Aug 29, 2017

The next big media IPOs to watch

Sara Fischer

Spotify could go pubic this fall. Photo: John Locher / AP

Spotify, Vice and Roku have all hinted towards potential IPO's this year. All three have made significant steps in reaching those goals over the past few weeks:

  • Spotify: The music streaming giant renewed its a licensing deal with Warner Music Group last week, clearing the way for a potential IPO. It had previously renegotiated deals with Sony and Unversal Music group this Spring. It will likely do a direct listing IPO this fall. Axios' Dan Primack explains here.
  • Roku: The streaming hardware company has increased its U.S. market share to 37% in Q1 2017 from 30% a year ago, per Business Insider. "Roku still commands market leadership over Amazon, Google, Apple, and others when it comes to media player ownership in the US." Sources tell WSJ Roku plans to launch an IPO before the end of the year.
  • Vice: Vice's investment in hard news documentaries has been paying off. Its on-the-ground coverage of the chaos in Charlottesville claimed national attention and was considered a breakout moment for the media company, which landed $450 million in funding ahead of potential IPO, bringing its valuation to $5.7 billion.

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Axios

Situational awareness

Photo: BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images

Catch up on today's biggest news:

  1. CDC warns it's anticipating spread of the coronavirus in the U.S.
  2. SCOTUS rules that family of Mexican teen killed by border agent cannot sue
  3. Tokyo Olympics "looking at a cancellation" if coronavirus not contained by late May
  4. Mike Bloomberg's partner brushes off NDA concerns
  5. Trump acknowledges lists of disloyal government officials to oust
Keep ReadingArrowUpdated 42 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Axios

Coronavirus spreads to new countries, while U.S. confirms 57 cases

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens.

Public health officials confirmed Tuesday the U.S. has 57 people with the novel coronavirus, mostly those repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship — an increase they had expected after the passengers were allowed to return home from Japan against their initial advice.

The big picture: COVID-19 has killed more than 2,700 people and infected more than 80,000 others, mostly in mainland China. There's only been two cases of person-to-person infections in the U.S. so far, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now warning that Americans should prepare for a much broader outbreak here.

Go deeperArrowUpdated 57 mins ago - Health
Miriam Kramer

Space tourism gets ready for launch

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Multiple space tourism companies are aiming to send their first customers to the edge of space before the end of this year.

Why it matters: Right now, most revenue in the space industry is tied up in government contracts, but experts say the maturing industry will need tourism to grow into the $1 trillion economy some predict it could be.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Science