YouTube beefed up tools for creators on Wednesday as it competes with streaming rivals such as Netflix on the biggest screen in most homes: the television.

The Alphabet-owned video-sharing platform popular on computers, tablets and smartphones has been gaining audiences on televisions as “smart” TVs linked to the internet have become common.

YouTube’s subscription streaming service has also been gaining traction, offering live broadcasting on more than 100 channels, in partnership with existing networks.

“It’s the fastest-growing screen,” YouTube chief Neal Mohan said of televisions at a presentation to content creators in New York. “So, it is a very large surface for all of our creators.”

The new tools include ways to optimize content for display on large screens and offer the content in formats more akin to the TV norm of episodes and seasons.

People worldwide watch more than a billion hours of YouTube video daily on home televisions, Mohan added.

The number of creators who make their livings from YouTube has climbed about 30 percent during the past year, according to the company.

Streaming made “TV history” in July, accounting for 41.4 percent of total television viewing time in the United States, according to Nielsen.

YouTube became the first streaming platform to top a 10-percent share of that TV viewing time, with Netflix second at 8.4 percent, according to Nielsen.

To build on its momentum, YouTube will begin offering a “cinematic” version of creator videos, which will be optimized for viewing on TVs.

YouTube also announced it will enable creators to organize content into episodes or seasons, a move designed to be more familiar to TV audiences.

Televisions let YouTube take advantage of the “binge-watching” phenomenon born of the on-demand content era, allowing viewers to devour episodes in rapid succession for long periods.

TV is also a more traditional way of viewing than smartphones, especially for older audiences accustomed to settling in to watch in their living rooms.

“It’s clear that our living room presence is growing across multiple demographics and ages,” YouTube product management director Thomas Kim said at a roundtable discussion with journalists.

Kim noted that he had heard from creators eager to make more TV-style shows for their audiences.

“We have seen some really great examples of creators who have made episodic content and have been very successful,” Kim said.

The Director of Marketing at Hendai Investment Limited, Asmau Dalhatu, has said that 18.2 billion mobile phones are expected to be in use worldwide by 2025, surpassing the estimated global population of 9.7 billion people.

She also noted the impressive growth projections for the mobile phone industry.

Dalhatu disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of the Hendai NIYO HD5 smartphone. She explained that Hendai Investment Limited is a leading enterprise specialising in a diverse range of sectors, including telecommunications, electronics, and smart city development.

She said: “It will amaze you to know that, according to statistics, we have an estimated 8.2 billion people living on earth, and surprisingly, there are an estimated 17.2 billion phones in use presently.

“By 2025, there will be approximately 18.2 billion phones, which will double the number of humans. So, in essence, what I am trying to point out is that you are at the right place.

“The world is technically advancing, and from 2024-2025, there will be a need for another 1 billion phones in circulation. NIYO has all it takes to occupy a great amount of the estimated one billion phones.”

In his address, the Chairman of Hendai Group, Mr. Owoediinyene Essien, expressed gratitude to distributors and partners for their trust and support.

He also encouraged prospective distributors to join in the journey, noting the vast opportunities for collaboration and growth as Hendai aims to expand its presence across Africa and beyond.

Essien said: “Join us in this exciting journey and benefit from the endless opportunities of partnering with a world-class African brand. Our goal is not only to capture the Nigerian market but to extend our reach across Africa and beyond. I extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated team, partners, and stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to bring Hendai to life.”

In his remarks, the Director of Housing Development at Hendai Investment Limited, Ambassador Usman Sarki, stressed that Hendai Investment Limited’s vision extends beyond the production of mobile handsets.

He expressed excitement about the forthcoming public engagement and the structured business opportunities that will arise as Hendai continues to expand its operations.

He explained that Hendai Investment Limited is a leading enterprise specialising in a diverse range of sectors, including telecommunications, electronics, and smart city development.

The company is dedicated to driving innovation and creating meaningful opportunities for participation and investment in its projects.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday said it discovered that no fewer than 100,000 SIM cards were linked to an individual.

NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, revealed this in a statement, where the commission announced September 14, 2024 as the final deadline for linking National Identification Numbers (NINs) to Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs).

“Through collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the NCC has uncovered alarming cases where individuals possessed an unusually high number of SIM cards—some exceeding 100,000,” Muoka said.

“The Commission also remains committed to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to crack down on the sale of pre-registered SIMs, thereby safeguarding national security and ensuring the integrity of mobile numbers in Nigeria.

“The NCC also reminds the public that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offences punishable by imprisonment and fines. We encourage citizens to report any such activities to the Commission via our toll-free line (622) or through our social media platforms.”

On Monday, a Federal High Court in Lagos approved bail of N50 million each for Timothy Oluwabukola and Anthony Odemerho, two students from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and Resign Regal Academy, who are accused of hacking into MTN Nigeria Communication’s systems and stealing airtime and data worth N1.9 billion.

Justice Akintayo Aluko granted their bail after considering two separate bail applications submitted by the defendants.

Besides the bail amount, Aluko instructed the defendants to present two sureties each. One surety must be a civil servant employed by the federal or Lagos State government, holding at least a grade level 14 position. The second surety must own property within the court’s jurisdiction, provide proof of ownership, and swear an affidavit of means.

For the civil servant, a letter of reference from their workplace and a document confirming their most recent promotion are required. The defendants need to provide two recent passport photos to the court registrar.

Aluko directed the prosecution to verify all documents submitted by the sureties, including their home addresses.

Additionally, the court ordered that the defendants remain in the Correctional Centre until they meet their bail conditions.

