Apple and Two Billion Users, Spotify in Talks to Buy the Ringer, Comcast Unveils Peacock
Today's Above Avalon daily update includes the following stories:
Apple and Two Billion Users
Spotify in Talks to Buy the Ringer
Comcast Unveils Peacock
We kick off today’s update with additional comments on the newest Above Avalon article, “The Big Question Now Facing Apple.” In particular, we discuss how Apple’s mission doesn’t limit the company’s reach to a billion users. The discussion then turns to Spotify being in talks to acquire the Ringer. We go over Spotify’s podcast strategy and what it could mean for Apple. The email concludes with an overview of Peacock, Comcast’s upcoming direct-to-consumer video streaming service. We go over Comcast’s sales pitch and how Peacock is different from other paid video streaming services.
Above Avalon membership is required to read this daily update. Members can read the update here.
Above Avalon Membership
Above Avalon members receive the full Above Avalon experience throughout the week.
The cornerstone of Above Avalon membership is access to Neil’s exclusive daily updates about Apple. Daily updates are 2,000 words and sent via email Monday through Thursday. Updates revolve around the following topics:
Apple business and strategy analysis.
Neil’s perspective and observations on current news and Apple competitors.
Neil’s Apple financial estimates.
Full coverage of Apple earnings, product events, and keynotes.
If it is of interest to Apple, it is something I pay attention to.
Member Privileges and Benefits
Receive Exclusive Daily Updates. The cornerstone of Above Avalon membership is access to Neil’s exclusive daily updates about Apple. Each email is 2,000 words and includes Neil’s analysis and perspective on the most important stories and news impacting Apple. Unlike other paid emails that may sporadically talk about Apple, every Above Avalon daily update is focused on Apple. New updates are sent Monday through Thursday. Approximately 200 daily updates published throughout the year. Sample daily updates can be viewed here, here, and here. Members have the option of receiving a consolidated weekly version of the daily updates. In addition, an RSS feed is available for members.
Access Reports and Neil’s Earnings Model. Members have access to Above Avalon reports, which are in-depth examinations of Apple's business and financial strategy. Each report is 4,000 to 5,000 words and covers one Apple topic. Members also have access to Neil’s working Apple earnings model (an Excel file that also works in Numbers). The model is fully functional and adjustable with the ability to alter earnings drivers. Reports and Neil’s earnings model are available to members at no additional cost.
Email Priority. Receive priority when it comes to having email questions and inquiries answered. Neil personally answers all inquiries, including any customer service matters related to your membership.
Archive Access. Read more than 850 daily updates and five reports that have been previously sent to members. The Above Avalon member archive is unmatched in the marketplace in terms of the sheer amount of Apple analysis found in one location. The daily updates archive can be viewed here while the reports archive is available here.
Member Forum Access. Join other Above Avalon members in an active forum containing in-depth discussion and debate. While most private member forums have limited participation, the Above Avalon member forum has become known as one of the more vibrant private communities dedicated to Apple. Members live in 55 countries and hold a diverse range of backgrounds and occupations. There is a specific forum channel for members to share AAPL stock and options trading strategies. Neil moderates and participates in the forum. The forum is run through Slack and can be accessed here.
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Member Meet-ups. Meet Neil and other Above Avalon members to discuss Apple and other related news items. Prior meet-ups have taken place in San Francisco, Cupertino, and San Jose. Future meet-ups are possible in other cities.
Above Avalon Support. Play an active role in supporting Above Avalon as an independent source of Apple analysis. Above Avalon is fully sustained by its members.
Higher ARPU Isn’t a Bad Thing for Apple, Alexa Turns Five Years Old, Spotify Earnings
Today's Above Avalon daily update includes the following stories:
Higher ARPU Isn’t a Bad Thing for Apple
Alexa Turns Five Years Old
Spotify Earnings
We begin today’s email with my thoughts on the suggestion that rising Apple ARPU (average revenue per user) poses a risk for the company and a sign of Apple caving to Wall Street pressure. The discussion then turns to Alexa turning five and why Amazon’s digital voice assistant hasn’t been living up to the hype. We conclude with a look at Spotify 3Q19 earnings.
