News Hub | News Direct

OYO Launches Discounted Stays as Memorial Day Weekend Bookings Soar

OYO

Global travel technology company OYO has announced a special offer for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. This Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest since 2000. Due to record anticipated travelers for the weekend, OYO is offering discounted stays to help travelers plan their holidays within their budget. Travelers can avail 33% off on all stays from 27 th to 31 st May 2023. With this 33% off discount offer, travelers can book 2 nights and get 1 night stay for free at select OYO hotels across the US. To redeem the offer, customers need to book their stay on the OYO app or website and enter the promo code “MEMORIALDAY.” Customers can also book by calling our representatives on +1 405-342-7056. OYO is also seeing increased demand in cities like Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio & Jackson. Speaking about the upcoming season, Gautam Swaroop, CEO OYO International said, “Memorial Day is an important holiday for the Americans. We are preparing for the busy summer season across the states, which officially kicks off this weekend. We anticipate a surge in bookings, as reports suggest that 42.3 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more for the long weekend, an increase of 2.7 million compared to 2022. We expect record-breaking hotel bookings within city limits and along highways, as a vast majority of Americans, approximately 37.1 million travelers, will be hitting the road.” OYO offers hotels access to a large base of regular customers through its app and website, and lists hotels on multiple Online Travel Agents (OTAs) to boost booking demand and revenue. OYO’s best-in-class Artificial Intelligence-enabled pricing software automatically drives the best booking prices across all channels, based on room type, seasonality and other factors, therefore, enabling such an increase in online revenues. OYO has started offering hotels the flexibility of not having to invest heavily in redoing the hotel to join the OYO platform, something that other budget hotel chains insist on. Therefore, the initial investment to join OYO is minimal. It has been focusing instead on standardizing service led components such as customer support and booking experience. The company helps ensure great experience for customers, with ease of search and a quick booking experience, highly competitive room prices as per market demand patterns, automated tools such as Artificial Intelligence powered chatbots to quickly resolve customer queries, loyalty programs and easy refund, if needed. Earlier this year OYO said that it is planning to add over 100 hotels in the US in 2023. This is nearly double the number of hotels the company added to its portfolio in 2022. OYO will focus on adding more hotels in the states of Oregon, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida. Texas continues to be the largest and fastest growing market for OYO in the US, while it also has sizable concentration of hotels in Oregon, South and North Carolina, Florida & Georgia. In 2022, the company saw a ~23% increase in new hotels added to its portfolio in the US vs 2021. Furthermore, OYO’s US operations have outpaced the budget hotel segment in terms of revenue per available room (RevPar) with an 18% rise in RevPar in 2022 vs pre-covid year, 2019. In contrast the budget hotel segment grew by only 6% in the US. The company also achieved a 48% growth in revenue from bookings on its own platform, such as the app, website, mobile web and call centers in Q4 2022 vs same period in 2021. OYO’s app saw highest growth with a 99% surge in revenue from bookings in Q4 2022 vs same period in 2021. The company had earlier disclosed that its app is the second most downloaded travel app with over 100 million downloads globally. About OYO: OYO is a global platform that aims to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses with hotels and homes by providing full-stack technology products and services that aim to increase revenue and ease operations; bringing easy-to-book, affordable, and trusted accommodation to customers around the world. OYO offers 40+ integrated products and solutions to patrons who operate over 168,711 hotel and home storefronts in more than 35 countries including India, Europe and Southeast Asia, as of September 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.oyorooms.com. Disclaimer: Oravel Stays Limited is proposing, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, to make an initial public offering of its equity shares (the “Equity Shares”) and has filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (“DRHP”) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). The DRHP is available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in, websites of the Stock Exchanges, i.e., BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited at www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com, respectively, and is available on the websites of the Global Coordinators and Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited and Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited at www.investmentbank.kotak.com, www.jpmipl.com and www.online.citibank.co.in/rhtm/citigroupglobalscreen1.htm; the websites of the Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., ICICI Securities Limited, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited, JM Financial Limited and Deutsche Equities India Private Limited at www.icicisecurities.com, www.nomuraholdings.com/company/group/asia/india/index.html, www.jmfl.com and www.db.com/India, respectively. Investors should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk and for details relating to the same, refer to the Red Herring Prospectus which may be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the future, including the section titled “Risk Factors”. Potential investors should not rely on the DRHP filed with SEBI for making any investment decision. The Equity Shares offered in the Fresh Issue (as defined in the DRHP) and the Offer for Sale (as defined in the DRHP) have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and, may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Equity Shares are only being offered and sold (i) within the United States only to “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and (ii) outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and pursuant to the applicable laws of the jurisdictions where those offers and sales are made. There will be no public offering of the Equity Shares in the United States. Contact Details Anupriya +91 97911 63065 anupriya.d@oyorooms.com Company Website https://www.oyorooms.com/

