SpaceX requests lower launch threshold; Activision nets $1.7 billion third quarter revenues; Tastemade to release a book
Space Debris Affects SpaceX Launch Plans
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. plans to launch several low-orbiting satellites that will provide its Starlink broadband internet to the world, but it’s recently appealed to the Federal Communications Commission to launch make the orbit slightly lower. According to Engadget, SpaceX argues lowering the target orbit from 1,110 km to 550 km will ensure the satellites are properly disposed of once they are no longer functional, cutting down on the amount of space junk leftover from typical satellite deployment. With a target of 12,000 total satellites set for Starlink, SpaceX could have a sizeable amount of debris to deal with.
Tastemade Pivots to Physical Presence
In a turn from its traditional online travel and food-related video programming.
Santa Monica-based Tastemade Inc. announced Nov. 9 it will publish a cookbook. Backed by Goldman Sachs Growth Equity Inc., Amazon.com Inc., and Redpoint Ventures, Tastemade raised a $35 million Series E round in October, bringing its total funding to $115 million since its founding in 2012. Digiday reports the cookbook, which will retail for roughly $30, will be shipped via Tastemade’s website and Amazon.com, and is Tastemade’s first step into generating revenue from its audience, rather than advertisers.
Activision Predicts Tentative Fourth Quarter
Venturebeat reports Santa Monica-based video game firm Activision Blizzard Inc. posted third quarter 2018 revenues of $1,512 billion, down from $1,618 billion last year. Activision Blizzard’s operating margin for third quarter 2018 was 27 percent, and its earnings per share were 42 cents, compared to 47 cents in third quarter 2017. According to Activision Blizzard, it had nearly 345 million monthly active users in this third quarter, with players spending an average 52 minutes per day on its games. Looking forward, the video game giant predicts earnings of 43 cents per share and $2.2 billion revenue in fourth quarter 2018.
