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

Five on Friday: Lost Ad Revenue, Prime Growth and eCommerce Trends

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Magazines, Memberships, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Only, Subscription Gaming /

It is hard to believe that we are four weeks into the new year already. We hope your year is off to a great start! As we look ahead to 2020, others are looking at 2019 results and planning for the coming year. In this week’s edition of Five on Friday, The Guardian and Digiday report that publishers are losing digital ad revenue because of blacklisted content, Amazon Prime grows to 112 million U.S. members, the governor of Kansas proposes taxation of digital streaming services, Americans spent more than $25B in home entertainment last year, and 2Checkout shares eCommerce trends to watch for in 2020. As an added bonus, House of Kaizen shares a new subscription job opportunity. Have a great week!

Five on Friday: Lost Ad Revenue, Prime Growth and eCommerce Trends Read More »

Comcast to Refund $1.14 Million to 30,000 Minnesota Customers

Business Operations, News, Regulation and Compliance /

Last week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that the State of Minnesota had reached a settlement with Comcast/Xfinity to the tune of $1.14 million. The settlement was reached over Comcasts business practices which included adding services and equipment customers had not asked for, for overcharging customers and failing to follow through on promotional promises. Customers who had Comcast service between December 21, 2012 and the present who fit into any three of those categories may be eligible for a refund.

Comcast to Refund $1.14 Million to 30,000 Minnesota Customers Read More »

The Athletic Raises $50 Million to Fund Overseas Expansion

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

Digital sports media startup The Athletic has raised $50 million in its Series D funding round, bringing the total raised to date to $139.5 million since its 2016 launch, reports Axios. The funding round was led by Bedrock Capital with participation from Emerson Collective, Powerhouse Capital, Matthew McConaughey, Plus Capital, Founders Fund, Evolution Media and Y Combinator. The Athletic told Axios it would use the money to expand overseas. The company is currently valued at approximately $500 million.

The Athletic Raises $50 Million to Fund Overseas Expansion Read More »

Netflix Grows Q4 2019 Revenue 31 Percent Despite Streaming Wars

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Entertainment and Streaming, FInance, News, Payment Processing, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Retention /

Despite dire predictions that Netflix would falter following the launch of Disney+, the company finished 2019 strong. Netflix grew fourth quarter revenue 31% year-over-year, and it brought in more than $20 billion in revenue for the full year. The company reported operating income of $2.6 billion, a 62% increase year-over-year. During Q4, Netflix also grew its international paid memberships to over 100 million. Other highlights for the fourth quarter and full year 2019 include the following:

Netflix Grows Q4 2019 Revenue 31 Percent Despite Streaming Wars Read More »

How To Prepare Your Subscription Business To Go Global

Business Services, Consumer Services, News, Payment Processing, Product Development, Subscriber Only, Technology /

One of the many benefits of a subscription business model, especially for consumer-facing services, is that companies don’t need to feel confined to particular regions. Even the most modest subscription-based business can have an international footprint. Global expansion is very much in play for subscription businesses as demand for these types of services continues to grow in different international markets. Here’s what you need to know before taking the plunge with your subscription business into international waters.

How To Prepare Your Subscription Business To Go Global Read More »

Mozilla Lays Off 70 as Subscription Revenue Falls Short of Goals

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition /

Last week, nonprofit technology company Mozilla announced it would lay off 70 employees because the company failed to reach its goals with new subscription products, reports TechCrunch. Mitchell Baker, Mozilla chairwoman and interim CEO, shared the news with employees in an internal memo. The company had hoped to increase revenue through subscription and non-search-related products. Doing so has taken longer than anticipated, so the company is estimating 2020 revenue more conservatively. In addition, Baker said the company has agreed to a principle of living within our means and not spending more than they take in. The laid off employees will receive generous exit packages and outplacement support.

Mozilla Lays Off 70 as Subscription Revenue Falls Short of Goals Read More »

Peacock Struts Its Stuff, Revealing Subscription Tiers and Pricing

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services /

After months of speculation, NBCUniversal allows Peacock to strut its stuff, revealing new details about the streaming service. Peacock will be a free, premium, ad-supported streaming video on-demand service. It will feature subscription tiers and offer over 600 movies and 400 TV series. In addition, Peacock fans can access live and on-demand news, sports, late night and reality programming, including fan favorites like Law and Order, Kevin Hart, Jimmy Fallon and the Summer Olympics. Xfinity X1 and Flex customers will get early bird access to Peacock April 15. Peacock will be available nationally on July 15.

Peacock Struts Its Stuff, Revealing Subscription Tiers and Pricing Read More »

Weekly Subscription News: New Channels, New Features and New Rules

Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Magazines, News, Product Development, Regulation and Compliance, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Business Marketing /

If you are tired of political volleyball, check out this weeks subscription headlines. In this weeks news, YouTube TV announces new channels and new features, Facebook wont stop political adv targeting or false claims under the new rules, and Netflix tests cheaper, mobile-only subscriptions. Also this week, Dwell launches a digital subscription as it names a new CEO, Mastercard launches its first music single, and Apple News reportedly expanded 18%, boasting 100 million daily users.

Weekly Subscription News: New Channels, New Features and New Rules Read More »

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

Five on Friday: Acquisitions, Ad Sales and Ad Blockers

Business Operations, Business Services, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, Product Development, Regulation and Compliance, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Only, Subscriber Retention /

Subscription companies are starting 2020 strong with acquisitions, ad sales and inquiries into ad blocking companies. We’ll explore those topics in this week’s edition of Five on Friday: CBS All Access continues to do well with low subscription churn and higher ad sales; travel trends show that subscriptions and memberships are a solid strategy; Meredith will acquire crowdsourced recommendation platform SwearBy; The New York Times reports preliminary results for 2019; and Sen. Ron Wyden wants an investigation into the ad-blocking industry to see if Big Tech is buying them off.

Five on Friday: Acquisitions, Ad Sales and Ad Blockers Read More »

Tribune Publishing Offers Voluntary Buyouts to Employees at 9 Papers

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Consumer Services, FInance, Industry Announcements, Memberships, News, Revenue and Sales /

To cut costs, Tribune Publishing offered voluntary buyout packages to employees with eight or more years of service on Monday, reports the Chicago Tribune. The buyouts are available to qualifying employees at all of Tribune Publishings nine newspapers: Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, South Florida SunSentinel, Hartford Courant, The Virginian-Pilot, the New York Daily News, Orlando Sentinel, Daily Press and The (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Morning Call.

Tribune Publishing Offers Voluntary Buyouts to Employees at 9 Papers Read More »