• Netflix said on Tuesday that "The Witcher" season one was watched by 76 million households in its first four weeks of release and is on track to be the streamer's biggest first season ever.
• But Netflix did change its viewership metrics — it now counts a view if an account watches at least two minutes of a movie or TV show episode, as opposed to at least 70% (which was its previous standard).
• In its letter to investors, Netflix compared "The Witcher" against Disney Plus' "The Mandalorian" in Google search trends.
• The company missed its subscriber growth forecast in the US, while exceeding expectations internationally.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Netflix's "The Witcher" will be the streamer's biggest TV show premiere of all time.

The hit fantasy show was watched by 76 million households in the first month of its release (it dropped December 20) and is on track to become the streaming giant's biggest first season ever, Netflix said during its 2019 fourth-quarter earnings report on Tuesday.

But there's a caveat: Netflix updated its viewership metrics. Now the company counts a view if an account watches at least two minutes of a program. Before, Netflix counted a view if an account watched 70% of a movie or an episode of a TV series. It said in the report that two minutes is "long enough to indicate the choice was intentional."

"Given that we now have titles with widely varying lengths — from short episodes (e.g. Special at around 15 minutes) to long films (e.g. The Highwaymen at 132 minutes), we believe that reporting households viewing a title based on 70% of a single episode of a series or of an entire film, which we have been doing, makes less sense," Netflix said.

Netflix said "The Witcher" was its second most popular of 2019, behind "Stranger Things." Audience demand data from Parrot Analytics, provided to Business Insider, backs up how popular it is. The show is currently the most in-demand TV series in the world, passing Disney Plus' "Star Wars" series, "The Mandalorian."

Netflix itself even compared the show to "The Mandalorian" during its investor letter, using Google search trends data, and providing a chart that showed that "The Witcher" was trending higher after its release than "The Mandalorian" was during any point after its release.

"In Q4, despite the big debut of Disney Plus and the launch of Apple TV Plus, our viewing per membership grew both globally and in the US on a year over year basis, consistent with recent quarters," Netflix said.

However, Netflix still missed subscriber growth expectations in the US during the quarter as Disney Plus launched, adding 420,000 paid net subscribers during Q4, below its forecast of of 600,000 (it exceeded expectations internationally, though, adding 8.33 million subscribers outside of the US).

• Read more of Business Insider's coverage of "The Witcher"
• Netflix's 'The Witcher' creator on the grueling 178-day production, what to expect in season 2, and why the show's viral song is actually 'horrific'
• The battle between Netflix's 'The Witcher' and Disney Plus' 'The Mandalorian' previews what's to come in the streaming war
• Netflix's 'The Witcher' creator teased what to expect in season 2 from each main character
• Netflix's 'The Witcher' creator thinks the show's viral song is 'horrific' when you listen to the lyrics
• Netflix's 'The Witcher' creator explained her original pitch for the show that was ultimately scrapped
• The top 8 TV shows that fans of Netflix's 'The Witcher' are watching
• Netflix's 'The Witcher' dethroned 'The Mandalorian' as the biggest TV series in the world
• Netflix's 'The Witcher' is one of the biggest shows in the US despite poor reviews from critics

SEE ALSO: Netflix crushed growth targets internationally during Q4, but missed in the US where rivals like Disney Plus emerged

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns explains why country music is universal

• "Star Trek: Picard" will premiere on January 23 through the CBS All Access streaming service.
• The show stars Patrick Stewart, who is reprising his iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard from "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
• In order to watch the series, you'll need a subscription to CBS All Access.
• CBS All Access is available for $5.99 per month with limited commercials, or $9.99 per month without commercials.

Trekkies rejoice, the highly-anticipated "Star Trek: Picard" series finally launches on January 23. But you won't be able to watch it through your regular TV package.

The series features the return of Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard. Stewart previously played the character of Picard on seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and in four theatrical Star Trek films. "Picard" picks up 18 years after the events of Stewart's final film in the franchise, "Star Trek: Nemesis," and finds the character coming out of retirement after a mysterious woman seeks his help.

"Picard" also stars Santiago Cabrera, Isa Briones, Alison Pill, and Harry Treadaway. A few familiar faces from other "Star Trek" shows will make appearances as well, including Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, Brent Spiner as Data, Jonathan Frakes as William Riker, and Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi.

Although CBS is producing the show, "Picard" will not air on the CBS network. Instead, you'll need to have a CBS All Access streaming subscription to watch it.

Here's everything you need know about streaming "Star Trek: Picard" on CBS All Access.

How can I watch "Star Trek: Picard" on CBS All Access?

In order to watch "Stark Trek: Picard," you'll need to sign up for a CBS All Access subscription. CBS All Access is a streaming service with live CBS programming and a growing collection of on-demand titles.

When you sign up for CBS All Access, you can choose between two subscription plans — a limited-commercials plan or a commercial-free plan. Both plans include monthly and annual payment options. The annual subscription method will save you over 15%. New subscribers can also receive a free 7-day trial. 

The limited-commercials plan costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. This option features regular commercial interruptions during live TV, as well as commercial breaks while watching on-demand content.

The commercial-free plan costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Under this plan, live TV still includes regular commercials, but most on-demand content does not. This means you'll be able to watch "Star Trek: Picard" without ads.

What devices can I watch "Star Trek: Picard" on?

"Star Trek: Picard" is available to watch via the CBS All Access app on a variety of mobile devices, media boxes, and smart TVs.

The service is supported by Roku players, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Samsung smart TVs, LG smart TVs, and Vizio smart TVs. You can also watch CBS All Access through a web browser on a PC or MAC.

When will new episodes of "Star Trek: Picard" premiere?

The first episode of "Star Trek: Picard" will premiere on Thursday, January 23 at 12:01 a.m. PT.

Unlike other streaming services like Netflix, CBS All Access does not release entire seasons of its shows all at once. Instead, new episodes of "Star Trek: Picard" will debut every Thursday. There will be a total of 10 episodes in the show's first season, with the season finale set to premiere on March 26.

If you're signing up for CBS All Access just to watch "Star Trek: Picard," you'll need to remain a subscriber through March in order to watch all the new episodes as they premiere. Alternatively, you could also wait until March 26 to subscribe in order to binge-watch the entire first season.

"Star Trek: Picard" has already been renewed for a second season, but a release date has not been announced yet. 

What else can I watch on CBS All Access?

In addition to "Star Trek: Picard," CBS All Access features a ton of other great live and on-demand content.

Other original on-demand titles produced exclusively for CBS All Access include "Star Trek: Discovery," "The Twilight Zone," and "The Good Fight."

The service also includes a library of more than 12,000 on-demand episodes from many current and classic TV shows. You can watch new episodes of shows like "Young Sheldon" and "NCIS" the day after they air on TV, or you can enjoy episodes of old favorites like "Cheers" and "I Love Lucy" whenever you'd like.

Finally, when it comes to live TV, CBS All Access lets you stream your local CBS station, as well as CBSN, CBS Sports HQ, and ET Live. Live local CBS coverage through CBS All Access is available in over 200 markets nationwide. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• Riot Games, the company behind "League of Legends," agreed in August to pay $10 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of gender discrimination.
• However, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing says the company could owe as much as $400 million for denying women equal pay, according to the LA Times.
• The DFEH's objection has blocked the original $10 million settlement from being approved.
• A Riot spokesperson described the $400 figure number as a "click-bait number with no grounding in reality."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The State of California says one of the country's biggest gaming companies could be responsible for paying more than $400 million to female employees as a result of an ongoing sexual harassment and gender discrimination investigation.

In December 2019 Riot Games, the creator of "League of Legends," agreed to pay $10 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the company of fostering a sexist work environment. Two Riot employees, one former and one current, filed the suit in California Superior Court in November 2018 accusing Riot of denying them equal pay and blocking their career advancements on the basis of gender.

However, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has objected to the settlement, preventing its approval in Los Angeles Superior Court. California's DFEH says that women at Riot could be entitled to more than $400 million in back pay based on the calculations used in the settlement. The department also said the settlement failed to incorporate "enforceable changes" to Riot's employment policies, the LA Times reported.

A Riot Games spokesperson told Business Insider it planned to file a legal rebuttal to the DFEH objections, calling the agency's $400 million number "absurd."

"It's a click-bait number with no grounding in reality," Riot spokesperson Joe Hixson said in an email.  

Hixson said the DFEH used a flawed methodology that is inconsistent with similar cases and failed to take into account important factors like job duties, skills and experience. 

The original class action suit alleged that Riot created a sexist work environment by fostering "bro culture" that normalized sexual harassment and misogyny aimed at employees of both genders. In December 2018 Riot suspended Chief Operating Officer Scott Gelb for upholding that culture of toxic masculinity, following reports that he had farted on employees and repeatedly hit their genitals as a running joke.

According to reports from ESPN, plaintiffs Jessica Negron and Gabriela Downie are due to receive the highest payouts from the settlement, $10,000 each. After accounting for legal fees and litigation, approximately $6.2 million in settlement payments will be distributed between the remaining members of the class.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, Ryan Saba, told ESPN that the case had resulted in one of the largest gender inequality settlements in California's history.

Riot announced the class action settlement in a joint statement with the plaintiffs on August 23. At the time, Riot said it chose not to pursue litigation in favor of progressing past the dispute as a company. 

"While we believed that we had a strong position to litigate, we realized that in the long run, doing what is best for both Riot and Rioters was our ideal outcome," the company said in a blog post at the time. "Therefore, rather than entrench ourselves and continue to litigate, we chose to pivot and try to take an approach that we believe best demonstrates our commitment to owning our past, and to healing the company so that we can move forward together."

Riot has been overhauling its internal policies and company culture since reports of gender discrimination surfaced in August 2018, but some employees have remained critical of its approach. In May more than 100 employees participated in a walk-out of the company's Los Angeles studio to protest a newly introduced forced arbitration policy for workplace disputes.

SEE ALSO: The company behind one of the biggest video games in the world was just slammed with a lawsuit alleging its 'bro-culture' created a sexist workplace where women were rated on their 'hotness,' told that 'no doesn't necessarily mean no,' and shown unsolicited photos of male genitalia

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Google reveal the new Nest Mini, which is an updated Home Mini

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted a tongue-in-cheek Twitter poll asking if he should put the video game "The Witcher" into Tesla cars.
• Musk has been extremely taken with the recent screen adaptation of "The Witcher" on Netflix.
  
• He also said the video game "Kerbal Space Program" is on the list of games he wants to put in Teslas.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Elon Musk's ongoing obsession with "The Witcher" appears to have escalated.

On Tuesday Musk tweeted a poll to his followers asking whether he should make "The Witcher" video game available in Teslas.

"Toss a coin" is a reference to a song from the recent "The Witcher" Netflix series, titled "Toss a Coin to your Witcher." The song went viral, and Musk admitted last week to having the song stuck in his head. 

Musk was not clear which of the three "Witcher" games he would be adding into Teslas, but the most recent game "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" released in 2015 seems the most likely candidate. The first "Witcher" video game came out in 2007, and was adapted from a series of Polish novels. The Netflix adaptation came out late last year, and is also adapted from the books — while also being highly influenced by the game series.

At time of writing the numbers are heavily stacked in favour of putting "The Witcher" in Teslas, with almost 85% of respondents answering yes.

Teslas already have a collection of games their owners can play on the car's touchscreen, although "The Witcher" is a significantly more high-powered than any of the games currently available. Generally players use the car's steering wheel as a controller, but the display can also be hooked up to a console controller.

In the comments below his "Witcher" poll, Musk also said Tesla is working on putting the popular engineering game "Kerbal Space Program" into cars.

In "Kerbal Space Program" players build and fly rockets. Musk, who also runs space exploration firm SpaceX, has expressed his fandom for the game in the past.

He also responded to a Youtuber who said they'd like to see "Minecraft" installed. "Agreed, v important," said Musk.

Do you work at Tesla? Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ihamilton@businessinsider.com or iahamilton@protonmail.com. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk loves video games. Here are 10 of his favorites

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Apple just revealed its AirPods Pro for $249, which feature noise cancellation. Here's everything that was wrong with the $159 pair of the wireless headphones.

