Jul 20, 2017

YouTube TV extends to 10 more markets

Youtube Rego Korosi via Flickr CC

Less than four months after its initial launch, YouTube TV is tripling its market offering from being available in just 5 metropolitan areas to 15.

Original markets: New York, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Chicago and Philly
New markets: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Washington D.C., Phoenix, Atlanta, Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Miami/Fort Lauderdale

Why it matters: The $35 monthly subscription service is meant to offer cord-cutters cheap access to cable on desktop, mobile or Google Chromecast for TV, and so far it's been very successful. Less than two months after launch, YouTube TV had had more than a million app downloads, a bad sign for cable companies grappling with subscription losses. The market expansion gives consumers even more options in a crowded streaming marketplace. Hulu TV, SlingTV, Playstation Vue and DirectTV Now all cost roughly $40 per month, while the average American pays $92 monthly for cable.

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Axios

Updated 36 mins ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

Over 500 schools in South Korea have either closed or postponed reopening, according to the Korea Times, which cites data from the Ministry of Education.

Why it matters: South Korea has been a model for how to handle the novel coronavirus, and the closures reportedly followed concerns from parents and teachers over child safety. The country's confirmed death toll has plateaued at 269 over the past few days, with few increases, per Johns Hopkins data.

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Axios

Updated 38 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

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U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 4 p.m. ET: 1,735,971 — Total deaths: 102,286 — Total recoveries: 399,991 — Total tested: 15,646,041 — Map.
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Dave Lawler, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian

1 hour ago - World

Trump to end Hong Kong’s special trade status

President Trump. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump announced on Friday that the U.S. would be fundamentally changing longstanding policies toward Hong Kong as a result of Chinese encroachment on the city's autonomy.

Why it matters: Trump said he would be effectively ending the special trade status that has allowed Hong Kong to flourish as a gateway to the Chinese market. That leaves an uncertain future for businesses that operate in Hong Kong, not to mention the city's 7 million residents, and could be met with reprisals from Beijing.

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