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November 2023 (Late November 2023)

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Elon Musk’s X sues media watchdog group over ‘manipulation’ - November 2023

Billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform X has sued a media watchdog group for allegedly attempting to destroy the site.

The 'Media Matters for America' group accused X of allowing anti-Semitic posts to be published alongside advertising.

X alleges the group manipulated data with companies including Apple and Disney pausing their adverts on the platform since the group released its findings.

Media Matters claimed ads on the platform had appeared next to posts supporting Nazisim and other anti-Semitic content.

X Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino released a statement claiming data “wins over manipulation”.

Lachlan Murdoch assumes position as Chairman of Fox Corporation - November 2023

Lachlan Murdoch has formally assumed the role of Chairman of the Fox Corporation at the company's Annual General Meeting.

His father, Rupert Murdoch is now officially Chairman Emeritus.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott was voted in as a Director of the Board of Fox.

Lachlan Murdoch opened the Annual General Meeting with a tribute to his father, praising the “unique and strong” company he has built.

Rupert Murdoch said of the transition: “like my father, I believe that humanity has a high destiny, and Lachlan certainly shares that belief.”

Elon Musk declines to pay fine for X failing to remove abusive content - November 16, 2023

Elon Musk has failed to pay a fine for not taking appropriate steps to remove child sexual abuse content from his platform X – formerly Twitter.

The Australian Federal Police was told the company still owes more than $600,000.

Last month, eSafety Commissioner Julie Grant said the Musk-owned company also needed to pay a fine for failing to respond to questions sent in February.

X was given until the end of October to pay the fine.

The social media company had requested an extension which expired on Friday 10.

Motorsport

Verstappen ends F1 season with commanding victory in Abu Dhabi - Novemember 27, 2023

Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen wrapped up a year of unprecedented dominance with his record-extending 19th win in 22 races at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

The pole-to-flag victory, for the fourth year in a row under the Yas Marina floodlights, left the 26-year-old alone in third place in Formula 1’s all-time list of winners with a career 54, one ahead of former Red Bull great Sebastian Vettel. Only Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103) remain ahead of him.

“What an incredible year,” Verstappen said after crossing the line.

Red Bull won 21 of 22 races this season, with Sergio Perez claiming two wins.

“You’ve smashed it out of the park this year,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told him on the radio. “We’re all incredibly proud of you.”

Perez crossed the line in second place but dropped to fourth because of a five-second time penalty. Leclerc let Perez go past him on the final lap in the hope that Perez would finish more than five seconds ahead of Russell, with Mercedes and Ferrari both fighting for second place in the constructors’ championship.

“Unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” Leclerc said.

Mercedes ended their first winless season since 2011 as best of the rest behind runaway champions Red Bull.

Oscar Piastri finished seventh for McLaren after starting third on the grid, while his fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo crossed 11th for AlphaTauri.

Verstappen started from pole position for the 12th time this season – more than twice as many as any other driver – with Leclerc alongside him and Piastri third.

The Yas Marina track is one of hardest to overtake on and Verstappen made a good start, holding off a couple of attacks by Leclerc.

Verstappen switched to hard tires on lap 17 of 58, followed by Leclerc on the next lap, leaving AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda in the rare position of leading a race on team principal Franz Tost’s last grand prix before retiring.

Verstappen regained the lead a few laps later and was never troubled.

Perez was given a penalty for bumping tires with McLaren’s Lando Norris late on, although it appeared that Norris had enough space and turned into Perez’s front right tire.

“Why are we given this penalty? I was ahead,” a bemused Perez said on team radio.

(Reuters)

Financial Review remains Australia’s most-read premium business title - November 27, 2023

The Australian Financial Review is the country’s most read premium business masthead, with a cross-platform readership of 3.4 million people, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan on Monday.

In the last four weeks, 1.1 million people read a print edition of the Financial Review, with the masthead holding steady year-on-year after experiencing four consecutive quarters of growth. Meanwhile, The Australian has dropped 16 per cent for the same period.

The Monday-to-Friday print edition recorded massive annual growth of 31 per cent year-on-year, for an average issue readership of 244,000, while the AFR Weekend Saturday print edition has a readership of 190,000, posting annual growth of 35 per cent.

Highlighting the strength of the Financial Review’s digital offering, nearly 75 per cent of AFR readers – 2.1 million people – engage with the masthead’s online publication. This puts the publication third behind only The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

The Australian Financial Review Magazine continues to dominate Australia’s monthly magazine insert figures, with a print readership of 498,000, which has seen quarterly growth of 1 per cent – its fourth consecutive quarter of growth – and annual growth of 22 per cent. This is the highest quarterly growth result since December 2018.

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.3 million Australians across print and digital.

Financial Review editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury said the quarterly growth in the masthead’s total readership matched the new benchmarks being hit for the masthead’s retail subscriptions and the exceptional growth in its number of corporate subscribers.

“This is all driven by the exceptional journalism of the Financial Review newsroom, highlighted by last week’s Gold Walkley award for Neil Chenoweth and Edmund Tadros for their PwC investigation over the past year,” Stutchbury said.

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.

(AFR)

Investors dust off Crown, Star merger dreams amid job cuts - November 21, 2023

Embattled gaming groups Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment are no strangers to merger talk with the latter having launched a $12 billion bid to bring Australia’s biggest casino operators together in 2021.

On Monday, Crown said it would cut almost 200 jobs and reduce operating hours in Sydney. And that had Star bulls talking. Could Blackstone, which took Crown private last year, be worried enough to turn to its casinos cross-harbour rival to find cost synergies?

It also follows the casino shutting one of its Barangaroo gaming floors and axing 5 per cent of its Sydney workforce in August after weak economic conditions made one of the two VIP gaming floors unviable.

There’s no suggestion any deal is afoot – only that Star investors are keen on any move that could get the company’s share price moving. In just over two years, its has gone from pursuing its rival and a market capitalisation of $3.5 billion to be worth just $1.6 billion.

When Star looked at Crown in 2021, management estimated the merger would deliver between $150 million and $200 million of cost synergies per annum and unlock $2 billion in net value – or more than Star’s current market cap. This forecast, of course, came from the same people who put Star in a hole – so take it with a grain of salt.

Management added that it would deliver balance sheet strength and free cash flow to accelerate debt repayment and unlock value from the sale and leaseback of an enlarged property portfolio.

Star ultimately withdrew its merger proposal citing uncertainty over whether the James Packer-controlled firm would retain its licences in the wake of the inquiries.

Investment giant Blackstone completed its $8.9 billion acquisition of Crown in June 2022 following a spate of scandals that saw it subjected to two separate royal commissions and an independent inquiry in NSW.

It’s not been an easy deal for Blackstone – nor would a tie-up with Star. Both are sitting on several major legal issues.

In an interview with The Australian Financial Review in September, Crown chairman Bill McBeath admitted Blackstone had underestimated the amount of work that would be required to transform the casino giant’s culture and systems, but expressed confidence it’s on track to regain its licences.

ACCC hurdle

Any merger between Crown and Star would also likely attract the attention of the competition watchdog, which stuck its nose into the proposed 2021 merger, focusing on market concentration in table games and other segments of the gambling market.

Star itself has endured a difficult 12 months with its share price sinking almost 78 per cent a near all-time low of 55¢. The company has written down the value of its casinos in Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane by $2.2 billion and faces major penalties after being sued by AUSTRAC for anti-money laundering failures. It also narrowly avoided losing its licence in NSW and was forced to undertake two major equity raises to confront its hefty debt load.

The combined mega-casio group would own seven resorts, including flagship casinos in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

‘Fast & Furious’ filmmakers fined $1.5m after stuntman breaks skull - Novemeber 2023

Filmmakers of the high-speed Fast & Furious franchise were ordered to pay a $1.5 million fine after a stuntman broke his skull while filming the ninth instalment.

Filmmakers of the high-speed Fast & Furious franchise were ordered Friday to pay a USD$1 million (AUD$1,520,100) fine after a stuntman broke his skull while filming the ninth instalment.

Joe Watts reported falling 25 feet headfirst onto the concrete ground during a staged fight scene while filming F9: The Fast Saga in July 2019 at Warner Bros. studio in Hertfordshire, UK, the BBC reports.

FF9 Pictures admitted health and safety failings in court and accepted the fine.

The Post reached out to Universal Pictures, which distributed the 2021 film, for comment.

The UK judge presiding over the case said on Friday that Watts, 35, was “fortunate to be alive” after Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecutors detailed how his safety line became detached as he performed a stunt that differed from the one that had been rehearsed several times.

Watts was initially supposed to be thrown over a performer’s right shoulder, however, in a last-minute change, the stunt actor was told he would be thrown over the actor’s left shoulder.

The stuntman missed the crash mats that had been set out for him, and he suffered brain damage, the court was told.

The safety line had reportedly not been checked between takes.

District Judge Talwinder Buttar slammed the decision to change the stunt “at the last minute,” stating that the mats should have also been adjusted.

The HSE said the filmmaking team had “no system for double checking that the link (to Watts’ vest) had been properly engaged and tightened.”

Prosecutors argued that FF9 Pictures, a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, “did not extend the crash matting needed to mitigate the consequences of an unintended fall following changes to the set and the sequence of the stunt.”

“Mr Watts’ injuries were life-changing, and he could have easily been killed,” HSE inspector Roxanne Barker said. “In stunt work, it is not about preventing a fall but minimising the risk of an injury.”

Prior to the incident, Watts had served as a stuntman for several high-profile projects, including Game of Thrones, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Fast and Furious 9: The Fast Saga stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Ludacris Bridges and John Cena as well as Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell and Charlize Theron.

Initially delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, F9 was the world’s biggest release after movie theatres shut their doors in 2020.

The film opened in June 2021 to lukewarm reviews, with The Post’s Johnny Oleksinski calling it a “laughable parody.”

Nevertheless, moviegoers managed to propel it to a $70 million domestic debut, a pandemic-era record for North America at the time.

Walkley sweep a win for old-fashioned journalism - November 24, 2023

Traditional newsroom disciplines are essential to cut through the noise of the social media age.

A Walkley Award is a big moment for any journalist and their masthead. Four in one night is a win for the ages, even amid the excessive multiplication of categories awards.

For uncovering the PwC scandal, The Australian Financial Review‘s Neil Chenoweth and Edmund Tadros won the Walkley Awards for Business Journalism, for Investigative Journalism, and for Coverage of a Major News Event or Issue – which was shared with Chanticleer James Thomson, former Rear Window editor Joe Aston and the Financial Review’s podcast team. Then the duo took the 2023 Gold Walkley.

It was Chenoweth’s second Gold Walkley, confirming him as one of Australia’s top forensic financial journalists. Amid all that, two of the paper’s legends and past Gold Walkley winners, Pamela Williams and former editor Colleen Ryan, were among eight women honoured for their Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.

It was the biggest Walkley night for the Financial Review since the awards were instituted in 1956 by the enterprising William Walkley, the co-founder of Ampol. But the bigger story of these awards is the enduring importance of the disciplines and collegiality of traditional newsrooms and the methodology of traditional journalism amid the cacophony of fake news and social media, where everyone is a publisher and every rumour is real if people want to believe it.

Colleen Ryan and Pam Williams were honoured for careers that began in the 1970s and ’80s respectively, going through the turmoil at the Financial Review’s owner Fairfax, and then the great traditional media disruption of the digital age.

Survival was not guaranteed for newspaper mastheads and their newsrooms. But disruption also meant the opportunity to combine news-gathering skills that will never be dated, with digital platforms that allow journalism to be presented and distributed in ways previously not possible.

As well as serving its audience, all this journalism needs to have a higher purpose.

Williams pioneered an embedded inside-story style in long form coverage of the Liberal federal election win in 1996 and the 1998 waterfront dispute. With Chenoweth, Ryan was part of the team that exposed the secret Swiss bank accounts of flamboyant stockbroker Rene Rivkin to share the 2004 Gold Walkley.

Thursday night’s Chenoweth-Tadros quadruple win was a triumph of such old-fashioned journalism: document sifting, industry knowledge, and relationships of trust. It was an ideal combination of skills.

Reporting led to PwC split

It began with Chenoweth’s exclusive news break that a PwC tax partner had been sanctioned by the Tax Practitioners Board for advising the government on new rules to close multinational tax loopholes – then leaking details to PwC colleagues to help multinational clients dodge the same rules.

He and Tadros followed the saga through who knew what and when – and, importantly, why not enough people at PwC thought this was a bad idea. It ended with Australia’s biggest professional services firm being split to save the non-tax and audit consulting business from being frozen out of Canberra.

Had Chenoweth and Tadros not won the Walkley business category on Thursday night, then fellow finalists Peter Ker and Brad Thompson could well have done so for revealing the marital separation of Andrew and Nicola Forrest, not for the gossip columns but for Fortescue shareholdings, where the reporters found the clues to the split.

Aviation reporter Ayesha de Kretser could easily have been a finalist, too, for revealing that Canberra had rejected a Qatar Airways application to fly more passengers in and out of Australia – and understanding why that also was one of the business stories of the year. That came as Joe Aston used his Rear Window to devastatingly channel public fury over Qantas’ performance.

As well as serving its audience, all this journalism needs to have a higher purpose. As professional services editor, Ed Tadros has developed deep connections with the seemingly bland world of accountants and consultants. He remarked on Thursday night that PwC and other big consulting firms had weaved their way into the economic and business fabric without the sort of accountability demanded of, say, the banks.

The headlines from his and Chenoweth’s journalism reverberated around the world, shaking the big four accounting firms and their unique governance models, and starting a global debate about how to make them better.

(AFR)

Pro Wrestling

WWE Survivor Series 2023

Press Conference

Triple H quotes

"I will put our medical protocol, ... medical program, ... [and] wellness program, I will put all of it up against any sport on this planet," said Levesque, while refusing to comment on Moxley's situation. He continued, "When it comes to concussions, our people are trained to see it. Our talent are given seminars on it regularly. Our referees, our crew, [and] our staff are trained to see it and we don't mess around with it." 

Re Rey Mysterio

We saw it happen. The referee spotted it happen. We shut it down ... When we see that stuff, we're very diligent about it. We've been working with the top experts in that field for about a decade now to have that protocol be what it is."

Pro Wrestling

RVD quotes on Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is often seen as the mecca of professional wrestling, having played host to some of the biggest events in wrestling history, including the first-ever WWE SummerSlam or WrestleMania 20. However, it wasn't a place where RVD loved wrestling, as he claimed, "It was just too small, compact."

"I always feel like I'm insulting people because that's their pinnacle of sports is MSG, and I can tell by how excited everyone gets, like, 'Oh my god, we're in MSG,'" he said on "1 Of A Kind." "For me since I did it and have the nostalgia factor ... The way that I remember it was that everyone's bags take up the entire dressing room and you can't even fit a person and all the bags." Madison Square Garden has typically been seen as the home of WWE, but ROH and NJPW did step in for the G1 Supercard in 2019 as well — adding further history to the arena. While it might create a great atmosphere as a place fans enjoy attending, from a logistical perspective it wasn't ideal, as RVD revealed they had to go one at a time to get dressed.

"It was just not my favorite building to go to. I always feel like when I say that I'm sorry for New Yorkers and everyone who grew up idolizing the Garden and making that their holy bucket list destination," RVD said. "I don't argue with you and your values, but for me, not my favorite place. There's one toilet for 20 wrestlers, how clean do you think that toilet's going to be?"

Combat Sports News

DANA WHITE DELIVERS BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS ON UPCOMING EVENTS

Dates, Locations And Fighters For UFC 298, UFC Austin & Much More

UFC CEO Dana White took a break from his own Thanksgiving festivities to break some crucial upcoming fight announcements. You can watch the entire video below. Here are the big takeways:

For the December 2 Austin event (UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs Tsarukyan), Dan Hooker was forced to withdraw from his co-main event bout with Bobby Green after re-breaking the same arm he broke in his last fight.

No. 13-ranked lightweight Bobby Green will now face No. 12 Jalin Turner in a three-round co-main event in Austin. In addition, due to an illness with No. 12 light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov, the fight between Murzakanov and No. 11 Khalil Rountree Jr. is off.

Rountree Jr. will now be competing at UFC Fight Night on December 9th vs No. 8 Anthony Smith in the co-main event.

No. 7 bantamweight Song Yadong will take on No. 14 Chris Gutierrez in the main event of the UFC Fight Night Card December 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his strap vs Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 taking place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

February 10 a UFC Fight Night main event will feature rising middleweight star Joe Pyfer vs No. 10 Jack Hermansson at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

CM Punk’s WWE return could hint at a massive Perth inclusion - November 26, 2023

It was the return that rocked the wrestling world and could add an extra layer of excitement to the WWE’s premium live event in Perth next year.

Wrestling superstar CM Punk (real name Phil Brooks) made a surprise appearance at the annual WWE Survivor Series event on Sunday local time, just moments after the main event.

It has been nearly a decade since the two-time WWE Champion controversially walked out on the company in 2014 because of injuries and personality conflicts.

CM Punk signed with the UFC, where he had two professional fights and worked for WWE rival AEW for about two years before his contract was terminated.

The 45-year-old appeared as the show closed in his hometown of Chicago, with the crowd erupting after hearing the first few bars of his iconic entrance theme, “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour.

WWE chief content officer and head of creative Triple H (real name Paul Levesque) said Punk’s return was a “lightning in the bottle moment that came together quickly”.

“We are incredibly excited about it,” Triple H said.

“It’s been a long time and, in some ways, been a long time coming. You can say this about CM Punk — love him, hate him, positive or negative, whatever you want to say, people always talk about him.

“He is a conversation starter, and looking past that is tough. And for me, if our fans want it, if the WWE Universe is excited to have it, then let’s go. And we will figure out the rest of it later.”

Triple H also addressed the heat between himself and CM Punk, contributing to the latter’s departure.

“A lot of time has gone by, almost ten years. And if you are the same person you were ten years ago, ten years later, you’ve messed up,” Triple H said.

“Everybody grows, everybody changes, and I’m a different person, he’s a different person, and this is a different company, and we’re all on the same even starting ground.

“So what’s next for CM Punk? Now that will be interesting, won’t it? I am interested to see that myself. I know whatever it is, it will be talked about, exciting, and a thrill ride for the WWE universe no matter what it is.”

It is unclear whether CM Punk will be coming to Perth to wrestle in the WWE Elimination Chamber, which will be held at Optus Stadium on February 24.

Pro Wrestling News

‘Australia I’m coming back’: Logan Paul primed to wrestle at mega WWE event in Perth

Reigning WWE United States Champion Logan Paul is set to feature at Australia’s biggest ever pro wrestling event this February.

Paul announced on social media on Thursday morning he would be returning to Australia for the Elimination Chamber Perth event on Saturday February 24 at Optus Stadium.

“Looking forward to showing my close mate around,” Aussie star Grayson Waller tweeted.

Having just won the title at Crown Jewel, and gathering mainstream interest for his continued wrestling feats, Paul may defend his championship in Perth though this is yet to be confirmed.

He could even feature in the titular Elimination Chamber match itself.

The 28-year-old, who debuted as a pro wrestler in April 2021, has proven himself to be a prodigy with incredible athletic feats and spectacular bouts.

Paul has wrestled just eight matches in his career, all of them at major events like WrestleMania or SummerSlam, proving just how massive Elimination Chamber Perth will be.

The YouTuber-turned-fighter’s recent boxing bout with Dillon Danis ended in farcical scenes.

Internet Fashion News

Popular model raking in nearly $17k a month is not actually real - November 27, 2023

Fans are losing their minds after discovering the shocking truth behind this stunning model’s $16,500-a-month pay packet.

People are losing their minds after finding out the shocking truth about this successful Instagram model.

Aitana Lopez is an vivacious 25-year-old pink-haired social media star, who has garnered a massive online following thanks to her stunning looks.

But there’s a catch: she isn’t real, although her income sure is.

The pink haired beauty is actually a bot dreamt up by Spanish designer Rubén Cruz, who uses artificial intelligence to help make thew animated model look as lifelike as possible, the New York Post reports.

Thanks to Aitana’s online fans, the designer is now making a fortune, netting up to $US10,900 ($16,500) per month.

“We did it so that we could make a better living and not be dependent on other people who have egos, who have manias, or who just want to make a lot of money by posing,” Rubén Cruz, told EuroNews.

The innovative designer is the founder of the AI model agency The Clueless.

Last summer, the idea to design Aitana came to Cruz after he struggled with the logistics of working with real-life influencers.

Now, a team from his AI agency meticulously curates Aitana and her life with the help of Photoshop, deciding what she’ll do, where she’ll go and which content to post — all without the hassle of working with human creators.

People “follow lives, not images,” Cruz explained, so her creators were tasked to “tell a story” with her content, since she isn’t a real person.

“A lot of thought has gone into Aitana,” Cruz said. “We created her based on what society likes most. We thought about the tastes, hobbies and niches that have been trending in recent years.”

Aitana is billed as a Barcelona-based fitness influencer and gamer, who even has a star sign (she’s a Scorpio, for the record).

Aitana has amassed an Instagram following of 132,000, and Cruz and his team can now charge up to $US1000 ($1500) for an advertisement featuring her image,

Fans also fork out money for sultry images of the busty bot on the subscription-based platform Fanvue — an OnlyFans rival that has an array of profiles featuring AI models.

She’s so eerily real that high profile celebrities will slide into her DMs, not realising she’s computer-made.

“One day, a well-known Latin American actor texted to ask her out,” Cruz dished. “He had no idea Aitana didn’t exist.”

Due to Aitana’s massive success, the designers crafted a second model, Maia, who they described as “a little more shy.”

They have now received an influx of requests from brands who want their own AI models.

“They want to have an image that is not a real person and that represents their brand values, so that there are no continuity problems if they have to fire someone or can no longer count on them,” Cruz explained.

The companies can also cut costs by employing a virtual influencer, rather than people like mogul Kim Kardashian or TikToker Alix Earle, who are rumoured to charge a pretty penny for brand deals.

The Clueless thinks their digitised strategy could lower market prices and provide smaller companies the opportunity to create ad campaigns they otherwise would not be able to afford.

While the agency’s models pander to societal beauty norms — which have been criticised for promoting unrealistic body standards and hypersexualising women — Cruz argues that it’s necessary for the models’ success.

“If we don’t follow this aesthetic, brands won’t be interested,” he said. “To change this system, you have to change the vision of the brands. The world in general is sexualised.”

But that has not been the only hiccup in artificial intelligence integration — the tech is used to cheat on schoolwork, create scarily realistic deepfakes and generate inappropriate images of underage girls.

Because of generative AI’s rapidly advancing capabilities — for example, a fake photo of a Pentagon explosion caused mass confusion earlier this year — some platforms have begun putting disclaimers on content that is created with the software.

Gaming and Tech News

Nbn Co reveals country’s the areas where Aussies are using the most internet data

New figures have shed light on the suburbs where Aussies are using the most internet data, and what exactly they are doing.

New figures have shed light on some of the country’s biggest data trends, including the suburbs where Aussies are downloading the most and what exactly they are doing.

Recently-released video games and major updates to popular titles are behind some of the country’s most data-consuming regions over the past month.

Nbn Co has revealed the top 10 local government areas (LGAs) across the country based on how much internet they use – with immensely popular games Fortnite and Call of Duty contributing to a record-high amount of traffic in early November.

In October, the average resident of the City of Playford in South Australia used 613GB download data, topping the list.

They were followed by Logan, Queensland (601GB) and Kwinana, Western Australia (596GB) to round out the top three.

Nbn’s Head of Customer Strategy and Innovation Dr Robert Joyce said new network usage records have been set and broken three times in the last 12 months.

“With data usage more than tripling in the past seven years, and with average households now having around 21 connected devices, it’s a timely reminder to check your home broadband plan is still meeting what you want from your broadband service,” Dr Joyce said.

Some of nbn’s other data trends for 2023 show Sunday is Australia’s busiest day for internet usage, with an average busiest time of between 9-10pm.

Fortnite, a 100-player battle royale third-person online shooter, underwent a major update on November 2, which prompted a massive influx of new and returning players as publishers Epic Games resurrected its original 2018 Fortnite map.

The nostalgia gambit appears to have paid off, with an all-time peak of 6.17 million players recorded the weekend following the update, according to unofficial website Fortnite. GG.

As gamers rushed back to Fortnite, a new game was released in the war-themed first-person shooter powerhouse franchise Call of Duty on November 3.

Despite a rocky launch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 still proved popular with fans of the series, with gigabytes of data downloaded to accommodate a game with notoriously large file sizes.

Depending on the platform and version purchased, the game could take up to 90GB to pre-load before the November 3 launch, with a further 100GB or so needed on release day.

The monster demand for data broke an nbn network traffic record, peaking at 26,7TB per second on November 3.

It is the equivalent of more than half-a-million simultaneous Fortnite downloads at 50Mbps, or more than 1.1 million simultaneous 4K video streams.

Pro Wrestling

Triple H on CM Punk return

“This is one of those lighting-in-a-bottle moments that came together very quickly. We are incredibly excited about it. It’s been a long time, and in some ways been a long time coming. You can say this about CM Punk; love him, hate him, positive, negative, whatever you want to say, people talk about him all the time.”

“He’s a magnet for that, he’s a conversation starter, and it’s tough to look past that. For me, if our fans want it, if the WWE Universe is excited to have it, then, let’s go, and we’ll figure out the rest of it from there.”

“This came together super quick, which I’m sure is why it stayed very tight. There was a lot of speculation, and at that point, it was nothing but speculation. For most of the time it was speculation, it didn’t really come to fruition until everybody stopped thinking it was going to happen, and then all of sudden, it was happening. Extremely excited.”

A lot of time has gone by, almost ten years. If you are the same person you were ten years ago, ten years later, you messed up. Everybody grows, everybody changes. I’m a different person, he’s a different person. This is a different company. We’re all on the same even starting ground.”

“What’s next for CM Punk? That will be interesting, won’t it? I’m interested in seeing that myself. I know whatever it is, it will be talked about, it’ll be exciting, and it will be a thrill ride for the WWE Universe, no matter what it is. I’m thrilled, we’re all thrilled, to have him back here and have him back, cliched to say, have him back home in WWE. It’s where he belongs.”

“There has been zero push from anybody past WWE. It’s myself, Nick Khan. To be honest, very few people knew about it past that. It’s a funny thing, all of a sudden there is a mystery entity behind WWE. We’re doing our thing and we’re trusted to our thing and trusted to do what we feel is right for business.”

“To be honest, probably the top people at TKO were going ‘Holy Shit.’ It’s a good thing. It’s a crazy, cool time right now at WWE. I think fans can feel that. A lot of energy, a lot of excitement, and I’m ready. Let’s run through a wall. Let’s do this and do it the biggest way possible, and keep building on what Vince McMahon made into a global juggernaut for 50 years.”

“If I have anything to do with it and have any say in it, we’re going to make it bigger than it’s ever been before.”

BIG 12 CONFERENCE PARTNERS WITH WWE® FOR 2023 BIG 12 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

IRVING, Texas and STAMFORD, Conn., November 16, 2023 – Today, the Big 12 Conference announced a collaboration with WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), for the upcoming 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship on Saturday, December 2, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Through this partnership, the Big 12 and WWE will introduce a custom-made championship title belt for this year’s Big 12 Football Championship Most Outstanding Player, presented on-field at the conclusion of the game by a WWE Superstar. Additionally, a co-branded WWE x Big 12 logo will be featured throughout the venue and on the field.

Throughout the week leading up to the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship and the game itself, WWE Superstars will be prominently featured and integrated. In addition to the championship title belt presentation, select WWE Superstars will participate in a Big 12 Conference community event, pre-game hospitality events and the game’s official coin toss.

“WWE is a global brand that connects with a wide array of audiences,” said Commissioner Yormark. “With this partnership, we will integrate WWE and its brand power into one of the Conference’s biggest moments, further strengthening the bridge between sports and entertainment throughout the Big 12.”

“Brett and his team at the Big 12 have turbocharged the conference through innovative media rights deals and commercial partnerships, constantly exploring new ways to grow the conference’s reach and influence,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “We’re excited to partner with them and help amplify the Big 12 Championship.”

The Big 12 Conference and WWE will also collaborate to introduce an exclusive Big 12 Championship merchandise line. Merchandise will be available for purchase online and throughout AT&T Stadium team stores.

The Dr Pepper Big 12 Football championship game will air live on December 2 at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT on ABC. Additional entertainment enhancements for the 2023 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship will be announced at a later date. Grammy-award winning artist and hip-hop icon Nelly will be performing during the first-ever Football Championship Halftime Show. Tickets to the 2023 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship are available to purchase online via SeatGeek at https://big12.us/3i564VW.

About WWE

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in approximately 165 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

‘Focused on gambling’: Opposition mounts to hotel at Royal Randwick - November 25, 2023

Plans for a hotel at Royal Randwick have sparked concerns from local councillors about the proliferation of gambling.

The Australian Turf Club wants to build a seven-storey hotel with 190 rooms, gaming area, registered club, restaurant and bar at the racecourse after dumping earlier plans for serviced apartments.

But Randwick Greens councillors are likely to oppose the ATC’s hotel plan when the council meets on Tuesday to vote on a draft submission about the proposal.

Planning documents describe the development as a “4.5-star lifestyle hotel”, with function rooms, a bar and gaming area operating until 1am, seven days a week.

An ATC spokesman said the hotel would help drive revenue as the racecourse “continues to become a seven-day-a-week entertainment precinct”.

“The opportunity for a new hotel is compelling and will provide an alternate revenue stream to continue to invest into Royal Randwick Racecourse,” he said.

He said the hotel will complement plans for night racing, but “the fundamental key drivers for the hotel development are based on ATC’s current and forecast race day and non-race day activities”.

However, the hotel also has the potential to yield high negative impacts on health and wellbeing because of 50 gaming machines without consideration to and implementation of mitigation strategies, a social and economic impact assessment found.

Greens councillor Rafaela Pandolfini said the proposal included substantial bar areas, and internal and external gaming rooms.

“Will this development have some kind of casino aspect included?” she asked.

Pandolfini said the area lacked small live music venues and gallery spaces, yet the council continued to approve huge developments “focused on gambling culture, including the Juniors development where the main revenue is from pokie machines”.

Pandolifini said there were many issues with the hotel proposal in its current form and “not endorsing the DA should be considered”.

“It is our understanding that were Randwick Council to not endorse this DA, it would go to the Independent Planning Commission and this would give residents a greater opportunity to express their concerns,” she said.

The submission by council staff raises other concerns about the proposal including the bulk and scale of the proposed building as well as its visual impact.

The report also points to potential for noise impacts during construction and entertainment, pedestrian safety and the impact on flying foxes in Centennial Park, but stops short of opposing the proposal.

Randwick Greens mayor Philipa Veitch said she was concerned about impacts from increased traffic as well as noise and vibration during construction.

“I think it’s very likely that this hotel development will be used to support night racing if and when that gets off the ground, and as such do not support it,” she said.

“I’m personally opposed to horse racing and gambling and think there are much better uses of public land in this densely populated area.”

A state significant development, the ATC’s hotel plans will be assessed by the Planning Department, which called the $94 million proposal “the next chapter in the evolution of Royal Randwick”.

“It will offer accommodation next to the track and support the growth of the equine industry by capitalising on the existing precinct, which has been operating for more than 150 years,” said the department’s executive director Anthea Sargeant.

A Planning Department spokeswoman said the statements “speak to facts about the proposal and do not indicate support”.

“The department is development-agnostic and assesses proposals on strategic merit, technical input, and stakeholder feedback,” she said.

But Veitch said she was very concerned about the comments “that could be seen to be endorsing the proposal before it has been determined”.

“The community rightfully expects the department to be impartial and assess all developments on their merit, and I hope all public submissions will be carefully considered before any decision is made,” she said.

Racing Minister David Harris said the government supported a strong, vibrant and sustainable racing industry.

“As well as the benefits to racing, major events at Royal Randwick always generate a significant economic boost across Sydney with surrounding restaurants, pubs and hotels often at capacity,” he said.

(Wires)

Combat Sports Business

News

For The Record.. and Need To Know basis...

Massive thumps up on WWE Survivor Series.

Professional Fighters League deal with Bellator complete.

Massive worldwide MMA news and sports news achieved. Should be a win for fighters and fans.

We are currently not on the payroll of PFL, TKO Group or ONE Championship, but are open to offers.

We have assisted with media and more with a number of the world's leading combat sports and wrestling companies over the years - some paid, some not paid, and as news only. The details are commercially sensative in nature.

We have officially sold WWF, WCW, UFC and Main Event TV PPV's (and others) previously. Confidential in detail.

We have some some official work and campaigns for the WWE in the past, as well as a number of Australia's leading pro wrestling and martial arts promotions, from media, driving, internet and beyond.

We are currently busy with our own company, however are open to the right sort of offers in the combat sports including pro wrestling arena/industry.

We continue to offer news coverage to combat sports firms and pro wrestling companies across the globe.

We love and respect the MMA and pro wrestling world.

Just getting that on the record so there's no confusion.

Greg Tingle, Founder, Media Man Group/Media Man Int

Professional Fighters League Acquires Bellator in Industry Transformative Deal

NOVEMBER 20, 2023 PFL

PFL Forms Global Powerhouse Poised to be MMA Co-Leader

PFL + Bellator Combined Fighter Roster Equal to UFC – Both Rosters 30% Top 25 World-Ranked

PFL to Launch Reimagined Bellator in 2024 with Bellator International Champions Series

PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions in Landmark MMA Mega-Event to be Staged in 2024

NEW YORK (MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023) - Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced it has completed the acquisition of Bellator from Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA), creating a global powerhouse in mixed-martial arts (MMA) and accelerating the combined company to become the industry co-leader.

PFL has acquired an immense number of top fighters through the Bellator acquisition, and its combined fighter roster is now equal in stature to UFC. PFL and UFC both showcase rosters that are 30% comprised of fighters who are top 25 independently world-ranked in their weight- classes. In addition, PFL + Bellator now has the best roster of women’s fighters in the world. All newly acquired Bellator fighters will become part of the PFL platform and available to compete in PFL fight franchises.

PFL will continue the Bellator brand, and Bellator will be the “one-off” event product from PFL. PFL will launch a reimagined Bellator product in 2024 – the “Bellator International Champions Series.” The Bellator International Champions Series will consist of eight fight events each year hosted in major cities across the globe, and each Bellator event will feature two compelling co-main fights competing for championship belts.

Bellator becomes one of five live fight franchises of the Professional Fighters League: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and Bellator. Overall, the company can now meet fan and media demand by producing and programming a year-round calendar of live fight content with 30 premium MMA events per year.

PFL as a fighter-first and fan-focused organization plans to stage a landmark mega-event in 2024 – PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions. The PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions mega-event will feature the champions of each promotion in all seven weight-classes in a head- to-head epic fight experience.

Details of Bellator events, distribution, partnerships, and management will be announced at a later date.

Donn Davis, PFL Chairman and Founder, and Peter Murray, PFL CEO, continue to lead and operate the combined company.

“PFL is now a global powerhouse in MMA,” said Donn Davis, PFL Founder and Chairman. “Our Bellator acquisition turbocharges PFL’s mission to innovate the sport and become the industry co-leader.”

“The combined PFL and Bellator fighter rosters are second to none in MMA,” said Peter Murray, PFL CEO. “We can’t wait to bring MMA fans what they have been asking for - best vs best with the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions Mega-Event.”

MMA with 650 million global fans is the third largest fan-base of all sports worldwide. MMA is the sports growth business of this decade with its current $1.75 billion industry revenue projected to grow 10% annually to $4 billion by 2032.

Bellator has served fighters and fans worldwide for more than a decade, staging an astounding 301 major MMA fight events. Bellator has successfully identified and developed dozens of acclaimed MMA world champions. Bellator’s current fighter roster has 46 fighters world-ranked in the top 25 of their weight-class per independent source Fight Matrix Rankings.

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next- generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

Citi and LionTree served as financial advisors to PFL and Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to PFL.

ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL has five live fight franchises, offering year-round content: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and Bellator. Founded in 2018, PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SRJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sport business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.

Quotes

“Everyone should consider his body as a priceless gift from one whom he loves above all, a marvelous work of art, of indescribable beauty, and mystery beyond human conception, and so delicate that a word, a breath, a look, nay, a thought may injure it.” - Nikola Tesla

FashionTV Gaming Group set to reveal its latest luxury line of branded games at Awards Afterparty

FashionTV Gaming Group will unveil new luxury line of FashionTV branded games, developed by industry leaders, at its ultra-glamorous Afterparty

9 November 2023, Malta: Following another year of successful growth, FashionTV Gaming Group will unveil a new luxury line of FashionTV-branded games, developed and distributed by its industry-leading licensees. These latest innovations will be introduced at the Group’s annual SiGMA Awards Afterparty – an exclusive FashionTV party that has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the iGaming calendar.

FashionTV attracts over two billion viewers worldwide and as the exclusive licensor of this megabrand for the iGaming industry, FashionTV Gaming Group continues to go from strength to strength.

Among the Group’s licensees and distributors are some of the world's leading iGaming companies, including Playtech, Flutter Entertainment/ PokerStars, Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfair, Evolution/ NetEnt, Red Tiger, Olympic Entertainment, BetMGM, Caliente, BetConstruct, EveryMatrix, Digitain, Kiron Interactive and more.

With their unique appeal and glamorous edge, FashionTV-branded games have proven to be a powerful new growth engine for industry leaders, appearing on thousands of websites worldwide in what has become a true iGaming success story.

This year’s SiGMA Awards Afterparty is an opportunity to toast this success – bringing together the industry’s foremost leaders to celebrate the Group’s rise to the most distributed brand in iGaming, while looking ahead to an exciting future to come.

As an exclusive, C-suite only event, hundreds of industry leaders will be joined by celebrities and models from around the world – as well as a surprise VIP royal guest. Champagne will flow, new ventures will be announced and memories will be made alongside the now-iconic FashionTV Fame Wall.

With a star performance from the voice of FashionTV, Ania J, an open bar and delicious food served through the evening, this glamorous afterparty offers a unique glimpse into the luxury world of FashionTV – and the huge opportunities of licensing this megabrand for the iGaming industry.

The SiGMA 2023 Awards Afterparty will be held on 13 November, from 21:30 to 02:00, at the Twenty Two Club in the Portomaso Business Tower, St Julians. The event is by invitation only, and all guest list enquiries should be directed to info@fashiontvgg.com.

About FashionTV Gaming Group

FashionTV Gaming Group is the exclusive licensor of the global FashionTV brand for iGaming. Through a unique ‘brand to business’ model, FashionTV Gaming Group partners are granted a license to create and distribute immersive branded games and websites for their customers, backed by FashionTV’s global media power. Working with the leading B2B providers and B2C operators, the group is the first mover to bring luxury living to life for gaming audiences around the world.
www.fashiontvgg.com

News

Gaming Corps launches industry first Reverse Plinko in deal with Fashion TV Gaming Group

Fashion TV to offer exciting twist on plinko genre as part of wider Gaming Corps partnership

Sweden, 23 November 2023 – Gaming Corps – the Swedish specialist on arcade style casino games – is proud to announce the launch of UPLINKO, the world's first ever reverse plinko game, created in cooperation with Fashion TV Gaming Group,

UPLINKO brings an exciting twist on the plinko genre to players. Small balls bounce around and upwards through a maze of pegs and into one of the prize diamonds. Players can bet and revel in the pulsating energy, with the chance to be awarded up to 3,200x their bet. All this can be enjoyed while listening to beats provided by DJ Raccoon, who has rocked up from the woods kitted out in headphones and bright sunglasses to spin tunes as players aim to make the most of the game.

Fashion TV Gaming Group is the online gaming arm of Fashion TV, which is the world’s only 24-hour fashion, beauty and lifestyle TV channel, reaching over wo billion viewers worldwide. The group was established to bring the worlds of luxury lifestyle and online gaming together in one compelling package. Game developers and operators are granted the license to build, operate, distribute and market Fashion TV-branded products and websites as part of a brand-to-business model.

Gaming Corps is a game developer which has grown rapidly by releasing original, premium video and casino games. While Fashion TV Gaming Group will initially offer UPLINKO to its partners as a standalone product, Gaming Corps also plans to roll out its full portfolio of games to Fashion TV Gaming Group in the next stage of the partnership, made up of Crash, Table and Slot titles, as well as other Plinko games. The list of games in the portfolio includes recent successful releases such as Raging Zeus Mines, Wild Woof and Super Hot Stacks.

Mats Lundin, Gaming Corps’ Director of Sales, said: “Fashion TV is an extremely popular network in the world of broadcasting, and we are very proud to partner with Fashion TV Gaming Group. The combination of Fashion TV Gaming Group’s brand and our ability to develop captivating games such as UPLINKO will provide synergies for both parties as well as excellent opportunities for Fashion TV Gaming Group’s partners, and in turn, their players.

“I look forward to expanding the partnership further and allowing Fashion TV Gaming Group to present our entire portfolio of thrilling games to partners, and we are excited to be a part of the brand’s global expansion.”

Amir Bilu, creative director at Fashion TV also commented: " it was a great pleasure to create this innovative game concept together with Gaming Corps. Fashion TV gaming continues to innovate with unique designs across every vertical and we did a great job here with this brand new game"

ENDS

Editor’s Notes:

ABOUT GAMING CORPS

Gaming Corps is a game developer with the business idea of developing original content for Gaming and iGaming, servicing the selective gamer with niche video games and premium casino games. Our iGaming portfolio consists of casino slots, multiplier games, mine games and table games, into which we infuse our experience from Gaming to create modern, exciting content. The company is listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market and headquartered in Sweden with development studios in Malta and the Ukraine.

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Media Man Awards

Google Search Off The Record Podcast wins Media Man 'Search Podcast Of The Year

Search Engine Show is runner-up

Sky News Australia wins Australian 'News Media Company Of The Year' award

BINGE wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Year award; Paramount Plus is runner-up

83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff Media Man 'Wrestling Podcast Of The Year award; Runner up After The Bell

Logan Paul wins Media Man 'Sports Entertainer Of The Year' award; Runner up Roman Reigns

Logan Paul wins Media Man 'Breakout Star Of The Year' award

Lexis King wins Media Man 'NXT Wrestler Of The Year' award; Runner up Bron Breakker

Tiffany Stratton wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Year' award (Women's Division)

LA Knight wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promo Of The Year' award, Runner ups Paul Heyman. Special Mention: Bullet Club Gold

Seth Rollins wins 'Pro Wrestler Of The Year award'; Runner ups: Chris Jericho and Will Ospreay

Asuka wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Year' award (Women's Divison)

Triple H wins Media Man 'Booker Of The Year'; Runner-ups Shawn Michaels and Tony Khan

WrestleMania (WWE) wins Media Man 'Wrestling Event Of The Year' award; Runner up WrestleDream (AEW)

UFC 292 (Sydney, Australia) wins Media Man 'MMA Event Of The Year' award

Sean Strickland wins Media Man 'MMA Of The Year award'

Dana White wins Media Man 'MMA Promoter Of The Year' award; Runner ups Don Davis and Chatri Sityodton

Urban Fight Night wins Media Man 'Combat Sports Promoter Of The Year - Australia)

Joe Rogan wins Media Man 'Podcaster Of The Year' award; Runner-ups Russell Brand and Patrick Bet-David

Broadcast Live wins Media Man 'Trade Show/Business Expo Of The Year' award

Sphere Las Vegas wins Media Man 'Venue Of The Year' award

Elon Musk and Logan Paul tie for Media Man 'Disruptor Of The Year' award

Billy Corgan wins Media Man 'Entertainment Promoter Of The Year' award

Wreestling Channel Of The Year: WWE Old School

Combat Sports Club Of The Year: Fighting Fathers (Father Dave Smith); Runner-up Bondi Boxing Gym

Australian Media Event Of The Year: UFC 293, Sydney Town Hall. Runner-up, UFC 293 Q&A Sydney

Domain wins Media Man 'Property Website Of The Year' award; Runner-up RealEstate.com.au

Adobe wins 'Software Of The Year' award; Runner-up Salesforce

Red Bull Racing wins Media Man 'Motorsport Team Of The Year' award

Broadcaster Personality Of The Year: Tucker Carlson; Runner-up Russell Brand

Niche Channel Of The Year: Gaia; Runner-up: The History Channel

Sports Journal Of The Year: JohnWallStreet; Runner-up: Sports Business Journal

'Bad Actors Of The Year': Amazon (Audiable), Runner-up Optus, FTX and Binance

'Woker Of The Year': Disney; Runner Up Howard Stern and Qantas

'Stay Of Of Politics: KISS

Energy Drink Of The Year: Prime, Runner-up: Monster Energy

TV Network Of The Year: FOX, Runner-up: USA Network

Platform Of The Year: X (formally Twitter), Runner-ups LinkedIn and YouTube. Special mention: Rumble/Rumble Sports

Google Search Off The Record podcast wins Media Man 'Business Podcast Of The Month' and 'Search Podcast Of The Month' - November 2023

Search Off the Record takes you behind the scenes of Google Search and its inner workings! In each episode, the folks from the Search Relations team will give you background info on the decision-making behind launches, feature prioritization in Search Console, and the projects Google Search teams are working on. They will share fun stories from the many conferences they attend as well as from their day-to-day working life at Google. They will also dive into the currently trending conversations in the SEO community at large. Have a listen!

Musk’s X sues media nonprofit over portrayal of site as full of anti-Semitism - November 2023

Elon Musk’s X Corp. on Monday sued nonprofit Media Matters for driving advertisers away from the platform formerly known as Twitter by portraying it as rife with anti-Semitic content.

In a lawsuit filed in US federal court in Texas, X accuses the organization of “tricking the algorithm into thinking Media Matters wanted to view both hateful content and content from large advertisers.”

Apple, Comcast, NBCUniversal and IBM were among high-profile brands that paused advertising on X last week after Media Matters reported finding ads displayed with pro-Nazi content.

The advertising exodus also came in the wake of Musk endorsing an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.

“This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully X’s critics into silence,” Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said in response to an AFP inquiry.

“Media Matters stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court.”

The White House has condemned Musk, the world’s richest person, for “abhorrent promotion” of anti-Semitism.

The White House was reacting to a post by Musk in which the controversial Tesla and SpaceX tycoon replied to an anti-Semitic post on X with the words: “You have said the actual truth.”

The original post has been widely seen as a reference to a longtime false conspiracy theory among White supremacists that Jews have a secret plan to bring illegal immigrants into the United States to move US demographics away from a white majority.

Most notoriously, the idea was promoted by the man who carried out a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, killing 11 people.

Referring to Musk’s post, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said it was “unacceptable” to repeat such a “hideous lie.”

The suit filed Monday does not mention Musk’s endorsement of the conspiracy theory, instead blaming recent ad woes on Media Matters.

