Weekly news round-up: Facebook Watch goes global & Apple invests in AR startup

Facebook launches ‘Watch’
One year after it was trialled in the US, Facebook has rolled out Watch, its video-streaming service worldwide. All content creators will be able to feature advertising breaks, so long as they hit certain metrics, the BBC reported. The video revenue will be split between the creators at 55% and to Facebook at 45%. 

Apple buys AR startup
Apple has confirmed it has acquired Akonia Holographics. Founded in 2012 by holography scientists, the company specialises in augmented reality (AR) glasses. The display technology is a thin transparent design for smart glasses that display images in full colour and wide field view. Reuters reported the acquisition signals Apple’s ambitions to make a wearable device to superimpose digital information on the real world.

Twitch pirates outnumbered YouTube payers  
Amazon’s Twitch is facing a backlash after reports highlighted that pirated streams of two boxing matches featuring YouTube celebrities attracted more pirated viewers than the official channels. More than one million viewers tuned into the coverage of KSI versus Logan Paul and Deji versus Jake Paul, while YouTube’s pay-to-view stream peaked at 800,000 viewers, according to the BBC. 

Babcock sells media division to Encompass
US-based playout and distribution firm Encompass Digital Media has agreed to take over Babcock International Group’s media services business. The sale expands the Encompass portfolio in the EMEA region adding channel playout, transmission and digital products reported Broadcast. The value of the deal was not announced however a number of staff members are likely to transfer to make the sale possible.  

UK builds tech partnership with Africa
South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria will be included in the UK’s dedicated boost innovate in technology and research in an accelerator programme to help grow African startups and entrepreneurship schemes. According to Telecoms, the partnership will create new revenue opportunities and enable UK tech enthusiasts the learn from the more established mobile money market in Africa.  

Google says Trump claim “not true”
The US President Donald Trump accused Google of not promoting his State of Union address, posting on Twitter evidence he claimed proved the search giant had not featured his speech from 2017. According to the BBC, Google Director of News tweeted Trump’s claims were “not true”.and in a statement the firm said: “On 30 January 2018, we highlighted the livestream of President Trump’s State of the Union on the google.com homepage.”

GDPR complaints doubled 
Since the introduction of the new UK’s new data protection, the watchdog has seen 6,281 complaints filed with the Information Commissioner’s Office between 25 May and 3 July, which was more than 2,400 extra complaints. Tech Crunch reported the new rules have replaced a long overdue and fragmented data protection policy, and that despite the change being on the horizon for a couple of years businesses have clearly been taken by surprise.