May 23, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shareholder to Address Censorship Policies at Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta

National Legal & Policy Center

Following the exposure by the “Twitter Files” reports that revealed the extent to which malicious government agencies colluded with Big Tech to censor content, a shareholder in three Silicon Valley corporations will present proposals in the coming weeks to address their suppression of speech. National Legal and Policy Center – which owns stock in Amazon, Alphabet (parent of Google and YouTube) and Meta (parent of Facebook) – will sponsor proposals at each company that request transparency about requests they have received from U.S. government officials to “take down” content from their platforms. Amazon’s annual meeting is on Wednesday, May 24; Meta’s is on May 31, and Alphabet’s is on June 2. “As we’ve learned since Elon Musk took over Twitter, there is an epidemic of unconstitutional government censorship of speech in our country, and Big Tech has welcomed the opportunities to be their enforcers,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project, who will present the proposals at the companies’ respective meetings. “It is vital, as public companies, that Alphabet, Amazon and Meta act in the country’s interest and disclose who in the federal government is making these improper – and most of them probably illegal – requests, and divulge what they have asked to be removed from their platforms.” The Amazon and Meta proposals seek an itemization of the requests the companies have received from federal government. The Alphabet proposal asks for a report about the extent its censorship policies and practices have on the fiduciary health of the company. The text of NLPC’s proposal for a “Risk Audit on Content Censorship” for Alphabet’s 2023 annual meeting follows: RESOLVED: Shareholders request that Alphabet Inc. (“Company”) issue a report at reasonable cost – omitting proprietary or legally privileged information – reviewing the vulnerabilities of its enforcement of Google’s and YouTube’s Terms of Service related to content policies, and assessing the risks posed by content management controversies related to issues such as election interference, freedom of expression, and inequitable application of policies, and how they affect the Company’s finances, operations, and reputation. SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Evidence has accumulated over many years that show Alphabet Inc.’s platforms discriminate against disfavored speech, interfered in elections, and is undeniably prejudiced. Major examples include: In leaked Company emails, employees discussed using “ephemeral experiences” to change users’ views. Back in 2016, the Company’s chief financial officer said, “we will use the great strength and resources and reach we have” to advance Google’s values. Consequentially, senior research psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein found that – based on 1.5 million search experiences his team aggregated in 2020 – that the Company’s manipulations could have shifted up to six million votes to Joe Biden. A study of voter outreach by 2020 political candidates, conducted by North Carolina State University’s Department of Computer Science, found that Google’s Gmail “marked 59.3% more emails from [conservative] candidates as spam compared to the [progressive] candidates.” The Republican National Committee claimed that Gmail sent more than 22 million of its emails to spam during a critical fundraising period in the 2022 election cycle. The Company has incurred a lawsuit and a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission due to the alleged suppression. A Media Research Center analysis of the most tightly contested 2022 U.S. Senate races found that ten of 12 Republican candidates’ campaign websites (83%) appeared far lower (or did not appear at all) on page one of Google’s organic search results, compared to their Senate Democratic Party opponents’ campaign websites. In addition to the above examples, the Company is the target of a credible, major lawsuit by the states of Missouri and Louisiana, based on extensive evidence that the Company violated users’ First Amendment rights. Shareholders need to know whether the Company is engaged in unconstitutional censorship, and whether the Company exercises its content moderation in violation of its Terms of Service, opening the Company to liability claims by victims. Shareholders also need to know whether the Company is failing to disclose these potential liabilities as material risks in its public filings. There is currently no single source providing shareholders the information sought by this resolution. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

