Instacart Marketplace expands convenient access to Dollar General's everyday low prices through same-day delivery

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart (Nasdaq: CART), a leading grocery technology company, and Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG), America's general store, today announced a new partnership to offer same-day delivery of Dollar General's everyday essentials through the Instacart App and website. The partnership will launch with a pilot at approximately 7,000 Dollar General and pOpshelf stores in six states in the coming weeks with plans to expand to approximately 20,000 stores across 48 states this fall.

Through the partnership, customers will be able to shop Dollar General's broad assortment of affordable products on Instacart, including food and snacks, household essentials, and health and beauty products - with delivery in as fast as one hour.

"Dollar General's vast footprint and longstanding commitment to affordability make them an important addition to the Instacart Marketplace," said Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart. "As we expand this partnership to approximately 20,000 Dollar General and pOpshelf stores, we'll help provide customers in communities across the country with even greater access to affordable food and everyday essentials, with the convenience of same-day delivery."

"At Dollar General, our mission is Serving Others, and we continually look for new ways to provide customers with the value and convenience they count on," said Tony Rogers, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Dollar General. "Our partnership with Instacart provides another convenient way for customers to access affordable food, household essentials and other products they need while saving them valuable time."

Dollar General will join more than 2,200 national and local retail banners on the Instacart Marketplace.

About Instacart

Instacart is a leading grocery technology company that partners with more than 2,200 retail banners – representing nearly 100,000 stores – to transform how people shop for the groceries they need from the retailers they trust, while creating flexible earning opportunities for shoppers. Through the Instacart Marketplace, Instacart Enterprise platform, and Instacart Ads ecosystem, the company powers ecommerce, fulfillment, in-store technology, AI offerings, and advertising for partners. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company. Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart.

SOURCE Instacart

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New Cisco and Omdia research shows 95% of enterprises say their existing AIOps tools can't keep up, and more than half have already moved to AgenticOps

News Summary

- The alert math no longer works. At current volumes, the average organization would need roughly 100 IT specialists to clear its daily network alert backlog by hand.

- Enterprises have moved past advisory AI. Over half now run agentic AI systems that act in production today.

- Comfort with autonomy is already high. Four in five are comfortable granting agents a high or fully autonomous role, including nearly a quarter who would proceed with no human in the loop.

- Trust is the condition, and it requires one place to see it all. Over two-thirds require detailed explainability for agent-driven actions, and 86% say a single integrated platform, not another point tool, is the most effective path forward.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced the release of The Impact of Agentic AI on Network Operations, new research examining the state of network operations (NetOps), AI adoption, and attitudes toward AI autonomy and trust. Findings show that amid rising complexity, organizations are moving quickly toward agent-driven operations: AgenticOps. More than four of every five respondents expect to reach an AI-led operating model within 12 months, with more than three-quarters willing to grant agentic AI significant autonomy in NetOps, including nearly a quarter that are comfortable with fully autonomous operation and no human oversight.

Conducted independently by Omdia, the study surveyed 1,000 IT and network operations leaders at organizations with 500 or more employees. The findings indicate that organizations have moved from AI in an advisory role to AgenticOps for agent-powered network operations in which operators set direction and guardrails while AI agents sense, reason, and act across domains. It comes as NetOps teams face rising performance expectations and increasingly dynamic environments, with AI workloads adding new traffic patterns, performance requirements, and operational complexity.

"Agentic AI represents a fundamental paradigm shift: moving from running operations to orchestrating intent," said Joe Vaccaro, SVP/GM, Network Platform & Assurance at Cisco. "Agentic AI for NetOps requires trust built on visibility into every decision, explainable context behind every recommendation, and guardrails that ensure deterministic outcomes. Organizations that master this balance will keep operators firmly in command while enabling agentic systems that act with confidence, validate outcomes, and continuously prove operational trust."