Above Avalon membership is required to read this daily update. Members can read the update here.
Above Avalon Membership
Above Avalon members receive all of my analysis and perspective on Apple. The cornerstone of Above Avalon membership is access to my exclusive daily updates about Apple.
Daily updates are 2,000-word emails that revolve around the following topics:
Apple business and strategy analysis.
Apple financial estimates.
My perspective and observations on current news and Apple competitors.
Full coverage of Apple earnings, product events, and keynotes.
If it is of interest to Apple, it is something I pay attention to.
Member Privileges and Benefits
Exclusive Analysis. Receive exclusive daily updates containing my analysis and perspective, 100% related to Apple. Approximately 200 daily updates are published throughout the year. Members also receive my exclusive reports, in-depth examinations into Apple's business strategy. Each report covers one topic, and a new report is published each quarter.
Email Priority. Receive timely responses to email questions and inquiries.
Apple Earnings Model. Access my working Apple earnings model. The model is fully functional and adjustable with the ability to alter earnings drivers.
Archive Access. Read daily updates and reports previously sent to members. The archive can be viewed here.
Forum Access. Join other Above Avalon members in a forum containing in-depth discussion and Apple debate. The forum can be accessed here. Members live in 55 countries and hold a diverse range of backgrounds and occupations. I (Neil Cybart) personally moderate and oversee the forum.
Receive Above Avalon Weekly Articles via Email. Receive the weekly Above Avalon article via email. This feature is only available to members.
Member meet-ups. Meet me and other Above Avalon members to discuss Apple and other related news items. Prior meet-ups have taken place in San Francisco, Cupertino, and San Jose. Future meet-ups are possible in other cities.
Above Avalon Support. Play an active role in supporting Above Avalon as an independent source of Apple analysis. Above Avalon is fully sustained by its members.
Apple Music’s Next Act, Music Industry Pushing Back Against Apple Bundle, Apple TV+ As a Pawn?
Today's Above Avalon daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Music’s Next Act
Music Industry Pushing Back Against Apple Bundle
Apple TV+ As a Pawn?
We kick off today’s email with Apple’s near-term objectives for Apple Music. The email then turns to news that Apple is receiving pushback from the music industry when it comes to potentially bundling Apple Music with Apple TV+. The discussion concludes with my thoughts on Apple using Apple TV+ as a pawn to push some kind of bundle containing multiple content distribution services.
Above Avalon membership is required to read this daily update. Members can read the update here.
Above Avalon Membership
Above Avalon members receive all of my analysis and perspective on Apple. The cornerstone of Above Avalon membership is access to my exclusive daily updates about Apple.
Daily updates are 2,000-word emails that revolve around the following topics:
Apple business and strategy analysis.
Apple financial estimates.
My perspective and observations on current news and Apple competitors.
Full coverage of Apple earnings, product events, and keynotes.
If it is of interest to Apple, it is something I pay attention to.
Member Privileges and Benefits
Exclusive Analysis. Receive exclusive daily updates containing my analysis and perspective, 100% related to Apple. Approximately 200 daily updates are published throughout the year. Members also receive my exclusive reports, in-depth examinations into Apple's business strategy. Each report covers one topic, and a new report is published each quarter.
Email Priority. Receive timely responses to email questions and inquiries.
Apple Earnings Model. Access my working Apple earnings model. The model is fully functional and adjustable with the ability to alter earnings drivers.
Archive Access. Read daily updates and reports previously sent to members. The archive can be viewed here.
Forum Access. Join other Above Avalon members in a forum containing in-depth discussion and Apple debate. The forum can be accessed here. Members live in 55 countries and hold a diverse range of backgrounds and occupations. I (Neil Cybart) personally moderate and oversee the forum.