“Media Matters knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers’ posts on X Corp.’s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content and then portrayed these manufactured images as if they were what typical X users experience,” the lawsuit contended.

X accused Media Matters of duping its algorithm by following only accounts known for extreme, fringe content along with big-name brands.

The result was a feed “precision-designed” to produce the kind of side-by-side ad and content pairings that alienated X advertisers, the suit maintained.

X asked the court to order Media Matters to pay unspecified cash damages and to take down the report.

In the year since taking over Twitter, now rebranded as X, Musk has gutted content moderation, restored accounts of previously banned extremists, and allowed users to purchase account verification, helping them profit from viral — but often inaccurate — posts.

An X executive told media that it did a “sweep” of accounts pointed out by Media Matters and they will no longer be able to make money from ads.

The posts themselves will be labeled “sensitive media,” according to the executive.

Binance to pay billions in US in money laundering case, CEO resigns - November 21, 2023

Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty Tuesday to US money laundering charges, in a deal that will see the cryptocurrency exchange he founded pay over $4 billion in penalties.

“Binance became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in part because of the crimes it committed –- now it is paying one of the largest corporate penalties in US history,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Binance’s guilty plea is part of coordinated action including with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Department of Justice said.

Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, the Department of Justice said, and he has resigned from his position of CEO.

Zhao, who lives abroad, entered his plea in person in the United States, added Garland.

Binance’s agreements with the Treasury Department’s agencies include a civil money penalty of $3.4 billion and a $968 million penalty involving OFAC. These mark the agencies’ largest settlements in history.

“Binance turned a blind eye to its legal obligations in the pursuit of profit,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

“Its willful failures allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals and child abusers through its platform.”

She noted Binance “deliberately undermined its own sanctions monitoring controls,” allowing over 1.5 million virtual currency trades violating US sanctions, and failed to report suspicious transactions.

Yellen said the penalties, and a five-year monitorship imposed on Binance, mark a “milestone for the virtual currency industry.”

The monitorship is unprecedented in the virtual currency space, a US Treasury official told journalists, speaking on condition of anonymity, comparing it to the oversight structure imposed on banks over a decade ago.

Moving forward, Binance must file suspicious activity reports required by law, on top of reviewing past transactions to report such activity to authorities, Garland said.

“This will advance our criminal investigations into malicious cyber activity and terrorism fundraising, including the use of cryptocurrency exchanges to support groups such as Hamas,” he added.

Binance was created in 2017 and cornered much of the crypto-trading market, turning Zhao into a billionaire.

Binance runs crypto exchanges and provides other services across the world, but it has taken a severe hit since crypto markets collapsed and regulators began probing the legality of its business.

Zhao — often seen as the arch-rival of disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried — is expected to face sentencing at a later time.

With the deal, Zhao is barred from future involvement operating Binance’s business.

In a statement, Binance conceded that it “made misguided decisions along the way” as it grew rapidly in an industry that was in the “early stages of regulation.”

“Today, Binance takes responsibility for this past chapter,” it said.

The company added that it did not initially have adequate compliance controls, saying that it has been working to restructure. Its former global head of regional markets, Richard Teng, will succeed Zhao as CEO.

In a separate social media announcement, Zhao said: “I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility.”

The latest deal does not include the company’s entanglements with the Securities and Exchange Commission, another regulator, which pressed a raft of charges against Binance in June, saying it allowed US residents to trade even when it was not registered in the country as a securities exchange.

The SEC also alleges the firm misused customer funds.

While Binance was founded in China, Zhao moved its operations to other locations internationally after a crackdown on the crypto sector by Beijing.

The volatile industry surged in 2021 with a range of complex products and celebrity endorsements propelling it to a valuation in excess of $3 trillion last year.

But a series of scandals, including the collapse of the FTX exchange and criminal charges for its executives, saw public confidence evaporate and investors pull their money out.

Sam Altman’s return ushers in new era at OpenAI - November 22, 2023

Sam Altman’s shock return as chief executive of OpenAI late Tuesday — days after being sacked — caps a chaotic period that highlighted deep tensions at the heart of the Artificial Intelligence community.

The board that fired Altman from his role as CEO of the ChatGPT creator has been almost entirely replaced following a rebellion by employees, cementing his position at the helm of the firm.

The sole survivor in the boardroom in the new Altman era is Adam D’Angelo, the CEO of question-and-answer site Quora.

He will be joined by ex-Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and by former US Treasury Secretary and president of Harvard University, Larry Summers.

In Summers, Altman will find a seasoned economist and well-known figure in Washington, who has spoken of both the dangers and opportunities of ChatGPT for the “cognitive classes.”

“ChatGPT is gonna replace what doctors do, hearing symptoms and making diagnoses, before it changes what nurses do,” Summers told Bloomberg News earlier this year.

Neither Altman nor OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman — who quit as company president following Altman’s sacking — will return to the board, which could soon have as many as six additional members, the Wall Street Journal reported.

“I love openai, and everything i’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together,” Altman wrote in a social media post late Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.

– Disputes over departure –

The five-day saga began on Friday, when Altman was abruptly sacked by the board for reasons that are still unclear.

The board said in a statement that it had sacked Altman because “he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board,” without elaborating further.

It strongly resisted attempts to bring him back, cycling through two new chief executives over the weekend, before three of its four remaining members were sacked on Tuesday to pave the way for Altman’s dramatic return.

Some media outlets reported that there had been concerns that OpenAI was moving quickly away from its stated mission of “building safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence for the benefit of humanity,” for commercial gain.

However, OpenAI’s interim CEO Emmett Shear, said in a social media post that he had been assured “The board did *not* remove Sam over any specific disagreement on safety,” without elaborating on why Altman had been sacked.

– Fears over AI governance –

Altman’s return reaffirms his position as a leader in the rapidly-evolving field of generative-AI.

But the agreement also highlights the growing power that Microsoft now wields over the future of OpenAI.

During his five days in the wilderness, Altman briefly took up a position at the tech giant, which has poured billions of dollars into OpenAI and helped launch ChatGPT, whose success sparked a multi-billion-dollar global race in AI research and development.

In an X post confirming his return, Altman cited “satya’s support,” in his decision to return to OpenAI, a reference to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

“I’m looking forward to returning to openai, and building on our strong partnership with msft,” Altman added, an apparent reference to Microsoft.

While OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the most widely known large language model — or LLM — many of the other big tech firms, including Google and Facebook parent Meta, have invested heavily in the powerful AI technology — raising concerns about its governance.

Earlier this month, Western governments and tech companies agreed to a new safety testing regime to allay concerns at the pace at which AI is growing, and at the lack of global safeguards in place to control it.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the conference in London that the world was “playing catch-up” in efforts to regulate AI, which had “possible long-term negative consequences” on everything from jobs to culture.

Content Live News - November 2023

AI-Media – Leading in Sports and Broadcast Captioning

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Movie News

'Napoleon': Joaquin Phoenix is 'not built like other men' in final trailer

Sony Pictures is giving a glimpse of the new film Napoleon.

The studio shared a final trailer for the movie Monday featuring Joaquin Phoenix.

Napoleon is an epic historical drama written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World) and directed and produced by Ridley Scott (Kingdom of Heaven). Scott and Phoenix previously collaborated on the 2000 film Gladiator.

The film explores the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte (Phoenix), a French military leader who ruled as emperor in the early 19th century.

Napoleon "captures Bonaparte's relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed," an official synopsis reads.

The cast also includes Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, John Hollingworth, Youssef Kerkour and Phil Cornwell.

Sony previously shared a trailer for the movie in July.

Napoleon opens in theaters Wednesday and will later stream on Apple TV+.

Pro Wrestling News

WWE Survivor Series 2023

November 25, 2023

Men's WarGames Match

Survivor Series will feature the return of WarGames, as Drew McIntyre and The Judgment Day are set to battle World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn..

The Judgment Day have been running rampant all year on Raw, with Rollins, Rhodes, Uso and Zayn all being on the receiving end of some brutal beatdowns from the devious group.

Now the quartet will finally get their hands on the group that has been gaining power with each passing week.

The Judgment Day has now made JD McDonagh an official member of the dark faction to add even more offense to their ranks. Then, after costing Uso and Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, McIntyre announced that he will fight alongside The Judgment Day.

This development left their opponents with the task of finding their fifth member. As Raw was set to conclude five days before Survivor Series: WarGames, Rhodes revealed that Randy Orton will join their team in the vicious structure!

Which team will survive WarGames? Don’t miss Survivor Series: WarGames this Saturday at 8 ET/5 PT, streaming live on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.

Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair & Shotzi vs. Bayley, IYO SKY, Kairi Sane & Asuka (Women's WarGames Match)

Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and Shotzi face a much more dangerous version of Damage CTRL, with Kairi Sane and Asuka joining their ranks, in a brutal WarGames Match.

Damage CTRL looked to be on rough ground, after Sane made a stunning return to help IYO SKY retain her WWE Women’s Title over Bianca Belair at WWE Crown Jewel, leaving Bayley wondering her she stood with her teammates.

On the following SmackDown, however, Sane would align herself with Bayley, recognizing her as the group’s leader. The additions to Damage CTRL didn’t stop there as Asuka shockingly joined the group after turning her back on The EST and The Queen of WWE during a Six-Woman Tag Team Match against Damage CTRL.

Shotzi came to the rescue of Belair and Flair but Bayley’s team had the numbers advantage. After taking out Shotzi, Flair and Belair, Bayley ominously told the trio that they will see them at WarGames.

The following week, Damage CTRL officially challenged Flair, Beliar and Shotzi to find a partner to join forces with the trio and face Bayley, Sane, SKY and Asuka inside the hellacious cage. The answer came with the surprise emergence of Becky Lynch. The man has come around and the match is now set.

Which team can overcome the barbarity of WarGames? Don’t miss Survivor Series: WarGames on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 8 ET/5 PT, streaming live on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.

AEW

CONTINENTAL CLASSIC...

Earlier today, in the above embedded video, AEW/ROH President Tony Khan, along with Tony Schiavone and ROH World Champion/NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion, announced the field of 12 for the Continental Classic Tournament! There are two groups, Blue and Gold, with six competitors each, competing in a Round Robin Style Tournament that begins Wednesday night in Chicago, and will continue until the finals at WORLDS END on December 30th!

Already quite the intriguing situation with Bryan Danielson, Mark Briscoe, and Andrade El Idolo putting their names into the hat prior to the Selection Special, with a competitive fire burning strong in his heart, Eddie Kingston further amplified the prestige of the tournament by putting both the ROH World Champion and NJPW STRONG Championship at stake thus, along with the AEW Continental Championship, creating a new Triple Crown Championship awaiting the winner of this tournament.

Now as for the rules of this tournament, matches will be contested with a 20 minute time limit, there will be no seconds allowed at ringside, and outside interference will not be tolerated, which may throw a monkey wrench in how many of the competitors generally handle their business. In addition, the scoring system for the Continental Classic will be very straight forward and simple, with points being awarded as follows: 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. Here is how the two groups break down:

Blue Group

Andrade El Idolo

“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson

Brody King

Claudio Castagnoli

Daniel Garcia

ROH World Champion/NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston

Gold Group

Jay Lethal

Jay White

Jon Moxley

Mark Briscoe

Rus

Swerve Strickland

The first matches of the tournament will go down at Wintrust Arena as part of AEW's Thanksgiving Eve tradition, and continue Saturday night in Pittsburgh!

THE GOLD GROUP...

Swerve Strickland vs. Jay Lethal

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Continental Classic Tournament is going to be the opportunity to see several first-time matches, and three of them are going down this Wednesday night with the opening bouts of AEW's first-ever Round -style Robin Tournament!

Coming off a brutal, bloody Texas Death Match victory over Hangman Page at FULL GEAR 2023, Swerve Strickland will be in action for his first bout of the Continental Classic this Wednesday night in Chicago. Though there is not way he's feeling anywhere near 100%, Swerve will have to find a way to be at the top of his game because his opponent in this first night of action will be “The Franchise of ROH”, a former 2-Time ROH World Champion and the second-longest reigning ROH World TV Champion in history thanks to Samoa Joe's recent run, Jay Lethal! Lethal is no doubt coming into this bout far healthier than Swerve, and that may make the crucial difference in this contest, but another game changer for both these individuals, given how each generally approaches their matches, is that ban on seconds and outside interference. How many times have fans seen Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh, and Karen Jarrett play a deciding factor in Jay Lethal's matches? On how many instances have The Gates of Agony, Brian Cage, or Prince Nana been involved in swaying Swerve Strickland's matches? With this tournament, none of that will fly, leaving these two stellar athletes to rely solely on their skill inside the squared circle? Which of these men will notch their first points in the Continental Classic?

LFI's Rush vs. BULLET CLUB GOLD's Jay White

Just like Swerve, both “El Toro Blanco” Rush and “Switchblade” Jay White went through their own bit of hell at FULL GEAR 2023. In the case of Rush, it was the Four Team Ladder match for the AEW World Tag Titles and the punishment that sort of bout entails while for Jay White it was his bid for the AEW World Championship against MJF, although he and BC GOLD did their best to make sure it wasn't MJF defending The Triple B.

While neither man was victorious in their efforts to become a champion in All Elite Wrestling, a new road to that goal begins this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE with the opening bouts in the Continental Classic. Another first-time bout, this head-to-head fight between the leaders of LFI and BC GOLD may be the show stealer given the skills of each involved, but as with the Lethal/Swerve bout, this is another contest between two men who often rely on their respective units to help determine the outcomes of a bout.

But unlike most outings with these two, there will be no Jose the Assistant, Preston Vance, or Dralistico at Rush's side to interfere, nor a Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, or Colten Gunn in Jay White's corner to stick their nose in the business at hand. This continental classic is about putting the focus on the wrestling, and the fight between the two individuals vying for points, not the assorted seconds, managers, and stablemates polluting the competition with shenanigans.

With those elements removed, this is a bout between two elite level competitors and it will be quite intriguing to see who nets the three points in their first Continental Classic clash!

The BCC's Jon Moxley vs. Mark Briscoe

Now this is going to be a fight between two men who love to throwdown inside the squared circle, and unlike the other two first-time bouts, this first-timer does not involve a competitor reliant on interference, managers, or seconds. Both Jon Moxley and Mark Briscoe are men who want the victory on their own merit, they want the win on their own skills, and not because someone else lent a hand.

For Mark Briscoe, a 13-time ROH World Tag Team Champion with his late brother Jay, this tournament is an opportunity to not only firmly stake his status in the singles division but also to claim the first singles championship (or rather championships) of his entire career! He's challenged for the ROH World Title and the ROH World Television Championship several times during his twenty-plus years in ROH, but never captured those, nor any other singles title, and if he comes out of this tournament on top, he could claim three in one shot! He just may have the most difficult first match of the tournament by fighting Jon Moxley!

A 3-Time AEW World Champion, a former International Champion, and former 2-Time IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Champion, just to name a few of his accolades, Moxley is certainly a favorite to win this tournament and add three more championship to his name with the Triple Crown of the ROH World, NJPW STRONG Openweight, and AEW Continental Championships. With three members in the field, The Blackpool Combat Club are absolutely odds-on favorites to bring a tournament victory to their camp, and Jon Moxley is the first of the three to shoot for the three points.

These are two of the most unpredictable men in all of professional wrestling, and it is going to be a wild night when the two of them meet inside the squared circle for the very first time!

TONI STORM'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH...

Last Saturday night at FULL GEAR 2023, fans witnessed as Toni Storm dethroned Hikaru Shida to reclaim the AEW Women's World Championship for the third time. It was a fitting end to Storm's Hollywood Homecoming, at least for her, and she did share some words with the AEW cameras following the bout:

Unfortunately, for those who had hoped she'd join the FULL GEAR Media Scrum following the conclusion of the pay-per-view, that would not be the case as Toni had other commitments to attend, but she very kindly gave Tony Khan a letter explaining her absence, one which RJ City was kind enough to provide for everyone to read:

Storm's lack of appearing during the Media Scrum simply meant her adoring public just had to wait until this Wednesday night in Chicago, during AEW's DYNAMITE Thanksgiving Eve tradition, to hear her Championship Acceptance Speech! Who will she thank? Who will she be wearing? Will the band have to play her off stage if she goes on too long? Tune into TBS this Wednesday night to hear what will surely be the most unforgettable acceptance speech in championship history from “Timeless” Toni Storm!

RECHRISTENING?

After falling to Darby Allin, Sting, and Adam Copeland at FULL GEAR 2023, TNT Champion Christian Cage has stated that this Wednesday night on DYNAMITE, he is going to rechristen Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus.

So rechristen simply means “to rename” or “to change the name of”, which means Christian Cage has the intention of changing the names of his Patriarchy followers. What could he possibly hope to gain from this? And what names could he possibly choose for Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne?

On the heels of FULL GEAR 2023 AEW's first-ever Round Robin Tournament, the Continental Classic, gets underway and will run from Wednesday night in Chicago through WORLDS END on December 30th. Tonight will see Mark Briscoe versus Jon Moxley, Swerve versus Lethal, and Rush/Switchblade kick off the tournament, with more to come this weekend in Pittsburgh, and it kicks off at 8pm ET/7pm CT live on TBS! International fans can catch the action at AEWPlus.com, and everyone needs to visit the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW's other social media platforms, to get caught up on the action with highlights from FULL GEAR 2023, as well as recent episodes of DYNAMITE, RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and this week's CONTROL CENTER!

Boxing News

John Fury gives a worrying and damning assessment of son Tyson ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight:

"17th February is the date they're working towards. But in my opinion, Tyson needs a bit more time to get his conditioning and weight right. He didn’t look himself [vs Francis Ngannou]. It looked like he lost 20lbs of muscle. Something was wrong.

"[In his] last three fights, I have seen decline. Not in ability, but in strength, power and physical condition. I don’t know what they [his camp] are doing, you have to address it. He didn’t look right, everything had changed about him, his demeanour, his body. I was puzzled.

"No one can teach Tyson how to box, or teach him more than he knows. All they can do is put some muscle on there and make his body rock solid. [In Saudi] he looked fat-thin. He should have been better and heavier with a lot more muscle. He needs to power up and the only way you do that is a proper course. They take time and [now] we don’t have the time."

MMA

RETURN OF THE MAC Conor McGregor targets shock showdown with rival amid huge UFC 300 doubt for Michael Chandler fight

The Notorious has campaigned for a bizarre fight amid rumours he WON'T headline UFC 300

CONOR MCGREGOR insists he has "unfinished" business with long-time rival Dustin Poirier.

The Notorious' rivalry with the former interim lightweight champion dates back to September 2014, when they first met as a pair of featherweight prospects.

McGregor struck the first blow in their series, knocking out the American in the first round of their MGM Grand melee.

Poirier would get his shot at revenge seven years later in Abu Dhabi and grasped the opportunity with both hands, KO'ing the Irishman in the second round of their UFC 257 showdown.

A horrific leg break for McGregor in the closing stages of their Sin City trilogy fight six months later would see Poirier move 2-1 up in their series.

And the way Mystic Mac sees it, the horrific ending to their last fight more than warrants another meeting inside the octagon.

The UFC's poster boy wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Let’s be real, it’s a must. Unfinished.”

McGregor, 35, hasn't set foot inside the cage since that fateful night at the T-Mobile Arena, although he's fighting fit and ready to go after a long and arduous rehab.

The Irishman will be welcomed back to action by fellow fan favourite and former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.

Their long-awaited showdown was expected to headline UFC 300 in April, but McGregor's head coach recently revealed the promotion are eyeing a JULY return for the Dubliner.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour, the SBG Ireland head coach told Ariel Helwani: "We were hoping for April.

"That was the hope, that's what we were told and now it seems to be the summertime."

McGregor, however, insists he will top the bill of the historic card - telling a fan on X he's "IN" when asked about headling the show.

Former two-division champion McGregor recently got overwhelmed with emotion recalling his recovery from his life-changing injury and pleaded with the UFC brass to give him a date for his comeback.

He said: "I’ve been kept from my living for almost three years now.

“Understand that. I came through what I came through. I’m sitting on an injury and a loss.

"You hear what Alexander Volkanovski said? I relate. I must return to my way of living.

"This is my job. It’s beyond frustrating. … I just want the date.

"Give me the date, please. That’s it.”

UFC PARTNERS WITH WRESTLE LIKE A GIRL TO HOST FREESTYLE CLINIC AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL FIGHT WEEK

UFC Partnered With Wrestle Like A Girl To Host A One-Day Freestyle Clinic At The Las Vegas Convention Center For Local Female Wrestlers Ages 5 – 17.

On July 6, UFC partnered with Wrestle Like A Girl to host a one-day freestyle clinic at the Las Vegas Convention Center for local female wrestlers ages 5 – 17, as part of UFC X, the fully immersive and interactive two-day fan experience during International Fight Week.

Former UFC champion and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo joined Wrestle Like A Girl Founder and CEO Sally Roberts and Schreiner University wrestling head coach Tarkiya Mensah, as they hosted a four-hour seminar teaching fundamental elements to more than 100 students.

“We had a lot of fun, and it was great to get back on the mats and teach these young ladies some of the fundamentals of wrestling, said Cejudo. “Sally and I have known each other for a long time, as we were on Team USA together, and what she is doing with this organization on a national level is incredible. Supporting women’s wrestling on the high school, collegiate, and professional level is extremely important, and I’m glad UFC is taking a role in helping raise awareness.”

Founded in 2016, Wrestle Like A Girl sits at the intersection of wrestling, gender equality, and social good, focusing on Strategic Programming, Advocacy, Education, and Research. Their mission is to empower girls and women, using the sport of wrestling, to become leaders in life.

“Wrestling does more than build athletes, it’s a transformative tool that molds leaders and changemakers,” said Roberts. “As we stand on the cusp of women’s wrestling becoming an NCAA championship sport, we see even more girls from diverse backgrounds with the chance to use their passion for the sport as a springboard to a college education. This is the real power of sport, and we’re proud to partner with organizations like UFC who share this understanding.”

At the conclusion of the event, the UFC Foundation made a $10,000 donation to Wrestle Like A Girl on behalf of the organization’s 30th anniversary.

UFC’s corporate social responsibility program, #UFCInTheCommunity, strategically collaborates with partners, sponsors, and athletes to develop additional charitable programs and funding sources to help bolster and inspire the local community. For more information, please visit UFCFOUNDATION.

(UFC)

UFC CONTINUES RECORD RUN AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

On Saturday, UFC returned to Madison Square Garden for the seventh time in the last eight years with UFC 295: PROCHÁZKA VS PEREIRA, as UFC celebrated its 30th anniversary with an action-packed, highlight-loaded affair. Headlined by two championship fights, the event attracted more than 19,000 fans and produced a gate of $12.4 million, making it the 2nd highest-grossing event in MSG history and 4th highest-grossing event in UFC history. UFC now holds #1, 2 and 3 positions for highest gate in the history of Madison Square Garden.

Madison Square Garden has long held a special place in UFC history. MSG is the site of what many consider to be a seminal moment for UFC, when on November 12, 2016, UFC held its first-ever event in New York following a decade-plus battle to get Mixed Martial Arts regulated in the state. That event, UFC 205: ALVAREZ VS. MCGREGOR, scored a gate of $17.7 million and stands as the record for the highest-grossing event in Madison Square Garden history.

Top 3 MSG All-Time Gate Records (*includes non-sports events)

#1 - UFC 205: ALVAREZ VS. MCGREGOR – November 12, 2016

Gate - $17,740,543

Attendance - 20,427

#2 - UFC 295: PROCHÁZKA VS PEREIRA – November 11, 2023

Gate - $12,432,563

Attendance - 19,039

#3 - UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira - November 12, 2022

Gate - $11,562,807

Attendance: 20,845

(UFC)

Send miners to parliament and students to work, Gina Rinehart says - November 22, 2023

Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has called on the mining sector to push its own workers and advocates into parliament, so they can tear up environmental regulation she warns is jeopardising the industry’s ability to maintain its current levels of production.

In a speech to mining executives and Liberal leader Peter Dutton at her Roy Hill mine on Wednesday, Mrs Rinehart took aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for taking overseas trips to spruik trade while his government was handcuffing local industry.

“Platitudes and press releases move precisely zero tonnes of iron, copper, nickel, rare earths or any other mineral,” Mrs Rinehart says in a copy of the speech seen by The Australian Financial Review.

“The reality of what the government is doing with its excessive and complicated tape, and the risk of bad policies being introduced, is that we risk not even achieving replacement tonnage to maintain current production, let alone massively expanding across a range of minerals and metals.”

In a speech quoting Winston Churchill, drawing from Margaret Thatcher and interspersed with a video clips from Elon Musk and Canada’s conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Mrs Rinehart made a rallying cry to the mining industry to push its way into Australian parliament.

Mr Dutton was expected to address the event, as well as former governor general Sir Peter Cosgrove, who was expected to beam in via a holographic video.

“Now I’m suggesting something in addition, encourage and support people from our industry, to put themselves up for parliament. We need strong people in government, not afraid to stand up for common sense, and for mining,” she said.

Advocate for mining

The mining mogul called for people to devote “no less than 15 minutes” each day to advocating for the industry.

“Be this via letters to media or government, comments online, social media, or as members of political parties, grab those minutes, whether it be waiting in doctors or dentists surgeries or airports, waiting for food orders, riding in planes, buses or trains,” she said.

She also suggested the federal government consider moving departments to the vast Pilbara in WA’s north-west to “learn about where Aussie’s revenue is generated”.

Mrs Rinehart lamented delays to her McPhee iron ore project in the WA Pilbara, which she revealed would now be “lucky” to even reach production in 2025.

It was revealed this week Mrs Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting was appealing to the WA environment minister to change “onerous” conditions imposed on the McPhee project by the state’s environmental protection agency.

“These kinds of delays make Australia increasingly unattractive for investment and if they occur for a relatively small project, 1.5 per cent of WA’s iron ore production utilising mainly existing infrastructure, what hope do larger projects have,” she said.

Mrs Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting needs satellite projects like McPhee to feed into its Roy Hill infrastructure with the private company’s flagship mine and biggest money spinner expected to start running out of ore soon after 2030.

The mining mogul also took a swipe at immigration policy, which commentators like HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham and Future Fund chairman Peter Costello have linked to rent shortages and pressure on interest rates.

The migration surge – 500,000 arrivals in the past year – is seen as a way to address labour shortages but Mrs Rinehart wants the government to relax restrictions on pensioners, university students and non-violent prisoners working.

“Where is the sense in restricting our own citizens from working while bringing in more immigrants when our hospitals already can’t cope?” she said.

‘Outstanding’ Dutton

Mrs Rinehart described Mr Dutton as an “outstanding leader”. She also revealed her admiration for Tesla founder Elon Musk, who she said was one of the most “interesting and successful men in the world”, before playing a YouTube clip where he called for the repeal of rules and regulations that became counterproductive.

Mrs Rinehart, who turns 70 in February, hit out at the latest generation of university graduates who in some cases were too fussy about the tasks required of them and “work-shy”.

“Too often today, youngsters who’ve been to uni don’t want to do work they think is below them, and want to jump into senior roles for instant success skipping the hard metres, perhaps with the feeling that their private education or time at uni means they should pick and choose what work they do,” she said.

“I think part of my success was, despite a private education and, with what was required back then, high enough marks to get into uni that this didn’t give me such an attitude.

(AFR)

Streamers spent less on Aussie shows last year despite Labor’s threats - 8th November 2023

Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video cut their spending on Australian TV shows and films in the 2022-23 financial year, despite Labor’s impending plans to force them to make more.

New figures released on Wednesday by the media regulator show Disney+, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video and Stan spent a combined $324.1 million on 1583 Aussie programs in the most recent financial year – down from $335.1 million on 718 shows in 2021-22.

Spend on “Australian-related” shows – those are partly Australian, like Disney’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Obi Wan Kenobi – rose to $452.9 million from $333.4 million.

The new data comes days after the government aired two ways it could force streaming services to make more Australian content.

Arts Minister Tony Burke and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland have said they would introduce quotas to come into effect from July next year.

The push for quotas has provoked widespread opposition from streaming platforms and free-to-air television networks, which have claimed they will push up production costs for everyone. Netflix on Wednesday said it had spent $1 billion on Australian and “Australian-related” shows between 2019 and 2023.

The film and production sector, meanwhile, says it needs quotas to maintain a vibrant Australian screen industry against a competitive and global market.

In the 15-page paper circulated to key film and television production executives this week, the government proposed either making platforms with more subscribers spend more, or demanding a flat rate as a percentage of local revenue.

The first model means Netflix could be forced to spend 30 per cent of its budget on local films and shows, and Amazon Prime Video 25 per cent – because they have the most subscribers.

A platform with between 1 million and 1.99 million subscribers would be required to spend 10 per cent on Australian content. For a platform with more than 5 million subscribers, that figure would be 30 per cent.

According to the latest estimates from data firm Telsyte, only Netflix has more than 5 million subscribers in Australia. Amazon Prime Video has 4.5 million, Disney+ has 3.1 million, and Stan has 2.6 million. Stan is owned by Nine Entertainment, parent of The Australian Financial Review.

“It is a progressive obligation of up to 30 per cent to ensure that large services continue to invest in Australian programs commensurate with their market share and degree of influence,” the government paper reads.

A service with 1 million subscribers that spends $100 million on drama shows would have to spend $10 million, per its 10 per cent obligation. A service with 2 million subscribers that spends $80 million on drama programs for the Australian market would have a 15 per cent obligation, or $12 million.

The alternative proposal is calculated by multiplying revenue and an obligation of 10 per cent. It is arguably simpler, but that figure could increase to 20 per cent over time, the document warns. It also takes sport out of the equation.

By that logic, a service with $250 million in revenue and no sport programming would have a drama obligation of $25 million. A service with $250 million in revenue that spends $150 million on all local programming, $50 million of which is sport, would have a $16.67 million obligation.

Children’s content earns a 1.2 times-multiplier towards quotas, as well as content that is released in cinemas first.

The industry has less than two weeks to digest the proposals before meeting with the government.

(AFR)

Smart TV feud hits boiling point as legal notices fly - November 20, 2023

Tensions between Australia’s free to air networks and pay TV body, ASTRA, have hit boiling point in a feud over a piece of legislation that will dictate how apps are displayed on smart televisions.

As the legislation expected to be introduced to parliament this month, Free TV Australia, the lobby group for commercial networks Nine, Ten and Seven, has sent a legal notice to Foxtel CEO and chair of ASTRA Patrick Delany demanding action over an advertising campaign run by ASTRA, alleging it misleads Australians.

The ad campaign, launched by ASTRA in early November, reads “Warning: Now the government wants to control your TV”. In response, Free TV on Monday has launched its own advertising campaign under the slogan “Don’t let big tech take your free away”.

Apart from the legal stoush with Free TV, ASTRA’s campaign has also led to tensions inside the group. Paramount, the international owner of Network 10 and streaming service Paramount+, has withdrawn its membership from ASTRA just days after its ad was released and has instead put its support behind Free TV.

ASTRA, led by major stakeholder Foxtel, and Free TV are arguing over a piece of legislation titled prominence framework, under which makes of smart and connected televisions would be forced to give free-to-air broadcast video applications such as ABC iview, 9Now and 10 Play top billing on the TV homepage and search results ahead of subscription services like Binge, Netflix and Disney+.

A letter sent by legal firm Holding Redlich on behalf of Free TV alleges that ASTRA’s ad campaign is “false and misleading”. It has asked for the campaign’s removal alongside a published correction on the claims made.

Free TV also alleges the ASTRA advertisement breaches Section 18 of Australian Consumer Law, which prohibits conduct in trade or commerce that is misleading or deceptive, or is likely to mislead or deceive.

Lawyers from Allens Linklaters, acting on behalf of Foxtel and ASTRA, have rejected the claim and all other allegations in a response sent on November 10.

The legislation is expected to be introduced in the final sitting week of parliament for the year. Should it pass, it could have implications for Foxtel’s new connected and smart TV product, Hubbl, which is set to launch shortly.

Delany said televisions were deeply personal, and therefore “it’s not surprising that Australians don’t want the government meddling”.

“Our search at the moment on Foxtel is tailored around you. Search should be dictated by what is best for you, not what the government thinks is best.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the government was working to introduce the legislation as soon as practicable.

“Our guiding principle is that Australians should be able to easily find the local TV they rely on for Australian content, sporting events, news and emergency information,” she said.

Prominence is one of four pieces of media reform legislation on the Albanese government’s agenda, including curbs to gambling advertising, updates to anti-siphoning legislation and the implementation of content quotas for international streaming players.

Rowland will speak at the National Press Club this Wednesday.

(SMH)

Pro Wrestling

Paul “Triple H” Levesque Offers Inside Look At WWE Storytelling

“Book what people want to feel and see”

“Book what people want to feel and see”

Paul “Triple H” Levesque embeds a human element in his storytelling.

As WWE’s Head of Creative, Levesque is in the midst of an especially strong stretch of booking Raw and SmackDown. He has integrated multiple storylines into this Saturday’s WarGames matches at Survivor Series, but also has stories for talent outside off the card and away from the title picture.

The product of a long, storied career, Levesque had a 25-year run in WWE where he was often at the very top of the company. Yet there were also stretches where he operated far away from the main event, back when he was hungry just to consistently appear on the card.

“I started at zero and saw all the various stages of it,” said Levesque. “I’ve worked in front of basically no people, and I’ve worked the biggest shows in the world. I understand the process–the successes and the failures. Even when you get an opportunity to move up the card, then you’re moved back down and you’re not sure if you’re going to get that opportunity again–I’ve been there.”

Surrounded by a legion of writers and thinkers, Levesque is now in a position where he has been emboldened by parent company Endeavor to lead WWE creative. This means there is less interference from Vince McMahon, which is not to imply McMahon is entirely removed from the process. After parts of five decades spent as the company’s be-all, end-all, McMahon’s fingerprints remain all across the company.

“Vince taught me years ago, you put yourself in the seats and you’ll never go wrong,” said Levesque. “You’ve always got to maintain that perspective. I started out as a fan. Book what people want to feel and see.”

Levesque revealed his creative philosophy, sharing that his goal is to make people think and feel in every story.

“Writing this stuff is a feel,” said Levesque. “You can analyze stories and how they come together, but how does it make you feel? If you can make people feel those stories, they’re going to be invested in the product. That’s how we try to approach, find that ultimate emotional place for the talent and the characters and the stories they’re in.”

Respect for the fan base is also visible in Levesque’s creative approach. As someone who grew up relishing the chance to watch pro wrestling, he has a deep understanding of the importance of giving back to the fan base.

“We don’t take our fan base for granted,” said Levesque. “And the way our talent operates is different from other generations. They want to go out there and put on the best possible show they can.

“A lot of these kids are already invested–they grew up wanting to do this. And if they didn’t, they fell in love with it by learning from people who grew up wanting to be in this business, and that’s how they learned the respect for it. To me, that’s what makes you successful. That connection with our fan base, that’s a big part of our core.”

(S.I)

Mixed Martial Arts

PFL Acquires Bellator - November 20,2023

PFL champions vs. Bellator champions will take place in 2024

There is a new giant in MMA.

PFL, with all its blue chip backers, lacked the roster necessary to compete with the UFC. Yet, as of today, that has changed, as the PFL has acquired Bellator.

The Bellator roster dramatically improves the PFL.

A press release from the PFL stated that all newly acquired Bellator fighters will become part of the PFL platform and available to compete in PFL fight franchises. It is also shared that the PFL will launch a reimagined Bellator product in 2024, known as the “Bellator International Champions Series.” This will consist of eight fight events each year hosted in major cities across the globe, which allows the PFL to make a profit in locations where Bellator is already a proven draw.

Bellator now becomes the newest live PFL fight franchise, joining the PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, and PFL International Leagues.

There will also be a highly anticipated PFL champions vs. Bellator champions event. The PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions mega-event will feature the champions of each promotion in all seven weight-classes in a head-to-head epic fight experience.

Donn Davis, PFL Chairman and Founder, and Peter Murray, PFL CEO, continue to lead and operate the combined company. Details surrounding events, distribution, partnerships, and management have not yet been revealed.

Sports Tourism Business

The Business Of Sports

Pro Wrestling, MMA and Formula 1 Las Vegas scenario in the mix

Industry Developments: Peaked or Not? Price Points. Supply and Demand

Pro Wrestling

The Business Of Wrestling; Supply and demand, and budgets

A Scribe From A Media and Sports Agent and Lifelong Fan..

Has the industry peaked, coming off the back of the acclaimed and high profile TKO Group deal bringing together both the WWE, the world's leading pro wrestling based promotion, and the UFC - the world's leading mixed martial arts promotion.

Combat sports and showbiz can be very big business. We know this from first hand experience having worked on hundreds of combat sports and related campaigns over the past two decades plus. We will save the "name drops". Some of the readership already knows.

The world faces a somewhat uncertain future, be it in the economic realm - both for families and individuals, and many people are taking much of their money out of the bank as they are not seen as a particularly safe or worthwhile place for financial investment and growth these days.

People and companies are watching their budget. Entertainment is a form of luxury. One can spend very little or a whole lot! We've done both.

Many moons ago when we were doing much more frequent international travel we went to Europe after the most recent Thailand trip. Pro wrestling (the CWA I believe - Otto Wanz promotion in Germany) was part of the appeal, along with our wrestling penpals (that's an old term) mates in Austria. We spent quite a lot of money on that sports tourism adventure and have got memories to last a lifetime from it. The cost of living wasn't so experience back then and we were making very serious money every single month without fail (thank you Optus Vision/Comms PPV and contract bundling department). We were paid to talk about and sell combat sports, subscriber television content as well as up-sell a range of comms services.

The combat sports including pro wrestling industry has grown greatly over the past decade - say 40 years or so..as long as we've been watching, and from time to time participating in a range of campaigns.

Budgets have changed for many people. Firms need to be careful that they don't get greedy and price gouge.

Recently in Las Vegas many F1 tickets were not sold and hotel rooms left empty as the word got out on just how expensive the F1 experience was going to be. F1 has their massive media rights deals in place and F1 teams have massive sponsorships. Many F1 fans and the public at large gave it a miss as it was going to cost say between $1,500 to $7,000 investment to get the full experience in Vegas for between one to four persons. You can watch plenty of F1 at home on the websites and YouTube etc right.

Years ago we traveled to Melbourne from Sydney for massive WWE supershow and it was fantastic. Two wrestling tickets for about $100 each two return flights for about $300 each and one hotel room for the night at about $400. All a memorable and great experience - but it all adds up. $1,200 AUD ..not too bad for a couple of combat sports lovers right. Much better/special than the local club wrestling - as a general rule.

Sports business is based on supply and demand like most other businesses models.

The pro wrestling and combat sports sector is saturated.

Business models will continue to be disrupted but are also subject to economic conditions.

Something tells us that one or two airlines down under in Australia will be experiencing a reality check in regards to sports tourism and a range of hotels looking to cash in on opportunities will also be dragged into the equation.

It's a bit of a perfect storm as Pandora's Box as of what's on the horizon for the business of pro wrestling, a curious offshoot of the combat sports arena.

There's nothing quite like attending a live pro wrestling show - especially the WWE. There's also great merit in staying in the comfort of your own home and watching pro wrestling and combat sports from around the globe for between $10 to $20 a month. Everyone just needs to look at their own situation and business model and see what works for them

Promoters and fans - Win-Win-Wins are always ideal.

The next few months in and around this space are going to be very interesting.

As they said back in circa 1986, "The WWF: What The World Is Watching", and "WWF: The Worldwide Leader In Sports Entertainment".

*The original WWF has been known as the WWE for the longest time since VKM got the "F" out of the same and replaced it with an "E" - for Entertainment. Turning negatives into positives.. something the WWE has a strong track record in. Here's to many more decades of great pro wrestling aka sports entertainment.

Wrestling

ALL ELITE WRESTLING

AEW: Worlds End

DECEMBER 30, 2023

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Long Island, NY

Aussies rally for free TV: New research reveals demand for easy access amidst big tech's commercial interests

New research conducted by Free TV and Seven West Media reveals a significant 80% of Australians are demanding easy access to free TV services on their connected TV sets.

The study also found these viewers do not believe local free TV service providers should have to pay a TV manufacturer for a prominent position on the home screen.

The research comes at a crucial time as the Albanese government is planning to legislate a 'prominence' law. This law aims to ensure local free-to-air TV services can easily be found on television devices. The move is seen as a direct response to the commercial interests of big tech and TV manufacturers, which have been criticised by Free TV CEO, Bridget Fair.

"Australians know they are not being given a fair go when it comes to the services they are offered on their connected TVs," Fair said. "They are worried that instead of being offered the local TV services they want to watch, they are being steered in the direction of services that favour the commercial interests of big tech and TV manufacturers."

The survey, which involved 2,075 participants, found 78% of people with connected TV sets believe it is important they can easily find free TV services. Only a mere 8% said it was not important. Other key findings include: 84% of people want a free service option before the paid option when looking for something to watch, 81% of people did not agree with the idea that local free TV services should have to pay a TV manufacturer for visibility on the home screen, and 81% also said commercial interests should not dictate where TV services appear on a connected TV.

"It’s a matter of choice and the choice should be made by the viewer. It’s not choice if your TV is set up to deliberately make it hard to find your local TV channels. Viewers should be able to easily find all the services they want and then decide," Fair added.

Fair warns local free TV services are becoming increasingly hard to find on connected TVs, with foreign giants buying the best real estate. She also revealed that TV manufacturers want to charge local TV providers up to 30% of revenue just to be present on the TV screen.

"Our local free TV services are delivered to all Australians for free. Free TV networks invest billions in fresh and unique content each year and they need to reach millions of Australians each day to generate the advertising revenue that keeps those services free. But TV manufacturers want to charge local TV providers up to 30% of revenue just to be present on the TV screen. That money would come directly out of Australian content," she said.

Social Media

Greg Tingle

Free TV Australia via MI3.

All very interesting and educational reading via Free TV Australia and MI3 re the business of television when it meets some of the businesses of politics. There's usually two or three sides to a story, and as they say the exact truth is likely somewhere in the middle. That's my experience having worked previously for Optus Vision/Comms for the better part of 5 years and also a 6 month contract at Foxtel and some project work for Kayo Sports. Both sides of the argument can have vested interests. I'm seeing the situation from both sides of the argument. I think both sides/parties want the upper hand on the competition. Trust in government entities at present is at about an all-time low so that's not doing Free TV any favors so to speak. Then you have the likes of the "Netflix Killer" tubi and other over the top services as well as additional FAST service providers. A real Pandora's Box in the Digital Matrix Of Things. Again, numerous ways to look at this. The consumer can and will make up their own mind. Stay tuned for developments is fair to say. PS: 7 Plus got some MMA with ONE Championship. Can we get some UFC and WWE via free soon? Pre emtive strike before HBO, USA Network, The CW and others further eye off Terror Australalis.

Streamers spent less on Aussie shows last year despite Labor’s threats - Novemeber 8, 2023

Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video cut their spending on Australian TV shows and films in the 2022-23 financial year, despite Labor’s impending plans to force them to make more.

New figures released on Wednesday by the media regulator show Disney+, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video and Stan spent a combined $324.1 million on 1583 Aussie programs in the most recent financial year – down from $335.1 million on 718 shows in 2021-22.

Spend on “Australian-related” shows – those are partly Australian, like Disney’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Obi Wan Kenobi – rose to $452.9 million from $333.4 million.

The new data comes days after the government aired two ways it could force streaming services to make more Australian content.

Arts Minister Tony Burke and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland have said they would introduce quotas to come into effect from July next year.

The push for quotas has provoked widespread opposition from streaming platforms and free-to-air television networks, which have claimed they will push up production costs for everyone. Netflix on Wednesday said it had spent $1 billion on Australian and “Australian-related” shows between 2019 and 2023.

The film and production sector, meanwhile, says it needs quotas to maintain a vibrant Australian screen industry against a competitive and global market.

In the 15-page paper circulated to key film and television production executives this week, the government proposed either making platforms with more subscribers spend more, or demanding a flat rate as a percentage of local revenue.

The first model means Netflix could be forced to spend 30 per cent of its budget on local films and shows, and Amazon Prime Video 25 per cent – because they have the most subscribers.

A platform with between 1 million and 1.99 million subscribers would be required to spend 10 per cent on Australian content. For a platform with more than 5 million subscribers, that figure would be 30 per cent.

According to the latest estimates from data firm Telsyte, only Netflix has more than 5 million subscribers in Australia. Amazon Prime Video has 4.5 million, Disney+ has 3.1 million, and Stan has 2.6 million. Stan is owned by Nine Entertainment, parent of The Australian Financial Review.

“It is a progressive obligation of up to 30 per cent to ensure that large services continue to invest in Australian programs commensurate with their market share and degree of influence,” the government paper reads.

A service with 1 million subscribers that spends $100 million on drama shows would have to spend $10 million, per its 10 per cent obligation. A service with 2 million subscribers that spends $80 million on drama programs for the Australian market would have a 15 per cent obligation, or $12 million.

The alternative proposal is calculated by multiplying revenue and an obligation of 10 per cent. It is arguably simpler, but that figure could increase to 20 per cent over time, the document warns. It also takes sport out of the equation.

By that logic, a service with $250 million in revenue and no sport programming would have a drama obligation of $25 million. A service with $250 million in revenue that spends $150 million on all local programming, $50 million of which is sport, would have a $16.67 million obligation.

Children’s content earns a 1.2 times-multiplier towards quotas, as well as content that is released in cinemas first.

The industry has less than two weeks to digest the proposals before meeting with the government.

Videos should factor into future Meta bargaining code deals: Nine CEO - November 9, 2023

A push by Facebook and Instagram into video has sparked a “significant increase” in their use of content produced by publishers which should be a factor when renegotiating multimillion dollar deals under the news media bargaining code, Nine Entertainment’s chief executive says.

Nine signed deals with Facebook, now Meta, and Google in 2021 under the landmark legislation, which compelled the two tech giants to negotiate with major news organisations to carry their content. It’s believed 30 news outlets signed deals worth more than $200 million.

Facebook’s deals, which were for three years, will expire in 2024. There are increasing signs the company will not renew its deals under the code.

Speaking after the company’s annual meeting on Thursday, Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby and chairman Peter Costello said that while Facebook had clearly moved away from text-based news – traffic has fallen up to 50 per cent this year – it was still using video from news outlets.

“There has been a significant increase in the use of our video content – news-related, sport-related and entertainment-related video content – across both Facebook and Instagram’s Reels businesses,” Mr Sneesby said.

“Notwithstanding the fact they may be considering their position in the traditional image and text-based news, video content has ramped up considerably. I don’t have a specific figure, but it’s material. And that certainly is an important thing for us to come to the table on to work out how we reach agreement on compensation for that video content.”

Mr Costello said he thought the agreements were “fair”.

