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Murdoch's Fox plans to launch a free streaming service in the UK to compete with Netflix

By D. Maan, Jadetimes News

 

Fox Corporation's UK Streaming Ambitions


Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corporation is entering the UK's competitive free, ad supported video streaming market with Tubi. This platform will compete with major players like Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, Channel 4's streaming service, and the BBC iPlayer. In the US, Tubi has rapidly gained market share, boasting nearly 80 million monthly active users, according to Fox.


Diverse Content Offerings


In the UK, Tubi promises to deliver over 20,000 films and TV series, featuring content from Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The platform will also showcase a variety of British, Indian, and Nigerian content. UK viewers can access Tubi through its webpage or a smartphone app. Anjali Sud, Tubi's chief executive, stated, "Tubi has spent the last decade honing our approach to vast, free and fun streaming in North America, and we feel that now is the perfect time to bring that recipe to UK audiences."


 

Strategic Acquisition and Market Dynamics

 

Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020 for $440 million (£348 million) to attract younger audiences. Recently, streaming companies such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have introduced ad supported services and increased subscription prices to boost revenues. These changes come as the companies face pressure to expand their content libraries and attract more customers in an increasingly competitive market.


 

TalkTV's Shift and Murdoch's Broadcasting Legacy

 

In March, Murdoch's TalkTV network announced it would cease broadcasting as a terrestrial television channel, transitioning to a strictly online service. The network, which launched in 2022, struggled to attract viewers on its linear platform. Murdoch had hoped TalkTV would offer an opinion led alternative to established outlets and shake up the broadcasting establishment. Murdoch, who significantly impacted the UK's broadcasting industry by launching Sky in 1984, sold his 21st Century Fox's 39% stake in Sky to NBCUniversal's owner Comcast in 2018 after losing a bidding war for the network.

Cambodia imprisons activists for plotting against the state

By D. Maan, Jadetimes News

 

 

Environmental Activists Jailed in Cambodia

 

Cambodia has imprisoned 10 environmental activists from the group Mother Nature for plotting against the government, a move critics claim is politically motivated. These activists were charged in 2021 after exposing waste run off into Phnom Penh's Tonle Sap river near the royal palace. Three members, including Spanish co founder Alejandro Gonzalez Davidson, received eight year sentences and $2,500 fines for also allegedly insulting the king. The remaining seven activists were sentenced to six years. Prosecutors have not explained how the activists violated laws against insulting the king or conspiring against the government.


 

Ongoing Environmental and Political Tensions

 

Since its inception in 2013, Mother Nature has campaigned against environmentally destructive projects and questioned the management of natural resources in Cambodia. The group shares their findings in engaging videos on Facebook, where they have 457,000 followers. Environmental groups accuse Cambodian leaders of exploiting the country's natural resources, a claim the government denies, instead accusing Mother Nature of inciting social unrest. Gonzalez Davidson, previously banned from entering Cambodia, criticized the verdict as a "disastrous decision by the Hun family regime," predicting it would ultimately backfire by inspiring others to continue the activists' work.


 

Crackdown on Dissent Under New Leadership

 

Cambodia's law against insulting the king, implemented in 2018, is viewed by critics as a tool to suppress dissent. During the lengthy rule of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, opposition political parties were dismantled, independent media outlets were shut down, and numerous activists were imprisoned. Hun Sen stepped down last year, passing the leadership to his son, Hun Manet. Under Hun Manet’s regime, Mother Nature activists have continued to denounce what they see as biased law enforcement favoring corporations and the wealthy elite.


 

Violent Arrests and Legal Actions

 

Four of the convicted Mother Nature activists were present at their hearings and were immediately arrested after the verdict was announced. Representatives from the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (Licadho), who were outside the Phnom Penh court, reported that the arrests were violent, with at least two activists being dragged by their necks. Arrest warrants have been issued for the remaining six activists, including the group’s co founder, Alejandro Gonzalez Davidson.


 

Support and Protests

 

Earlier that day, dozens of Mother Nature supporters marched towards the court where the verdicts were to be delivered. Dressed in white, the traditional color of mourning in Cambodia, they held handwritten posters with messages such as "We need freedom" and "We need rights," and carried white flowers in a show of support for the activists. Despite the government's stance, the activists and their supporters continue to call for justice and the protection of their rights.

Will Smith premieres new song in electrifying performance at the BET Awards

By D. Maan, Jadetimes News

 
 

Will Smith's Fiery Return to Music

 

Will Smith lit up the stage at the BET Awards on Sunday with a blazing and faith filled performance. Returning to his musical roots, Smith debuted his new song, “You Can Make It,” featuring Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir. The gospel infused track highlighted themes of perseverance, with Smith rapping lines like, “The darker the hell you gotta endure / The brighter the heaven you get to enjoy,” amidst pyrotechnic fire.


 

Powerful Lyrics and Uplifting Message

 

In his performance, Smith continued with powerful lyrics: “God opens a window when the devil closes the door / Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith / In the rearview, I see adversity was the gift / To lift me higher gifts requires faith.” This performance followed his surprise appearance at Coachella in April, where he joined J Balvin for a high energy rendition of his iconic track “Men In Black,” originally released with the 1997 movie.


 

New Music After Years

 

“You Can Make It” marks Smith’s first solo material in over five years, setting the stage for his first major music release since the 2005 album “Lost and Found.” Despite his recent focus on acting, Smith has occasionally collaborated with artists like Bad Bunny and Marc Anthony. In 2017, he released the EDM single “Get Lit,” and more recently, he teamed up with Sean Paul for “Light ‘Em Up,” featured on the soundtrack of his new film, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”


 

Grammy Winning Artist's Legacy

 

Smith’s music career boasts four Grammy wins in the rap performance category, both solo and as part of a duo or group. His first Grammy came in 1988 for “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” performed with DJ Jazzy Jeff as the Fresh Prince. The duo also won for their 1992 hit “Summertime.” As a solo artist, Smith earned back to back Grammys in 1998 for “Men In Black” and in 1999 for “Gettin’ Jiggy with It,” cementing his legacy in the music industry.

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