Viacom and CBS finalized an $11 Billion merger and now rumors of a new streaming service being created. Under the new company. now called ViacomCBS, has the streaming service CBS All Access and a Showtime streaming app and are planning to expand their streaming offerings.

Viacom brings TV networks like MTV, BET, Paramount Network, and Nickelodeon which all have extensive libraries. CBS’s All Access is $6 a month and includes shows like the Star Trek reboot.

ViacomCBS’ new streaming service is entering a very crowded field. Netflix has 167 million users, Amazon Prime has 150 million users, Hulu has 30.7 million users, and others that are still developing their business.

Apple was once considering a service to allow their iCloud users to encrypt their data. In 2017, Apple canceled their plans to roll that out. According to the New York Post, Apple’s legal team killed the idea shortly after a shooting in San Bernardino California.

That same report states that the FBI complained that allowing iPhone users to encrypt their iCloud backups would cause issue for law enforcement to gather evidence against iPhone using suspects.

Apple has since switch from end-to-end encryption to just encrypting super-sensitive information on iCloud backups. President Trump was also vocal on Apple not helping law enforcement in their investigation into the San Bernardino shooting,

In 2019, Netflix launched a $2.99 a month mobile only plan in India. They also launched a $4 mobile only plan in Malaysia. Now the steamer is thinking about adding more of these mobile only plans in areas where they have their existing plans.

The idea behind this plan is to allow users who might not want to pay $10/month for Netflix, but want to watch things on their phone. The likely price point would also make them more competitive with Apple TV+ and Disney+.

Apple CEO Tim Cook saw a $4.3 Million drop in compensation. The Hollywood Reporter says that Apple executive all saw a drop in compensation due to target payouts.

The report says that in 2018, Cook was paid $12 Million in incentive based base and in 2019, he was only paid $7.7 million.

“In 2019, Apple’s performance exceeded the target performance goals for both net sales and operating income, resulting in a total payout of 128 percent of the target payout opportunity for each named executive officer,” Apple wrote in the filing disclosing executive compensation. The company’s stock grew by more than 88 percent in 2019. (The Hollywood Reporter).

Cook’s base pay is $3 million. He also gets almost $900,000 in other compensation including security protection services and use of a private jet. His total compensation for 2019 was $11.6 million.

Disney+ has removed a big chunk of classic films from their streaming service. It was reported earlier today that Disney+ has removed about 12 films from their offerings. Titles such as “Home Alone,” “Dr. Dolittle,” “The Sandlot” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” were all missing.

According to some reports, Disney+ is having conflicts with other streaming services that have licenses the previously mentioned films. One can only hope that those films will return once the current licensing deals expire.

While Disney+ has removed some titles, it has also added a few great classics, according to the New York Post.

Disney also added a host of new content to the service this month, including the animated TV series “The Proud Family,” the 2003 film “Holes” and “Cool Runnings,” the 1993 movie based on the Jamaican national bobsled team’s Winter Olympics run.

Once Disney gets these licensing deal under control, it has been said they will not be revolving content anymore.

The Amazon-owned audio books distributor, Audible, has named its new CEO. Founder and current CEO, Don Katz, is stepping down and transitioning into the role of Executive Chairman.

“Bob Carrigan is among the most accomplished, creative, intellectually adept, and inspirational CEOs I have watched succeed over my 20 years of studying and chronicling businesses and my 24 years leading Audible,” Katz said in a statement. He added, “Bob and I have traded insights on how to translate complex ideas into clear strategic and tactical action as trusted confidantes for years. From the time Bob and I first met, when he was a senior executive at AOL two decades ago, I have watched him positively disrupt institutional status quos to measurable and lasting effect. I could not be more thrilled that the stars have aligned to allow him to join the Audible adventure full-time.”