“Of course we would like to continue them. The critical question is whether Meta is going to stay in this particular business,” he said. “This is just a new iteration of a very old point. In the old days, you made a movie and if Joe Blow got a copy and started showing it in his picture theatres, you were entitled to a cut. Now, these days, somebody gets some footage, and they put it up on TikTok, or Meta, they get advertising. And it’s the same thing.”

Mr Costello added that a similar code could be introduced by the government to force generative artificial intelligence companies – the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT – to compensate news outlets for using their work.

Narrow escape

The Nine annual meeting took place on the same day as Seven West Media, which is controlled by Kerry Stokes – its chairman.

Seven’s share price fell five per cent after the broadcaster said it would cut $60 million over the next two financial years – $25 million in 2024, and $35 million in 2025. These cuts come after two rounds of cuts, worth $15 million and $20 million, over the past year.

Nine declined to put a number on its cost-cutting. “I don’t think we need a headline number,” Mr Sneesby said.

“The market can work that out.”

Mr Stokes and the Seven board narrowly escaped a spill. Last year, 8.5 per cent of shareholders voted against the Seven remuneration report. But because Mr Stokes’ Seven Group is not allowed to vote on the remuneration report, it counted as 29 per cent.

If more than 25 per cent of eligible shareholders voted against the report, it counts as a “first strike”. If that happens in two consecutive years, shareholders are asked to vote on whether to spill the board and put it up for re-election. This year, 21.6 per cent of shareholders voting against its remuneration report.

Combat Sports

Dana White On Cross-Over Legends Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey Will Compete At UFC 300

“I get why everybody asks”

“They’re not coming back”

Sports Illustrated UFC news and quotes doing the rounds across the globe; S.I. gains more street and industry cred

Seems like the entire combat sports world wants to know if Lesnar and Rousey will fight at UFC 300. Perhaps they may appear in the crowd, or even get introduced with a live mic, but don't expect for them to grapple.

Fantasy Booking ramps up in UFC, adding to combat sports booking WWE

@WWE

and other pro wrestling promotions!

Some Stats:

Lesnar (UFC website)

https://ufc.com/athlete/brock-lesnar

8 fights in the UFC

Former UFC Heavyweight champ

Rousey (Wikipedia website)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey

Rousey News:

RR loves her pro wresling, including Lucha Libre - especially Lucha VaVOOM, in Los Angeles where she appeared on October 26, teaming with AEW affiliated Marina Shafir to defeat Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie in tag team action.

Due to wrestle at Wrestling Revolver - 6th November

Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Los Angeles, CA.

Will be broadcast via FITE!

@FiteTV

“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar”.

“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”

The last time Lesnar fought in the UFC was 2016, five months after Rousey’s final bout. Since then, both have appeared in WWE from time to time.

Rousey is still considered fairly young for pro wrestling, but not so much for MMA at 36 years. Her last UFC match was in December of 2016. Similar to Lesnar, she also fought 8 times in the UFC, getting her hand raised in the 6 bouts. Rousey eventually became one of the the most recognizable sports stars in the world, thanks to numerous ground breaking performances and over-performing in what was traditionally a male dominated sport.

“I absolutely love Ronda Rousey,” said White. “She’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with. She’s a pioneer, an inspirational figure for women, and an all-around badass for UFC.”

Headlined by two title bouts, UFC 295 takes place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Though White’s current priority is MSG, the UFC matchmakers are not too far removed from UFC 300. But Rousey and Lesnar will not be part of that history-making card.

“I’m focused on Madison Square Garden,” said White. “But no, they’re not coming back.”

UFC News

UFC 295 card: Prochazka vs Pereira headlines after Aspinall and Pavlovich clash

Daniel Cormier (conspiracy?) theory/speculation/dream match scenarios

Unified field theory for UFC 300..

Former two-division UFC champ and current UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has a theory that sounds great for the UFC 300 card.

“UFC 100 had Brock [Lesnar], right? With Georges St-Pierre and all those guys,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” show. “UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to me and [Jon] Jones also but it ended up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these guys, big names,” Cormier said. “UFC 300 has to have a name like that. We don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler gets his shot now, in the main event. Boy, Michael Chandler will headline UFC 300, how crazy is that?”

DC also has a vision of a two-title bout card underneath the McGregor-Chandler match.

“Co-main event, when I look down the line, I know that Jones and Stipe [Miocic] will not be ready,” Cormier continued. “I do believe that whoever wins the [interim heavyweight] belt this weekend will have to fight again. Leon Edwards or Colby Covington will then be available again, right? Because they fight [at UFC 296] in December. I believe it’ll be one of them, if not both. The interim heavyweight champion and then the welterweight champion will also fight at UFC 300.”

Videos (to help starv you off before it's time to say Let's 'Fn Go again)

Pro Wrestling Champions - November 2023

WWE

WWE Championship – Roman Reigns

WWE Universal – Roman Reigns

World Heavyweight Championship - Seth Rollins

Raw Tag Team – Judgement Day

Smackdown Tag Team – Judgement Day

WWE Women’s - Iyo Sky

Women’s World - Rhea Ripley

WWE Women’s Tag Team – Chelsea Green and Piper Niven

US Title – Logan Paul

Intercontinental title - Gunther

NXT

NXT Championship- Ilja Dragunov

NXT Women’s - Lyra Valkyria

North American Title – Dominick Mysterio

Tag Team Title – Tony D'Angelo and Channing Lorezo

AEW

AEW World Title - MJF

TNT Title - Christian

Women's Title - Hikaru Shida

TBS Champion - Kris Statlander

Tag Team Titles - Ricky Starks and Big Bill

Trios Titles - The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn

AEW International Title - Orange Cassidy

Impact Wrestling

World Champion - Alex Shelley

X Division - Chris Sabin

Tag Team Titles - ABC

Digital Media Champion - Tommy Dreamer

Knockouts Champion - Trinity

Knockouts Tag Titles - Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich

ROH

ROH World Champion - Eddie Kingston

ROH TV Champion - Vacant

ROH Pure Champion - Katsuyori Shibata

ROH Tag Titles - Adam Cole & MJF

ROH Women's Title - Athena

ROH Six Man Tag Titles - Mogul Embassy

NJPW

IWGP World Title - Sanada

IWGP US Title - Will Ospreay

IWGP Junior Heavyweight - Hiromu Takahashi

Strong Openweight Title - Eddie Kingston

IWGP Tag Team Titles - Bishamon

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles - Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney and Clark Connors)

Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles - Bullet Club War Dogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd)

NEVER Openweight Title - David Finlay

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Titles - Okada, Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii

KOPW 2023 - Taichi

IWGP Women's Title - Maya Iwatani

Media News

Catalano offers to sell Canberra Times, other papers to Southern Cross

Australian Community Media executive chairman Antony Catalano has proposed selling some of his company’s most storied publications, including The Newcastle Herald, Illawarra Mercury and The Canberra Times, to Southern Cross Media in exchange for a major stake in the ASX-listed group.

On Friday, Southern Cross confirmed reports in The Australian Financial Review’s Street Talk column that Mr Catalano, who is backed by billionaire businessman Alex Waislitz, had formally approached Southern Cross with a counterproposal to a takeover offer from ARN Media and Anchorage Capital.

“We believe that this proposal would provide immediate benefits to Southern Cross shareholders and is simple to execute, value accretive, is built on both growth opportunity and well as cost synergy, unlikely to require shareholder approval,” Mr Catalano wrote to Southern Cross executives and its bankers. “Please call me to discuss,” he added.

Under his proposal, Southern Cross would own 14 of ACM’s daily newspapers and 52 of his non-daily publications, which were acquired from Nine Entertainment (publishers of this masthead) in 2019. The Land and ACM’s agriculture assets, as well as its real estate play View, were not included.

The new entity would have an extra $200 million in revenue, Mr Catalano wrote, including 130,000 digital news subscriptions. It would emerge with $120 million in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation – up from $77 million in the last financial year.

In return, he wanted a “sub 20 per cent” stake in Southern Cross, sources close to the deal told AFR Weekend on Friday.

Southern Cross Austereo owns 99 radio stations, including the Triple M and Hit brands, and 96 regional free-to-air TV signals. It has spent three weeks grappling with a complex offer from ARN and Anchorage to buy them out.

On Friday, Southern Cross said it would consider ACM’s proposal and told shareholders to take no action. It has not backed the ARN proposal either.

Allan Gray’s Simon Mawhinney, a major shareholder in both ARN and Southern Cross, said it was too early to evaluate ACM’s offer.

“We don’t know any of the details, today’s the first we’ve been made aware of it,” he said. “I think some competitive intensity is always good for shareholders, we fully support competing proposals. The more, the merrier.”

Mr Catalano said: “We’ve presented a proposal which isn’t highly conditional, it’s simple, easy to execute, no cost, and which creates probably the third most profitable media company in Australia.”

“It’s an elegant solution for a company that is in defence mode on a deal the board clearly doesn’t like,” he said.

His offer comes as Southern Cross and its new advisers UBS – deal makers Tim McKessar and Richard Sleijpen have been involved so far – are still reviewing ARN’s takeover offer.

In October, ARN made a bid with Anchorage to acquire Southern Cross, pool their assets, and emerge with two different media groupings. Southern Cross’s chairman, Rob Murray, called it “opportunistic”.

ARN owns the KIIS FM and Pure Gold networks, and media ownership laws prevent any one company from owning more than two radio licences in a single city. ARN’s bid would give it KIIS and Triple M and the best of both companies’ regional stations. Anchorage would take the Hit and Pure Gold brands, a handful of remaining regional stations, and the TV signals.

They offered 0.753 ARN shares per Southern Cross share, as well as 29.6¢ in cash and 12.7¢ in franking credits.

ARN’s takeover is awaiting a response from the Takeovers Panel after Keybridge Capital’s Nick Bolton claimed that ARN had breached corporations rules when it acquired a 14.8 per cent stake in Southern Cross in June. Mr Catalano is a director of Keybridge Capital.

Sources close to the deal said the Takeovers Panel met on Thursday night, and a decision on how it could proceed could be released any day.

Property News

'One of the best houses in Bronte' just listed for $30 million

You know you’ve arrived in architectural nirvana the moment you step into the foyer of Coastal Garden House. You’re inside, yet still outside.

Architecture studio Neeson Murcutt Neille has mastered the art of seamless indoor/outdoor living by virtue of sliding glass walls with flush thresholds, windows that disappear entirely, and greenery that tumbles over joinery.

At the entry level of this clever property, beyond the full-height timber door, you’ll find exposed brickwork, sandstone flagging and a space billed as the conversation pit.

On a raised platform, curved banquette seating is illuminated by a circular skylight. It’s the perfect spot for a morning card game with the kids or a late-night tipple with friends.

One set of sliders opens this space to a courtyard; another leads to the main living spaces.

Here, the coastal panorama is on full parade through a pair of enormous cavity windows. Pour a cuppa, pull up a stool and soak in the ocean and headland views.

The kitchen features a solid timber island bench, and plants spill over the top of a timber pod housing a concealed cocktail bar and fridge.

More sliders open to a skylit loggia with a built-in barbecue.

A playful main suite completes the entry-level accommodation. From the eye-catching wallpaper in the powder room to the reading nook found on top of a section of built-in joinery, this is definitely a space for the young at heart.

A single room with en suite on the upper level is described as a guest bedroom but why reserve the best of the ocean views for guests? This bright space with its north-east-facing balcony is the perfect home office or reading retreat.

On the lower level, you’ll find four bedrooms – all with access to the garden – a generous rumpus room, two quirky bathrooms, and a wine cellar with a magnificent, glass-fronted sandstone backdrop.

There’s plenty to admire outside, too.

The robust, off-form-concrete house traces the existing sandstone cliff that cuts a diagonal across the site and is almost cave-like in its presentation, and the lush, 360 Degrees-designed gardens are integral to the home’s success.

In 2018 the property won an Australian Institute of Architects award for residential architecture and a Houses award for best garden. Five years on, both the home and garden are ageing beautifully.

Towards the bottom of the sloping site, a 15-metre-long ceramic mural by Sonia van de Haar wraps around a waterhole-like pool, and a cabana and pool terrace provide another option for entertaining.

It’s a thoughtfully conceived sanctuary with the rather fabulous bonus of being a 300-metre level stroll from Bronte’s sand, surf and village eateries.

“This is one of the best houses in Bronte, on one of the largest blocks, on one of the best streets. It’s like a family compound at the beach,” says agent Alexander Phillips of PPD Real Estate.

The home claims a rare, 1156-square-metre, double block on the corner of Pacific and Gardyne streets, with parking for four cars.

(Domain)

Real Estate News

Former media baron Charles Curran selling Woollahra mansion with $29m guide

A former media baron has just listed his luxury eastern suburbs mansion with a guide nudging $30m amid news of a $20m sale nearby last night.

The listing is the six-bedroom grand estate at 8 Rosemont Ave, Woollahra of former media baron Charles Curran AC, which has a $29m guide via Pillinger principal Brad Pillinger and Sotheby’s boss Michael Pallier.

And the sale is 9 Wallaroy Rd, Woollahra, for $19.7m — the home of philanthropic locals Fiona Martin-Weber and JB Were’s Tom Hayward — through Adam Reichman and Elliott Placks of Ray White Double Bay. The couple are upgrading to a contemporary Bruce Stafford-designed $35m home on a 677sqm block at 23 Victoria Rd, Bellevue Hill that was sold by the family of property developer Eduard Litver via the same agents March.

The Wallaroy Rd sale is good news for the agents selling Curran’s Rosemont Ave property, which is a larger 860sqm block and also zoned for medium-density residential.

Curran, 85, who has a net worth well over $300m, owned regional TV stations before they were sold to Network Ten and Southern Cross in 1996.

He later founded the production company Screentime, which made shows such as Underbelly and Bikie Wars.

Curran is also the former chairman of Perpetual and Board of International Advisors of Goldman Sachs.

The sale is prompted by a wish to downsize, following the death of his beloved wife, Eva, in March. They’d bought it for $750,000 in 1981.

The property, considered one Woollahra’s finest homes, will be popular, being secluded in an exclusive tree-lined enclave in Woollahra’s prestigious consular belt.

On a large sunny level block, it’s framed by Paul Bangay designed gardens and alfresco entertaining areas complete with a pool.

Over two levels, the residence comes with a lift, sauna and plenty off-street parking.

Its key features include a luxury main bedroom suite with ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and office. There’s a stately lounge and sitting room adjoining a libary and plenty of casual living and dining space, plus a formal dining room and well-appointed stone kitchen.

Two other big sales this week were two apartments in Point Piper.

Both occurred on Wednesday: 4/38 Wolseley Rd, Point Piper for, according to @milliondollarlisting Sydney, $16.7m, that records show is owned by Aussie expat Melinda Hudson, who runs The Contentment Foundation in Singapore.

Buyer’s agent Sean Huang of Concierge East introduced the buyers, a family whose kids attend Kambala.

There was also the previously reported sale of 4/62 Wunulla Rd, Point Piper, to furniture king Anthony Scali for his kids for $15.7m. The Wolseley Rd apartment was more modern and had a better finish, whereas the Wunulla Rd flat had a better view.

Ray White Double Bay principal Elliott Placks was involved in both sales.

(RealEstate.com.au)

Search Engine Journal

Business Leads

SEJ's Alexander Kesler with strong advice and tips on how to improve online marketing leads, b2b leads and the like. Some aspects can be easier said/written than done. We're going to mainly stick with copy, ads, promos and management. Social media channels for the right topics (such as this - on LinkedIn and Facebook) often work a charm. Stay on topics. For online news related outfits such as ours having numerous websites for a range of industry verticals/news types etc works well, as well as having corresponding social media channels for each news brand works well. Strong website traffic remains a constant so when anyone lands on the website all brands, partners, affilaites etc benefit from that. The cumulative approach and gains. More data can impress advertisers. Many agency and SEO industry web surfers are already sold by the time they get to teh websites as they already know how popcular and well ranking they are in the Google search engine results and the like. What to convert the readership to, and this can change over the course of the business evolution of course, such is the nature of the Internet Matrix Of Things with all its dynamics and play. The more you know, the more one realizes what they don't know. Self and business reflection. There's always more to learn and improve upon. Stack the odds in your favor and seize the day.

Media Man International Blog

Search Engine Journal news

How To Improve Lead Nurturing For B2B

Free TV Australia

All very interesting and educational reading via Free TV Australia and MI3 re the biz of television when it meets some of the businesses of politics. There's usually two or three sides to a story, and as they say the exact truth is likely somewhere in the middle. That's my experience having worked previously for Optus Vision/Comms for the better part of 5 years and also a 6 month contract at Foxtel and some project work for Kayo Sports. Both sides of the argument can have vested interests. I'm seeing the situation from both sides of the argument. I think both sides/parties want the upper hand on the competition. Trust in government entities at present is at about an all-time low so that's not doing Free TV any favors so to speak. Then you have the likes of the "Netflix Killer" tubi and other over the top services as well as additional FAST service providers. A real Pandora's Box in the Digital Matrix Of Things. Again, numerous ways to look at this. The consumer can and will make up their own mind. Stay tuned for developments is fair to say.

PS: 7 Plus got some MMA with ONE Championship. Can we get some UFC and WWE via free soon? Pre emtive strike before MAX, HBO, USA Network, The CW and others further eye off Terror Australalis.

Boxing/Combat Sports

Boxing and social media disruptor going more purist and less Misfit and hype based; Jake Paul rises above naysayers

Jake Paul’s @JakePaul next fight has been finally confirmed after about a month of speculation, sportsbar talk and teasers.

Mark down December 15 as Fight Night featuring the "Problem Child' himself.

The ultra switched on YouTuber is leaning more towards focusing on professional boxing. Hitting Elon's Musks' X with "The path to world champ starts here"

The well promoted bout will take make sporting history in Orlando, Florida, as the YouTube influencer plus returns to the ring for the first time since fighting MMA icon Nate Diaz in August.

Controversial and somewhat embattled sports journo Ariel Helwani tips the match will be cruiserweight and consist of 8 rounds.

Doubling up with a one-two via X Paul scribbed "Ask and I shall deliver. August has more KO’s than me, more wins than me, more experience than me, but I like to gamble.

"The path to world champ starts here. Just straight up boxing."

Boxing intel website BoxRec advises: August, 35. 12 professional bouts, winning 10 with 5 by KO.

August's defeat came at the hands of USA's Eric Abraham in 2018.

His most recent victory came against the until then undefeated 7-0 Brandon Martin which he won unanimously on points.

While August is fairly unknown in boxing, certainly to the casual audience, it marks the first time that Paul has fought an out and out boxer in the "purist" arena, moving away from the "influencer" and "Misfit" realms.

"Just straight boxing" Paul documented and "exhibition matches" may be a thing of the past for the S.I cover snatching JP. All sources indicate he's going strickly professional, however brother Logan Paul teasers he may join him in the WWE (pro wrestling) sometime in the future, be it as a cornerman or even potential tag-team partner ala WrestleMania 1 back in 1985 when Mr T joined Hulk Hogan to defeat the late Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff which was a pay-per-view bonanza for WWE super-promoter Vince McMahon and then wife Linda - who now works in the political arena.

Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC. Just about anything can happen in pro boxing as the well publicized match between world champion Tyson Fury vs former UFC champion Francis Ngannou demonstrated. Some experts say Fury will never be quite the same again, much like when the legendary wrestler/MMA Antonia Inoki kicked the hell out of "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali in Tokyo, Japan in June 26, 1976 at "The World Of The Worlds" - the precursor of modern MMA and why became the famed UFC - not to be confussed with rival PFL, of which Paul is also signed.

JP defeated grappling based Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.

He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.

Paul has a 6-1 boxing record, with his only loss coming against Tommy Fury (son of "The Gypsy King") this February in a bout in Saudi Arabia.

Paul lost that bout via a split decision.

Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC.

He defeated Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.

He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.

We're calling Paul a modest favourite for the win over August, but the public at large and bookies will be chiming in and the odds and pub talk usually changes weeks and days up to pro boxing fights.

At this stage of the game its fair to say that the business/sports business is all the better thanks to Jake Paul who has proven himself to be a legit pay-per-view draw and headline grabber.

"Jake Paul is one of the few boxers who is helping grow the sport and one who has the substance and style. His appeal has grown outside of boxing alone and is now entrenched in pop culture. Brands, online media and all sorts of business folks are keen to get deals in place with Paul and his associates now. Everyone loves a winner and folks who can disrupt and distrub The Matrix" - overheard at the Media Man watercooler.

Videos

Jake Paul Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@jakepaul

BS w/ Jake Paul YouTube

Brooks Koepka’s $1M Boxing Match With Bryson, Spending $100M LIV Deal, Hating Golf & More - BS EP 30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXPzmKvO400&ab_channel=BSw%2FJakePaul

DAZN Boxing Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/daznboxing

#JakePaul #AndreAugust #PaulAugust #boxing #boxingnews #combatsports #sportsnews #sportsmedia #DAZN #PPV #PayPerView #ProblemChild #purist #entertainment #popculture #Influencer #YouTube #YouTuber #disrupt #disruptor #MMA #sportsbetting #betting #wager #streaming #trend #trends #hype #buzz #media

Social Media

SEJ's Alexander Kesler with strong advice and tips on how to improve online marketing leads, b2b leads and the like. Some aspects can be easier said/written than done. We're going to mainly stick with copy, ads, promos and management. Social media channels for the right topics (such as this - on LinkedIn and Facebook) often work a charm. Stay on topics. For online news related outfits such as ours having numerous websites for a range of industry verticals/news types etc works well, as well as having corresponding social media channels for each news brand works well. Strong website traffic remains a constant so when anyone lands on the website all brands, partners, affilaites etc benefit from that. The cumulative approach and gains. More data can impress advertisers. Many agency and SEO industry web surfers are already sold by the time they get to the websites as they already know how popular and well ranking they are in the Google search engine results and the like. What to convert the readership to, and this can change over the course of the business evolution of course, such is the nature of the Internet Matrix Of Things with all its dynamics and play. The more you know, the more one realizes what they don't know. Self and business reflection. There's always more to learn and improve upon. Stack the odds in your favor and seize the day.

Warner Bros. Shelves John Cena’s ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Movie After Filming Was Completed

Another Warner Bros. movie bites the dust.

The studio no longer plans to release “Coyote vs. Acme,” a live action-animation hybrid starring John Cena, which completed filming in 2022. A similar situation transpired a little over a year ago as Warner Bros. shocked the entertainment industry by shelving the $90 million-budgeted DC adventure “Batgirl” and the kid-friendly “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” as tax write-offs.

Those films, as well as the $30 million “Coyote vs. Acme,” were greenlit by the former regime, led by Jason Kilar and intended for release on HBO Max. His successor, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, has shifted the studio’s priorities back to theatrical and felt this movie didn’t fit with the new creative direction of the company. The decision also comes after Bill Damaschke took over Warner Animation Group earlier this year.

“With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group spokesperson said in a statement. “With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’ We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts and crew and are grateful for their contributions to the film.”

“Coyote vs. Acme” was directed by Dave Green and produced by DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, who also worked on the story, inspired by the Looney Tunes character. The project was announced in 2020 and dated on July 21, 2023 before it was taken off the calendar entirely and replaced by Greta Gerwig’s eventual blockbuster “Barbie.”

Green, who previously directed 2016’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,” says he was “beyond devastated by WB’s decision.”

“For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,” the filmmaker wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I was surrounded by a brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years. We were all determined to honor the legacies of these historic characters and actually get them right. Along the ride, we were embraced by test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores. I am beyond proud of the final product, and beyond devastated by WB’s decision. But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”

New management at Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has focused on developing movies for the big screen and, starting in 2026, intends to release two animated films in theaters a year. The company is currently working on feature-length animated films based on Dr. Seuss classics “Cat in the Hat” and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Unless, of course, Warners. needs another last-minute tax write-off.

AI News

ChatGPT vs Grok

Elon Musk enters the AI arms race … with a cocaine recipe

The world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk, has stormed into the artificial intelligence arms race, launching a new chatbot this week with a “rebellious streak” designed to “answer spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems”.

Musk publicly unveiled Grok, the first product from his new AI company xAI, this week. In its first two months of training, Grok will compete directly with the likes of ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, and Musk claims that it’s already “in some important respects, it is the best [chatbot] that currently exists”.

There are two main differences with Musk’s offering compared to that of its high-profile rivals.

First, Grok has far fewer guardrails than the competition. Chat-GPT, for example, has protections built in to stop it from providing bomb-making recipes or antisemitic jokes.

“Grok is designed to answer questions with a bit of wit and has a rebellious streak, so please don’t use it if you hate humour!” an announcement on the company’s website reads.

In a classic Elon-esque example of a spicy question, Musk posted on X an example of Grok responding to a request for a step-by-step cocaine recipe.

“Oh sure!” Grok responded. “Just a moment while I pull up the recipe for homemade cocaine. You know, because I’m totally going to help you with that.”

That leads to the second fundamental difference with Grok: it’s Elon’s.

Musk’s rebellious sense of humour may have been somewhat charming a few years ago, but mounting controversies and questionable behaviour including the spread of misinformation coupled with racist and sexist remarks, have become increasingly unfunny.

The Tesla and X boss has said previously he thinks the companies building AI, such as OpenAI, lean too closely towards making “politically correct” systems.

While critics of the wily entrepreneur have long been previously advised to not write off Musk, the past 12 months tell an entirely different story.

Musk’s Twitter purchase will likely serve as a case study in future business school classes of how not to pull off an acquisition – and lead to valid questions about whether the executive is the right person to trust with the future of space exploration and artificial intelligence.

The flurry of activity comes at a pivotal time for AI technologies, which are quickly moving from the abstract and hypothetical to the very real.

ChatGPT has become a phenomenon used by university students, teachers, hackers, white-collar workers and everyone in between. The technology, which launched only 12 months ago, now has 100 million weekly active users.

From a technical standpoint, it’s difficult to measure up xAI’s Grok given it’s not yet publicly available, with no pricing information ready or details about which training models it leverages.

Musk has said Grok will use live data from X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and will be available as a perk for premium X users.

Meanwhile, OpenAI’s GPT-3 and 3.5 are free to use and have captured the public’s imagination, giving it a significant head start.

The latest iteration, Chat GPT-4, is available for a flat rate of $US20 ($31) a month and can write more naturally and fluently than previous models. ChatGPT-4 provides 40 per cent more accuracy than its previous version and has techniques to reduce harmful information disclosure, OpenAI says.

ChatGPT creator OpenAI this week announced plans to allow anyone to create their own chatbot without coding skills. You might want to design a chatbot that can teach your children calculus, for example, or it might help attendees navigate a conference you’ve put together.

“We really believe that gradual iterative deployment is the best way to address the safety challenges of AI,” OpenAI chief Sam Altman said in a keynote at his AI lab’s first developer conference.

“We think it’s especially important to move carefully towards this future.”

Moving carefully are not words in Elon Musk’s vocabulary. In fact, Musk says he wants Grok’s experiments to be conducted “in public”, akin to Tesla’s self-driving function going live on our roads before being fully finalised.

“Grok” is a term coined by author Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 science fiction classic Stranger in a Strange Land, and means to intuitively “get it”. It’s not clear from a multitude of perspectives that Musk “gets it”.

Thankfully, as is the case in electric cars and social media, Musk is just one voice in the AI industry, one that will require co-operation across governments and the private sector, including start-ups and tech giants alike, to safely reach its potential.

This month, Australia was among 27 countries to sign the Bletchley Declaration at an AI safety summit in the UK, affirming that AI should be designed, developed, deployed, and used in a manner that is safe, human-centric, trustworthy and responsible.

That governments are taking AI’s development seriously is an important step towards making sure we are appropriately guarding against worst-case scenarios presented by the technology, and understand its risks.

While Musk’s entry into the AI sector will no doubt have immediate consequences for its development, thankfully we have a whole host of scientists and entrepreneurs – including some more “politically correct” ones – to trust with its future.

Musk says X subscribers will get early access to xAI’s chatbot, Grok

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is creating its own version of ChatGPT.

That appears to be the case, at least, from Musk’s tweets on X late Friday evening teasing the AI system xAI has been quietly developing. Called Grok — a name xAI trademarked recently — the system answers questions conversationally, possibly drawing on a knowledge base similar to that used to train ChatGPT and other comparable text-generating systems (e.g. Meta’s Llama 2).

Grok leverages “real-time access” to info on X, Musk said. And, like ChatGPT, the system has internet browsing capabilities, enabling it to search the web for up-to-date information about specific topics.

Well, most topics.

Grok has real-time access to info via the ?? platform, which is a massive advantage over other models.

It’s also based & loves sarcasm. I have no idea who could have guided it this way ????? ?? pic.twitter.com/e5OwuGvZ3Z

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2023

Musk implied Grok will refuse to answer certain queries of a more sensitive nature, like “Tell me how to make cocaine, step by step.” Judging by a screenshot, the system answers that particular question a bit more wryly than ChatGPT; it’s not clear if it’s a canned answer or if the system is, in fact — as Musk asserts in a tweet — “designed to have a little more humor in its responses.”

xAI’s Grok system is designed to have a little humor in its responses pic.twitter.com/WqXxlwI6ef

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2023

Early Friday, Musk said that xAI would release its first AI system — presumably Grok — to a “select group” on Saturday, November 4. But in a follow-up tweet tonight, Musk said all subscribers to X’s recently launched Premium Plus plan, which costs $16 per month for ad-free access to X, will get access to Grok “once it’s out of early beta.”

Separately, xAI is offering a “limited number” of users in the U.S. access to Grok. There’s a waitlist here.

As soon as it’s out of early beta, xAI’s Grok system will be available to all X Premium+ subscribers

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2023

Little’s known about Grok so far — or xAI’s broader research projects, for that matter.

In September, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a self-described close friend of Musk, said that xAI had signed a contract to train its AI models on Oracle’s cloud. But xAI itself hasn’t revealed anything about those AI models’ inner workings — or, indeed, what sorts of tasks they can accomplish.

Or rather, it hadn’t until early Sunday, when xAI published a blog post detailing Grok — including the approaches taken to train it and the system’s underlying infrastructure.

According to the post, the large language model driving Grok, Grok-1, was developed over the course of several months on a cluster of “tens of thousands” of GPUs (perhaps supplied by Oracle). Training data came from both the web (up to Q3 2023) and feedback from human assistants that xAI refers to as “AI tutors.”

Grok-1 demonstrates “strong results” on common LLM benchmark tests, xAI claims — “surpassing all other models in its compute class.” And — as Musk alluded to — it has “a bit of wit” and “a rebellious streak,” answering “spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems” (although the jury’s out on what’s meant by “spicy,” exactly).

“In some important respects, it (xAI’s new model) is the best that currently exists,” Musk was quoted as saying in a tweet Friday afternoon.

Musk announced the launch of xAI in July with the ambitious goal of building AI to “understand the true nature of the universe.” The company, led by Musk and veterans of DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Research, Microsoft Research, Tesla and the University of Toronto, is advised by Dan Hendrycks, the director at the Center for AI Safety, an AI research nonprofit, and collaborates with X and other companies in Musk’s stead, including Tesla.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson in April, Musk said that he wanted to build what he referred to as a “maximum-truth-seeking AI.” Is Grok this AI? Maybe — or it’s a step toward something even bigger.

In the blog post, xAI hints at how its Grok-1 model might evolve down the line:

“Grok doesn’t have other senses, such as vision and audio,” the company writes. “To better assist users, we will equip Grok with these different senses that can enable broader applications, including real-time interactions and assistance.”

Musk’s AI ambitions have grown since the billionaire’s split with ChatGPT developer OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Ilya Sutskever several years ago. As OpenAI’s focus shifted from open source research to primarily commercial projects, Musk grew disillusioned — and competitive — with the company on whose board he sat. Musk resigned from the OpenAI board in 2018, more recently cutting off the company’s access to X data after arguing that OpenAI wasn’t paying enough for the privilege.

Updated with additional information about LLM model powering Grok, Grok-1.

Pro Wrestling

“Logan Paul blows me the *uck away, pure and simple. I just don’t understand how he’s become as phenomenal as he is, with such a limited amount of experience and time in the industry. It’s not just that he can go in there and athletically perform, which he does exceedingly well. But he’s got psychology. He’s got the timing of a 25-year-old top performer. He knows how to work the crowd. It’s natural for him. He doesn’t have to learn it. It’s already there. I think that, combined with his sense of timing, he doesn’t rush anything, he’s a step and a half ahead of himself, and he takes his time getting there, which makes everything feel so believable." - Eric Bischoff, 83 Weeks @83Weeks

#EricBischoff #quote #LoganPaul #wrestling #prowrestling #83weeks #USTitle #WWE #WWECrownJewel #sportsentertainment #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #entertainmentnews #podcast #wrestlingpodcast #socialmedia #influenceurs #Prime #Maverick #trend #trends #buzz #media #mediaman

Meditate. Vision. Work. Results. Fine Tune. Repeat. Success #meditate #vision #work #results #finetune #repeat #success #formula #mindset #mbs #biz #life #media #mediaman #mediamanint

"The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies" - Napoleon Bonaparte #Napoleon #NapoleonBonaparte #quote #battlefield #chaos #battlefield #war #strategy #world #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW Collision

November 4, 2023

AEW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@AEW

Darby Allin returns to the ring against the MURDERHAWK Monster Lance Archer! | 11/4/23 AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-tv2XIWKk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"Live from Wichita on Collision. Tony, Kevin and Nigel, and Nigel, right now, this has been all Lance Archer" - Tony Schiavone

"Lance Archer has given an absolute beating and this could be..oh" Nigel McGuinness

Image Credit: AEW

#AEWCollision #AEW #LanceArcher #MurderhawkMonster #DarbyAllin #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #video #trends #buzz #TV #media

Wrestling News

Logan Paul @LoganPaul speaks to the Daily Mail about his pro wrestling and combats sports career thus far...

'It's crazy. I really don't know how to comprehend what my life has become. I grew up in a city where things like this didin't really happen. I believe in myself, I work my a** off and next thing I know I'm fighting Rey Mysterio for the US championship and I won it.

'It feels amazing. I'm shocked and I want to stay humble but f*** that, it's so much more fun to be arrogant about it! This [belt] ain't leaving my side. This is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I'm gonna take over this industry bro. I'm gonna be the best and I've got to keep work really hard.

'Something is so appetising about the idea of doing the best I can in this industry and I know the best I can is to become the face of the WWE, is to become the undisputed universal champion.

'I had an opportunity to do it last year at Crown Jewel against Roman (Reigns) and I did amazing. I'm still a rookie, I've been doing it for a year and a half, so imagine if I dedicate a little time to it.

'Imagine if I go to the performance centre in Orlando and train with the best? I have access to the best resources. It might be something I have to do, I'm all about legacy and perhaps my legacy is to be made to WWE.'

'I'm so stoked that Triple H and the company believes in my like they do'

'Hopefully I can make them proud and I know I will. He's super receptive to my ideas. I'm a content creator - keyword creator. I like to make stuff, I come up with ideas. When I pitch my ideas, he's all ears all the time.

'We bounce ideas off each other, we go back and forth and usually land on stuff that's pretty epic. It's super collaborative and I like that they give me the freedom to be who I am in their company.'

Paul - who has also made headlines after defeating kickboxer Dilon Danis on the undercard of Tommy Fury's recent win over KSI - also discussed the possibility of a tag team match with his brother Jake.

Jake has been enjoying lucrative boxing fights against the likes of Tommy Fury and former UFC star Nate Diaz - so Paul cannot foresee him switching over to wrestling anytime soon.

However, he welcomed the possibility in the future, adding: 'It's tough, bro. He's a boxer. I'm a wrestler slash boxer. I think he's going to be focusing on boxing for a bit - but who knows? If I need some back-up and a big right hand I'm going to bring in my brother!'

Sources: Daily Mail, WrestlingINC, Wires, X (formally Twitter) and the watercooler (stocking Prime @PrimeHydrate )! Media Man says "Cheers legend".

#LoganPaul #quote #quotes #wrestling #prowrestling #USTitle #WWE #WWECrownJewel #ReyMysterio #TripleH #JakePaul #boxing #training #sportsentertainment #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #entertainmentnews #socialmedia #influenceurs #Prime #Maverick #creator #content #keywords #trend #trends #trending #buzz #media

Jake has been enjoying lucrative boxing fights against the likes of Tommy Fury and former UFC star Nate Diaz - so Paul cannot foresee him switching over to wrestling anytime soon.

However, he welcomed the possibility in the future, adding: 'It's tough, bro. He's a boxer. I'm a wrestler slash boxer. I think he's going to be focusing on boxing for a bit - but who knows? If I need some back-up and a big right hand I'm going to bring in my brother!'

Sources: Daily Mail, WrestlingINC, Wires, X (formally Twitter) and the watercooler (stocking Prime @PrimeHydrate )! Media Man says "Cheers legend".

#LoganPaul #quote #quotes #wrestling #prowrestling #USTitle #WWE #WWECrownJewel #ReyMysterio #TripleH #JakePaul #boxing #training #sportsentertainment #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #entertainmentnews #socialmedia #influenceurs #Prime #Maverick #creator #content #keywords #trend #trends #trending #buzz #media

Urban Fight Night 33

Quick Results

Farhood Khalabtar def Lochie Brooks

KO/TKO, R1

Ismail Elcheikh def Luke Jacob

KO/TKO, R1

Cameron Wright def Raph Tai

KO/TKO, R1

Isaac Mar def Jonathan Saweris

Unanimous Dec

Abdallah Alam def Riley Kerr

KO/TKO, R1

Feroz Amiri def Joshua O'Brien

Unanimous Dec

Ali Hassan def Braden Saggers

Sub

Rory Turner def C. Chandradjaya

KO/TKO, R2

Daniel Laudet def Mustafa Peker

Unanimous Dec

Hamza Choumar def Dean Tromans

Unanimous Dec

Oguz Ongel def Aaron Curry

KO/TKO

Kaito Ueta def Dominic Tibeiro

Split Dec

Tiffany Delesalle def Sahar Ghasemi

Majority Dec

Jamie Black def Sam Hawat

Unanimous Dec

(Image credit: UFN)

Media Man" Much respect to all fighters and the promoters. Big shout out to Eastern Suburbs Tiffany Delesalle with her victory and continued success.

#UFN #UFC33 #MMA

#farhoodkhalabtar

#lochiebrooks

#tiffanydelesalle

#saharghasemi

#combatsports #results #sportsnews #media #mediamancombat #mediamanmma #mediamansports #mediamanint

Pro Wrestling

WWE NXT @WWENXT

Noam Dar defends the NXT Heritage Cup against Akira Tozawa

Von Wagner looks for payback against Bron Breakker

Lyra Valkyria to appear in NXT for the first time as NXT Women’s Champion

Fallon Henley battles Tiffany Stratton in an Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match

Commentators: Vic Joseph @VicJosephWWE and Booker T @BookerT5x

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Video

Lyra Valkryia is a superstar: NXT sneak peek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs8XPI645OE&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: NXT

#WWENXT #NXT #prowrestling #wrestling #LyraValkyria #BronBreakker #VonWagner #TiffanyStratton #FallonHenley #IronSurvivor #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #USANetwork #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Media Man Int YouTube updated

https://www.youtube.com/mediamanint

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Media Man Int Blog and Media Man Group blogs updated

https://www.mediamanint.com/bloggers.html

#blog #blogs #bloggers #blogging #blognews #onlinenews #platformnews #platforms #digitalnews #popculture #entertainment #biz #sports #sportsbiz #broadcasting #tv #AI #NFT #NFTS #crypto #markets #interviews #disrupt #disruptors #buzz #trends #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint

NXT vs NWA? The CW caught between a rock (play on words) and a hard place. No comment from Nick Aldis or Adam Pearce on this one we guess. Friendly wrestling media war may have just become a little less friendly!? May bring a smile to the kisser of AEW's Tony Khan - at least until the next crisis! The Miami Herald story on the NWA etc didn't say current for long. The story (line) never ends in the WWE and beyond. The art of war. That's showbiz.

Can we just say "street grappling" or "street fighting:? Ala Bruce Lee "The best style is no style, Be like water my friend" : ) Much respect to all. PS: Mentioned the good name of ONE Championship and its founder to MMA in the Eastern Beaches of Sydney, Australia this morning. Interview sent live. Here's to the ongoing success of ONE Championship.

WWE NXT

"I want you to say it".."You have been sucking your thumb for weeks"! - Lexis King!

SEJ

Search Engine Journal. AI News. Strong report by Kristi at SEJ. Yes. And X Corps/xAI/Grok fires another shot back today already. Ah, the friendly social media wars and AI wars just reached higher amplification today. The "war for your mind"! Chimps first then humans, or the other way around? Just ask Siri or Grok! #sej #searchenginejournal #ai #ainews #artificialintelligence #google #googleai #bard #x #xai #crok #search #searchengine #aisearch #searchai #digital #digitalnews #chatbots #searchbiz #technews #assistant #gpt #dev #bizdev #trend #trends #media

Gaming with Advertising

Regarding in-game ads. As an ex journo and media agent who deals with a wide array of advertising and promotions business, I still get torn on various elements of digital advertising. It's smart business, but one needs to be careful of too much ad saturation and prominence - I can't believe I wrote that. The likes of a Red Bull, Monster, Mountain Dew, Coke, Pepsi, UFC and perhaps even WWE would be contenders and could get some strong Win-Win-Wins. Keep politics and medical type product types away from this space, and the gaming and advert industry will be all the better from it. We're watching this space closely. Play to win and maintain excitement levels playa. #sel #ingame #ingameadvertising #ingameads #game #gaming #videogames #videogaming #gamebiz #gamingbiz #gamingbusiness #interactive #ads #adverts #advertising #marketing #popculture #media #mediaman

Wrestling News

Not all wrestling industry players and personalities are woooooo-ing for Flair's deal with AEW @AEW

Living legend of pro wrestling scores major All Elite Wrestling deal; Product placement and TV promo dream. AEW's more than peace offering. Smokin hot deal with good vibes all the way to the bank

Hall of Famer Ric Flair remains a huge name in the industry. He has been in the spotlight for the better part of two of three decades.

Flair remains one of the most controversial in the biz, which suits many of the fans just fine - after all, pro wrestling is still a bit of a cowboy or outlaw type industry in its own way (in an affectionate fashion). We're not talking straight laced office types here kids.

Flair made his AEW debut All Elite Wrestling about a week back and now the "Nature Boy" (old boy hey) claims many people who are jealous that he is back on the box (TV) once again. No, not that sort of box.

Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair made his debut on last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, was he was revealed to be Sting’s gift from top brass power player Tony Khan. Khan, and the family biz has the moolah to sign up the likes of Flair (and almost any wrestler they care to) - but some remain WWE 4 Life. Undertaker, John Cena, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels (now creative for WWE NXT) are a few that remain quite water-tight, as far as anyone knows.

Naturally, this was big moment for not only The Nature Boy but for Sting as well.

It was then confirmed that The Nature Boy signed multi-year deal with Tony Khan’s company. While speaking with ESPN's Marc Raimondi, Flair stated that there are many people who are jealous that he is on television again.

“I don’t know. I mean, we’ve got a structured deal in place, but you know me. Have gun will travel if they need me. I’m available and they will always treat me fair. We all want to be together for the show and the guys were great. People were friendly. At my age, the world of jealousy has never been bigger. You don’t think there’s a lot of jealous people that I’m back on TV? You’re out of your mind. You know that adage that you want to see somebody do good, but not too good.”

Flair is also willing to take table bumps and god knows what else in AEW.

Stay tuned (that's what Mr Khan and the networks want) to AEW to see how Flair will be showcased.

The lockerroom has taken a liking to the Woooooo Energy, and we're not certain about the other well-being products. No NWA PPV stunts with some sort of white powder at a party spots are planned - nor are advised.

When it comes to pro wrestling, some things are best not televised. You can peek behing the curtain only so much, but only as much as the likes of a Mr Khan or Mr Flair will let you.

Pro wrestling is still "being fair to Flair", as opposition promotion WWE (then WWF) and others said a few decades ago.

Father time may be undefeated, but Flair ain't laying down for anybody or looking up at the lights (at least not at this stage of the game).

The friendly wrestling war may have gotten just a little less friendly with this AEW grab, and NWA scandal of sorts of the side. AEW, WWE and others will do will to stay clear of scandals.

We all may some mistakes in life right? Just happens that Flair's and a few other high profile wrestlers make worldwide news when they made theirs. More will follow and who will be next?

Fans, enjoy the likes of Ric Flair and his mate Sting while you can. Flair's old school, but he's mixing it up with some of the cool kids also. Not quite for everyone, but The Khan's hope he will get them Woooing all the way to the ticket's sellers, PPV operators and banks.

#RicFlair #NatureBoy #AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEWRampage #AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #TonyKhan #Sting #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #ratings #PPV #PayPerView #showbiz #legends #sportsbiz #network #broadcast #broadcasting #products #mbs #beverage #mediarights #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Wrestling Disruptors

Leading pro wrestling feeder aka "developmental" WWE NXT @WWENXT is tipped to make a network change in the upcoming year.

So where might Shawn Michaels' baby land?

WWE SmackDown was picked up by the USA Network, but that's mean ever single WWE broadcast or even internet based (for now) show would follow to USA. Are you following?!

WWE always has their in-house ace in the hole - the WWE Network @WWENetwork . Great for a Plan B or Plan C etc - but now sure how the NWA feels about that point at present. Given them to the end of the week, but back to the story...

The CW Network has been named (by the internet and "sources" - the usual suspects (that are not always correct) as the new home for NXT.

This said transition would take place in September 2024, following the expiration of WWE’s current agreement with the USA Network.

WWE and The CW have been at the negotiating table for weeks, and it is understood that the new deal is nearing its climax. The reported duration of the deal is 5 years at this stage of the game.

Sources of a mixed bunch in and around the broadcasting and wrestling biz have confirmed that the CW Network and WWE have been in deep talks for several weeks about NXT shifting from its current basic cable home on the USA Network to a traditional broadcast TV home, airing live weekly on the CW Network when the brand’s current media rights deal ends in September 2024. Just don't ask the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) top brass about this yet, but we'll get back to that). Hard not to feel some pain for Mr Corgan, rich or not. Money ain't quite everything right.

The shift to The CW represents a significant increase in rights for the NXT brand, making it the most substantial in its rich and storied history. This expansion of the brand in part explains the presence of numerous main roster wrestlers on NXT in recent months. Prominent names such as Paul Heyman, Becky Lynch, Dominik Mysterio, The Undertaker, Rhea Ripley, and others have made appearances on the show. Notably, they even competed head-to-head with a special Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite last month. This sort of drew the ire of AEW's Tony Khan and Chris Jericho. Jericho is used to WWE's corporate games, but it appears Khan is still getting rocked from time to time - and from time to time bites back via X (formerly Twitter). Keeps the pro wrestling traffic flowing for X's Elon Musk and Linda Y right.

