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atresplayer dramabox globavend microdrama nbcuniversal peacock reelshort streaming Streaming services already face rising content costs, expensive subscriber acquisition, pricing pressure and intense competition for viewing time. Now another form of entertainment is competing for attention on the smallest screen. If you have watched a dramatic story appear in your social feed and end just as someone discovers a betrayal or forbidden romance, you have probably encountered a microdrama.

Time spent and repeated use can look like success without producing it. This week’s news shows why subscription leaders need to understand what engagement actually delivers. Signal of the Week: Engagement is not disappearing. It’s losing its status as a self-explanatory measure of success. For years, companies have treated active users and frequent visits as reassuring signs. If people keep showing up, the thinking goes, the business must be healthy. This week offered a useful reality check.

apple apple music apple one pricing Apple is extending its latest round of subscription price increases across more of its services. On July 17, Apple raised U.S. prices for Apple Music and two Apple One bundles. The changes came two days after higher AppleCare+ prices were reported for new Mac and iPad customers. Apple Music’s Individual plan increased by $1 to $11.99 per month. The Student plan also rose by $1 to $6.99, while the Family plan increased by $3 to $19.99.

truecaller truecaller premium Truecaller is a Stockholm-based caller identification and spam-blocking company. India is its largest market. The company passed 500 million monthly active users worldwide in March and averaged 3.99 million paying subscribers during the second quarter. Net sales fell 21% to SEK 393.2 million. Premium revenue rose 36% to SEK 118.6 million, or 41% excluding currency movements. Advertising revenue fell 34% excluding currency movements.

automatic renewal connecticut connecticut unfair trade practices act Attorney General William Tong and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli issued the warning on July 16. The state is also explaining the requirements to consumers and encouraging them to report businesses that make cancellation difficult. “Businesses that fail to comply may be engaging in unfair trade practices, and we will not hesitate to enforce the law,” Tong said.

netflix Netflix reported another quarter of revenue and profit growth on July 16. The company also announced a change in how often it will publish detailed engagement data. Beginning in 2027, Netflix will publish its “What We Watched” report once a year, during the first quarter. It currently releases the report twice a year with its second-quarter and fourth-quarter results. Netflix said separating the engagement report from earnings will keep the focus on revenue and operating profit.

cboe sec Cboe Exchange, which operates one of the largest options markets in the United States, wants to create tradable contracts tied to specific results reported by public companies. Investors could trade on whether a company reaches a set subscriber count, revenue level, average revenue per user, or profit target during a reporting period. The company wouldn’t create the contract.

cartrack earnings Cartrack added a record 142,472 net subscribers during its latest quarter, giving subscription executives a useful look at the cost of fast growth in a business built around recurring revenue and connected devices. Cartrack provides software and tracking devices that businesses use to manage vehicles, equipment, drivers, and field operations. Customers pay recurring fees for services that include vehicle tracking, video monitoring, fleet management, and operating data.

apple applecare+ Apple has reportedly raised AppleCare+ prices for new Mac and iPad customers in the United States. Monthly prices increased by 50 cents, while annual prices rose by $5. Existing subscribers will reportedly keep their current rates for now. For a 13-inch MacBook Air, the monthly price increased from $7.49 to $7.99. The annual price rose from $74.99 to $79.99. Apple has not announced the increase in a press release.

spotify Spotify is expanding managed accounts for young listeners to free users in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The feature gives children age 13 and younger, or the local age equivalent, their own Spotify account under the supervision of a parent or guardian. Managed accounts were first introduced for Premium Family subscribers. Spotify began extending them to free users in selected markets earlier this year.