News Hub | News Direct

News Release

Vertiqal Studios teams with Just Media Group for production and distribution

Vertiqal Studios

Vertiqal Studios CEO Jon Dwyer joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share some exciting developments. Vertiqal Studios has just unveiled a strategic partnership with Just Media Group that encompasses a wide range of production and distribution services, with a primary focus on the flagship Mean Girls Podcast. Dwyer enthusiastically revealed that Vertiqal's highly skilled production team will be lending their expertise to the Mean Girls Podcast, which is slated to be shot and produced at Vertiqal's state-of-the-art facility in the vibrant city of New York. However, their collaboration goes beyond just the podcast. Vertiqal Studios has set its sights on creating innovative short-form video strategies and executing direct media brand campaigns in tandem with Vertiqal's production capabilities, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to content creation. In a further testament to their commitment to this partnership, Alex Bennett and Jordyn Woodruff, the creative masterminds behind the Mean Girl Podcast, will take on advisory roles within the Vertiqal Studios advisory board. Their unique insights and creative vision will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of this dynamic collaboration. As part of this exciting venture, Mean Girl will provide Vertiqal Studios with unedited footage from their podcast and other activations. This content will be meticulously edited and distributed across Vertiqal's own media channels. One noteworthy highlight is a mutually beneficial revenue-sharing agreement exclusively tailored for Snapchat, where both parties will enjoy a 50/50 revenue split. In essence, this strategic partnership between Vertiqal Studios and Just Media Group promises to be a creative powerhouse, combining their respective strengths in production, distribution, and content creation to bring audiences engaging and entertaining content across various platforms, with a special emphasis on the ever-popular Snapchat. It's a collaboration set to make waves in the world of media and entertainment. Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