Key Takeaways from The Impact of Agentic AI on Network Operations Report

The findings show that agent-driven AI has taken on operational responsibility in NetOps. This shift is occurring as the average organization generates about 4,100 monitoring alerts and events each day; more than half of them are network related. At this volume, manually clearing the daily network-alert backlog would require roughly 100 IT specialists. Organizations also report that nearly half of network alerts are closed without investigation, and an almost identical number of respondents report investigation time is spent pursuing false positives. As adoption advances, requirements for built-in trust are shaping how organizations implement and scale AI.

- Operational complexity is placing pressure on traditional NetOps models. Organizations report managing high alert volumes, continuous change, fragmented tooling, and issues that span multiple domains. Against this backdrop, a vast majority (95%) say their existing, non-agentic AIOps tools fall short in one or more significant areas.

- 92% report that performance issues commonly span multiple domains, requiring correlation across ten or more tools for resolution.

- 57% say their current change processes can't match the speed required today.

- AI adoption creates new demands on the network. That operational complexity is compounded as AI adoption grows and agents operate at software speed, generating unpredictable traffic patterns and greater data exchange.

- AI traffic is on a trajectory to double every six months, according to a Cisco analysis of aggregated direct-to-AI network telemetry.

- When traffic generated by agentic AI is included, Cisco testing found that tasks performed by agents can generate up to 450% more total network traffic.

- Organizations are turning to an agent-driven network. Many organizations are allowing AI agents to take on more responsibility in NetOps, including making production changes such as rerouting traffic, adjusting wireless parameters, isolating suspicious endpoints, and resolving incidents end to end without prior human approval.

- 75% have already deployed AI for NetOps.

- 51% run agentic AI that acts in production today.

- 80% are comfortable granting AI a high or fully autonomous role in NetOps, including 24% who are comfortable with AI acting with no human oversight.

- 82% are comfortable allowing AI to make at least some production network changes without prior human approval.

- 84% expect an AI-led operating model within twelve months.

- Organizations will scale agentic AI on the condition of visibility and trust. Organizations are open to greater agent-driven operations in NetOps, but their willingness to scale it depends on transparency, visibility, and controls.

- 86% say a single integrated platform is the most effective path forward.

- 69% require detailed explainability for agent-driven actions.

- 36% say full observability, including detailed tracing, summarized rationale, and post-action audits, is the minimum acceptable standard.

"The striking takeaway is not simply that AI adoption in NetOps is growing, but how quickly organizations are preparing for AI-led operations," said Jim Frey, Chief Analyst, Network and IT Operations, from Omdia. "The findings point to a broader shift from the advisory model of AIOps to agent-powered operations, AgenticOps, that can take action. As that shift accelerates, integrated visibility, strong governance, and measurable outcomes will be critical to expanding autonomy while maintaining operational control."

"Our team isn't growing, but complexity keeps increasing with significant momentum," said Mark Rodrigue, Senior Network Engineer at Room & Board. "Deep reasoning in the Cisco AI Assistant is one example of AgenticOps for us. Questions that used to mean a manual hunt-and-click exercise across dashboards and multiple data sources now come back in minutes, with the executive summary first and the supporting evidence underneath. That's a force multiplier! It shows its work, so I can follow the logic and see the full evidence chain behind every recommendation. That's the trust it takes to deploy agents at scale."

Background

- The Impact of Agentic AI on Network Operations report is based on data from an independent global survey of 1,000 IT and network operations leaders, conducted by Omdia.

- Survey respondents were decision-makers at organizations with 500 or more employees across North America, Western Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Additional Resources

- Download The Impact of Agentic AI on Network Operations report

- Blog: NetOps is already deploying agentic autonomy – trust will decide how far it goes

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

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AI Training More Than Doubled This Year, but 56% of Employees Report No Time at Work to Build the Skills, Workera Research Finds

Survey of 1,000 U.S. enterprise employees finds companies investing in AI training without giving people the time, or the incentive, to build the skills

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Workera, the AI agent platform built to maximize human potential, published the 2026 State of Skills Intelligence Report. The second annual report found companies are further ahead with AI than they were in 2025 across the board, but employees still aren't empowered to become AI experts or rewarded for their progress.