May 22, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Flawless by Gabrielle Union Announces Recipients of Lift As We Climb Grant Initiative For Black, Female-Owned Businesses

Flawless by Gabrielle Union

Flawless by Gabrielle Union, a haircare brand intentionally crafted to celebrate versatile hair types, textures, and styles, today announced the recipients of its inaugural Lift As We Climb grant initiative for Black, female-owned businesses. The initiative aims to help elevate and support Black businesses which have historically seen a barrier to access in capital, expertise, and opportunities. “We were so thrilled to see the response to the initiative,” said Gabrielle Union, co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union. “We saw so much amazing talent and entrepreneurial spirit throughout the process, so we are excited to be able to shine a much-needed light on this success.” “It is an honor to be able to give back to our community of talented, Black entrepreneurs,” said Larry Sims, co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union. “This is just the start of the many ways in which Flawless by Gabrielle Union hopes to uplift Black voices and we can’t wait to watch these businesses flourish.” To be considered, eligible founders submitted a one-minute video and a brand deck to an expert panel of judges, including Gabrielle Union, Larry Sims, Jacqueline Jones, Head of Strategic Partnerships across LinkedIn’s Global Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging team, P. Bagels-Minor, Founder of DVRGNT Ventures, and Antoine Gregory, Founder of Black Fashion Fair. Out of 500 submissions, six finalists were chosen to participate in a virtual pitch competition on May 10th. Following the competition, one recipient from each of the three qualifying categories was selected. The recipient from the fashion category is Todd Patrick by Desyree Thomas (Atlanta, GA). The recipient from the skincare category is O’Dara Exotic Skincare by Najah Elessie (Garden Grove, CA). The recipient from the haircare accessory category is Sotro by Stephanie Louis (Brooklyn, NY). To learn more about Flawless by Gabrielle Union, please visit flawlesscurls.com. Co-founded by Gabrielle Union and celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, Flawless by Gabrielle Union aims to provide product knowledge and style education to everyone with its versatile collection of oils, cleansers, and conditioners for every hair type. Flawless by Gabrielle Union’s texture-specific products are infused with exotic, hydrating ingredients such as Brazilian Bacuri Butter, Rice Oil Complex, and Lilac Leaf Extract, leaving out harmful additives such as sulfates, silicones, and parabens. The Flawless by Gabrielle Union collection aims to help individuals find their custom routine to hydrate, define, repair, and protect. Contact Details Camryn Carlson +1 818-748-7444 camryn@six-one.com Company Website https://flawlesscurls.com/

May 22, 2023 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FiscalNote’s (NYSE: NOTE) Oxford Analytica Daily Brief: Your Risk Mitigation Passport To The World

Benzinga

By Jad Malaeb, Benzinga The beginning of the “Information Age” in the mid-20th century elevated data’s economic, social and political significance even further. Today, data has become arguably far more valuable than traditional commodities like cattle, metals and land. At no other time in history has information been so plentiful, accessible and important. In the case of large private and public organizations, data plays a central role. Using data, Amazon created a program responsible for 35% of the company’s sales in 2017. Structured data and information allow hedge funds to find statistical edges in the financial markets and keep governments alert to economic and political threats. There’s no debating the importance of information. An often cited issue, however, is finding a way to collect, structure and analyze data in efficient ways. Quality data delivered concisely and intelligently is the “sweet spot” for stakeholders in the private and public sectors. Thankfully, some forward-thinking entrepreneurs have come up with a potential iteration of this ideal data solution. Oxford Analytica: A FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) Company As a technology company specializing in the analysis and tracking of legislation and regulations in the U.S. and abroad, FiscalNote Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NOTE) has an array of solutions that distills complex information into actionable insights. One of these solutions comes from Oxford Analytica’s Daily Brief, a company owned and operated by FiscalNote. Oxford Analytica's Daily Brief is a service that looks to deliver timely, impartial and actionable analysis of emerging trends and developments in the global political economy. The service helps private and public organizations make decisions based on timely analysis and forecasting of political, economic and social changes. This also includes helping manage risks and maximize opportunities arising from the geopolitical domain. Perhaps the greatest quality of the Daily Brief is that it does not sacrifice quality for brevity. Made to “be read by busy people,” the Daily Brief’s concise analysis provides leaders from the public and private sectors the information to tackle global trends and crises with ease. For readers requiring extra detail, the Daily Brief provides full-length articles, in-depth analysis, quick response updates, infographics, data visualizations, analyst access and deep dive webinars. Assessments at the Daily Brief are produced by a unique collaboration of in-house analysts and a 1,500-strong global expert network. The analysis is made to be objective and unbiased, and the service has been used for nearly 50 years by clients like the World Bank, European Commission, Norwegian Red Cross, Gates Foundation, Fortune 50 companies and G7 governments. After FiscalNote’s acquisition, the Oxford Analytica Daily Brief has now become available on Bloomberg Terminal. Read more about the Daily Brief here. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

