By John McCarthy Ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft have identified a market each have failed to connect with – the elderly. As a result they are planning to bolster their appeal by rolling out convenient over-the-phone bookings. Operating under the logic that for the less tech-savvy elderly, an app is not the most convenient port of call when booking transport, the firms have recently launched initiatives in the US where the seniors can phone an operator and book a ride as they would more traditional taxi services, according to the LA Times. Last week in San Diego, Lyft partnered with elderly support service Read full story › Source: The Drum...
Read MoreBy John Glenday The UK government is pinning its hopes on a ‘smart energy’ revolution to help keep the lights on as a generation of power stations reach the end of their serviceable lives. Faced with a resulting energy gap and consequent blackouts, ministers are scrambling for innovative means of managing consumption by working with the ‘internet of energy’ to allow household appliances such as fridges, washing machines and dishwashers to modulate their power consumption at peak times. This has been made possible by individuals and businesses generating their own power, storing it and drawing on it when required, incentivised by the introduction of off-peak Read full story › Source: The Drum...
Read MoreBy John Glenday Vice Media-owned cable network Viceland is marking its first six months in business by expanding into the late night talk show format with Desus & Mero. Premiering this October the show aims to deliver a fresh take on current events, culture and day-to-day life as perceived by two Bronx-born friends. Viceland co-president Eddy Moretti commented: “Just six months in and Viceland is right on track. We gave birth to a completely new brand — a unique voice with 100 percent Vice-produced content, that is attracting a young, smart, affluent audience. “And today, more people are watching Vice-produced content on every possible screen than Read full story › Source: The Drum...
Read MoreBy Jessica Goodfellow Endemol Shine’s digital studio has partnered with Mashable to distribute five digital eSports series across both platforms’ owned properties as the production powerhouse hopes to ride off the back of a video push in new media. Endemol Shine Beyond USA is the digital studio of Endemol Shine North America, focused on developing original series to be distributed cross-platform. Among its digital-first series the company produces ‘Pretty Little Pranksters’, ‘Beauty Newbies’, as well as eSports franchise ‘Legends of Gaming’. The latter will now feature on Mashable’s site and social channels, YouTube page and OTT channels, Read full story › Source: The Drum...
Read MoreBy Andrew Boulton For most careers I can think of, television is a poor recruiter. Or rather, television is a spectacularly effective recruiter, just not a very honest one. As a boy, I was desperate for a career in the police force, based almost entirely on an unhealthy love for ‘Columbo’. I saw myself bumbling genially through largely mansion-based murders before springing an unexpected and utterly brilliant denouement – leaving the overconfident killer with no option but to make a startled confession on the spot and rather compliantly submit to arrest. I did not anticipate a reality where I would spend Saturday nights getting chinned Read full story › Source: The Drum...
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