The World Economic Forum projects that 59 of every 100 workers will need reskilling or upskilling by 2030, and that 11 of them will not get it. Employers are moving: 77% plan to upskill in response to AI, and Workera's data shows the spending is landing. The share of companies offering AI-specific skills training rose from 25% to 58% in a year. What has not changed is what employees need to turn that training into capability: time, materials, and a reason to bother.

"Employees are using AI more than ever, and the leaders who give them the time to build on it will see the biggest returns," said Kian Katanforoosh, CEO of Workera. "AI is not a side project. It is how companies will grow, and the ones that pull ahead will be the ones that rebuild how they work and how they develop people around it. My hope is that this report makes the next step clearer."

Workera surveyed 1,000 salaried employees at U.S. organizations with 5,000 or more employees. Findings from the 2026 State of Skills Intelligence Report include:

- AI maturity is progressing, but transformation is still rare. Compared to 2025, companies are more likely to be on track for an AI-enabled future (67% to 80%), to feel strongly about their position compared to competitors (19% to 30%), to offer AI-specific skills training to employees (25% to 58%), and to have employees using AI tools multiple times per week (40% to 68%). But employees still don't have what they need to build the AI skills their work now requires.

- Employees aren't empowered to become AI experts, or rewarded for it. When asked what challenges they've faced when trying to develop AI skills, 56% mentioned no time allocated during work hours, and 43% cited a lack of relevant training materials. Strikingly, more than eight in 10 employees (84%) say they spend five hours or less per week on skill development/training. Nearly 60% of respondents say AI skills are weighted equally or not prioritized at their organization when choosing job assignments or promotions.

- Employees are convinced they can do their job better than AI. More than three-quarters (76.6%) of respondents said that AI couldn't do their job better than they can. When asked what portion of their job AI could do today, a similar percentage (78.1%) said 30% or less. Employees view AI as a tool to help them develop skills and increase productivity — not to replace them.

- Career paths are suffering due to lack of skills intelligence. Four out of 10 respondents (43%) say they've been passed over for an opportunity or promotion because someone misjudged their skills. However, employees still believe human managers are better at evaluating their skills than AI.

- Employees still believe in human coaching, but few benefit from it. Exactly half of respondents say they receive enough coaching to advance in their career. However, just 27% say they receive regular coaching from a manager or executive (a couple days per week or more). One in five (22%) say they never receive individual coaching.

- Workers will opt into continuous skill measurement… if they control the data. Real-time skills measurement could help prevent employees from being overlooked, and some employees are curious about the technology's potential. Four in 10 (41%) said they would opt into continuous measurement if they control the data, while 31% said they weren't sure. Just 28% said they wouldn't opt in.

"Organizations have long treated professional development as an extra-role behavior, something employees do on top of the job rather than as part of it," said Taylor Sullivan, PhD, VP of Product and Assessment at Workera. "That's why it's the first thing to go when time gets tight, and it's why 56% of employees get no hours to build AI skills. The fix belongs to the employer. Make development part of the role, resource it, reward it, and hold managers accountable for it."

Research Methodology

Workera surveyed 1,000 full-time, salaried professionals who work for an organization with 5,000 or more employees in the United States. The survey was conducted in July 2026 using Pollfish. Year-over-year measurements were obtained by comparing July 2026 results with a similar survey conducted using Pollfish in March 2025, in which Workera surveyed 800 full-time, salaried professionals who work for an organization with 5,000 or more employees in the United States.

The 2026 State of Skills Intelligence Report is available today.

