Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 113846 articles
Browse latest View live

HBO is aggressively ramping up its war on people who illegally download 'Game of Thrones'

$
0
0

Game of Thrones

HBO has seriously stepped up its war on internet piracy of "Game of Thrones."

Not only has its effort to pull down pirated footage become more aggressive, but response times are faster, and its language to internet providers has become more pointed.

According to TorrentFreak.com, HBO has enlisted an antipiracy partner, IP-Echelon, which is sending out thousands of copyright warnings for alleged piracy of "Game of Thrones."

These notices to internet service providers, or ISPs, contain the IP addresses for users suspected of sharing "Thrones" episodes through BitTorrent, in which members share their files for faster uploads through a file distribution system — so the BitTorrent service is not actually the one hosting the files.

The warnings ask that ISPs contact the members in question "and take the proper steps to prevent further downloading or sharing of unauthorized content and additional infringement notices."

Additionally, these notices encourage the ISPs to inform their members of the legal means to view the popular fantasy drama, something the top torrent news site had never seen in these kinds of notices.

"We also encourage you to inform the subscriber that HBO programming can easily be watched and streamed on many devices legally by adding HBO to the subscriber's television package," the notice reads.

In addition, HBO has been able to pull down "Thrones" torrents from the internet in amazingly fast times, often in just minutes following their posting, TorrentFreak observed. Typically, torrent sites ignore such copyright requests, but a search on one of the biggest torrent sites, Kicka--Torrents, shows that the top 100 torrents for the first two episodes of the sixth season of "Thrones" have been removed.

That suggests that HBO's antipiracy partner is monitoring the situation in real time, broadly, and that the legal notices are being taken seriously.

But it isn't just torrent sites being targeted. HBO is also hitting up video providers like YouTube.

reddit game of thrones leaks2

In one case, as previously reported by our sister site, Tech Insider, a Spanish man with a clear inside show source has been spoiling upcoming "Thrones" episodes. His videos have been pulled down from YouTube for copyright infringement — the last one in just a few hours — even though he uses no photos or footage from the show in the videos. Clearly, this represents a huge question about how far copyrights can be interpreted.

HBO told Business Insider of its tactics in a statement: "HBO aggressively protects its programming, but we find it counterproductive to publicly discuss specific anti-theft tactics."

The channel hasn't always been so aggressively against piracy — at least in public. In 2013, its programming president, Michael Lombardo, said, "It is a compliment of sorts. [Piracy is] something that comes along with having a wildly successful show on a subscription network."

Some of this new aggressiveness on HBO's part can be attributed to its offerings on HBO Now, its streaming service that doesn't require a cable subscription. It had been seen by the company as a way to curtail piracy by attracting people who don't want to subscribe to an expensive cable package.

But it hasn't worked. After a year of offering HBO Now, "Game of Thrones" was still the No. 1 pirated show on TV, and all signs point to overall piracy increasing.

SEE ALSO: The 5 most talked-about moments from this week's 'Game of Thrones'

DON'T MISS: 5 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'


Most people watch online TV shows on this one device (NFLX, CMCSA, GOOG, GOOGL, AAPL)

$
0
0

Online TV

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence "Digital Media Briefing" subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

Television viewing habits are changing thanks to on-demand services such as Netflix and Hulu, but the key word is still "television."

A new study conducted by Hub Research reveals that most people still watch shows on an actual television compared to other devices. 

Among viewers aged 16-64 with a broadband subscription who watched at least 5 hours of TV per week, 72% responded that they watched on an actual television. This included smart TVs, Blu-ray players, Chromecast, Roku, and other similar devices. Meanwhile, 70% said they watched on a computer.

This marked the first time that more viewers reported watching online shows on a TV than a computer. On top of that, the television was the only device that had year-over-year growth of viewership of online shows. The percentage of viewers who watched these shows on computers, tablets, and smartphones all declined.

Approximately 70% of all Hulu viewing occurred on a connected TV, but desktop viewing fell to 15%, reports Adweek. Furthermore, 83% of Netflix subscribers watch on a TV. All of this shows that even cord-cutters still want to view their content on a large, actual television screen.

But the growing popularity of online TV shows on actual television sets is important because it highlights the viewing habits of consumers. Last month, Nielsen started tracking viewing on connected devices, and this data should help networks better understand their audiences. This, in turn, should help them increase their ad revenue.

Earlier this year, the FCC approved a plan to let consumers trade in cable boxes for cheaper devices and apps. This would let customers get their cable services from companies such as Apple and Google rather than cable providers such as Comcast and Time Warner.