Receive Above Avalon Weekly Articles via Email. Receive the weekly Above Avalon article via email. This feature is only available to members.
Member meet-ups. Meet me and other Above Avalon members to discuss Apple and other related news items. Prior meet-ups have taken place in San Francisco, Cupertino, and San Jose. Future meet-ups are possible in other cities.
Above Avalon Support. Play an active role in supporting Above Avalon as an independent source of Apple analysis. Above Avalon is fully sustained by its members.
Fitbit’s Dire Situation, Spotify Earnings, Disney Earnings
Today's Above Avalon daily update includes the following stories:
Fitbit’s Dire Situation
Spotify Earnings
Disney Earnings
Today’s email will focus on three earnings reports from Apple competitors (Fitbit, Spotify, and Disney). We begin by discussing why it is time to begin asking the difficult questions when it comes to Fitbit’s future. The discussion then turns to Spotify and where I see things going for the company. We conclude with Disney’s results and new details regarding Disney+ bundling.
Above Avalon membership is required to read this daily update. Members can read the update here.
Above Avalon Membership
Above Avalon members receive all of my analysis and perspective on Apple. The cornerstone of Above Avalon membership is access to my exclusive daily updates about Apple.
Daily updates are 2,000-word emails that revolve around the following topics:
Apple business and strategy analysis.
Apple financial estimates.
My perspective and observations on current news and Apple competitors.
Full coverage of Apple earnings, product events, and keynotes.
If it is of interest to Apple, it is something I pay attention to.
Member Privileges and Benefits
Exclusive Analysis. Receive exclusive daily updates containing my analysis and perspective, 100% related to Apple. Approximately 200 daily updates are published throughout the year. Members also receive my exclusive reports, in-depth examinations into Apple's business strategy. Each report covers one topic, and a new report is published each quarter.
Apple Earnings Model. Access my working Apple earnings model. The model is fully functional and adjustable with the ability to alter earnings drivers.
Email Priority. Receive timely responses to all email questions and inquiries.
Archive Access. Read daily updates and reports previously sent to members. The archive can be viewed here.
Forum Access. Join other Above Avalon members in a forum containing in-depth discussion and Apple debate. The forum can be accessed here. Members live in 55 countries and hold a diverse range of backgrounds and occupations. I (Neil Cybart) personally moderate and oversee the forum.
Receive Above Avalon Weekly Articles via Email. Receive the weekly Above Avalon article via email. This feature is only available to members.
Member meet-ups. Meet me and other Above Avalon members to discuss Apple and other related news items. Prior meet-ups have taken place in San Francisco, Cupertino, and San Jose. Future meet-ups are possible in other cities.
Above Avalon Support. Play an active role in supporting Above Avalon as an independent source of Apple analysis. Above Avalon is fully sustained by its members.
Why Apple Even Bothers with Music, Spotify Is Moving the Goalposts, Thursday Q&A
Today's Above Avalon stories:
- Why Apple Even Bothers with Music
- Spotify Is Moving the Goalposts
- Thursday Q&A
We begin today's email by going over one of the common questions that I received this week regarding Apple's music ambitions: "Why should Apple care about owning the music industry?" We discuss how Apple thinks about music and why the company is dedicating resources and time to the endeavor. The email then turns to new Spotify subscriber numbers and evidence that the company is moving the goalposts when it comes to disclosing "paid" subscribers. This has implications when it comes to comparing Apple Music to Spotify. We conclude with Thursday Q&A (questions from Above Avalon members). This week's questions:
- Why aren't there any Apple Watch leaks?
- Is Tim Cook being conservative with his claim that Apple Watch sales will trend like iPod with sales centered around the holidays?
- Do you think Tesla's Autopilot should be recalled given the growing number of incidents?
- When do you write these daily updates?
These stories are available for Above Avalon members. To continue reading, click here.
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