• The former home of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt in Los Angeles is for sale for $44.5 million, The Los Angeles Times reported.
• The Beverly Hills estate was first listed in May for $49 million and got a $4.5 million price cut in October.
• The seller is a hedge fund executive who bought the home in 2006 after Aniston and Pitt's divorce.
• The two actors reportedly spent three years renovating the home, adding heated marble kitchen floors, a private screening room, and a pub room with wood floors from a 200-year-old French château.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The former Los Angeles home of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt is asking $44.5 million, The Los Angeles Times reported.

It was first listed in May 2019 for $49 million and got a $4.5 million price cut in October 2019.

The current owner is Jonathan Brooks, a hedge fund executive who founded Smithwood Partners. Brooks bought the home from the actors in 2006 after their divorce, according to The Journal.

Aniston and Pitt bought the 12,000-square-foot California house for $13.1 million in 2001 from entertainment attorney Ken Ziffren and spent three years renovating it, adding features including heated marble floors in the kitchen and a pub room with wood floors imported from a 200-year-old French castle.

The home, described by the Journal as a "French Normandy Revival property," has four bedrooms and comes with a swimming pool, ample outdoor space, and a championship tennis court. It's listed by Susan Smith of Hilton & Hyland.

Here's a look inside the $44.5 million home.

SEE ALSO: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had an adorable backstage moment after winning at the SAG Awards, and people can't stop talking about it

DON'T MISS: A Los Angeles mansion once listed for $250 million has finally sold for 62% off after 3 years. Take a look inside what was once America's most expensive home.

A 12,000-square-foot Los Angeles estate that was once the home of the actors Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt is for sale for $44.5 million.

Originally listed in May for $49 million, the home got a $4.5 million price cut in October 2019.

The current owner is a hedge fund executive who bought the home from the actor couple in 2006.

The house is in Beverly Hills, one of Los Angeles' most upscale neighborhoods.

The area, beloved by celebrities, is about 11 miles from downtown and 13 miles from Los Angeles International Airport.

Aniston and Pitt bought the California house for $13.1 million in 2001 from entertainment attorney Ken Ziffren.

They sold it to Jonathan Brooks, a founder of Smithwood Partners, in 2006 after their divorce.

The four-bedroom house was built in the 1930s, designed by the architect Wallace Neff for Fredric March and his wife, Florence Eldridge, both actors.

Source: Curbed LA

Aniston and Pitt, who owned the home from 2001 to 2006, spent three years remodeling it and lived there for less than two years.

Source: Wall Street Journal

They added a screening room, as well as heated marble floors in the kitchen.

Source: Wall Street Journal

They also created a pub room with wood floors brought in from a 200-year-old château in France.

Source: Wall Street Journal

A marble fireplace anchors the dining room, which can seat 20 people.

Source: Wall Street Journal

The spacious great room features floor-to-ceiling windows ...

... and opens directly to the backyard pool area.

Like many Southern California homes, this one was clearly designed to merge indoor and outdoor living.

The French Normandy Revival-style home, which sits on 1.2 acres, includes a spacious outdoor area for dining and entertaining.

Source: Wall Street Journal

The pool area includes shaded lounge chairs and privacy hedges.

Brooks added a championship tennis court to the property after buying it from Aniston and Pitt.

Source: Wall Street Journal

The $44.5 million price tag may seem extravagant, but it's in line with other homes in the neighborhood.

According to The Journal, a neighboring home that once belonged to Danny DeVito sold in 2019 for about $66 million.

• Disney's new streaming service Disney Plus has launched. 
• A month-by-month subscription costs $6.99/month. The yearly subscription is a little cheaper and costs $69.99/year ($5.83/month).
• For these prices, subscribers get ad-free access to thousands of movies and TV shows, including exclusive original programming from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. 
• There's also a bundled package option. For $12.99/month, you can get Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+. If you buy each individually, the total cost would be $17.97/month. 
• New subscribers can try the service for free for the first seven days. 

One of the most affordable streaming services on the market is now available on your TV. 

Disney Plus, a new ad-free streaming service created by the Walt Disney Company, became available on November 12 and immediately attracted 10 million subscribers on its first day. Analysts predict there will be 18 million customers by the end of 2020. 

The highly anticipated service features programming from not only Disney, but also all of Disney's subsidiaries: Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. 

Subscribers can enjoy movies and TV series old and new, including programming that can only be found on Disney Plus. 

Find more information about the cost and features of Disney Plus below. 

How much does Disney Plus cost? 

There are a few different prices, depending on whether you want to pay on a monthly basis, commit to a yearlong subscription, or bundle Disney Plus with Hulu and ESPN+. Regardless of which you choose, you get a seven-day free trial to see whether you want to sign up for the full subscription.  

Seven-day trial for new subscribers to Disney Plus only: Free 

Month-by-month subscription: $6.99/month

Yearly subscription: $69.99/year (comes out to $5.83/month)

Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle: $12.99/month ($17.97/month if you sign up for each service individually)

Disney Plus, Hulu (ad-free), and ESPN+ bundle: $18.99/month. Read on to find out how to get the bundle with the ad-free version of Hulu. 

What's included in this price? 

• Ad-free streaming of thousands of Disney movies and TV shows, including original movies, series, and documentaries exclusive to Disney Plus 
• Unlimited downloads 
• Ability to stream on four devices simultaneously
• Ability to add up to seven profiles 

How does the price of Disney Plus compare to that of other streaming services? 

Disney Plus offers a competitive price. Here's how it compares to other popular, non-live TV streaming services. The prices shown are for the ad-free plans (if applicable). 

Netflix: $8.99 to $15.99/month 

Hulu: $11.99/month 

Amazon Prime Video: $8.99/month 

HBO Now: $14.99/month

If you would also like sports content and movies and TV from non-Disney sources, you should consider the bundle option. The Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle, which is also now available, costs $12.99/month. If you sign up for each of these services individually, the total would come out to $17.97/month.

However, the version of Hulu in the bundle still includes ads. In order to enjoy the ad-free version of Hulu while getting the savings of the bundle, you need to become a Hulu customer first. Here's what to do: 

1. Sign up for ad-free Hulu ($11.99/month). 
2. Sign up for the Disney Plus bundle with the same email address you used to sign up for ad-free Hulu. 
3. You will have new Disney Plus and ESPN+ accounts but will continue to be billed separately for your Hulu subscription. 
4. Every month, Disney will credit you $5.99, which is the value of the ad-supported Hulu in the original bundle. 

Read everything else you should know about Disney Plus here:

Join the conversation about this story »

• Netflix on Tuesday gave its most detailed explanation yet for why it won't sell advertising. 
• It doesn't want to spend money trying to challenge online-advertising giants like Google and Facebook, CEO Reed Hastings said.
• It also wants "none of the controversy around exploiting users with advertising," Hastings said.
• Still, Netflix has been cozying up to brands in other ways, including more product placements, brand partnerships, and consumer products, as Business Insider has covered closely.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Netflix is beefing up its explanation for why it won't sell advertising, as a small contingent of Wall Street firms continue to push the company to consider new revenue streams.

Wall Street analysts, including those at Needham and Nomura, have argued that Netflix could boost subscriptions and revenue by introducing a plan that includes advertising.

Netflix has said it will not sell ads because doing so would damage its ad-free brand proposition.

CEO Reed Hastings added on Tuesday that building a meaningful advertising business would require challenging online-ad behemoths like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Such a feat wouldn't come cheap. 

"There's not easy money there," Hastings said during Netflix fourth-quarter earnings video. "They're integrating so much data from so many sources ... To keep up with those giants, you've got to spend very heavily on that and track locations and all kinds of other things that we're not interested in doing."

Hastings also pointed to the regulatory risks around ad targeting that have arisen as regions like the European Union and US state of California adopt new data-privacy laws, and US politicians push to break up big tech companies, in part, because of the immense user data they control.

"We want to be the safe respite where you can explore; you can get stimulated, have fun, enjoy, relax and have none of the controversy around exploiting users with advertising," Hastings said.

Nevertheless, other streaming services like Hulu have successfully built advertising businesses. And forthcoming platforms like NBCUniversal's Peacock and the mobile-video startup Quibi are forgoing Netflix's subscription-only model for a hybrid model that includes both subscriptions and advertising. Dual revenue streams have also historically been the bedrock of the television industry, allowing it to fund expensive programming.

Netflix has also been cozying up to brands in other ways, including more product placements, brand partnerships, and consumer products, as Business Insider has covered closely.

The streaming company is building out its consumer-products team that partners with companies like Ben & Jerry's and Nike on products that promote the Netflix brand. It's also co-marketing its originals with brands like Baskin-Robbins and Burger King to reach like-minded audiences that aren't yet on Netflix.

Below is a list of stories Business Insider has published that give a glimpse into Netflix's relationships with brands, and what it's competition is up to. The stories are organized by topic.

Have an idea for another story or a tip? Let me know at arodriguez@businessinsider.com. Email for Signal number.

The Netflix teams shaping its work with brands

• A top Netflix content exec has added consumer products to her purview, as the team staffs up
• The 2 power players at Netflix who are leading its early marketing work with brands like Coca-Cola and Lyft
• A key exec on Netflix's brand-partnerships team has quietly exited the company

Netflix and advertising

• Netflix must launch a cheaper, ad-supported plan to combat Disney, Apple, and Amazon, according to a Wall Street analyst
• Netflix calls speculation that it's moving into selling advertising 'false'
• Netflix could drastically cut its cash burn with a Spotify-like model that includes an ad-supported free tier

Netflix's partnership strategy

• How Netflix's experimental approach to marketing tie-ins creates new opportunities for small and mid-sized brands
• 'It gives a sense of elitism': Netflix is pioneering brand deals for streaming TV, but some partners bemoan its approach
• Netflix doesn't want to 'get distracted' by trying to make money directly from deals with brands like Coca-Cola and Nike
• Coca-Cola was the biggest brand winner from Netflix's 'Stranger Things' season 3. Here are the other brands that got a sizable boost.
• Inside Netflix's marketing strategy for 'Stranger Things,' the show that supercharged its work with brands like Lyft and Coca-Cola
• How Netflix and HBO are opening up marketing opportunities for their TV shows that usually only blockbuster movies get
• Netflix's 'Stranger Things' partnership with Baskin-Robbins started with a cold reach-out on LinkedIn that one exec thought was a joke
• How Netflix is using companies like Comcast and T-Mobile to drive its next phase of growth

The competition

• Molson Coors is making its beers ubiquitous on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. An exec explains its aggressive product-placement strategy.
• The Hulu exec leading product placement says its brand integrations rose 200% in the last year and explains how its strategy differs from rivals like Netflix
• How Disney's marketing advantage over Netflix will be its secret weapon in the streaming war
• Amazon's head of TV and movie marketing details the studio's turnaround effort under Jennifer Salke and its push to become more than a 'supermarket of content'

SEE ALSO: Netflix crushed growth targets internationally during Q4 but missed in the US, where rivals like Disney Plus emerged

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns explains why country music is universal

• US viewers can stream 13 movies nominated at this year's Oscars on Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and more.
• They include best-picture contenders like Netflix's "The Irishman" and animated nominees like "The Missing Link," which can be found on Hulu.
• Netflix led this year's nominations with 24.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Oscars are just around the corner and viewers eager to catch up on the nominated movies have more options than ever before.

13 of this year's nominated features are streaming in the US on the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or YouTube. They range from best-picture contenders like Netflix's crime epic "The Irishman" to animated movies like "The Missing Link," which can be found on Hulu.

Netflix led this year's nominations with 24, which not only included two best-picture nominees, but animated feature, documentary feature, and short film competitors, as well.

The streaming giant has come a long way since 2014 when it nabbed its first nomination. Last year, it scored 15 nominations, led by "Roma." 