If the government implements this ruling, then cable providers would need to expand the number of devices that their customers can use to watch their content. Comcast, for instance, signed a deal with Roku and Samsung to let customers stream content on Roku devices and Samsung smart TVs later this year.

The rise of subscription video on-demand services has radically changed the television market, even though viewers are still sitting down in front of actual televisions to watch. But the widespread popularity of Hulu and Netflix has led some to question if traditional pay-TV models still have a place in today's world.

Margaret Boland, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on subscription video on-demand services that examines how the growth of SVOD is coming at the expense of the pay-TV industry. The report analyzes the state of the pay-TV industry and maps out which demographics are more likely to stop buying traditional TV packages.

The report also discusses the user base, original content offerings, and subscription models of the major subscription streaming services available today, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video. Finally, it looks at how traditional pay-TV companies and premium channels like HBO and Showtime are addressing the shift to digital viewing, as well as the implications of their response for advertisers.

Subscription Video on Demand Report COver

  • Those abandoning pay-TV packages fall into three main groups: cord-nevers, cord-cutters, and cord-shavers. Whereas video streaming services have found favor with younger viewers in particular, an increasing portion of older subscribers also are leaving behind their pay-TV packages. Still, younger viewers watch four times as much video content online than older viewers.
  • Netflix is the largest SVOD service and will continue to dominate the industry with an impressive original content lineup and aggressive expansion plans.
  • Amazon is trying to compete with Netflix by investing significant resources in original content.
  • Hulu is the third-largest SVOD service, but the only one to offer ad-supported membership tiers. Hulu has been the slowest to roll out original and exclusive content, but it has inked numerous deals in the past year to boost its content library.
  • Pay-TV companies are responding to the rise of SVOD services by offering subscribers "skinny bundles" and their own streaming services.

In full, the report:

  • Illustrates the fall of the traditional TV package and the rise of broadband only cable subscriptions.
  • Lays out the different types of viewers that are leaving behind pay-TV: cord-cutters, cord-shavers, and cord-nevers.
  • Examines the leading SVOD services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and premium channel offerings from HBO and Showtime.
  • Explains the various ways that pay-TV companies are responding to the rise of SVOD services, notably skinny bundles and standalone streaming services.
  • Considers what the migration to SVOD services means to marketers.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

  1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
  2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of subscription video on-demand services.

Join the conversation about this story »

Chelsea Handler impersonates Oprah and bashes Donald Trump in new trailer for her Netflix talk show

$
0
0

donald trump pinata chelsea handler talk show netflix

Chelsea Handler is going global for her new talk show premiering on Netflix on Wednesday.

Titled simply "Chelsea," the show released a new trailer on Monday. In it, Handler goes international and immerses herself in local culture in her search for knowledge.

"I'm treating this show like the college education I forgot to get," Handler says in a voiceover. 

She interacts with different people she encounters in her travels to Russia, Japan, and Mexico. But she also takes chances to expose them to American culture.

"I have a show on Netflix. My name is Oprah," Handler tells bystanders on the street in what's presumably Russia. And when they struggle with saying what Oprah Winfrey's race is, Handler says, "Oh, no, you can say black. It's fine."

The show also takes her across the US where the election is ripe conversation. In one instance, she introduces a Donald Trump pinata, which quickly turns to pieces as local children hit it with wooden sticks.

The show will post 30-minute episodes on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays starting this week. Once posted, the episodes will be permanently available to stream by Netflix members in at least 190 countries.

Previously, Handler ended her E! talk show, "Chelsea Lately," in August 2014 after inking a multi-layered deal with Netflix. It included a stand-up special, a documentary series, and the streaming company's first talk show.

Watch the new trailer below:

SEE ALSO: Chelsea Handler stands by her comments on her new Netflix doc series regarding the TSA profiling Muslims

DON'T MISS: Chelsea Handler walked around San Francisco topless to make a point about sexism

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to see if someone is mooching off your Netflix account

Drake just scored his first No. 1 song, the 'biggest moment' of his career yet

$
0
0

Drake

Drake has come close before, but he just clinched his first No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist.

The rapper and singer hit the chart position with "One Dance," featuring WizKid and Kyla, off his new album "Views," also the No. 1 album on Billboard's charts.

Drake has been on the top 10 song list a number of times, and he just missed No. 1 previously with "Hotline Bling." Its chart position suffered thanks to his exclusive deal with Apple Music.