About Workera

Workera is the AI agent platform built to maximize human potential. Workera reads capabilities from the tools people already work in, verifies them continuously, and does so at scale. Our four purpose-built AI agents handle every talent decision: who to hire, who's ready to move, where the gaps are, and how to close them. The newest, Ambient Coaching, surfaces skills intelligence in the flow of work. Trusted by the Fortune 100, Workera has been recognized by TIME's Best EdTech Companies and World's Top HRTech Companies in 2025 & 2026; the World Economic Forum's Tech Pioneers; and Inc.'s 2025 Fastest Growing Companies. In 2024, Workera was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies alongside Microsoft, Canva, and others leading the AI revolution. Learn more at workera.ai.

Media Contact:

Mark Dunphy

[email protected]

SOURCE Workera

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Blockchain.com and NYSE Partner to Explore Global, 24/7/365 Trading of Tokenized Securities

Collaboration may include delivering Blockchain.com's deep crypto market data and analytics to ICE's data subscribers and embedding NYSE and ICE's data across Blockchain.com platform

DALLAS and NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain.com, a global leader in crypto services for retail and institutional users, and the NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining a distribution plan that will provide Blockchain.com's user base access to tokenized U.S. exchange-listed equities and ETFs on the NYSE's previously announced digital ATS, subject to any required regulatory approvals. The collaboration seeks to broaden the NYSE's access to crypto-native investors through Blockchain.com's global customer base.

With Citi Institute forecasting a $5.5 trillion base case for tokenized assets by 2030, innovation and adoption of tokenized securities have accelerated in recent years. Tokenized stocks may offer fractional ownership, around-the-clock trading decoupled from when markets are open, investment access to investors anywhere around the globe, and faster, more transparent onchain settlement.

"Tokenized stocks are one of the most impactful advancements in the modern financial landscape, and a key catalyst for greater economic freedom," said Peter Smith, Executive Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Blockchain.com. "People shouldn't be limited in owning stocks based on where they happen to live or the brokerage and information they may or may not have access to. Connecting to the NYSE digital ATS will enable us to extend the opportunity to invest in these digital assets to tens of millions of Blockchain.com users around the world."

"The future of capital markets belongs to institutions that unite the trust of traditional finance with the innovation and accessibility of digital assets," said Lynn Martin, President, NYSE Group. "Blockchain.com's international footprint and digital asset expertise make it a natural complement to our tokenized securities platform upon launch. We look forward to furthering their efforts to bring customers' trading activity onto the blockchain and giving them more data and choice in how they participate in the digital financial ecosystem."

Additionally, the MOU includes bidirectional market data distribution across the companies' respective platforms. NYSE's affiliated business, ICE Data Services, plans to distribute Blockchain.com's crypto market data and analytics to its subscribing clients, providing traditional investors with more intelligence about digital asset investment opportunities. Blockchain.com plans to incorporate certain ICE and NYSE exchange data feeds into its app, equipping more than 44 million confirmed accounts with access to real-time stock information.

About Blockchain.com:

Blockchain.com is connecting the world to the future of finance. The most trusted and fastest-growing global crypto company helps millions safely access cryptocurrency. Since its inception in 2011, Blockchain.com has supported over 95M+ wallets, 44M+ confirmed accounts, and more than $1.1 trillion in crypto transactions. Operating in more than 70 jurisdictions, Blockchain.com offers secure self-custody, institutional services, and a growing product suite aligned with global regulation and privacy standards.

SOURCE Blockchain.com

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SureDone Introduces Taska AI to Simplify Enterprise Marketplace Listing

AI listing agent helps sellers create and manage channel listings, optimize content and resolve errors as SureDone expands pilot access

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SureDone, a multichannel e-commerce listing, inventory and order management platform, today introduced Taska AI, an AI listing agent built on SureDone's commerce platform. Now live with select pilot customers, Taska helps sellers prepare and manage listings across connected channels, optimize marketplace content and respond to errors that arise after submission.

Taska brings together SureDone product data, channel integrations and listing workflows in a conversational experience. Sellers can ask Taska to examine products, improve titles and descriptions, prepare channel-specific fields and create scoped listing plans for review.

