Good morning! In this last issue of 2020, we’re talking about HBO Max and Disney+ enjoying a bump in app downloads. Meanwhile, the year is surprisingly kind to book publishers. Plus, Boeing 737 Max is once again carrying passengers in the US and JPMorgan is acquiring a huge credit card loyalty operator. 

 

 

STREAMING

HBO Max and Disney+ Reaping the Benefits

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It has been a good couple of weeks for HBO Max and Disney+. Both streaming platforms saw a bump in app downloads with their film debuts. 

Here’s the nitty-gritty: 

• Thanks to the release of Wonder Woman 1984, HBO Max set a single-day record for download of its mobile app.

• An estimated 554,000 users signed up for the app from Friday to Sunday — including a record 244,000 downloads on Sunday alone. 

• Meanwhile, Disney+ is enjoying its moment in the limelight, too. The service had about 2.3 million global installations of its mobile app over Christmas — a 28% increase from the weekend before. 

• A large part of this is courtesy of its new Pixar-animated movie, Soul, which took in about $7.6 million in its debut.

 

 

BUSINESS

Boeing 737 Max Takes Flight

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Boeing 737 Max is back on the American skies after a 2-year hiatus as American Airlines used the plane on a flight from Miami to the Big Apple. 

Here are the details: 

• The Max is a powerhouse and is considerably more fuel-efficient than its predecessors. A favorite of the industry, it was used for both domestic flights and some shorter international ones. 

• But, the plane was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes that killed 346 people. The crashes and subsequent revelations about the plane’s shortcomings cost Boeing tens of billions of dollars in damages, fines, and lost orders as well as tarnished the company’s reputation. 

• However, last month, the FAA became the first major regulator to lift the grounding order — with regulators in Brazil following suit. Canadian and European regulators are also expected to join the two within weeks. 

• For now, American Airlines has said that it will allow passengers wary of the Max to rebook their trip or to receive credit for future travel.

 

 

BUSINESS

JPMorgan Bets On Post-Pandemic Travel Boom

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JPMorgan Chase has agreed to buy cxLoyalty Group — one of the biggest third-party credit card loyalty operators. The bank is betting on a post-pandemic travel boom and purchasing the Connecticut-based company’s technology platforms, travel agency, gift card and points businesses. 

Here’s the deal: 

• JPMorgan is taking about half of cxLoyalty’s 3,100 employees and will create a new business within its retail division. 

• The deal is expected to close this week but there’s no news yet on how much the bank paid. 

• FYI, the company serves the majority of the biggest US card companies, including Citigroup, Capital One, and Mastercard. 

 

 

 

BUSINESS

A Good Year for Publishers

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2020 has been a (surprisingly) good year for book publishers. With most stuck at home and with limited activities available, people have been reading — or, at least, buying — a lot of books. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

• According to NPD BookScan, print sales by units are up almost 8% so far this year.

• Meanwhile, ebooks and audiobooks are up as well. Audiobook revenue is up more than 17% over the same period in 2019 and ebook sales are up more than 16%. 

• When the country shut down back in March, book sales dropped drastically. But, this didn’t last long with demand back on a high in June. 

• Most of the sales went to Amazon as well as major chains like Target, Walmart, and Costco. 

• However, parts of the book world — including independent bookstores and educational/religious publishers — have struggled.

 

APPENDIX

• Spinning out of control. King of Fans has recalled more than 190,000 ceiling fans because the fans’ blades can detach while in use.

• There’s no end in sight… yet. Troubled Cyberpunk’s maker is sued by investors over its botched launch.  

• Ka-ching! DNA testing company, 23andMe raised more than 80 million in equity financing. 

• That’s a nay for Apple. The court dismisses Apple’s copyright claims against Corellium.

• It’s OTW! The $600 stimulus checks are officially making their way to bank accounts.