The musician has also had No. 1 collaborations with Rihanna on her tracks "Work" and "What's My Name?"

Drake previously said that getting his first No. 1 song would be "the biggest moment of my career to date."

He also just set another record by being the first artist to ever have 20 songs simultaneously on the Hot 1oo.

Looks like he has plenty more "Views" celebrating to do.

SEE ALSO: The incredibly successful life of Drake, music's most polarizing icon who made $40 million in a year

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Warner Bros. just released the first trailer for its R-rated animated Batman movie

16-year-old Beyoncé basically predicted her own future

$
0
0

Beyoncé is one of the biggest names in the biz, especially after having dropped "Lemonadeand launched Ivy Park.

However, the star's plans for world domination have been laid out since she was a teenager. An interview from 1997 recently surfaced online, which shows a 16-year-old Bey stating her career goals.

Spoiler alert: she completely nailed them.

Written and produced by Alana Yzola

Follow INSIDER Pop Cultureon Facebook
Follow INSIDERon YouTube 

 

Join the conversation about this story »

Here are all the Marvel movies coming out in the next 4 years

$
0
0

doctor strange disney

With the opening of "Captain America: Civil War" over the weekend becoming the fifth-largest of all time at the box office, the adaptation of Marvel comic-book characters continues to be a profitable endeavor for Hollywood.

While most of that success comes from Marvel Studios at Disney, which holds the rights to "The Avengers" — among others — 20th Century Fox has found a huge box office with the release of its "X-Men" and standalone "Wolverine" movies, not to mention proving this year that even an outlandish character like Deadpool can make blockbuster money.

And though Sony is rebooting Spider-Man with the help of Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio once upon a time did very well with the character, and hopes to do so again.

Looking forward, all of those studios have numerous anticipated releases coming soon that adapt Marvel properties.

Here's the rundown of all the Marvel movies coming out from now through 2019:

SEE ALSO: Disney announced all its movies coming in the next 4 years — here's what you have to look forward to

"X-Men: Apocalypse" introduces us to the franchise's most chilling villain yet.



Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) is considered the first mutant, and is immortal.



We'll see how the X-Men handle him when the film opens on May 27.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Jared Leto explains how he got 'under people's skin' doing his Joker laugh

$
0
0

joker suicide squad

Every actor who has brought The Joker to the screen has had his own distinct take on the laugh.

As with everything Jared Leto has revealed about preparing for his turn as the Clown Prince of Crime in the upcoming "Suicide Squad" movie — out August 5 — his laugh story is highly unusual.

"I worked on the laugh walking around the streets of New York and Toronto," the actor said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "I kinda would walk around the streets and see what laughs would get under people's skin."

Agitating people while playing The Joker seems to be something Leto thrived at.

Numerous "Suicide Squad" cast members have talked about the strange gifts the actor gave them and his method acting on the set.

"You know when you hear someone laugh at a restaurant? It's a little jarring," Leto went on to say while on "Squawk Box." "I tried them out. And I kind of got to a place where I would laugh and people are always turning around like, 'Who is this creepy guy behind me?'"

Watch Leto explain it here:

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 10 movies most likely to dominate this summer

Join the conversation about this story »

HBO is using copyright law to censor a YouTuber who keeps leaking 'Game of Thrones' spoilers in advance

$
0
0

game of thrones

A Spanish YouTuber is leaking spoilers for season six of "Game of Thrones" several days in advance of each episode — posting videos to his channel in which he makes video "predictions" which turn out to be unerringly accurate.

Needless to say, HBO is not happy.

The premium video company is aggressively targeting the videos of Frikidoctor (also known as "Spanish Spoiler") that contain spoilers, using YouTube's DMCA system to file takedown demands, forcing the videos offline within hours of uploading. (Kim Renfro has a more detailed overview over on our sister site Tech Insider.)

In short — HBO is asserting that these videos are infringing on its copyright by leaking and discussing spoilers, even if the videos don't contain any actual leaked footage.

Frikidoctor is developing a devoted fanbase on Reddit, and HBO's actions is causing some controversy among them. Some believe that the company is "gaming the system" — abusing YouTube's automated copyright takedown system to remove material which is embarrassing and potentially commercially damaging, but not an actual violation of its copyright.

"HBO is blatantly and maliciously abusing the DMCA request system with frivolous claims to suppress spoilers," wrote one angry poster. "This is a big deal."