Once a seller authorizes a plan, Taska can carry out its actions and track outcomes across the selected channels. It distinguishes submission from a verified marketplace result, surfaces rejections and helps identify the next step. Eligible fixes can proceed within the authorized workflow; issues requiring seller input return to the team.

"Marketplace listing work is much more than writing a description," said Jason Nadaf, Founder and CEO of SureDone. "Enterprise sellers have to meet different channel requirements and then play whack-a-mole with errors that surface after submission. Taska AI brings that work into one process, using SureDone's technology to prepare listings, track outcomes and help resolve problems. Our goal is to make enterprise listing frictionless so sellers can focus on growth."

Taska launches with a review-first experience and an execution mode for customer-authorized listing work. SureDone plans to expand customer-controlled automation as the rollout progresses.

Taska AI is available to select pilot customers, with access expected to expand in phases over the coming weeks. Sellers interested in a demonstration can visit https://suredone.com/about/get-a-demo/.

About SureDone

SureDone provides brands, enterprises and growing businesses with multichannel listing, inventory and order management for complex e-commerce operations. The platform includes built-in connections to marketplaces and storefronts such as eBay, Amazon, Walmart and Shopify, along with a flexible automation engine, open API and specialized capabilities for automotive and motorsports parts and accessories, including fitment, kits and bundles, distributor integrations, dropshipping and vendor workflows.

SureDone helps sellers automate expensive and time-consuming operational tasks while giving teams centralized control over product data, inventory, orders and channel activity.

On the web: https://suredone.com

Contact:

Jason Nadaf

877-773-6755

SOURCE SureDone

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New Bank of America Chicago Marathon limited edition launches alongside Race Week experiences celebrating the runners, communities and energy of Chicago

CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shokz, a pioneer in open-ear audio technology, today announced the launch of the OpenRun Pro 2 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Co-Branded Edition, available in limited quantities, and an expanded slate of experiences bringing its "Let the Windy City In" platform to runners and communities across Chicago.

Returning as the Official Headphone Partner of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for the third consecutive year, Shokz is celebrating the people, neighborhoods and sounds that make Chicago an integral part of the marathon experience. From athlete and community programming throughout Race Week to the marathon-exclusive OpenRun Pro 2, Shokz is creating more ways for runners to stay connected to the city and the goals they are chasing.

The OpenRun Pro 2 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Co-Branded Edition features a distinctive deep blue and gold colorway, with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon route illustrated on the gift box and case. Designed as both a performance companion and meaningful keepsake, the marathon-exclusive OpenRun Pro 2 celebrates the miles, memories and personal milestones that come with taking on 26.2 miles in Chicago.

Built on the same performance technology as OpenRun Pro 2, Shokz's flagship bone conduction headphones for running, the Co-Branded Edition features DualPitch™ Technology for premium sound quality, up to 12 hours of listening time and an open-ear design that helps runners stay aware of their surroundings throughout training and race day. A secure, comfortable fit designed for runs and workouts rounds out the experience for runners seeking wireless headphones that balance audio performance with environmental awareness.

The OpenRun Pro 2 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Co-Branded Edition is available beginning September 23 exclusively at Shokz.com for $199.95 USD / $249.95 CAD, with additional units available at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Expo at Shokz Booth #339 from October 8–10. Both Standard and Mini sizes will be available in limited quantities.

"Chicago has an incredible way of making the entire city feel like part of the race, and that's what we wanted to celebrate this year," said Vincent Xiong, CEO of Shokz North America. "From a limited-edition design created specifically for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to experiences that bring runners closer to the city's communities and energy, we're creating more ways for people to take in everything that makes Chicago special while they chase their own goals."

Let the Windy City In

Shokz's "Let the Windy City In" platform builds on a simple idea: the Bank of America Chicago Marathon experience is about more than the miles. The crowds, neighborhoods, music and encouragement along the course are part of what makes Race Day memorable, and Shokz's open-ear design allows runners to stay connected to those moments while listening to their audio.

