This Week’s Subscription News: Netflix, Nintendo and Newsrooms

In this week’s subscription news, Google defends its Chrome ad blocker which is supposed to lead to better ads, but some find it to

In this week’s subscription news, Google defends its Chrome ad blocker which is supposed to lead to better ads, but some find it to be self-serving. Also in Google news, the Wall Street Journal started blocking Google users from reading for free in February. As a result, their articles are ranking lower on Google and their traffic has dropped 44 percent. In other headlines, Netflix is estimated to grow to 128 million subscribers by 2020, Nintendo releases details about Nintendo Switch, set to launch next year, and Twitch Prime goes global, expanding into 200 countries worldwide.

WSJ Ends Google Users’ Free Ride, Then Fades in Search Results
Standard-Examiner

Netflix Will Grow to 128M Global Subscribers by 2020, Up 44 Percent
StreamingMedia.com

Google Says Chrome Ad Blocker Will Lead to Better Ads, But Some See a Self-Serving Ploy
The Washington Post

Nintendo Switch Online: Game Subscription Terms & Pricing Extremely Attractive
1RedDrop

Amazon Knocks 50% Off Monthly Prime Subscription for Those on Government Assistance
Venture Beat

Twitch Takes Subscription Product Global – Expands Twitch Prime to 200 Countries
VideoInk

Medium Offers Audio Stories to Entice Users
Media Post: Publishers Daily

A Nonprofit Newsroom Rescued Its Local Newspaper. Now It Wants to Expand.
Columbia Journalism Review

Filed in Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscription Apps, Subscription Gaming

Dana E. Neuts

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Editorial Director, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, premium content, and reports. Dana is also a writer, editor, marketer and communications professional. Her work has appeared in AARP Bulletin, The Seattle Times, Seattle Business, 425 Business, 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel and more. Her specialties include business writing, community news, senior issues, travel and, of course, subscriptions!