But outraged Reddit comments aren't sound legal guidance. What's the truth of the matter? We reached out to a few legal experts for their perspective on HBO's approach to spoilers.

The verdict: HBO might have a case after all.

reddit game of thrones leaks2

Dr. Andres Guadamuz, senior lecturer in intellectual property law at the University of Sussex, has watched some of the Frikidoctor videos in question, and thinks HBO may be in the right: "I would agree that these may actually be infringing (although they are borderline in my opinion, and this could be argued either way)."

"Copyright protects an expression of the idea, not an idea itself, and while plot points might be an idea, the expression of that idea is protected," he told Business Insider. "Characters, dialogue, plot twists... all of these are protected by copyright. After the Lenz v Universal case (of Prince fame), Google are under an obligation to consider fair use before removing content, but in this case I would argue that the number of fair use arguments would be limited."

Guadamuz added: "The fact that these plot points are central to the storyline could be very important in a copyright litigation, the test for infringement is qualitative."

Tyrion in Meereen Game of ThronesProfessor Lilian Edwards, who focuses on internet law at Stathclyde University, agreed that the fair use defense is debatable but suggested that HBO's decision to use DMCA might have been motivated in part by the speed at which it can be deployed. "I wonder if there wouldn’t be a simpler line of attack there — in that if these are leaks (rather than spoilers already broadcast) there has fairly clearly been a breach of confidence (a tort) or even a breach of a non disclosure agreement (NDA— breach of contract)," she said.

"However neither of these offer as simple and effective a remedy as a DMCA takedown, which is enforced automatically by Google, ie YouTube — so probably why they have used this. If it depended only on confidence or contract I think (though I am not a US civil lawyer) than an injunction would need to be sought in a court — time consuming esp when spoilers are out..!"

Jeff Cusson, SVP of Corporate Affairs at HBO, said in a statement that "HBO aggressively protects its programming, but we find it counterproductive to publicly discuss specific anti-theft tactics." Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 309-square-foot micro apartment has a home theater, full kitchen, and even a guest bedroom


'Million Dollar Listing' star shares his 10 best tips to seal any deal

$
0
0

eklund

Fredrik Eklund, the star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing" and a leading broker in New York City, is great at sealing deals.

In his 10 years in business, Eklund has closed on more than $3.5 billion in real estate.

He was also named the No.1 real estate agent in New York City by The Real Deal in 2014. 

"For any deal to happen — especially a business transaction — the two sides need to get in a balance," Eklund advises in his book, "The Sell: The Secrets of Selling Anything to Anyone."

"My firsthand experience negotiating billions of dollars in deals has taught me what works and what doesn't," he writes.

Here are 10 tips Eklund outlines in "The Sell" on how to negotiate and seal any deal:

SEE ALSO: A financial planner outlines the 3 mindsets that dictate how you approach your money

1. Figure out the bottom line and use it to your advantage

According to Eklund, the bottom line is the "absolute worst deal you'd be willing to make" and should be an indicator of when to walk away before you invest your time and energy.

He writes:

The suggestion of walking away brings the negotiation to a screeching halt... My hope is that they will call me back or suggest another idea. If they do, my dance has paid off. If they don't, I walk from the room, leave the meeting, and consider another strategy to keep the negotiation from actually hitting the floor.

"I call it dancing close to the edge," he writes.



2. Don't give people what they want right away

"When I'm on a listing pitch, I never give my clients the price right there and then," Eklund writes. 

According to Eklund, making clients wait a few hours to get the price of a property gets them a little frustrated, making them want what he's selling even more, and puts him in control. It also accomplishes three other things. 

He writes: 

1. It has made them want it, and therefore me, my services, more.

2. It is in writing, which makes it more solid, and in our world more true, like there is nothing else really to discuss. Putting it in writing basically says, This is the price, and I'm not asking for your thoughts on it. 

And 3. Since it took so long, the impression is that there must be a lot of thought, knowledge, and research behind.

"As long as the waiting is whetting the appetite and not starving them to death, it strengthens your position," Eklund writes.



3. Negotiate in person 

People are more connected to their phones and computers than ever, making it hard to even get them to meet in person. But it will be more effective when you do. 

"A great negotiator, when needed, uses his emotions, family, heritage, spirituality, body language, fashion, sexuality, humor, and everything else in between to win, to make a deal happen," Eklund writes.

However, if the phone is your only option, Eklund highlights the importance of having an agenda, knowing what you want out of the call before making it, and using few words.  



