Hastings not worried about Disney Plus; Thorn gets share of $280 million; Hello Sunshine Ventures into subscription box market.

Hello Sunshine Ponders Subscription Boxes

Actress Reese Witherspoon’s Brentwood-based media company Hello Sunshine is considering entering the subscription box market to sell books. TechCrunch reports Witherspoon already runs a website with female-focused book recommendations called Reese’s Book Club but is pondering turning that online brand into its own business. No plans have been finalized yet, but Hello Sunshine subscribers already received surveys asking what they’d like to see in a subscription box offered by the company.

Netflix CEO “Thrilled” about Disney Plus Competition

Contrary to popular speculation, Netflix Inc. Chief Executive Reed Hastings isn’t worried about Burbank-based Walt Disney Co.’s new streaming platform, Disney Plus, according to Variety. Hastings told the publication that he doesn’t think Disney and Apple will be “material rivals” in the so-called streaming wars, although Disney Plus is offering its service at half the price of Hollywood-located Netflix.

Thorn Launches Campaign Against Child Sex Abuse, Fueled by Tech

Thorn, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore’s LA-based nonprofit developing technology to prevent child sex abuse online, is one of eight companies to receive a share of $280 million offered by the Audacious Project. The company declined to disclose how much of the shared prize it received, but noted it will use the funds to provide technology to law enforcement to identify victims and enhance data collection, LA Magazine reports.

Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.