October 12, 2023 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Demand for Online Writing and Content Creation Jobs Intensifies, finds Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today released its quarterly report revealing the most in-demand online jobs on the platform for Q3 2023. The Fast 50 Q3 2023 report, a quarterly dataset ranking the fastest growing and falling jobs on the platform, analyzed over 277,000 jobs posted by employers to Freelancer.com between July and September 2023. According to the data, the fastest growing freelance jobs by percentage growth in Q3 2023 were mostly writing, content creation and marketing related. As AI continues to advance, the need for human creativity remains strong. Employers are once again seeking freelancers to support with Creative Writing and Content Writing projects, which are up 22.4% and 19.4% respectively. A surge in demand for writing skills across the platform means there were more than 10,000 additional writing projects available in Q3 2023, which were already a trending skill evident in the previous quarter. The Q3 2023 data also indicates a consistent trend in businesses seeking freelance marketing support, with Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%), Videography (up 17.4%) and Telemarketing (up 16.5%) seeing notable growth across the quarter. This aligns with the previous quarter's emphasis on business marketing activities. “Our Freelancer Fast 50 Report is a forward leading indicator of the skills and expertise businesses need today. Artificial Intelligence is powering a boom in content creation, particularly focusing on writing, marketing and video production skills” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer. “Generative AI is superskilling freelancers and their ability to produce extremely high quality content and faster than ever before. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard have changed the game when it comes to producing and refining written content, while advances in video AI such as Runway Gen-2, HeyGen and Pika Labs means that video production and editing can be done with a click of a button.” Growth in skills like User Interface / IA (up 17.4% from 3,071 to 3,607) and UX / User Experience (up 13.9% from 1,193 to 1,359) highlight the importance of user-centric design in today's digital landscape. Data Mining (up 14.9% from 2,374 to 2,728) and Data Processing (up 10% from 11,013 to 12,115) were also amongst the top growing jobs. These skills are often associated with Sales functions and Lead Generation, which are also growing in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. By leveraging freelancers to research leads, businesses can operate more efficiently and focus more on relationship building in the sales process. Design, Marketing and Video Creation Jobs Lead Year-on-Year Growth Several skills have surged in demand when comparing Q3 2022 and Q3 2023. Jobs for User Interface (UI) Design have doubled, growing by 101.9% to 3,607 from 1,786 in the same period last year. Search Engine Marketing jobs grew 80.4% (from 1,597 to 2,881) and Videography jumped by 77.1% (from 2,716 to 4,809). Fastest Falling Jobs of Q3 2023 The recent data highlights a shift in the demand for specific technical skills, which saw a significant increase last year as many tech companies laid off technical staff. There's a noticeable decline in jobs for certain established programming languages and frameworks. For instance, Matlab and Mathematica saw a 25.1% decrease (from 1,349 to 1,011 jobs). Similarly, projects requiring skills in AngularJS jobs dropped by 23.5% (from 1,722 to 1,318), while those requiring Django experts experienced a decline of 23.4% (from 1,216 to 932). C Programming, C++ Programming, and Python, which were all in-demand skills in Q3 2022, also all decreased on the platform in Q3 2023. While algorithms remain integral to many processes, there's been a reduction in specialized roles in this domain. This trend is evident in the decrease in demand for Algorithm skills, which saw a decrease of 22.5% (from 1,438 to 1,114 jobs). This might be a consequence of the advent of more intuitive tools and platforms that simplify algorithmic tasks. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Writing Jobs Show No Sign Of Slowing Down The introduction of highly sophisticated and powerful generative AI tools have led many experts and commentators to predict that skills such as writing will be replaced by AI. However, the latest Fast 50 Q3 data demonstrates that writing jobs are here to stay, as content writing, creative writing, copy typing and ghostwriting jobs increase by more than 20% over the last quarter. These skills continue to flourish after reporting growth in the previous quarter on Freelancer.com, with Creative Writing ranked as the fastest growing skills in Q2 2023 (up 58%, from 1,868 to 2,961). An Increase in writing skills for two quarters in a row suggest that businesses are placing more emphasis on content creation by hiring freelancers to write articles and produce creative content. Copy Typing, the fastest growing skill for Q3’23 (up 28.7% from 6,381 to 8,213) encompasses all types of jobs from data entry to helping write e-books to transcription and typist projects. While technical projects do require degrees and past experience, most copy typing jobs can be performed by freelancers with no prior knowledge, making it a lucrative side hustle for freelancers globally. AI’s Impact on Whitecollar Jobs While writing jobs continue to flourish over the past 6 months, there is a need to understand how generative AI will impact jobs and various freelancing skills. In a longform essay titled ‘ AI know what you did last summer ’, Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie discusses the bleeding edge of AI technology and how he predicts these will go on the shape white-collar jobs. Barrie suggests that to be competitive in a world of AI, workers will need to adapt or move up the stack: “Those in white collar jobs will need to move ‘up the stack’. Illustrators become cinematographers. Writers become editors. Software developers become product managers. Grad students now run a research group.” Barrie also highlights that there is a major opportunity for freelancers, arguing that AI-powered freelancers will ultimately be the winners as they have the ability to compete against middle class workforces all around the world. AI’s impact on work productivity is evident in a recent AI study conducted by Freelancer.com which found that in a survey of over 1,300 US workers, a majority of those US workers (75%) are using generative AI tools in their work. One in three (33%) workers are using AI tools all the time in their work, while one quarter of US workers (25%) are using these tools sometimes and one sixth (16%) admit to never using AI at work. Marketing & Video Production Sustain Growth, Growing Every Quarter in 2023 Marketing and Video Production skills are one of the most in-demand skill categories on the platform, with data showing they’ve now grown every quarter since the beginning of the year. Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%, from 2,321 to 2,881) ranked as the third fastest growing skill on the platform. Telemarketing (up 16.5%, from 1,054 to 1,228) has grown in Q3 as businesses turn towards more traditional marketing tactics. Sustained growth in different types of marketing skills means there are many opportunities for skilled freelancers to find unique projects on the platform. As for video production, not only is the skill up quarter-on-quarter, but both Video Production and Videography have almost doubled when compared to the same time last year, up 58.1% and 77.1% respectively. The surge in freelancer video production jobs can be attributed to the booming demand for online content, especially on platforms like YouTube (up 10.3%, from 1,174 to 1,295 jobs in Q3) and TikTok. As content is a staple in many marketing strategies, businesses are turning to freelancers to help them produce content, boosting this as a potential category for workers. Businesses Delegating Sales Functions to Freelancers As found in the Freelancer.com World’s Most Boring Job research, businesses often delegate research heavy tasks to on-demand freelancers. In turn, this allows businesses the ability to operate more efficiently and focus on more impact-based tasks. A unique trend uncovered in the Fast 50 Q3 2023 shows that businesses are leaning on freelancers to help with the research portion of the sales function. Sales and Lead Generation ranked as some of the fastest growing jobs in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. Interestingly, Sales and Lead Generation both featured in the top 25 fastest growing jobs in Q2 2023. Growth in sales and lead generation is an example of how businesses are employing freelancers to help them streamline the sales process. ###### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 report is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 277,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer.com platform between July 1 to September 30 2023. Fast 50 Q3 2022 vs Q3 2023 Fast 50 Q2 2023 vs Q3 2023 Data About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 69 million registered users have posted over 23.1 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$5 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Freightlancer & Loadshift, enterprise freight marketplaces with over 550 million kilometers of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Forward-looking statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements". The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "project", "forecast", "estimate", “outlook”, “upside”, "likely", "intend", "should", "could", "may", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings and financial position and performance, including Freelancer’s FY23 outlook, are also forward-looking statements, as are statements regarding Freelancer’s plans and strategies and the development of the market. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Freelancer, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Freelancer cannot give any assurance or guarantee that the assumptions upon which management based its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct or exhaustive beyond the date of its making, or that Freelancer's business and operations will not be affected by other factors not currently foreseeable by management or beyond its control. Such forward-looking statements only speak as at the date of this announcement and Freelancer assumes no obligation to update such information. The release, publication or distribution of this document in jurisdictions outside Australia may be restricted by law. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