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A man who went undercover in a jail for 2 months discovered a disturbing truth about veterans who are locked up

$
0
0

zac 60 days in

It's all too common for veterans in the US to wind up in jail.

And behind bars, many of them don't have access to the services they need to get their lives back on track.

That's what the participants on the A&E documentary series "60 Days In" learned during their stay at Clark County Jail in southern Indiana.

The show follows seven people who go undercover as inmates for two months to expose problems within the system.

One of the participants, Zac, estimated 10% of the inmates he lived with were veterans, all of whom suffered from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Like many drug-addicted inmates, they often resorted to homemade drugs to self-medicate.

He said most inmates weren't aware the jail offered veterans advocacy services and an Alcoholics Anonymous support group — and that jail staff rarely advertised the fact that such programs existed.

"Regardless of whether or not they're in jail, they still took the same oath that they would protect the country with their life," Zac told Business Insider. "They still deserve to be treated for issues they developed because of that oath they took."

Veterans in jail are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than other inmates, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Veterans are much more likely than civilians to commit suicide.

Zac himself is a veteran, having served as a combat engineer with the Marines in Afghanistan.

When he returned home from deployment in 2010, he said he refused to talk about his experience with friends and family. For a few months, he found comfort in alcohol, consuming more than $1,500 worth a month.

zac 60 days inZac now advocates for 22Kill, a group that raises awareness of veteran suicide.

Although Zac assumed a false identity for the show, he did incorporate details from his military background into his cover story.

"It definitely gave me a degree of respect. Their first thought was probably, 'this guy probably knows how to fight.' It helped keep me out of some situations," he told Business Insider.

For part of his stay at Clark County Jail, Zac shared a cell with two other Marines. In one scene from the show, his cellmate offers Zac half of his meal, an almost unheard-of act of kindness in jail.

"There was a level of camaraderie, we watched out for each other," Zac said. "The saying goes, 'Once a Marine, always a Marine.' We were in different theaters, different wars, but they're still Marines, and you watch out for them the same way you would anywhere else."

The 11th episode of "60 Days In" airs Thursday at 10 p.m. EST.

Watch a clip from "60 Days In" below:

SEE ALSO: A man who went undercover in a jail for 2 months found out the strange homemade drugs inmates do

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Invisible phones, unicorns, and a cure for AIDS — these are some of North Korea’s wackiest claims

Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano star in the trailer for the strangest movie of 2016

$
0
0

Swiss Army Man A24

It's now finally time to unveil the strangest movie you will see this year. 

"Swiss Army Man" stars Paul Dano as a man who is prepared to kill himself after being stranded on an island, until he finds a dead body washed ashore (Daniel Radcliffe) that changes his life. 

It was one of the most talked-about movies at this year's Sundance Film Festival, thanks to Radcliffe's unique multi-purpose character. It turns out his flatulence, strong limbs, and even more flatulence (there's a lot of farting in this movie) help Dano's character survive the elements. (Read our review of the film from Sundance.)

It's basically the most bizarre buddy comedy movie you'll ever see.

Here's the NSFW Red Band trailer. The movie opens June 24.

SEE ALSO: Jared Leto explains how he got 'under people's skin' doing his Joker laugh

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Samantha Bee got Michelle Branch to perform a hilarious goodbye song for Ted Cruz

$
0
0

samantha bee full frontal goodbye song ted cruz john kasich

With Ted Cruz and John Kasich leaving the Republican presidential race and making Donald Trump the presumptive GOP candidate, Samantha Bee has to say farewell to two of her favorite sources for comedy. 

Bee isn't the only one who was sad to see them go, as four of the last five GOP presidential nominees have said they won't be attending the Democratic convention (George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney).

"The Republican leadership welcomed this little gift from Indiana voters the same way we welcome a love present from our cat," she joked on her show "Full Frontal" Monday night.

And as for McCain's refusal to attend, Bee saw an instant connection to his former running mate, Sarah Palin.

"Oh my, your Senate seat is being threatened by a crude, anti-intellectual, anger-stoking nativist? Ain't karma a b----."

But she then turned her attention back to Cruz.

"To be fair, we were all blindsided by Ted Cruz suspending his campaign, no one more than me. I think you know what that man meant to 'Full Frontal.'"

As a a running joke, the "Full Frontal" host has been referring to Cruz with some very creative nicknames, such as "Princeton's unwanted fetus," "the world's only unlikable Canadian," "revival tent Golum," and many, many others.