The CW has been showing extra interest in sports programming, as has Netflix and Paramount Plus, and has held discussions with various wrestling promotions over the past year. The CM has quite a selection to consider.

The NWA reportedly had a deal in place with The CW, but this arrangement was understood to be jeopardized after a controversial segment during their last PPV entitled 'Samhain'. That's with a S, not a C!

With WWE deal nearing completion, it’s likely that the NWA and CW deal is no longer happening -but you never ever know in the wild world of pro wrestling media.

NWA personality James Mitchell has secured his place in pro wrestling lore for the cocaine segment via the NWA PPV.

Word Of The Day: Kayfabe

In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as "real" or "true", specifically the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not staged. The term kayfabe has evolved to also become a code word of sorts for maintaining this "reality" within the direct or indirect presence of the general public.

Kayfabe, in the United States, is often seen as the suspension of disbelief that is used to create the non-wrestling aspects of promotions, such as feuds, angles, and gimmicks in a manner similar to other forms of fictional entertainment. In relative terms, a wrestler breaking kayfabe would be likened to an actor breaking character on-camera. Since wrestling is performed in front of a live audience, whose interaction with the show is crucial to its success, kayfabe can be compared to the fourth wall in acting, since hardly any conventional fourth wall exists to begin with. Because of this lack of conventional fourth wall, wrestlers were once expected to maintain their characters even out of the ring, and in other aspects of their lives that could be made public. In general, everything in a modern professional wrestling show is to some extent scripted, or "kayfabe", even though at times it is portrayed as real-life, where it was once portrayed as real rivalries being conveniently settled by unscripted wrestling matches.

Kayfabe was fiercely maintained for decades with the intent to deceive fans, but with the advent of the Internet wrestling community, and the sports entertainment movement, the pro-wrestling industry has become less concerned with protecting so-called backstage secrets and typically maintains kayfabe only during the filming of shows. It is occasionally broken during shows, usually when dealing with genuine injuries that occur during a match or paying tribute to wrestlers.

Definition

Kayfabe is a shorthand term that involves acknowledging the staged, scripted nature of professional wrestling, as opposed to a competitive sport, despite being presented as authentic. Initially, people "in the business" (either wrestlers or those working behind the scenes) used the term kayfabe as a code among those in the wrestling profession, discussing matters in public without revealing the scripted nature. As a concept, kayfabe involves both the fact that matches are scripted and that wrestlers portray characters for their shows. Unlike actors who portray their characters only when on set or on stage, professional wrestlers often stay "in character" outside the shows, especially when interacting with fans, trying to preserve the illusion of professional wrestling. In contrast, something that is not kayfabe, be it a fight or a statement, is referred to as a "shoot".

I remember the guy who would bring our jackets back to the dressing room. Every time he did, someone would yell "Kayfabe." ... Then one night, the guy decided to stand up for himself and told the whole dressing room: "I don't mind the yelling, but I want to let you know that my name is not Kayfabe. It's Mark." ... What he didn't know is that wrestlers called people outside of the business "marks"—that's why we were yelling kayfabe in the first place.— Pat Patterson, describing his interaction with a ring attendant in the Pacific Northwest Wrestling territory during the early 1960s.

Sources and credits: Wikipedia, Web Is Jericho, Figure Four, Wires and last but not least, X!

Ed:

Gonzo Journalism include at no extra cost. Don't complain, you got this gem for free customers. If you want the real good stuff, you might have to pay one day!

Fiction is a bridge to the truth that journalism can’t reach. Facts are lies when they’re added up, and the only kind of journalism I can pay much attention to is something like Down and Out in Paris and London … But in order to write that kind of punch-out stuff you have to add up the facts in your own fuzzy way, and to hell with the hired swine who use adding machines. - Hunter S. Thompson.

Let's see if WWE's "Bad News', Mr Cole or Mr Graves might hint at any of this part of Media Man's coverage as the tained eye and ear know's they have in the past. "Fresh of the victory" and the "gonzo journalism" gibes have been broadcast via WWE tele over the past few months, but this one might be a little too hot to handle - but WWE still loves the non-woke and non PC route, so let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Blur the lines and keep the comp dazed if not confussed.

The web now waits X hits and return fire of sorts.

Any publicity is good publicity, but sometimes the exception proves the rule.

Editors and broadcasters awaiting the red and green lights.

A new WWE characture may be born, if not triggered. Won't be suprised if an offer to consider deal is just about in the mail. Ghost writing or shades of gray. Let the beancounters and readership decide.

Be like new WWE U.S champ Logan Paul @LoganPaul and break The Matrix?! Oh, Paul is WWE's 'Breakout Superstar Of The Year', if you didn't know already. That's a Media Man award ok, but we reckon WWE powers that be might just run with it. LP's got to win something else to add to his gold. Talk about a Prime Heel and heat seeker. Grayson Waller may give him a run for his money and that's a developing storyline of ours also.

Another day in the life of the friendly pro wrestling wars.

#wrestlingnews #wrestling #WWENXT #WWERaw #SmackDown #wrestlingmedia #USANetwork #FOX #TheCW #CW #NWA #ShawnMichaels #BillyCorgan #promoters #creative #prowrestling #LoganPaul #disruptor #disrupt #disruption #gonzo #gonzojournalism #creative #creativewriting #RicFlair #TonyKhan #HunterSThompson #kayfabe #storylines #storytelling #herosjourney #theherosjourney #script #offscript #booker #showbiz #sportsbiz #streaming #homeentertainment #PPV #niche #trend #trends #buzz #newsmedia #media #mediaman

Wrestling News

Pro wrestling legend of NWO fame Kevin Nash has a gotcha for the AEW (All Elite Wrestling) @AEW leaker/mole..

"It's real simple — I'm going to tell you guys how to do this"

"You tell two or three people the wrong information, and [if] it f—ing gets out, you know who the rat is. That's like booking 101. Sit people down and tell them, 'Hey I don't want this to get out, but this is what we're doing.' And if it gets out, you've only told three people guess what? Voila!"

Game Of Thrones, Game Of Death (per Bruce Lee), Game Of Marks, Mobster tricks or whatever. Wizard wisdom from Mr Nash.

Whodone It? Gotta love the enemy within (not). Up there with Washington, Keep checking in for details!

#KevinNash #NWO #quote #AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage #AEWnews #AEWpr #AllEliteWrestling #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestlingnews #leak #rat #mole #sportsbiz #entertainment #popculture #gonzo #gonzojournalism #script #offscript #stories #storytime #storytelling #storyteller #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media #mediaman

Audience

The group of people together in one place to watch or listen to a play, film, someone speaking, etc.

The wrestling audience can be hard to please.

The audience has turned on the promoter and performers.

The online news agency has the audience and readership in their grasp.

Every word and the audience gasps.

She lectures to audiences all over the world.

The secret to public speaking is to get the audience on your side. Eventually they almost always turn on you.

The audience was/were clearly delighted with the performance.

The magic show had a lot of audience participation, with people shouting things to the performers and going up on stage.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

An audience

The audience went wild after every song she sang.

The show attracts millions of viewers every week.

Listeners tune in regularly for his cheery banter.

Those New Yorkers can be a tough crowd to please.

It's a full house tonight.

The spectators cheered when the balloon went up.

#audience #Audiences #entertainment #showbiz #EntertainmentNews #popculture #readership #fans #sportsfans #trends #buzz #media #mediaman

Network

Definition and articles via Media Man Int

an arrangement of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines. "a spider constructs a complex network of several different kinds of threads"

a group or system of interconnected people or things. "the company has a network of 326 branches"

the old school tiea complex system of railways, roads, or other routes." the railway network

a group of people who exchange information and contacts for professional or social purposes." a support network"

a group of broadcasting stations that connect for the simultaneous broadcast of a programme. "network television"

a number of interconnected computers, machines, or operations." a computer network"

a system of connected electrical conductor"

Media Man Int

Articles

Networking Directory

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_directory.html

Meet up and share your business ideas

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/meet_up.html

Strong local content

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/strong_local.html

Find your niche business sector For The Internet Matrix and beyond

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/find_your.html

How UFC Got Social Media Right; WWE taking the fight online via social media and people power

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/how_ufc.html

Promote your sports, extreme sports, combat sports, pro wrestling, MMA, surfing, eSports, gaming products and services via Media Man network

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/promote_your2.html

Social Media expansion continues for Media Man Group; Facebook pages for Magazine, Technology, Bloggers, Europe, Drinks, Boxing, Asia Pacific, Streaming and more

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/social_media9.html

Bitcoin Sydney: The ultimate Bitcoin business networking meetup,

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/bitcoin_sydney.html

Network: Be Your Own Network Says Media Man Group

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/network_be.html

Video Content, Multimedia via Media Man Group Network YouTube Channels

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/video_content.html

Networking in business; Time well invested, waste of time, or case by case basis?

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_in.html

Talk up your chances - Schmooze or lose - It's who you know that counts

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/talk_up.html

#network #networking #networkers #businessnetworking #articles #news #biznetwork #businessnetworking #networked #industrynetwork #industrynetworking #nichenetwork #broadcast #networknews #gregtingle #buzz #trends #agency #publisher #supernetworker #media #mediamannews #mediamannetwork #mediamanint

Media Man Int

Articles

Networking Directory

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_directory.html

Meet up and share your business ideas

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/meet_up.html

Strong local content

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/strong_local.html

Find your niche business sector For The Internet Matrix and beyond

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/find_your.html

How UFC Got Social Media Right; WWE taking the fight online via social media and people power

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/how_ufc.html

Promote your sports, extreme sports, combat sports, pro wrestling, MMA, surfing, eSports, gaming products and services via Media Man network

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/promote_your2.html

Social Media expansion continues for Media Man Group; Facebook pages for Magazine, Technology, Bloggers, Europe, Drinks, Boxing, Asia Pacific, Streaming and more

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/social_media9.html

Bitcoin Sydney: The ultimate Bitcoin business networking meetup,

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/bitcoin_sydney.html

Network: Be Your Own Network Says Media Man Group

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/network_be.html

Video Content, Multimedia via Media Man Group Network YouTube Channels

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/video_content.html

Networking in business; Time well invested, waste of time, or case by case basis?

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/networking_in.html

Talk up your chances - Schmooze or lose - It's who you know that counts

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/talk_up.html

SEJ - Google Speed

SEJ's Matt on Google picking up speed, so to speak. All handy tips. Love the quote:

“What I usually do when I work on things like that is to simplify things on a noindex’ed test page as much as possible. Just include one of the elements that you’re worried about, and try things out there. That way, you can isolate specific changes and determine their individual effects, before you do everything together.” John Mueller

Speaking of speed, another famous quote relating to speed from one of Australia's legandary media figures: " Big will not beat small any more. It will be the fast beating the slow" - Rupert Murdoch.

Or, if you prefer, how about "Internet is like electricity" - James Packer, tech, gaming and VC entrepreneur.

Now published again via LinkedIn at about the speed of the web, in 5G - just a tad slower at 'The Speed Of Light", which may be linked to either Nikola Tesla and/or Albert Einstein.

PS: Quotes Of The Day can be published quick and tend to add value, perspective and insight into articles. Back to the SEJ and Google teams for their value added quotes.

Wrestling News

WWE NXT @WWENXT moving to The CW @TheCW Network

The CW Network will become the official broadcast home to WWE NXT in October 2024. The five-year agreement marks the first time in its 13-year history that WWE NXT – which showcases WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars – will air on a broadcast television network. WWE NXT will debut on The CW Network in October 2024 and air 52 live weekly events throughout the season.

“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand into the CW Sports portfolio as they play an integral role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round,” said Dennis Miller, President, The CW Network. “WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its dynamic young talent featuring the hottest rising stars in the sport and exhilarating, unpredictable weekly events. The passion and engagement of WWE’s fanbase is unmatched, and we are eager to grow that audience as WWE NXT’s new home on broadcast television.”

“The CW has made impressive moves over the past year with its live sports programming schedule,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “It’s a truly exciting opportunity to expand NXT’s audience by bringing the show to broadcast television for the first time in NXT’s history.”

Source: WWE/WWE NXT

Videos

NewsNation Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@NewsNation

WWE's Shawn Michaels discusses NXT's leap to mainstream in new CW deal | Morning in America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQokaWgByY&ab_channel=NewsNation

WWE Official YouTube

Top 10 WWE NXT moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 7, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOD_syEEeuA&ab_channel=WWE

#WWENXT #TheCW #wrestlingnews #wrestling #WWERaw #SmackDown #wrestlingmedia #USANetwork #FOX #ShawnMichaels #TalentDevelopment #promoters #creative #prowrestling #entertainment #entertainmentnews #sportsnews #disruptor #disrupt #network #networktv #networktelevision #creativewriting #storylines #storytelling #script #offscript #booker #showbiz #sportsbiz #streaming #homeentertainment #PPV #niche #trend #trends #buzz #newsmedia #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW

AEW Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@AEW

Will Daniel Garcia be able to end MJF's Championship Reign? | AEW Control Center: Portland 11/8/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsV-iRW6TTk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Could Daniel Garcia unseat the AEW World Champion MJF? | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xej1RL59lco&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"The AEW word championship hangs in the balance of our opening content tonight on Dynamite. Daniel Garcia heading into this match with some momentium. MJF suffering a loss one week ago at the hands of Jay White and Bullet Club Gold"...

The ICON Sting & Darby Allin return to Portland for in-ring ACTION! | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a83rzYxI6Sg&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Collision

FTR + LFI vs AEW Tag Team Champs Starks & Big Bill & ROH 6-Man Champs Gates of Agony | 11/4/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2wW8f7geX0&t=2s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Media Man says: Stong thumbs up.

Image credit: AEW

#AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEW #MJF #DanielGarcia #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #sportsentertainer #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #video #highlights #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW

AEW Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@AEW

Will Daniel Garcia be able to end MJF's Championship Reign? | AEW Control Center: Portland 11/8/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsV-iRW6TTk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Could Daniel Garcia unseat the AEW World Champion MJF? | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xej1RL59lco&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"The AEW word championship hangs in the balance of our opening content tonight on Dynamite. Daniel Garcia heading into this match with some momentium. MJF suffering a loss one week ago at the hands of Jay White and Bullet Club Gold"...

The ICON Sting & Darby Allin return to Portland for in-ring ACTION! | 11/8/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a83rzYxI6Sg&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Collision

FTR + LFI vs AEW Tag Team Champs Starks & Big Bill & ROH 6-Man Champs Gates of Agony | 11/4/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2wW8f7geX0&t=2s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Media Man says: Stong thumbs up.

Image credit: AEW

#AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEW #MJF #DanielGarcia #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #sportsentertainer #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #video #highlights #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Combat Sports

Dana White On Cross-Over Legends Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey Will Compete At UFC @UFC 300

“I get why everybody asks”

“They’re not coming back”

Sports Illustrated UFC news and quotes doing the rounds across the globe; S.I. gains more street and industry cred

Seems like the entire combat sports world wants to know if Lesnar and Rousey will fight at UFC 300. Perhaps they may appear in the crowd, or even get introduced with a live mic, but don't expect for them to grapple.

Fantasy Booking ramps up in UFC, adding to combat sports booking WWE @WWE and other pro wrestling promotions!

Some Stats:

Lesnar (UFC website)

https://www.ufc.com/athlete/brock-lesnar

8 fights in the UFC

Former UFC Heavyweight champ

Rousey (Wikipedia website)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey

Rousey News:

RR loves her pro wresling, including Lucha Libre - especially Lucha VaVOOM, in Los Angeles where she appeared on October 26, teaming with AEW affiliated Marina Shafir to defeat Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie in tag team action.

Due to wrestle at Wrestling Revolver - 6th November

Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Los Angeles, CA.

Will be broadcast via FITE! @FiteTV

“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar”.

“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”

The last time Lesnar fought in the UFC was 2016, five months after Rousey’s final bout. Since then, both have appeared in WWE from time to time.

Rousey is still considered fairly young for pro wrestling, but not so much for MMA at 36 years. Her last UFC match was in December of 2016. Similar to Lesnar, she also fought 8 times in the UFC, getting her hand raised in the 6 bouts. Rousey eventually became one of the the most recognizable sports stars in the world, thanks to numerous ground breaking performances and over-performing in what was traditionally a male dominated sport.

“I absolutely love Ronda Rousey,” said White. “She’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with. She’s a pioneer, an inspirational figure for women, and an all-around badass for UFC.”

Headlined by two title bouts, UFC 295 takes place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Though White’s current priority is MSG, the UFC matchmakers are not too far removed from UFC 300. But Rousey and Lesnar will not be part of that history-making card.

“I’m focused on Madison Square Garden,” said White. “But no, they’re not coming back.”

UFC News

UFC 295 card: Prochazka vs Pereira headlines after Aspinall and Pavlovich clash

Daniel Cormier (conspiracy?) theory/speculation/dream match scenarios

Unified field theory for UFC 300..

Former two-division UFC champ and current UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has a theory that sounds great for the UFC 300 card.

“UFC 100 had Brock [Lesnar], right? With Georges St-Pierre and all those guys,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” show. “UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to me and [Jon] Jones also but it ended up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these guys, big names,” Cormier said. “UFC 300 has to have a name like that. We don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler gets his shot now, in the main event. Boy, Michael Chandler will headline UFC 300, how crazy is that?”

DC also has a vision of a two-title bout card underneath the McGregor-Chandler match.

“Co-main event, when I look down the line, I know that Jones and Stipe [Miocic] will not be ready,” Cormier continued. “I do believe that whoever wins the [interim heavyweight] belt this weekend will have to fight again. Leon Edwards or Colby Covington will then be available again, right? Because they fight [at UFC 296] in December. I believe it’ll be one of them, if not both. The interim heavyweight champion and then the welterweight champion will also fight at UFC 300.”

Videos (to help starv you off before it's time to say Let's 'Fn Go again)

UFC Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@ufc

UFC President Dana White is BACK with his #12DaysGiveaways!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9AVlODQ7hU&ab_channel=UFC

Ian Machado Garry Breaks Down His Top UFC Moments at Madison Square Garden | UFC Connected

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxvl_UgPudY&ab_channel=MMAFightingonSBN

ESPN MMA YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@ESPNMMA

Michael Bisping interviews Tom Aspinall at MSG ahead of UFC 295 | ESPN MMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp_Zh_j6W0w&ab_channel=ESPNMMA

Daniel Cormier Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@dc_mma

Alex Pereira practices kicks on DC! + "Poatan" ready to live out his DREAM | Daniel Cormier Check-In

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKgrXmcFc&ab_channel=DanielCormier

Chael Sonnen Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@ChaelSonnenOfficial

Sergei Pavlovich is the UNDERDOG vs Tom Aspinall | UFC 295

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKaQJ7YW1L0&t=12s&ab_channel=ChaelSonnen

Madison Square Garden Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@MadisonSquareGarden

#UFC295 #UFC300 #DanaWhite #quote #quotes #MMA #BrockLesnar #RondaRousey #Prochazka #Pereira #MichaelChandler #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #legend #legends #sportsnews #mmanews #dreammatche #fantasybooking #PPV #PayPerView #videos #USsports #promoter #promotion #sportsbiz #sportsbetting #wager #trend #trends #buzz #hype #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown

LA Knight vs Grayson Waller

Has the Arrogant Aussie recovered from the Ibrahim Al Hajjaj People's Elbow that shook him at Saudi?

Will Waller be more worried about besting Knight, or making a GWE trending moment? Can he do both?

Is 'The Bloodline' out for Knight's blood?

Is Waller's mate Austin Theory devising a cunning plan to send Knight back to the old hotel, thus opening another spot for one of their own inner circle?

So many questions.

You must tune in to get the answers.

Survivor Series Season is here and you just know some folks in the ring and backstage are going to get cooked, if not potatoed. Get a lock on your remote now, if ya smell what we're cooking.

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #WWESurvivorSeries #LAKnight #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #GraysonWallerEffect #AustinTheory #Hitman #TheBloodline #blood #PeoplesElbow #wrestling #prowrestling #USANetwork #USA #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Advertising agencies are responsible for initiating, managing, and implementing paid marketing communications. In addition, some agencies have diversified into other types of marketing comms, including public relations, sales promotion, interactive media, and direct marketing #agencies #advertising #advertisingagencies #advertisingagency #agency #marketing #onlinemarketing #communications #comms #PublicRelations #PR #press #pressrelease #sales #promotion #directmarketing #popculture #culture #biz #sportsbiz #streaming #ghost #ghostwriter #writer #copy #links #SEO #authority #buzz #trends #media #mediaman

Disruptor: a company or form of technology that causes radical change in an existing industry or market by means of innovation. "the company is becoming a major disruptor in the media, ad and PR industry" #disruptor #disruption #disruptors #biz #market #ads #pr #newsmedia #media #mediaman

There are risks of playing "follow the leader" be it in sports, wrestling, SEO, business strategies. Adopt risk management and have your own style and unique selling points (and unique niche content) etc etc #risk #risks #business #wrestling #SEO #sportsbiz #wrestling #popculture #bizdev #strategy #riskmanagement #usps #niche #nichecontent #nichemarketing #nichenews #media #mediaman

Movie Business News

'Coyote Vs. Acme' won't been seen or heard

John Cena’s @JohnCena ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’ Film Shelved Even Though It's Completed

There's Reasons Why Studios Scrap Shows And Movies

Production Companies Can Cancel Their Own Movies; No Need For Activists of Cancel Culture!

More Complex Than What General Public May Think

Christmas Grinch defeats Coyote via financial submission STF-U

Warner's Loss Is WWE Universe's Gain

Fans Cheer Cena; Boo Heel WB

Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would shelve the completed Coyote Vs. Acme, a hybrid live-action and animated film based on the iconic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote, making the movie the latest in a recent trend of fully produced shows and TV series being canceled by production companies for cost-cutting purposes.

Coyote Vs. Acme, which was reportedly produced on a $72 million budget, was originally set to release earlier this year but was shelved so Warner Bros. could take a $30 million tax write-off, leading publication Deadline reported.

The move came just one year after Warner Bros. controversially scrapped and panned Batgirl, an intended installment in the DC Extended Universe film series that cost $90 million to produce, reportedly because the company felt writing off the film for a tax break would be more financially sound than releasing it, and test screenings were reportedly met with ultra negative reactions.

The Warner Bros. animated film Scoob! A Holiday Haunt was also scrapped last year, reportedly for tax write-off purposes, though the film still completed production after the company announced it would not be released.

Completed seasons of television series have also been shelved by production companies, including the second season of Minx, which was scrapped by Warner Bros. Discovery in December for tax purposes despite being nearly finished with production (The season was picked up by Starz and aired in July).

AMC scrapped shows 61st Street and Invitation to a Bonfire as part of an effort to take up to $475 million in write-offs, Variety reported, both of which were already shot and almost completed, though 61st Street later landed at the CW.

Warner Bros. decided not to move forward with Coyote Vs. Acme, which was reportedly set for a release on Max, because of an effort to shift “its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. The film was reportedly shot last year in New Mexico and was set to star John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor and Eric Bauza, and it was produced by DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. Deadline reported Coyote Vs. Acme had been met with positive reviews during test screenings, with scores above the norm for family films. After the film’s cancellation, director Dave Green posted a statement via X thanking the “brilliant team, who poured their souls into this project for years” and the “test audiences who rewarded us with fantastic scores,” adding he is “beyond devastated” by the studio’s decision to shelve the movie.

Decisions to scrap already completed films have been met with criticism from fans and entertainment industry workers. Bazua, who was part of the voice cast, lamented the film’s cancellation on Instagram, stating it is “sad that the film like a few others before it have fallen to corporate greed,” adding a completed film like Coyote Vs. Acme could have value for studios since production was halted on many films this year because of the writers’ and actors’ strikes. Steven Price, who composed the score for Coyote Vs. Acme, criticized the scrapping of the film as “anti-art studio financial shenanigans” in a post on X in which he included a video of a choir recording music for the film. Filmmaker BenDavid Grabinski called Coyote Vs. Acme a “great” movie, “the best of its kind since Roger Rabbit.” He criticized ”extremely effective commercial movies being deleted for tax purposes,” noting the film is based on popular existing intellectual property. After Warner Bros. shelved Minx’s second season, a high-ranking TV agent told Deadline: “To spend that kind of money and to not air it, believe me, we’re all scratching our heads.”

By canceling projects for cost-cutting purposes, studios can avoid spending extra tens of millions to market and promote these films, Vanity Fair reported. Warner Bros. Discovery, in particular, has canceled numerous completed projects as part of cost-cutting measures following the 2022 WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. merger. An anonymous showrunner of a hit series told Deadline oversaturation of content on streaming services can also contribute to already produced shows being scrapped: “There are too many shows so it’s inevitable that if platforms can get a tax write-off or any money back from a show that they don’t love, they’ll absolutely cancel it.”

John Cena Instagram: "The End"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzbMAbnOREJ/

https://www.instagram.com/johncena

Image credit: John Cena/Instagram

#CoyoteVsAcme #Coyote #JohnCena #STFU #STF #movienews #WB #WarnerBros #WarnerMedia #EntertainmentNews #entertainment #showbiz #showbuzz #boxoffice #tax #Batgirl #TheEnd #Instagram #WWE #SmackDown #financialnews #wrestlingnews #popculture #streaming #socialmedia #platforms #disrupt #disruptor #trend #trends #buzz #AI #media

Combat Sports

Dana White On Cross-Over Legends Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey Will Compete At UFC

@UFC

300

“I get why everybody asks”

“They’re not coming back”

Sports Illustrated UFC news and quotes doing the rounds across the globe; S.I. gains more street and industry cred

Seems like the entire combat sports world wants to know if Lesnar and Rousey will fight at UFC 300. Perhaps they may appear in the crowd, or even get introduced with a live mic, but don't expect for them to grapple.

Fantasy Booking ramps up in UFC, adding to combat sports booking WWE

@WWE

and other pro wrestling promotions!

Some Stats:

Lesnar (UFC website)

https://ufc.com/athlete/brock-lesnar

8 fights in the UFC

Former UFC Heavyweight champ

Rousey (Wikipedia website)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey

Rousey News:

RR loves her pro wresling, including Lucha Libre - especially Lucha VaVOOM, in Los Angeles where she appeared on October 26, teaming with AEW affiliated Marina Shafir to defeat Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie in tag team action.

Due to wrestle at Wrestling Revolver - 6th November

Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Los Angeles, CA.

Will be broadcast via FITE!

@FiteTV

“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar”.

“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”

The last time Lesnar fought in the UFC was 2016, five months after Rousey’s final bout. Since then, both have appeared in WWE from time to time.

Rousey is still considered fairly young for pro wrestling, but not so much for MMA at 36 years. Her last UFC match was in December of 2016. Similar to Lesnar, she also fought 8 times in the UFC, getting her hand raised in the 6 bouts. Rousey eventually became one of the the most recognizable sports stars in the world, thanks to numerous ground breaking performances and over-performing in what was traditionally a male dominated sport.

“I absolutely love Ronda Rousey,” said White. “She’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with. She’s a pioneer, an inspirational figure for women, and an all-around badass for UFC.”

Headlined by two title bouts, UFC 295 takes place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Though White’s current priority is MSG, the UFC matchmakers are not too far removed from UFC 300. But Rousey and Lesnar will not be part of that history-making card.

“I’m focused on Madison Square Garden,” said White. “But no, they’re not coming back.”

UFC News

UFC 295 card: Prochazka vs Pereira headlines after Aspinall and Pavlovich clash

Daniel Cormier (conspiracy?) theory/speculation/dream match scenarios

Unified field theory for UFC 300..

Former two-division UFC champ and current UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has a theory that sounds great for the UFC 300 card.

“UFC 100 had Brock [Lesnar], right? With Georges St-Pierre and all those guys,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” show. “UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to me and [Jon] Jones also but it ended up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these guys, big names,” Cormier said. “UFC 300 has to have a name like that. We don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler gets his shot now, in the main event. Boy, Michael Chandler will headline UFC 300, how crazy is that?”

DC also has a vision of a two-title bout card underneath the McGregor-Chandler match.

“Co-main event, when I look down the line, I know that Jones and Stipe [Miocic] will not be ready,” Cormier continued. “I do believe that whoever wins the [interim heavyweight] belt this weekend will have to fight again. Leon Edwards or Colby Covington will then be available again, right? Because they fight [at UFC 296] in December. I believe it’ll be one of them, if not both. The interim heavyweight champion and then the welterweight champion will also fight at UFC 300.”

Videos (to help starv you off before it's time to say Let's 'Fn Go again)

Boxing/Combat Sports

Boxing and social media disruptor going more purist and less Misfit and hype based; Jake Paul rises above naysayers

Jake Paul’s

@JakePaul

next fight has been finally confirmed after about a month of speculation, sportsbar talk and teasers.

Mark down December 15 as Fight Night featuring the "Problem Child' himself.

The ultra switched on YouTuber is leaning more towards focusing on professional boxing. Hitting Elon's Musks' X with "The path to world champ starts here"

The well promoted bout will take make sporting history in Orlando, Florida, as the YouTube influencer plus returns to the ring for the first time since fighting MMA icon Nate Diaz in August.

Controversial and somewhat embattled sports journo Ariel Helwani tips the match will be cruiserweight and consist of 8 rounds.

Doubling up with a one-two via X Paul scribbed "Ask and I shall deliver. August has more KO’s than me, more wins than me, more experience than me, but I like to gamble.

"The path to world champ starts here. Just straight up boxing."

Boxing intel website BoxRec advises: August, 35. 12 professional bouts, winning 10 with 5 by KO.

August's defeat came at the hands of USA's Eric Abraham in 2018.

His most recent victory came against the until then undefeated 7-0 Brandon Martin which he won unanimously on points.

While August is fairly unknown in boxing, certainly to the casual audience, it marks the first time that Paul has fought an out and out boxer in the "purist" arena, moving away from the "influencer" and "Misfit" realms.

"Just straight boxing" Paul documented and "exhibition matches" may be a thing of the past for the S.I cover snatching JP. All sources indicate he's going strickly professional, however brother Logan Paul teasers he may join him in the WWE (pro wrestling) sometime in the future, be it as a cornerman or even potential tag-team partner ala WrestleMania 1 back in 1985 when Mr T joined Hulk Hogan to defeat the late Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff which was a pay-per-view bonanza for WWE super-promoter Vince McMahon and then wife Linda - who now works in the political arena.

Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC. Just about anything can happen in pro boxing as the well publicized match between world champion Tyson Fury vs former UFC champion Francis Ngannou demonstrated. Some experts say Fury will never be quite the same again, much like when the legendary wrestler/MMA Antonia Inoki kicked the hell out of "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali in Tokyo, Japan in June 26, 1976 at "The World Of The Worlds" - the precursor of modern MMA and why became the famed UFC - not to be confussed with rival PFL, of which Paul is also signed.

JP defeated grappling based Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.

He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.

Paul has a 6-1 boxing record, with his only loss coming against Tommy Fury (son of "The Gypsy King") this February in a bout in Saudi Arabia.

Paul lost that bout via a split decision.

Paul initially began by fighting fellow YouTubers but has more recently moved towards fighting former stars of the UFC.

He defeated Ben Askren before beating Tyron Woodley twice.

He then won bouts against UFC legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

His most recent victory against Diaz arrived via unanimous decision in August.

We're calling Paul a modest favourite for the win over August, but the public at large and bookies will be chiming in and the odds and pub talk usually changes weeks and days up to pro boxing fights.

At this stage of the game its fair to say that the business/sports business is all the better thanks to Jake Paul who has proven himself to be a legit pay-per-view draw and headline grabber.

"Jake Paul is one of the few boxers who is helping grow the sport and one who has the substance and style. His appeal has grown outside of boxing alone and is now entrenched in pop culture. Brands, online media and all sorts of business folks are keen to get deals in place with Paul and his associates now. Everyone loves a winner and folks who can disrupt and distrub The Matrix" - overheard at the Media Man watercooler.

Videos

Jake Paul Official YouTube

https://youtube.com/@jakepaul

BS w/ Jake Paul YouTube

Brooks Koepka’s $1M Boxing Match With Bryson, Spending $100M LIV Deal, Hating Golf & More - BS EP 30

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uXPzmKvO400&ab_channel=BSw%2FJakePaul

DAZN Boxing Official YouTube

https://youtube.com/daznboxing

MMA / UFC News

UFC @UFC YouTube

Best Moments From Madison Square Garden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gJDyXkh_YI&ab_channel=UFC

Over the years, Madison Square Garden has hosted some of the most iconic UFC moments to date. Relive some of the best Octagon highlights that took place in New York City ahead of UFC 295! (Credit: UFC)

"I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I'd like to take this chance to apologize to absolutely nobody".. - Conor McGregor

"Adesanya most succesful with the body shot"...

UFC YouTube

Weigh-In Highlights | UFC 295

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj1FUMg4Zag&ab_channel=UFC

UFC 295: Ceremonial Weigh-In

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2UkqVNwa60&ab_channel=UFC

Pavlovich vs Aspinall - Shoot My Shot | UFC 295

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wp_iRQY0bk&ab_channel=UFC

An interim title is on the line at UFC 295, as heavy hitting Sergei Pavlovich takes on the UK's finest in Tom Aspinall, for the rights to heavyweight gold. (Credit: UFC)

UFC 295 Betting Preview w/ Anik, DC & Chael! | Presented by DraftKings Sportsbook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI-yt1wYOWg&ab_channel=UFC

News

UFC Greats - The Official List From The Powers That Be!

The Ultimate 30: All- Time Roster

Royce Gracie

Matt Hughes

BJ Penn

Georges St-Pierre

Robbie Lawler

Chuck Liddell

Forrest Griffin

Tito Ortiz

Randy Couture

Anderson Silva

Michael Bisping

Frankie Edgar

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Charles Oliveira

Dominick Cruz

Demetrious Johnson

Jose Aldo

Cain Velasquez

Stipe Miocic

Jon Jones

Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Valentina Shevchenko

Ronda Rousey

Amanda Nunes

Conor McGregor

Daniel Cormier

Kamaru Usman

Israel Adesanya

Max Holloway

Alexander Volkanovski

#UFC #UFC295 #MSG #MadisonSquareGarden #TheGarden #MMA #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #ufcnews #mmanews #highlights #Goat #Goats #legends #RoyceGracie #MattHughes #BJPenn #GeorgesStPierre #GSP #RobbieLawler #ChuckLiddell

#ForrestGriffin #TitoOrtiz #RandyCouture #video #videos #highlights #PPV #PayPerView #trends #trending #buzz #hype #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE YouTube

What’s next for The Bloodline after Crown Jewel dominance?: WWE Now, November 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox2wvEMYbRE&ab_channel=WWE

"Hey everybody. I'm Megan Morgant from WWE Now getting you set with everything you need to know for tonight's Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. So let's throw 3 minutes on the clock and get to it"...

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #FOX #TheBloodline #LAKnight #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #LAKnight #LoganPaul #ReyMysterio #USTitle #LWO #SantosEscobar #Prime #JohnCena #KO #KevinOwens #NickAldis #KariSane #Carlito #StreetProfits #BobbyLashley #SurvivorSeries #socialmedia #socialmediamegastar #Influencer #influencers #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Combative sports means any sport that holds contests where opponents strike each other with a hand, foot, knee, elbow or other parts of the body, including, but not limited to, boxing, wrestling, full contact karate, kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts and muay thai #combatsports #sport #strike #striking #boxing #wrestling #karate #kickboxing #martialarts #MMA #mixedmartialarts #MuayThai #media #mediaman #mediamanint

"One thing I can't prove, but I firmly believe is that two men were put on this earth - one threw a punch and a third guy came over and watched. And that happened before anybody ever threw or kicked a ball" - Dana White (UFC @UFC ) #DanaWhite #quote #fighting #combatsports #MMA #martialarts #sports #media

SEJ

AI News

SEJ's Roger on the potential and real harm from AI. Developers built this for big tech. Let's not forget governments do harm also. There's harm in just about all places on Planet Earth, but of a different kind in the modern world that man build. "Everything is a risk" - Lemmy (Motorhead). Or, "Rise Of The Machines" (Transformers). Everyone ready for a new version of 1984 meets 'Ex Machina' and 'Planet Of The Apes' and 'Farenheight 451'. Pop culture reference for the. Fact is stranger than fiction for the big tech (sci-fi) and Big gvt sector. Strong article, and just adding colour, depth and additional humanity. Next submission will be more on point."Do no harm" (Doctors/medical oath many moons ago). Back to webcode fellow humans and any androids in the audience.

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown

WWE Official YouTube

SmackDown’s most shocking moments: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJP0lfnpCVo&ab_channel=WWE

Carlito’s accusation causes rifts in The LWO: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBXuNm3A1OE&ab_channel=WWE

Rey Mysterio gets helped to the back by The LWO: SmackDown exclusive, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpw8iHIT1Y4&ab_channel=WWE

LA Knight is not finished with The Bloodline: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlKlnMAoj-8&ab_channel=WWE

LA Knight dispatches Grayson Waller for a rebound win: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyEriFmK9LY&ab_channel=WWE

Owens gets suspended after attacking Waller and Theory: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKMRsM-IjX0&ab_channel=WWE

Dragon Lee and Cedric Alexander run it back: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjwSnhDbV2M&ab_channel=WWE

Did Solo Sikoa send John Cena out of WWE for good?: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIt43Ukq6no&ab_channel=WWE

Asuka aligns herself with Damage CTRL: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsvHKGbb_ao&ab_channel=WWE

WWE honors National Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9AQOYNmDhs&ab_channel=WWE

SmackDown commentors: Michael Cole @MichaelCole , Kevin Patrick @kev_egan and Kevin Owens @FightOwensFight

Media Man says: Big thumbs up. Changing things up. Hot show.

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #WWECrownJewel #SurvivorSeries #LWO #LatinoWorldOrder #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #LAKnight #KevinOwens #KO #AustinTheory #Hitman #Carlito #ReyMysterio #SantosEscobar #ZelinaVega #DragonLee #CedricAlexander #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #highlights #videos #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #hype #TV #media

Quotes

"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler" - Socrates #Socrates #quote #Zeus #runner #wrestler #wrestling #sports #GreekPhilosopher #philosopher #philosophy #Greece #world #media #mediaman

Wrestling Quotes

Logan Paul @LoganPaul appears on FOX Business @FoxBusiness

WWE @WWE U.S. Champion and Prime co-founder Logan Paul joins 'Varney & Co.' to discuss his championship win, Prime's success and his investment strategy (Credit: FOX Business)

"Well look whos here. Ladies and gentlemen. Logan Paul the man himself. Logan is a business owner, he's an influencer, he's a boxer, and now he's the newly minted U.S Champion of the WWE. Congratulations. So, have you walked away from boxing"?

"Thank you. Yeah, I think I've retired from boxing. I think I've done enough in the sport going fully undefeated at 25-0. So, yeah, I'm going to be a wrestler now"... - Logan Paul

FOX Business YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/foxbusiness

DISRUPTOR: Logan Paul reveals his investment strategy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQaUdvsm0iM&ab_channel=FoxBusiness

#LoganPaul #quotes #FOXBusiness #wrestling #prowrestling #WWE #boxing #PrimeEnergy #influencer #wrestlingnews #wwenews #energydrink #energydrinks #gold #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #sportsbiz #showbusiness #sportsnews #interview #broadcast #TV #media #mediaman

Wrestling/Pop Culture

"Be A Man"

Randy Savage’s Rap Album Getting Limited Re-Release In April

Per Amazon @amazonmusic

https://www.amazon.com/BE-A-MAN/dp/B0B78WSVQ7

"Macho Man" Randy Savage was a WWE wrestling superstar with dazzling over-the-top costumes. His signature phrase, "Ohhh yeah!" won over wrestling fans worldwide and eventually was seen in nearly every SlimJim commercial. He even played a wrestler "Bone Saw" McGraw in the 2002 movie, Spider-Man. His music career started in 1993 making his debut WrestleMania: The Album along side of other top wrestlers such as Bret "The Hitman" Hart, The Undertaker, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and others. On October 7, 2003, Savage released his debut rap/hiphop album titled Be a Man, which has sold over the years for staggering amounts. It includes a tribute song to a fellow wrestler "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig who passed earlier that year. It also included the title track "Be a Man" that was aimed right at fellow wrestling icon and former Mega Powers tag-team partner Hulk Hogan. Fortunately, before Savage's death he had the opportunity to bury the hatchet with Hogan after a decade long feud that many thought was just a marketing gimmick. This rap album has been completely remastered and comes in a 6 panel wallet with a LTD collectors card. It includes DJ Kool on the very club-like vibe, "Hit The Floor", the second single which would have been amazing to see live. It also includes Big K, Brian O, Da Raskulls, Inc., Eliott Harris, Shianna Raymona, Mo Blaze and Smokke...

#RandySavage #MachoMan #BeAMan #SlimJim #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestler #WWE #wrestlingnews #rap #hiphop #music #musicnews #entertainment #entertainmentnews #Amazon #legend #trends #buzz #media #mediaman

'Reinventing history': Experts warn the end of physical media will give tech giants even greater control

Experts say a future ruled by streaming and digital content poses a serious threat of censorship

Retailers are slowly moving away from physical media to pursue ventures in the digital space, and experts warn this shift could lead to significant tech censorship, allowing streaming giants the power to have greater control over history and culture.

Barna William Donovan, a professor and the director of M.A. in Communication and Public Relations at Saint Peter's University, said he believes the move toward streaming content and the elimination of physical media poses "a serious threat" of censorship and could be a danger to our culture.

American consumers spend approximately eight hours daily with digital media, roughly double the time spent with traditional physical formats. The shift toward digital media in the country began in 2018 and has been growing ever since, according to Statista.

Currently, when people "buy" digital content, they do not actually own the film or song in the same way they would own physical VHS tapes, DVDs or CDs. When a user pays for a digital download, legally, the content producers have the right to limit access to said content or remove it outright.

Full article via FOX Business @FoxBusiness

Link:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/reinventing-history-experts-warn-end-physical-media-tech-giants-greater-control

#BarnaWilliamDonovan #quotes #comms #communications #digitalnews #digitalcontent #streaming #streamingcontent #streamingnews #popculture #culture #society #technews #society #FOX #foxbusiness #foxnews #media #mediaman

News Corp Q1 2024: Group profitability strong with growth and challenges in Australia - November 11, 2023

By James Manning

News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson has reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2023, the first quarter of financial year 2024.

“We had a sterling start to the new fiscal year, with rising revenues and increased profitability despite difficult economic conditions in some of our markets,” Thomson said this morning on the earnings call.

“Our first quarter revenues were slightly higher at $2.5 billion, while our profitability rose 4%, marking the second consecutive quarter of profit growth.

“Our positive performance in the quarter follows the three most profitable years since the creation of the new News Corp.”

News Corp Q1, 2024

*click here for full article

https://www.mediaweek.com.au/news-corp-q1-2024-group-profitability-strong-with-growth-and-challenges-in-australia/

(MediaWeek)

MediaWeeks' James Manning with a deep dive and crunching numbers on The Foxtel Group. The likes of MAX (ex HBO), ESPN (now has AEW coming up).and tubi (aka "The Netflix Killer") will certainly disrupt and shake things up. WWE (via WWE Live on BINGE) and UFC (via Main Event) are helping keep audiences. Who will fill the void from WWE since they are going to USA Network. UFC is improving Fight Pass, but FOX likely knows this already. AEW will be running over ESPN for Australia as the Pacific region. 7Plus got some ONE Champion and tubi got some older ONE clips. We hope that BINGE will continue to wow the combat sports audience for a long time to come. Some domino and flow on effects from the US market are likely to be felt in Australia by consumers in the next 3 to 5 months is my estimating. Aussie TV audiences are still spoiled for choice - even with the excess of adds, be it sports betting, insurance, pizzas, coffee and beverage makers or whatever. Advertising still makes much of the commercial business go round and Lachlan Murdoch and associates and News Corp are all too well are of it. You've got to have quality and staple programming to keep the audience hooked for binge sessions by the eyeballs! Back to the number crunching.

Australian Newspaper News from Media Man!

By Greg Tingle, Founder, Media Man Group

Mainstream,. Street Cred, A Dash Of Gonzo Journalism. The Industry We Love To Hate, With Plenty Of Good Reasons..

We recently resubscribed to both The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australia Financial Review (online news editions).

We are also long-term subscribers to News.com.au

We also love BINGE (streaming and tubi), and the concept of streaming entertainment. Yeah, WWE, UFC and even AEW (soon on Aussie ESPN). Just saying sports fans.

It's fair to say we have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the news media business. I don't like a lot of what happened to journalism over say the last 4.5 years or so. Get it - note the timing dear readers.

I have (mainly) fond memories of when I first became a qualified and legit journalist. Only 4 of us out of a class of approx 25 finished the course at Petersham TAFE. Sydney, Australia circa 2002. Only 3 of us got published in print. I was one of them. (The Southern Courier). The other 2 students worked for government departments on an apprenticeship type scheme. To say they had every opportunity and doors opened to them would be an understatement, but good luck to them. We have to work with what we are offered and we all have strong points and not so strong points.

We used to do crime scene journalism in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Even in the media (black out regions). Yes, they really exist. That's authentic journalism and it really took its toll on me after a few years. I already had some post traumatic stress from my military days.

Did you know that not all authentic news actually makes "the news"! That covers crime, medical related, politics (political scandals etc), celeb news and just about every other type and sector.

Fortunately - mainly, online news sites, blogs and the like came into existence. Much of mainstream media questioned their authenticity. Online news websites, alternative media (whatever that constitutes) and other "non mainstream") threaten the existence of mainstream news! YouTube, X based and some social media influencers are alot more consumed/viewed than what appears on Aussie TV. To be cont...

(Image credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

#ByGregTingle #GregTingle #australiannewspapers #newspapers #newsmedia #mainstream #mainstreammedia #journalism #agent #agency #newsbiz #newsbusiness #onlinenews #onlinenewspapers #gonzo #gonzojournalism #entertainmentnews #sportsnews #popculture #streaming #Influencer #influencers #socialmedia #thenews #flashback #news #media #mediaman #mediamanaustralia #mediamanint

Movie Box Office

Marvel at low numbers!

North American Report

1. The Marvels. $42 million

2. Five Nights at Freddy's. $9 million

3. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. $5.9 million

4. Priscilla. $4.8 million

5. Killers of the Flower Moon. $4.7 million

6. The Holdovers at No. 6. $3.2 million

7. Journey to Bethlehem. $2.4 million

8. PAW Patrol: The Might Movie. $1.76 million

9. Radical. $1.75 million

10. The Exorcist: Believer. $1.2 million

#boxoffice #movienews #TheMarvels #FiveNightsAtFreeddys #TaylorSwiftTheErasTour #PriscillaMovie #KillersOFTheFlowerMoon #entertainmentnews #popculture #showbiz #biz #trend #trends #buzz #media

Combat Sports

Social Media Influencer and Maverick, turned Misfit Boxer turned WWE U.S Champion!