That idea will extend across Shokz's Chicago programming. Throughout the training season, Shokz has worked alongside local running partners including 3RUN2 and Fleet Feet Chicago to connect with runners as they prepare for 26.2 miles. During Race Week, Shokz will take that connection into neighborhoods across the city through Shokz Sound Tour, capturing the voices, sounds and stories that help define Chicago's running community.

Shokz will also welcome runners and fans at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo race weekend, Shokz Booth #339, where visitors can experience Shokz open-ear headphones, purchase the marathon-exclusive co-branded edition and personalize eligible headphones with custom engraving. Shokz will continue to celebrate the race and the energy of Chicago at the 27th Mile Post-Race Party, followed by a Post-Race Party for runners and the Chicago running community.

"The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is shaped by the communities that runners experience across 26.2 miles and the people who support them along the way. We're excited to have Shokz return as a partner and create new ways for participants to connect with that energy throughout their marathon experience," said Carey Pinkowski, Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director.

This year's Chicago program builds on Shokz's global Chasing Stars initiative, which supports runners as they pursue personal goals and share their journeys with the broader running community. Shokz is the Official Headphone Partner of six of the most prestigious marathons in the world and works with elite athletes and everyday runners across the global running community.

Dakotah Popehn Takes on Chicago

Shokz athlete and elite marathoner Dakotah Popehn will compete in the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and participate in Shokz programming throughout Race Week.

On October 9, Popehn is scheduled to appear on the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo Main Stage for a conversation with Laura Green about chasing the breakthrough star with Shokz, including her preparation for Chicago, the role community plays in the marathon experience and what she is chasing this season.

"There's so much that goes into preparing for a marathon, but when you get to Race Day, the people around you become a huge part of the experience," said Popehn. "Chicago has incredible energy and being able to take in the crowds and the city while staying focused on your own race is part of what makes the day so special. I'm excited to be back with Shokz and see what we can chase together in Chicago."

Runners and fans can learn more about Shokz's Bank of America Chicago Marathon programming and purchase the OpenRun Pro 2 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Co-Branded Edition at Shokz.com.

About Shokz

Shokz, recognized as the World's No. 1 Open-Ear Headphones Brand by Omdia, is dedicated to advancing open-ear audio technology and inspiring users to #beopen. With a focus on innovation, quality, and user experience, Shokz continues to lead the market by providing cutting-edge solutions for everyday audio. Learn more about the brand at www.Shokz.com.

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

In its 48th year, on Sunday, October 11, 2026, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional athlete field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race's iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. Annually, more than a million spectators line the streets cheering on tens of thousands of participants from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race's national and international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating over $755.9 million in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 11. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 8, Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.

SOURCE SHOKZ

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Streaming Video Tracker highlights 500+ streaming services across US and Canada

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates' Streaming Video Tracker reports ten US streaming service profiles were phased out in Q2 2026 as many services rebrand and reorganize their content and brands. Notably, Paramount Skydance ended BET+ as a separate service and consolidated that content within its flagship Paramount+ streaming service.

The Streaming Video Tracker also started tracking two new services last quarter, OG Network and TrueTVplus, which brings the total number of streaming service profiles in this product to 370 in the US and 234 in Canada. Parks Associates will host the industry webinar "Streaming Video: Churn, Loyalty, and Competition" on September 24, where the firm's analysts will share research and comment on market trends and the implications for service providers and content owners.

Recent market changes highlight an active streaming market where services are closing, consolidating, or moving content to different distribution models. In particular, the market has been active regarding sports content, as providers experiment with the best strategies to capture sports fans and viewers:

- FIFA+ moved to DAZN.

- RidePass now operates solely as a FAST channel.

- FanDuel Sports Network shut down its television channels and streaming operations.

