Posts made in August, 2017

on Aug 29, 2017

By Sean Larkin Facebook-owned WhatsApp has launched a pilot that will let businesses communicate with the messaging service’s one billion daily users, with reports suggesting it will launch a dedicated app for small-to-medium businesses (SMB). More than three years have passed since Facebook agreed to purchase the messaging service for $19bn, and it has now given the first clear indication about how it intends to monetize WhatsApp, with the launch of a verified business accounts program. The scheme was announced in a blog post (see below) with the pilot currently limited to a small number of SMBs, although no details related to paid-for Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Aug 29, 2017

By John McCarthy Hotel group Hilton is making a measured grab for travelling football fans with a video series created in partnership with digital platform Dugout. The partnership, which will enable Hilton Honors to connect with Dugout’s 50 million users, kicks off with the release of Dugout: City Files, a behind-the-scenes journey around the world’s great footballing cities. With Champions League season about to get underway in earnest the company will hope to position itself as the de facto venue of travelling fans throughout Europe’s capitals. Stijn Bastiaens, senior director of loyalty, partnerships and brand marketing EMEA at Hilton said: “We know Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Aug 29, 2017

By Rebecca Stewart Candy Kittens, the confectionary brand owned by Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, has had a slap on the wrist from the advertising watchdog for implying all of its products were halal certified. The sweet-maker, which sells treats online as well as in stores around the UK including Tesco, Waitrose and Selfridges, provoked three complaints from the public to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after the FAQ page on its site claimed that the brand was halal friendly. Text underneath explained why the company used Halal, but complainants noted that some sweets on the site contained cochineal – an Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Aug 29, 2017

By Stephen Lepitak Sky has dropped the broadcast of news channel Fox in the UK after 15 years, despite it potentially being owned by the same parent company if 21st Century Fox’s attempted acquisition of the satellite company be approved. Rupert Murdoch has chosen to end the UK feed of the channel, citing its future commercial viability as the reason, reported The Guardian. The broadcast ended late on Tuesday 29 August afternoon with a spokesperson explaining that as a result of only attracting “a few thousand” viewers a day in the UK, it made more sense to concentrate on growing the Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Aug 29, 2017

By John McCarthy Google-owned YouTube has rolled out new designs across mobile and desktop that have been long in the works, all in aid of improving the online user experience. The video site has been better optimised for different sized screens, underlined by a new, “more flexible” logo “that works better across a variety of devices, even on the tiniest screens.” Meanwhile, tweaks on the mobile app include video that scrolls with the user, video speed tinkering (which was available on desktop) and improved discovery features. The minimalist design also features a night-mode for nocturnal viewing. Loading… In a Read full story › Source: The Drum...