May 22, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

$30K cash prize up for grabs at Taiwan Creative Content Festival 2023

Taiwan Creative Content Agency

TCCF 2023 PITCHING is now open to international entrants, inviting film and TV makers to pitch for the chance to win a $30,000 USD cash prize, and additional funding opportunities worth up to $300,000 USD. TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 22 May 2023 - Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) is opening its PITCHING program to international entrants. The program invites film and TV makers to pitch their development stage projects for the chance to win a $30,000 USD cash prize, and access to funding opportunities from the event's organizer, Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). The PITCHING program is TCCF's best channel for directors, producers, screenwriters, and investors to network and share ideas. "We want to create more opportunities for in-development projects to secure funding," explains Izero Lee, CEO of TAICCA. "Our goal is to create the biggest and most diverse pitching program in Asia." TCCF 2023 PITCHING consists of two sections, Story to Screen, and Project to Screen. International entrants are invited to enter the Project to Screen section, which has four categories; Feature Films, Series, Animation (features and series), and Documentary (features and series). All entries will be subject to a selection stage, led by a panel of international judges. All Selected Projects will be eligible to apply for TAICCA Funding. One outstanding project, chosen by international investors on the Project to Screen pitching days, will win the TCCF Award for Best Project, and the $30,000 USD cash prize. Entries will be accepted from June 1 to July 31. A fee of $1,000 TWD (approx. $33 USD) will be charged for each entry, and there will be no limit on the number of projects that each individual entrant can submit. Selected projects will be announced in September, and the Project to Screen pitching days will take place between November 7 and 10. June 1: Call for entries open; July 31: Call for entries close; September: Selected projects announcement; November 7-10: Pitching days. An accommodation subsidy will be offered to all international entrants of selected projects, during the pitching days in Taipei. TAICCA Funding Opportunities All selected projects will be eligible to apply for up to $300,000 USD in funding from TAICCA, through Taiwan's International Co-funding Program (TICP), and the Creative Content Development Program (CCDP). In order to secure eligibility for these programs, entrants are required to incorporate Taiwan Elements in their projects. According to the TICP guidelines, these can refer to the main crew, story setting, language, main cast, shooting location, production crew, or post-production. Meanwhile, according to the CCDP guidelines, they can refer to the adaptation from texts, story concepts, creative team, character setting, animation art and design, or animation special effects production. TICP-funded projects are already creating waves at A-list film festivals around the world. The Settlers by Chilean director Felipe Gálvez, and Tiger Stripes by Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu, were selected for screenings at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Last year, For My Country by French director Rachid Hami, and The Last Queen, co-directed by Algerian director-actress Adila Bendimerad and French-Algerian director Damien Ounouri, were screened at the Venice Film Festival. "Taiwan values diversity and freedom," said Izero Lee, CEO of TAICCA, during a Spotlight Asia event at this year's Marché du Film. "I would like to invite production teams from around the world to take advantage of the resources and opportunities provided by Taiwan's film industry. We believe that through cooperation and mutual respect, we can achieve great things together and create more outstanding films." TCCF 2023 TCCF is a key B2B content marketplace that draws international professionals to Taiwan. It promotes creative content, while connecting projects, and proposals with buyers, and investors. Through pitching sessions and content showcases, TCCF aims to drive collaboration between homegrown, and foreign talents. TCCF 2023 will take place at Taipei's Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, from November 7 to 12. TCCF 2023 PITCHING will be staged in the first four days, from November 7 to 10. Tickets will be available for purchase from September. Contact Details TAICCA Shannie Hsu shannie.hsu@taicca.tw DDG Clara Tsao clara.tsao@ddg.com.tw