Below are 13 movies nominated at this year's Oscars that you can stream right now in the US:

SEE ALSO: 'The Witcher' season one is on track to be Netflix's biggest TV show premiere of all time

"American Factory"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Documentary feature

"Avengers: Endgame"

Where to stream it: Disney Plus

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Visual effects

"Breakthrough"

Where to stream it: HBO

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Original song

"The Edge of Democracy"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Documentary feature

"For Sama"

Where to stream it: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Documentary feature

"Honeyland"

Where to stream it: Hulu

Number of nominations: 2

Nominations include: Documentary feature, international feature

"How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World"

Where to stream it: Hulu

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Animated feature

"I Lost My Body"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Animated feature

"The Irishman"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 10

Nominations include: Picture, director (Martin Scorsese), supporting actor (Al Pacino and Joe Pesci), adapted screenplay

"Klaus"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Animated feature

"Marriage Story"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 6

Nominations include: Picture, actor (Adam Driver), actress (Scarlett Johansson), original screenplay

"The Missing Link"

Where to stream it: Hulu

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Animated feature

"The Two Popes"

Where to stream it: Netflix

Number of nominations: 3

Nominations include: Actor (Jonathan Pryce), supporting actor (Anthony Hopkins), adapted screenplay

COMING SOON: "The Lion King"

Where to stream it: Disney Plus starting January 28

Number of nominations: 1

Nominations include: Visual effects

COMING SOON: "Toy Story 4"

Where to stream it: Disney Plus starting February 5

Number of nominations: 2

Nominations include: Animated feature, original song

• Disney Plus has a ton of new shows based on big franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, High School Musical, and Lizzie McGuire. 
• The service also offers a lot of non-fiction shows and documentaries like "Encore!" featuring Kristen Bell, "The World According to Jeff Goldblum," and a program all about Disney Imagineering that hardcore Disney fans like myself will definitely enjoy.
• Yearly subscriptions to Disney Plus are $69.99/year ($5.83/month) and monthly plans are $6.99/month ($83.88/year). There's also a package with ESPN+ and Hulu for $12.99 a month. 
• Whichever plan you go with, you'll definitely get your money's worth. In fact, more than 10 million people signed up on launch day. 
• Since there's so much to watch, we rounded up all the new shows available exclusively on Disney Plus.

Disney Plus has a lot of new shows and movies to stream. There are spin-offs, sequels, prequels, and even mockumentaries. Basically, everyone will be thoroughly entertained and satisfied with the amount of content available to stream. 

More than 10 million people subscribed to Disney Plus on launch date, with the number of subscribers projected to be around 18 million by the end of 2020 and anywhere from 60 million to 90 million globally by 2024.

What is Disney Plus? 

Disney's new streaming subscription service gives members unlimited access to a growing library of ad-free movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. This includes older releases from Disney's vault, as well as a selection of brand-new, exclusive series and films.

Unlike Netflix, however, the original episodic content on Disney Plus is delivered weekly rather than all at once. This makes the experience feel closer to traditional TV but without the ads.

How much does it cost? 

There are three types of plans — $6.99/month, $69.99/year, or $12.99/month if you get a package deal with ESPN+ and Hulu. If you go with an annual plan, the monthly rate drops a little lower to $5.83 each month.

You can check out the breakdown of Disney Plus prices over here. 

Does Disney Plus have any new shows? 

The streaming service has a growing collection of exclusive feature films and original shows, with new content set to be added throughout the year.

The ambitious lineup of offerings already includes series like "High School the Musical the Musical the Series," "Forky Asks a Question," "The Imagineering Story," "Encore!," and "The Mandalorian."

There are plenty more titles coming soon as well. Upcoming originals include scripted comedies like the reboot of "Lizzie McGuire," and new animated shows from Pixar such as "Monsters at Work." Subscribers can also look forward to spin-offs and sequel shows from the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.

By the looks of it, Disney Plus has something for everyone.

Here are all the new shows and movies to stream on Disney Plus:

SEE ALSO: Disney Plus: Everything you need to know about Disney's new ad-free streaming service

'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' - available now

The first season of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" premiered on November 12 and all 10 episodes are now available to watch. The mockumentary follows a group of high school students as they put on a production of "High School Musical." A second season has already been ordered with a total of 12 new episodes set to debut later this year.    

'Lizzie McGuire' - To be announced

Hilary Duff is reprising her role as the lovable Lizzie McGuire.

In the sequel to the original show (which ended in 2004), we meet up with Lizzie, now a 30-year-old millennial figuring out her life in New York City.

'Diary of a Future President' - available now

Tess Romero stars as Elena, a 12-year-old Cuban-American girl with presidential aspirations. The show is told through Elena's diary and also features flashforwards to Elena as an adult played by Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin"). Episodes are being released weekly now, and the first season will include a total of 10. 

'Love, Simon Series' - To be announced

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Disney Plus is developing a spin-off series set in the same world as the 2018 teen comedy-drama "Love, Simon." The show will follow a new student, Victor (Michael Cimino), as he reaches out to Simon (Nick Robinson) for advice related to high school and his sexual orientation.

'Short Circuit' - available January 24, 2020

This is a series of shorts from Disney employees produced with support from the studio and its fellow artists. 14 shorts will be available to stream on January 24. 

All new Pixar shows

"Forky Asks a Question" - available now

Forky from Pixar's "Toy Story 4" explores various existential questions in this 10-part animated shorts series.

"SparkShorts" - available now

Similar to "ShortCircuit," select Pixar employees are given six months and a limited budget to create their own unique shorts. It's a way to find new voices and new techniques from within the studio talent pool. 

"Pixar in Real Life" - available now

This hidden camera series features Pixar characters in humorous situations in real life, such as Wall-E rolling through a park in New York City and agents from Monsters, Inc. Child Detection Agency picking up a rogue sock on the street.

"Monsters at Work" - 2020

If you've ever wondered what happened to Monstropolis after the fall of scream power, "Monsters at Work" will fill you in. The animated show features the return of Billy Crystal as the voice of Mike, and John Goodman as the voice of Sully.

Non-fiction and documentary series

"The Imagineering Story" - available now

Disneyland and Disney World fans will want to tune in to see this. This six-hour series chronicles the history of Walt Disney Imagineering, the talented crew that make the magic at the Disney parks around the world. It covers the early days with Walt Disney at the helm all the way up to the Galaxy's Edge.

"Encore!" - available now

Encore! — hosted and produced by Kristen Bell ("Frozen," "The Good Place") — is a reality show where she reunites the casts of high school musicals to take another go at their productions.  

"The World According to Jeff Goldblum" - available now

Journey along with Jeff Goldblum ("Jurassic Park," "Thor: Ragnarok") as he travels the world to explore subjects that are of interest to him from how tattoos, ice-cream, and sneakers are made and developed.

"One Day at Disney" - available now

On December 3, Disney Plus began streaming the feature-length special "One Day at Disney," the same day that the book "One Day at Disney" was released. The program (and book) features more than 75 Disney cast members who make the magic from a train engineer at Disneyland to Robin Roberts of "Good Morning America" to the prolific animation artist Eric Goldberg. Following the launch of the feature-length special, Disney Plus also began streaming a 52-episode short-form series.

"Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings" - new episodes in 2020

"Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings" is moving from Disney's Freeform to Disney Plus for its second season in 2020. The program gives viewers an inside look at weddings and engagements at Disney Destinations around the world from Disneyland to the Disney Cruise Line. Season one is currently available to watch.

"Into the Unknown: The Making of Frozen 2" — Summer 2020

"Frozen 2" hit theaters in November of 2019. For those who can't get enough of Elsa, Anna, and the gang, they'll be able to get the inside scoop on how "Frozen 2" was created with the cast, the music team, and others in this docu-series.

"Earth to Ned" — 2020

The Jim Henson Company is creating an "out-of-this-world" talk show where Ned, a blue-skinned alien and his sidekick Cornelius, do interviews with celebrity guests. The aliens were sent to Earth for an invasion but instead become obsessed with pop culture and create a talk show.

"Be Our Chef" - 2020

Angela Kinsey ("The Office") hosts "Be Our Chef," a new reality cooking competition show. Based in Walt Disney World, families will compete by creating dishes that mix their own traditions with the magic of Disney. The grand prize will be the honor of having their dish served at Walt Disney World.

"Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies" - To be announced

Die-hard Disney film fans will want to tune into "Cinema Relics: Iconic Art of the Movies." The show takes a look at the props and costumes from films such as "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "Mary Poppins," "The Muppet Movie," and "Tron." They'll visit with the people who made the items, the actors who used the items, and the collectors and archivists who cherish the items.

"Magic of Animal Kingdom" - To be announced

National Geographic (which is now part of Disney) is producing a series based on Animal Kingdom and Epcot's SeaBase Aquarium at Walt Disney World. The show will give a behind the scenes look at how these areas operate, how they go about protecting endangered species, and the efforts of the Disney Conservation Fund.

"(Re)Connect " - To be announced

In this reality show, families struggling with issues — like workaholic parents and competitive siblings — address their problems with the help of specialized experts. The goal is for them all, as the title implies, to reconnect.

"Rogue Trip" - To be announced

Journalist Bob Woodruff and his 27-year-old son Max, embark on a road trip, heading to destinations that are off the beaten path in search of unique experiences to share with viewers.

"Shop Class" (working title) - To be announced

The competition show "Shop Class" will consist of teams of creative students who are challenged to design, build, and test new contraptions.  Their creations will be judged on how they engineered and designed the items, as well as a test to make sure it works.

"Earthkeepers" - To be announced

The documentary series "Earthkeepers" will follow conservationists and the animals that they study. During the series, the creators hope that viewers get a sense of the "personal trials and professional breakthroughs that come with protecting the planet's most endangered species."

"Ink & Paint" - To be announced

Based on the book "Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation" written by Mindy Johnson, this eight-part series pays tribute to the women who have had a big part of the films of the Walt Disney Company from "Snow White," "Coco," to "Moana," and many more.

"Becoming" - To be announced

Basketball superstar LeBron James is partnering with Disney Plus on a new heartwarming docuseries. The show will explore the origin stories of celebrities and athletes such as the Lakers' Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Sparks' Candace Parker, and comedian and TV host Nick Cannon.

Star Wars shows

"The Mandalorian" - available now 

"The Mandalorian," a western-style take on "Star Wars," is set five years after the fall of the Empire and focuses on a bounty hunter who journeys far out into the galaxy. The eight-episode first season is now available to stream, and a second season has already been ordered.

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" - February 21, 2020

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" is coming back. After being canceled in 2014, the seventh season of the animated series will have 12 new episodes of the show.

Cassian Andor Project - To be announced

Diego Luna reprises his role of Cassian Andor ("Rogue One") alongside Alan Tudyk voicing the sardonic droid K-2SO. Their adventures take place before the downward spiral that is "Rogue One." 

Obi-Wan KenobiProject - To be announced

Ewan McGregor returns in the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in this as-yet titled Kenobi series set eight years after the events of "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith." Filming won't begin until 2020 and episodes won't be ready for streaming until probably 2021 at the earliest.

Marvel shows

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"Marvel Hero Project" - available now

The "Marvel Hero Project" pays tribute to extraordinary kids who have helped their community. In each episode of the docu-series, kids are surprised with the honor of being made into a superhero with their very own Marvel Comic.

"The Falcon and Winter Soldier" - Fall 2020

"The Falcon and Winter Soldier" will reportedly take place after Captain America passes on his duties to Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). The Falcon will be joined by Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), who will most likely be struggling with his past. 

"WandaVision" - 2020

"WandaVision" will feature an original take on Marvel content, a wild mix of classic sitcom style with Marvel storytelling. Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch) stars alongside Paul Bettany (Vision), Randall Park (Jimmy Woo from "Ant-Man and the Wasp"), and Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis from "Thor: The Dark World"), among others. 

"Loki" - Spring 2021

Although Loki died in "Avengers: Endgame," apparently his "journey isn't over yet; it's only just begun." Tom Hiddleston returns in the role of the trickster in what looks to be an adventure through time and space.

"What If?" - Summer 2021

Based in the Marvel Universal, the animated series "What If?" takes the premise that changing one small thing in the narrative of a superhero could change the course of the character and also the world. Marvel talent will be participating in the series, including Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (the Hulk), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), and many more. 

"Hawkeye" - Fall 2021

Hawkeye will return to the screen in his very own spin-off from the Marvel films. In "Hawkeye," he will be mentoring the Young Avenger Kate Bishop and showing her the ways of the Marvel superhero.

"Ms. Marvel" - To be announced

"Ms. Marvel" will be a groundbreaking program; Kamala Khan is the first Muslim superhero to star in their own solo series. In the series, Khan is a Pakistani American living with her devout family in New Jersey while dealing with her superpowers. 

"She-Hulk" - To be announced

"She-Hulk" is focused on Jennifer Walters, cousin of the Hulk, aka Bruce Banner. After Walters gets a blood transfusion from Banner — as in his gamma poisoned blood —she becomes the one and only She-Hulk. 

"Moon Knight" - To be announced

"Moon Knight," a cloaked avenger named Mark Specter, suffers from multiple personalities and questionable instincts. 

"Marvel's 616" - To be announced

The documentary series "Marvel's 616" (working title) will do a deep dive into the real-world context of Marvel's stories and characters via history and culture. A diverse group of filmmakers will tackle each episode. 

