Reuters - Technology Report

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Friday, August 11, 2017

Netflix says in discussions with Disney over Marvel, 'Star Wars' films

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Netflix Inc is in "active discussions" with Walt Disney Co about keeping Marvel and "Star Wars" films after 2019 when new Disney and Pixar movies will stop appearing on the streaming service, a senior Netflix executive said on Thursday.

China investigates top local social media sites in push to control content

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is investigating its top social media sites, including WeChat and Weibo, for failing to comply with cyber laws, the latest step in the country's push to secure the internet and maintain strict Communist Party control over content.

Uber investor sues to force former CEO Kalanick off board

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Venture capital firm Benchmark Capital is suing former Uber Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick to force him off the board of the ride-services company and rescind his ability to fill three board seats, according to the lawsuit.

Exclusive: Amazon in talks to offer event ticketing in U.S. - sources

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is seeking to partner with U.S. venue owners to sell event tickets, four sources have told Reuters, a move that could loosen Ticketmaster's powerful grip on the lucrative ticketing business.

Google cancels staff meeting over fears of online harassment

(Reuters) - Alphabet's Google canceled on Thursday a company-wide meeting scheduled to discuss the controversy over a memo opposing diversity policies, the company said, citing concerns about personal attacks on employees from far-right commentators.

Sumner Redstone heir launches app for TV viewers hooked on social media

NEW YORK, August 11(Reuters) - A grandson of media mogul Sumner Redstone is launching an app that he hopes will help television companies, like the ones his family controls, attract young television viewers who spend as much time texting and posting about shows as they do watching them.

Chinese startup Toutiao raising funds at over $20 billion valuation: sources

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese news aggregator Toutiao, backed by Sequoia Capital and CCB International, is raising at least $2 billion at a valuation of over $20 billion in its latest funding round, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Snap, Blue Apron fuel worries about overheated IPOs

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Snap Inc and Blue Apron Holdings Inc's dismal quarterly reports on Thursday, which sent their shares slumping, join a growing list of technology startups failing to live up to sky-high expectations set ahead of their initial public offerings.

Defense Secretary Mattis sees growth for Silicon Valley defense unit

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday an Obama-era experimental defense outpost in Silicon Valley would grow in importance under the Trump administration and that the nation's technology entrepreneurs were vital to national defense.

Snap co-founders will not sell shares as stock slumps on earnings miss

(Reuters) - Snap Inc Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel said on Thursday neither he nor co-founder Bobby Murphy would sell shares of the Snapchat parent this year, but that failed to soothe investors after quarterly results fell short of analyst expectations.