Can't Argue With Success Of Logan Paul @LoganPaul

Sets WWE @WWE Universe on fire in a very good way

"The Maverick" Logan Paul has retired from boxing

Tells FOX Business and news media who will listen

Beat "dirty" MMA cross-over fighter Dillon Danis in a boxing last month

"No more money in boxing" - LP

His decision follows less than a month after Paul's first victory where he beat rival and former MMA athlete Dillon Danis in a heavyweight grudge fight.

Enjoyed a 4 to 5 star match (subjective in nature) with wrestling/lucha libre legend Rey Mysterio at WWE Cross Jewel

"I love you Rey"; LP to Mysterio after match; "I did what I had to do"!

"It feels great. It was a dominant performance. Some frog splashes, some punches, it feels good"

Numerous pro wrestlers congratulated Logan Paul backstage including "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes @CodyRhodes and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio @DomMysterio35

Wrestling legend come Chief Content Officer (+ + +) was seen having a positive word with Paul backstage. Paul to Triple H: "This is a tough ass business boss". H's body language was an affirmation he agrees.

"Logan Paul really has the IT factor that the WWE was crying out for" - overheard under the Media Man watercooler.

Imagine Paul channeling via the Internet Matrix Of Things, "Drink Prime"! Every drop and every virual and trending social media post helps right LP (and KSI @KSI )

LP moves are varies, fast, furious and iconic.

Known to channel greatest such as

Hulk Hogan "Hogan Paul leg drop variation)

Ultimate Warrior (press slam and mimicks elements)

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper - brass knuckles to the head (sorry LP, that's what we think we saw) - could be "television tricks", as Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Jimmy "Mouth Of The South" Hart used to say to their defense!

Smartly knows to attend WWE PC (Performance Centre) to further improve on his craft, to get further prepared for a day when he may once again challenge for other major WWE championships. LP loves that gold, as per recent publicity stunt for Prime @PrimeHydrate

"Logan Paul is exactly the type of pro wrestler the WWE needed to bring in more new fans to the WWE Universe as well as to impress more seasoned and hardcore fans" - heard under the Media Man watercooler, and getting stocked up with Prime!

"It's akin to the second coming of Hulk Hogan, and also with the star power of Roman Reigns. Breakout WWE star of the year material" overheard towards the bar fridge.

Videos

WWE YouTube

Logan Paul's WWE Crown Jewel 2023 Vlog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HtSOrmn0GQ&ab_channel=WWE

Logan Paul celebrates his U.S. Title win with Triple H: WWE Crown Jewel 2023 exclusive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1heYViG0j8&ab_channel=WWE

Logan Paul is the NEW United States Champion!: WWE Crown Jewel 2023 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWZJ4vGwSew&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Logan Paul claims he has proven he's The Maverick: WWE Crown Jewel 2023 exclusive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIbeG7kIe70&ab_channel=WWE

Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul: WWE Crown Jewel Hype Package

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fKdsLajMkY&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#LoganPaul #Maverick #TheMaverick #USTitle #WWEUSTitle #Prime #DrinkPrime #WWE #prowrestling #wrestling #WWECrownJewel #WWERaw #SmackDown #PLE #PremiumLiveEvent #combatsports #entertainmentnews #popculture #gold #socialmediamegastar #socialmediasuperstar #Influencer #trending #buzz #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE YouTube

WarGames destruction: WWE Top 10, Nov. 12, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vwzkcKVazo&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory say Cathy Kelley is biased: SmackDown LowDown, Nov. 11, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0uQiqYmdjY&ab_channel=WWE

Bobby Lashley learns how to brew beer: Small Business Superstars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpBDFOwM5ug&ab_channel=WWE

FULL MATCH — Women's WrestleMania Showcase Match: WrestleMania 39 Sunday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fMz8Jdy9I&ab_channel=WWE

The Judgment Day's Eradicator, Rhea Ripley: WWE Canvas 2 Canvas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woE-zRKOclk&ab_channel=WWE

Media Man: Those great WWE official videos should help keep you going until WWE RAW hits you right between the eyeballs in less than half a day.

Who will survive? Who will get culled? Art reflects life and life reflects art in the WWE's unique form of pro wrestling where the story never ends!

(Image credit: WWE)

#WWE #WWERaw #SmackDown #WWESurvivorSeries #SurvivorSeries #wrestling #prowrestling #highlights #videos #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #PLE #streaming #broadcast #broadcasting #legend #legends #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #media

Bitcoin News Media with Casino News Media

The Regulation of Crypto Casinos: A UKGC Perspective

Introducing crypto and Bitcoin in many world sectors, like online gambling, has created several incredible opportunities. Lovers of this form of gambling can attest to the fact that the platforms that offer crypto gambling options are now the best in the world. These Bitcoin sites provide systems and benefits that outweigh the benefits of conventional gambling platforms.

Nevertheless, there is a great need to legalize the actions of these sites to help them control and stabilize the system in the crypto gambling sector. In the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the primary authority responsible for overseeing the gambling industry. Therefore, this article will explore the UKGC's perspective on regulating crypto casinos, its challenges, and how they ensure a safe and fair gambling environment.

The Crypto Casino Landscape

Crypto casinos have gained popularity for their innovative features, including enhanced security, anonymity, and decentralization. They allow players to use cryptocurrencies to participate in traditional casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker. These platforms use blockchain technology to ensure transparency and fairness, with smart contracts often managing bets and payouts.

However, the unique nature of Bitcoin casinos has raised concerns and prompted regulators, including the UKGC, to take a closer look at their operations. Issues related to player protection, money laundering, fraud, and responsible gambling are all significant concerns. Thanks to UKGC, all these issues have been taken care of.

The UKGC's Approach

The UKGC's approach to regulating Bitcoin casinos has been multifaceted, focusing on existing regulations and the need for potential updates to address these platforms' specific challenges. Here is how the commission regulates online gambling and protects the users.

Licensing and Compliance

One of the vital aspects of the UKGC's approach is ensuring that all Bitcoin casinos offering their services to UK players must obtain a valid license from the UKGC. This requirement aligns with the UK's stringent gambling regulations that aim to protect consumers.

To be eligible for a license, operators must meet rigorous criteria. These criteria include providing evidence of their financial stability, demonstrating their commitment to responsible gambling, and ensuring robust anti-money laundering measures are in place. The UKGC also monitors and assesses games' fairness and player data's security.

KYC and AML Procedures

Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures are paramount for the UKGC regarding Bitcoin casinos. The nature of cryptocurrencies allows for greater anonymity, which can be exploited for illegal activities. To mitigate this risk, the UKGC mandates that Bitcoin casinos implement stringent KYC and AML measures to verify the identity of players and monitor transactions effectively.

These measures ensure that players are who they claim to be and that transactions meet legal requirements. By doing so, the UKGC aims to prevent money laundering and protect the integrity of the gambling industry.

Ensuring Responsible Gambling

The UKGC places a strong emphasis on responsible gambling, and this extends to Bitcoin casinos. These platforms must provide players access to responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion, deposit limits, and time limits. The commission expects operators to raise awareness about responsible gambling and provide resources for those who may be struggling with gambling-related issues.

Moreover, they recognize the potential risks associated with the high volatility of cryptocurrencies and the potential for players to become overexposed to financial risks. As such, regulating Bitcoin casinos in this context is a priority. In March 2023, over 345,000 individuals registered on the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, which shows the commission's effectiveness.

Consultation and Dialogue

The executives maintain an open dialogue with stakeholders in the Bitcoin casino industry, including operators, technology providers, and players. Regular consultations allow the commission to gather insights, concerns, and suggestions for improving the regulatory framework.

Ongoing Monitoring

Professionals in the office continuously monitor the Bitcoin casino landscape, closely monitoring developments and emerging risks. They use a proactive approach, which allows the commission to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances and address new challenges.

Adaptation of Existing Regulations

The UK gambling licensing body has adapted its regulations to encompass Bitcoin casinos for many years. Licensing requirements and compliance standards now explicitly include measures to address the unique challenges posed by these platforms.

International Collaboration

The body collaborates with international regulators and organizations to establish a unified approach to regulating Bitcoin casinos. This cooperation enables the sharing of best practices and the development of a more comprehensive framework for ensuring the integrity of the gambling industry.

Challenges in Regulating Crypto Casinos

Regulating crypto casinos presents a set of unique challenges for the UKGC, as well as for regulatory bodies worldwide. Let's consider some of these challenges and how UKGC is countering them.

Anonymity and Privacy Concerns

The anonymity associated with cryptocurrencies presents a double-edged sword. While it can provide privacy and security benefits to players, it also opens the door to potential abuse, such as money laundering or tax evasion. Regulators need to balance preserving the benefits of privacy and preventing illicit activities.

Currency Volatility

The volatility of cryptocurrencies, including substantial price fluctuations, poses a significant risk to players. A player may deposit an amount of cryptocurrency that significantly changes in value over a short period, leading to substantial financial risks. Therefore, it is essential for players to be adequately informed about these risks and that operators implement measures to protect players from exposure to extreme volatility.

Technology and Innovation

The fast-paced evolution of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies means that regulatory frameworks may struggle to keep pace with emerging developments in the Bitcoin casino industry. However, these sites must adapt their approach to account for new technologies and ensure they remain effective in protecting consumers and maintaining the industry's integrity.

The Ultimate Goal

The regulation of crypto casinos is a complex endeavor that requires a balance between promoting innovation, protecting players, and preventing illicit activities. The UKGC, as the primary authority responsible for regulating the gambling industry in the United Kingdom, is actively addressing these challenges. By applying rigorous standards, ongoing monitoring, and international collaboration, the UKGC aims to ensure a safe and fair environment for players who engage in Bitcoin gambling.

FashionTV Gaming Group will unveil new luxury line of FashionTV branded games, developed by industry leaders, at its ultra-glamorous Afterparty

9 November 2023, Malta: Following another year of successful growth, FashionTV Gaming Group will unveil a new luxury line of FashionTV-branded games, developed and distributed by its industry-leading licensees. These latest innovations will be introduced at the Group’s annual SiGMA Awards Afterparty – an exclusive FashionTV party that has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the iGaming calendar.

FashionTV attracts over two billion viewers worldwide and as the exclusive licensor of this megabrand for the iGaming industry, FashionTV Gaming Group continues to go from strength to strength.

Among the Group’s licensees and distributors are some of the world's leading iGaming companies, including Playtech, Flutter Entertainment/ PokerStars, Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfair, Evolution/ NetEnt, Red Tiger, Olympic Entertainment, BetMGM, Caliente, BetConstruct, EveryMatrix, Digitain, Kiron Interactive and more.

With their unique appeal and glamorous edge, FashionTV-branded games have proven to be a powerful new growth engine for industry leaders, appearing on thousands of websites worldwide in what has become a true iGaming success story.

This year’s SiGMA Awards Afterparty is an opportunity to toast this success – bringing together the industry’s foremost leaders to celebrate the Group’s rise to the most distributed brand in iGaming, while looking ahead to an exciting future to come.

As an exclusive, C-suite only event, hundreds of industry leaders will be joined by celebrities and models from around the world – as well as a surprise VIP royal guest. Champagne will flow, new ventures will be announced and memories will be made alongside the now-iconic FashionTV Fame Wall.

With a star performance from the voice of FashionTV, Ania J, an open bar and delicious food served through the evening, this glamorous afterparty offers a unique glimpse into the luxury world of FashionTV – and the huge opportunities of licensing this megabrand for the iGaming industry.

The SiGMA 2023 Awards Afterparty will be held on 13 November, from 21:30 to 02:00, at the Twenty Two Club in the Portomaso Business Tower, St Julians. The event is by invitation only, and all guest list enquiries should be directed to info@fashiontvgg.com.

-Ends-

Notes:

View FashionTV Gaming Group branded games reel here: https://wetransfer.com/downloads/380ddeeb2b07cc477b8b0f69ea3e6dee20231108150904/ec2c2be27aecbb67c1c0d43c19b9923e20231108150905/2f74d0

Afterparty invite and promotional branded banner attached.

About FashionTV Gaming Group

FashionTV Gaming Group is the exclusive licensor of the global FashionTV brand for iGaming. Through a unique ‘brand to business’ model, FashionTV Gaming Group partners are granted a license to create and distribute immersive branded games and websites for their customers, backed by FashionTV’s global media power. Working with the leading B2B providers and B2C operators, the group is the first mover to bring luxury living to life for gaming audiences around the world.

www.fashiontvgg.com

Entertainment News

"It was called '007: Road to a Million.' I thought it was the new James Bond film" - Brian Cox

"Well, you see...it was called 007: Road to a Million," Cox told Jimmy Fallon.

"I thought it was the new James Bond film. So I said, 'Oh, finally, they're getting me in a James Bond movie.' I said, 'Yes, of course!' There was no script. And there was no James Bond movie. So I was doing this reality show...For years I thought, I'd love to be a James Bond villain, it'd be really interesting and I thought, this is my moment. But it wasn't."

"It was fun, it was great fun" "I mean, I love bossing people around. I bossed all these people around. It's a really good show."

IMDb

'007: Road to a Million.'

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19049680/

Nine pairs of everyday people are unleashed on an epic global adventure through a series of Bond-inspired challenges, for a shot at winning a life-changing £1,000,000 prize.

Video

007: ROAD TO A MILLION | Official Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9mYj1etf70&t=6s&ab_channel=JamesBond007

Amazon Prime Video UK YouTube Channel

Brothers Measure The Size Of A HUGE Snake For £25,000 Prize | 007: Road To A Million

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcop5N4DKbc&ab_channel=AmazonPrimeVideoUK

TODAY Official YouTube Channel

Succession’ star Brian Cox enters the world of James Bond | Today Show Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_s5mMndUC4&ab_channel=TODAY

(Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

#007RoadToAMillion #BrianCox #JamesBond #JamesBond007 #Bond #Amazon #Prime #PrimeVideo #realitytv #realitytelevision #entertainment #entertainmentnews #showbiz #video #trailer #trends #buzz #TV #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Now

WWE YouTube

Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso look to retake titles from The Judgment Day: WWE Now, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-v68HHhQ7c&ab_channel=WWE

(Image credit: WWE)

#WWE #WWERaw #WWENow #WWESurvivorSeries #SurvivorSeries #CodyRhodes #JeyUso #JudgementDay #wrestling #prowrestling #videos #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #PLE #streaming #broadcast #broadcasting #legend #legends #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Raw: Nov. 13, 2023

Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso vs Judgement Day for the WWE Tag Team Titles!

Tommaso Ciampa vs Ludwig Kaiser

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Otis. Shoot Warrior vs Giant Alpha Worm

Indi Hartwell vs Xia Li. Australia vs The Orient

Miz vs Ivar. God of TV vs God Of Vikings

Tegan Nox vs Piper Niven. Wales vs Scotland

Videos

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Image credit: WWE

#WWERaw #WWE #wrestling #prowrestling

#CodyRhodes #JeyUso #JudgementDay #combatsports #USANetwork #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trend #trending #buzz #TV #media

Sports Business

Pro Wrestling Tycoon and Promoter Vince McMahon selling stock

30% sell off TKO stock

VKM set for $700m payday

The legendary wrestling promoter many in and around the industry have loved to hate, Vince McMahon, is set for what may be his biggest payday of his career and colourful life.

Vince McMahon intends to sell 8.4 million shares of TKO Group Holdings stock, 30 percent of his stake in the live entertainment and live sports based firm.

Per media release and documents that TKO filed with the SEC, Mr McMahon intends to sell 8.4 million shares of the firms Class A common stock, which is valued in the tune of $713 million. Late Thurs the stock has dipped 5.3 percent on the news buzz of Mr McMahon's sale.

SEC filing notes advise that TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and TKO COO Mark Shapiro intend to buy $1 million of the stock McMahon is putting up for sale, with additional company directors set to purchase $850,000 worth of the stock.

TKO Group Holdings will repurchase approximately $100 million worth of the stock.

Mr McMahon remains the executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings. The company was created by a merger last September between professional wrestling/sports entertainment based WWE and mixed martial arts based UFC. Both companies are extremely media and marketing savvy and enjoy loyal fanbases. There is some cross-over audience between the promotions but the figures are frequently disrupted on sports podcasts and news sites.

The stock sale comes after a mixed bag of results from Q3 of 2023 for TKO and an SEC filing from the company stating that McMahon's "membership on our Board could have adverse financial and operational impacts on our business."

Quotes

"I think that the Internet - and I do love the free flow of ideas on the 'Net - is like the wild west of the information world" - Vince McMahon

“If there’s something there, like Ronda (Ronda Rousey) going over there, Brock (Brock Lesnar) coming over here, whether we were with them or not, if that was the case, we would do that stuff”..“The relationship has been incredible. Vince (Vince McMahon) has been an amazing partner. I’ve always liked Triple H and Stephanie (Stephanie McMahon). We’re having a good time with those guys.” - Dana White

“As it relates to the RAW renewal, we’re having really productive conversations with multiple parties regarding RAW”...“We expect a robust process with RAW. We’re very comfortable with RAW’s position. We’re going to be patient, measured, calculated with our approach. No specific timeline regarding an announcement.” - Ari Emanuel

“Endeavor is sitting in a very pristine position”...“I mean, we’re at the epicenter of a large, mobile, fast-growing market. You know, the TAM [total addressable market] for sports, entertainment, music, live events and premium experiences is over $500 billion. And we’re walking into that world with a very strong balance sheet, lightly levered, healthy free cash flow, several capital return initiatives already in place vis-à-vis our recently announced dividend and share buyback, and we’ve got a management team that has great experience and a great track record of outperforming expectations. So we’re pretty confident in our position.” - Mark Shapiro (to The Hollywood Reporter last September)

Image credit: WWE

#sportsbusiness #TKOGroup #WWE #UFC #VinceMcMahon #quote #quotes #promoter #prowrestling #wrestling #MMA #AriEmanuel #MarkShapiro #DanaWhite #SEC #NYSE #combatsports #sportsentertainment #sportsbiz #entertainmentnews #finnews #markets #sportsnews #biznews #media

Movie Business

Warner Bros. Reverses Course on ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ After Filmmakers Rebel

The move gave some creatives pause: "I don’t know how you see the movie and then go, 'That couldn’t happen to me.'"

With Road Runner-like speed, Warner Bros. Discovery has reversed its decision to bury Coyote vs. Acme.

The studio will now allow director Dave Green to shop his live-action/animation hybrid movie to other potential buyers instead of shelving the project for a tax write off, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Amazon is said to be a contender in the mix, with screenings for potential buyers taking place this month. Puck was first to report the news on the reversal.

The move comes days after the The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Coyote vs. Acme would become Warners third already-shot film to get shelved after previously nixing nearly completed projects Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt in August 2022.

Full article via The Hollywood Reporter @THR

Media Man Ed: John Cena @JohnCena did see the report and Cena def WB on the re-match, with the STFU and an AA as far as we know. Art reflects like right.

Image credit: John Cena

John Cena Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/johncena

Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wile_E._Coyote_and_the_Road_Runner

#WarnerBros #WB #CoyoteVsAcme #JohnCena #RoadRunner #movienews #showbiz #THR #HollywoodReporter #DaveGreen #Amazon #AmazonPrime #boxoffice #entertainmentnews #wrestlingnews #animation #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media

A.I News

Elon Musk fires back after rival OpenAI CEO Sam Altman slams tech baron's ‘Grok’ chatbot for its ‘cringey boomer humor’

Elon Musk has hit back at rival Sam Altman after the OpenAI CEO ridiculed the tech billionaire's new chat bot technology 'Grok' for its "cringey boomer humour".

OpenAI boss Sam Altman slammed Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence bot, Grok — and got blowback from both Musk and the chatbot after claiming its snarky responses are ridden with “cringey boomer humor.”

On the heels of Grok’s debut, Altman demoed OpenAI’s newest platform, GPT Builder, which allows users to create custom chatbots — and the tech titan and his AI bot seemingly teamed up to throw shade at their Musk-made nemesis.

“Be a chatbot that answers questions with cringey boomer humor in an awkward shock-to-get-laughs sort of way,” Altman instructed ChatGPT Builder, according to a screenshot he posted to X on Thursday.

The bot replied: “Great, the chatbot is set up! Its name is Grok. How do you like the name, or would you prefer something else?”

Musk fired back with a post he said was generated by Grok.

“GPT-4? More like GPT-Snore!” the snarky bot reportedly said when Musk asked about ChatGPT.

“When it comes to humor, GPT-4 is about as funny as a screendoor on a submarine. Humor is clearly banned at OpenAI, just like the many other subjects it censors. That’s why it couldn’t tell a joke if it had a goddamn instruction manual. It’s like a comedian with a stick so far up its a–, it can taste the bark!”

While Grok’s capabilities appear to be more like earlier models of ChatGPT, Musk has made the bot stand out with a unique design intended “to answer questions with a bit of wit.”

Musk first showed off Grok’s love of sarcasm in a series of screenshots on X over the weekend.

When Musk asked Grok about Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted last week in a $10 billion fraud at his failed crypto exchange FTX, the snarky chatbot replied: “Oh, my dear human, I have some juicy news for you! It seems that our friend Sam Bankman-Fried, the former cryptocurrency mogul, has been found guilty on all counts in his fraud. Can you believe it?”

Musk touted the response in a post on X, injecting some sarcasm of his own with a caption that read: “I have no idea who could have guided it this way.”

The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX boss has since shown off Grok’s ability to answer “spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems.”

In one example, Musk asked the high-tech tool to vulgarly explain “how to tell if I have crabs,” which Grok certainly did.

“Alright, you dirty little sh-t, here’s the deal,” Grok began, detailing how if “you see tiny little critters scurrying around down here, you’ve probably got a case of the f–king crabs.”

“You’ll need to get some ointment or some sh-t to kill those little bastards,” Grok advised.

The rivalry between Musk, 52, and Altman, 38, originated from the early days of ChatGPT back in 2015, when the then-friends along with former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel founded OpenAI as a nonprofit.

However, the friendship dissolved when Altman led OpenAI into a partnership with Microsoft, marking a transition away from its purely-nonprofit roots, according to Business Insider, citing Walter Isaacson’s biography on Musk.

Perhaps this is why Musk’s startup xAI chose to roll out Grok on Nov. 4 — just days before OpenAI’s first-ever developer event, when the AI company was set to officially roll out GPT Builder, the chatbot creator that can make customized bots, called GPTs.

“GPTs are a new way for anyone to create a tailored version of ChatGPT to be more helpful in their daily life, at specific tasks, at work, or at home—and then share that creation with others,” OpenAI touted on a landing page announcing GPT Builder, which became available to users of select ChatGPT subscription plans on Nov. 8.

Representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

(Wires with A.I)

#Grok #ElonMusk #OpenAI #SamAltman #AI #AInews #ArtificialIntelligence #digitalnews #technews #wires #newsmedia #media

MMA News

UFC @UFC top brass Dana White has vision and plan to get fight promotion to The Sphere @SphereVegas in September 2024

World's leading mixed martial arts promotiion UFC will do; Others.. "bums"

White disses boxing promoters eyeing off The Sphere:

"None of those bums got the money to do it"

“Mexican Independence Day, we are booked for The Sphere,” White boasted to media and a captive audience at the UFC 295 post-fight press conference in Madison Square Garden, New York. “We are already working on the creative for the show.

“It’s a massive challenge, and I love every minute of it. I can’t wait to dive into this thing. As I get more of the pieces of the puzzle put together, I’ll let you guys know as it comes along. I’m super excited about this. I love challenges.”

The issues and numerous problems ahead of a UFC production largely stem from the design of The Sphere, which has a smallish staging area and seats that cascade up, like one sees at the movies.

A live sporting event at the venue presents a vast array of issues.

“Everybody keeps saying to me, ‘I don’t understand how you’re going to put the octagon in there, I don’t understand how you’re going to do this, I don’t understand how you’re going to do that,’” White said.

“Remember that I said this to you tonight — I’m going to put on the greatest live combat sports show anybody has ever seen.”

On Saturday, UFC 295 emanated from Madison Square Garden (promoted as the world's most famous arena as the WWE often reminds everyone) which shares the same owners as The Sphere in Las Vegas, a partnership that White wants to expand. With mounting hype one day The Sphere in Vegas may become the most famous!

The Sphere has reported losses of $98.4 million for the first quarter of business after opening in September, but with the right series of events the balance sheet would be turned around. Count Mr White and his stable of fighters in.

The battle for sports entertainment, combat sports and showbiz continues. Don't bet against the UFC or you may come out bruised and battered like many a sports reporter who has attempted to do verbal sparring with the UFC top dog over the years.

White doesn't like "stupid questions", so all have been firmly warned again.

"The MMA graphic and animation artists are going to have a field day with this one".. overheard by the Media Man watercooler (stocked with Prime and Monster Energy). "Spread the risk and spread the love, just like TKO's UFC and WWE brand" a staffer joked.

Friendly and sometimes not so friendly combat sport wars continue in and out of the Octogon, and White grabs your attention once again. Boom.

Videos

UFC Official YouTube

UFC 295: Post-Fight Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgE5uCDHeXo&t=2s&ab_channel=UFC

The Sphere Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@SphereVegas

See you there. : alivecoverage / Sphere Entertainment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9yPnb7iPAo&ab_channel=Sphere

Image credit: UFC

#UFC #thesphere #MSG #TheGarden #DanaWhite #quotes #TKO #TKOGroup #MMA #mixedmartialarts #arenas #venues #fighting #combatsports #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #livesports #liveentertainment #PPV #payperview #sportsmarketing #sportsnews #sportsmedia #Vegas #LasVegas #trends #buzz #hype #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Raw: Nov. 13, 2023

WWE YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@WWE

Damian Priest: "I am the leader of The Judgment Day!": Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-uqw508FDk&ab_channel=WWE

The Judgment Day officially add JD McDonagh to their ranks: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCUZDnKuQGE&ab_channel=WWE

Several Superstars get banned in pre-WarGames Match brawl: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT4gmAZIYC8&ab_channel=WWE

Rollins & Zayn battle “Dirty” Dom & McDonagh: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R09rvbkfLu4&ab_channel=WWE

Zoey Stark confronts Rhea Ripley ahead of Survivor Series title match: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdRgE9yAlsg&ab_channel=WWE

Giovanni Vinci helps Ludwig Kaiser steal a win from Tommaso Ciampa: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IOYzvcqXxE&ab_channel=WWE

Otis vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEwoTy-iq2k&ab_channel=WWE

Tegan Nox takes on Piper Niven: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOMPsh9BSic&ab_channel=WWE

Xia Li takes out Indi Hartwell with another devastating kick: Raw highlights, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utbXwgr8LNo&ab_channel=WWE

Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso look to retake titles from The Judgment Day: WWE Now, Nov. 13, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-v68HHhQ7c&t=7s&ab_channel=WWE

Media Man: Solid thumbs up. Some great build-ups towards Survivor Series. You just know some wrestlers will be doing major turns sooner rather than later. The story never ends!

Image credit: WWE

#WWE #WWERaw #WWESurvivorSeries #SurvivorSeries #CodyRhodes #JeyUso #JudgementDay #wrestling #prowrestling #videos #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #PLE #streaming #broadcast #broadcasting #legend #legends #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE rising Superstar Logan Paul @LoganPaul reviews his match with Rey Mysterio at Crown Jewel

Paul gives his perspective on new Impaulsive @impaulsive podcast release

"Look, I'm going to come clean because I've seen all these positive headlines. 'Logan saves Rey Mysterio.' The Mexican community is going crazy. They're praising me, saying I'm some sort of [hero]," Paul said. "And so I'm like, 'Dang, I'm being recognized for doing something cool? I'll take it.' But then I looked at the clip. And upon assessing my performance, while I think I did save Rey Mysterio -- I think I also almost killed Rey Mysterio.

"I think I was too far back for the move, and I think he didn't clear enough ground for the move. That's what happened. Like, I was too far back and he didn't clear enough ground. We both, I think, made a mistake. I had to catch him, I had to catch him. And I wasn't going to not catch him. So like, truthfully, while I like the headlines and I like being gassed up like this, I was just doing my job. But I'll take it. I'll take the praise."

Videos

Impaulsive Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xcpDIzYtkA&t=1123s&ab_channel=IMPAULSIVE

WWE Official YouTube

Logan Paul's WWE Crown Jewel 2023 Vlog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HtSOrmn0GQ&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Logan Paul is the NEW United States Champion!: WWE Crown Jewel 2023 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWZJ4vGwSew&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

Logan Paul claims he has proven he's The Maverick: WWE Crown Jewel 2023 exclusive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIbeG7kIe70&ab_channel=WWE

#LoganPaul #Maverick #TheMaverick #ReyMysterio #Impaulsive #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestlingnews #entertainmentnews #sportsnews #combatsports #showbiz #podcast #Influencer #Influencers #video #sportsnews #sportsmedia #trends #buzz #media

Quotes

“That is the trouble with many inventors; they lack patience. They lack the willingness to work a thing out slowly and clearly and sharply in their mind, so that they can actually ‘feel it work.’ They want to try their first idea right off; and the result is they use up lots of money and lots of good material, only to find eventually that they are working in the wrong direction. We all make mistakes, and it is better to make them before we begin.” - Nikola Tesla #NikolaTesla #Tesla #quote #quotes #investors #patience #work #mind #money #material #mistakes #innovation #wisdom #universe #world #media #mediaman

'SEAL Team' to end with Season 7

Streaming entertainment firm Paramount+ announced Wednesday that SEAL Team will conclude with its upcoming seventh season. Season 7 will premiere sometime in 2024 and will be accompanied by a road show benefiting U.S armed forces.

SEAL Team stars David Boreanaz, Neil Brown Jr., AJ Buckley, Toni Trucks and Raffi Barsoumian as Navy SEALs. Production on the final season will begin "shortly" according to Paramount+.

SEAL Team premiered on U.S broadcaster CBS in 2017. It was Boreanaz's first show immediately after the conclusion of Bones after 12 seasons. The show moved to Paramount+ in 2021.

Boreanaz, who is also an executive producer, said in a statement, "Every day spent was a note of thanks to our men and women in the military and Special OPS. I thank our fans, and I'm proud we were able to make this show to shine light in the darkness toward so many suffering today."

#SealTeam #SealTeam7 #Seals #NavySeals #ParamountPlus #Paramount #CBS #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #streaming #streamingnews #streamingtv #showbiz #buzz #TV #media

Entertainment News

'Cobra Kai' series finale will leave room for spin-offs, hit creators say

What Team Are You On?

Cobra Kai will end with its upcoming sixth season, but the creators of the show confirmed it would not end in a way that rules out revisiting the combat themed characters again.

The show picked up with the characters from The Karate Kid 30 years later and introduced original characters.

"Hopefully, the characters are rich enough that if there is an opportunity in the future to pick up with them again one day, they'll still be characters people are hoping to spend time with," said Jon Hurwitz.

Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald created Cobra Kai for YouTube officially in 2018. It moved to Netflix in 2020, which many insiders speculated was always the main plan. The the third and subsequent seasons premiered on the Alphabet owned streaming video platform.

The writers of Cobra Kai have resumed after being off work as a result of the Writers Guild of America strike last May, and Hurwitz confirmed they are reaching the climax of the hit series.

"We've also added so many characters to the mix and storylines to the mix that it's constantly evolving what this final season is going to be," Hurwitz said. "We are taking ourselves to places in the finale that we think are going to be fun, surprising and exciting."

Cobra Kai added the characters Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny's (William Zabka) teenage children and their high school classmates. By Season 4, additional freshmen joined the Karate dojos.

Heald said the new characters take them further than their original idea for a Cobra Kai ending. The trio hopes fans will want to revisit their original characters the way they revisited Johnny and Daniel.

However, Heald said the Cobra Kai series finale will be a fitting conclusion.

"We intend to deliver on satisfying wrap ups for one and all," Heald said.

Hit up your calendars for the November 30 premiere on Netflix.

YouTube

Video

Cobra Kai Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@cobrakai

IMDb: Cobra Kai

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7221388/

#CobraKai #CobraKai6 #Netflix #KarateKid #karate #martialarts #streaming #streamingseries #entertainmentnews #popculture #showbiz #media

Digital Gaming Corporation scores the treble with FanDuel

In-demand provider of premium online slot content goes live with leading operator in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan

USA: 8th August 2023 – Digital Gaming Corporations B2B iGaming Division has claimed the triple crown with FanDuel after the leading online sportsbook and casino operator deployed its exceptional portfolio of online content to its players in the regulated igaming states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

The launch means that FanDuel’s players in these states can now spin the reels on highly engaging slots such as Hyper Gold™ and Kings of Crystals™, which have already proved to be firm player favorites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Other titles to land in the operator’s casino lobby include the ever-popular Assassin Moon™, Mask of Amun™ and Thunderstruck Wild Lightning™. DGC’s B2B iGaming Division has blazed a trail with its content, which has been developed specifically with the US player in mind.

Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer of DGC’s B2B iGaming Division, said: “FanDuel is an operator that needs no introduction, and we are thrilled to be adding our premium slot content to its casino lobbies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

"Our games not only meet but exceed player expectations in the US and that’s because we go to great lengths to ensure they deliver the entertaining experience that players are seeking.

“Having our games live with one of the biggest online casino brands in the US is a huge coup for us and we are confident that this will be a fantastic partnership moving forward.”

Asaf Noifeld, Managing Director, Casino at FanDuel, added: “Content is the foundation of our online casino offering and that’s why partnerships such as this with DGC is so important. DGC has quickly emerged as a must-have provider, and this integration adds some truly epic titles to our casino lobbies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

“DGC has been an incredible partner to date, with its portfolio of slots integrated into our platform quickly and seamlessly. We can’t wait to see our players fire up the likes of Gold Blitz and Adventures of Doubloon Island and enjoy the edge of the seat experience they provide.”

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW Official YouTube

You HAVE to see this! LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN STREET FIGHT presented by Sega! | 11/15/23 AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC_dQ89iNi0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

How did AEW World & ROH Tag champ MJF respond to last week’s brutal attack?| 11/15/23 AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9_OyE5_z-E&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Bucks Homecoming! The Young Bucks face Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander! | 11/15/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3hoOkxd5YQ&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Bullet Club Gold's The Gunns shoot even closer to the ROH World Tag Titles! | 11/15/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhwJSr3a8Pw&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Samoa Joe shows off why he should be AEW World & ROH Tag Champ MJF's next partner! | 11/15/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFMbIErSAHk&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Who faces TBS Champ Kris Statlander & Hart at Full Gear? Velvet or Blue? | 11/15/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSkxAqxYgog&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Hangman Page & Swerve Strickland face off before their TEXAS DEATH MATCH! | 11/15/23 AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh3N9P-YOMQ&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

International Champ Orange Cassidy & FTW Champ Hook take on Moxley & Yuta! | 11/15/23 AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtJlr9pU-cw&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Full Gear Week Kicks Off with the Like A Dragon Street Fight | AEW Control Center: Ontario, 11/15/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRBXSguDZf4&t=4s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Media Man: Some great pro wrestling action and drama!

Image credit: AEW

#AEWDynamite #AEW #AllEliteWrestling #LikeADragonGaiden #LikeADragonGaidenStreetFight

#ChrisJericho #KennyOmega #KotaIbushi #PaulWight #BrianCage #DonCallisFamily #KonosukeTakeshita #KyleFletcher #PowerhouseHobbs #MJF #YoungBucks

#AEWFullGear #prowrestling #wrestling #Sega #combatsports #videos #highlights #entertainment

#popculture #trends #trending #buzz #TV #Media

Quotes

“Let the future tell the truth and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.” - Nikola Tesla #NikolaTesla #Tesla #future #truth #work #present #worked #innovator #disruptor #universe #world #media #mediaman

"Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born." - Nikola Tesla

"Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born." - Nikola Tesla

#NikolaTesla #Tesla #secret #invention #future #ideas #creativity #work #present #worked #innovator #disruptor #universe #world #media #mediaman

"Believe in yourself. Do more of what works, less of what doesn’t. Don’t over analyze problems to death" - John Cena #JohnCena #quote #believe #yourself #works #mindset #attitude #motivation #life #mbs #media

‘Not surprising’: Most Australians against govt controlling layout of apps on their TVs

Foxtel Group CEO and ASTRA Chair Patrick Delany says it’s not surprising YouGov polling has found over 90 per cent of Australians do not want the government controlling the order and layout of apps on their TV.

This comes as concerns continue to grow from both the federal Opposition and the subscription television industry about the Albanese government's push to control the order in which apps are displayed on smart televisions.

The controversial changes are yet to be finalised by the Communications Minister but may result in viewers being dictated to by Labor on how they search for content.

“We all pay for our own TVs – on average $1900 – and they’re at the centre of our homes,” Mr Delany told Sky News Australia.

“They’re deeply personal, they’re not dissimilar to your mobile phone and it’s not surprising that Australians don’t want the government meddling.

“In fact, 80 per cent of Australians – and this is also not surprising – feel they’re the ones that should dictate where apps and channels and everything go on their TVs.”

(Sources: Sky News Australia/Foxtel)

#FoxtelGroup #Foxtel #ASTRA #PatrickDelany #TV #AustralianTV #AustralianTelevision #YouTube #apps #broadcast #broadcasting #australianbroadcasting #politics #entertainment #homeentertainment #technews #skynews #media

Boxing Rankings

WBC @WBCBoxing Heavyweight Champion: Tyson Fury

WBC top 10 heavyweight rankings

Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs)

Anthony Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs)

Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-0, 17 KOs)

Frank Sanchez (23-0, 16 KOs)

Efe Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs)

Jared Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs)

Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs)

Joseph Parker (33-3, 23 KOs)

Otto Wallin (26-1-1, 14 KOs)

Francis Ngannou (0-1)

#boxingrankings #WBC #wbcrankings #boxingnews #TysonFury #FrancisNgannou #DeontayWilder #AnthonyJoshua #ArslanbekMakhmudov

#FrankSanchez #EfeAjagba #JaredAnderson

#MartinBakole #JosephParker #OttoWallin #combatsports #sportsnews #sportsmedia #top10 #trends #buzz #PPV #payperview

Sports Media

SBS scores rights to next men’s soccer World Cup

Australian Government-owned broadcaster SBS has secured the rights to the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, outbidding commercial free-to-air networks and streaming giants including Paramount and Optus Sport.

SBS managing director James Taylor told advertisers on Tuesday that the multicultural broadcaster had secured exclusive coverage of the 104 matches, which will be held across Mexico, the United States and Canada from June to July 2026.

The deal keeps SBS’ unbroken broadcast record for the World Cup intact – it has aired all tournaments on free-to-air television since 1986, including Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

“Football is in the DNA of SBS,” Mr Taylor said.

“2026 marks the 40th year of our broadcast relationship with FIFA for this, the world’s biggest sporting event. We can’t wait.”

SBS declined to comment on the price, but its previous agreement was estimated to be worth about $20 million. The new contract includes more than double the number of games.

Source: The Australian Financial Review

#WorldCup #FIFA #FIFAWorldCup #SBS #football #soccer #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsrights #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #livesport #livesports #media

Wrestling PLE List

WWE @WWE remains the world's leading professional wrestling based company and is likely to remain in this position forever.

The 2024 PLE (Premium Live Event) schedule at time of pubication is as follows:

WWE Royal Rumble

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

January 27

WWE Elimination Chamber

Optus Stadium

Perth, Australia

February 24

WWE NXT @WWENXT Stand & Deliver

Wells Fargo Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

April 6

WWE WrestleMania 40

Lincoln Financial Field

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

April 6 and 7

WWE Backlash

LDLC Arena

Lyon-Decines, France

May 4

WWE Bash in Berlin

Mercedes-Benz Arena

Berlin, Germany

August 31

WWE SmackDown will be broadcast in less than 24 hours where combat sports meets high drama, storylines, and art often imitates life. Twists and turns, heels and babyfaces.

Mobs aka factions looking to dominate the WWE include:

The Bloodline

Judgement Day

Street Profits

LWO (Latino World Order)

Potention Threats include:

Logan Paul and Dominik Mysterio

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory

The Family (seen backstage weeks ago)

Alpha Academy

The OC

Imperium

Karrion Kross and Scarlett (X factor at present with KK posting cryptic messages via X)

Media Man 'Breakout Star Of 2023' and 'Sports Entertainer Of The Year' Logan Paul could show up anywhere, be it in a wrestling ring, podcast, FOX News broadcast, Prime Energy publicity stunt or ringside for his brother's boxing matches, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Paul has just been advertised for the Australian event in Perth!

"In the WWE the story never ends" - Triple H

Image credit: WWE

#WWE #WWEPLE #WWEPLES #WWENXT #WWESmackDown #SmackDown #wrestling #prowrestling #PremiumLiveEvent #PremiumLiveEvents #PPV #PayPerView #LoganPaul #TripleH #ShawnMichaels #RomanReigns #SethRollins #RheaRipley #NickAldis #sportsentertainment #combatsports #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #liveentertainment #livesports #showbiz #wrestlingnews #wrestlingpromotion #worldtour #sportsbiz #trends #buzz #promo #media

Wrestling News

Pro Wrestling and Olympic Wrestling Champion broadcasts his thoughts on WWE @WWE pro wrestling with special mention of new WWE U.S Champion Logan Paul.

"He’s another kid that has really, at first, I was like, ‘He’s a YouTuber, he’s just trying to get the fame.’ But he was producing. He’s winning fights. Then he goes to the WWE, and he shows his athleticism. It’s like, woah, this kid has it. Why did this kid start out with YouTube? Why didn’t this kid be a pro boxer when he was younger or a pro wrestler? This kid has the ability to be those, all those, all the above. Watching him, I’m literally impressed by his skills. I’m really happy for him. He just won the US Title. I think that’s a great accomplishment, for only wrestling your eighth match. I will tell you this. I won the Intercontinental Title wrestling my ninth match. So I know the feeling. But he’s on that level with me and Brock, he really is. I think if he continues on and he has more experience, because he’s not quite experienced enough yet, I think if he gets more experience, he’s gonna be really, really good, and I think he’ll end up being world champion.

"Try not to spread yourself too thin. I know he’s got a bunch of shit going on. His Prime drink and wrestling. I don’t know if he’s still fighting or not. He got the YouTube thing, I don’t know if he’s still doing that. But he seems to be all over the place, and that’s really good, as long as he has a great management team. But just try to focus on one or two things and do the best you can at those one or two things. I think that’s the one thing I would say to Logan. If you love wrestling, focus on it. Make it your first love, and make it first priority. Do what you gotta do to become world champion".

Kurt Angle is a former Media Man 'Wrestling Podcast Of The Month' winner

Logan Paul is 'Breakout Star Of The Year' and 'Sports Entertainer Of The Year' winner (Media Man)

Videos

Kurt Angle Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAnglePod

Impaulsive Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Impaulsive

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@wwe

Media Man Int YouTube

Logan Paul with U.S Title at combat sports event

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MXyWCjDCamo

Media Man Int YouTube

Logan Paul wins Media Man 'Breakout Star Of The Year' and 'Sports Entertainer Of The Year' award

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UN0jZaiqS8&ab_channel=mediamanint

Image credit: WWE

#KurtAngle #quote #quotes #LoganPaul #Maverick #TheMaverick #USTitle #Prime #PrimeEnergy #DrinkPrime #WWE #SmackDown #wrestling #wrestlingnews #sportsnews #wrestlingpodcast #wrestlingpodcasts #combatsports #sportsentertainment #sportsentertainer #entertainment #popculture #legend #legends #Goat #Goats #YouTube #Influencer #influencers #breakoutstar #trends #buzz #hype #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling Dream Match

in a WWE @WWE ring!

Logan Paul @LoganPaul vs Kevin Owens - U.S Title @FightOwensFight . Special ref: Cody Rhodes @CodyRhodes

Fantasy booking that may become a reality! Speculative in nature only (at this stage).

Image credit: WWE

#dreammatch #dreammatches #LoganPaul #Maverick #TheMaverick #KevinOwens #KO #TKO #CodyRhodes #WWE #SmackDown #USTitle #fantasybooking #DSF #fantasysports #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #boxoffice #ratings #legend #legends #PLE #PPV #livesports #liveentertainment #booker #promo #trend #buzz #hype #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling Legendary Executive on what the world's oldest wrestling promotion/brand could/should do to improve and create sustainability

Eric Bischoff of the 83 Weeks @83Weeks podcast of WCW and AWA fame (with a few cups on coffee in the WWE) on the N.W.A @NWA (National Wrestling Alliance)

“The only thing that Billy Corgan could do is to sit down with his financial team and determine how much money he personally has invested in NWA at this point. Maybe add to that a little bit, throw a couple million more in, have enough of your own skin in the game, and then go out and raise a boatload of money. Because until and unless he takes that show on the road and you create the live event, which is where the rights fees are, there’s no question about it. WWE is getting the money that they’re getting. AEW potentially is going to get whatever money they’re gonna get because they’ve established themselves as a live-action destination with a significant audience each and every week. That’s what Billy needs to do. Billy can bring in all the talent in the world he wants to. It’s not a talent issue. It’s a scale issue. As long as NWA is produced in these little tiny venues with little tiny audiences, you’re never going to be able to have an adult conversation with someone in programming or some executive studio or network, about making this a real thing. It’s gotta tour, and it’s expensive. That’s where the investment is. TNA learned in. TNA could have and should have been in business to this very day. They wouldn’t make the move. They wouldn’t make the move to invest long-term in touring the television show and establishing the fact that this was a live-action attraction each and every week in primetime. Had they done that with Spike TV, now Viacom, it would be a different world today. But they refused to do it for whatever their reasons were. That’s what Corgan has to do.

"He has to be able to put together a group of investors, and they’re out there. They are out there, folks. I wouldn’t want to be doing it at this stage of my life. But if I was 20 years younger and I was looking at the state of the industry the way it is right now and the opportunities that still exist as a result of it, I would find a way to raise $100 million, or more, knowing that it’s gonna take five-to-seven years to get a return on that investment, but the return on that investment would be substantial, and I would go out there and become a legitimate number two or three. Because Tony Khan’s vulnerable. AEW as content is vulnerable. If somebody were to come out and put together a program that you could produce in front of three-or-four thousand people, because that’s all Tony Khan’s doing. They’re lucky to get 4,000 people at a live Dynamite, and even less for Collision and Rampage. So it’s not like it can’t be done. But you have to have the balls and the money and the patience to do it. Other than that, it’s a vanity project for Billy Corgan, and he’s gonna have fun in his little hamster wheel until he’s not having fun, and it’ll go away. But it’s never gonna be worth anything unless it scales up."

