

Winner Take All
Alex Moazed
Winner Take All is a business & tech news show covering the world of platform businesses, tech antitrust, regulations, and innovation. Hosted by Alex Moazed and Nick Johnson, authors of the Amazon Best-Seller Modern Monopolies.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 10, 2020 • 34min
Winner Take All #105 | Platform ETF Updates, Microsoft Buying TikTok?, Applico Platform Insights
Alex kicks off the show with a look at some of the changes to PLAT, WisdomTree's Growth Leaders Fund that exclusively invests in platform-based businesses, and details some of the information WisdomTree licenses from Applico to qualify platform companies for inclusion in the ETF. Next, a look at Square's financial services and what they do in platform revenue. The show closes with details on why Alex is weary of Microsoft purchasing TikTok's American business and Teladoc merging with Livongo.
Originally Aired: 08/06/20
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to WTA
00:17 - PLAT ETF Updates
12:57 - Applico's Platform Revenue Insights
20:41 - Square a Platform?
24:25 - Microsoft and TikTok Risk
31:20 - Livongo and Teladoc Merge

Jul 24, 2020 • 24min
Winner Take All #104 | State of StockX 2020👟, Uber Buys Routematch🚌, Restaurant Closures, MSFT Q4
Alex opens the show looking at a new report released by sneaker marketplace, StockX, that breaks down the increase in demand that the platform has seen over the past 3 months. Next, discussion on economic impact data from Yelp that paints a bleak picture of the restaurant business during COVID-19. The second half of the show looks into Uber's acquisition of Routematch and Microsoft's 2020 fiscal fourth-quarter earnings.
Originally Aired: 07/23/20
00:00 - Welcome to Winner Take All
00:18 - StockX Crushing
08:53 - Restaurant Catastrophe
13:40 - Uber Buys Routematch
19:40 - Microsoft Earnings

Jul 23, 2020 • 31min
Winner Take All #103 | Netflix Q2 2020 Earnings, Stitcher Acquisition, Livestream Shopping
The show is back in our Connecticut studio and to start things off Alex takes an in-depth look at Netflix's down Q2 2020 earnings report. He digs into how Netflix amortizes their content and explains how small changes to amortization can have a big impact on whether or not the streaming service is "profitable". Next, a look at TikTok possibly being sold to be spun off into an American entity and China's boom in livestream shopping during the COVID-19 outbreak. The show closes with a look at SiriusXM's acquisition of the podcasting platform, Stitcher.
Originally Aired: 07/17/20
00:00 - Welcome to Winner Take All
00:23 - Netflix Q2 2020 and Amortization
16:58 - TikTok Sale?
23:29 - Livestreaming For Retail
26:28 - Stitcher Podcasting Sold

Jul 22, 2020 • 38min
Winner Take All #102 | Walmart+ Takes on Prime, GSA Platform Initiative, Huawei in Singapore
The show opens with coverage of news that Walmart's competitive offering to Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus, will be launching by the end of this month! Next, Alex looks at the GSA's Commercial Platforms Initiative and theorizes why Amazon was included but not eBay. Also covered, Huawei losing out to Nokia and Ericson in Singapore and the need to fight for openness and freedom across communication platforms.
Originally Aired: 07/08/20
00:00 - Show Open
00:17 - Walmart Plus
14:21 - Amazon Controls Congress
24:31 - Huawei Loses in Singapore
29:54 - FoS - Freedom of Speech

Jul 8, 2020 • 30min
Winner Take All #101 | Unemployment For Gig-Economy, Uber Buys Postmates, Hong Kong Tech Reaction
The show opens with an in-depth look at Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for contract and gig workers. Next, Alex breaks down Ubers acquisition of delivery platform Postmates and compares the deal to what a deal with Grubhub could've been. The show closes with coverage of platforms halting data requests from Hong Kong after the passing of a new wide-reaching national security law by Beijing.
Originally Aired: 07/06/20
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Winner Take All Episode 101
0:17 - State of Gig Economy
15:05 - Uber Buys Postmates
21:40 - Hong Kong Tech Reaction

