Winner Take All

Alex kicks off the show with a look at some of the changes to PLAT,  WisdomTree's Growth Leaders Fund that exclusively invests in  platform-based businesses, and details some of the information  WisdomTree licenses from Applico to qualify platform companies for  inclusion in the ETF. Next, a look at Square's financial services and  what they do in platform revenue. The show closes with details on why  Alex is weary of Microsoft purchasing TikTok's American business and  Teladoc merging with Livongo.  

Originally Aired: 08/06/20

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Alex opens the show looking at a new report released by sneaker  marketplace, StockX, that breaks down the increase in demand that the  platform has seen over the past 3 months. Next, discussion on economic  impact data from Yelp that paints a bleak picture of the restaurant  business during COVID-19. The second half of the show looks into Uber's  acquisition of Routematch and Microsoft's 2020 fiscal fourth-quarter  earnings.  

Originally Aired: 07/23/20

00:00 - Welcome to Winner Take All

The show is back in our Connecticut studio and to start things off Alex  takes an in-depth look at Netflix's down Q2 2020 earnings report. He  digs into how Netflix amortizes their content and explains how small  changes to amortization can have a big impact on whether or not the  streaming service is "profitable". Next, a look at TikTok possibly being  sold to be spun off into an American entity and China's boom in  livestream shopping during the COVID-19 outbreak. The show closes with a  look at SiriusXM's acquisition of the podcasting platform, Stitcher.  

Originally Aired: 07/17/20  

The show opens with coverage of news that Walmart's competitive offering  to Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus, will be launching by the end of this  month! Next, Alex looks at the GSA's Commercial Platforms Initiative and  theorizes why Amazon was included but not eBay. Also covered, Huawei  losing out to Nokia and Ericson in Singapore and the need to fight for  openness and freedom across communication platforms.  

Originally Aired: 07/08/20   

00:00 - Show Open

The show opens with an in-depth look at Pandemic Unemployment Assistance  for contract and gig workers. Next, Alex breaks down Ubers acquisition  of delivery platform Postmates and compares the deal to what a deal with  Grubhub could've been. The show closes with coverage of platforms  halting data requests from Hong Kong after the passing of a new  wide-reaching national security law by Beijing.  

Originally Aired: 07/06/20

TIMESTAMPS

Founder of MediaNama, the premier source of information and analysis on  Technology Policy in India, Nikhil Pawha joins Winner Take All to  discuss the Indian Government blocking 59 mobile apps engaged in  activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India. Next, Alex  breaks down why he thinks Zoom and TikTok need to spin out seperate  U.S. based entities. The show closes with Alex looking at questions and  comments from viewers.  

Originally Aired: 07/01/20

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The show opens with a look at the impact advertisers leaving Facebook  could have and how Facebook can balance upholding civil liberties while  still appeasing advertisers. Next, Alex looks at the EU's newly released  evaluation of the Code of Conduct and Reddit's recent purge of  subreddits associated with hate speech. The shows closing topic takes a  look at some of the different interaction models we see on platforms and  critiques how we have yet to clearly define when communication via  these forms of interaction are and are not protected free speech under  the First Amendment.  

Originally Aired: 06/30/20

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Alex opens the show with an in-depth look at email app Hey, and their  battle against Apple's unclear App Store terms of service. Next, Alex  breaks down the WTA TikTok account being overrun with comments from  Chinese propaganda bots. He breaks down events around the video post,  estimates how large he thinks the Chinese Government's social media  misinformation operations are, and explains why he's okay with the  comments staying on the video.  

Originally Aired: 06/26/20

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Alex opens the episode from a new mystery location studio, if you can  guess what state he's in (leave a comment) we'll send you an Applico  prize! The first topic of the show dives into some examples of the  marquee platform strategy, including Spotify's investment into podcasts,  the closing of Microsoft's Mixer, and Epic Games' PC game marketplace.  Alex also breaks down why striking against a platform monopoly like  Facebook won't work.  

Originally Aired: 06/24/20

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The show opens with a look at two companies that can be described as  having a "Chinese body, US head", Zoom Video and TikTok. Alex takes an  in-depth look at the two companies dodgy ties to China and explains why  US and Chinese arms of these companies need to be decoupled into  separate business entities(if possible). Next, a look at news of  Instacart partnering with Office Supplies retailer Staples, and Walmart  teaming up with Shopify. The show closes with a look at Facebook CEO  Mark Zuckerberg's op-ed on strengthening democracy and Google  demonetizing two Conservative news sites.  

Originally Aired: 06/17/20

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