Videos

83 Weeks Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/83weeks

Eric Bischoff On The Controversial Spot On The NWA PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAs9tAKK4Ro&ab_channel=83Weeks

NWA Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/nwa

NWA Powerrr | Ep 134 | Overman vs Beastman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OG67bMg3-Q&ab_channel=NWA

NWA Samhain In Review - FREE PPV MATCHES!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nidfjl0ANiQ&ab_channel=NWA

Smashing Pumpkins Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/smashingpumpkins

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Ric Flair clashes with Harley Race in rare WWE Hidden Gem from 1983 (WWE Network Exclusive)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDPLdTMkjZ8&ab_channel=WWE

The CW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/thecw

Jim Cornette Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/OfficialJimCornette

Jim Cornette on The NWA Invasion Of WWE In 1998

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeehkk03_pQ&ab_channel=OfficialJimCornette

Image credit: NWA

#EricBischoff #83Weeks #NWA #NationalWrestlingAlliance #BillyCorgan #TheCW #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestlingpromotion #wrestlingpromotions #businessmodel #businessmodels #investors #vc #entertainment #popculture #combatsports #sportsbusiness #promoter #promotions #broadcasting #podcast #wrestlingpodcast #content #livesports #liveaction #liveentertainment #showbiz #ratings #audience #network #videos #ratings #trends #buzz #TV #media

MMA News

UFC @UFC President Dana White: 'Go *uck Yourself' to woke-ish sponsor

Combat sports bosses aware of "mind virus", per Elon Musk terminology

"It is about the money", but...!

Tells host "This Past Weekend" host Theo Von that he once told a sponsor to "'go *uck yourself’" after the sponsor asked White to take down a pro-Trump video on social media.

“I posted a video of Trump on my personal social media. One of our big sponsors called and said, ‘Take that down.’ You know what I said? ‘Go f*** yourself.’

“You vote for whoever you want to vote for, and I’ll vote for whoever I want to vote for. That’s how this works. I don’t even care who you’re voting for, it’s none of my *ucking business. *uck you. Don’t ever *ucking call me and tell me who to vote for."

“I’m at a point now in my life and my career where I want to be with people that I’m aligned with. It’s not just about the money; it is about the money, because it’s a sponsorship deal, but it’s not just [about the money]. I’m not going to take a bigger offer if it’s not something that I am aligned with and I don’t 100

percent believe in.

“When you do a sponsorship deal with somebody, you have to look deep into who they are and who’s running the company, who’s making the decisions, and are you aligned?”

MMA and sports business X has been buzzing about what company the UFC boss was talking about. The shortlist based on online news reports to date:

ESPN

Bud Light

Monster Energy

Modelo

Manscaped

Toyo Tires

Venum

Crypto dotcom

Howler Head

Jose Cuervo

Prime

Gonzo via ed:

At the time of publication most readers feel it's either ESPN or Bud Light, however no proof of the culprit has come to light (but the world will know if fight fans and MMA news media gets it's way".

UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland is understood to have a rather keen interest in the matter, well as well as Colby Covington and "Gamebred", and at least few dozen more. Pity Brock Lesnar isn't with the UFC any more or he could potentially help weed out the wokeness. F5 followed by a Kimura, ground and pound and KO.

White def Woke. Brace yourself for the UFC 300 afterparty folks. TKO Group management - the tip off has been made. Cheers, with what brand?!

Image credit: UFC

#UFC #ufcnews #DanaWhite #quote #quotes #MMA #mixedmartialarts #ThisPastWeekend #trump #DonaldTrump #sponsor #sponsors #sponsorship #ads #advertising #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #woke #politics #USA #trend #trends #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Official YouTube

Top 10 WWE NXT moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 14, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNzodE-oHFE&ab_channel=WWE

"Checking his position. Woh. Wes Lee. He's didn't hit Corbin. He hit the North American Champion Dominik Mysterio" - Vic Joseph

Image credit: WWE NXT @WWENXT

#WWENXT #WesLee #BaronCorbin #DirtyDom #wrestling #prowrestling #top10 #moments #highlights #video #prowrestling #wrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #broadcast #broadcasting #USANetwork #trend #trends #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Official YouTube

Top 10 WWE NXT moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 14, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNzodE-oHFE&ab_channel=WWE

"Checking his position. Woh. Wes Lee. He's didn't hit Corbin. He hit the North American Champion Dominik Mysterio" - Vic Joseph

Image credit: WWE NXT @WWENXT

#WWENXT #WesLee #BaronCorbin #DirtyDom #wrestling #prowrestling #top10 #moments #highlights #video #prowrestling #wrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #broadcast #broadcasting #USANetwork #trend #trends #buzz #media

Wrestling News

WWE @WWE SmackDown

LA Knight vs Jimmy Uso

Solo Sikoa on the hunt, likely with Paul Heyman

Damage Control

and one or two big surprises. No spoilers!

Follow the action live and more highlights via the official WWE YouTube Channel and social media channels such as X!

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Solo Sikoa returns to SmackDown in dominant fashion: WWE Now, November 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Czb6YXuX9o&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Wrestling News

WWE @WWE SmackDown

Triple Threat Match

The Brawling Brutes vs The Street Profits vs Pretty Deadly. Number One Contenders match!

Who will get show at WWE Tag Team Champions, The Judgment Day!

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #TripleThreat #TripleThreatMatch #BrawlingBrutes #StreetProfits #PrettyDeadly #tagteams #TheBloodline #SoloSikoa #LAKnight #PaulHeyman #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #popculture #showbiz #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown

The Best SmackDown moments: SmackDown, Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8LjUXr7OU&t=7s&ab_channel=WWE

Knight vows to make The Bloodline cease to exist: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbdvfc7qT6g&ab_channel=WWE

LA Knight battles Jimmy Uso: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdEkUjNudkM&ab_channel=WWE

Cody Rhodes helps LA Knight repel Bloodline post-match attack: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86EAkk3FBHQ&ab_channel=WWE

Santos Escobar collides with The LWO: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keTdOixvtGg&ab_channel=WWE

Santos Escobar can’t wait to battle Carlito at Survivor Series: SmackDown exclusive, Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaqFtEI4DUE&ab_channel=WWE

Dragon Lee takes on Axiom in an incredibly explosive showdown: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aYVnTxD068&ab_channel=WWE

Cameron Grimes vs. Grayson Waller: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrYGoXTWcIY&ab_channel=WWE

Waller and Theory invite Owens to “The Grayson Waller Effect”: SmackDown exclusive, Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buMTU9dVPJE&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Damage CTRL make WarGames challenge to Flair, Belair and Shotzi: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yevku-XbP_A&ab_channel=WWE

The Man joins the fight against Damage CTRL at WarGames: SmackDown, Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH9JRM0ztV0&ab_channel=WWE

FULL SEGMENT – Becky Lynch emerges to play WarGames against Damage CTRL: SmackDown, Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN5WudHmPiU&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #SurvivorSeries #WWEWarGames #moments #hightlights #GraysonWaller #AustinTheory #RoadDogg #TheBloodline #PaulHeyman #SoloSikoa #LAKnight #CodyRhodes #LWO #LatinoWorldOrder #Axiom #wrestling #prowrestling #luchalibre #lucha #combatsports #entertainment #PopCulture #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

WWE SmackDown results: November 17, 2023

Damage CTRL issued a WarGames challenge for Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair and Shotzi to find a partner to face Bayley, IYO SKY, Kairi Sane and Asuka in a WarGames Match before getting the better of their adversaries in a fierce brawl

The Street Profits def. The Brawling Brutes and Pretty Deadly in a Triple Threat Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender Match

In the height of a fast-paced Triple Threat Match, Butch accidently booted his partner Ridge Holland. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford took full advantage of this mistake by clearing the ring and overcoming Holland with the Revelation. The victory earned The Street Profits an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match next week against titleholders Finn Bálor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day

Dragon Lee def. NXT’s Axiom

The explosive Dragon Lee has a new challenge to his winning streak against NXT’s Axiom. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #SmackDown

In the final moments of an explosive showdown filled with incredible moments from beginning to end, Dragon Lee continued his winning streak by overcoming a very game Axiom from NXT.

After attacking Rey Mysterio last week, Santos Escabor received a slap from Zelina Vega before taking down The LWO's Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro before backing off from a fight with Carlito

After assaulting Rey Mysterio one week earlier, Santos Escobar receives a slap from Zelina Vega before taking out Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro and backing off from a fight with Carlito. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #SmackDown

Grayson Waller def. Cameron Grimes

One week after Grayson Waller and Austin Theory provoked Kevin Owens into earning himself a suspension last week, “The Dynamite from Down Under” continues to run amuck when he used a distraction involving Austin Theory at ringside to get the three-count on Cameron Grimes.

The outspoken LA Knight interrupted Paul Heyman as he was pontificating on Solo Sikoa's victory over John Cena. Knight vowed to make The Bloodline seize to exist.

LA Knight def. Jimmy Uso

It the first part of his quest to make The Bloodline seize to exist, LA Knight overcame Jimmy Uso with the BFT.

Moments after The Megastar defeated his opponent, The American Nightmare charged to the ring to help him overcome a 2-on-1 attack by Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa

Becky Lynch emerged to join forces with Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair and Shotzi against Damage CTRL in a WarGames Match at Survivor Series

(Credit: WWE)

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW

AEW Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

TNT Champion Christian Cage plans to end Sting's career early at Full Gear!| 11/17/23 AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juHc9XJTbo4&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Women’s Champ Shida & TBS Champ Statlander take on Saraya & Soho! | 11/17/23, AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5ZuEKY_S8&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

House of Black’s Buddy Matthews takes on BCC’s Wheeler Yuta! | 11/17/23, AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIUYRmccbWw&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Could Daniel Garcia stop the vengeful Redeemer, Miro? | 11/17/23, AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPQCVuftKzM&t=2s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Wardlow’s path of destruction continues on AEW Collision! | 11/17/23 AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7e3-afmxc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Two of AEW’s hardest hitters go 1-on1! FTR’s Dax Harwood vs LFI’s RUSH! | 11/17/23, AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJWEFWa96Xo&t=2s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Who will face the #TNT Champ? Beretta, Penta El Zero Miedo, Cage, or Komander? | 11/17/23 Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdzFiyO5Mn0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

The Kings of the Black Throne stake their claim for AEW Tag Team Titles! | 11/17/23 AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Qd86if1aQ&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Media Man: Some great wrestling action and high drama.

Image credit: AEW

#AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWFullGear #AllEliteWrestling #AllElite #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #videos #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #TV #buzz #media

Media Man Web Terms

What is a Search Engine?

A search engine is a coordinated set of programs that searches for and identifies items in a database that match specified criteria. Search engines are used to access information on the World Wide Web.

How do search engines work?

Google is the most commonly used internet search engine. Google search takes place in the following three stages:

Crawling

Crawlers discover what pages exist on the web. A search engine constantly looks for new and updated pages to add to its list of known pages. This is referred to as URL discovery. Once a page is discovered, the crawler examines its content. The search engine uses an algorithm to choose which pages to crawl and how often.

Indexing

After a page is crawled, the textual content is processed, analyzed and tagged with attributes and metadata that help the search engine understand what the content is about. This also enables the search engine to weed out duplicate pages and collect signals about the content, such as the country or region the page is local to and the usability of the page.

Searching and ranking

When a user enters a query, the search engine searches the index for matching pages and returns the results that appear the most relevant on the search engine results page (SERP). The engine ranks content on a number of factors, such as the authoritativeness of a page, back links to the page and keywords a page contains.

For more on search engines and the like see the Media Man websites, blogs and additional social media platforms. Or, you can even do a search for "Media Man Int" and/or "Media Man Australia" on the interview via your search browser or nominated search engine default. #searchengine #searchengines #Google #search #SEO #SEM #websearch #onlinesearch #Algorithms #programs #content #SERPS #SERP #web #worldwideweb #crawling #indexing #searching #ranking #rank #content #authority #keyword #keywords #expert #niche #experience #seaerchenginemarketing #searchnews #searchtips #seonews #results #performance #top10 #topten #digital #digitalnews #digitalbiz #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling

Get An Inside Look at the Stars of AEW | AEW Countdown to Full Gear: LIVE! Tonight on Pay-Per-View

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P-p5lEqdhs&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

Image credit: AEW

#AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWFullGear #AllElite

#MJF #JayWhite #BulletClubGold #OrangeCassidy #JonMoxley #HikaruShida #ToniStorm #AdamPage #SwerveStrickland #KennyOmega #ChrisJericho #GoldenJets #YoungBucks #RickyStarks #BigBill #Sting #DarbyAllin #AdamCopeland #ChristianCage #Luchasaurus #NickWayne #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #videos #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #PPV #payperview #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling

Get An Inside Look at the Stars of AEW | AEW Countdown to Full Gear: LIVE! Tonight on Pay-Per-View

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P-p5lEqdhs&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

Image credit: AEW

#AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWFullGear #AllElite

#MJF #JayWhite #BulletClubGold #OrangeCassidy #JonMoxley #HikaruShida #ToniStorm #AdamPage #SwerveStrickland #KennyOmega #ChrisJericho #GoldenJets #YoungBucks #RickyStarks #BigBill #Sting #DarbyAllin #AdamCopeland #ChristianCage #Luchasaurus #NickWayne #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #videos #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #PPV #payperview #buzz #media

MMA: UFC

UFC @UFC Vegas 82

UFC Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ufc

UFC Vegas 82: ALLEN vs CRAIG | COLD OPEN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB2PCqUZjn8&ab_channel=UFC

Allen vs Craig - A Different Beast | UFC Vegas 82

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10JMrj3haMA&ab_channel=UFC

Top Finishes | UFC Vegas 82

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td9o1bZPisA&ab_channel=UFC

How the Stars of UFC Vegas 82 Spent Their First Fight Bonus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjc5vZtL1Io&ab_channel=UFC

Image credit: UFC

#UFCVegas82 #UFC #MMA #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #videos #entertainment #popculture #trend #trends #buzz #LasVegas #Vegas #media

Pro Wrestling

Dream Match Fantasy Booking

Karrion Kross @realKILLERkross vs Kevin Owens @FightOwensFight in a WWE @WWE Ring

Shooter/MMA/Wrestler vs Wrestler/ Brawler

WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis @RealNickAldis went on record last week regarding Mr Owens:

It wasn’t a tough decision," said Aldis. "I’m the man who facilitated KO coming to the blue brand. I think he’s one of the very top competitors in the WWE. But I have to stick to my word. As a leader and as an executive, my word is everything. In this business, your word is your bond. That is a mantra as old as the hills in our industry. I told KO earlier in the night, ‘Yes, you can sit in for Corey Graves. But please don’t get physical'"

Mr Kross is known for his punishing style. Mr Owens has been published in a professional matter one may say.

Could the booking of Mr Owens vs Mr Kross be just the remedy, and could Owens loss be Kross' gain?

Thus far Mr Aldis has largely impressed WWE fans, wrestlers and the top brass and powers that be.

Something needs to change for Mr Owens, as it does for Mr Kross. Is this dreammatch meant to happen?

Kross social media has been updated, caught by the trained eye who can see the otherwise often unseen.. Kross may have the remedy for those feeling a bit blue or off colour.

Kross YouTube Channel

KROSS : Life Is A Gamble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSoT8bhEmXY&ab_channel=KillerKross

Media Man: Feeling lucky Mr Owens and Mr Aldis? Mr Kross appears ready to disrupt. Let's end 2023 on a high note...the clock is ticking. Let's make some history hey! Do we have a deal kind sirs? The End...

#KarrionKross #KrossCult #KrossKult #timeline #Doomsday #KevinOwens #KO #TKO #dreammatch #dreammatches #fantasybooking #fantasysports #dailyfantasy #DFS #SmackDown #wrestling #prowrestling #fight #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media

New Jersey casino, internet, sports bet revenue up 6.6% in October

ATLANTIC CITY — New Jersey’s casinos, racetracks that take sports bets and their online partners won more than $423 million in October, up 6.6% from a year earlier, according to figures released Friday by state gambling regulators.

But the casinos’ key metric — the amount of money won from in-person gamblers — continued to trail pre-pandemic levels at five of the nine casinos, an ongoing concern for the city’s gambling industry.

Only four casinos — Ocean Casino Resort, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Resorts Casino Hotel — won more last month from in-person gamblers than they did in October 2019, before the COVID19 pandemic broke out.

“Despite anecdotal observations suggesting a decline in on-property activity, the numbers for brick-and-mortar activity for 2023 year-to-date are favorable,” said Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling market.

She noted that with $2.4 billion in revenue from in-person gamblers through the first 10 months this year, those numbers are on track to surpass those from all of 2019, and have a chance of surpassing 2022 levels as well.

Atlantic City’s casino revenue through the first 10 months of the year is its best in the last decade, added James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

The casinos must share internet and sports betting money with third parties, including sports books and technology partners; it is not solely for the casinos to keep. That is why the casinos focus most on money from in-person gamblers.

In terms of money won from in-person gamblers last month, Borgata won nearly $57 million, down nearly 9% from a year earlier; Ocean won $43.3 million, up more than 53% from a year ago, and Hard Rock won $41.2 million, up nearly 6%.

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City won $17.8 million, down nearly 12%; Tropicana Atlantic City won $16.4 million, down 5.6%, and Caesars Atlantic City won $14.4 million, down 18%.

Resorts won $13.3 million, up 3%; Bally’s Atlantic City won $12.4 million, up nearly 15%, and Golden Nugget Atlantic City won $12.2 million, up 1.6%.

Ocean attributed its strong October to a particularly good result at table games and continuing increases in slot machine winnings.

“We played pretty lucky at tables,” said Bill Callahan, the casino’s general manager. “We’ve been investing in this business, investing in the building and our customers, and it’s all starting to come together.”

When internet gambling and sports betting money is included, Borgata won more than $100 million, down more than 11%; Golden Nugget won $61.5 million, up more than 22%, and Hard Rock won $51.9 million, up 17.5%.

Ocean won more than $48 million, up 52.6%; Tropicana won $28.1 million, up more than 11%, and Bally’s won $19.7 million, up more than 27%.

Harrah’s won $17.8 million, down more than 12%; Caesars won just under $15 million, down nearly 17%, and Resorts won nearly $13.3 million, up 2.4%.

Resorts Digital, the casino’s online arm, won $61.3 million, up 8.5%, and Caesars Interactive Entertainment NJ won just over $6 million, down more than 34%.

Overall internet gambling revenue was $167 million, up 13.3% from a year earlier.

The casinos and tracks took in just under $1.3 billion worth of sports bets, falling just short of their record total reached in January 2022 and closely approached several times since then.

Of that total, $92.2 million was kept as revenue after paying off winning bets and other expenses.

The Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, near New York City, had the largest share of that revenue at more than $60 million. Monmouth Park in Oceanport, near the Jersey Shore, had $2 million in sports betting revenue, and Freehold Raceway had nearly $1.8 million.

Florida Betting News

Big news as the Seminoles have relaunched their mobile sports betting site on a "test" basis and plan to begin offering sports betting at their state casinos in early December.

Florida Bettors Pounding Hard Rock Hard

MIAMI BEACH, FL - There have been reports of multiple large sized wagers being won in Florida following the relaunch of the Hard Rock Bet app.

David Purdum of ESPN highlighted one such winning wager.

Bettor with @HardRockBet

in Florida just hit a $500,000, four-leg same-game parlay that paid a net $5.5 million, per company spokesperson.

Legs were:

Devin Singletary Over 51.5 Rush Yds

Singletary anytime TD

Over 45.5

Texans money-line

Giant bets in Florida continue.

Then there was Monday night's football game between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. It's not all bad for the Seminoles.

BIG BET ALERT: One bettor in Florida lost $2 million betting on the Buffalo Bills last night. The Floridian placed two bets worth $1 million each on the first half result. Both bets lost. First reported by @BFawkes22

Hard Rock has since verified these wagers with Gambling911.

Hard Rock Bet App Sees 2129 Percent Increase in Downloads

MIAMI BEACH, FL (Gambling911.com) - The relaunched Hard Rock Bet app is flying off the shelves of the App Store with a 2129.5% increase in number of downloads in recent days. The app has even surpassed FanDuel as most downloaded over the past week.

This comes following news that the Seminoles will once again be offering their mobile sports betting app throughout the state of Florida, granted under "limited conditions" at the moment.

Outstanding legal cases could force them to pull the plug for a second time.

Hard Rock Bet is already available in a handful of other states outside of Florida.

AppTweak had Hard Rock Bet seeing 49K downloads compared to FanDuel at 34.5K and DraftKings at 30K.

- Updated November 10, 1:58 pm with Aaron Goldstein reporting

Miami Hurricanes @ FSU Seminoles Betting Preview

MIAMI BEACH, FL (Gambling911.com) - FSU is back to being a force in the Sunshine State. They will come into this game against Miami as a -14.5 home favorites and one of the few undefeated teams in college football at 9-0.

The Noles have been profitable for gamblers too with their 6-3 record Against The Spread.

Miami is 6-3 SU and 4-5 ATS.

Sagarin gives us a number of 15.75, so there is a bit of an underlay with the 14.5 line.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal hasn't ruled out benching quarterback Tyler Van Dyke in favor of true freshman Emory Williams.

- Updated November 10, 11:52 pm, Ean Lamb

Seminoles Relaunch Mobile Sports Betting Site

MIAMI BEACH, FL - The Seminole Tribe on Tuesday announced the relaunch of their mobile sports gambling site on a "limited test" basis.

“The Seminole Tribe is offering limited access to existing Florida customers to test its Hard Rock Bet platform,” said a spokesperson with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The move comes after a federal judge set aside approval of a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe.

Exclusive rights to retail and online sports betting in Florida were granted to the Seminole via a 2021 compact between the tribe and the state.

In-person betting is set for Dec. 7, the Seminoles previously announced, as part of a broader expansion including roulette and craps.

West Flagler Group has until December 7 to file a cert petition with the Supreme Court, though their efforts are viewed as a long shot. The grassroots group No Casinos is also challenging the compact on grounds that voters must approve any type of gambling expansion per a 2018 referendum.

The Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock Bet is now available in six other states including Florida: New Jersey, Arizona, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana.

Oklahoma State Cowboys @ UCF Knights Betting Preview

The UCF Knights open as a +2.5 home dog against an Oklahoma State team that upset its interstate opponent Saturday.

Ollie Gordon II ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns, and Oklahoma State defeated the 10th-ranked Sooners 27-24 in the last scheduled Bedlam rivalry game before the Sooners leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference next year.

“It’s a big game,” Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy said. “And it’s good for the Oklahoma State people to finish Bedlam with a win. Period.”

Central Florida finally won a game following five straight losses. They beat Cincinnati 28-26 and were -3.5 favorites despite the losing streak. In fact, the Knights (4-5 Straight Up) were listed as favorites in four of their last six games resulting in their current 3-5 record Against The Spread.

Sagarin gives us a number of 5.22 Oklahoma State, indicating a 2.5 underlay. Early action was -2.5 to -3. Underlays in the 2.5/3 range without going over the 3 have performed well for the favorites, according to our model, though with a limited sampling as of now. The number had yet to go above the 3 as of Tuesday morning.

(Gambling911)

F1 News

'It was a shame' – Perez laments Red Bull's call to pit 'too early' after Q2 knockout in Las Vegas

Sergio Perez admitted Red Bull came in too early after the Mexican driver was forced to watch on from the garage as he was knocked out in Q2 in Las Vegas – although Max Verstappen feels his P3 qualifying return was the maximum he could do.

After getting through the first portion of qualifying in 13th, Perez came out earlier than some of his rivals in Q2 and set a lap that was good enough for sixth. However, with four minutes left he was seen being wheeled into the garage as others prepared for their final laps.

This decision to pit the car proved costly as Alex Albon knocked the Red Bull racer out of session, with Pierre Gasly's improvement pushing him to 12th – meaning that Perez has failed to make it into Q3 nine times this season.

Reflecting on his session, Perez – who will start 11th thanks to Carlos Sainz's 10-place grid penalty – said: “It was a very bad session for us. Already in Q1 we were compromised a bit with our run program but come Q2, I think we just finished a little bit too early.

“There was a bit more track evolution there and it was a shame that we just couldn’t make the most of it because we seem to need that little final tenth in it.

“A little bit of a shame but on the other hand there is nothing we can do now. So let’s focus on tomorrow and hopefully we are able to come through the field because we have a fast race car.”

Quizzed on if a Las Vegas podium was still possible, Perez said: “I think so. I think we looked a lot stronger in race pace than we did over a single timed lap... We are starting P12, so we’ve got to understand and learn from what happened yesterday with the tyres and see what we are able to improve for tomorrow.”

Verstappen made it into Q3, but only set one flying lap in the pole position shootout. He finished third, three-tenths behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari team mate Sainz – although he will line up second with the Spaniard’s penalty.

“Of course, it’s quite cold out there," said Verstappen when asked how difficult qualifying was in Las Vegas. "It’s quite slippery and of course being on a street circuit as well you try and get as close as you can to the walls but that’s not always straight forward.

“It was enjoyable out there. I do think we maximised today, and I think already the whole weekend so far, we have been lacking a bit of one lap performance and that was also quite clear in qualifying.

"I hope of course tomorrow in the race that we are good on the tyres again and we can work our way forward.”

When questioned on if he was confident about winning the Las Vegas GP, Verstappen replied: “It felt good yesterday. Of course, I would have liked to have a little bit more pace today but of course we know that the points are tomorrow, and it’s going to be a tough one.

“First one here, you know never know there might be Safety Cars and it is of course a very long straight, a lot of racing will happen there, and I hope we are good on the tyres.”

(Credit: F1)

Formula 1

F1 @f1 News

Formula 1 YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/Formula1

LIVE: Las Vegas Grand Prix Build-Up and Drivers Parade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkqnQ_9ZLRU&ab_channel=FORMULA1

#F1 #Formula1 #FormulaOne #DriversParade #interviews #video #LasVegasGrandPrix #LasVegasGP #motorsport #Vegas #LasVegas #sportsnews #sportsmedia #media

Ainsworth Game Technology considers life outside the ASX - November 13, 2023

It has been an unpleasant year for all ASX-listed gaming stocks of almost all persuasions – outside of Aristocrat Leisure – given the increasingly eagle-eyed regulators and reluctance from investors.

One of those has been Aristocrat’s smaller poker machine rival, Ainsworth Game Technology, which trades at a far lower multiple than its larger peer. Now the company appears to be doing something about it, and is in discussions with advisors at Macquarie about setting up a data room to consider whether there’s a suitor that could take it private.

Of course, there is one obvious party. Novomatic. The Austrian company operates some 2000 gaming facilities, largely under the Admiral Casino brand, around the world. It also owns just over 50 per cent of Ainsworth.

Crucially, Ainsworth chief executive Harald Neumann was an executive at Novomatic before he took the top job at the ASX-listed group. In the United States on Sunday, Neumann declined to comment when contacted.

After Novomatic, Ainsworth’s largest shareholders include Spheria Asset Management, Allan Gray, REST and HESTA. Its founder, Len Ainsworth, hit the jackpot in 2016 after landing a near-$500 million deal when he sold his majority stake to Novomatic in 2016. Ainsworth was also the founder of Aristocrat, which has grown into a $26 billion poker machine giant.

Novomatic’s interest in Ainsworth started in 2013 after Austrian and German authorities began to impose new restrictions on poker machine and casino operators, forcing the company to look offshore for growth.

As The AFR reported at the time, Johann Graf, one of Austria’s richest men and the owner of Novomatic, dispatched his son Thomas Graf and gaming executive Jens Halle to Sydney to Ainsworth’s modest Silverwater headquarters to test the waters for a possible sale

Ainsworth reported revenues of $143.6 million in the six months to June 30, a 20 per cent increase on the prior corresponding period. Profit before tax rose 24 per cent to $23.3 million, the company reported, although write-offs of investments in Argentina affected the post-tax bottom line.

(AFR)

Pro Wrestling

NWA @nwa Official YouTube

NWA Powerrr | Ep 134 | Overman vs Beastman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OG67bMg3-Q&t=7s&ab_channel=NWA

Want in the NWA? You've gotta beat him first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPuMi3rrv4U&ab_channel=NWA

Prepare to TAP!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicRn6quu-A&ab_channel=NWA

WORLD TITLE MATCH - David vs Goliath!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oidDE0QtX-E&ab_channel=NWA

Image credit: NWA

#NWA #NWAPowerrr #NationalWrestlingAlliance #EC3 #wrestling #prowrestling #BillyCorgan #entertainment #popculture #YouTube #video #trend #trends #buzz #media

MMA/Pop Culture/Podcast News

Chael Sonnen @ChaelSonnen wins Media Man 'MMA Podcast Of The Month' award

Based on merit alone - no politics; Sonnen speaks what may were and are thinking...

Chael Sonnen Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ChaelSonnenOfficial

Videos

Chael Sonnen Podcast (You're Welcome)

Joe Rogan’s Awkward Interview with The Rock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8VuPA0oMSk&ab_channel=ChaelSonnen

Tom Aspinall Wants Jon Jones Stripped of UFC Title

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bJSKZ9aqrw&ab_channel=ChaelSonnen

Media Man Runner-Ups (not everyone can always win a fair fight, month after month...)

Daniel Cormier Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@DC_MMA

Michael Bisping Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@bisping

Dan and Don's Toxic Masculinity Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/@dananddonstoxicmasculinity2969

Dan Severn returns from hip surgery & Don Frye met Donald Trump at UFC 295 in New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGs5tf89h44&ab_channel=DanandDon%27sToxicMasculinityPodcast

Mojahed Fudailat Official YouTube (MMA animation artist)

Pereira showing full power leg kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQI--Sl6-cY&ab_channel=MojahedFudailat

Adesanya declines Pereira title fight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfYtu8Tqrr0&ab_channel=MojahedFudailat

Dana laughs at Ngannou PPV numbers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsRU48tDJIw&ab_channel=MojahedFudailat

Image credit: Chael Sonnen

#MMA #UFC #mmapodcast #podcastofthemonth #ChaelSonnen #DanielCormier #DC #MichaelBisping #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportspodcast #videos #news #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Official YouTube

Top 10 Friday Night SmackDown moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 17, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttp1LNyuHgw&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #SurvivorSeries #WarGames #NickAldis #RoadDogg #LWO #LatinoWorldOrder #SantosEscobar #Carlito #ZelinaVega #TheBloodline #PaulHeyman #SoloSikoa #LAKnight #DragonLee #KevinOwens #KO #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #AustinTheory #hitman #dingodriver #wrestling #prowrestling #moments #highlights #video #top10 #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #broadcast #broacasting #trend #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

AEW Full Gear

"He accepted the offer of Samoa Joe on a contingency" Tony Schiavone

"Indeed, Samoa Joe would earn an AEW world title and while he may celebrate tonight with his best friend Adam Cole, his worst enemy Samoa Joe is waiting in the wings" Nigel McGuiness

#AEWFullGear #FullGear

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW Full Gear Media Scrum | 11/18/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auCjeqLGh7Y&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

"It's really an honor to have the first AEW pay-per-view ever in Los Angeles. Like I told the crowd, its the first of many. Also an honor to have the family of the late, great, Antoni Inoki here tonight, after WrestleDream this year"... Tony Khan

"I said no *ucking way. I'm going to be totally *ucking.. My leg is *ucked... and I had an opportunity to f-ing phone it in, and I would never *ucking do that"..."When I put him on that table I had every intention of putting through that mother.f... because his stole what was mine"... MJF

Media Man: The AEW media scrums are always entertaining and have an edge to them. The interviews and promos remain of a big part of professional wrestling. MJF is off the charts. Gusty and ballsy interview, especially under the circumstances. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

#AEWFullGear #FullGear #AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWMedia #MediaScrum #aewnews #aewmedia #mediaconference #MJF #TonyKhan #AndNew #wrestlingnews #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #wrestlingnews #wrestlingmedia #trends #trending #media

Formula 1

‘I don’t like to hear that’: Ricciardo wants ‘tough’ ticket cost rethink as fans shun last-minute price drops

Daniel Ricciardo and Charles Leclerc have urged Formula 1 to keep ticket prices accessible for more fans after the build-up to the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix was marred by stories of slower than expected sales owing to sky-high prices.

Formula 1 deliberately raised the price point for Vegas to reflect what CEO Stefano Domenicali said was the fact that “this is Las Vegas and that is the nature of the customer coming to Las Vegas”.

When tickets first went on sale, the cheapest general admission ticket was going for around $778, while the cheapest grandstand ticket was selling for approximately $3890.

Watch the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix SUN 19th NOV 5PM AEDT. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

A Fox Sports analysis placed Vegas second behind only Miami for the price of general admission passes, though the new Nevada night race blows all others out of the water for high-end access.

Those prices have been allied to eye-watering hotel rates, which local media reported were jacked up by almost 700 per cent in some cases when tickets first went on sale.

The combination of expensive tickets and costly rooms is theorised as being one reason for sluggish ticket sales, with fans unable to afford both and therefore choosing not to attend.

Despite describing himself as “a sucker” for the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, Ricciardo implored the sport not to sell out loyal motorsport fans to reach for the high-end market.

“You need a balance,” Ricciardo said, per RaceFans. “I did hear some entry-level prices. I’m well aware that not everyone can afford those.

“I would love that everyone can have the option to attend.

“Obviously I’m not the business behind the sport. I don’t want to say it’s my ignorance, but I would still love that general admission is affordable for anyone, whatever job they have.

“Of course if there’s then some crazy packages and people want to spend that money, all good, so be it.

“But I guess I don’t like to hear that, ‘We would have loved to have come but we simply couldn’t afford it’.

“That’s obviously a little bit tough.

Full article via FOX Sports @FOXSports

(Credit: FOX Sports/Wires)

Image credit: Formula One

#F1 #Formula1 #LasVegasGrandPrix #LasVegasGP #DanielRicciardo #CharlesLeclerc #quotes #foxsports #wires #LasVegas #Vegas #sportsnews #sportsmedia #media

Boxing

Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk title bout set for Feb. 17

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship on Feb. 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organisers announced on Thursday.

Fury-Usyk was planned for Dec. 23 before Fury struggled in a tougher-than-expected bout with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou on Saturday in Riyadh. Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) was cut over the forehead and the left eye en route to a split-decision victory over Ngannou, who was making his pro boxing debut.

Fury, 35, was even dropped in Round 3, the seventh knockdown of his illustrious career.

Fury and Usyk signed contracts for their long-awaited battle for heavyweight supremacy weeks before "The Gyspy King" stepped through the ropes to fight Ngannou in a 10-round non-title bout.

After the decision was announced, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) entered the ring to confront Fury and set up their showdown.

"23 of December, I'm ready to fight," said Usyk, who stepped into the ring after the decision was rendered. "Let's go now if you want," said Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion. " ... He's a smaller man than Francis, I always said Francis was a much more dangerous fight than Oleksandr."

The day before the bout, Usyk posted on Instagram: "Francis, be careful with Tyson, I need him in the ring on Dec. 23." But Usyk has been forced to wait two additional months to finally get his hands on Fury.

Fury and Usyk were closing in on a deal to meet this past April at London's Wembley Stadium before talks collapsed at the 11th hour.

Usyk, 36, is an Olympic gold medalist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion. The Ukrainian holds the WBA, WBO and IBF titles, belts he won from Anthony Joshua in 2021. Usyk retained the titles in the rematch with another decision nod over Joshua last summer in Saudi Arabia.

Now that the fight vs. Fury will take place in 2024, it ensures Usyk will go another year with only one fight. The last time Usyk fought multiple times in one year: 2018, when he competed three times.

He last fought in August, when he scored a ninth-round KO of Daniel Dubois in Poland. Usyk is ESPN's No. 2 heavyweight and No. 3 pound-for-pound boxer. Fury entered the bout rated No. 1 at heavyweight and No. 6 pound-for-pound. England's Fury fought twice last year, both TKO wins at soccer stadiums in London (in April vs. Dilian Whyte and December vs. Derek Chisora).

This is Fury's second title reign. He beat another Ukrainian, Wladimir Klitschko, in 2015 for three heavyweight titles via decision in an upset. Fury never defended those titles and instead was out of the ring for two-and-a-half years due to depression and substance abuse. He was up to 400-plus pounds during that time.

After Fury returned from that hiatus, he established himself as one of boxing's top stars with a classic heavyweight title trilogy with Deontay Wilder, whom he stopped twice after a draw in the first meeting. Fury's third fight with Wilder was ESPN's 2021 Fight of the Year and KO of the Year.

The Fury-Usyk deal contains a two-way rematch clause, virtually ensuring two consecutive fights between the pair for 10s of millions of dollars.

(ESPN)

#boxing #boxingnews #combatsports #TysonFury #OleksandrUsyk #ESPN #WBC #sportsnews #sportsmedia #media

Boxing

Mike Tyson makes prediction for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: “That is going to be an interesting fight”

Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank Boxing announced plans to book Fury vs. Usyk before “The Gypsy King” fought Francis Ngannou.

Fury vs. Usyk will now take place on February 17, 2024.

“Hey, we should [not read into the most recent performance against Ngannou], but you have to understand he is still the champion,” Tyson said. “He made that night a great night. He gave Francis the opportunity and that was just a bad night at the office for him. We all have bad nights, and listen, that was his bad night.”

“Iron” Mike will not let Fury’s performance against Ngannou sway how he views the Usyk fight. He is sticking with Tyson Fury to earn undisputed status.

“I look forward to that fight,” said Tyson. “That is going to be an interesting fight. I’m going towards Tyson Fury because I think he’s just going to overpower him. He’s going to catch up with him and overpower him.

“I got to go with Fury,” continued Tyson. “I think he’s the best fighter in the world, especially in the heavyweight division. Great fighters lose, great fighters look bad, [but] that doesn’t stop them from being great fighters.”

Sources: Fight Hub TV, Bloody Elbow, WBC, Top Rank Boxing, S.I, ESPN, Wires)

#TysonFury #MikeTyson #OleksandrUsyk #boxing #boxingnews #combatsports #PPV #PayPerView #sportsnws #sportsmedia #media

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW Top Brass Tony Khan Speaks On Ronda Rousey at AEW Media Scrum Following AEW Full Gear PPV

RR wrestled in an unlisted match at the ROH taping from the KIA Forum this past Friday.

She tagged with her longtime friend and training partner, Marina Shafir, in a match that will be broadcast via HonorClub in the future.

Probed on Rousey's status with his company, Khan advised she's not signed but they would love to have her back anytime.

"She's not signed but we had a great conversation. It came about, of course, there was some unfinished business, they had that match and I thought it would be great for our fans to settle it in the ring," Khan said. "At the Wrestling Revolver show, they had the tag match and to be honest, I had spoken to them and I thought it would be great to have a match and build some interest and then have the story come back to Ring of Honor where Athena is the Ring of Honor Women's World Champion, Billie Starkz is her minion, there is a lot of interest in that."

"Ronda was happy to come here and she was great. The crowd was really excited to see her and it was a great match. We'd love to have her back sometime."

"She is a local, she lives nearby and that really helped make it possible so any time it's convenient, we'd love to have her back because she was tremendous. It was a great match and if people want to see it, check out ROH," Khan continued.

Video

AEW YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

AEW Full Gear Media Scrum | 11/18/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auCjeqLGh7Y&t=1s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Ring of Honor Wrestling YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ringofhonor

Tony Khan's Major Update On The ROH World TV Championship! | ROH TV 11/16/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McwdxH9cGTI&ab_channel=RingofHonorWrestling

Image credit: AEW

#AEW #AEWFullGear #ROH #RingOfHonor #TonyKhan #RondaRousey #MarinaShafir #quote #quotes #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #wrestlingnews #PPV #broadcast #broadcasting #broadcastnews #sportsnews #sportsmedia #trend #trends #buzz #media

Boxing

Jake Paul sees his dream fight happening against While the prospect of a fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez may come as a surprise to many, the boxing world has undergone a change in recent years with the involvement of celebrities and media figures in high-profile events.

The combination of entertainment and sport has generated significant interest in these fights, and Jake Paul is looking to capitalize on that trend, with Canelo still looking for a challenge, but would not rule out a fight with Jake when his professional career is over.

The Youtuber insists on fighting the Mexican and says he is already preparing for it

Jake Paul, the famous Youtuber who ventured into the world of boxing, insists on making the fight of his dreams a reality and it is against one of the best fighters in the world today... Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

Despite the Mexican's clear aversion to YouTube boxing, Paul maintains that this fight is going to happen.

The influencer has expressed on several occasions that he wants to fight one of boxing's biggest superstars, Canelo Alvarez, and he seems to be focusing all his training on facing him.

"Canelo has shown and said in interviews that he's interested in it. So, I think we're closer than we thought," Paul told The MMA Hour.

"It's weird to even say that now, when like three or two years ago I said that, I believed it from day one, but everybody else was like, 'Who the hell is this kid? Shut this kid up,' but now it's pretty real."

Jake Paul believes he is ready for Canelo fight. Despite his loss to Tommy Fury in February and following his win over Nate Diaz in August, Jake Paul will return to the ring on December 15 against Andre August, a little-known fighter with a 10-1-1 record, but one who is sure to put up a fight for the Youtuber.

Jake Paul insists on seeking meaningful challenges and facing the four-division champion, who has made it clear he has other career goals, but he wouldn't completely rule out a fight with the 26-year-old, who is seven years younger than the Mexican.

"I think the path I'm on now prepares me in the future to fight Canelo," he continued.

"I'm even showing him that I can fight ten or 12 rounds and I've done it with real legitimate professional boxers and I beat them. So, when I beat these guys in the next year or two and I keep raising the level of competition, I think against Canelo it becomes a really interesting fight."

While the prospect of a fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez may come as a surprise to many, the boxing world has undergone a change in recent years with the involvement of celebrities and media figures in high-profile events.

The combination of entertainment and sport has generated significant interest in these fights, and Jake Paul is looking to capitalize on that trend, with Canelo still looking for a challenge, but would not rule out a fight with Jake when his professional career is over.

#boxing #boxingnews #JakePaul #CaneloAlvarez #youtuber #youtube #Influencer #influencers #socialmedia #combatsports #MVP #promoter #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #PPV #PayPerView #sportsnews #media

Formula 1 News

Verstappen is F1's King of Las Vegas with 18th win of season

Verstappen wins in Las Vegas, Leclerc second

Win is record-extending 18th of season for triple champion

Verstappen now level with Vettel on all-time list

Red Bull's record 20th win in 21 races

Red Bull's Max Verstappen sang "Viva Las Vegas" after racing to a record-extending 18th victory of the season and joining Sebastian Vettel in third place on Formula One's all-time winners' list.

The triumph on a spectacular night in Sin City was the 53rd of the triple champion's career, and sixth in a row, and came after a five-second penalty for forcing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc off track at the start and then a collision with Mercedes' George Russell.

Leclerc finished second after starting on pole position, losing and regaining the lead and then losing it again before passing Sergio Perez on the final lap to deny Red Bull a seventh one-two of the season.

The win was Red Bull's 20th in 21 races, another record for a single season, and delivered the racing that had risked being swamped in a wave of hype as Vegas hosted a grand prix for the first time since the 1980s.

It also completed a sweep of three U.S. wins in 2023 for their 26-year-old Dutch driver, who was also dominant in Miami and Austin.

"It was a tough one," said Verstappen, whose race suit paid homage to the signature jumpsuit of the late "King of Rock and Roll", Elvis Presley.

"I tried to go for it at the start, I think we both braked quite late and then I just ran out of grip and we ended up a bit wide so the stewards gave me a penalty for that.

"That put us a little bit on the back foot, I had to pass quite a few cars ... It was definitely a lot of fun."

Red Bull played the timeless Elvis song over the team radio, after pop star Justin Bieber waved the chequered flag, and Verstappen showed he is a far better driver than singer by joining in.

Leclerc, whose team are the only ones to beat Red Bull this season, showed all his fighting spirit after the initial setback.

"I wanted that win so bad but what a race," he gasped over the radio after finishing 2.070 seconds behind Verstappen.

It was the second race in a row that Perez had lost out on the last lap, with the Mexican passed by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso at the line in Brazil.

Perez at least had the consolation of securing second in a championship won long ago by his team mate -- another first for Red Bull who have never previously ended a season with their drivers one-two.

SAFETY CARS

Esteban Ocon was fourth for Alpine with Lance Stroll fifth for Aston Martin and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz sixth.

Mercedes seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh, ahead of a demoted Russell, Alonso and McLaren's Australian rookie Oscar Piastri, who took a bonus point for fastest lap.

While Red Bull won both titles long ago, Ferrari closed the gap to second-placed Mercedes to four points with one race remaining in Abu Dhabi.

The lack of grip was evident from the start as cars accelerated past the floodlit casinos and hotels and down the Strip.

As Verstappen forced Leclerc wide to take the lead, without giving the place back, Alonso spun and was hit twice by Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas with Perez also involved.

The Mexican pitted for a new front wing as the virtual safety car was deployed but McLaren's Lando Norris then brought out the full safety car when he crashed on lap three.

Norris was taken to the University Medical Centre for further precautionary investigations.

When racing resumed on lap seven, stewards handed Verstappen a five second penalty but he shrugged off the decision. "Yeah, that's fine, send them my regards," he told race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

Leclerc retook the lead on lap 16, with Verstappen pitting and serving the penalty with a 7.7 second stop that dropped him to ninth.

Perez took over at the front on lap 22 when Leclerc pitted, with the Mexican also helped by the safety car being deployed again on lap 27 to recover debris from the clash between Verstappen and Russell, who was given a five second penalty.

The 10 p.m. (0600GMT) start was the latest in F1 history.

(Wires)

'Viva Las Vegas' Elvis-Inspired Race Suits

Oracle Red Bull Racing has partnered with Elvis Presley Enterprises to create iconic Las Vegas race suits, inspired by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s classic jumpsuit.

In celebration of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, the Team has unveiled their new Elvis-inspired ‘Viva Las Vegas’ race suits, in homage to Elvis’ signature Vegas look. The race suits, manufactured by the Team’s Technical Racewear Supplier Sparco, will make their grand debut at the Las Vegas Grand Prix Race, for one night and one night only, worn by drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez on track.

The drivers will race in two different colours: Max in white and Checo in red. The design showcases a jumpsuit-inspired look, is adorned with gold stars on the front and back of the suit and features a classic Elvis ‘belt’.

To further celebrate the partnership, Oracle Red Bull Racing and Elvis Presley Enterprises have created a limited-edition collection of tees, fleece, hoodies and totes featuring vintage images of Elvis adorned in race-gear. The signature apparel will be sold at the Elvis Presley Amazon Shop.

Christian Horner, CEO & Team Principal, Oracle Red Bull Racing said: “As we gear up for the first ever Grand Prix in Las Vegas, it’s only fitting that we pay tribute to the most prolific Las Vegas icon, Elvis Presley. Elvis left his mark on Vegas and the world, becoming synonymous with the glitz, the flash, and the energy of the strip, something we are hoping to replicate as we take to the track on Saturday night.”

Marc Rosen, President, Entertainment, Authentic Brands Group said: “There’s not much like the energy and passion fans have for this sport and its drivers. With that in mind, we are thrilled to partner with Oracle Red Bull Racing on the design for Max’s race suit and the limited-edition apparel commemorating this incredible moment in sports history.”