Jul 4, 2020 • 33min
Winner Take All #100 | MediaNama CEO on India App Ban, Zoom and TikTok U.S. Spin Outs?, Viewer Q&A
Founder of MediaNama, the premier source of information and analysis on Technology Policy in India, Nikhil Pawha joins Winner Take All to discuss the Indian Government blocking 59 mobile apps engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India. Next, Alex breaks down why he thinks Zoom and TikTok need to spin out seperate U.S. based entities. The show closes with Alex looking at questions and comments from viewers.
Originally Aired: 07/01/20
TIMESTAMPS -
00:17 Nikhil Pawha on India App Bans
19:53 Zoom and TikTok Spin Outs?
26:44 Viewer Questions

Jul 3, 2020 • 35min
Winner Take All #99 | Facebook Adverting Leaving, SubReddit Bans, Content Monopoly Regulation
The show opens with a look at the impact advertisers leaving Facebook could have and how Facebook can balance upholding civil liberties while still appeasing advertisers. Next, Alex looks at the EU's newly released evaluation of the Code of Conduct and Reddit's recent purge of subreddits associated with hate speech. The shows closing topic takes a look at some of the different interaction models we see on platforms and critiques how we have yet to clearly define when communication via these forms of interaction are and are not protected free speech under the First Amendment.
Originally Aired: 06/30/20
TIMESTAMPS -
01:28 Facebook vs Everyone
17:04 SubReddit Bans
22:16 Content Monopoly Regulation

Jul 2, 2020 • 35min
Winner Take All #98 | App Store Terms of Service, Attacked on TikTok by Chinese Bots!
Alex opens the show with an in-depth look at email app Hey, and their battle against Apple's unclear App Store terms of service. Next, Alex breaks down the WTA TikTok account being overrun with comments from Chinese propaganda bots. He breaks down events around the video post, estimates how large he thinks the Chinese Government's social media misinformation operations are, and explains why he's okay with the comments staying on the video.
Originally Aired: 06/26/20
TIMESTAMPS:
00:29 - Apple App Store Terms of Service
14:39 - WTA Attacked on TikTok

Jun 30, 2020 • 25min
Winner Take All #97 | The Marquee Strategy, Mixer Shuts Down, Striking Against Tech Monopolies?
Alex opens the episode from a new mystery location studio, if you can guess what state he's in (leave a comment) we'll send you an Applico prize! The first topic of the show dives into some examples of the marquee platform strategy, including Spotify's investment into podcasts, the closing of Microsoft's Mixer, and Epic Games' PC game marketplace. Alex also breaks down why striking against a platform monopoly like Facebook won't work.
Originally Aired: 06/24/20
TIMESTAMPS:
00:58 Marquee Strategy
03:22 Spotify Podcast Deals
06:27 Mixer Shuts Down
11:30 Epic Games Store
12:37 Facebook Cancel Culture

Jun 30, 2020 • 29min
Winner Take All #96 | Chinese Body US Head Tech Companies, Walmart + Shopify, Instacart Expands
The show opens with a look at two companies that can be described as having a "Chinese body, US head", Zoom Video and TikTok. Alex takes an in-depth look at the two companies dodgy ties to China and explains why US and Chinese arms of these companies need to be decoupled into separate business entities(if possible). Next, a look at news of Instacart partnering with Office Supplies retailer Staples, and Walmart teaming up with Shopify. The show closes with a look at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's op-ed on strengthening democracy and Google demonetizing two Conservative news sites.
Originally Aired: 06/17/20
TIMESTAMPS:
00:19 Chinese Body US Head Tech Companies
15:15 Instacart + Staples
17:52 Walmart Partners with Shopify
21:07 Zuckerberg Op Ed
23:58 Google Demonetizing Sites