Tom Cheredar

I’m staff writer and lead media reporter for VentureBeat. Typically, my focus is on tech companies, products, and services related to music, movies, books, TV shows, comic books, digital magazines, and pretty much anything else that’s considered “consumable media.”  I do spend a lot of time covering YouTube, Spotify, Apple/iTunes, and Amazon (among others), but not just from a consumer perspective. I want to drill into the business-end of media companies as they navigate through the jungle of content licensing, fierce competition, and outdated tech legislation. I support VentureBeat’s ethics statement, and I don’t accept gifts from companies I cover, which includes hardware or paid services that frequently pop up in my reporting.

 

Prior to VentureBeat, I was a frequent contributor to Geeks of Doom where I did on-site coverage of events like Comic-Con. Before that, I worked at a handful of local newspapers around Nashville, Tenn. (Perhaps this explains why I consider Spider Jerusalem’s contribution to journalism on par with Marshall McLuhan’s.) I have a degree in journalism from MTSU, and currently live in Austin, Texas.

 

You can contact me via my staff email or through Twitter.   ***Please send all pitches to tips@venturebeat.com***

stories by Tom Cheredar

Senate approval on the House’s controversial cybersecurity bill CISPA seems unlikely

Bad cyber security legislation CISPA is likely to fail if it goes to a vote on the Senate floor, according to comments made by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), chairman of the committee on commerce, science and transportation, today.

After disappointing earnings, The New York Times will adjust subscription prices to boost growth

The New York Times announced today that it's adopting a new growth strategy that involves offering customers lower pricing to access its content.

Here’s how Netflix sees the future of TV

Netflix released a new 11-page document that outlines the company's long-term outlook on the future of television -- and more importantly, who will come out as winners.

Internet sales tax bill is likely to pass Senate vote later this week

The U.S. Senate voted to once again advance the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that would place a mandatory state sales tax on things sold over the Internet.

Is Amazon making a Kindle TV set-top box?

After successfully storming the industry with successful e-readers and a line of tablets, Amazon is rumored to be launching its first set-top box for streaming media.

Hey, cord cutters, the CW is now providing full TV episodes via Xbox Live

If the promise of pizza without setting down your game controller isn't enough, broadcast station the CW has now added an app for Xbox Live.

Google Fiber TV app makes its way to the iPad

Residents of Kansas City who prefer to use their iPad over a Nexus 7 are in luck, as Apple has just approved an official Google Fiber TV app for the device.

CBS responds to Aereo threat with an investment in streaming video service Syncbak

CBS has had plenty to say about its future if TV startup Aereo is permitted to exist, and now the company is investing some of its resources into a streaming video startup that could help it stay competitive.

How Netflix plans to make more money without raising the price on its $8 plans

Once again, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings struck down questions that suggested the company would raise the price of its standard streaming subscription plans beyond the introductory $7.99 per month fee that's been successful for the few years.

With 36M subscribers & 4B hours watched, Netflix investors are pleased with its Q1

Netflix investors have given the company quite a hard time as it continued to grow its subscriber base and expand into new territories, but for its first quarter of the year that doesn't seem to be the case.

Reddit owns up to its part in spreading misinformation about the Boston bombings

A legion of armchair warriors pulled together to provide a detailed account of all the information available on last week's horrific bombings during the Boston Marathon, but not all of that effort turned out to be good.

Amazon original pilots see big viewing stats over the weekend

If you're a fan of original TV shows that are exclusively available online, you had quite a bit to watch over the weekend, and according to Amazon you really liked what you saw, too.

Grooveshark unveils its streaming radio service ‘Broadcast’

Streaming music service Grooveshark is throwing its hat into the radio service ring today with the debut of Broadcast, which is available to the public starting today.

Durex creates vibrating underwear you can control via smartphone apps

The undergarments vibrate whenever your partner, using a smartphone app, decides you need some "attention" -- giving a new definition to "phone sex."

Watch now: NASA livestreaming a six-hour spacewalk from the International Space Station

I'm still pretty amazed that, as I go about my mundane daily routine, there will be two men performing a spacewalk from a football field-sized space station, which is getting livestreamed via Ustream today.

Google threatens to deactivate Google Glass if you loan it to a friend

While it might be extremely amusing to loan your brand spankin' new Google Glass eyewear to Grandma for the entire day, it's ill advised by Google.

With 35M saved items per month, Pocket’s latest update rethinks sharing

Pocket, the service formerly known as Read It Later, completely overhauls how you share things across all its platforms.