October 12, 2023 07:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time

News Release

Heavyweights like Netflix and Disney Battle for Indian Market

QYOU Media Inc

ValueTheMarkets News Commentary - The Indian entertainment market is growing at a rapid rate that far outstrips contemporaries in the West. The huge nation of more than 1 billion people is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of nearly 15% over the next five years according to Statista. This article discusses the issue with reference to Netflix ( NASDAQ: NFLX ), Walt Disney Co ( NYSE: DIS ), Paramount Global ( NASDAQ: PARA ) and QYOU Media ( TSXV: QYOU ) ( OTCQB: QYOUF ). With a huge population dominated by young people, an emerging middle class and rapid adoption of technology, India represents a compelling opportunity for entertainment companies. We'll explore here how some, like Netflix, appear to be underperforming and facing criticism for their efforts. Meanwhile, Disney has seen some success but might be bailing out of the country as it faces increasing competition from the unlikely form of Paramount's JioCinema. Harnessing the power of cricket has yielded explosive viewing figures, but producing local content seems to be the key to growth in this market. QYOU Media (TSXV: QYOU) (OTCQB: QYOUF) produces, distributes and monetizes content created by social media influencers and digital content stars. The company has recently announced the launch of a new smart TV channel dedicated to Bollywood and Indian entertainment industry news. The channel continues the company's tried and tested method of using creator-led content. That's because this new venture is a collaboration with Bollywood Hungama, a leading social media destination for Bollywood gossip. With the Indian smart TV market having tripled in the last 18 months and making up more than 90% of TVs sold in the country over the last year, focusing on the space could be a smart strategy. However, with its wide variety of content being distributed across app-based platforms, video-on-demand services, traditional networks and even gaming platforms, the company is reaching over 125 million Indian households weekly as it strives to build an entertainment empire. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is another company seeking to capitalize on the huge Indian entertainment market. According to the Economic Times, the streaming service's subscriber base in the country floats around between the 8 million and 10 million mark. There is a huge amount of content created specifically for the market on the platform. These Indian Netflix originals include 59 original movies and even more television shows, as well as several stand-up comedies and documentary features. While this sounds like a significant amount of both subscribers and local content, it might not be enough. Analysts at AllianceBernstein have noted that the streaming giant lags behind several big-name competitors in the country in terms of subscriber numbers, despite attempts to entice people on board with price cuts. The key problem with Netflix's offering in India? Alliance Bernstein analysts point to a lack of locally produced content, which makes up just 12% of its offering for Indian users. Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) is at the other end of the streaming spectrum. This entertainment giant has performed strongly in India, obtaining approximately 40 million subscribers through its Disney+ Hotstar offering, which is the largest streaming platform in the country. The platform has an emphasis on local networks, carrying content such as films, television series, live sports and original programming. This content is combined with established Disney brands and franchises like Walt Disney Studios, Pixar and Lucasfilm, creating an entertainment offering with big-brand and local crossover. However, Disney has faced major competition in the region too. Recent reports suggest the entertainment powerhouse could even opt to sell Hotstar off to Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. There is some suggestion that this is due to pressure from emerging competitor JioCinema. This growing streaming giant even has a major Western entertainment company behind it… Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA), with their Paramount+ streaming app, have had fair success too, with second-quarter earnings showing a 47% increase in revenue from the platform, while viewing hours rose too. However, it's the company's activities in India that we're interested in. That's because it owns a 13% minority stake in JioCinema owner Viacom18, offering significant exposure to the rapidly growing Indian streaming outfit. Its growth has been aided by the decision to show Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches for free. Indeed, the 2023 IPL final set a record for concurrent viewership of a streaming broadcast, attracting over 120 million unique viewers. The success of this platform led Paramount to recently shelve plans to launch its own app in India, instead opting to release content as part of JioCinema's premium package. This could potentially supercharge an already wildly successful product. Several strategies have been employed as companies compete to dominate the Indian entertainment market. Netflix appears to have failed to lean heavily enough into locally produced content in its efforts, with Disney, QYOU and Paramount all using local studios and creators to steer the success of their content. Aside from this, exploiting India's fascination with cricket and growing interest in tech and gaming appears to be key to ensuring continued success. IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER PAID ADVERTISEMENT This communication is a paid advertisement. ValueTheMarkets is a trading name of Digitonic Ltd, and its owners, directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents and assigns (collectively the "Publisher") is often paid by one or more of the profiled companies or a third party to disseminate these types of communications. In this case, the Publisher has been compensated by QYOU Media Inc. to conduct investor awareness advertising and marketing and has paid the Publisher the equivalent of one hundred and twenty five thousand US dollars to produce and disseminate this and other similar articles and certain related banner advertisements. This compensation should be viewed as a major conflict with the Publisher's ability to provide unbiased information or