Read everything else you should know about Disney+ here:

• Disney Plus: Everything you need to know about Disney's new ad-free streaming service
• How to get a free week of Disney+, Disney's new ad-free streaming service
• Disney+ costs $7 a month on its own, but you can bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for an extra $6
• All the kids' movies you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Snow White' to 'Frozen'
• All the new kids' shows you can watch on Disney+ — from 'Vampirina' to the new reboot of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'
• All the new shows you can watch on Disney+ — from 'The Mandalorian' to new Pixar shorts: The Clone Wars'
• All the Marvel movies and shows you can stream on Disney+ — from "Iron Man" to the new 'Loki'
• Every single Star Wars movie will be available on Disney+ in 4K — here's how to watch
• All the Pixar films and shorts you can stream on Disney+ — from 'Toy Story' to 'Inside Out'

• Business Insider is recognizing the leading brands in the influencer-marketing industry, including SeatGeek, Sephora, and Chipotle.
• In this power list, we are highlighting 17 brands based on which have the most innovative and effective influencer marketing campaigns.
• These brands have built lasting partnerships with creators across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasting.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Over the past few years, brands have found success by relaxing their guidelines and having more fun with the influencers they hire to promote their products — allowing those creators to take creative control over the way sponsored content appears.

Take, for instance, the ticket-selling service SeatGeek and its partnership with the YouTube star David Dobrik, who has 15 million subscribers.

SeatGeek gives Dobrik the freedom to orchestrate a campaign and come up with the creative ideas behind a sponsorship. That has led to viral moments, like Dobrik buying cars for friends — from Teslas to Ferraris— with "SeatGeek money" in exchange for a 60-second shout-out on his YouTube channel. SeatGeek is like a character in Dobrik's popular vlog-style videos, which on average gain about 10 million views.

Innovative brands like SeatGeek (and creators like Dobrik) are pushing forward the influencer-marketing industry, which is projected to be worth up to $15 billion by 2022 and has become many top creators' main source of income.

Business Insider is recognizing the leading brands in influencer marketing based on which have the most innovative and effective campaigns. In this inaugural list, we are highlighting the top 17 brands that have built lasting partnerships with creators on social media.

The state of influencer marketing

An influencer marketing campaign is when a social-media influencer on a platform, such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasting, promotes a brand or product in exchange for compensation.

The goal of a campaign can be to promote a new product, convert followers into paying customers, or create brand awareness. Influencers often interpret the brand theme and create content around that in the form of a dedicated video, post, or 30- to 60-second mention. Campaigns can be with a single influencer or up to hundreds, depending on the budget and goal.

Influencers charge set rates for a sponsorship deal based on their overall engagement. Creators sometimes work with a manager or agent to help them secure opportunities (managers and agents take about a 10 to 20% cut).

In a recent report, Izea, a company that connects marketers with influencers, found that the average cost of sponsored content on the top social-media platforms (Facebook, blogs, YouTube, and Instagram) has increased dramatically in the past few years.

In 2019, the average rate paid per sponsored Instagram post was about $1,643, and on YouTube, the average cost of a sponsored video was about $6,700, according to the report.

Sponsorships are still new to TikTok, and Cosette Rinab, a TikTok creator with 1.6 million followers, told Business Insider that the average rate for a sponsorship on TikTok was between $1,000 and $2,000 per 100,000 views, based on her experience and conversations with other creators.

Creators typically charge more for a yearlong campaign, which could include a mix of YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and other formats. One YouTube creator with about 2 million subscribers told Business Insider that he charged upward of $30,000 for such a campaign.

In the industry at large, long-term partnerships have become vital for both the brand and the influencer, according to Ian Borthwick, the director of influencer marketing for SeatGeek. 

SeatGeek has built relationships with top internet stars like Dobrik, who has a yearlong contract with SeatGeek that has him promote the company every month in some capacity. SeatGeek began working with Dobrik in 2016 and has since worked with him on more than 20 campaigns.

Letting the influencers take creative control

"Influencer marketing works because audiences follow influencers," Evan Asano, the CEO and founder of the influencer-marketing agency Mediakix, said. "Because the influencers can speak directly to their audience, they build a level of trust you cannot get through standard advertising."

The best way for a brand to work with an influencer is to set out with a specific goal, expectation, and way to measure success, according to Asano. Brands should ask themselves: What audience do we want to reach, and how do we want to reach them?

From there, the brand should choose a platform and the size of influencers they want to work with.

"TikTok is trending like crazy right now but generally skewers younger," Asano said about the wildly popular app among Generation Z. "YouTube covers almost every demographic well, depending on the content."

To form this power list, Business Insider relied on a mix of our own reporting, nominations from readers, and industry experts to narrow down the finalists. We chose these brands based on factors like reach, effectiveness, and impact on the influencer business as a whole.

The top 17 brands are listed in alphabetical order below:

Sign up for Business Insider's influencer newsletter, Influencer Dashboard, to get more stories like this in your inbox.

SEE ALSO: The top 14 talent managers for YouTube creators and influencers who are shaping the future of digital media

Audible

Audible, a seller and producer of spoken audio entertainment such as audiobooks, pioneered the YouTube influencer-marketing trend, first working with podcast influencers in 2006 and then YouTube creators in 2012.

Audible, which was founded in 1995, is owned by Amazon.

The company tracks the success of an influencer campaign by using a special code, according to John Harrobin, the chief marketing officer at Audible. Typically, the creators Audible works with promote the product in a timed integration and then ask their followers to click a link that directs them to the site or to text "[first name] to 500500." The company can then track that code to see how many purchasers the campaign drew. 

Harrobin said the company didn't provide influencers with a "scripted read," instead trusting the creators to incorporate the promotion naturally. 

"The creator has to use our product," he said. "They have to believe in our product and effectively be able to showcase how it fits into their daily life." 

Benefit Cosmetics

The makeup manufacturer Benefit Cosmetics has worked with top beauty and makeup influencers on YouTube and Instagram on sponsored content. 

The company is known for having long-term relationships with the influencers it works with, like the beauty guru Patrick Starrr (4 million subscribers). Each year, the company sends influencers on paid-for trips to places like Hawaii.

Benefit uses these trips as way to build relationships with the social stars it works with, and it typically focuses a trip around a new product launch.

Benefit also has an affiliate program that lets influencers earn commission off the products they promote on social media. Creators can sign up online through Benefit's website directly.

In 2017, the company launched #benefitclubpink, which is similar to an affiliate program and  for beauty influencers with between 10,000 and 100,000 followers on Instagram only. These creators often have "#benefitclubpink" in the bios of their Instagram pages, and their photos will sometimes appear on Benefit's main Instagram feed. 

Casetify

Casetify, which sells phone cases and covers, got its start by turning Instagram photos into phone cases.

Casetify cases have been spotted on the phones of social-media stars like Kylie Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and musician Dua Lipa – as well as other top YouTube and Instagram stars.

Often, the company will exchange products for posts. That includes celebrities who simply "slide into our DMs when they upgrade their phone size or see something on our feed that really catches their attention," the company said.

Casetify also has a brand-ambassador program that works with a group of influencers throughout the year who get compensated. The Casetify ambassador and YouTube star Chris Klemens (1 million subscribers) has a working relationship with the brand. He's constantly sharing new collections on his Instagram account.

Chipotle

Chipotle has worked with a variety of influencers across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. 

In July, the company partnered with the YouTube star Brent Rivera (11 million subscribers) and the TikTok star Loren Gray (38 million followers) for a "guac song dance-off on TikTok."

The hashtag challenge — an official TikTok campaign in which a creator uses a specific hashtag for a sponsored video — was called #GuacDance. The campaign was centered on a song about guacamole from the children's music artist Dr. Jean. It went viral and became one of the most successful brand campaigns on TikTok.

Chipotle also had a long-term partnership with Dobrik in 2019. Dobrik has promoted the brand in numerous videos and posts — and Chipotle also temporarily sold a burrito in 2019 named after him.

Electronic Arts

The video-game company Electronic Arts (EA), behind popular games like "Apex Legends" and "Need for Speed: Heat," has collaborated with some of the internet's top creators, from Ninja to Dobrik, on sponsored content. 

In November, EA released "Need for Speed: Heat," the latest game in the "Need for Speed" franchise. Ahead of the release, EA partnered with Dobrik for a sponsored video and social-media campaign to promote the game and app.

In his video, "Surprising Best Friend With Lamborghini!!," Dobrik promoted "Need for Speed: Heat" and encouraged his audience to download the Heat Studio app, design a car, and tweet him a screenshot of their designs with the hashtag #NFSHeatStudio.

Later in the video, EA and Dobrik gifted a brand-new Lamborghini Huracán to his friend and Vlog Squad member Heath Hussar.

"In less than 24 hours the Lamborghini gifting video received over 8 million views and hit the No. 1 trending spot on YouTube," Ricky Ray Butler, the CEO of the influencer-marketing agency BEN, said.

The campaign received 18.9 million views and over 3.3 million total engagements, Butler told Business Insider.

Fashion Nova

The online-retail brand Fashion Nova, which was founded in 2006, has been seen on YouTube creators like Tana Mongeau (5 million subscribers) and Jenner. 

Fashion Nova works with creators on YouTube and Instagram as a way to build brand awareness and launch new products, which is especially important because the clothing is styled for Instagram, with unique pieces and sets that aren't necessarily for everyday wear. The brand typically sends creators items of clothing to promote on their pages in exchange for compensation.

The sponsorships are often try-on hauls, in which creators will show off the clothing items Fashion Nova sent them. Mongeau's try-on YouTube video, where she has her manager Jordan Worona pick out her outfits from Fashion Nova, has 2.6 million views and a link to the company's website. 

Elmer's

After DIY slime took over social media, the craft-supply company Elmer's partnered with digital-content creators to complete "slime challenges" for marketing campaigns.

Slime, which is made by combining Elmer's glue, Borax, water, and food coloring, gained massive popularity online starting in 2017. In December, Elmer's partnered with Collins and Devan Key, two popular digital stars with 20 million subscribers on YouTube, on slime-challenge videos.

Elmer's has also partnered with digital creators like Brooklyn and Bailey (6.6 million subscribers) on back-to-school videos and giveaways. 

Other campaigns with social stars include:

• Drone Slime: Elmer's challenged the popular YouTube creator Unspeakable, with over 5 million subscribers, to see how far slime could be stretched using drones.
• Paint by Slime: Elmer's challenged Moriah Elizabeth, a YouTube creator who prides herself on being creative and a little snarky, to create an 8-by-8-foot paint-by-numbers-inspired piece using over 50 gallons of slime.
• Cement Mixer Slime: Elmer's challenged Life with Brothers, two sisters who are obsessed with making slime on YouTube, to use an industrial cement mixer to make over 300 gallons of slime.

HelloFresh

The subscription-based meal-kit-delivery company HelloFresh, which was founded in 2011, has grown brand awareness online by collaborating with top creators on YouTube.

Typically, HelloFresh sends an influencer it is working with a weekly meal kit, and the creator includes footage of them cooking the kit and showcasing their meal in a timed integration. 

Social-media influencers who work with HelloFresh on a sponsorship usually include a discount sign-up code for their followers to use in the description of a video or Instagram post as a way to draw them to sign up for a subscription. The code is usually the influencer's name, and it also serves a way for the brand to track how many purchasers the campaign had.

HelloFresh also works with food bloggers on Instagram, who showcase what the brand has to offer in its meal kits to followers, and they sometimes share their favorite HelloFresh meal.

Honey

Honey, a browser extension that finds and automatically applies discounts for products a consumer is purchasing, has appeared in YouTube videos from top creators like MrBeast (28.9 million subscribers) and Shane Dawson (23 million subscribers).

In a campaign, influencers — typically YouTube creators — mention the brand and show themselves purchasing items online and using Honey to save money during checkout. 

The company has 17 million monthly active users and works with approximately 30,000 online retailers. In November, PayPal agreed to acquire Honey for approximately $4 billion.

MeUndies

The underwear, loungewear, and apparel company MeUndies was founded in 2011 and has leveraged social-media influencers on podcasts, YouTube, and Instagram to build brand awareness. 

The company has used influencers to launch specific products. For example, it chose five influencers to help launch its Feel Free products last year.

MeUndies typically sends the influencers it is working with a specific product, and the influencer talks about the product they received in a timed integration for compensation.