May 22, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Drylab Media Tech signs US distribution agreement for foothold in biggest film and TV market

Drylab Media Tech Group PLC

Drylab Media Tech Group PLC CEO John Mahtani joins Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news of the company's first distribution partnership in the United States. Mahtani said the deal with Media Content Capital marks a significant milestone for the company as the US is the largest market for film and TV content creation, accounting for an estimated $100 billion of the $250 billion global film and TV spend. With this new partnership, Drylab expands its global footprint to 10 partnerships in 15 territories, with plans for further expansion in South America and other regions, he added. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

May 22, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

From Jam Session to Record Contract: Meet “BANDED”, America’s Newest Music Competition Series

YourUpdateTV

Are you ready to discover the next big music super band? “BANDED” is a first-of-its-kind music competition series that takes you behind the scenes of the music industry and lets you witness the birth of the next big music band. Recently, Brandon Jenner, Host of “BANDED”, and Mark Schulman, “BANDED” Judge conducted a satellite media tour to talk about the show. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/JqTjH3jvu10 AXS TV —a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc. —puts the spotlight on rising stars from across the country in the all-new original music competition BANDED, an innovative series that redefines the traditional “build-a-band” concept and showcases exceptional up-and-coming artists who can play, write, and sing. BANDED episodes will premiere every Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. on AXS TV. The series also will roll out weekly across all AXS TV digital channels. BANDED is hosted by musician and television personality Brandon Jenner, with recording artist and American Idol finalist Didi Benami as co-host. In the series premiere, 25 contenders were placed into five brand new multi-genre bands under the tutelage of GRAMMY®-winning and -nominated songwriters, producers, and artists such as Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree Wendy Starland, credited with discovering and developing Lady Gaga; as well as Paul Ebersold, Steve Diamond, Justin Wilson, and Dave Pahanish. Each week will feature a roster of legendary mentors and guest judges from across the music spectrum, such as Metal icons Vince Neil and Kip Winger; chart-topping Country star Steve Azar; Vans Warped Tour mastermind Kevin Lyman; and world-class rock ‘n roll drummer Mark Schulman, among many others. The inaugural season presents eight all-new episodes, with six hour-long episodes bookended by the 90-minute season premiere and season finale. A special video podcast will accompany each episode, as BANDED contestants, and stars breakdown all the latest happenings from the show. “We are extremely pleased to announce our partnership with AXS TV in launching the inaugural season of BANDED,” said Nico Albano, Executive Producer of the series. “AXS TV’s national and digital platforms are incredibly robust, giving viewers multiple ways to conveniently enjoy our content. We hope that this will be the beginning of a long-lasting relationship between AXS TV and BANDED, and we look forward to continuing to work with them as we move forward into the future.” “ BANDED is the perfect complement to our growing lineup of all-new original music-themed programming, putting a fresh spin on the standard music competition format that brings viewers into the fascinating creative process that each band undertakes,” said Katie Daryl, AXS TV’s Vice President of Programming. “We have some truly talented competitors and world-class mentors onboard, and we cannot wait to share all of this and more with our audience when BANDED premieres on AXS TV’s platforms next month.” GameTV will be the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of BANDED. The series will air every Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on GameTV, beginning July 8. “We are excited to be the exclusive home in Canada, and look forward to premiering it this summer,” said Maria Donatelli, Director of Programming for GameTV. Series sponsors include Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown, Verijet, Colgate Optic White, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Bulova/Citizen, PRS Guitars, Roland, Gretsch, Zildjian, DW, Fender, and Remo. For more information, please visit www.BANDEDtv.com. Show Teaser About BANDED BANDED, produced by Shadow Entertainment Group, is the first music reality competition show that focuses on the musical talents of the contestants. It aims to give viewers an inside look into the real artistry of creating music. Leveraging highly successful mentors and judges, BANDED will take viewers behind the scenes to witness magic in the making. For more information about the show visit www.BANDEDtv.com About AXS TV AXS TV is a leading multi-platform music and entertainment digital platform and television company owned and operated by Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc. AXS TV’s broad library offers content headlined by concerts and music-inspired programming, world-class professional wrestling and MMA. AXS TV’s signature programs include The Top Ten Revealed, The Very VERY Best of the 80s, and Parking Lot Payday. The channel also is the home of IMPACT Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Invicta Fighting Championships. AXS TV is available nationally in the United States, and parts of Canada and the Caribbean. Additionally, AXS TV’s digital programming can be enjoyed on several different platforms including the AXS.TV website and the Network’s app AXS TV NOW, and FAST Channel, as well as on the Network’s official YouTube channel, Facebook and Instagram pages, Twitter and TikTok profiles. For a full list of providers and territories, please visit axs.tv/subscribe. About GameTV GameTV is Canada’s leading destination for game shows and entertainment, powered by a rich programming lineup that boasts both classic and modern game shows as well as a wide selection of reality-based series, back-to-back nightly movies, documentaries and more. Game TV is the home of the most recognizable game shows and is the exclusive broadcaster of the UK produced series The Masked Dancer and The Masked Singer. GameTV is available nationally on Bell, Cogeco, Telus, Rogers, Shaw and Videotron, among others. For more information about the network, visit www.gametvnetwork.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 19, 2023 02:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Ontarians Bet Over $35 Billion in First Year of Legal Online Gambling