"Streaming services continue to experiment with the best ways to reach and monetize audiences," said Michael Goodman, Director, Entertainment Research, Parks Associates. "The movement of content from standalone apps to larger platforms and FAST channels shows how quickly distribution strategies are changing."

In its monthly updates, the Streaming Video Tracker analyzes the strategies and emerging market trends when providers move content into larger offerings or launch new services:

- BET+ has been phased out by Paramount Skydance, and its content library has migrated to Paramount+ under a dedicated BET Hub.

- CTV Throwback and Movies moved to Crave.

- OHL Live transitioned its digital streaming content to FloHockey.

- Barça One was replaced by Barça Play, which is integrated into FC Barcelona's app and website.

- OG Network and TrueTVplus were added to the tracker in Q2 2026. OG Network operates as an AVOD and FAST service, while TrueTVplus launched as a FAST platform with programming across sports, independent films, documentaries, and lifestyle content.

Registration for the webinar "Streaming Video: Churn, Loyalty, and Competition" is complimentary. For more information or for trial access to the Streaming Video Tracker, contact Mindi Sue Sternlitz-Rubenstein or visit www.parksassociates.com.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates helps companies identify new opportunities, refine strategy, and accelerate growth in connected technology markets through data-driven insights and industry expertise. With more than 40 years of experience, the firm delivers proprietary consumer and industry research, market forecasts, and strategic analysis that guide business decisions across personal, connected home, small business, and commercial technology ecosystems. Parks Associates supports clients in navigating evolving markets including AI, security, smart home, broadband, entertainment, energy, multifamily, smart buildings, and connected health.

The firm also fosters industry growth and collaboration by convening thousands of leaders each year through its flagship executive conferences, including CONNECTIONS™, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. Learn more at https://www.parksassociates.com.

Follow Parks Associates on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein

Parks Associates

972.490.1113

[email protected] 

SOURCE Parks Associates

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HONG KONG, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Regent Hong Kong introduces The Terrace, a spectacular new indoor-outdoor waterfront venue elevated above the iconic Victoria Harbour. Created for occasions of personal significance, The Terrace offers a rare sense of openness and intimacy—where the harbour's changing light, the city's energy and a deeply considered sense of place come together.

Sheltered refinement flows naturally into the open air, inviting celebrations to unfold against uninterrupted views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline. Here, the view is more than a backdrop: it becomes part of the occasion, shifting from sunlit water to a luminous cityscape as the day gives way to evening.

A Setting of Beauty and Balance

Designed in harmony with Regent Hong Kong's appreciation for the Beauty of Contrast, The Terrace brings contemporary clarity together with a warm, quietly elegant atmosphere. Meticulously composed sightlines place the harbour at the heart of every gathering, while adaptable covered and open-air areas allow for effortless transitions between intimate moments and larger celebrations.

Spanning approximately 290 square metres (3,122 square feet), The Terrace welcomes up to 250 guests for cocktail receptions and up to 108 guests for seated banquets. Its versatile design creates a distinctive setting for weddings, private dinners, milestone celebrations, VIP receptions, product launches, and immersive brand experiences.

Moments, Thoughtfully Composed

For couples, The Terrace offers a romantic setting in which to exchange vows beneath soft daylight or celebrate beneath the evening skyline. Every element—from bespoke layouts and floral expression to menus and personal touches—is shaped around the couple's own story, allowing meaningful moments to unfold with ease.

For brands and corporate hosts, the venue provides a prestigious, yet adaptable canvas. Its clean architectural lines, indoor-outdoor flow and ever-changing harbour panorama lend a natural sense of occasion to product unveilings, executive gatherings, VIP receptions and creative brand experiences.

The Regent Promise

From the first private consultation to the final farewell, Regent Hong Kong's Wedding Artists, event specialists and culinary team bring each celebration to life with intuitive care. Bespoke menus and considered beverage pairings are crafted to reflect the character of each occasion, while personalized layouts, styling and gracious service create an experience that feels seamless, individual and memorable.