Moose Toys

Moose Toys, the Australian-owned toy design, development, and distribution company, disrupted the toy industry with its global phenomenon: Shopkins. 

Shopkins are a variety of tiny collectible toys based on grocery-store items, each with a unique face and name.

Moose Toys has worked with various kids and family YouTube channels on campaigns, like Everleigh Rose (the daughter of Savannah Soutas, a popular social-media influencer). Everleigh is 7 years old and has 4.9 million followers on her Instagram page (run by her mom). In August, Everleigh promoted the brand on her Instagram page, tagging one of Moose Toys' brands, Kindi Kids. The photo has over 400,000 likes. 

Olay

The skin-care line Olay, which is owned by Procter & Gamble, partnered last year with the YouTube star and late-night talk-show host Lilly Singh, who is its official spokesmodel.

The partnership serves as a way for the company to reach new audiences across digital media. Singh has 14.9 million subscribers on YouTube and a late-night show on NBC.

Singh previously promoted Olay in the company's #FaceAnything campaign in 2019. This year, she will appear in Olay's 2020 Super Bowl ad #MakeSpaceForWomen, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Katie Couric, Busy Philipps, and retired astronaut Nicole Stott. 

SeatGeek

The ticket-selling service SeatGeek focuses almost entirely on influencer marketing and social stars to help drive new purchasers to its product.

The company has built relationships with top internet stars like Dobrik, who has a yearlong contract with SeatGeek.  

"I think a lot of brands make the mistake of sending over these incredibly complex and restrictive creative briefs," Borthwick, SeatGeek's director of influencer marketing, said. "Ultimately, those produce bad influencer marketing. It's important to take the back seat and let the influencer do what they do best."

Read more about how SeatGeek created one of the most effective influencer marketing partnerships with Dobrik, here.

Sephora

The personal-care and beauty store Sephora works with a group of influencers each year as a way to promote the company's makeup and skin-care line Sephora Collection.

The company recently sent its influencers on a paid-for trip to Germany to learn about how makeup is made and test out products. 

Sephora Collection works with college influencers like Margot Lee (400,000 subscribers) and Danielle Carolan (560,000 subscribers). These influencers are a part of Sephora's #SephoraSquad, a beauty-influencer program that includes a yearlong paid contract with Sephora, which includes free products, early access to products, and networking opportunities. 

Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community for creators with 8 million members worldwide.

Skillshare has been working with influencers since 2016, spanning blogs, podcasts, Instagram, and YouTube.

In 2019, the company sponsored about 5,000 videos across 1,500-plus creators, Ethan Mantel, the influencer-marketing lead at Skillshare, said.

Its most wide-reaching sponsored video was one in 2017 from the science and engineering YouTuber Mark Rober that now has 48 million views.

Tarte Cosmetics

The makeup company Tarte Cosmetics selects about 12 to 15 influencers on YouTube to work with every few months and sends them on paid-for vacations and trips to places like Bora Bora, French Polynesia, and Maldives.

On these trips, the company stocks its influencers with the brand's latest products, which helps with gaining overall exposure.

Tarte also has a commission-based affiliate program to which influencers can apply directly on the company's website.

Zuru

The international toy and consumer-products company Zuru, which was founded in 2004, has partnered with kids and family channels on YouTube in brand campaigns as a way to promote the company's products.

Over the years, the company has sent toys to popular kids on YouTube who run "unboxing channels."

Zuru has worked with channels like Ryan's World (23 million subscribers) and sends him toys (and compensation) in exchange for promotion on his channel.

Ryan is an 8-year-old boy and the highest-earning YouTube star in the world. He makes $26 million a year reviewing toys, according to Forbes, mainly by partnering with brands like Zuru.

Zuru's toys include surprise eggs and mini eggs called "Rainbocorns" — a popular toy among children's YouTube channels and unboxing videos. 

• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly hacked Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' phone in May 2018, the Guardian reported Tuesday — claims that UN investigators backed on Wednesday.
• This is the latest development in a year-long saga that begun in January 2019, when Bezos announced his divorce from MacKenzie Bezos, shortly before his relationship with former TV anchor Lauren Sanchez was made public. 
• News of the affair led to concerns over whether Bezos' phone was hacked, and the investigation that ensued eventually raised the possibility that the Saudi government was responsible for accessing the Amazon CEO's personal information.
• Here's everything that's been reported about how the crown prince apparently gained access to the Amazon CEO's phone.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: The married couple who created a wacky sex button went on 'Shark Tank' and the investors didn't understand why it even exists

March 21, 2018: Ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's three-week tour of the US, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is invited to a small dinner with him in Los Angeles. The US trip is meant to paint the crown prince as a "reformer and globalist."

Source: OCHR, Washington Post

April 4, 2018: Both Bezos and Crown Prince Mohammed attend a dinner in Los Angeles at the home of producer Brian Grazer, co-hosted by talent agent Ari Emanuel. Other guests at the dinner include Disney CEO Bob Iger and former NBA star Kobe Bryant.

Sources: Washington Post, OCHR

At the dinner, Bezos and Crown Prince Mohammed exchange phone numbers. The same day, the royal reportedly initiated a conversation with Bezos over WhatsApp.

Source: New York Times, OCHR

May 1, 2018: Bezos receives an "unexpected message" from Crown Prince Mohammed containing an encrypted video file, per reports. The video "appears to be an Arabic language promotional film about telecommunications," showing Arabic text over images of Saudi and Swedish flags. It's not clear whether Bezos viewed the video, but immediately after getting the file, the amount of data transmitted on Bezos' phone increased by "three hundredfold," the reports say.

Source: New York Times, Motherboard

October 15, 2018: A "massive online campaign" is launched in Saudi Arabia against Bezos, drawing attention to his ownership of The Washington Post. The campaign launches just two weeks after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and columnist for The Washington Post, by Saudi agents in Istanbul. US intelligence concluded in November 2018 that Crown Prince Mohammed was behind the killing of Khashoggi, though the Saudi government has denied any direct link.

Source: Business Insider, Insider, OCHR

November 8, 2018: Crown Prince Mohammed reportedly sends a meme to Bezos on WhatsApp with text reading, "Arguing with a woman is like reading the software license agreement. In the end you have to ignore everything and click I agree." Forensic investigators said the photo in the meme bore a passing resemblance to Lauren Sanchez, who would later be revealed as dating the Amazon CEO.

Source: New York Times, Motherboard

January 9, 2019: Bezos announces he's getting a divorce. The same day, the tabloid National Enquirer reports that Bezos and Sanchez had been dating for months. The paper obtained "raunchy messages and erotic selfies" exchanged between the two —including Bezos' infamous "I love you, alive girl" message — and said that it had a nude photo "too explicit to print."

Source: Business Insider, Mashable

February 7, 2019: Bezos publishes a blog post accusing the National Enquirer's publisher, AMI, of "extortion and blackmail." He also insinuated possible ties between the National Enquirer's investigation into his personal life and the Saudi government.

Source: Medium, Business Insider

February 14, 2019: Bezos and his security team are briefed about the Saudi online campaign against the Amazon CEO. The same day, Bezos receives another message from Crown Prince Mohammed. The message warns Bezos that "all what you hear" is not true, and says: "there is nothing against you or Amazon from me or Saudi Arabia."

Source: Motherboard

March 31, 2019: Bezos' chief security consultant Gavin de Becker writes in The Daily Beast that following an investigation into how the National Enquirer got its information, he could conclude "with high confidence" that the Saudi government had hacked Bezos' phone and gained access to his private information. He reveals Bezos has been subject to numerous threats by the Saudis since October 2018.

Source: The Daily Beast

June 2019: The United Nations starts to look into Bezos' allegations about the Saudi hack after someone close to him reportedly shares a forensic analysis of the Amazon CEO's phone.

Source: New York Times

January 21, 2020: The Guardian first reports on a forensic investigation that shows Crown Prince Mohammed hacked Bezos' phone in 2018 using a video file containing malware.

Source: The Guardian

January 22, 2020: UN investigators release their report a day later, saying with "reasonable certainty" that Crown Prince Mohammed was involved in hacking Bezos' phone. The UN also calls for an "immediate investigation" into Crown Prince Mohammed.

Source: OCHR

• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Jeff Bezos exchanged phone numbers at an April 2018 party in Hollywood, surrounded by other celebrities and CEOs.
• Also in attendance at the party were Kobe Bryant, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Disney CEO Bob Iger, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel, Vice co-founder Shane Smith, and former Trump aide Dina Powell, among others.
• A UN report published Wednesday alleges that Bezos was hacked by Mohammed months after they exchanged phone numbers. A 2018 Vanity Fair story places Bezos and Mohammed at the party that night.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Before Jeff Bezos' personal phone was allegedly hacked by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the two men first exchanged numbers at a Hollywood party surrounded by celebrities, politicos, and CEOs.

According to the UN report that accuses Mohammed of carrying out the hack via WhatsApp, Bezos and Mohammed exchanged numbers on April 4, 2018 at a dinner attended by big names. A Vanity Fair story published that week places Bezos and Mohammed at a Hollywood dinner hosted by producer Brian Grazer and his wife, Veronica.

Brian and Veronica Grazer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The couple, along with William Morris Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, was reportedly finalizing a deal with Mohammed for a $400 million stake WME.

Also present at the party were NBA star and tech investor Kobe Bryant, Disney CEO Bob Iger, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, former Trump aide Dina Powell, and Vice cofounder Shane Smith. Business Insider reached out to representatives for those present, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to the UN-commissioned report, published in full by VICE, Bezos and Mohammed exchanged a few messages beginning on April 4.

On May 1, 2018, Bezos reportedly received a video file from Mohammed's account, which investigators believe may have contained malware that began extracting private information from Bezos' phone. Shortly after the video file was sent to Bezos on WhatsApp, his phone began transmitting a huge amount of data to an external server, according to the report.

The Saudi government has denied the UN report, while the experts who authored the report have called for "an immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Most maps of Louisiana aren't entirely right. Here's what the state really looks like.

• Zane Hijazi and Heath Hussar first found internet stardom on Vine and YouTube, and recently launched a podcast, "Zane and Heath: Unfiltered."
• They work with HiStudios, a new podcast network focused on sports and influencer content, to sell ads and promote their show on YouTube as well as podcast platforms.
• HiStudios sold almost $600,000 in ads on "Unfiltered" in its first quarter, and Hijazi and Hussar said the show has enabled them to grow their business beyond YouTube.
• Click here for more BI Prime articles.

Like many other popular content creators, Zane Hijazi and Heath Hussar got their start on Vine, the erstwhile short-form video app.

Then they started YouTube channels as part of David Dobrik's Vlog Squad, a group of friends who became top YouTube creators.

Despite their online popularity, Hijazi and Hussar said they never generated much income from ads on YouTube. But when they launched their podcast, "Zane and Heath: Unfiltered," in September, ad revenue started flowing quickly. 

The show, in which Hijazi and Hussar talk about their personal lives and share stories about the Vlog Squad, has generated almost $600,000 in podcast ad revenue in its first three months. 

Simulcasting video and audio content can help YouTubers expand their audience

Their podcast network, HiStudios, which spun out of podcast company Himalaya to focus on sports stars and influencers, launched in August with a similar strategy of simulcasting on YouTube, said HiStudios CEO Peter Vincer. HiStudios works with talent agency Studio71 to produce influencer-led podcasts, which they simulcast on YouTube and podcast platforms.

"For the first time ever, you have all of these different open platforms where you can put your content, and there's already massive audiences there that you can immediately leverage to further your brand or revenue," Vincer said.

Hijazi has almost 4 million subscribers on YouTube, and Hussar, more than 2 million, so they use video to promote their podcast. Hijazi and Hussar film the podcast at the same time as their weekly YouTube video, and release the podcast every Monday and the video on Tuesday on their joint channel. A joint channel they launched in conjunction with the podcast has more than 480,000 subscribers, up by about 30,000 in a month.

Hijazi and Hussar believe cross promotion has helped them grow their audience beyond YouTube's young users. 

"We've seen a huge increase in subscribers," Hijazi said. "Audio people love listening to the podcast, and our joint channel has grown really fast compared to our own channels in the beginning."

YouTubers can make money from advertising, but Hijazi and Hussar found more success with podcast ads

Hussar said their ad opportunities were limited on YouTube because their videos don't command premium rates like educational or business-related videos do.

