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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!

Dana E. Neuts

Spotify to Buy Bill Simmons’ The Ringer for an Estimated $196M

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Services, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Freemium, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, Subscription Apps /

A day after announcing its fourth quarter 2019 results, streaming audio platform Spotify announced its intent to acquire Bill Simmon’s The Ringer. This acquisition will help Spotify expand its content catalog with sports and pop culture podcasts and The Ringer website, as well as reach new audiences. Bill Simmons, a former ESPN personality, started The Ringer in 2016. Spotify did not disclose terms of the deal, but Variety reports that the company may be paying as much as $196 million cash for The Ringer. The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of 2020.

Spotify to Buy Bill Simmons’ The Ringer for an Estimated $196M Read More »

WWE Reports Highest Revenue Ever for Q4 and Full-Year 2019

Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, FInance, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps /

WWE® finished 2019 with a TKO, reporting total revenue of $322.8 million, an 18% increase year-over-year and the highest quarterly revenue total in the history of the company. Revenue for the full year 2019 was $960.4 million, also a company record. Operating income for the quarter increased 87% to $99.8 million, and adjusted OIBDA also grew 67% to a quarterly record of $107.7 million. Operating income for the year was $116.5 million, and adjusted OIBDA was $180.0 million, a record for the third year in a row.

WWE Reports Highest Revenue Ever for Q4 and Full-Year 2019 Read More »

News Corp Reports Strong Subscriber Growth for Q2 FY20

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, FInance, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Retention /

Last week, News Corp posted strong subscriber growth for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, including significant milestones. The Dow Jones now has more than 3.5 million subscribers, and The Wall Street Journal has exceeded 2 million digital-only subscribers. Total digital subscriptions at Dow Jones increased 17%, while The Wall Street Journal’s increased by 13%. Circulation and subscription revenue increased 3% due, in part, to Dow Jones’ consumer products which had a 5% increase in circulation revenue. Dow Jones’ consumer products reached 3.4 million total subscribers, an 8% increase.

News Corp Reports Strong Subscriber Growth for Q2 FY20 Read More »

SaaSWorks Raises $5M to Help SaaS Firms Scale Subscription Operations

Business Operations, Business Services, Customer Service, Industry Announcements, News, Payment Processing, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Retention /

SaaSWorks has raised $5 million in seed ¬¬funding to continue its work as a revenue operations and customer success solution to support SaaS businesses. The funding round was led by Conversion Venture Capital and CEOs, CFOs and other executives from prominent SaaS companies. SaaSWorks will use the investment to attract talent in the greater Boston area to help the company grow and support SaaS businesses as they scale their subscription operations.

SaaSWorks Raises $5M to Help SaaS Firms Scale Subscription Operations Read More »

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New York Times Sets Company Record for Digital Subscriptions in 2019

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, FInance, News, Paywall, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscription Apps /

Last year was a very good year for The New York Times Co. who set a company record for digital subscription growth. The company added more than 1 million net new digital-only subscribers last year. It now has more than 5.2 million total subscribers, including print and digital, making it one of the few U.S. newspapers that has developed a winning formula in the digital age. Mark Thompson, president and CEO of The New York Times Co., commented on the company’s 2019 results.

New York Times Sets Company Record for Digital Subscriptions in 2019 Read More »

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Weekly Subscription News: Google, Gaming and Video Piracy

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Services, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Industry Announcements, News, Newsletters, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscription Apps, Subscription Gaming /

The excitement of the Super Bowl is always anti-climactic. It is the ultimate in professional football, but it also means the end of the NFL season. Fortunately, the groundhog says we have an early spring coming. Before you pack away your winter clothes though, check out what’s on tap in the subscription world this week. Google Photos is testing a subscription for auto-printing your best pix, Switch Online hits 15 million subscribers, and Morning Brew has increased revenue by 333%. Also this week, Direct CBD Online announces a new subscription program, Microsoft shows off the success of Xbox Game Pass, and Sling expands access to free content.

Weekly Subscription News: Google, Gaming and Video Piracy Read More »

illustration of the number five, representing the five subscription business topics for this column, Five-on-Friday

Five on Friday: Job Opportunities, Increases and Injunctions

Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Data and IoT, News, Paywall, Product Development, Regulation and Compliance, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Only /

Happy February, Five on Friday fans! In this week’s edition, The New York Times raises its prices for digital subscriptions for the first time since putting up its paywall in 2011, the FTC is blocking Edgewell’s acquisition of Harry’s, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune hangs onto its print subscribers while growing its digital subscriber base, AdExchanger explains why it thinks publishers’ ad and marketing teams need to work together, and LinkedIn shares top subscription jobs.

Five on Friday: Job Opportunities, Increases and Injunctions Read More »

Money and chess pieces moving together toward the center representing strategic funding for subscription business

Haus Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Funding to Launch Aperitif Membership

Business Operations, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, Memberships, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition /

Get handcrafted, pre-dinner drinks delivered right to your door, thanks to a new aperitif membership program. Last week, Haus announced that it raised $4.5 million in seed funding, reports FoodBev. The funding round included 10 funds and 100 individual investors. Founded last June, Haus will use the funding round to expand its operations and launch Haus Membership, a free-to-join monthly membership program that gives members access to exclusive flavors, product discounts, free shipping and members-only events.

Haus Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Funding to Launch Aperitif Membership Read More »

Viewer points remote at Disney+ streaming video subscription service on big screen TV

Disney’s Streaming Subscriptions Deliver Stellar Results for Q1 FY20

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, FInance, News, Paywall, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps, Subscription Business Marketing /

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse would be proud of Disney’s first quarter results for fiscal year 2020. On Tuesday, Disney reported total revenue of $20.9 billion, a 36% increase year-over-year, driven by Disney’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service, Disney+. The company’s net income was $2.1 billion, a 23% decline year-over-year, or diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.17, a 37% decrease year-over-year. Disney can attribute a $4.0 billion of the revenue increase to the launch of Disney+ which, as of February 3, boasted 28.6 million subscribers. Disney+ is also largely responsible for an increase in costs for the quarter, contributing to the decline in net income.

Disney’s Streaming Subscriptions Deliver Stellar Results for Q1 FY20 Read More »

Microsoft Corporate logo on building

Microsoft Credits Innovation with 14% Revenue Growth in Q2 FY2020

Business Services, Consumer Services, FInance, Industry Announcements, Invoiced Subscription, News, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscription Gaming /

Now halfway through its fiscal year 2020, Microsoft credits innovation for its second quarter success. For the period ended December 31, 2019, Microsoft had revenue of $36.9 billion, a 14% increase year-over-year. The Redmond, Washington-based technology company also reported net income of $11.6 billion, a 38% increase (GAAP), and diluted earnings per share of $1.51 per share, an increase of 40% (GAAP).

Microsoft Credits Innovation with 14% Revenue Growth in Q2 FY2020 Read More »