Holding a big book titled "Cruz Thesaurus," Bee bemoaned, "You guys, we were only on page three. Now, I'll never get to 'husky Romulan' or 'human Twilight Zone music.'"

ted cruz goodbye song samantha bee john kasich tbsBee gave Cruz props, though, for fighting the good fight against Trump. Then she acknowledged Kasich's run, which included a lot of press stops while eating at restaurants across the country.

"Sayonara, Johnny! I hope you enjoyed your eggs, since you won't be controlling mine," Bee said.

To cap off the segment, Bee dedicated a song to the former candidates.

"It's hard to bid adieu to two gentleman who think a 13-year-old's rape baby is a gift from Jesus. So we asked our friend, Michelle Branch, to help us out.

Watch the segment and Michelle Branch's goodbye song below:

And here's the full version of the song:

 

 

SEE ALSO: Chelsea Handler impersonates Oprah and bashes Donald Trump in new trailer for her Netflix talk show

DON'T MISS: The Church Lady returns to 'Saturday Night Live' to ridicule Ted Cruz and Donald Trump

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'Even I would’ve helped her': Trump criticizes Cruz for not helping Fiorina after she fell off stage

Samantha Bee explores the shocking lies of anti-abortion 'crisis pregnancy centers'

$
0
0

Crisis Pregnancy Center 2 Full Frontal final

On Monday night, "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" did a follow-up to its rape kit backlog segment, in which a bill to provide uniformity in the collection of rape kits in Georgia was turned down by the head of the committee that would bring it to the Senate floor, Senator Renee Unterman.

This time the show looked at Senator Unterman signing legislation for anti-abortion centers. Georgia can now give state money to pregnancy resource centers that offer services to women while discouraging abortions.

To explain what anti-abortion centers (also known as crisis pregnancy centers) do, the show called in comedian Patton Owsalt to be the face of a segment spoofing the classic Orson Welles movie "F for Fake."

samantha beeThe 1973 faux-documentary that Welles directed, wrote, and starred in looks back on history's greatest frauds, from notorious art forger Elmyr de Hory to novelist Clifford Irving's fake autobiography of Howard Hughes.

Owsalt, wearing a black cape and fedora as Welles does in the movie, plays our guide as the segment (titled "F For Abortion!") delves into the very serious subject of the unethical, false tactics anti-abortion centers use on pregnant women.

Those tactics include coming up with company names and logos that look similar to real abortion clinics, locating near real abortion clinics, and claiming that the centers provide the full range of reproductive health care services when they do not. Often women are even given fake ultrasound results that make it look like their pregnancy is further along than it really is.

The segment also includes a woman who has gone through the experience of showing up at an anti-abortion center, who gives some chilling recollections.

Watch the complete NSFW segment here:

SEE ALSO: John Oliver condemns the terrifying comments of the "Trump of the East" in the Philippines

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Things get really dark in the new trailer for 'Orange Is the New Black' season 4

$
0
0

orange is the new black season 4 trailer

Season three of "Orange is the New Black" ended with a whole bunch of new inmates coming to Litchfield, and from the trailer for season four, it looks like things are going to get dark. 

"I have started to feel unsafe lately," Piper (Taylor Schilling) says in the new trailer.

It seems alliances are more important than ever as racial and religious conflict is at an all-time high. 

Heck, it looks like even Crazy Eyes (Uzo Aduba) isn't safe. One shot in the trailer shows her in a hospital bed.

Orange is the new balck seaon 4 2 trailer finalWatch the trailer below. Season four hits Netflix on June 17.

SEE ALSO: HBO is aggressively ramping up its war on people who illegally download "Game of Thrones"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Will Ferrell and Ryan Gosling sell Trump-branded knives, and it goes horribly wrong

$
0
0

jimmy kimmel live will ferrell ryan gosling the knife guys

Who knew knives weren't living up to their potential? Will Ferrell and Ryan Gosling, that's who.

The actors, who dubbed themselves "The Knife Guys," interrupted host Jimmy Kimmel's monologue during Monday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to sell Donald Trump-branded knives.

"Everyone who's anyone knows that the best steaks in the world are, of course, Trump Steaks!" Ferrell said, starting his pitch. "But you can't cut something classy with something trashy."

He then pulled out the "Trump knives," which, by the way, were gold, and both actors put on caps with the logo "Make knives great again."

"That's a great knife," Gosling said. "And I know, because I know all the great knives."

"Yes it is, Ryan, and sharp, like the man himself," Ferrell responded.