MarketJar

After just one year of legalization, Ontario is emerging as one of the largest igaming markets in North America with over 40 operators and 76 websites/apps available. According to Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) VP Andrew Darley, the Ontario igaming market is possibly "number one in the world" in terms of revenue if the iGaming Ontario and OLG data are combined. Darley made the assertion at an Ontario-focused session at SBC Summit North America, explaining that OLG's figures are confidential but significant enough to challenge the world's largest markets. The industry earned nearly $1.4 billion in total gaming income and approximately $35.6 billion in total wagers during its first year. Last April, Ontario became the first Canadian province to launch a legal, regulated market. Since then, the province has accumulated over 1.6 million active player accounts on websites operated by more than 40 operators affiliated with iGaming Ontario. The transition from unregulated sites to the legal market appears to have gone easily; according to an Ipsos poll released Tuesday, 85% of respondents who bet in Ontario did so on licensed sites. This is a significant departure from before the market's debut, when 70% of users gambled on unregulated sites. According to iGaming Ontario, active players spent an average of $70 per month in the previous year. Basketball was the most popular sport to wager on, followed by soccer, football, hockey, and baseball. In the online casino category, slots accounted for 48% of all wagers, while table games with a live dealer accounted for nearly a third and computer-based table games accounted for the remainder. Canada’s New Online Casino & Sportsbook Among the companies looking to gain a meaningful presence in the Ontario online gambling market is NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV:BET), a Canadian-owned gaming brand that owns and operates NorthStar Bets, an Ontario casino and sportsbook gaming platform that gives players a distinctly local user experience. Along with all of the most popular online casino games, the NorthStar Bets sportsbook offers real-time news, data, analysis, and scores directly in the betting environment. NorthStar Gaming launched Northstar Bets last June in partnership with Playtech PLC (LSE:PTECH) (OTC:PYTCY), a world-leading provider of B2C gambling technology. Under the partnership, Playtech became NorthStar ’s strategic software and services supplier, delivering its IMS platform, casino and live casino services to Ontario’s gambling market. Playtech also recently made a C$12.25 million strategic investment into Northstar Gaming to fuel expansion and growth across the Canadian market. The investment from Playtech, which resulted in a 15.5% ownership stake, completed Northstar ’s reverse takeover (RTO) financing for aggregate gross proceeds of C$22.33 million. NorthStar Gaming mixes a world-class casino and sportsbook experience with first-rate customer service - including live, on-call agents - and original sports news and gaming content. The company uses its strong Ontario roots to give it a distinct advantage: as a true local operator, it has its finger on the pulse of the province and adapts with them, not to them. NorthStar is dedicated to being a leader in the gaming business by achieving the highest security and integrity standards demanded by Canadians. Because of its collaborations and agreements with prominent media firms, including an omnichannel advertising and marketing services agreement with the Toronto Star creator Torstar Corporation, NorthStar is well-positioned to become a leader in the junction of sports media and sports wagering. NorthStar Bets operates in the province under an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario and is regulated by the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission (OAGC). On May 8, NorthStar further expanded its reach through the acquisition of Slapshot Media Inc., a Canadian iGaming marketing and managed services company that specializes in providing managed services to Spreads.ca, an iGaming site owned and operated by the Abenaki Council of Wolinak. The purpose of the acquisition is to open up the Canadian market to the NorthStar brand outside of Ontario eventually, as well as to expand NorthStar 's addressable market dramatically through its association with Spreads.ca. The acquisition of Slapshot Media complements NorthStar 's existing online casino and sportsbook capabilities. Spreads.ca will not be available in Ontario and NorthStar Bets will remain NorthStar 's only online casino and sports book in the province. For more information about NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV:BET), please visit this link or their website at northstargaming.ca. Disclosure: 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, The Oregon Group. Market Jar Media Inc. has or expects to receive from NorthStar Gaming Holdings’ Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc) one thousand one hundred USD for this article. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. All investments carry risk and each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional. Any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc.'s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here</a>. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on pressreach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on pressreach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management's expectations regarding The Oregon Group.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to The Oregon Group.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) The Oregon Group’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that The Oregon Group intends to offer; (e) The Oregon Groups milestone projections and targets; (f) The Oregon Group’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) The Oregon Group’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) The Oregon Group’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute The Oregon Group’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) The Oregon Group’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) The Oregon Group’s ability to enter into contractual arrangements with additional Pharmacies; (e) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (f) The Oregon Group’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (g) political and regulatory stability; (h) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (i) changes in applicable legislation; (j) stability in financial and capital markets; and (k) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of The Oregon Group to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) The Oregon Group’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact The Oregon Group’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing The Oregon Group’s business operations (e) The Oregon Group may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition.<br><br>Except as required by law, The Oregon Group undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does The Oregon Group nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither The Oregon Group nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of The Oregon Group or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of The Oregon Group or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of The Oregon Group or such entities. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