Oluwabukola and Odemerho were brought before the court on July 30, 2024, by the Police Special Fraud Unit.

They are being charged with four counts related to conspiracy, unauthorized access to the company’s web-based platform called Application Programming Interface, and illegal conversion, as filed by the police.

The police prosecution lawyer, Justine Enang, informed the court that the defendants committed these alleged crimes along with others who are still at large.

Enang informed the court that Oluwabukola and Odemerho, reportedly students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Resign Regal Academy in Benin City, Edo State, respectively, committed the crimes between January and April 2024 in Lagos and Edo states.

He stated that the pair allegedly breached the MTN web-based platform, known as the Application Programming Interface, and stole airtime and data worth N1.9 billion.

The prosecutor indicated that these actions violated Sections 27(1)(b); 6(2) and 28(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and are punishable under Section 8(2) of the same Act.

He further noted that the crimes also breached Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

Here is the paraphrased version of the given sentences:

The defendants, however, entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations brought against them.

After their not-guilty plea, the prosecutor requested the court to set a trial date and asked that the defendants be held in a correctional facility until the charges were resolved.

In contrast, the defense attorney informed the court that he had submitted two bail applications, which had already been served to the prosecutor.

In response, the prosecutor acknowledged receipt of the bail applications but noted that they were received during the ongoing proceedings.

He requested a short adjournment to review and respond to the applications.

As a result, Justice Aluko postponed the case to August 5, 2024, for a hearing on the defendants’ bail applications.

The PUNCH

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram Messenger app, has shared that he fathered 100 biological children worldwide despite being single.

The 39-year-old revealed this on his popular channel Monday evening.

He explained that 15 years ago, despite his desire to stay single, a friend asked him to donate sperm at a clinic. He agreed, resulting in him assisting over 12 families globally in having children, thanks to what he referred to as his “high-quality donor material.”

Narrating, he said, “I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. How is this possible for a guy who has never been married and prefers to live alone?

“Fifteen years ago, a friend approached me with a weird request. He said that he and his wife couldn’t have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realising he was dead serious.

“The boss of the clinic told me that ‘high-quality donor material’  was in short supply and that it was my civic duty to donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples. This sounded crazy enough to get me to sign up for sperm donation.

“Fast forward to 2024, my past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids. Moreover, many years after I stopped being a donor, at least one IVF clinic still has my frozen sperm available for anonymous use by families who want to have kids.”

He hinted that he would plan to open-source his DNA so that his biological children could easily find him, stressing, “Of course, there are risks, but I don’t regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I’m proud that I did my part to help alleviate it.”

Durov also suggested that healthy men consider donating sperm to families worldwide who are having difficulty conceiving children.

In a significant shift, Google has reversed its initial plan to eliminate third-party cookies, opting instead to introduce new privacy measures that aim to balance user privacy with the needs of advertisers. This decision reflects Google’s responsiveness to industry feedback and its commitment to evolving digital advertising.

The Initial Plan to Eliminate Cookies

Google’s original plan to phase out third-party cookies by 2022 was part of a broader effort to enhance user privacy. Cookies, small pieces of data stored on users’ devices, track browsing habits and are crucial for personalized advertising. However, they have raised privacy concerns, prompting Google to consider alternatives.

Why the Change?

Advertisers and marketers heavily rely on cookies to deliver targeted ads, and the elimination of cookies posed a significant challenge to their business models. The backlash from the advertising industry and concerns about the impact on small businesses led Google to reconsider its approach.

The Role of Cookies in Digital Advertising

Cookies play a pivotal role in digital advertising. They enable advertisers to track user behavior across websites, providing insights into preferences and interests. This data allows for personalized ads, which are more likely to engage users and drive sales. Without cookies, advertisers would struggle to deliver relevant ads, potentially leading to reduced ad revenue and less effective marketing campaigns.

Introducing Privacy Sandbox

To address these concerns, Google has introduced the Privacy Sandbox initiative. This initiative aims to create web standards that enhance user privacy while still enabling personalized advertising. Privacy Sandbox includes several proposals:

1. Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC): This method groups users with similar interests into cohorts, reducing the ability to track individual users while still allowing for targeted advertising.
2. Turtledove and FLEDGE: These proposals focus on enabling interest-based advertising without exposing users’ browsing behavior to third parties.
3. Conversion Measurement: This feature allows advertisers to measure the effectiveness of their ads without relying on third-party cookies.

Balancing Privacy and Advertising Needs

Google’s new approach seeks to strike a balance between protecting user privacy and supporting the advertising ecosystem. By developing privacy-focused alternatives to cookies, Google aims to maintain the functionality of personalized ads while addressing privacy concerns.

The Impact on Advertisers and Users

Advertisers will need to adapt to these new measures, potentially rethinking their strategies for targeting and measuring ad performance. However, the Privacy Sandbox provides a pathway to continue delivering relevant ads without compromising user privacy.

For users, these changes promise enhanced privacy and control over their data. They can expect a reduction in invasive tracking practices while still receiving personalized content and ads.

Google’s decision to reverse its cookie ban and introduce the Privacy Sandbox reflects its commitment to evolving with the digital landscape. This approach aims to create a sustainable model for online advertising that respects user privacy and supports advertisers’ needs.

In summary, Google’s pivot from eliminating cookies to introducing the Privacy Sandbox is a significant development in digital advertising. By balancing user privacy with the needs of advertisers, Google is paving the way for a more secure and effective advertising ecosystem. This move highlights the importance of adaptability and responsiveness in the ever-changing tech industry.