Both actors were very on edge, seemingly able to lose it at a moment's notice. So it got a little scary when Kimmel asked them whether Trump knew they were selling the knives.

"No, Mr. Trump doesn't know about this, because he's super busy making America great again," Ferrell said, then turning to Gosling. "My God, he doesn't understand, though."

"Just shut up, Jimmy!" Gosling responded in a high-pitched scream.

The two returned to their pitch and pulled out a golden Trump Steak. Ferrell struggled to cut a piece, then held it up to Gosling. The "Notebook" actor seemed reluctant to put the strangely golden piece of steak into his mouth, but he did it anyway. But something was not right.

"He's choking," Kimmel told Ferrell.

"Duh, Jimmy, he's choking," Ferrell said. "Thankfully, choking is a breeze with Trump knives. "OK, Ryan, I'm going to cut a small but very deep hole in your trachea. Don't worry: I saw this on 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.'"

To Gosling's relief, Kimmel grabbed the actor and performed the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the piece of meat.

But Kimmel didn't get the response he wanted.

"Thanks for ruining our whole thing, jerk," Gosling said.

Watch the hilarious sketch below:

SEE ALSO: Samantha Bee got Michelle Branch to perform a hilarious goodbye song for Ted Cruz

DON'T MISS: Chelsea Handler impersonates Oprah and bashes Donald Trump in new trailer for her Netflix talk show

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jon Stewart broke his silence to call out 'man-baby' Trump and the media’s 'corrupt' investment in his rise


15 celebrities who didn't get into their dream colleges

$
0
0

Tina Fey college

Getting a dreaded rejection letter from your dream school can seem like the end of the world, but don't despair — it happens to the best of us.

Plenty of wildly successful actors, business moguls, and politicians have had their Ivy League dreams dashed, but they found other paths and turned out just fine.

Here are 15 celebrities who found acceptance after rejection. 

SEE ALSO: Snoop Dogg told us why he doesn't have a will: 'I don't give a f--- when I'm dead'

Follow INSIDER: on Facebook

Tina Fey played a Princeton University admissions officer in the 2014 movie "Admission," but things went a little differently when she applied to the elite school in the real world. "I went to my interview, and from the get-go was like, 'Yeah, I don't got this,'" she told People Magazine. Fey ended up attending the University of Virginia and studying drama.

Source: People Magazine



In 1974 Tom Hanks sent his SAT scores to M.I.T. and Villanova, "knowing such fine schools would never accept a student like me but hoping they’d toss some car stickers my way for taking a shot," he wrote in The New York Times. Hanks instead attended Chabot, a two-year community college in Hawyard, California. "That place made me what I am today," he wrote. Hanks later attended Sacramento State.

Source: The New York Times



Steven Spielberg, one of the most successful film directors of all time, was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Cinema Arts not once, but twice. He instead went to Cal State Long Beach, but dropped out just before graduating when he got a movie deal. Don't worry — he returned to finally get his diploma in 2002.

Source: CNN, People Magazine



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A new law in honor of Prince would make it harder to earn money off dead people's names

$
0
0

Prince performs during the halftime show of the NFL's Super Bowl XLI football game between the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts in Miami, Florida, U.S. February 4, 2007. REUTERS/Mike Blake/Files

Prince has inspired a newly proposed Minnesota law that would protect a person's name and likeness after their death.

The Minnesota state legislature has introduced a bill titled the Personal Rights in Names Can Endure Act (or the P.R.I.N.C.E. Act). If passed, it would ensure that a deceased person's estate can control publicity of the person's name, image, voice, signature, and more for 50 years after the death, according to Billboard.

The lawmakers are aiming to pass the bill within two weeks, when the current session ends. The law would also apply retroactively to any Minnesota resident who died before the bill was signed into law.

Currently, Prince's estate is being managed by Bremer Trust, since the singer didn't have a will. It will distribute Prince's estimated $300 million estate among his six siblings. It's estimated that there is $100 million in potential future earnings on the estate as well, which this bill would give Prince's family more control over.

Since Prince's death on April 21, the estate has already given permission for the use of his music on ABC television shows "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy."

SEE ALSO: Tracy Morgan remembers the time he got thrown out of a party at Prince's house

DON'T MISS: Inside the potentially 'messy' future of Prince's $300 million estate

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's the moment that made Prince a superstar

The 12 video games that are officially in 'The World Video Game Hall of Fame'

$
0
0

Video Game Hall of Fame

Like baseball, football, and rock & roll, video games have an official hall of fame.

