18-22 Nov: Your guide to what’s happened this week in the media, entertainment and technology industry.

Sonos snaps up Snips
Smart speaker producer Sonos has acquired Snips, an AI startup working on tailored voice experiences, TechCrunch reported.

According to Sonos, it acquired the French startup not to compete with Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa, but to use the AI technology to ’control music playback perfectly’.

The company also insisted that providing a tailored listening experience for users depends less on cloud technology, unlike Alexa and other rivals. 

Vivendi set to reduce Mediaset stake
In a long-running dispute between the French conglomerate and Mediaset, Vivendi could reduce its 29% stake in the company.

According to Reuters, the move could end the legal battle between the companies. Currently, Vivendi opposes the move and has decided to challenge the settlement plan. An Italian court has ordered both Vivendi and Mediaset to reach a compromise by the end of the week.
 

Google Stadia officially launches
Google’s cloud gaming offering Google Stadia launched on Monday, not without criticism. According to The Verge, the subscription-based streaming game service is not the gaming experience it was cracked up to be.

Early users have  reported lagging and syncing issues, and video quality which was promised to be 4K regularly dropped down to 720p. Google Stadia was not the only launch to get off to a rough start this month, with Disney+ also suffering several issues upon its launch last Tuesday.

Lib Dems and SNP lose ITV debate legal challenge
The first televised debate of the UK election cycle saw prime minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn go head to head, but without other parties after a court shut down a challenge from the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats.

According to the BBC, the court ruled that because ITV was not exercising “a public function” it was not liable to judicial review challenge in the courts. 

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