opinion. CHANGES IN SHARE TRADING AND PRICE Readers should beware that third parties, profiled companies, and/or their affiliates may liquidate shares of the profiled companies at any time, including at or near the time you receive this communication, which has the potential to adversely affect share prices. Frequently companies profiled in our articles experience a large increase in share trading volume and share price during the course of investor awareness marketing, which often ends as soon as the investor awareness marketing ceases. The investor awareness marketing may be as brief as one day, after which a large decrease in share trading volume and share price may likely occur. NO OFFER TO SELL OR BUY SECURITIES This communication is not, and should not be construed to be, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. INFORMATION Neither this communication nor the Publisher purport to provide a complete analysis of any company or its financial position. This communication is based on information generally available to the public and on an interview conducted with the company's CEO, and does not contain any material, non-public information. The information on which it is based is believed to be reliable. Nevertheless, the Publisher does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. Further, the information in this communication is not updated after publication and may become inaccurate or outdated. No reliance should be placed on the price or statistics information and no responsibility or liability is accepted for any error or inaccuracy. Any statements made should not be taken as an endorsement of analyst views. NO FINANCIAL ADVICE The Publisher is not, and does not purport to be, a broker-dealer or registered investment adviser or a financial adviser. The Publisher has no access to non-public information about publicly traded companies. The information provided is general and impersonal, and is not tailored to any particular individual's financial situation or investment objective(s) and this communication is not, and should not be construed to be, personalized investment advice directed to or appropriate for any particular investor or a personal recommendation to deal or invest in any particular company or product. Any investment should be made only after consulting a professional investment advisor and only after reviewing the financial statements and other pertinent corporate information about the company. Further, readers are advised to read and carefully consider the Risk Factors identified and discussed in the advertised company's SEC, SEDAR and/or other government filings. Investing in securities, particularly microcap securities, is speculative and carries a high degree of risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This communication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected continual growth of the featured companies and/or industry. Statements in this communication that look forward in time, which include everything other than historical information, are based on assumptions and estimates by our content providers and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the profiled company's actual results of operations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results and performance to differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the success of the profiled company's operations; the size and growth of the market for the company's products and services; the company's ability to fund its capital requirements in the near term and long term; pricing pressures; changes in business strategy, practices or customer relationships; general worldwide economic and business conditions; currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations; government, statutory, regulatory or administrative initiatives affecting the company's business. INDEMNIFICATION/RELEASE OF LIABILITY By reading this communication, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this disclaimer in full, and agree and accept that the Publisher provides no warranty in respect of the communication or the profiled company and accepts no liability whatsoever. You acknowledge and accept this disclaimer and that, to the greatest extent permitted under applicable law, you release and hold harmless the Publisher from any and all liability, damages, injury and adverse consequences arising from your use of this communication. You further agree that you are solely responsible for any financial outcome related to or arising from your investment decisions. TERMS OF USE AND DISCLAIMER By reading this communication you agree that you have reviewed and fully agree to the Terms of Use found here https://www.valuethemarkets.com/terms-conditions/ and acknowledge that you have reviewed the Disclaimer found here https://www.valuethemarkets.com/disclaimer/. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please contact valuethemarkets.com to discontinue receiving future communications. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY All trademarks used in this communication are the property of their respective trademark holders. Other than valuethemarkets.com, the Publisher is not affiliated, connected, or associated with, and the communication is not sponsored, approved, or originated by, the trademark holders unless otherwise stated. No claim is made by the Publisher to any rights in any third-party trademarks other than valuethemarkets.com. AUTHORS: VALUETHEMARKETS valuethemarkets.com and Digitonic Ltd and our affiliates are not responsible for the content or accuracy of this article. The information included in this article is based solely on information provided by the company or companies mentioned above. This article does not provide any financial advice and is not a recommendation to deal in any securities or product. News and research are not recommendations to deal, and investments may fall in value so that you could lose some or all of your investment. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.ValueTheMarkets do not hold any position in the stock(s) and/or financial instrument(s) mentioned in the above piece. ValueTheMarkets have been paid to produce this piece by the company or companies mentioned above. Digitonic Ltd, the owner of valuethemarkets.com, has been paid for the production of this piece by the company or companies mentioned above. Contact Details ValueTheMarkets +44 141 530 4080 editor@valuethemarkets.com Company Website https://www.valuethemarkets.com

