#Newsfeed: Facebook’s new video app hits Samsung Smart TVs; We now watch 1 billion hours of YouTube video every day; Stormzy storms Spotify top 50 chart
Plus how one simple design change would have saved the Oscars.
- Facebook plans to lay almost 500 miles of fiber cable in Africa for better wireless internet [via Recode]
- Facebook’s new video app hits Samsung Smart TVs [via TechCrunch]
- Inside Facebook’s recent product pitch to publishers [via Digiday]
- Local Twitter chief dismisses doubters and tips video and sports for growth [via AFR]
- China’s Twitter clone will soon have more users than Twitter [via Quartz]
- Irish Tour Guide Wins Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Instagram Competition [via Cruise Critic]
- Instagram Algorithm: What You Need to Know to Boost Organic Reach [via Hootsuite Blog]
- Every single song from Stormzy’s “Gang Signs & Prayer” is in Spotify’s top 50 chart [via FACT]
- YouTube says people now watch 1 billion hours of video every single day [via The Next Web]
- Lorde Teases Long-Awaited Comeback With Vague TV Ad [via TheMusic.com.au]
- Southern Cross Media confirms interest in New Zealand radio assets of NZME [via Mumbrella]
- KFC disrupts Snapchat with an Aussie first via Ogilvy Sydney [via Campaign Brief]
- Florence uses ‘digital graffiti’ to protect its cathedral [via The Next Web]
- This Simple Design Change Would Have Saved The Oscars [via Fast Company Design]
- Social Media Algorithms: How They Work and How to Use Them in Your Favour [via Buffer Blog]
- TRENDING: #MikeBaird, #GDC17, #Oscars
Samsung has become the first platform to utilise Facebook’s new video app, with the feature now available on a number of smart TVs. The app itself allows users to sign into their own Facebook accounts – which they only have to do once – then view the videos shared by friends or Pages they follow, as well as top videos and others recommended to them based on their interests.
Read more about this story here.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Asia Pacific VP of Twitter Aliza Knox has stated that the social network will keep faith with its plans to target more live sports and TV rights to spur revenue and user growth. “We are creating lots of different ways to make it flexible and easy for content providers and advertisers to get involved with live stream,” she added. “Also we are pursuing sports and other rights deals both in Australia and globally … what differentiates Twitter from anyone else is the live and conversational and that is something unique that we have to offer.”
Read the full interview here.
Irish tour guide Ciara Flynn has won a three-week cruise after beating 75,000 entrants on Instagram to win Royal Caribbean’s first “Intern-Ship” prize. Royal Caribbean launched the “Intern-Ship” following research that showed an increasing number of people were using social media channels such as Instagram to provide inspirational travel ideas, and invited entrants to post an inspiring shot on Instagram linked to the hashtag #ExtraordinaryExplorers.
See the shortlist of finalists here.
Reports from YouTube indicate that people now watch one billion hours of video every single day. YouTube says it hit that milestone at some point last year, following the company reportedly surpassing 500 million hours per day back 2015, and 300 million in late 2014.
Read the official blog post from YouTube here.
The power of music streaming is stronger than ever, with all 16 tracks from the debut album by English grime and hip hop artist Stormzy making their way onto the Spotify top 50 chart. The 23-year-old artist released “Gang Signs & Prayer” on Friday February 24, and received a “speechless” response from senior editor at Spotify Austin Darbo on Twitter.
Read more about the young artist here.
JADEN JAM: Forget the Oscars! Yesterday also saw the winners of the British Kebab Awards announced, with BBC Radio 1 DJs Chris Stark and Scott Mills hosting the event.