But advertisers pay well for host-read podcast ads, and Vincer said Hijazi and Hussar have a knack for reading ads, according to Vincer.

HiStudios sold $590,000 in ads on "Unfiltered" in its first quarter to sponsors like HelloFresh and Dollar Shave Club. The host-read ads also appear in "Unfiltered" YouTube videos, where subscribers can react to them.

"I have never, ever seen anything in my life like I have from Zane and Heath when it comes to a direct-response advertisement," Vincer said.

Several viewers commented on an "Unfiltered" video with ads for luggage startup Away about how naturally the hosts transition to sponsored content, while others wrote that the ads got them excited about even mundane products like suitcases. 

"I've never seen anyone else be so smooth with an ad plug," one user wrote. Another mentioned visiting the Away site despite already owning five suitcases. 

Hussar said he and Hijazi only sponsor products they've used and liked to foster trust with their audience.

"We don't stick to the script," Hussar said. "We try the product out, and that way we're familiar with it and we can speak from experience when we're promoting it."

SEE ALSO: How 2 podcasters changed their strategy and made $25,000 in a month from Patreon — up from around $2,000

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns explains why country music is universal

• This year's Super Bowl will be streamed and broadcasted in 4K for the first time, and it'll also be available in HDR on certain media streaming devices. 
• Only certain streaming devices from Roku and Amazon will support 4K and HDR. The Apple TV 4K will only support the game in 4K. 
• To watch the game at the best quality that's possibly available, you'll need a TV with the right features, the right media streamer, the Fox Sports app, and an internet connection that's fast enough to stream 4K video. 
• Some cable TV providers will also have the game available in 4K, providing you have the right package and set-tob cable box. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For the first time, you'll be able to watch the Super Bowl in 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR).

Fox Sports announced in December that it'll be streaming the game on supported media streaming devices in 4K HDR, and in 4K with certain cable TV providers. 

Now, I should nitpick that this year's Super Bowl won't be streamed or broadcasted in true 4K. The game is being produced by Fox Sports in the more standard 1080p resolution, and Fox Sports is "upscaling" the video and delivering it to you in 4K resolution. Upscaling is an artificial enhancement to convert lower resolution video to higher resolution. It's typically pretty good, but it's not always as good as true 4K. Still, the game will look great regardless.

Fox Sports executives said during an industry summit that true 4K resolution in sports can create blurry scenes during fast-paced action shots, at least when TV standards display a certain number of frames per second (60, in this case). 

If you want to watch the game in the utmost quality possible, check out everything you'll need:

SEE ALSO: This is the first time the Super Bowl is streaming in 4K resolution, but it won't be true 4K

It may be obvious, but the most essential thing you'll need is a 4K, or UHD, TV to watch the game in 4K. Super Bowl LIV will also be streamed in HDR, so it's a bonus if your TV has HDR.

HDR, or high dynamic range, gives you enhanced colors and contrast compared to SDR (standard dynamic range). It's absolutely not the end of the world if your TV doesn't support HDR. But if your TV does have HDR, it should at least support a standard called HDR 10, which is a universal standard that Fox Sports says is necessary to watch Super Bowl LIV with HDR.

The best way to watch the Super Bowl in 4K and HDR will be with a media streaming device, but only a few devices will stream the game in 4K HDR.

The supported Roku streaming devices include Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+, Roku Streaming Stick+, and 4K TVs that run on the Roku operating system. 

For Amazon streaming devices, only the Amazon Fire TV 4K will support the game in 4K and HDR.

And as for Apple TV, only the Apple TV 4K will support the game in 4K, but no Apple streaming device will support the game in HDR, according to Fox Sports. 

The above media streamers are only for 4K resolution. Super Bowl LIV will be streamed in more standard resolution on a wide variety of devices, including those from Roku, Amazon, Apple, Android TV, Xbox One, Samsung's smart TVs (models from 2017 or newer), smartphones and tablets, and web browsers on computers. 

You'll need the Fox Sports app installed on your media streamer, and you can watch the game for free if you already have a Fox Sports profile, or by creating a Fox Sports profile.

An internet connection that's capable of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps).

To check whether your internet connection is fast enough to stream the Super Bowl in 4K, you can head to speedtest.net, and click "Go." Speedtest will then check your internet speeds, and if your download speeds are above 25 Mbps, you should be good to go!

If your internet speeds are under 50 Mbps, it's probably best to make sure no one else at home is also streaming a 4K video at the same time as the game.

You'll also be able to watch the game in 4K on cable TV from certain providers.

If you get your cable TV from Altice Optimum, DirecTV, Dish, or Verizon Fios, you may be able to watch the Super Bowl LIV in 4K if you have the right cable package and set-top boxes. To find out whether you have the right channels and boxes, your best bet is to get in touch with your cable TV provider.

• Microsoft's got a new video game console in the works, and it's scheduled to arrive this holiday season: the Xbox Series X.
• Unlike the last generation of Xbox consoles, the Xbox Series X is dropping support for cable boxes and TV antennas.
• Though Microsoft has yet to announce as much, a leaked photo of the new Xbox Series X offers a first look at the ports it has — and it's missing the crucial port required for the TV functionality that currently exists on the Xbox One.
• That removal is the last major vestige of Microsoft's ambitious plans to create the "Complete All-in-One Games and Entertainment System" with the Xbox platform.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Microsoft's Xbox has been losing to Sony's PlayStation for a full console generation, starting in 2013. 

With its next-generation Xbox video game console, the Xbox Series X, Microsoft seems determined to erase the mistakes of the past.

The company's Xbox division, led by longtime Xbox employee Phil Spencer, has been on a years-long charm offensive with video game fans. Somewhere between buying a gaggle of beloved game studios, the wild success of Xbox Game Pass, and the refreshingly open discourse about the next Xbox console, Microsoft managed to earn back some of the good will it had lost among gaming's most hardcore evangelists.

And now, thanks to a leak depicting the not-so-exciting rear of the new Xbox Series X console, we know that yet another shoe has dropped: Microsoft is killing off its ambitious TV functionality for good.

Unlike the Xbox One generation of consoles, the next Xbox is removing the HDMI-in port — the crucial port that enabled cable boxes to connect with the console and be controlled directly.

Notably, Microsoft has yet to officially show the rear of the next Xbox. The image above was leaked on the gaming forum NeoGAF, and later corroborated as legitimate by Thurrott's Brad Sams. It depicts a prototype Xbox Series X console, and it's always possible that the final unit will contain more ports — possible, but unlikely, given how close the launch of the console is.

When we asked Microsoft for an official comment on the photos, we were given a boilerplate response by a representative: "We're excited to share more details on Xbox Series X, which will be our fastest, most powerful console and set a new bar for console performance, speed and compatibility. However, we have nothing to announce at this time."

Though Microsoft has yet to officially say whether or not the next Xbox will support any form of cable TV, it's clear from the photo that it won't support HDMI passthrough in the same way that the Xbox One did. Simply put: No port, no passthrough.

More than just removing a port, the move is the final nail in the coffin for Microsoft's ambitious plan to turn the Xbox game console into the "Complete All-in-One Games and Entertainment System." 

When the Xbox One was initially announced in May 2013 alongside the slogan above, Microsoft executives touted a number of non-gaming features: cable box passthrough, an application named "OneGuide" (seen above) that was intended as an interactive TV guide, and the creation of an all-new TV and movie studio in Xbox Entertainment Studios.

The reaction from gaming's early adopters was as swift and strong as it was negative, and Microsoft spent the next several years slowly walking back much of its early messaging with the Xbox One. Xbox Entertainment Studios was shuttered and its projects were killed. Executives spoke less and less about non-gaming features of the console. 

And now, nearly seven years later, the final vestige of the company's ambitious push into TV on Xbox is coming to an end: Microsoft is outright removing hardware support for cable boxes with the next Xbox generation. 

SEE ALSO: With the next Xbox, Microsoft has a 4-part strategy to end the console wars once and for all. Here's how it plans to do it.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Elon Musk unveil his latest plan for conquering Mars

• TikTok, the viral app for creating and sharing short videos, may be searching for a CEO based in the US, Bloomberg reports.
• The CEO would oversee TikTok's day-to-day operations and "non-technical functions," and work alongside the app's two most senior executives: TikTok chief Alex Zhu, who is based in Asia, and Vanessa Pappas, who heads TikTok's US operations.
• The move may help to distance TikTok from ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, and appease concerns that the Chinese government plays a role in censoring content and accessing user data.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

TikTok, the wildly popular social app, is reportedly on the hunt for a CEO based in the US in a move that could help to appease mounting concerns over how its ties to the Chinese government have posed threats to user censorship and national security.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that candidates have been interviewed "in recent months" to fill the CEO position at TikTok. The US-based CEO would work alongside TikTok's China-based chief, Alex Zhu, and Vanessa Pappas, who currently oversees TikTok's US operations out of its Los Angeles office.

It's still unclear how exactly the new leadership structure for TikTok would work, but Bloomberg says the US-based CEO could potentially be in charge of the app's "non-technical functions" — relating to advertising and operations.

TikTok's roots are currently embedded in China, where its parent company, ByteDance, is located. These ties to China have earned TikTok intense scrutiny from US lawmakers, who have major concerns over the risks it poses to cybersecurity and user privacy, as well as its influence over censoring content.

ByteDance's search for a US-based CEO for TikTok may be the company's latest strategy to appease concerns from the US government. Reports back in December indicated TikTok was looking to set up new headquarters outside of China to further its distance from the Chinese government.

TikTok's meteoric rise has been well-documented. The app, a place for making and sharing short viral videos, has more than 1.5 billion downloads worldwide, and is outperforming popular social competitors like Instagram and Snapchat. It's been a launchpad for internet comedy and memes, and has become one of the go-to apps for the teens of Generation Z.

In past months, the US government has put mounting pressure on TikTok in response to what it sees as national security concerns. The US government opened a national security investigation back in November examining the relationship between the platform and the Chinese government, and the US army banned soldiers from using TikTok on government-issued phones and devices earlier this month.

Zhu, the TikTok chief, had planned to meet with US lawmakers in December about these concerns, but the meetings were canceled last minute. Nonetheless, TikTok has consistently defended itself by asserting that none of its moderators are based in China, and that no "foreign government" asks the platform to censor content.

Others have raised concerns that the ties between China and TikTok puts the privacy of users' data at risk. A class-action lawsuit was recently filed in California by a college student who alleges that her private information and unpublished content was accessed by TikTok without her permission and stored on servers in China. TikTok settled another lawsuit in December 2019 related to children's privacy, paying out $1.1 million related to allegations that the app collected the information of children under 13 without their parents' consent.

TikTok has also faced allegations that it censors "culturally problematic" and political content that could be seen as offensive to the Chinese government, according to former employees' reports to The Washington Post and documents obtained by The Guardian and the German blog Netzpolitik. When pro-democracy protests broke out in Hong Kong earlier this year, TikTok was curiously devoid of any hints of unrest, and videos instead documented a prettier picture.

SEE ALSO: Jeff Bezos breaks silence on reports that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hacked his phone by commemorating the journalist whose murder was linked to the Saudi government

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 8 weird robots NASA wants to send to space

Hi, and welcome to this week's Influencer Dashboard newsletter!

This is Amanda Perelli, and I'll be briefing you on what's new in the business of influencers and creators.

This week, I highlighted the top 17 brands in influencer marketing. These brands have built lasting partnerships with creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and in podcasting.

Recently, brands are turning to more relaxed guidelines when it comes to influencer campaigns, and they are letting the creators take more creative control.

Ticket-selling service SeatGeek has a successful partnership with the YouTube star David Dobrik, who has 15 million subscribers. The partnership has led to viral moments, like Dobrik buying cars for friends — from Teslas to Ferraris — with "SeatGeek money" in exchange for a 60-second shout-out on his YouTube channel. 

SeatGeek is like a character in Dobrik's popular vlog-style videos – maybe you've seen his fans recite the SeatGeek ad read on Twitter while seemingly loopy from drugs following dentist visits. 

Innovative brands like SeatGeek are pushing forward the influencer-marketing industry and trusting the creators they work with.

Check out the full power list, including SeatGeek, Sephora, and Chipotle, here. 

You can read most of the articles here by subscribing to BI Prime. And if this is your first time reading Influencer Dashboard, subscribe to the newsletter here.

A college TikTok influencer with 1.6 million followers explains how much money she makes — and her 3 main sources of income

I spoke to Cosette Rinab, a busy college junior at University of Southern California, about her popular TikTok page.