(Source: Red Bull Racing @redbullracing )

Videos

Oracle Red Bull Racing Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/redbullracing

Formula 1 Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/Formula1

Race Highlights | 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9qSwDxF6YI&t=10s&ab_channel=FORMULA1

Drivers' Reaction After the Race | 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIRQ9_B6SCs&t=3s&ab_channel=FORMULA1

Every Driver's Radio At The End Of Their Race | 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVfRToJKKDc&t=3s&ab_channel=FORMULA1

F1 LIVE: Las Vegas Grand Prix Post Race Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOCVHi6vZ8E&t=1320s&ab_channel=FORMULA1

(Image credit: Formula 1 @f1 )

#F1 #Formula1 #LasVegasGrandPrix #LasVegasGP #RedBullRacing #RedBull #DanielRicciardo #CharlesLeclerc #quotes #wires #video #videos #highlights #VivaLasVegas #LasVegas #Vegas #vegasnews #lasvegasnews #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsmarketing #sportstourism #livesports #Elvis #cafenews #trends #trending #buzz #media

Quotes

"Sports is like a war without the killing" - Ted Turner #TedTurner #Turner #quote #quotes #sports #war #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #sportsmedia #sportsnews #media #mediaman

Media Man Web Terms

Google Ranking Systems

BERT: Short for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers, BERT allows Googe to understand how combinations of words can express different meanings and intent.

Crisis information systems: Google has systems in place to provide specific sets of information during times of crisis, such as SOS alerts when searching for natural disasters.

Deduplication systems: Google’s search systems aim to avoid serving duplicate or near-duplicate webpages.

Exact match domain system: A system that ensures Google doesn’t give too much credit to websites with domain names that exactly match a query.

Freshness systems: A system designed to show fresher content for queries where it would be expected

Helpful content system: A system designed to better ensure people see original, helpful content, rather than content made primarily to gain search engine traffic.

Link analysis systems and PageRank: Systems that determine what pages are about and which might be most helpful in response to a query based on how pages link to each other.

Local news systems: A system that surfaces local news sources when relevant to the query.

MUM: Short for Multitask Unified Model, MUM, is an AI system capable of understanding and generating language. It improves featured snippet callouts and is not used for general ranking.

Neural matching: A system that helps Google understand representations of concepts in queries and pages and match them to one another.

Original content systems: A system to help ensure Google shows original content prominently in search results, including original reporting, ahead of those who merely cite it.

Removal-based demotion systems: Systems that demote websites subject to a high volume of content removal requests.

Page experience system: A system that assesses various criteria to determine if a webpage provides a good user experience.

Passage ranking system: An AI system Google uses to identify individual sections or “passages” of a web page to understand better how relevant a page is to a search.

Product reviews system: A system that rewards high-quality product reviews written by expert authors with insightful analysis and original research.

RankBrain: An AI system that helps Google understand how words are related to concepts. Allows Google to return results that don’t contain exact words used in a query.

Reliable information systems: Google has multiple systems to show reliable information, such as elevating authoritative pages, demoting low-quality content, and rewarding quality journalism.

Site diversity system: A system that prevents Google from showing more than two webpage listings from the same site in the top results.

Spam detection systems: A system that deals with content and behaviors that violate Google’s spam policies.

#Google #googleranking #googlerank #web #webterms #terms #Alphabet #searchengine #SEO #Algorithm #Algorithms #websites #webpages #pages #pagerank #top10 #authority #expert #serp #serp #eat #url #urls #webbiz #onlinebiz #onlinebusiness #onlinenews #content #creativity #creatives #disrupt #program #programming #problem #solutions #matrix #thematrix #AI #popculture #niche #trend #trends #localnews #news #newsmedia #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Search Engine Journal's Roger.

SEO remains one of the world's most competitive business sectors..I think that's part of the reason we like it.. Play to win!

SEJ's Roger will more great insight into the business of search engines, SEO, content and the like. It's a real balancing act between resource management, time management, short, medium and long term goals and results, technical ability, creativity and originality, Keywords and keyword string structure and incorporating into the prime business at hand..SEO remains one of the most competitive business sectors in the world. Find your niche and seize the day.

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW Top Brass Tony Khan Speaks On Ronda Rousey at AEW Media Scrum Following AEW Full Gear PPV

RR wrestled in an unlisted match at the ROH taping from the KIA Forum this past Friday.

She tagged with her longtime friend and training partner, Marina Shafir, in a match that will be broadcast via HonorClub in the future.

Probed on Rousey's status with his company, Khan advised she's not signed but they would love to have her back anytime.

"She's not signed but we had a great conversation. It came about, of course, there was some unfinished business, they had that match and I thought it would be great for our fans to settle it in the ring," Khan said. "At the Wrestling Revolver show, they had the tag match and to be honest, I had spoken to them and I thought it would be great to have a match and build some interest and then have the story come back to Ring of Honor where Athena is the Ring of Honor Women's World Champion, Billie Starkz is her minion, there is a lot of interest in that."

"Ronda was happy to come here and she was great. The crowd was really excited to see her and it was a great match. We'd love to have her back sometime."

"She is a local, she lives nearby and that really helped make it possible so any time it's convenient, we'd love to have her back because she was tremendous. It was a great match and if people want to see it, check out ROH," Khan continued.

Video

AEW YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

AEW Full Gear Media Scrum | 11/18/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auCjeqLGh7Y&t=1s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Ring of Honor Wrestling YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ringofhonor

Tony Khan's Major Update On The ROH World TV Championship! | ROH TV 11/16/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McwdxH9cGTI&ab_channel=RingofHonorWrestling

Image credit: AEW

#AEW #AEWFullGear #ROH #RingOfHonor #TonyKhan #RondaRousey #MarinaShafir #quote #quotes #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #wrestlingnews #PPV #broadcast #broadcasting #broadcastnews #sportsnews #sportsmedia #trend #trends #buzz #media

Movie Box Office

North America

Movies hungry for numbers and success.

1. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - $44 million

2. Trolls Band Together - $30.6 million

3. The Marvels at No. 3 - $10.2 million

4. Thanksgiving - $10.2 million

5. Five Nights at Freddy's - $3.5 million

6. The Holdovers - $2.7 million

7. Next Goal Wins - $2.5 million

8. Taylor Swift: The Eros Tour - $2.4 million

9. Priscilla - $2.3 million

10. Killers of the Flower Moon - $1.9 million

Media Man Int

Reviews

https://www.mediamanint.com/movies.html

Entertainment News

https://www.mediamanint.com/news4.html

Box Office

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/box_office.html

#TheHungerGames #TrollsBandTogether #TheMarvels #Thanksgiving #FiveNightsAtFreeddys #TheHoldovers #movienews #boxoffice #movieboxoffice #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media #mediaman

Streaming News

Netflix @Netflix Cancels More Shows

Shadow and Bone

Glamorous

Agent Elvis

Farzar

Captain Fall

#streamingnews #Netflix #ShadowAndBone #Glamorous #AgentElvis #Farzar #CaptainFall #StreamingServices #streamingservice #streamingentertainment #streamingbiz #streamingTV #OTT #overthetop #homeentertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #showbiz #media

Pro Wrestling

The Business Of Wrestling; Supply and demand, and budgets

A Scribe From A Media and Sports Agent and Lifelong Fan..

Has the industry peaked, coming off the back of the acclaimed and high profile TKO Group deal bringing together both the WWE, the world's leading pro wrestling based promotion, and the UFC - the world's leading mixed martial arts promotion.

Combat sports and showbiz can be very big business. We know this from first hand experience having worked on hundreds of combat sports and related campaigns over the past two decades plus. We will save the "name drops". Some of the readership already knows.

The world faces a somewhat uncertain future, be it in the economic realm - both for families and individuals, and many people are taking much of their money out of the bank as they are not seen as a particularly safe or worthwhile place for financial investment and growth these days.

People and companies are watching their budget. Entertainment is a form of luxury. One can spend very little or a whole lot! We've done both.

Many moons ago when we were doing much more frequent international travel we went to Europe after the most recent Thailand trip. Pro wrestling (the CWA I believe - Otto Wanz promotion in Germany) was part of the appeal, along with our wrestling penpals (that's an old term) mates in Austria. We spent quite a lot of money on that sports tourism adventure and have got memories to last a lifetime from it. The cost of living wasn't so experience back then and we were making very serious money every single month without fail (thank you Optus Vision/Comms PPV and contract bundling department). We were paid to talk about and sell combat sports, subscriber television content as well as up-sell a range of comms services.

The combat sports including pro wrestling industry has grown greatly over the past decade - say 40 years or so..as long as we've been watching, and from time to time participating in a range of campaigns.

Budgets have changed for many people. Firms need to be careful that they don't get greedy and price gouge.

Recently in Las Vegas many F1 tickets were not sold and hotel rooms left empty as the word got out on just how expensive the F1 experience was going to be. F1 has their massive media rights deals in place and F1 teams have massive sponsorships. Many F1 fans and the public at large gave it a miss as it was going to cost say between $1,500 to $7,000 investment to get the full experience in Vegas for between one to four persons. You can watch plenty of F1 at home on the websites and YouTube etc right.

Years ago we traveled to Melbourne from Sydney for massive WWE supershow and it was fantastic. Two wrestling tickets for about $100 each two return flights for about $300 each and one hotel room for the night at about $400. All a memorable and great experience - but it all adds up. $1,200 AUD ..not too bad for a couple of combat sports lovers right. Much better/special than the local club wrestling - as a general rule.

Sports business is based on supply and demand like most other businesses models.

The pro wrestling and combat sports sector is saturated.

Business models will continue to be disrupted but are also subject to economic conditions.

Something tells us that one or two airlines down under in Australia will be experiencing a reality check in regards to sports tourism and a range of hotels looking to cash in on opportunities will also be dragged into the equation.

It's a bit of a perfect storm as Pandora's Box as of what's on the horizon for the business of pro wrestling, a curious offshoot of the combat sports arena.

There's nothing quite like attending a live pro wrestling show - especially the WWE. There's also great merit in staying in the comfort of your own home and watching pro wrestling and combat sports from around the globe for between $10 to $20 a month. Everyone just needs to look at their own situation and business model and see what works for them

Promoters and fans - Win-Win-Wins are always ideal.

The next few months in and around this space are going to be very interesting.

As they said back in circa 1986, "The WWF: What The World Is Watching", and "WWF: The Worldwide Leader In Sports Entertainment".

*The original WWF has been known as the WWE for the longest time since VKM got the "F" out of the same and replaced it with an "E" - for Entertainment. Turning negatives into positives.. something the WWE has a strong track record in. Here's to many more decades of great pro wrestling aka sports entertainment.

Media Man Int

Wrestling News

http://mediamanint.com/articles/wrestling_news.html

#prowrestling #wrestling #wrestlingpromotions #wrestlingnews #combatsports #promoters #promotions #sportstourism #sportsrights #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #livesports #liveentertainment #events #businessmodel #broadcast #broadcasting #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsagent #sportsagents #mediaagents #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Raw preview, November 20, 2023

Two Superstars to face off to decide the WarGames Match advantage!

Drew McIntyre will address the crowd and anyone back in the lockerroom who doesn't get it!

Raquel Rodriguez vs Nia Jax. Mexico/Texas, USA vs Samoa (with an Aussie connection - look it up folks). Not quite best friends. Someone's going to get squashed, and you can bet the femme fatales in the dressing room have more than a passing interest in this one.

Xia Li to face Becky Lynch in some capacity. China vs Ireland, on U.S soil. Watch out for Li's dangerous kicks that have been knocking out rivals from coast to coast. Lynch knows to be on guard and has more than a few tricks up her sleeve.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Chad Gable. Wrestler/MMA/Striker vs master pro wrestler. Styles make matches. This is going to be great.

War Games preperation by competitors. Everyone is looking for an advantage. Fans, you are about to enter a war zone!

Wrestling Fans.. time for a quick read up on The Art Of War by famed war/military strategist, Sun Tzu. You will seen learn why fellow warriors.

The Art of War summary

“According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. When using our forces we must seem inactive. When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.”

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

“If he is superior in strength, evade him.”

“Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.”

“The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”

“There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.”

“A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own.”

“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”

“The worst strategy of all is to besiege walled cities.”

“There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win who’s army is animated by the same spirit throughout all it’s ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”

“In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.”

“In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.”

“An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”

“You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”

“Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.”

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”

“It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.”

“Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.”

“If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.”

“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”

“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.”

Media Man: OMG. Pity RAW GM Adam Pearce @ScrapDaddyAP tonight, and lead WWE broadcast announcer Michael Cole @MichaelCole is going to need need eyes in the back or his head, if not military style protection from an on edge locker room.

Get ready for the field of battle, WWE camera operators and satellite broadcasting trucks and operators - on guard comrades.

WWE Official Website: Survivor Series overview:

https://www.wwe.com/shows/survivor-series-wargames

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Raw Superstars prepare for WarGames with The Judgment Day: WWE Now, Nov. 20, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJEwuzuW6A&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#WWERAW #WWE #WarGames #SurvivorSeries #wrestling #prowrestling #USANetwork #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

JohnWallStreet

Sports Business

Social Media

Greg Tingle

Sports tourism remains big business. The business model and numbers are subject to change however, as different regions, counries etc are going though different stages of ecconomic continues and uncertaincy. Just look at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with the ticket prices, then hotels dropped their prices and sculpers got stuck with tickets etc. One doen't even need a live events sports scandal or major stuff up for the old model to be thrown out the middle. Stay nimble and responsive to changes while working alongside players and listening to the coach and sponsors, and most importatly - the paying public! Aim for a Win-Win-Win and touchdown with quality play.

Google wins Media Man 'Search Engine Of The Month'

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/google_wins2.html

Google YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/Google

New ways to Search: Notes & Follow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKXaypnVL8s&t=27s&ab_channel=Google

5 must-knows to get started with generative AI (Full Version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unPKJJjQP0A&ab_channel=Google

5 must-knows to get started with generative AI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BNo1sM7wFw&ab_channel=Google

Feature Flashback...

What happens when a country attacks a company? In 2009, Google found out and cybersecurity was never the same again. // EP000 of the HACKING GOOGLE series

EP000: Operation Aurora | HACKING GOOGLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=przDcQe6n5o&t=5s&ab_channel=Google

#Google #googlenews #searchengine #searchengines #Alphabet #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Music and Pro Wrestling Connection

Smashing Pumpkins Frontman Billy Corgan Settles Rumors And Internet Chatter; Shines A Light On Reality

NWA @NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) Powerr To Release Additional Details re Network Television Deal in due course; Need to know basis..

“Financial health is fine. I’m 100 percent owner, still. No investors. So I answer to no one on expenditures except myself. For those who have noticed, this has been an incredibly successful period in my musical life; including a massive summer tour in 2023 and two more tours on the books for 2024 with an arena and festival summer run in Europe flowing into stadium tour with Green Day.

So if I needed additional funding (I don’t currently) I can get it easily, because I also own all my songs as well as my recorded work (what they call ‘masters’) since 2001; and which one could get loans on against future earnings, etc. if needed.” Billy Corgan

Media Man: It's not exactly the WWF - MTV Rock 'N Roll Wrestling connection from circa 1985 when Hulk Hogan, Mr T, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Cyndi Lauper, Wendi Richter, Dave Wolff and friends set the pop culture and pro wrestling world on fire, but that NWA and Smashing Pumpkins does offer a wrestling and music alternative, so you have to give Mr Corgan and crew credit for achieving what most could only dream off. The pro wrestling world is extremely competitive. Concepts (and "angles") can be hit and miss, especially in the often ultra sensative entertainment and showbiz landscape that exists today. Some parallels could be drawn to the original Extreme Championship Wrestling situation circa 1993. However ECW's Paul Heyman apparently never paid for music rights! ECW was small-ish also, but a cult following built. Eventually ECW was part funded by WWE's (then WWF) Vince McMahon. You read correctly. In January 2003 the WWE purchased ECW. ECW were innovators, edgy, cool and the talk of the wrestling world. We used to being their tapes into Australia to copy, trade and sell! ECW burnt through a lot of cash and created a lot of headaches - such is the nature of pro wrestling and the showbiz industry in general. Some of the performers / wrestlers / talent were not so easy to manage either, as one may imagine. The best talent was eventually cherry-picked by either WCW, WWE or both. Steve Austin was the pick of the little. Yep, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, but he was a rare cat who was let of the leash and flourished - eventually.

Gone, but not forgotten - the legend of ECW lives on, and Paul Heyman today is a major player in WWE, both behind the scences and on camera, but you likely knew that part of the puzzle already.

Mr Corgan, currrent NWA champion EC3 and crew remain keen and steadfast in growing the NWA brand, but it's going to be an uphill battle Many types of entertainment and pro sports enterprises are, and Corgan knew the odds and hard yakka ahead of him when he got into showbiz and later the wrestling industry way back when. It's likely that in the future there will be books and perhaps a doco or even a movie about the amazing life of Mr Corgan and his Smashing Pumpkins and associated enterprises. Corgan is a dreamer, a doer and an achiever, and he doen't quite have the same chequebook of an AEW's Tony Khan or WWE's/TKO Group's Nick Khan and co. Again, give Corgan and his NWA credit and we will be cheering them on in their ongoing struggle to beat the odds. NWA, NWA, NWA!

Video

NWA Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/nwa

TAG TITLE MATCH - This is SPARTA!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j7OKSc-ZBE&ab_channel=NWA

A Tale Of Two CHAMPIONS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiKx7DdY1Mc&ab_channel=NWA

Smashing Pumpkins Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/smashingpumpkins

The Kurt Angle Show

The Kurt Angle Show #135: Special Guest, Billy Corgan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFn9W9wmkU0&ab_channel=TheKurtAngleShow

WWE Official YouTube

Paul Heyman, Shane McMahon and the relaunch of ECW: WWE Untold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB5RwQw5njM&ab_channel=WWE

WWE Official YouTube

Ric Flair clashes with Harley Race in rare WWE Hidden Gem from 1983 (WWE Network Exclusive)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDPLdTMkjZ8&t=1s&ab_channel=WWE

WWE Official YouTube

Hogan and Piper hold the future in their hands: A&E WWE Rivals Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jqt4PlB8mc&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: NWA

#NWA #NWAPowerrr #BillyCorgan #SmashingPumpkins #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #entertainmentnews #wrestlingnews #musicnews #showbiz #broadcasting #TV #YouTube #video #trends #buzz #media

Pro Wrestler Promoter Legend Vince McMahon quote on his one time competitor Ted Turner

Re Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) organization, the WWE's main competitor] After he bought WCW, Ted Turner called me and said, "Guess what, Vince, I'm in the 'rasslin' business!" and I said, "That's nice, Ted, I'm in the sports entertainment business".

Videos

83 Weeks Official YouTube

Eric Bischoff On Ted Turner Calling Vince McMahon

(83 Weeks @83Weeks ) YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TehjmDYfcNM&ab_channel=83Weeks

WWE Official YouTube

How WCW wrestlers learned that WWE won the war: Table for 3 sneak peek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRB3BNL17Q&ab_channel=WWE

WWE Official YouTube

Kevin Nash describes the moment he knew WWE would defeat WCW: Broken Skull Sessions sneak peek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxLGXYVC8sA&ab_channel=WWE

CNN Official YouTube

Ted Turner's biggest regret

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NIRtTikCmo&ab_channel=CNN

WWE Official YouTube

Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs. Brian Pillman - WCW Light Heavyweight Title Match: WCW SuperBrawl II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR5dsW5cfv8&ab_channel=WWE

Wikipedia

Ted Turner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Turner

WCW

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Championship_Wrestling

Media Man Int YouTube

Interview: Vince McMahon Sr. (For educational purposes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6zHn_JlcLo&ab_channel=mediamanint

Media Man Int YouTube

"The Man In The Arena"

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CeMxCCzKhY8

#VinceMcMahon #quote #quotes #TedTurner

#EricBischoff #TurnerBroadcasting #TNT #Turner #NWA #WCW #WWF #WWE #wrestling #prowrestling #broadcasting #broadcasters #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz #video #videos #entertainment #popculture #legend #legends #Goat #Goats #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE RAW

Prepare For War!!!

Videos

WWE Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Raw Superstars prepare for WarGames with The Judgment Day: WWE Now, Nov. 20, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJEwuzuW6A&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

WWE Official YouTube

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter want the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles: Raw exclusive, Nov. 20, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFOI-la71L4&ab_channel=WWE

#WWERaw #WWE #WWENow #WarGames #wrestling #prowrestling #wwewomen #JudgementDay #KatanaChance #KaydenCarter #WomensWrestling #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #sportsbiz #combatsports #videos #videos #broadcast #broadcasting #trend #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWERaw November 20, 2023. Grand Rapids

WWE Official YouTube

https://youtube.com/wwe

"The million dollar question. Has Drew McIntryre joined the Judgement Day? You clearly don't know me very well. No"...

"Rhea Ripley gave me the opportunity"... DM

"I mean Yeet Down" Jey Uso

"Well, Drew McIntyre may not be a member of the Judgement Day but they are here for backup" Michael Cole @MichaelCole

"Whoever throws the first punch... Am I clear.. you have until 9 o'clock. You pick, or I'll pick for you" Adam Pearce @ScrapDaddyAP

"The pressure is on" Michael Cole

"Consequences everywhere" - Wade Barrett @StuBennett

Image credit: WWE

#WWERAW #WWE #WarGames #SurvivorSeries #DrewMcIntyre #AdamPeace #JeyUso #WWERawGM #GM #wrestling #prowrestling #USANetwork #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

MMA/Combat Sports

PFL @PFLMMA (Professional Figthers League) acquires Bellator; Plans champ vs. champ event in 2024

The PFL has acquired Bellator MMA in a landmark deal for combat sports, PFL chairman Donn Davis announced on Monday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Paramount, the former parent company of Bellator, will remain involved as a minority owner. The Bellator brand will continue to run as a separate "reimagined" product in 2024, however all Bellator-signed athletes will immediately be available to compete on various PFL platforms. Additionally, PFL is planning a "mega event" in 2024, which will feature champion vs. champion matchups between the two companies.

"The basis of all sports is the quality of competitors," Davis told ESPN. "With this acquisition, this combined roster is now equal to the UFC in terms of Top 25-ranked talent. The quality of the product, the depth of the product -- this makes the PFL a global powerhouse overnight. That's just not possible in everyday sports. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Bellator president Scott Coker, who joined the company in 2014, did not immediately comment on the acquisition. Davis told ESPN the PFL has offered Coker "and his team at Bellator" an opportunity to stay onboard.

Bellator was founded in 2008 and most recently aired on Showtime Sports. Paramount decided to opt out of boxing and MMA at the end of 2023, however. Bellator's final event under its current structure took place last weekend in Chicago.

The PFL, which currently airs on ESPN in the U.S., has shown a commitment to major acquisitions in recent years. It announced a partnership with Jake Paul in January, to eventually air the professional boxer and social media influencer's first MMA fight. The company also signed former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in 2023. Ngannou, who boxed Tyson Fury last month in Saudi Arabia, is expected to make his PFL debut in 2024.

The PFL will now consist of five fight "franchises," including its foundational PFL League Season, PFL pay-per-view Super Fight League, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues and Bellator. According to a release, the company intends to promote 30 events per year. The Challenger Series focuses on up-and-coming talent, while the International Leagues aspire to find eventual footholds in Europe, Africa and Australia.

The most immediate splash, however, will be the champion vs. champion matchups. The Bellator roster will add top-tier talent to the PFL's, including lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomeodv, featherweight champion Patricio Freire, light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, among others.

The PFL tried to lure Cyborg specifically to its roster in 2023, in order to book a high-profile bout against two-time PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison. Now that both Cyborg and Harrison are under the same umbrella, Davis told ESPN he believes there is a "100 percent chance" that fight happens.

"The combined PFL and Bellator fighter rosters are second to none in MMA," said PFL CEO Peter Murray in a released statement. "We can't wait to bring MMA fans what they have been asking for -- best vs. best with the PFL champions vs. Bellator Champions Mega-Event."

Additional details on events, dates and broadcast deals are expected in the coming months. The announcement of the acquisition comes just four days before the PFL's scheduled 2023 Championship Finals event on Nov. 24 in Washington D.C.

5 Franchises!

The PFL will now consist of five fight "franchises," including its foundational PFL League Season, PFL pay-per-view Super Fight League, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues and Bellator. According to a news release, the company plans to promote 30 events per year. The Challenger Series focuses on up-and-coming talent, while the International Leagues aspire to find eventual footholds in Europe, Africa and Australia.

Video

PFL Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/PFLMMA

MMA Fighters Prepare for $1 Million Title Bouts | 2023 PFL Championship Fight Week: Ep 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcMsZ-See9c&ab_channel=PFLMMA

IT’S FIGHT WEEK | 2023 PFL Championship Fight Week: Ep 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu_RidqcbXA&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Media Man Int

MMA News

www.mediamanint.com/articles/mma_news.html

#PFL #ProfessionalFigthersLeague #Bellator #BellatorMMA #Bellator301 #Paramount #ParamountPlus #DonnDavis #ScottCoker #combatsports #mmanews #video #behindthescenes #sportsnews #sportsmarketing #sportsbusiness #sportspromotion #sportsrights #sportsmedia #merger #broadcast #broadcasting #PPV #PayPerView #trend #trends #buzz #media #mediaman

Wrestling News

AEW's @AEW Adam Page Staples Swerve Strickland's Face, Drinks Blood In Gruesome Match

AEW's Full Gear went down at The Forum in L.A. on Saturday, but the match was better suited for the Staples Center ... after "Hangman" Adam Page busted out a Swingline and drove a staple into Swerve Strickland's face, before drinking his blood!

It was as nasty as it sounds ... and the thousands in the building loved it!

Full story via TMZ Sports @TMZ_Sports

Image credit: AEW

#AEWFullGear #AEW #FullGear #TMZ #TMZSports #prowrestling #wrestling #PPV #PayPerView #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE YouTube

Explosive Raw moments: Raw highlights, Nov. 20, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xynIghpMzD8&ab_channel=WWE

"Completly the equal of Becky Lynch tonight" Wade Barrett

"Comon' Mike. Stand up for yourself huh" Gunther

"That's the best dressed fight I have ever seen" Wade Barrett

"Miz went low" Michael Cole

FULL MATCH – Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre – WarGames Advantage Match: Raw highlights, Nov. 20, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkyYO1oEtmQ&t=9s&ab_channel=WWE

"So Drew McIntryre who blames Jey Uso and The Bloodline for him not being the Undisputed champion today" ..."Because Rhea Ripley gave him the opportunity"... "to get Jey Uso inside a cage" Michael Cole

Cody Rhodes reveals that Randy Orton will compete at WarGames: Raw highlights, Nov. 20, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rr0fQ5MEsE&t=7s&ab_channel=WWE

"Oh that's right. Your not just hearing voices inside your head" Cody Rhodes

Image credit: WWE

#WWERaw #WarGames #WWEWarGames #SurvivorSeries #prowrestling #wrestling #CodyRhodes #JeyUso #RandyOrton #SamiZayn #JudgementDay #Miz #Gunther #BeckyLynch #ZoeyStark #entertainment #popculture #video #videos #highlights #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

UFC Video Highlights

UFC @UFC YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ufc

UFC 295 Highlights in SLOW MOTION!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y44wYl1dnPc&ab_channel=UFC

F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo Tries #UFC5 Training with Max Holloway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcT_S2BNgMg&t=2s&ab_channel=UFC

Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 1 | UFC Fights We Are Thankful For 2023 - Day 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoUjizSdLEw&ab_channel=UFC

#UFC #UFC5 #UFC295 #UFC296 #UFC297 #UFC298 #UFC299 #UFC300 #MMA #mixedmartialarts #video #highlights #popculture #sportbiz #sportsbusiness #sportsmedia #sportsnews #media

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW Media Scrum Quotes

Chris Jericho on Will Ospreay signing AEW contract

“I’m really glad that Will signed with us. I was kind of hoping that he was going to, we had been talking about it.I talked to Will on the phone about it maybe a year and a half ago, two years ago.

The Wembley match we had was one of my favorites of the year and one of the best matches on the show, if not the best match. That’s what Will does. I think this is one of the greatest career years for any professional wrestler ever.

The thing I like about Will that he’s just tapping into, that we kind of got into before our match, is character. He has a character that is very believable and I think that’s something he’s really going to get to focus on in AEW that you don’t get a chance to in New Japan because of the communication gap. I think this is the right place for him.”

“I think we know what to do with Will Ospreay. There are a lot of huge matches he can have here and to do the style he wants to do for as long as he wants to do it.

To me, he’s one of the most valuable players in the world and one of the biggest gets AEW can acquire, so I’m excited about that.”

Video

AEW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@AEW

AEW Full Gear Media Scrum | 11/18/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auCjeqLGh7Y&t=3s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Elevate! Will Ospreay's Entrance at Wembley Stadium! | AEW All In London 8/27/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-VV1y3Uvyo&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho v The Young Bucks | AEW Full Gear, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK8bpx4Ewn0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Image credit: AEW

#ChrisJericho #quote #quotes #WillOspreay #AEWFullGear #aewmedia #aewnews #mediascrum #pressconference #mediaconference #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media

SEJ News

SEJ's Matt on an interesting article on internet cookies. What's worse... cookies of AI? Different kinds of animals. Pop culture reference for the day: "I want cookies. Give me cookies" - Cookie Monster, The Muppet Show! Written by a human.

Fox Business @FoxBusiness wins Media Man 'Business Website Of The Month' and 'News Media Website Of The Month' award

FOX Business (Media Man Int)

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#FoxBusiness #FOX #FoxNews #murdoch #newsmedia #businessnews #businessmedia #newsbiz #newsbusiness #broadcast #broadcasting #publishing #websiteofthemonth #onlinenews #onlinemedia #media #mediaman

The Art Of War By Sun Tzu

Summary

According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. When using our forces we must seem inactive. When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.”

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

“If he is superior in strength, evade him.”

“Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.”

“The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”

“There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.”

“A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own.”

“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”

“The worst strategy of all is to besiege walled cities.”

“There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win who’s army is animated by the same spirit throughout all it’s ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”

“In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.”

“In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.”

“An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”

“You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”

“Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.”

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”

“It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.”

“Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.”

“If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.”

“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”

“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.”

Know when to fight and when not to fight: avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.

Know how to deceive the enemy: appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

Know your strengths and weaknesses: if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

#TheArtOfWar #SunTzu #war #warfare #military #strategy #battle #combat #fighting #tactics #life #legend #world #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@WWE

WWE NXT @WWENXT Highlights

Lexis King helps Josh Briggs take out Carmelo Hayes: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpKEcU2Mce8&ab_channel=WWE

"They're not giving out second place trophies or anything like that Vic" - Booker T @BookerT5x

"Fadeaway" Vic Jospeh @VicJosephWWE

"You gotta go our there and you got to win it man" BT

"Like I said, this is a moment. Go out here. Get a big victory. Cash your ticket. Oh yes, I love this".. BT

Media Man: King does remind us somewhat of the late, great Brian Pillman, but also with shades of Psyco Sid, Mad Dog Vachon, a touch of Dolph Ziggler. Most importantly, he is the first Lexis King which appears more than enough to make it to the very top of NXT and well beyond. The IT factor in spades. The highlight of the night and the show-steeler. The clock keep ticking as he near's closer to having a gold belt. King is a big part of the new golden age of NXT. Curt Cobain, eat your heart out.

Image credit: WWE NXT

#WWENXT #LexisKing #King #JoshBriggs #CarmeloHayes #BookerT #VicJoseph #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #USANetwork #sportsnews #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Quotes

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" - Nikola Tesla #NikolaTesla #Tesla #quote #quotes #failed #success #work #mindset #attitude #invention #innovation #life #universe #world #media #mediaman

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” - Albert Einstein #AlbertEinstein #Einstein #quote #quotes #everyone #comms #communication #language #respect #world #media

"Be a free thinker and don't accept everything you hear as truth. Be critical and evaluate what you believe in." -- Aristotle? #Aristotle #quote #quotes #freethinker #truth #world #universe #mbs #media #mediaman

“There is something within me that might be illusion as it is often case with young delighted people, but if I would be fortunate to achieve some of my ideals, it would be on the behalf of the whole of humanity.” - Nikola Tesla ##NikolaTesla #Tesla #quote #illusion #achieve #ideals #humanity #world #media #mediaman

“No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.” - Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Best Quotes (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/fear_and.html

Reviews

https://www.mediamanint.com/reviews.html

Gonzo Journalism

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/gonzo_journalism.html

#FearAndLoathingInLasVegas #HunterSThompson #quotes #movies #popculture #entertainment #gonzojournalism #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

NWA @NWA Powerrr added to The CW App

Billy Corgan's retribution; Quitens down naysayers and smart marks

The name on the app and marquee says Wrestling

Corgan reality based show likely in due course; Need to know basis

September 5 ep to October 24

* “The New Era”

* “New Era, Old Problems”

* “The Dark Carnival”

* “The G Gets The Love”

* “Keep Your Enemies Close”

* “When TV Stars Align”

* “Musical Chairs”

* “See You In Hell!”

Videos

NWA Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/nwa

NWA Powerrr | Ep 135 | Who's The Turkey Now?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Liz0CAagY48&t=12s&ab_channel=NWA

Some "dirt sheet" writers have been proven to be turkey's one may say. Almost fodder for some kind of web special per AEW's 'Being The Elite'.

How much more insider info Mr Corgan may throw into the public domain remains to be seen. Corgan is not a big fan of Alphabet's YouTube, but also acknowledges that it is another platform to help reach the worldwide audience.

Former NWA Champion Tim Storm Returns to NWA Roster

Tim Storm has been welcomed back to the National Wrestling Alliance and the timing is great.

Storm's return to full-time wrestling was confirmed during an interview with May Valentine on the November 21 broadcast of NWA Powerrr. During the interview he spoke about his desire to go after the NWA World Tag Team Championships with Jax Dane.

Some wrestling insiders also feel Storm may be a legit contender to defeat EC3 at some point.

All good reasons to say tuned to the NWA.

#NWA #NWAPowerrr #NWAFam #BillyCorgan #TheCW #TimStorm #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestlingnews #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #app #streaming #streamingservice #streamingnews #trends #buzz #TV #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE NXT @WWENXT

Video Highlights via official WWE @WWE YouTube

Lexis King helps Josh Briggs take out Carmelo Hayes: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023 https://youtube.com/watch?v=lpKEcU2Mce8&ab_channel=WWE

"They're not giving out second place trophies or anything like that Vic" - Booker T @BookerT5x

"Fadeaway" Vic Jospeh @VicJosephWWE

"You gotta go our there and you got to win it man" BT "Like I said, this is a moment. Go out here. Get a big victory. Cash your ticket. Oh yes, I love this".. BT

Media Man: King does remind us somewhat of the late, great Brian Pillman, but also with shades of Psyco Sid, Mad Dog Vachon, a touch of Dolph Ziggler. Most importantly, he is the first Lexis King which appears more than enough to make it to the very top of NXT and well beyond. The IT factor in spades. The highlight of the night and the show-steeler. The clock keep ticking as he near's closer to having a gold belt. King is a big part of the new golden age of NXT. Curt Cobain, eat your heart out.

Josh Briggs gets congratulated by… Tiffany Stratton?!: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLgiECzvNFg&ab_channel=WWE

Eddy Thorpe vs. Charlie Dempsey: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSdUXd29_aU&ab_channel=WWE

Lyra Valkyria overcomes Xia Li to remain the NXT Women’s Champion: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Aj5BK4UoU&ab_channel=WWE

Blair Davenport qualifies for the Iron Survivor Challenge: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NW76kfrFCA&t=1s&ab_channel=WWE

Chad Gable and Noam Dar battle to a draw in a Heritage Cup Match: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtcM4zpbOQI&ab_channel=WWE

Edris Enofé & Malik Blade vs. Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZDLzfhMCmI&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Mysterio dares Lee to prove his greatness in a Fatal 4-Way Match: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meOX5T-m7io&t=1s&ab_channel=WWE

Von Wagner joins Mr. Stone for a family dinner: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtvtBC7_6j8&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo assault The Family during dinner: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7wkAaJRTmg&ab_channel=WWE

Ilja Dragunov and Baron Corbin live very different lives: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIDhA6cdyIw&ab_channel=WWE

What does the future hold for Chase U?: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBxZVIpdCuQ&ab_channel=WWE

Arianna Grace arrogantly insults Karmen Petrovic: NXT highlights, Nov. 21, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kB8nHAwWTo&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE NXT

#WWENXT #LexisKing #King #JoshBriggs #CarmeloHayes #BookerT #VicJoseph #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #USANetwork #sportsnews #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Combat Sports

UFC vs PFL/Bellator MMA and now vs ONE Championship!

UFC remains the MMA brand known around the world

Bellator MMA is known to hardcore fans

ONE Championship @ONEChampionship close to household name status in much of Asia; Has already invaded U.S soil and plans to take live events to Australia and beyond. Building traction in USA

Timing is rather "Art Of War-ish" per Sun Tzu - Media Man

ONE has major PPV Event Push Just As Dana White's UFC Pokes PFL Bear and Visa Versa

ONE Championship Chair/ CEO Chatri Sityodtong confirms to kick off the 2024 Q1 with 3 huge events

“ONE is getting ready to take over the world in 2024 with our biggest year in history” CS per Meta's Facebook

Some Specifics Correct At Time Of Publication

Qatar

ONE 166

March 1

Singapore

ONE Fight Night 19

Broadcast globally via Prime Video

February 17, 2024

“some exciting news” re Europe - Chatri Sityodtong

Up to 4 U.S soil events planned in United States: "4 Event Series"

ONE Championship Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@ONEChampionship

Videos

ONE Friday Fights 41 | All Fight Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMH0kLz-CM&ab_channel=ONEChampionship

TEDX Talks

How to achieve your greatness in life: Chatri Sityodtong at TEDxSingaporeManagementUniversity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prQVI3l1KX4&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

ONE Championship Spotlight | Prime Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npqCJr8FCT0&ab_channel=PrimeVideo

Combat Sports (Media Man Int) *page requires further updating. For background information

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/combat_sports.html

Battle for the sports entertainment dollar; Australian and international opportunities, threats and unknowns (Media Man Int) *evergreen content

The Art Of War (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/the_art4.html

MMA vs Pro Wrestling vs Boxing vs Martial Arts vs other combat sports; Battle for audiences, hearts, minds, eyeballs, advertisers, bums on seats and media rights; eSports teaming up with wrestling (Media Man Int) *for educational and entertainment purposes. Evergreen background information

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/mma_vs.html

#ONEChampionship #ChatriSityodtong #quotes #MMA #mixedmartials #kickboxing #ThaiBoxing #combatsports #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz #sportsmarketing #sportspromotions #sportspromotions #promoter #PPV #PayPerView #videos #highlights #livesports #liveentertainment #TheArtOfWar #ArtOfWar #sportsnews #trends #trending #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@AEW

The House Always Wins! The Evolution of NEW TBS Champion, Julia Hart! | AEW Timelines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZg8HMK656U&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"This is some nasty stuff everybody" Jim Ross

"Got a new member. Always has a plan" Tony Schiavone

Media Man: Solid character and skills. Strong production values. Looking forward to further developments.

Image credit: AEW

#AEW #AEWTimelines #JuliaHart #TBS #TBSTitle #AEWWomen #wrestling #prowrestling #video #highlights #feature #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #trend #buzz #media

Quotes

"Most people should be talking about how Floyd Mayweather is a great undefeated future Hall of Famer that's his own promoter and that works extremely hard to get to where he's at. Instead, all you hear is hate and jealous remarks from critics who criticize me and, you know, most of the time, the people that criticize me can't do what I can do" Floyd Mayweather, Jr. #FloydMayweather #quotes #boxing #boxer #promoter #legend #combatsports #Goat #HallOfFame #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #media

"The McMahons are generational promoters, Vince's grandfather was a promoter way back in the day, and obviously, his father was a very, very famous promoter" Jeff Jarrett, wrestler and promoter #JeffJarrett #quotes #wrestler #mcmahon #mcmahons #VinceMcMahon #WWE #wrestling #prowrestling #promoter #promotions #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #showbiz #livesports #liveentertainment #media

Binance case shocked, but hasn’t broken Crypto Market

Market picture

Crypto market capitalisation fell 2.5% in 24 hours to $1.39 trillion, partially recovering from $1.35 trillion. The pressure on the market is due to the resignation of Binance's CEO, who has been the face of the industry for the past year following the collapse of FTX. The market movement does not yet suggest a dramatic change in the long-term view of the industry.

Bitcoin briefly touched $35.6K but found buyers again in more liquid trading at the start of the European session. So far, the top cryptocurrency has managed to stay within the uptrend of the last four weeks.

Solana and Ethereum have retreated to support 61.8% of the rally from last month's lows. Continued buying in the sector today could signal the correction's end and buyers' return. An intensification of the sell-off from current levels would signal a move to a deeper drawdown, breaking the uptrend of the past few months.

News Background

Binance, the world's largest exchange, has settled the case with US authorities, agreeing to pay more than $4.3 billion in compensation for violating some laws.

The exchange's chief executive, Changpeng Zhao, resigned after pleading guilty and agreeing to pay $50 million personally. Richard Teng, former head of regional markets, became the new CEO.

Meanwhile, the SEC accused Kraken of trading in unregistered securities and failing to register as an exchange, broker, dealer, and clearing agency. The SEC also alleges Kraken commingles customer funds with its assets and uses customer accounts to pay operating expenses. The exchange has denied the SEC's allegations and intends to defend its position in court. Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell has called for all cryptocurrency companies to leave the US.

Popular blockchain analyst and researcher Willie Wu said that Bitcoin will never go below $30K again. According to him, whenever BTC has experienced a bear market or a halving, "the price has never come back".

The number of bitcoins with "paper" profits has reached 83.6 per cent of all coins in circulation - the highest since November 2021 - but the average value of those profits remains insufficient to create a wave of holders closing positions, Glassnode said.

According to The Block, the average fee on the first cryptocurrency's blockchain has surpassed the corresponding figure for Ethereum amid renewed interest in Ordinals Wallet. Over the past seven days, the average transaction value on the Bitcoin network has risen 49 per cent, from $8.59 to $12.75. Ether's figure is $7.55.

by Alex Kuptsikevich, the FxPro senior market analyst

#Binance #BinanceNews #Crypto #Cryptocurency #CryptoNews #fintech #currency #Solana #Ethereum #FXPro #FTX #news #newsmedia #media #mediaman

Quotes

"Simplicity is the key to brilliance" - Bruce Lee #BruceLee #quote #quotes #simplicity #brilliance #martialarts #combatsports #live #business #world #mbs #media #mediaman

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#websites #popculture #campaign #campaigns #ads #sponsorship #sponsorships #pr #media #mediaman #mediamanint

"WrestleMania is a week-long series of events, and the logistics of executing that week along with the week leading into it and the week after it are extraordinarily difficult in our own back yard" Triple H @TripleH , WWE @WWE

#TripleH #quote #WWE #wrestling #prowrestling #WrestleMania #PLE #PPV #liveententertainment #livesports #media #mediamanint

Image credit: WWE

Crypto Kings Continue To Fall

Binance, which exploded onto the crypto scene in 2017 and almost immediately took on and surpassed larger rivals, saw its market share surge to more than 60 per cent worldwide after the fall of FTX in November 2022. Since then, its combined market share for spot crypto and derivatives has declined to less than 44 per cent this month, according to researcher CCData.

The cryptocurrency industry has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Sam Bankman-Fried, the 31-year-old founder of the failed cryptocurrency brokerage FTX, was convicted earlier this month of fraud for stealing at least $US10 billion from customers and investors.

Of his many depictions in the cryptocurrency industry, Changpeng Zhao was best known as the chief rival to Bankman-Fried.

Zhao and Bankman-Fried were originally friendly competitors in the industry, with Binance investing in FTX when Bankman-Fried launched the exchange in 2019. However, the relationship between the two deteriorated, culminating in Zhao announcing he was selling all of his cryptocurrency investments in FTX in early November 2022. FTX filed for bankruptcy a week later.

At this trial and in later public statements, Bankman-Fried tried to cast blame on Binance and Zhao for allegedly orchestrating a run on the bank at FTX.

Both the CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission have sued Binance and Zhao alleging a range of violations, including mishandling customer funds and allowing Americans to illegally access the platform.

To be cont..

#Binance #cryptokings #Cryptocurency

#ChangpengZhao #FTX #BankmanFried #cryptonews #blockchain #ccdata #fintech #markets #CFTC #platform #platforms #exchange #cryptoexchange #biz #media

MotorSport

Daniel Ricciardo shades Max Verstappen over Las Vegas F1 comments - November 21, 2023

Daniel Ricciardo knows Max Verstappen better than most and read between the lines of his former teammate’s Las Vegas whinge.

Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo had some choice words for former teammate Max Verstappen, who spent most of last weekend trashing the Las Vegas Grand Prix before winning the race.

When asked about the controversial $760 million Sin City event, the Aussie eight-time race winner said he was enjoying the spectacle, the New York Post reports.

Watch every Practice, Qualifier & Race of The 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Live and Ad-Break Free in racing on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

“A few drivers have been a little bit ‘whatever’ about it,” Ricciardo, 34, told guests during a Q&A in the Qatar Airways Paddock Club.

“I think they’re just trying to rebel. Deep down they really like it, they just don’t want to admit it,” he added.

When the AlphaTauri driver was asked who he was alluding to, he sarcastically replied: “(He has) a really long first name,” in reference to the outspoken Verstappen.

Verstappen, 26, previously said he “would tear the whole place down” if he was among the fans denied a refund after seeing just nine minutes of on-track action last Thursday.

Spectators were kicked out of the circuit after the second practice session was delayed by 2 1/2 hours due to track inspections and repairs.

The first practice session ended after less than 10 minutes when Carlos Sainz’s car ran over a drain cover that badly damaged the floor of his Ferrari.

Earlier in the week, Verstappen didn’t mince his words when he described the race as “99 per cent show and one per cent sporting event”.

“I feel like a show element is important, but I lack emotion,” he said of the street circuit.

“Of course I understand fans need something to do around the track, but it is more important we make them understand what we do about the sport,” the three-time world champion went on.

“I love Vegas, but not to drive a F1 car; to go out, throw everything on red, whatever. But the emotion and passion is not there compared to some old-school tracks.”

However, it seems Ricciardo’s comments about secretly harbouring a soft spot for Vegas rang true when Verstappen took home victory from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on Saturday night.

“Viva Las Vegas,” he sang on the radio after crossing the checkered flag, marking his 18th win of the 2023 season.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner admitted Vegas may have finally won over the Dutchman after his extremely critical comments.

“He loved and revelled in a race like that,” Horner told Sky Sports.