For enquiries, kindly contact Regent Hong Kong Events at [email protected] or call +852 2313 2388.

Please click here to download high-resolution images: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD57WS

SOURCE Regent Hong Kong

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstService Residential, the leading residential community management company, is proud to announce it has been selected to provide full-service property management for Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

"We are excited to welcome Sea Crest to the FirstService Residential family," said Michael Mendillo, President, East Region, FirstService Residential. "Our commitment is to elevate the resident experience and deliver exceptional service to this impressive community."

Located in the highly desirable Forest Beach area of Hilton Head, Sea Crest offers luxurious oceanfront living. The community features two outdoor pools with ocean views, a fitness center equipped with a therapy pool, a poolside restaurant and beach bar, as well as beautiful garden areas.

Dennis Abbott, President at FirstService Residential, emphasized the company's hands-on approach: "We've hit the ground running, fully engaging with the board and residents. Initially, we partnered with the board to manage a large lagoon reparation project and based on our performance they made the decision to hire us to manage the community."

About FirstService Residential

FirstService Residential is simplifying property management. Its hospitality-minded teams serve residential communities across the United States and Canada. The organization partners with boards, owners, and developers to enhance the value of every property and the life of every resident.

Leveraging unique expertise and scale, FirstService serves its clients with proven solutions and a service-first philosophy. Residents can count on 24/7 customer care and tailored lifestyle programming, amenity activation, and technology for their community's specific needs. Market-leading programs with FirstService Financial, FirstService Energy, and special districts teams deliver additional levels of support.

Boards and developers select FirstService Residential to realize their vision and drive positive change for residents in the communities in their trusted care.

FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ and TSX: FSV), a North American leader in providing essential property services to a wide range of residential and commercial clients.

SOURCE FirstService Residential

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New research shows that businesses could be missing revenue opportunities by not being available to answer the phone after hours, while Google confirms that being available 24 hours can help improve visibility in local search results.

PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half (47%) of calls to US businesses take place outside traditional Monday - Friday working hours, according to new call data from AnswerConnect. This highlights the potential leads, sales, and customer opportunities businesses could be missing by not being available to support callers around the clock.

Almost half of calls to businesses happen after hours

AnswerConnect's data shows that 47% of calls occur after hours and on weekends. The finding suggests that customer demand increasingly extends beyond the traditional working day, creating an advantage for businesses that can remain available when their competitors are not.

To find out more about this research, visit https://www.answerconnect.com/after-hours-business-opportunity

The commercial value of those conversations can be significant.

- One AnswerConnect customer reported that four calls generated approximately $200,000 in return, demonstrating how even a small number of captured opportunities can have substantial value.

- AnswerConnect client, Clarence Herry from Pool Scouts, also explains the benefit they have seen since extending their availability with 24/7 customer support: "This has been a huge factor in our growth. In just three years, we've grown from $100,000 in high-season revenue to $700,000."

Being open 24 hours can improve your visibility on Google

Google has long confirmed that "openness" is a local search ranking factor. This means that businesses that are open when customers search are prioritized, improving local SEO rankings. This shows that 24/7 business hours can also help companies be available when customers are both searching and ready to call.

"The traditional business day was designed around when businesses worked, not when customers needed them," said Natalie Ruiz, CEO of AnswerConnect. "With 47% of calls already happening outside typical business hours, we expect after-hours call volume to keep growing. A missed call isn't just a missed call – it could be a new customer, a sale, or a referral. The future of business is 24/7, and companies that adapt their availability to their customers will be the ones best positioned to grow."

Methodology:

- Research is based on AnswerConnect call data from the US

- Covering 5,906,476 minutes of call logs between April and June 2026.

Source

- Google Confirms 'Openness' As Local Search Ranking Factor: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-confirms-business-openness-as-local-ranking-factor/504173/

SOURCE AnswerConnect

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