October 12, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COMCAST TO DELIVER MULTI-GIG SYMMETRICAL SPEEDS TO CUSTOMERS OVER EXISTING CONNECTIONS IN WORLD-FIRST DOCSIS 4.0 DEPLOYMENT

Comcast Colorado

Comcast announced that next week it will begin to introduce the first residential customers in the world to next-generation Internet powered by DOCSIS 4.0 technology. The latest version of DOCSIS technology is a giant leap forward in Internet connectivity that can deliver multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds to customers over the connections that already exist in tens of millions of homes in Comcast markets across the country. As a part of the launch, Comcast will introduce a new portfolio of symmetrical products for residential customers. Comcast will begin rolling out DOCSIS 4.0 to select neighborhoods in Colorado Springs, CO, and will launch new markets throughout the country over the next few years. Select areas of Atlanta, GA and Philadelphia, PA are expected to begin rolling out before the end of this year. “The ubiquity of our network, which is already accessible to tens of millions of homes, provides us with an incredible opportunity to bring multi-gigabit upload and download speeds to communities across the country with the scale and efficiency that no other provider can replicate,” said Dave Watson, President & CEO, Comcast Cable. “Our connectivity experience, powered by the Xfinity 10G Network, will allow us to deliver speeds up to 10 Gbps over our traditional network to virtually all our customers, plus even better reliability, lower latency, and the best in-home WiFi coverage. We’re entering the next phase of this industry leadership with DOCSIS 4.0 technology to introduce X-Class Internet products that will revolutionize the way our customers get online today and many years into the future.” Introducing X-Class Internet Symmetrical 10 Gbps service based on fiber-to-the-home technology is already available in all of Comcast’s markets, and as part of its continued network evolution and the introduction of DOCSIS 4.0, multi-gig symmetrical speeds are rolling out. New and existing residential customers connected via DOCSIS 4.0 will have access to Comcast’s newly introduced next-generation X-Class Internet portfolio. X-Class speed tiers include X-300 Mbps, X-500 Mbps, X-1 Gbps and X-2 Gbps upload and download speeds and low lag for the ultimate live sports streaming experience on Peacock, smooth connections on work calls, and ultra-responsive gaming. “The enhancements that we have been making to our network over the past few years have been foundational to creating an award-winning network architecture that is fully virtualized and capable of delivering these exciting capabilities to our customers,” said Elad Nafshi, Chief Network Officer, Comcast Cable. “This is an awesome achievement and I’m incredibly proud of the team of brilliant technologists here at Comcast who have worked relentlessly to make DOCSIS 4.0 a reality ahead of schedule.” Full Duplex DOCSIS Comcast’s path to DOCSIS 4.0 leverages breakthrough network technology known as “Full Duplex” that utilizes the same network spectrum to dramatically increase upstream speeds without sacrificing downstream speeds. Comcast 10G Innovation The DOCSIS 4.0 launch is the latest in a long line of world firsts that Comcast has spearheaded in the effort to implement DOCSIS 4.0. In April 2021, Comcast conducted the first-ever live test of full duplex DOCSIS and later that year tested the world’s first 10G connection all the way from the network to a modem. In 2022, Comcast conducted a world-first live trial and connected a business location in the Philadelphia region to its live network including a DOCSIS 4.0-enabled 10G node and multiple cable modems. In February 2023, the company marked another major milestone in the nation’s largest and fastest multi-gig deployment by announcing its latest Xfinity 10G Network upgrade launched to 10 million homes and businesses. In addition to Comcast’s efforts to deploy DOCSIS 4.0 and other 10G upgrades across its footprint, the company continually invests in delivering a superior connectivity experience that is not only fast but is also reliable with less lag. Award Winning Tech – Comcast has lead the industry in deploying technologies within its network to enhance speed, reliability and latency like distributed access architecture (DAA) and a vCMTS, which earned an Emmy® Award for Technology and Engineering. Smart Network – Comcast-developed technology like Comcast Octave and Xfinity Fiber Meter (XMF), enables optimized network performance by proactively identifying and even repairing network impairments that impact customers’ services. Storm-Ready WiFi – In August 2023, Comcast introduced Storm-Ready WiFi, the first product of its kind offered by an Internet provider designed to maintain a connection during a power or local outage. Low Latency – Deployed Active Queue Management (AQM) system nationally and currently trialing the latest CableLabs low latency DOCSIS (LLD) specification. DOCSIS Technology Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) was first introduced in 1997 as a solution for high-speed data to be transmitted over existing cable wires, replacing dial-up phone lines for an Internet connection. Comcast has been a leader in deploying DOCSIS updates to deliver faster speeds to all the homes and businesses in its service areas. In early 2016, Comcast was the first to introduce DOCSIS 3.1-powered Gigabit Internet service and rapidly expanded Gigabit speeds across the country to more locations than any other provider. Xfinity customers in Colorado Springs will be able to sign up online for the new DOCSIS 4.0-powered Internet plans. ### About Comcast Corporation Comcast is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