Officially named "The World Video Game Hall of Fame," the hall is run by The National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. It's only two years old, and not well publicized, but the second round of games were just inducted last week.

To be considered eligible for induction, games are judged based on the following criteria.

  • Icon-status: the game is widely recognized and remembered.
  • Longevity: the game is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over time.
  • Geographical reach: the game meets the above criteria across international boundaries.
  • Influence: the game has exerted significant influence on the design and development of other games, on other forms of entertainment, or on popular culture and society in general. A game may be inducted on the basis of this criterion without necessarily having met all of the first three.

After careful consideration, 15 finalists are then chosen and that number is whittled down to six official inductees. Once selected, the games are given an official induction ceremony, and put on display in the museum's eGameRevolution exhibit.

Here are the games that have made the cut so far.

 

SEE ALSO: The weird way video games are paving the road to the future of technology

Doom [1983]



Grand Theft Auto 3 [2001]



The Legend of Zelda [1985]



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 10 most popular 360-degree Facebook videos of 2016 so far (FB)

$
0
0

Since September, Facebook hosted 360-degree videos that let the user move their phone around or click around their computer screen to change the camera angle as they play.

Brands, publishers, and Mark Zuckerberg himself have all had a go at publishing in the new interactive format.

On Tuesday, Facebook released a list of the top 10 most-popular 360-degree videos of the year so far.

The list was based on time spent viewing the videos, but it was only ordered alphabetically, so we've ordered the videos based on the ones we enjoyed the most.

10. Liverpool FC showed us what Anfield looks like when the crowd sings the club's anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone."

9. FC Barcelona showed us this "mosaic" tribute to football legend Johan Cruyff in the stands of Camp Nou.

8. ABC News gave us a tour of Times Square during January's winter storm.

7. 20th Century Fox gave us 360-degree Deadpool.

6. Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo put out a fun 360-degree video for her song "Farol."

5. The Game of Thrones opening credits in 360. 

4. The "Zoolander 2" 360-degree unveil

3. National Geographic took viewers on a helicopter tour of the Klyuchevskoy volcano right in the middle of an eruption.

2. National Geographic revved the helicopter up again to take us on a tour over the beautiful Victoria Falls.

1. National Geographic also took us swimming with a bunch of bears in a remote lake.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Consumer Reports put Costco and Sam's Club head-to-head — here's the verdict

Netflix cuts out over 6 days of commercials from your life per year, compared to cable TV (NFLX)

$
0
0

reed hastingsNetflix's refusal to show ads is a core part of its identity.

The company has always maintained that killing ads provides a better experience for its subscribers, and shows no signs of changing that position. And that stance has had an effect.

"We know one of the benefits of an ecosystem like Netflix is its lack of advertising," Howard Shimmel, a chief research officer at Time Warner, told Bloomberg last year. "Consumers are being trained there are places they can go to avoid ads."

Once you get used to having no ads, the ones that still exist can become grating.

This had led some networks to actually cut back on the amount of ads they show to lure back the younger Netflix generation.

But exactly how many ads do people avoid by watching Netflix instead of TV?

Streaming-data site CordCutting.com recently crunched the numbers, and it turns out that each Netflix subscriber saves themselves about 158.5 hours of commercials per year.

Here's how it figured that out:

  • First, it took Netflix's recent 75 million subscriber mark.
  • Then, it combined that with a quote from CEO Reed Hastings that said subscribers stream 125 million hours every day.
  • That means every subscriber streams about 1 2/3 hours per day.
  • Then it looked at Nielsen data, which showed that the typical hour of cable TV includes 15 minutes and 38 seconds of commercials.
  • If you combine that with the Netflix subscriber data, then you get that each subscriber avoids around 158.5 hours per year of commercials — if they were watching Netflix instead of cable TV.

One caveat is that, as Hastings has said on multiple occasions, Netflix isn't just competing against cable — it's competing against all forms of entertainment. So it's unlikely that every hour that a Netflix subscriber spends binge-watching would necessarily be spent watching cable in a non-Netflix world. And some cable subscribers use a DVR to cut out commercials.

But it's still fascinating to consider how massive the scope of Netflix's advertising would be if it followed cable's traditional ad model.

SEE ALSO: Netflix now lets you adjust how much data you burn through when streaming on your phone — here's how

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The defense attorneys from 'Making a Murderer' respond to criticism from Steven Avery’s new lawyer

Viewing all 113846 articles
Browse latest View live