Weekly Subscription News: Comebacks, Crackdowns and Cutoffs

The Athletic, Apple, Vox Media and Peacock

In this week’s subscription news roundup, NBCUniversal discontinues its free tier for new users, and Instagram’s co-founders are making a comeback with Artifact. Also, The Athletic is considering ticketing, merchandising and betting as new revenue streams, Apple has grown to 935 million paid subscriptions, and Vox Media is getting a $100 million cash infusion from Penske Media.

Apple Says It Now Has 935 Million Paid Subscriptions
TechCrunch

The Athletic Is Looking at Ticketing, Merchandising and Betting
Digiday

NBCUniversal Shuts Off Peacock Free Tier for New Users
Variety

Instagram’s Co-Founders Are Mounting a Comeback with Artifact
Platformer

Survey Finds 38% of Netflix ‘Borrowers’ Will Pay After Crackdown
PYMNTS.com

Twitter Blue Only Had 180,000 U.S. Subscribers Last Month
Engadget

Vox Media Is Raising $100M from Penske Media
The New York Times

Publishers Report Q1 Ad Revenue is Pacing 10-25% Behind Forecasts
Digiday

Filed in Consumer Media and Publishing, Entertainment and Streaming, News, Product Development, Subscription Apps

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!