October 12, 2023 08:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

NexTech3D.ai ending year with strong results in four key business units

Nextech3D.AI

NextTech3D.ai CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive with a comprehensive corporate update, shedding light on the various business units under NextTech3D.ai and their impressive achievements. One noteworthy highlight is the company's collaboration with major clients like Amazon, Kohl's, and others, where NextTech3D.ai has been instrumental in building over 60,000 models. The company's remarkable growth is reflected in its financial performance, with a 157% increase in revenue over the past six months and a remarkable 155% rise in Q2 revenue compared to the previous year. The company is well on track for a record-breaking fourth quarter as well. MapD, the company's events solutions platform, is also experiencing substantial growth, with multiple reseller agreements signed, including partnerships with Advanced Solutions, Rainfocus, CannaCon, and American Tradeshow Services, which has renewed its annual license. In just nine months, MapD has already surpassed its 2022 revenue figures. Toggle3D.ai, a SaaS solution that utilizes generative AI to convert CAD files, has garnered impressive traction with over 17,000 sign-ups and over 19,000 projects generated. The platform's integration with Sketchfab, boasting over 5 million 3D models available for download, has further strengthened its appeal. The company anticipates surpassing 30,000 users by year-end and plans to introduce additional pricing plans to enhance flexibility. Gappelberg also highlighted the success of ARway, which has secured key deals with prominent entities, including one of California's largest shopping malls, the second-largest university in Turkey, and the largest rental car company in South America. The company's robust pipeline includes 13 identified corporations as pilot project prospects across various vertical markets, including retail, healthcare, education, manufacturing, telecom, and digital marketing. ARway's selection to complete an initial build of the ARway Platform on Apple's Vision Pro hardware at Apple Park demonstrates its position at the forefront of augmented reality technology development. In summary, NextTech3D.ai's diverse business units are flourishing, with impressive growth, strategic partnerships, and a robust pipeline of opportunities across multiple industries. The company's innovative solutions and strong client relationships position them as a significant player in the ever-evolving fields of 3D modeling, augmented reality, and generative AI. Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

October 11, 2023 01:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Niche Media Events Hosts Largest Leadership Summit in Chicago