Rinab has 1.6 million followers on the app and said that she splits her time between studying film and public relations for school and growing her page.

While some of her peers are working part-time jobs in babysitting, or at restaurants, Rinab is earning her money off the app, and she treats it like a job.

She shared the main ways she earns money through TikTok, including brand promotions, music integrations, and livestreaming.

For an average sponsorship, she said creators will charge between $1,000 and $2,000 per 100,000 TikTok views, based on her experience and what she's heard from other creators.

Read the full post on Rinab for a break down of how she earns money on TikTok.

How 2 podcasters changed their strategy and made $25,000 in a month from Patreon — up from around $2,000

One popular business move among influencers (especially in podcasting) is to offer and charge followers for exclusive content.

Alyssa Meyers, a reporter on our media and advertising team, dove into the podcast business of stand-up comedians and entrepreneurs Kevin Fredericks and Anthony Belcher Jr. (known as DoBoy from Nick Cannon's long-running comedy show, "Wild 'N Out").

They host the podcast "Righteous and Ratchet," where they discuss anything from French fries to Kevin Hart.

Fredericks told Alyssa that their podcast wasn't earning much money until they decided to take it to the subscription-based membership platform, Patreon. 

Since building a paying audience on Patreon, the podcast has generated as much as $25,000 a month.

Read the full post on how these 2 podcast stars made $25,000 in a month from Patreon.

A pair of 30-year-old video producers blew up on TikTok and are charging brands thousands of dollars for sponsored posts

TikTok isn't just for Gen Zers. Older creators are also gaining followers and earning money from the fast-growing app. 

Dan Whateley, a reporter on our influencer business team, spoke to the 30-year-old TikTok creators, Nate Twer and Greg Auerbach, on how they turned their video skills into a serious online business.  

Using a smartphone (and professional lighting), Auerbach has amassed over 590,000 followers on TikTok since launching his account in July.

The pair told Dan that they refocused their video-production company from shooting local commercials to making videos for TikTok. They earn money through sponsorships, which have proven to be a lucrative source of income.

Read the full post on Auerbach and Twer's to learn how they earn a living from sponsored posts on TikTok.

The nominees are in for this year's Shorty Awards!

Did you catch the nominees list for this year's Shorty Awards? 

The Shorty Awards honor the best of social media, from people to organizations. This year's nominees include YouTube influencer Jeffree Star, actress Sophie Turner, and the internet's favorite GIFs, like Baby Yoda Sipping Tea. 

New to this year's nominees: TikTok creators are nominated for categories other than "TikTokker of the Year," which shows the rise of the platform. 

The nominees for "YouTuber of the Year" include popular creators like MrBeast, Wengie, and NikkieTutorials.

The Shorty Awards will be presented May 3 in New York City at 1515 Broadway Theater. Check out the full list of nominees.

Creator Spotlight: Laura Price

This week, I'm highlighting Laura Price and her YouTube channel for our Creator Spotlight.

Sometimes we watch YouTube videos to learn a certain skill; other times we watch in awe and in envy of someone else's talents.

Price is a YouTube creator with 198,000 subscribers, and she shares her journey as a Disney artist online. Price has worked on shows like "Tangled the Series" for Disney, and in her videos, she shares her experience and tips for landing a job as a designer. She also films tutorials on digital painting and parts of her everyday life.

I may have zero artistic ability, but watching Price speed paint characters and colorful backgrounds makes me wish I did. You can check out her channel here.

Send tips or feedback to me at aperelli@businessinsider.com. 

Here's what else we're reading:

• TikTok is full of Sephora and Chipotle employees spilling secrets. That can get complicated: Deanna Patrice Jhaveri, from Vox, reported on how current and former employees can sometimes be the best brand ambassadors on TikTok, but companies aren't partnering with them.
• These teenage TikTok stars reveal how their 'goofy' videos made them financially independent: For MarketWatch, James Wellemeyer wrote about the popular TikTok star Josh Richards and how his viral videos have helped him build a career online.
• Inside Walmart's thriving TikTok account, which has over 127,000 followers and is luring a new generation of Gen Z shoppers to the superstore: Shoshy Ciment, a reporter for Business Insider on the retail desk, took readers inside Walmart's TikTok account and broke down the people behind it.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns explains why country music is universal

• These 11 directors are those you should bet on changing the landscape of Hollywood in 2020 and beyond.
• They include Lulu Wang ("The Farewell"), Melina Matsoukas ("Queen & Slim"), and Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah ("Bad Boys for Life").
• Read our 2019 class of emerging directors.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Though Hollywood is still mainly controlled by a handful of movers and shakers, every year there's a fresh crop of talented directors who have what it takes to go up against the establishment, and bring new stories and ideas to the industry. 

2020 will be no different, as numerous filmmakers with varying styles are making their mark.

There's the flashy Belgian duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who helmed the recent box-office hit, "Bad Boys for Life." Lulu Wang gave us the tender drama, "The Farewell," which was a box-office hit for A24 and found award-season notice. And the sophomore feature by Minhal Baig, "Hala," is one of the first original movies to come out of Apple TV Plus.

Here we highlight 11 directors you should keep an eye out for in 2020 and beyond:

SEE ALSO: 13 Oscar-nominated movies you can watch on Netflix and other streaming services

Minhal Baig ("Hala")

For her second feature film, Baig delivered a moving semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that follows a teen (played by "Blockers" star Geraldine Viswanathan) exploring her sexuality while growing up in a conservative Muslim family. Shortly after its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last year, Apple bought the movie (for an undisclosed amount). It is currently available on its streaming service. 

And Baig can do more than dramas, too. With writing credits that range from "BoJack Horseman" to the Golden Globe-winning "Ramy," the writer-director has shown in a short amount of time she can handle both drama and comedy.  

Radha Blank ("The 40-Year-Old Version")

Hyped as one of the must-see titles at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Blank is the director, writer, and star of this comedy where she plays a down-and-out New York playwright who, at 40, turns to rapping to salvage her career.

Known best in the New York stage scene, Blank has gained writing credits on shows like "Empire" and "She's Gotta Have It." But if all goes well, you'll be hearing a lot more about her after Sundance.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah ("Bad Boys for Life")

The Belgian filmmakers are riding high at the moment as their first Hollywood effort, "Bad Boys for Life," exceeded all box-office expectations, bringing in over $73 million. And don't be surprised if they soon sign on to make the fourth movie in the franchise, which is currently in development.

El Arbi and Fallah quickly caught the attention of "Bad Boys" producer Jerry Bruckheimer after their movie "Black" won an award at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Since then the two have been delving into the Hollywood system. They directed the pilot episode of the FX show, "Snowfall," and before landing the "Bad Boys for Life" job they tried to make "Beverly Hills Cop 4" (which they are still trying to get off the ground). 

So it seems El Arbi and Fallah have found their niche as saviors of dated IPs.    

Rupert Goold ("Judy")

Spending most of his career as a renowned theater director in England, Goold made his feature film directing debut in 2015 with the Jonah Hill/James Franco starrer "True Crime." In his second go-around on the big screen with "Judy" he looked at the legendary career of Judy Garland. The movie stars Renée Zellweger in the title role. And it has led to Zellweger being the odds-on favorite to win the best actress Oscar.

Being at the helm of a performance like this, it's likely Goold will find it tough to leave Hollywood and return to the stage.   

Tina Gordon ("Little")

Having cut her teeth in the business writing scripts for movies like "Drumline" and "ATL" in the early 2000s, Gordon got her chance at the director's chair for the Issa Rae comedy "Little" in 2019 and she didn't waste the opportunity. The comedy brought in over $40 million at the domestic box office.

Gordon is now in preproduction to direct a romance musical titled "Praise This" set around a youth choir competition. 

Kitty Green ("The Assistant")

Having already wowed audiences with her unique look at the unsolved JonBenet Ramsey murder with the Netflix documentary "Casting JonBenet," Green has turned her focus to a narrative story for her latest work, though it may feel like it's ripped straight from the headlines. 

"The Assistant," also penned by Green, looks at a day in the life of Jane, an assistant to a powerful executive. We watch as Jane is emotionally abused by her coworkers and boss as she goes through her agonizing daily tasks. 

In just a few films, Green has shown an incredible talent to tell a story, and do it in a unique manner. Her films are ones you won't forget.

Tom Harper ("The Aeronauts" / "Wild Rose")

This British filmmaker had two very different films released in 2019, and both showcased his range as a storyteller. 

First, there was the indie drama/musical "Wild Rose" about an aspiring country music singer from Glasgow. And then there was the ambitious, based-on-true-events tale "The Aeronauts" for Amazon Studios.

In both, Harper showed a talent for telling grounded underdog stories, whether set in a music hall or above the clouds.

Ladj Ly ("Les Misérables")

"Les Misérables," which follows the life of a Paris cop in the neighborhood known best for the name of the classic Victor Hugo novel, marks Ly's feature directing debut and it's nominated for a best foreign language film Oscar.   

That's not a bad start for a career (the film also won the Cannes Film Festival grand jury prize last year) that has seen Ly mostly do documentaries. It's that experience with the real world that has made this movie stand out and will certainly distinguish Ly's work going forward.

Melina Matsoukas ("Queen & Slim")

Matsoukas is the latest music video director star to jump over to movies. The two-time Grammy winner moved to TV first, directing episodes of Netflix's "Master of None" and HBO's "Insecure," and then she made the feature "Queen & Slim" in 2019. 

The stylishly shot and socially conscious tale took in an impressive $43.7 million at the domestic box office with little marketing. 

Matsoukas is now returning to TV as she's working on the upcoming FX series, "Y."

Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz ("The Peanut Butter Falcon")

After years of making documentaries and shorts, filmmaking duo Nilson and Schwartz tried their hand at a feature narrative and it's a good thing they did. 

Starring Shia LaBouf and Dakota Johnson (and a breakout performance by newcomer Zack Gottsagen), the indie plays like a crowd-pleasing buddy comedy and led to the movie winning an award at the SXSW Film Festival last year.

Hopefully the directors have more stories like these in store for us.  

Lulu Wang ("The Farewell")

Wang's touching story about a family coming to grips with the impending death of a grandmother, while not telling her that she's terminally ill, captivated audiences thanks to its mix of drama and comedy. 

Wang quickly became one of the "it" directors of the award season, and though she got the snub when it came to Oscar nominations, her work will remain one of the highlights of 2019. 

It's exciting to imagine what she could have planned next.

• Comcast met Wall Street expectations for earnings during the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to its booming internet subscriber base. 
• The cable company is doubling down on broadband users with the spring launch of its streaming service, Peacock.
• NBCUniversal chairman Steve Burke unveiled the service at an investor event earlier in January, where the key executives who are running Peacock came into view.
• Meet the power players behind Peacock, including Jeff Shell, CEO of NBCU; Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock; Bonnie Hammer, chairman of NBCU's content studio; and Linda Yaccarino, chairman of NBCU's advertising and partnerships.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

This post was originally published on January 17, and was updated to reflect Comcast's fourth-quarter results.

Comcast on Thursday met Wall Street's solid expectations for its fourth-quarter earnings, thanks in large part to its thriving internet subscriber base.

The cable company will double down on broadband users later this year with the launch of NBCUniversal's Peacock, an ad-supported service that will have both free and paid tiers.

The service is crucial for Comcast as traditional pay-TV services struggle to keep customers. The company warned on the quarterly earnings call of higher video-subscriber losses in 2020. 

Comcast introduced its big streaming play a week ago during an investor event 

The platform, which launches on April 15 for certain Comcast customers, will offer an on-demand library of shows and movies like "The Office," "Law and Order," and "Jurassic Park," as well as live news and sports such as the Summer Olympics, original programming, and content like "Downton Abbey" from outside studios.

Peacock will have a tier that's free with ads, a $5 monthly plan that includes a larger library, and an ad-free version that's $10 per month.

During the January investor presentation, between bits by "Saturday Night Live" alum like Tina Fey and Seth Meyers, the key executives who are leading the upcoming service came into view. 

Exiting NBCUniversal chairman Steve Burke set up the service's big reveal. Longtime Comcast exec and current Peacock boss, Matt Strauss, introduced the platform and overall strategy. Head of content, Bonnie Hammer, spoke to how the service will approach originals. Linda Yaccarino, NBCUniversal's top advertising exec, detailed how ads will fit in. And new NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell made an appearance.

