeling incrementally more optimistic about the company's ability to maintain or even gain time spent with its user base."
</p><p>
Snap's stock fell over 7% on the day at the market close, on a day when the S&P 500 index dropped nearly 6%.
</p>
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