Niche Media Events

Over 90 niche media publishers, CEOs, revenue heads, and suppliers gathered in Chicago for the 11th annual Niche Media Leadership Summit. The 2023 media conference is the largest event in the history of the annual publishing leadership gathering and was held September 20-22, 2023. The 2023 event hosted over 90 attendees and 16 sponsoring vendors at the Royal Sonesta Riverfront, making it the largest leadership retreat of its kind in the media industry. The Niche Media Leadership Summit focuses on discussion groups and keynotes specifically to educate, inspire and connect magazine and media owners and leaders. Topics include digital and print publishing strategy, new media technologies, company hiring and culture, audience expansion, and revenue ideas for publishers. “We are excited and honored to welcome so many niche media owners and leaders to this year’s Summit. The record attendance is a testament to the importance of the niche audience media industry, as well as the need for leaders to share best practices and discuss industry challenges ahead of 2024 budgeting and strategy.”, said Ryan Dohrn, owner of Niche Media Events. Featured keynotes included Jonathan Reitz, CEO of Fluxify, who spoke to hiring and retaining media sales staff; Steven Iwersen, founder of Aurora Pointe, who presented on leading media companies in uncertain times; and Andrew Davis, marketing industry icon, who led discussion on AI influence, opportunities and cautions for media. Attendees also met throughout the event in discussion groups for B2B, Consumer and Sales Leadership. 80% of attendees' time was devoted to discussion groups, networking parties and dinners with colleagues. Sponsoring industry vendors included: 032 Outsourcing, Audativ, Media OS (formerly Ad Sales Genius), Publication Printers, AdCellerant, AdOrbit (formerly MagHub), Baxter Research Center, January Spring, KODI Collective, Omeda, Quad, Sheridan and The Magazine Manager. Additionally, new sponsors joined for the first time: AdMall/SalesFuel, Fox Associates and WoodWing. “The Niche Leadership Summit offers a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with peers in your market (B2B or Consumer) or in specific roles (Sales Leadership) to share solutions, create connections for post-event conversations and resources, and access cutting edge leadership, culture, and industry developments to drive success for each attendee’s media company and employees”, continued Dohrn. The next Niche Media publishing conference will be their annual, multi-track, full staff training Niche Media Conference, April 17-19, 2024, also in downtown Chicago at the Radisson Blu Aqua. To learn more about Niche Media Events, visit NicheMediaEvents.com. About Niche Media Events Niche Media Events helps publishers generate growth in ALL their revenue channels: print, digital, sales, audience and events. We’ve got it all… incredible learning and peer-to-peer connections at our live conferences, awesome online educational content, and expert resources from the best minds in media. Whether you’re a B2B, B2C/Consumer, Digital-Only, City & Regional, or Association publisher, Niche Media is your “go-to” resource for practical, actionable education & training (plus a healthy dose of F-U-N) to help you maximize revenue. Together, we’re connecting the entire Niche Nation! Contact Details Niche Media Ryan Dohrn ryan@nichemediaevents.com Company Website https://www.www.nichemediaevents.com

October 10, 2023 11:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Global Connectivity looking to pass 350,000 UK homes within the next year

Global Connectivity PLC

Global Connectivity PLC (AQSE:GCON) Executive Chairman Keith Harris speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive about the strides the business is making in bringing high-speed internet to the UK's rural communities. Founded three years ago as Rural Broadband Solutions PLC, GCON aims to narrow the digital divide between metropolitan and rural regions. Harris highlighted that 80% of the UK is designated as rural, housing 20% of the population. He says that while major firms focus on metropolitan areas, Global Connectivity instead zeroes in on rural communities. The company recently partnered with US-based Tiger Infrastructure Partners Fund III LP, which acquired 85% of Global Connectivity for a £75 million investment. Additionally, a merger with Macquarie and another infrastructure fund has positioned the resulting entity Voneus as the UK's largest rural broadband player, with plans to invest £250 million and reach 350,000 homes within the next year. Harris concludes by saying that he anticipates significant sector consolidation by early 2025. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 10, 2023 09:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Media Veterans to FCC: Lawsuits Bolster Claim that FOX & Murdochs Lack Character Required of Public Broadcast License Trustees

Raynor Ave.

