Disney’s big bets on sports, streaming, and Fortnite | The Vergecast

12 Feb 2024 (10 months ago)

Disney, ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery Joint Venture

Disney, Warner Brothers Discovery, and ESPN are collaborating to launch a new sports streaming service.
The service will feature live TV channels from ESPN, Fox Sports, ABC, TNT, and TBS, as well as on-demand content from ESPN+, Bleacher Report, and other sources.
This move aims to address the challenges sports fans face in subscribing to multiple streaming services to watch their favorite teams.
The joint venture is seen as a response to the growing influence of tech companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google in the sports streaming market.
By combining their sports content, Disney, ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery aim to create a more comprehensive and competitive streaming service.

Disney announced a $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite.
This investment aims to build a persistent universe tied to Fortnite, expanding beyond its original shooting game format.
Disney sees potential in Epic's ability to become a dominant player in the gaming industry, similar to Roblox.
The partnership leverages Disney's characters and storytelling expertise to enhance Fortnite's appeal and attract a broader audience.
Disney's move signals a significant bet on the metaverse concept, despite previous skepticism about its viability.

Apple TV+ is being compared to HBO, with both platforms offering high-quality content but reaching different levels of cultural relevance.
Apple TV+ excels in science fiction and modernist takes on historical women's stories.
Despite its higher average quality, Apple TV+ shows lack the same cultural relevance as HBO shows.
The podcast recommends the show "Criminal Record" on Apple TV+ for its engaging first five episodes.
The Vision Pro headset has an incredibly high pixel density, but it still falls short of delivering the clarity needed for a truly immersive experience.
Field of view is also a crucial factor in VR headsets, and the Vision Pro's field of view is a significant limitation.
The initial excitement and awe of using a VR headset often fade as users encounter various issues and limitations.

Blue Sky, a new Twitter-like social network, has opened up to the public after a year of private testing.
Blue Sky has a different vibe and norms compared to other social media platforms, and it remains to be seen if it can attract and retain a large user base.
The FCC has declared that AI-generated voice clones in robocalls violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which is relevant as the election season heats up.
Companies in Texas were found to be making phone calls pretending to be Joe Biden in New Hampshire.
Spam calls pretending to be Joe Biden have been circulating, urging people not to vote.
Deepfake technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, raising concerns about its potential impact on elections.

Ford has created a Skunk Works team to develop low-cost EVs, led by former Tesla employees.
Apple is reportedly developing flip phone and foldable iPad prototypes, signaling a potential shift in smartphone design.
Foldable devices are seen as the next evolution of smartphones, offering a more compact and versatile form factor.
Apple may be struggling to develop a foldable iPhone due to the need to maintain parity with existing iPhone models and the challenges associated with rethinking components and software for a new form factor.
Foldable devices, such as the iPad, may be a better fit for Apple's first foldable product, as they are less essential to daily life and allow for more experimentation.

The Vergecast podcast is moving to The Verge's YouTube channel starting next week, with full episodes available there and clips and extra content on the Vergecast channel.
Casey Newton was a guest on a recent episode of Decoder, which is now a twice-weekly podcast.
The Vergecast is now released on Tuesdays and Fridays instead of Wednesdays and Fridays.