Keynoters underscored the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations at the National Retail Federation’s virtual Retail Converge conference Monday, as retailers look to bring customers back to stores while riding the surge in pandemic-driven e-commerce growth.

Broadcast ad revenue is improving as jurisdictions reopen, streaming services are putting increasing pressure on MVPDs, and sports betting is on the rise as a category, panelists told S&P's Kagan Media Summit. Core ads are “set up for a growth streak,” said Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley on Thursday. “Habits picked up during the pandemic are likely to have lasting effects on video consumption,” said Kagan's Deana Myers.

To ignore what Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google are doing in the premium streaming space is “at your peril,” keynoted Needham analyst Laura Martin at the virtual StreamTV Show Wednesday. The tech giants have “unlimited funds” and different objectives from media companies because “streaming is a rook, a pawn or a bishop, which means their moves look different than Disney, where streaming is the queen or king,” said the analyst. Apple and Facebook are willing to “give up the bishop to play a bigger game: Disney can’t.”

FCC commissioners approved 4-0 Thursday revised RF device marketing and importation rules aimed at shortening the time for developing and releasing new wireless devices, as expected (see 2106150074). CTA sought the revised rules last year.

CTA raised concerns as FCC commissioners approved 4-0 Thursday an NPRM and notice of inquiry that would further clamp down on gear from companies deemed to pose a security risk in U.S. networks. Commissioners said several questions were added since a draft of the item circulated, as expected (see 2106090063).

The three-judge panel in the Section 301 litigation at the U.S. Court of International Trade peppered a government lawyer with tough questions Thursday when the judges asked DOJ to explain how its opposition to a court-ordered reliquidation or money judgment if the plaintiffs win the case doesn’t support a finding of irreparable harm for the importers. Oral argument lasting nearly 80 minutes was held on the preliminary injunction (PI) motion Akin Gump filed April 23 for sample-case plaintiffs HMTX Industries and Jasco Products to freeze liquidation of unliquidated customs entries from China with Lists 3 and 4A tariff exposure.

Amazon previewed Prime Day offers Thursday ahead of the 48-hour event that begins Monday at 3 a.m. EDT in what the e-commerce company said would include 2 million deals in 20 countries. It encouraged Prime members to shop early because “deals could sell out fast.” Shoppers should “check back often” for new deals that launch over the course of the event. Amazon is looking to add to its 200-million global member base by offering a 30-day free trial to nonmembers.

Google’s first retail store, a LEED Platinum-certified, 5,000-square-foot space in the ground floor of its New York headquarters building, opened in low-key fashion Thursday, with a couple dozen visitors waiting when doors opened at 10:02 a.m. Ten minutes before the open, staffers rolled out an oversized red Google Maps pin to mark the spot, located the next block up and across the street from Apple’s West 14th Street store.

“The jury’s still out” on whether streaming is a good business model compared with linear TV, said MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson on the virtual StreamTV Show Tuesday. Nathanson cited steep investments that streaming market leader Netflix has had to spend on content to maintain its subscriber base, and now competing media companies going direct to consumer “have to spend to catch up.”

It's a “robust time of growth for the music business,” said Warner Music Group Chief Financial Officer Eric Levin on a Monday investor call, saying that the company's advertising streaming platforms business is “starting to reach renewed growth similar to subscription streaming” following negative impact from COVID-19. Streaming is close to 60% of company revenue, he said.