May 19, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

SONGTRADR SOLIDIFIES POSITION AS GLOBAL MUSIC LEADER WITH TIKTOK COMMERCIAL MUSIC LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP

Songtradr

Today Songtradr announces its Commercial Music Library partnership with TikTok, the world’s leading destination for short-form mobile video. As a certified Subscription Sound Partner helping brands build comprehensive strategies for advertising on TikTok, the arrangement to supply music for TikTok’s Commercial Music Library reinforces Songtradr’s position as the global leader in music solutions for business. The TikTok Commercial Music Library enables businesses, organizations, and creators access to pre-licensed, rights-safe music for both organic content and paid advertising. The Library spans genres, regions and styles with songs sourced from independent and emerging artists as well as top-tier music houses, allowing brands to enrich their storytelling and engage audiences in new and inspiring ways. For brands who prefer to create their own music for TikTok, Songtradr’s music agency MassiveMusic is also a badged Custom Sound Partner, streamlining the process of planning, creating, and driving a brand’s total sonic strategy for digital platforms. This makes Songtradr the only TikTok Marketing Partner to offer an end-to-end suite of music services covering every music need – from commercial music licensing, custom composition and sonic branding, to creative activation and music supervision. With teams in 16 countries, Songtradr has helped brands like Fenty Beauty, Kate Spade, L'Oréal, Chevrolet, and Motorola create unforgettable campaigns that have generated billions of views. This new expansion of the Songtradr-Tiktok partnership will help unlock the breadth of Songtradr’s services for even more businesses. For more information about Songtradr’s products and services, visit songtradr.com/landing/tiktok-sound-partner. ABOUT SONGTRADR: Songtradr is the world's largest full-stack B2B music platform helping brands, content creators, and digital platforms find their voice and connect with audiences through music. Whether with a classic song or a trending tune, a global music strategy or a sonic identity, Songtradr helps translate ideas into powerful, ROI-driven solutions that always hit the right note. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and solutions simplifies the process of finding, licensing and managing music across all formats. The result reduces cost and complexity, increases consistency and compliance, and elevates the full potential of music catalogs for users and rights holders alike. Contact Details Jive PR + Digital Lauren Arnold lauren@jiveprdigital.com Company Website https://www.songtradr.com/

May 17, 2023 02:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time