Media veterans filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), bringing the FCC’s attention to four shareholder derivative lawsuits accusing Fox Corporation's (FOX) Board of Directors of breaching its fiduciary duty. The lawsuits allege that Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and various officers and directors were complicit in decisions to disseminate false news and operate Fox News outside the bounds of First Amendment protections; and as a result, the company failed to safeguard shareholders from various journalistic integrity issues. The Media and Democracy Project (MAD) filed a motion requesting the FCC to compel FOX to produce key nonpublic discovery from its various lawsuits to ensure full transparency and accountability for its actions. MAD’s motion seeks evidence from the Dominion and Smartmatic litigations, all documents reviewed in the four stockholder derivative lawsuits, and internal communications from FOX Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). Duggan-Kristol Derivative Filing The comment submitted by former PBS President and FCC Commissioner Ervin S. Duggan and media veteran and former Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol advances as yet another damning argument in support of the Media and Democracy Project’s (MAD) Petition to Deny the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). “The pension funds' lawsuits address FOX leadership's willingness knowingly to lie about important matters, and go to the heart of the issue before the FCC,” said William Kristol. “These lawsuits paint the story of a corporation led by the Murdochs that lacks the character expected of a broadcast licensee.” Delaware law allows the plaintiffs to review nonpublic corporate information known as Section 220 material in preparation for drafting a complaint. This nonpublic information goes to the core questions before the commission. One lawsuit details how FOX scrapped processes in place at the Board of Directors level to monitor journalistic integrity issues in 2019. Those policies were only reconsidered in mid-2021 after the Dominion (and pending Smartmatic) litigation was filed, according to the complaint filed by Tredje AP-Fonden and other plaintiffs. The same complaint also raises the issue of whether the Board’s lack of journalistic integrity policies was related in some way to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s desire to stem viewer defection to preserve their influence in conservative politics, which the complaint argues they prioritized above broadcasting the truth. These lawsuits offer critical new evidence from Section 220 material and reflect that FOX shareholders are as troubled by the same core issues that should trouble the Commission. The Duggan-Kristol filing ends by saying the FCC “should not—cannot—don blinders as to the implications that the questions being weighed in [the Delaware Court of Chancery] must have on its judgment as to whether FOX and its Controllers can be trusted to operate broadcast stations in the public interest.” “These lawsuits show the parent corporation of the broadcast licensee showed poor judgment and questionable character in managing a business that—but for FCC licensure—is identical in core objectives and operation of its subsidiary broadcast station,” said Ervin S. Duggan. “We believe firmly that these nonpartisan lawsuits demonstrating bad judgment and suspect character should speak loudly to the Commission.” Two of the four lawsuits filed by pension funds representing workers in New York City, Oregon, Rhode Island, and the Swedish Government, cite MAD’s Petition to Deny as an outcome of the recklessness of the FOX Board’s inability to reign senior leadership in, allowing them to continue to promote lies about the 2020 election. From the Tredje AP-Fonden Complaint: Defendants’ breaches of fiduciary duty have not only resulted in massive economic and reputational damages to the Company and caused untold societal harm, but they also threaten to deny Fox’s ability to continue operating as a broadcast news media business, which is its core business. ( paragraph 308 ) From the New York City Complaint: The Murdochs’ decision to embrace Trump’s claims of a stolen election not only led to the $787.5 million settlement payment to Dominion, but also endangered Fox’s broadcast licenses. ( paragraph 211 ) A copy of the filing from Duggan and Kristol can be found here. Media and Democracy Project Motion for Documents While a great deal of discovery evidence has been produced in the various FOX litigations, this evidence is only available to the FCC and MAD in snippets. The public interest imperative of this proceeding requires a full review of all the evidence to ensure a complete and transparent evaluation of the renewal application and the Commission’s decision to designate a hearing. MAD’s motion seeks the FCC to require FOX to produce a range of nonpublic documents, emails, and testimony related to the following areas: All documents and deposition transcripts submitted or provided in connection with the Dominion and Smartmatic litigations. All documents submitted in the four Delaware Chancery stockholder derivative lawsuits in response to any party’s Delaware Section 220 demand for inspection of books and records. From January 2020 to the present, all documents and written communications between political advertisers, their representatives and advertising agencies concerning political advertising, lowest unit rate charges or requests to purchase advertising on station WTXF-TV. From January 2020 to the present, all written communications from any FOX, Fox Television Stations, LLC or WTXF-TV station employees indicating that the FCC’s electronic filing system was malfunctioning or that an attempt was made to upload WTXF-TV political files but was unsuccessful due to the FCC database not operating properly. A copy of the motion from MAD can be found here. The Media and Democracy Project: MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, grassroots civic membership organization fighting for a more informative and pro-democracy media operating in the public interest. MAD aims to improve our national discourse so that American voters can engage in informed decision-making. As part of that goal, MAD has an interest in the responsibility of journalists and media to report fully, accurately, and fairly on the electoral process and the outcome of elections. Additional information is available at www.MediaAndDemocracyProject.org. Ervin S. Duggan is a veteran of the Lyndon Johnson White House, a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, and former President of PBS. William Kristol is a veteran political analyst and commentator. He served in senior positions in the Ronald Reagan administration and the George H.W. Bush White House. For two decades, he edited The Weekly Standard magazine, and is now editor at large of The Bulwark and a director of the educational and advocacy group, Defending Democracy Together. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/

October 10, 2023 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Vertiqal Studios strengthens position in Australia with appointment of Rifle as agency of record

Vertiqal Studios

Vertiqal Studios CEO Jon Dwyer joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news that the company has appointed Rifle Agency as its agency of record for Australia. The move comes as Vertiqal experiences substantial growth in Australia and New Zealand, where viewer preferences align with those in North America and the UK. The agency will handle both creative video production and distribution across Vertiqal Studios' network. Vertiqal Studios already reaches almost 20% of the Australian audience organically and the partnership aims to strengthen Vertiqal's presence in Australia further. The collaboration between Vertiqal and Rifle Agency is marked by a regionally exclusive white-label partnership, where Rifle will market and sell Vertiqal's creative assets and distribution services. This unique arrangement allows Rifle to leverage Vertiqal Studios' creative expertise and extensive distribution network while offering brands tailored video content and distribution solutions. It's a low-risk strategy for both parties to explore the Australian market and offers exciting growth opportunities. Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

October 09, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video