Your guide to what’s happening this week in the media, entertainment and technology industry.

Final Premier League rights snapped up 
Amazon and BT Sport have respectively acquired the two remaining packages F and G to the broadcasting rights of the 2018 Premier League. Sky Sports snapped up the main four packages in February this year for £1.193 billion per annum. The total EPL rights consist of 200 live matches per season split into seven packages, reported Rapid TV News. 

Love Island record breaking views 
ITV’s popular reality TV programme, Love Island returned to screens Monday night and reached 2.9 million viewers for its first episode of season four. The show topped ITV2 highest rating record for the channel with viewing numbers in excess of the previous season’s finale, and more than double of the previous year’s opening episode. According to the Independent, a further 480,000 viewers tuned in online to watch the show.   

Amazon and Netflix surge stockmarket
The Nasdaq technology stocks soared this week reaching a record high for the second day running. Amazon rose by 1.1%, while Netflix increased by 1.9% and for the first time Twitter made the S&P 500 list. Investors secured Apple’s stocks to increase after its WWDC software and AR announcements. Verdict reported all technology stocks have risen across the board, including chip makers and Facebook shares despite its data scandal. 

Fox to deploy AR, VR and AI for World Cup coverage
Fox will provide coverage across the 12 stadiums for the Fifa World Cup as well as a custom-built spot in Moscow’s Red Square. According to Engadget, Fox will offer AR tabletop analysis and VR content offerings for a private box experience with 180-degree camera angles and 360-degree features. The 64 matches will be available for live streaming also offering viewers exclusive highlights using IBM’s AI Watson to pull footage and compile customised packages.     

Murdoch gets the green light for Sky acquisition 
The UK government has conditionally cleared 21st Century Fox to buy Sky under the condition it sells Sky News. Comcast has also been approved opening up a bidding war between the two media giants. Fox wants the remaining 61% of Sky is doesn’t currently own, valuing the company at £18.5 billion, however according to The Guardian, concerns remain about the control Murdoch would own over the UK media. 

Former Qualcomm CEO launched 5G enterprise
Paul Jacobs, the ex-Chief Executive of Qualcomm has launched a new 5G wireless technology company with two former Qualcomm executives. The company called Xcom will invest and develop technologies to provide solutions to 5G challenges. CNBC reported, Jacobs still plans to take over Qualcomm, currently working on raising billions of dollars for the acquisition. 

Apple announces new iOS software & AR focus
The annual Apple World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday saw a series of software focussed announcements. Chief Executive Tim Cook was joined by colleagues showcasing and demonstrating new features and improvements to Siri, Apple Watch, iOS software, ARKit 2 and new FaceTime group calls amongst new app and control features. TechRadar reported 25 of the new features that stood out beyond the software improvements. 

YouTube found liable for copyright 
In a preliminary decision, an Austrian court has found YouTube to be liable for copyright infringement, declaring the video host is not a neutral platform and must prevent third parties from uploading content. YouTube has always maintained the user is directly liable not the host platform however the court ruled the predetermined algorithms and content suggestions helps to define viewing behaviour. The ruling could cause significant impact for other video hosting services such as Facebook, reported The Hollywood Reporter.    

Google faces fine over Android abuse
The European Commission is expected to fine Google up to €2.4 billion as a penalty against abusing its market dominance with the Android mobile operating system. According to the Times, Google has declined any wrongdoing, however the EU claims Google imposed illegal terms on Android device makers which harmed competition and consumer choice breaching the EU antitrust rules. The decision is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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