1. MARRIOTT DATA BREACH LINKED TO CHINESE HACKERS: The cyberattack on Marriott that affected around 500 million guests was part of a Chinese hacking effort, which also affected health insurers and security clearance files of millions more Americans, according to two people briefed on the investigation. The New York Times: "The hackers, they said, are suspected of working on behalf of the Ministry of State Security, the country’s Communist-controlled civilian spy agency. The discovery comes as the Trump administration is planning actions targeting China’s trade, cyber, and economic policies, perhaps within days. Those moves include indictments against Chinese hackers working for the intelligence services and the military, according to four government officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Trump administration also plans to declassify intelligence reports to reveal Chinese efforts dating to at least 2014 to build a database containing names of executives and American government officials with security clearances. ... The hacking of Marriott’s Starwood chain, which was discovered only in September and revealed late last month, is not expected to be part of the coming indictments. But two of the government officials said that it has added urgency to the administration’s crackdown, given that Marriott is the top hotel provider for American government and military personnel. While American intelligence agencies have not reached a final assessment of who performed the hacking, a range of firms brought in to assess the damage quickly saw computer code and patterns familiar to operations by Chinese actors. The Marriott database contains not only credit card information but passport data. Lisa Monaco, a former homeland security adviser under Mr. Obama, noted last week at a conference that passport information would be particularly valuable in tracking who is crossing borders and what they look like, among other key data." https://nyti.ms/2RSr4kF
2. ABC WANTS BETWEEN $2 MILLION AND $3 MILLION FOR OSCARS ADS: The Oscars still don't have a host, but when they air February 24 on ABC, there will be plenty of ads. According to Jerry Daniello, senior vice president of entertainment brand solutions for Disney ad sales, the network has sold more than three-quarters of its commercial inventory for its broadcast. Variety: "He declined to comment on the price of a spot in the event, but two media buyers familiar with negotiations for advertising in the event say ABC is seeking between $2 million and $3 million for a 30-second ad. 'We are working lockstep with the Academy,' Daniello told Variety in an interview. No matter the host or the format, 'it’s the biggest event we have on our network.' Commercials tied to the Oscars broadcast and ABC’s red-carpet coverage generated approximately $128 million for the network in 2017, according to Kantar, a tracker of ad spending—more ad revenue than it generates on any other day of the year. ... Madison Avenue’s attention to the event—even with a steep price—shows that movie buffs aren’t the only ones infatuated with extravaganzas like the Oscars, despite some of the fluctuations they have suffered in audience. Marketers are also paying top dollar for other events that typically bring in some of TV’s biggest crowds. CBS is seeking between $5.1 million and $5.3 million for a package of TV and digital advertising around its coming broadcast of Super Bowl LIII, according to three people with knowledge of negotiations, and, according to one of those people, around $1 million for a 30-second spot in the network’s February Grammys telecast. ABC’s Oscars telecast has been beset in recent outings by low viewership. Ratings have more or less tumbled steadily since an Ellen DeGeneres-hosted telecast won 43.7 million viewers in 2014. This year’s broadcast captured just 26.5 million viewers, a 20 percent drop from the 2017 telecast. ABC in 2016 renewed a deal to broadcast the popular event through 2028." https://bit.ly/2QLq5Fs
3. DRAKE TO PERFORM AT C.E.S.: The world's largest consumer electronics and technology trade show is about to host one of the world's biggest rappers. Drake is slated to perform during C.E.S. in Las Vegas in January. The Hollywood Reporter: "The 'Nice for What' rapper will take the stage January 10 at XS Nightclub in Las Vegas. The performance falls in the middle of the annual electronics trade show, which is set to run January 8-11. Artists who have performed at previous CES events include Alicia Keys and John Legend. 'We are preparing for one of the biggest weeks in Las Vegas with an unforgettable performance by Drake at XS Nightclub,' Wynn Nightlife managing partner Alex Cordova said Tuesday in a statement. 'Wynn is thrilled to partner with Drake during CES. He is one of the most recognizable artists ever to perform at XS, setting the bar for what to expect from Wynn Nightlife in 2019.' Tickets for Drake's performance can be purchased on the Wynn Nightlife website." https://bit.ly/2QONPbR
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Cannabis industry convention CWCBExpo will expand to New York, Los Angeles, and Boston in 2019. The event will take place May 29-June 1 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York; September 25-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center; and October 23-26 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.
LOS ANGELES: Showtime Networks has appointed Deva Kehoe senior vice president of talent relations and events. Deadline: https://bit.ly/2Qnb6Ca
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The sixth edition of III Points music festival, taking place February 15-17, has revealed its daily lineup. Tyler, the Creator will headline Friday, SZA will headline Saturday, and A$AP Rocky will headline Sunday.
Italian restaurant Macchialina has appointed Ruggero Vittorini chef de cuisine.
NEW YORK: The 16th annual New York Times Travel Show will take place January 26-27 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. New events this year will include Passport Applications, an event where attendees can apply for U.S. passports; and expanded L.G.B.T.Q. travel and travel product pavilions.
The second edition of Aquarius, an event celebrating sustainable seafood and cocktails, will take place January 26 at the Foundry in Long Island City. The event, which will serve fare from restaurants such as Kellari, is produced by the founders of Secret Summer, Tyler Hollinger of HighLife Productions and Andy Maturana of Rapt NY.
Winter Warmer, an event showcasing winter comfort foods from local vendors, will take place February 2 at the Brooklyn Expo Center. The event will be produced by Cannonball Productions.
Group Nine Media has launched Brandshop, its in-house branded content studio. The studio will bring together creative services teams from the company’s four brands—as well as the entertainment brand of its L.A.-based production studio Jash—to produce events, branded content for social media, and multi-platform entertainment.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: The 2019 Best Ontario Sommelier Competition will take place April 14 at the Arcadian Court.
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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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