"Together they have helped craft this plan, along with the people you met today," Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, said of the execs, while on stage.

These are the power players behind NBCUniversal's vision for the future of TV, in order of appearance on stage.

Steve Burke, chairman of NBCUniversal

Peacock, which launches nationally on July 15, will be the last hurrah for exiting NBCUniversal chairman Steve Burke, who was company's CEO until December and oversaw the development of Peacock.

He is set to retire in August, after the Summer Olympics conclude.

Burke has been with Comcast for 22 years, and deserves the credit for helping Peacock balance the needs of Comcast's legacy cable business and NBCUniversal's emerging streaming future.

The platform, as it was described on Thursday, seems to retain some of the elements of the traditional-TV business. It has live programming and programmed channels — though they more closely resemble the digital channels on platforms like Pluto TV than legacy linear networks —  as well as advertising.

Peacock also has some of the best aspects of streaming video, including affordable and flexible subscriptions, personalized content recommendations and accounts, and bingeable series and movies on demand.

"When developing new businesses, every company plays to its unique strengths and we're no exception," Burke said, on stage, donning his sartorial signature: a dark suit and open collar. "We have the most popular programming, we have expertise in live programming including news and sports, with Comcast and Sky we have global distribution and technology working together at scale."

Burke was CEO of NBCUniversal from 2011 to 2019, before he handed the reins to Jeff Shell. Burke was the chief operating officer of Comcast before that. He joined the company in 1998 as president of its cable division.

Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal digital enterprises

Longtime Comcast executive Matt Strauss has the top job at Peacock. 

As chair of Peacock and NBCUniversal digital enterprises, Strauss is responsible for all aspects of the streaming service. He unveiled the overarching strategy for a streaming service that would incorporate both ads and subscriptions, as well as on-demand and live programming, and showed off the platform itself at the event. 

Strauss moved into the role in October, taking over for content studios exec Bonnie Hammer, who was previously overseeing the platform. 

Strauss is no stranger to developing video platforms. Before Peacock, he was executive vice president of Xfinity Services for Comcast Cable, where he helped hone the company's strategy for its internet-connected set-top box, X1, and the launch of its media-streaming box for broadband customers, Flex. 

He developed Comcast's model for on-demand video in an earlier role, as well, and pushed to sign licensing deals that would expand the cable company's on-demand library.

Strauss joined Comcast in 2004 as the senior vice president of new media.

Bonnie Hammer, chairman of NBCUniversal content studios

Bonnie Hammer, who was originally picked to run Peacock, is now in the top role overseeing its original programming.

As chairman of NBCU's content studios, Hammer leads all of the company's TV production.

She is developing original series for Peacock, some of which were teased on Thursday, including "Brave New World," a sci-fi drama based on the Aldous Huxley novel; "Girls5Eva," from creator Tina Fey; and a reboot of "Battlestar Galactica" from "Mr. Robot" creator Sam Esmail.

Hammer was previously NBCU's chairman of direct-to-consumer and digital enterprises, overseeing the overall development of Peacock. But, in October, it was announced that she was shifting her focus to the studio side, still reporting to Burke.

Before Peacock, Hammer oversaw NBCU's cable entertainment business, including networks like USA Network, Bravo, E! Entertainment, and the cable studios. She shepherded shows like "Mr. Robot" and "Suits."

Linda Yaccarino, chairman of advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal

Linda Yaccarino, who is chairman of advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal, is crafting the advertising strategy within the forthcoming streaming platform.

She's using the platform as an opportunity to put into practice some of the issues she's been championing within the advertising community, including leaner ad loads, data transparency, and new ad formats like shoppable ads.

Peacock will have five minutes of commercials per hour, which is a little less than Hulu's ad-supported plan has, for example. It will also include ad formats like the pause and bingeable ads popularized by Hulu, and the shoppable ads that are also available on NBC's TV networks. 

"With Peacock, we can throw out the old legacy playbook and write a new one," Yaccarino said during the presentation, wearing a sleek black suit with floral embroidery.

Yaccarino joined NBCUniversal in 2011, and overhauled the company's approach to advertising and partnerships by selling across all its networks. In 2019, Business Insider named her as one of the 10 people transforming advertising.

Jeff Shell, CEO of NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal's new chief, Jeff Shell, also made an appearance on Thursday, closing out the parade of NBCU stars and execs who showed up to tout Peacock. 

While Burke oversaw the development of Peacock, and Strauss is leading its execution, Shell will ultimately be responsible for the role the streaming service plays in NBCUniversal's broader business.

Shell took on NBCU's top job in January, after spending the last six years running the film and entertainment group. There, he oversaw NBCU's film and network-TV businesses, including content, programming, and distribution, as well as its intellectual-property and consumer-product strategy, and the movie-ticketing company, Fandango. 

He oversaw Universal's film studio before that, and managed NBCU's international businesses for a time. Shell joined NBCU from Comcast, where he led the programming group.

• The Call of Duty League will kick off its inaugural season on January 25 with a special weekend-long event hosted by the Minnesota Rokkr.
• Media mogul and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk is one of Minnesota Rokkr's co-owners, and he spoke with Business Insider about why he chose to invest in the Call of Duty League over other esports.
• A big reason: It's organized more like traditional sports leagues, where fans in will have the chance to come see their favorite team play in their home cities — encouraging highly-engaged communities to form.
• Vaynerchuk is confident that esports will be a part of popular culture for decades to come, and sees ownership in the Call of Duty League as an investment that could last decades.
• Click here to read more stories on BI Prime.

The Call of Duty League is about to kick off its inaugural season on Jan. 24 with a weekend-long launch event, hosted by Minnesota's brand-new Rokkr franchise. The new league's 12 new teams will all be there — all of whom have reportedly ponied up at least $20 million to buy the right to participate in this first season. 

Business Insider recently talked to Minnesota Rokkr co-owner Gary Vaynerchuk, the outspoken entrepreneur and CEO of VaynerMedia, about why he chose the Call of Duty League over other esports and what he expects from his investment.

Calling Vaynerchuk a big sports fan would be an understatement — his agency VaynerSports manages more than two dozen NFL players, and Vaynerchuk has been vocal about his desire to own a part of his favorite NFL team, the New York Jets. This marks his first investment in the growing world of esports, an industry he expects to become an essential part of popular culture for years to come, in the same way as certain other niche hobbies have.

"If you read articles about golf or poker — when it's not as physical, people struggle to make the connection," Vaynerchuk said about the esports industry's gradual climb into the mainstream. "Eventually chess, poker, and golf, they get their day."

Vaynerchuk said Minnesota Vikings co-owner Jonathan Wilf approached him with the idea of joining the Call of Duty League in late 2018; the franchise was announced in July as a joint venture between Vaynerchuk and WISE Ventures Esports — an offshoot of WISE Ventures, itself owned by the Wilf family, which owns the Minnesota Vikings NFL franchise.

Vaynerchuk said he's been watching the esports industry grow for years, but the long-standing popularity of "Call of Duty," Activision Blizzard's franchised business model, and his prior relationship with the Wilf family made investing in Minnesota Rokkr an ideal opportunity.

Vaynerchuk and other esports investors are betting millions that the Call of Duty League and similar ventures will resonate with a generation of young people who spend more time on average watching video games than sports.

"A 33-year-old that did not grow up in this culture. A 49-year-old didn't even think about it's existence," Vaynerchuk said. "It's awfully easy to explain to every single 12- to 22-year-old on Earth."

"This is an investment in perpetuity for me. I hope my great, great-grandkids sit around a dinner table saying how smart I was from making this investment," he later said. 

'Call of Duty' is the envy of the video game world

"Call of Duty" is one of the most popular video games on the planet, with yearly releases topping the best-sellers chart. The most recent game in the series, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," made $600 million during its opening weekend.

"Call of Duty" has millions of players worldwide, but only a small percentage are involved with the game's professional community. With the Call of Duty League, Activision Blizzard sees the potential to turn the massive audience of casual "Call of Duty" players into fans of competitive esports.

The Call of Duty League is publisher Activision Blizzard's second professional gaming league — the publisher launched the Overwatch League in 2017 and it now includes 20 teams based in North America, Europe, and China.

Vaynerchuk said the strength of the "Call of Duty" brand enticed him more than other games that have built esports communities, but lack mainstream appeal. "Call of Duty" also has an annual release schedule that will allow Activision to completely refresh the game on a regular basis, whereas other esports titles can go for years without a new release.

The closest thing in esports to traditional sports leagues

Ownership in the Call of Duty League is similar to that of other major-league sports, with would-be team owners bidding on a limited number of franchise slots in the league.

Most esports depend on player sponsorships and third party organizations to finance competitions and pay players, but "Call of Duty" publisher Activision Blizzard is one of the few video game companies with the resources and desire to build and maintain a professional infrastructure around its games itself. 

That makes the concept behind the Call of Duty League more accessible, and therefore more exciting, to investors like Vaynerchuk.

"The way that Activision Blizzard infrastructure is working, it's clearly to a more traditional sports framework where city involvement is key," Vaynerchuk said. And I'll be honest with you, being a chief sports fan for the last 35, 40 years of my life, that feels natural and exciting."

To his point, travel will be a major part of the Call of Duty League: Each week during the regular Call of Duty League season, a different team will play host to all 12 teams for a weekend-long event. Players will earn a salary and benefits as they travel to compete, much as they would in a more traditional sports league. 

Getting fans involved on the local level

That translates to opportunity: Vaynerchuk and the Rokkr are confident that gamers and casual sports fans will be encouraged to get involved in the Call of Duty League by having a local team to cheer on. Teams can also foster local communities and events for amateur players and fans to stay engaged when the pros aren't in town. 

"I think we can all agree that the dynamics of esports create an environment where [having a local team] is not as required as it is for other major sports," Vaynerchuk said. "But from a human behavior standpoint and from a tribal mentality, who do you want to root for? There are definitely some region and city-based variables that are exciting."

Vaynerchuk notes that WISE Ventures has been able to take advantage of its deep connections in Minnesota, and its ownership of the Minnesota Vikings, to support Rokkr, whereas an online-only organization would have to build its presence from scratch.

That's why the Minnesota Rokkr is taking steps to appeal to local fans: The word Rokkr itself is Norse for "Twilight of the Gods," a conscious effort to play off the popularity of the Vikings NFL team.

Indeed, WISE Ventures recently opened a 11,000 square foot esports space at the Vikings' Minneapolis practice facility. The Rokkr's launch event, which kicks off the Call of Duty League season, will take place at The Armory, a historic concert venue that was renovated and reopened to help host Super Bowl LII in 2018.

Vaynerchuk sees esports as a big part of pop culture

Rokkr's home-stand will kick off the Call of Duty League season, but Vaynerchuk said he isn't worried about being the first team to play host for the league. He said he's satisfied with the team's planning and their goal is to provide a show that generates enough excitement to keep people talking about the Call of Duty League after the weekend is over.

Vaynerchuk said a successful event will be one where "the people are so enthralled and so impressed they realize this is real and longterm. Then it creates the world of mouth where people go out to dinner on Thursday night and say to somebody else, 'Hey, you've got to follow this league,' or 'it'd be really cool if you took your kids to this.'"

Vaynerchuk said he's not concerned about the Call of Duty League's ability to generate an immediate profit, though he acknowledges that it will need to make enough money to stay in business during its early years.

"I don't even think about year one, two or 20, to be honest," Vaynerchuk said. "I think about the fact that Leon Hess bought a minority share in the New York Jets for absolutely nothing, and that Super Bowl I did not sell out. I think about NBA franchises close to bankruptcy in the early 80s, and the NBA finals being on tape delay. Now they're multi-billion-dollar franchises. So for me, I know for a fact that esports is going to be a substantial part of the culture in 20 years."

A lot to prove

Though "Call of Duty" has ruled the sales charts for more than a decade, the franchise's esports following has been relatively small in comparison.

Activision's Call of Duty League will provide players with a salary and professional support that's largely unmatched in the industry, but it remains to be seen if the corporate structure will lead the millions of casual "Call of Duty" players to follow the esports scene. Other competing shooting games with large esports communities include "Fortnite," "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds," "Counter-Strike Global Offensive," and "Rainbow Six: Siege."

The Minnesota Rokkr's kick-off event for the Call of Duty League season will start on Friday, January 24 and run through Sunday, January 26. You can watch a livestream or catch a replay of the event each day on Twitch.

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