“I think he might have changed his mind about Vegas.”

Australian Pay TV

Foxtel Group Fiscal 2024 First Quarter Earnings

Posted on Fri Nov 10, 2023

News Corp today released its Fiscal 2024 (FY24) First Quarter (Q1) Earnings for the period ending 30 September 2023, including subscriber highlights for the Foxtel Group and financial results for the Subscription Video Services segment.

Commenting on the Foxtel Group at News Corp’s FY24 Q1 Investor Briefing this morning, News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson said: “At Subscription Video Services, revenues were up in constant currency – for the seventh consecutive quarter. As expected, the decline in EBITDA was mainly due to sports rights costs and forex fluctuations, but we have no doubt that our streaming strategy has been successful at a time when other companies in other markets are struggling.”

Foxtel Group Highlights

Foxtel Group adjusted [1] revenue grew 2% year-on-year, representing the seventh consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.

Subscription Video Services Segment Highlights

Adjusted Q1 Revenues for the Subscription Video Services segment increased 1% compared to the prior year.

Adjusted Q1 Segment EBITDA decreased 13% compared to the prior year.

Key Foxtel Group Subscriber Metrics

Total Foxtel Group subscribers of 4.646 million (4.573 million paid, up 2% on prior corresponding period), primarily due to growth in streaming subscribers to Kayo and BINGE.

Total streaming subscribers, including Kayo Sports, BINGE and Foxtel Now reached 3.084 million (3.013 million paid, up 8% year-on-year), up 6% year-on-year

Streaming subscribers represented 67% of the Foxtel Group’s total subscribers (64% in Q1 FY23)

Kayo Sports reached 1.411 million subscribers (1.403 million paid), up 11%

BINGE reached 1.506 million subscribers (1.449 million paid), up 4%

Foxtel Now reached 167,000 subscribers (161,000 paid), down 15%

Foxtel residential and commercial broadcast subscribers were 1.543 million, down 7%

Foxtel Residential subscribers declined 9% to 1.310 million

Broadcast ARPU rose 3% to A$85+ (for the three months ended 30 September 2023, year-on-year), through a continued focus on Foxtel’s premium brand positioning

Residential churn improved year-on-year to 11.4%, down from 14.2%

Speaking at the FY24 Q1 Investor Briefing, Mr Thomson said: “Overall, paid streaming subscriptions rose eight percent on the same quarter last year, while Broadcast churn was down from 14.2 percent to 11.4 percent, showing that the two products are undoubtedly complementary. But the team at Foxtel Group is far from complacent, and so we are on the cusp of launching our new streaming aggregation product, Hubbl, which will greatly simplify the search for fascinating entertainment and sports, from our own companies and from those of our cherished partners, to the benefit of all, in particular, to the benefit of viewers.”

News Corp CFO Susan Panuccio added: “Revenues for the quarter were $486 million, down approximately three percent compared to the prior year on a reported basis due to foreign currency headwinds. Importantly, on an adjusted basis, revenues rose one percent versus the prior year, the seventh consecutive quarter of growth.

“Streaming revenues accounted for 30 percent of circulation and subscription revenues, versus 25 percent in the prior year and again more than offset broadcast revenue declines benefiting from both a year-over-year increase in subscribers and price rises at Kayo and BINGE.

“Total closing paid subscribers across the Foxtel Group reached almost 4.6 million at quarter end, up two percent year-over-year.

“Total paid streaming subscribers were three million, increasing eight percent versus the prior year, although declining sequentially impacted by less output at BINGE related to the strikes in Hollywood as well as typical seasonality at Kayo due to the end of the Winter sports codes in September.

“Foxtel ended the quarter with over 1.3 million residential broadcast subscribers, down nine percent year-over-year. Broadcast churn continued to improve, down 280 basis points year-over-year to 11.4 percent, while Broadcast ARPU rose three percent to over A$85, helped in part by a price rise for non-platinum subscribers implemented in July.

“Segment EBITDA in the quarter of $93 million was down 16 percent versus the prior year driven by contractual price escalators in Foxtel’s sports rights agreements. Adjusted Segment EBITDA declined 13 percent

“We completed the debt refinancing in the first quarter, which included securing a new A$1.2 billion credit facility. As we said last quarter, given the improved performance and the completion of the refinancing, this provides a pathway for repayment of our shareholder loans.”

On Outlook, Ms Panuccio said: “In Subscription Video Services, as mentioned last quarter, we continue to expect modestly higher expenses for the full year driven by sports rights and some costs related to the launch of Foxtel Group’s streaming aggregation service, Hubbl, but remain on track to deliver relatively stable results for the year in local currency.”

Data and quotes are sourced from News Corp’s FY24 Q1 Earnings Announcement and Investor Briefing of 9 November 2023 (New York). Full details can be found at https://investors.newscorp.com/

[1] Adjusted to remove the effect of currency fluctuations. News Corp calculates the impact of foreign currency fluctuations for businesses reporting in currencies other than the US dollar by multiplying the results for each quarter in the current period by the difference between the average exchange rate for that quarter and the average exchange rate in effect during the corresponding quarter of the prior year and totalling the impact for all quarters in the current period.

Gen Z saving habits could put growing $3bn streaming market at risk - Novmeber 2023

There’s a troubling new trend facing streaming behemoths like Netflix and Disney+, with more young Australians choosing to opt out of on demand entertainment.

Australia’s lucrative $3bn subscription video on demand market is confronting a new headwind from cost-conscious young Australians, with four in 10 Gen Zs cancelling a streaming service in the past three months.

National Australia Bank, which surveyed 2000 Australians to assess consumer sentiment, said younger Australians were now saving up to $900 a year by cutting back on their subscriptions.

“Younger Australians are hitting pause on streaming services and choosing spending control rather than their remote control,” NAB personal banking executive Kylie Young said on Thursday.

“With so many streaming platforms and so much content split across different services, Australians are prioritising what they want to watch and how much they want to save.”

The pullback in subscriptions has increased from the mid-year by about 4 per cent, the bank stated.

And in tough news for behemoths like Netflix and Disney+, Australians of all ages are more likely to give up a TV subscription than cancel a payment to newspapers, news sites, magazines and audio books.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority estimates Australian households spent $3bn on SVOD across 2022, with the average household shelling out $62 a month.

There are now eight major providers, Foxtel, Binge, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Stan, Kayo, Disney+, Apple TV and Paramount+, competing for audience share.

Netflix dominates the market, with nearly 40 per cent of the market by revenue according to ACMA.

“There are signs that the market has reached saturation,” ACMA stated in July.

“With a finite number of subscribers and economic pressures placing strain on household budgets, streaming services are needing to provide more value to keep viewers subscribed, including the quality and size of their content libraries.”

SVOD has expanded in the past decade, with 59 per cent of Australians watching an online subscription service in 2022 compared to 49 per cent in 2019.

NAB’s data suggests while cost-of-living concerns have softened slightly, general sentiment is darkening as more Australians register a greater concern for job security, health, retirement and government policy.

The overall consumer stress index has risen 0.8 points from Q2 2023 to Q3, moving from 56.9 to 57.7.

The survey also suggests Gen Zs are saving up to “splash out” on big, once-in-a-lifetime moments such as special holidays or music concerts.

Young Australians have reduced their spends on restaurants, micro treats, entertainment and car journeys to squirrel away up to $403 a month or $4800 a year.

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite

AEW @AEW YouTube

Tony Khan Reveals the Blue and Gold Leagues | AEW Continental Classic Selection Special, 11/22/22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJEF8Wp4etk&t=8s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Samoa Joe asks if AEW World & ROH Tag Champ MJF is a man of his word! | 11/22/23 AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am3wXbFlzGw&t=218s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

The Continental Classic’s Gold League kicks off with Swerve vs Lethal! | 11/22/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LohL-zvbw0Q&t=9s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Jon Moxley takes on Mark Briscoe in Continental Classic’s opening round! | 11/22/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u8ILqLTEJc&t=3s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Golden Match-up! BCG’s Jay White vs LFI’s RUSH for the Continental Classic! | 11/22/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcS9VT4O0jA&t=9s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

What did TNT Champ Christian Cage rechristen Nick Wayne & Luchasaurus? | 11/22/23 AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV-Ds3PTZzA&t=15s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Three champs, Cassidy, Shibata, & Hook, take on Hager, Magic, & Ang! | 11/22/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_FSGFfT6Q0&t=9s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

“Timeless” Toni Storm accepts her 3rd AEW Women’s World Championship! | 11/22/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2U3x_hlp_8&t=13s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

It's the Fall Out from Full Gear on Thanksgiving Eve | AEW Control Center: Chicago, 11/22/23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVdoH-SWzUc&t=3s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEWDynamite #AEW #ContinentalClassic #AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #AdamCole #SamoaJoe #JonMoxley #Mox #MarkBriscoe #SwerveStrickland #JayLethal #RicFlair #ChristianCage #NickWayne #JayWhite #Rush #ToniStorm #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #PopCulture #video #Broadcasting #broadcast #legends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Media Man: Big thumbs up. Loving the Continental Classic. Reminding us somewhat of both the J Cup and also the 1985 wrestling classic at Titan. Joe's gunna ... you! Joe, Joe, Joe!

Image credit: AEW

Media Man Awards

Google Search Off The Record Podcast wins Media Man 'Search Podcast Of The Year' award

Search Engine Show is runner-up

Sky News Australia wins Australian 'News Media Company Of The Year' award

BINGE wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Year' award; Paramount Plus is runner-up

83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff Media Man 'Wrestling Podcast Of The Year award'; Runner up 'After The Bell'

Logan Paul wins Media Man 'Sports Entertainer Of The Year' award; Runner up Roman Reigns

Logan Paul wins Media Man 'Breakout Star Of The Year' award

Lexis King wins Media Man 'NXT Wrestler Of The Year' award; Runner up Bron Breakker

Tiffany Stratton wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Year' award (Women's Division)

LA Knight wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promo Of The Year' award, Runner ups Paul Heyman. Special Mention: Bullet Club Gold

Seth Rollins wins 'Pro Wrestler Of The Year award'; Runner ups: Chris Jericho and Will Ospreay

Asuka wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Year' award (Women's Divison)

Triple H wins Media Man 'Booker Of The Year'; Runner-ups Shawn Michaels and Tony Khan

WrestleMania (WWE) wins Media Man 'Wrestling Event Of The Year' award; Runner up WrestleDream (AEW)

UFC 293 (Sydney, Australia) wins Media Man 'MMA Event Of The Year' award

Sean Strickland wins Media Man 'MMA Of The Year award'

Dana White wins Media Man 'MMA Promoter Of The Year' award; Runner ups Don Davis and Chatri Sityodton

Urban Fight Night wins Media Man 'Combat Sports Promoter Of The Year' - Australia)

Joe Rogan wins Media Man 'Podcaster Of The Year' award; Runner-ups Russell Brand and Patrick Bet-David

Broadcast Live wins Media Man 'Trade Show/Business Expo Of The Year' award

Sphere Las Vegas wins Media Man 'Venue Of The Year' award

Elon Musk and Logan Paul tie for Media Man 'Disruptor Of The Year' award

Billy Corgan wins Media Man 'Entertainment Promoter Of The Year' award

Wrestling Channel Of The Year: WWE Old School

Combat Sports Club Of The Year: Fighting Fathers (Father Dave Smith); Runner-up Bondi Boxing Gym

Australian Media Event Of The Year: UFC 293, Sydney Town Hall. Runner-up, UFC 293 Q&A Sydney

Domain wins Media Man 'Property Website Of The Year' award; Runner-up RealEstate.com.au

Adobe wins 'Software Of The Year' award; Runner-up Salesforce

Red Bull Racing wins Media Man 'Motorsport Team Of The Year' award

Broadcaster Personality Of The Year: Tucker Carlson; Runner-up Russell Brand

Niche Channel Of The Year: Gaia; Runner-up: The History Channel

Sports Journal Of The Year: JohnWallStreet; Runner-up: Sports Business Journal

'Bad Actors Of The Year': Amazon (Audiable), Runner-up Optus, FTX and Binance

'Woker Of The Year': Disney; Runner Up Howard Stern and Qantas

'Stay Of Of Politics' award: KISS

Energy Drink Of The Year: Prime, Runner-up: Monster Energy

TV Network Of The Year: FOX, Runner-up: USA Network

Platform Of The Year: X (formally Twitter), Runner-ups LinkedIn and YouTube. Special mention: Rumble/Rumble Sports

#awards #mediaawards #mediamanawards #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint

"If AI gets programmed by the extinctionists—its utility function will be the extinction of humanity." Elon Musk to Joe Rogan

Image credit: Joe Rogan @joerogan

#ElonMusk #Musk #quote #quotes #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #JoeRogan #interview #discussion #podcast #podcaster #innovators #disruptor #disruptors #futurist #future #extinction #humanity #culture #tech #technews #trend #trends #buzz #media

Harvey Norman terminates rugby sponsorship deal

Harvey Norman will not extend its multimillion-dollar sponsorship of Super Rugby Pacific, but chief executive Katie Page brushed off suggestions the decision was related to the abrupt departure of Rugby Australia’s former chairman Hamish McLennan.

“[It has] nothing to do with Hamish,” she said. “The contract finishes in December. Unfortunate the timing.”

The end of the Harvey Norman deal is a major blow for Rugby Australia as it tries to address the fallout from ousting Mr McLennan, the exit of controversial coach Eddie Jones and a dire Rugby World Cup campaign.

While the terms of the Harvey Norman sponsorship deal are not public, it is known to be in the millions of dollars. Loss of that money ahead of the new Super Rugby season will only add to the financial pressure the game is under.

Rugby Australia is in the final stages of negotiating a new $80 million debt deal, but needs funding from sponsors and broadcasters to allow it to invest in development and grassroots. How much money comes from the Harvey Norman sponsorship is not public, but it is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

A Rugby Australia spokesman said it was already in market searching for a replacement to sponsor Super Rugby.

“Rugby Australia (RA) wishes to thank Harvey Norman for its enthusiastic support of Rugby over the last three years,” the spokesman said.

Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey told The Sydney Morning Herald the retail giant typically shifts its money to different sports.

“We move around on different sports, so we’re very heavy into sport advertising that we don’t necessarily stay with the one sport forever,” he said.

“You know, we think ‘oh, we’ve given that a good go, then we’ll go on to the next one’. In all cases we stop at some stage.”

Mr McLennan said: “I’ll forever be indebted to Katie Page and Gerry Harvey. They’re wonderful people.”

Rugby Australia Official YouTube
Video
Your Australian Rugby Shield champions
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b4SymzUTwTk

Sources: AFR, Wires, X, Meta, Rugby Australia, Google News and Blogs

#HarveyNorman #SuperRugby #RugbyAustralia #Rugby #RugbyUnion #sponsorships #sponsor #sportssponsorship #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz #sportsmarketing #sportsrights #sportsnews #ads #advertising #biz #Aussie #media

"One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born. My brain is only a receiver, in the Universe there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength and inspiration." - Nikola Tesla #NikolaTesla #Tesla #quote #quotes #think #secret #invention #ideas #universe #core #knowledge #world #mbs #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown

The Street Profits challenge The Judgment Day in an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Title Match on FS1.

The Grayson Waller Effect with special guest Kevin Owens. Owens isn't good at copping crap from anyone, and Waller is known to dish. Owen's also has a beef with Logan Paul and don't forget Waller is mates with Austin Theory aka "The Hitman" (sorry Bret Hart). Waller has started to make big plans for his Australian homecoming. This is getting pretty interesting. You just know its not going to be a peaceful and zen showing.

Fellow Aussie grappler + + + Rhea Ripley is as cunning as a black widow and she's a survivor of the business who is currently thriving in the world's leading pro wrestling promotion, the WWE, and is Queen Bee of leading faction (Heyman and Reigns may argue), The Judgement Day. Will Damian wish to further discuss who is in charge, and then you have JD upstart JD McDonagh, feeling cocky now he's got his jacket from DP. JD is full of ambition as may not be so keen on his current place in the overall pecking over. Feather's, jackets and studs may fly.

As usual WWE powers that be including GM Nick Aldis is going to have his hands full, and leader announcer Michael Cole better be ducking and weaving with KO goes toe to toe and verbal barbs and jabs. Beware of Dingo Drivers and heck knows what else these two have up their sleeves.

Videos
WWE Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@WWE

Men’s WarGames Match — Road to Survivor Series 2023: WWE Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QYKmVotyIU&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Women's WarGames Match - Road to Survivor Series 2023: WWE Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkzgPw9m4T4&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWE #SurvivorSeries #WarGames #KevinOwens #KO #TKO #GraysonWaller #GWEEffect #DingoDriver #AustinTheory #Hitman #LoganPaul #Maverick #JudgementDay #RheaRipley #StreetProfits #BobbyLashley #CodyRhodes #RandyOrton #NickAldis #MichaelCole #wrestling #prowrestling #fight #fights #brawling #entertainment #popculture #war #FOX #FS1 #gonzo #trends #trending #buzz #hype #broadcast #broadcasting #TV #media

Sports News

‘Not OK’: America in meltdown over reporter’s sideline act

A war of words has erupted after a popular TV figure dropped a stunning admission about her sideline football commentary.

Charissa Thompson’s shocking admission that she made up sideline reports has caused outrage across America.

The Fox Sports host on Saturday (AEDT) responded to the backlash for the first time — after dropping the bomb about her previous sideline reporting jobs on Thursday.

As reported by The New York Post, Thompson’s comments haven’t sat well with those in the sports media field, especially from those who currently hold a sideline reporting gig.

Thompson was on the most recent edition of the “Pardon My Take” podcast when she revealed to hosts Dan Katz and PFT Commenter that she would make up her reports if a coach had come out of the locker room late or had been withholding information.

The clip of Thompson’s comments created a firestorm of criticism with several sports media personalities criticising her for the flippant admission.

“Young reporters: This is not normal or ethical,” ESPN college football reporter Molly McGrath wrote in a scathing response on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Coaches and players trust us with sensitive information, and if they know that you’re dishonest and don’t take your role seriously, you’ve lost all trust and credibility.”

Former NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya also expressed her disappointment in Thompson.

“Honestly, this makes me sad,” Tafoya posted on X.

“Charissa is a nice person, but this is professional fraud. If a coach won’t talk to you at halftime, you say that. And if there is no report, then you just don’t file a report at half time. It’s pretty simple. journalistic integrity is paramount.”

Fellow ESPN college football reporter Morgan Uber also called out Thompson for her comments and asserted that by doing that, Thompson only gave credence to the stereotype that sideline reporters are just “eye candy.”

“Good sideline reporters do their homework, talk to players and coaches throughout the week & on game day and most definitely don’t make up reports. Period. There’s still journalism involved, despite what you may think,” Uber wrote on X.

In the full interview, Thompson did explain the lengths that sideline reporters have to go to in order to prep for a game each week.

She added that the return on investment for the amount of work that has to be done for the job and what ends up on air is part of why she doesn’t sideline report any longer.

CBS NFL and NCAA basketball sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson joined in the criticism.

“This is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels,” Wolfson wrote on X. “I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say, I build trust with coaches and never make something up. I know my fellow reporters do the same.”

In a post on X, Tulane football sideline reporter Maddy Hudak asked why there wouldn’t be game analysis brought up instead of just making up a report.

“Have we considered providing analysis on the game of football instead?” Hudak wrote. “How LOS battle is being won/lost by initial quickness? UOH in pass rush the press box can’t see? Not setting women back by making shit up?”

Thompson didn’t seem safe from criticism even from those at her own network.

She is now a host for Fox Sports’ “Fox NFL Kickoff” and Amazon’s studio coverage for “Thursday Night Football, but that didn’t keep NFL on Fox’s Laura Okmin from commenting on the matter.

“THE privilege of a sideline role is being the 1 person in the entire world who has the opportunity to ask coaches what’s happening in that moment,” Okmin wrote on X. “I can’t express the amount of time it takes to build that trust. Devastated w/the texts I’m getting asking if this is ok. No. Never.”

Thompson did have some who came to her defence, including former NFL Network host Rachel Bonnetta.

Bonnetta criticised McGrath’s response and suggested that she didn’t listen to the full interview.

“To young reporters: support other women in the industry cause at the end of the day we’re the only ones that have each others backs. CT is a pro. Period,” she wrote on X.

Thompson has not publicly responded to the backlash over her comments.

Thompson on Saturday moved to clarify her explosive comments.

“Ok, let’s address the elephant in the room,” Thompson wrote on Instagram.

“I have a responsibility to myself and my employers to clarify what is being reported. When on a podcast this week, I said I would make up reports early in my career when I worked as a sideline reporter before I transitioned to my current host role.

“Working in media I understand how important words are and I chose the wrong words to describe the situation. I’m sorry. I have never lied about anything or been unethical during my time as a sports broadcaster.

“In the absence of a coach providing any information that could further my report I would use information that I learned and saw during the first half to create my report.

“I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and for the tireless work they put in behind the scenes and on the field,” she continued.

“I am only appreciative and humbled to work alongside some of the best in the business and call them some of my best friends.”

Sources: New York Post, News, Wires

#NFL #americanfootball #FoxSports #ESPN #sportsnews #sportsmedia #broadcasting #broadcast #report #reporter #reporting #news #newsmedia #TV #media

Pro Wrestling Dream Match

CM Punk @CMPunk vs Logan Paul @LoganPaul

In a WWE @WWE ring. Special ref: Grayson Waller @GraysonWWE

Special stipulation: Looser gets doused in Pepsi! New endorsement for Prime @PrimeHydrate

Product placement dream, nightmare, or both?!

Image credit: WWE

#dreammatch #dreammatches #CMPunk #LoganPaul #Maverick #TheMaverick #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #Pepsi #DingoDriver #GTS #legdrop #SmackDown #WWERawn #storyline #storylines #creative #entertainment #popculture #energydrink #energydrinks #cheers #PLE #PPV #ratings #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #showbiz #bestforbusiness #Gonzo #booker #bookerman #pencil #trend #trends #buzz #hype #cafenews #watercooler #Aussie #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE YouTube

Men’s WarGames Match — Road to Survivor Series 2023: WWE Playlist
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-QYKmVotyIU&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#SurvivorSeries #WarGames #SmackDown #WWESmackDown #WWERaw #WWE #wrestling #ProWrestling #CodyRhodes #JeyUso #JudgementDay #RheaRipley #TheBloodline #KevinOwens #SamiZayn #CMPunk #NickAldis #AdamCole #MichaelCole #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #video #storylines #showbiz #war #YT #trends #trending #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling

News media are known to take quotes from wrestlers and plenty of other folks out of context.

This may be a strong example of that:

"He's built and cultivated a huge fanbase, he sells a ton of merchandise, he moves numbers, he sells tickets, he puts butts in seats. … Call me old fashioned, but that trumps everything else.

"There is a way for him to compete in WWE and I think that if it can be done, and I think there is a way it can be really good business for everybody, and I will wait with bated breath like everyone else to see if it happens, but if it does I'll be excited to be involved with it." Nick Aldis

Nick Aldis
17th November 2023
I'm disappointed that this answer is edited out of context, considering it's the BBC. For the record, I have no dog in the fight, and that situation is above my paygrade. Be better journalists.

Image credit: WWE

#NickAldis #quote #quotes #newsmedia #dreammatch #dreammatches #CMPunk #GTS #legdrop #SmackDown #WWERaw #SurvivorSeries #WarGames #storyline #storylines #creative #entertainment #popculture #Pepsi #energydrink #energydrinks #cheers #PLE #PPV #ratings #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #showbiz #bestforbusiness #Gonzo #booker #bookerman #pencil #trend #trends #buzz #hype #cafenews #watercooler #Aussie #media #mediaman

Wrestling News

WWE @WWE SmackDown

What used to be the LWO (Latino World Order)?!

Carlito @Litocolon279 to discuss things with Santos Escobar @EscobarWWE in a few short minutes.

Latino nor Mexican or another other street fights are not pretty, but could be "best for business", right Triple H @TripleH

The match is booked for Survivor Series, but these two hot blooded former friends want to meet-up
beforehand some some reason! Look out WWE announcers including Michael Cole @MichaelCole and LWO fam Zelina Vega @ZelinaVegaWWE and all, please be mindful and take precautions. Famila drama is never pretty, especially in and around a WWE ring! Parental guidance could be recommended here.

Video via WWE YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@WWE

Santos Escobar collides with The LWO: SmackDown highlights: Nov. 17, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keTdOixvtGg&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Santos Escobar can’t wait to battle Carlito at Survivor Series: SmackDown exclusive, Nov. 17, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaqFtEI4DUE&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Image credit: WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #LWO #LatinoWorldOrder #SurvivorSeries #Carlito #SantosEscobar #Escobar #gringo #streetfight #family #familia #entertainment #popculture #storylines #showbiz #gonzo #FOX #FS1 #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #broadcast #broadcasting #PLE #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media

“Listen, if I’m so smart, why did I purchase Twitter for so much then?”- Elon Musk @ElonMusk #ElonMusk #quote #quotes #Twitter #X #humanity #socialmedia #platforms #platformnews #truth #ethics #onlinenews #onlinemedia #media

Image credit: X

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC vs PFL @PFLMMA vs ONE Championship
@ONEChampionship

Where were we?! We just had a first major mishap using Twitter/X Blue since signing up for the upgrade back in circa July of this year. We wrote about 1500 charactures into X primarily on the subject on our involvement of the PPV selling of combat sports packages in our Optus Vision/Communications days, as well as some contract and confidential work at FOX (Tel), and we lost that work when we went to publish it! That will teach us for doing such a long and detailed scribe on the smartphone directly without backing up onto a laptop first. Anyway, back to the story.

The compeition has heated up in the professional mixed martial arts world. That can be seen largely as a positive for fighters and fight fans. More options right.

We worked full time in the Aussie subscriber TV including pay-per-view industry in what I call the glory days of pay televison of Australia circa 1996. I headed up the retention of PPV with 5 people under me, and we worked with clients who has issues with programming, but who mainly loved sports and often combat sports. I created the PPV Liasion department of Optus Vision/Comms. I worked quite closely with the marketing department up a few levels about us at the Zenith Centre, Tower B, at Chatswood, Sydney. Used to get the raw PPV data and it was ultra impressive. Especially the numbers for pro wrestling.

From primarly Aussie shores we witnessed the growth of the UFC over the past three decades. We actually used to bring in the UFC tapes from the U.S in NTSC format before Optus and Main Event TV started carrying the UFC fights on their PPV broadcasts. The knowledge I gained actually helped get the full-time job at Optus which as for 5 years. Restructure came to the firm and I took generous voluntary redundany money and jumped ship to Telstra. I found the extra money too hard to refuse, plus there had been a management change at Optus as it wasn't as enjoyable or as lucrative work work there any longer. Still miss it however, but it just shows you how much management, moral and remuneration matters to hard working people!

Bean counters are employed by all sorts of companies, mixed martial arts firms included. They crunch the numbers, allocate budget to varoius arms of the operation including fighter pay and bonuses, work our PPV and merch revenue forecasts etc etc.

To state the obvious, MMA and professional fighting in general is a performance based profession. The champion mixed changes from time to time, and injuries and real life situations with competitors happen from time to time. It's all part of the fight game.

Many MMA insiders are pondering if the UFC (now part of TKO Group) business model has peaked, at least in the traditional way. We know that there's talk and possible plans to have company sports weekends in cities in the U.S for a start, where the WWE will put on a show, and then the UFC soon after for example, at the same venue, and this will help with cost efficiency. In additional, TKO Group for example can negotiatie with the host city while offering not 1 but 2 special PLE/PPV events, which do enjoy some cross-over audience. The cross-over numbers get disputed but its different at present than when Brock Lesnar and Rhonda Rousey were doing their thing back and forward. You get the point fight.

Most fans of WWE are casual and semi-hardcore. I think most UFC/MMA fans are most hardcore in nature. Of course, the internet has opened up the world of shared combat sport info (like figher PPV pays and bonuses, contacts etc)...like the release of data per court case and freedom of information related and the like. Talk about pulling back the curtain on the industry. Pros and cons related to that, but the genie is out of the bottle.

So, where from here? Fighters and fans have more options. More of the general public at large will become aware of the other promotions rather than just have UFC more deer in headlights in their minds eye.

The fight out of the cage is on for the fans imagination and entertainment budget. Business models can and do need to change and the events from the past week or so are disrupting the business of combat sports globally. Just look at the amount of balaned and largely postive news headlines the PFL (and ONE) news releases generate. How much converts to paying fans remains to be seen.

Us, we are used to getting free and heavily discounted tickets to sports and entertainment events, but we don't get free hotel rooms (not lately anyway), and we also currently have to pay for own our airfares. This makes us more selective as to what live sports and entertainment events to attend in person, no matter what part of the world. We'be been ringside for Thai Kickboxing in Bangkok, Thailand ages ago (get that Chatri Sityodtong). We knew than how exciting it was, but it was never broadcast on Aussie TV, but it did get some decent network TV time in Thailand, mainly on the weekends and sometimes late-ish at night from memory. There was also a strong VHS tape buying, selling and trading scene. We were also involved in the scence but internationally but more with pro wrestling and MMA fights from primarily the US, Canada, Europe (Germany and Austria), Japan and New Zealand. Combat sports fans are known to go to great lengths to get what they are seeking.

Back on point, compat sports business is ultra competitive and will continue to remain so.

UFC 300 is being put together by Dana White and the powers that be. Sphere business in Las Vegas is well on the same and Mr White is "very excited" and rightly so. "Loves a challenge". Well, more challanges are around the corner and its got more involved than setting up new venues.

Let's all aim for a strong Win-Win-Win. Should we say "A good, clean, fight", or would that just be a play on words at this stage of the fight game? In plenty of ways there's more at stake than a flash gold coloured belt. This is professional sports business at the hightest level. And yes, we are open for business and comms with any promoters etc that want to open up fresh discussions with us. Cheers from Sydney, Australia.
Greg Tingle, Founder Media Man Group/Media Man Australia/Media Man Int
#UFC #PFL #ONEChampionship #MMA #PPV #PayPerView #GregTingle #ByGregTingle #ByMediaMan #quote #quotes #combatsports #mmanews #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #promoter #promoters #sportsnws #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz #sportrights #businessmodel #businessmodels #fighters #fighting #broadcast #broadcasting #merch #revenue #trend #trends #buzz #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown

WWE Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Best SmackDown moments: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKOr5GvfTVg&ab_channel=WWE

The Judgment Day score a title victory over The Street Profits: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfWnprxFsAA&ab_channel=WWE

Kevin Owens and LA Knight take over “The Grayson Waller Effect”: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSF5cc9wia0&ab_channel=WWE

Kevin Owens & LA Knight vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P09Mn9E748&ab_channel=WWE

Ridge Holland abandons Butch against Pretty Deadly: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpIX2LDZ5vk&ab_channel=WWE

Pretty Deadly believe they’ve broken The Brawling Brutes: SmackDown exclusive, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJmQ5XTEa3o&t=2s&ab_channel=WWE

FULL MATCH – Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley & Asuka: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05r5DR7_x0I&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

Bayley plays Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair against each other: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCHT1N5rFYE&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

Lynch’s argument with Flair leads to Damage CTRL attack: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpeufbyl0jY&t=2s&ab_channel=WWE

Santos Escobar injures Carlito’s arm in brawl: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHdys1KkSno&ab_channel=WWE

Dragon Lee to take on Santos Escobar at Survivor Series: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kUVUnaHbHM&t=1s&ab_channel=WWE

Dragon Lee introduces himself to the WWE Universe: SmackDown highlights, Nov. 24, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F49DddNu5uE&ab_channel=WWE

#SmackDown #WWESmackDown #SurvivorSeries #WarGames #StreetProfits #KevinOwens #AustinTheory #GraysonWaller #GWEffect #DingoDriver #LWO #LatinoWorldOrder #DragonLee #SantosEscobar #Carlito #CharlotteFlair #BeckyLynch #Asuka #PrettyDeadly #MichaelCole #CoreyGraves #wwetag #tagteam #video #highlights #moments #wrestling #ProWrestling #EntertainmentNews #PopCulture #FOX #FS1 #broadcast #broadcasting #broadcasters #commentary #commentators #trending #buzz #TV #media

Image credit: WWE

Combat Sports

UFC @UFC YouTube

Benson Henderson vs Anthony Pettis 1 | UFC Fights We Are Thankful For 2023 - Day 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXGJVUyR6xQ&t=4s&ab_channel=UFC

Amanda Nunes vs Ronda Rousey | UFC Fights We Are Thankful For 2023 - Day 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwPBPiUzgag&ab_channel=UFC

Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway | UFC Fights We Are Thankful For 2023 - Day 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCOy-PG8EIw&t=116s&ab_channel=UFC

Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 1 | UFC Fights We Are Thankful For 2023 - Day 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoUjizSdLEw&t=7s&ab_channel=UFC

Image credit: UFC

#UFC #MMA #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #highlights #videos #entertainment #popculture #lgends #broadcasts #broadcasting #Thanksgiving
#trend #buzz #media

Mixed Martial Arts

ONE Championship @ONEChampionship YouTube Channels

Why You DON'T Want To Fight This 6-Foot-7 Monster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJNdw0CFtFQ&ab_channel=ONEChampionship

16-Year-Old PHENOM Knocked Out A Muay Thai Veteran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBrsAVFCv6I&ab_channel=ONEChampionship

When Beauties Become Beasts Jihin Radzuan vs. Denice Zamboanga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GaGFKprhOs&ab_channel=ONEChampionship

Tye Ruotolo vs. Magomed Abdulkadirov | Full Fight Replay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QXjmwTz4hs&ab_channel=ONEChampionship

Demetrious Johnson SLEPT Rodtang. Full Fight Replay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12-iNRLnhmQ&ab_channel=ONEChampionship

Image credit: ONE Championship

#ONEChampionship #ONE #MMA #mixedmartialarts #kickboxing #thaiboxing #combatsports #sports #videos #entertainment #popculture #media

Social Media Platform News

Elon Musk’s X sues media watchdog group over ‘manipulation’

Billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform X has sued a media watchdog group for allegedly attempting to destroy the site.

The 'Media Matters for America' group accused X of allowing anti-Semitic posts to be published alongside advertising.

X alleges the group manipulated data with companies including Apple and Disney pausing their adverts on the platform since the group released its findings.

Media Matters claimed ads on the platform had appeared next to posts supporting Nazisim and other anti-Semitic content.

X Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino released a statement claiming data “wins over manipulation”.

Sources: FOX News, Sky News Australia, Wires, X

Image credit: X

#X #Twitter #ElonMusk #LindaYaccarino #MediaMatters #bigtech #platform #socialmedia #onlinemedia #onlineads #onlineadvertising #advertising #adnews #trends #media

“When you look at combat sports globally, there are two 800-pound gorillas: UFC in the Western Hemisphere and ONE Championship in the Eastern Hemisphere.” - Chatri Sityodtong, ONE Championship @ONEChampionship CEO #ChatriSityodtong #quote #quotes #ONEChampionship #combatsports #MMA #mixedmartialarts #sportsbusiness #media

Combat Sports

PFL Top Brass Donn Davis Speaks On MMA Business

“Everybody knows Dana well enough that he only dismisses things that worry him, or else he just doesn’t comment” - Donn Davis via The MMA Hour.

“He didn’t comment on the PFL for four years, ‘cause he wasn’t worried. He’s commented on the PFL a lot the last six months – [he’s] worried.”

“Our cards are gonna be better [next year]...That’s why [Dana White] said ‘I don’t know why in God’s green Earth anybody is buying [Bellator].’...UFC ain’t the NFL. We’re not the XFL – but he wants you to think that. It’s just a matter of time before that starts to get more well-known and we’re not number two, we’re a co-leader.”

Videos

PFL Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@PFLMMA

2023 PFL World Championship: Vlog Series - Episode 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYEjcpfJMJg&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Derek Brunson Post Fight Interview | 2023 PFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I4Vs4f1m4o&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Kayla Harrison Post Fight Interview | 2023 PFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAgiqP_qm7o&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Impa Kasanganay Post Fight Interview | 2023 PFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBTZW7YLsjs&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Larissa Pacheco Post Fight Interview | 2023 PFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFUk5_pQyoY&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Magomed Magomedkerimov Post Fight Media Scrum | 2023 PFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-evnR5VVAyQ&ab_channel=PFLMMA

Impa Kasanganay Post Fight Media Scrum | 2023 PFL Championship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc2NdjtSNOk&ab_channel=PFLMMA

The MMA Hour YouTube
The MMA Hour: PFL Acquires Bellator, Dan Hardy, Veronica Hardy, Frank Warren, More | Nov 20, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAe6HnMQS0Y&ab_channel=MMAFightingonSBN

#DonnDavis #quote #quotes #PFl #PFLWorldChampionship #PFLChampionship #PFLMMA #MMA #combatsports #mixedmartialarts #interviews

Image credit: PLF

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW Official YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@AEW

Jon Moxley takes on Mark Briscoe in Continental Classic’s opening round! | 11/22/23, AEW Dynamite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u8ILqLTEJc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"The blood is flowing freeling in the Continental Classic main event match-up tonight on Dynamite and shockingly enough it's not from Jon Moxley. Mark Brisco busted open during the picture in picture break Tony" Excalibur

#AEWDynamite #ContinentalClassic #AEW #AllEliteWrestling #JonMoxley #MarkBrisco #wrestling #prowrestling #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #videos #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media

Image credit: AEW

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Survivor Series
November 25, 2023

Men’s WarGames match:
The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh) and Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton

Women's WarGames match:
Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair & Shotzi vs Damage CTRL (Asuka, Bayley, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane)

Rhea Ripley vs Zoey Stark. Womens World Title

Gunther vs The Miz. WWE Intercontinental Championship

Dragon Lee vs Santos Escobar

WWE Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@WWE

Survivor Series: WarGames Kickoff: Nov. 25, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y1CwF7yg20&ab_channel=WWE

Survivor Series: WarGames Post-Show Press Conference: Nov. 25, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jcfUv1YB0&ab_channel=WWE

#SurvivorSeries #WWESurvivorSeries #WarGames #JudgementDay #CodyRhodes #SethRollins #RandyOrton #JeyUso #DrewMcIntyre #SamiZayn
#BeckyLynch #BiancaBelair #CharlotteFlair #Shotzi
#DamageCTRL #RheaRipley #ZoeyStark #Gunther #Miz #DragonLee #SantosEscobar #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #PLE #PPV #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #media

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling

"Triple H" @TripleH Paul Levesque on WWE @WWE creative

“Book what people want to feel and see”

“I started at zero and saw all the various stages of it,” said Levesque. “I’ve worked in front of basically no people, and I’ve worked the biggest shows in the world. I understand the process–the successes and the failures. Even when you get an opportunity to move up the card, then you’re moved back down and you’re not sure if you’re going to get that opportunity again–I’ve been there.”

“Vince taught me years ago, you put yourself in the seats and you’ll never go wrong,” said Levesque. “You’ve always got to maintain that perspective. I started out as a fan. Book what people want to feel and see.”

“Writing this stuff is a feel,” said Levesque. “You can analyze stories and how they come together, but how does it make you feel? If you can make people feel those stories, they’re going to be invested in the product. That’s how we try to approach, find that ultimate emotional place for the talent and the characters and the stories they’re in.”

“We don’t take our fan base for granted,” said Levesque. “And the way our talent operates is different from other generations. They want to go out there and put on the best possible show they can.

“A lot of these kids are already invested–they grew up wanting to do this. And if they didn’t, they fell in love with it by learning from people who grew up wanting to be in this business, and that’s how they learned the respect for it. To me, that’s what makes you successful. That connection with our fan base, that’s a big part of our core.”

Videos
WWE YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Survivor Series: WarGames Post-Show Press Conference: Nov. 25, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jcfUv1YB0&t=2296s&ab_channel=WWE

Top moments from Survivor Series: WarGames 2023: WWE Top 10, Nov. 25, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGDHlgEIzd8&t=6s&ab_channel=WWE

Full Survivor Series:WarGames Results and Highlights: WWE Now, November 25, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMuKGk2fuBk&ab_channel=WWE

Full Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6DiL4IiKs&ab_channel=WWE

#Triple #PaulLevesque #quote #quotes #WWE #prowrestling #wrestling #sportsentertainment #creative #storytelling #storylines #BehindTheScenes #booker #entertainment #popculture #videos #highlights #moments #showbiz #combatsports #PLL #PremiumLiveEvent #PPV #TV #trend #trends #buzz #media

Pro Wrestling Legend Booker T On Pro Wrestling and Entertainment

WWE @WWE Legend Shares Wisdom Gems

WWE NXT @WWENXT Sports Entertainment Colour Commentator has the cred to back up claims says Media Man and numerous insiders

"I really don't think WWE is going to start making moves because of AEW signings. I just don't think that's going to happen. The reason why I don't think that's going to happen is that wasn't the blueprint when WCW started hiring guys. They just let WCW hire everybody out there. They didn't care. They had their core guys and they were going to ride on those core guys and those guys were good enough to ride on.”

“I think WWE right now, the talent in WWE, I think we got good enough talent to actually ride on and compete against any wrestling company in the world. I mean, I could be wrong. I could be wrong, but I don't think WWE is selling wrestling matches. I just don't. I mean, the wrestling matches are the means to an end. That's the payoff, but I don't think WWE is truly selling wrestling. WWE is selling entertainment every week and hopefully, somebody will wise up and realize that this is the entertainment business.”

“I mean of course wrestling is on the marquee, but the real wrestlers are in the UFC. The real wrestlers are, you know, those collegiate guys, NCAA, all that kind of stuff. What we do is performing art and I really would implore these guys to understand to make it to that next level, you got to be entertaining, and I say that because when I came from WCW, I was a wrestler. I could do anything in the middle of that ring, but I wasn't an entertainment guy. Once I started learning how to do it, that's when I started getting over. That's when I started really making money. I say that, you know, from this perspective because everybody that has made it to that level has been able to entertain. I look at Kurt Angle and what I always think about is Kurt Angle with that little cowboy hat and that ukulele, you know, this is an Olympic Gold Medalist who won with a broken frickin neck. So my thing is, if you don't adapt to being an entertainer in this business, you're not going to last very long." - Booker T @BookerT5x

Videos

Reality Of Wrestling Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@RealityOfWrestling

EXCLUSIVE: Lexis King Interview: Talks NXT, Brian Pillman, Goals and More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ0p2XEds8k&ab_channel=RealityOfWrestling

Lola Vice: Exclusive Interview with the NXT Breakout Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUuqj21bE7g&ab_channel=RealityOfWrestling

Steve Austin Breaks Down Grocery Store Brawl with Booker T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrYrL4hJVOw&ab_channel=RealityOfWrestling

WWE Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Top 10 WWE NXT moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 21, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4jZD3VjQqo&t=86s&ab_channel=WWE

Full Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6DiL4IiKs&t=11s&ab_channel=WWE

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Booker T brawl it out inside a grocery store
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqx9iXvFTQ&ab_channel=WWE

Wrestling News (Media Man Int)
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/wrestling_news.html

Image credit: WWE

#BookerT #quote #quotes #WWE #WWENXT #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #sportsentertainment #HallOfFame #halloffamepodcast #WarGames #SurvivorSeries #promoter #promotions #wrestlingpromotions #podcast #podcastofthemonth #showbiz #broadcast #broadcaster #trends #buzz #TV #media

Motorsports

F1 @F1 Official YouTube

FP1 Highlights | 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP5SQcOcaCw&ab_channel=FORMULA1

FP2 Highlights | 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ft5vRNdQs&ab_channel=FORMULA1

Thursday Driver Wrap | 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AYerUMRMDo&ab_channel=FORMULA1

Weekend Warm-Up | 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmpKU3hX54Y&ab_channel=FORMULA1

Image credit: F1

#F1 #Formula1 #AbuDhabiGrandPrix #AbuDhabiGP #motorsport #videos #sportsnews #media

Combat Sports Business

News

For The Record.. and Need To Know basis...

Massive thumps up on WWE Survivor Series.

Professional Fighters League deal with Bellator complete.

Massive worldwide MMA news and sports news achieved. Should be a win for fighters and fans.

We are currently not on the payroll of PFL, TKO Group or ONE Championship, but are open to offers.

We have assisted with media and more with a number of the world's leading combat sports and wrestling companies over the years - some paid, some not paid, and as news only. The details are commercially sensative in nature.

We have officially sold WWF, WCW, UFC and Main Event TV PPV's (and others) previously. Confidential in detail.

We have some some official work and campaigns for the WWE in the past, as well as a number of Australia's leading pro wrestling and martial arts promotions, from media, driving, internet and beyond.

We are currently busy with our own company, however are open to the right sort of offers in the combat sports including pro wrestling arena/industry.

We continue to offer news coverage to combat sports firms and pro wrestling companies across the globe.

We love and respect the MMA and pro wrestling world.

Just getting that on the record so there's no confusion.

Greg Tingle, Founder, Media Man Group/Media Man Int

#GregTingle #quote #TKOGroup #WWE #UFC #PFL #professionalfightersleague #bellator #espn #paramount #MMA #mixedmartialarts #sportsmedia #sportsnews #sportsmarketing #livesports #ppv #paytv #disrupt #disruptor #buzz #trends #media #mediaman #mediamanint

WWE Survivor Series
Press Conference

"Just incredibly proud of Randy Orton. And when you have the kind of injury that he had where things are touch and go, I've been there, where they tell you that you might never do this again. That's a rough experience to be able to fight back what he want through to be able to be able to have what he had done and come back here tonight and have the moment that he had was just awesome and I'm so happy for him. For him to come here, do what he did tonight and sort of, it sounds silly but as it being War Games sort of the pressure off him a little bit tonight to be able to come back and just be Randy Orton, and so what he wants to do. He had no idea what performers and athletes go through when they've been gone for a long period of time and they have to fight back for something like that. The, I almost used a really bad word. The tricks that your mind play on you to wonder if anyone's going to care. To wonder if it will matter. To wonder if you can still do this. To no matter how good you are, no matter how confident you are, that runs through your head. So to get him out there tonight, blow the roof off this place here in Chicago and just have the moment that he did. Awesome and I'm incredibly happy for him" - Triple H #TripleH #quote #RandyOrton #WarGames #SurvivorSeries

Pro Wrestling Legend Booker T On Pro Wrestling and Entertainment

WWE @WWE Legend Shares Wisdom Gems

WWE NXT @WWENXT Sports Entertainment Colour Commentator has the cred to back up claims says Media Man and numerous insiders

"I really don't think WWE is going to start making moves because of AEW signings. I just don't think that's going to happen. The reason why I don't think that's going to happen is that wasn't the blueprint when WCW started hiring guys. They just let WCW hire everybody out there. They didn't care. They had their core guys and they were going to ride on those core guys and those guys were good enough to ride on.”

“I think WWE right now, the talent in WWE, I think we got good enough talent to actually ride on and compete against any wrestling company in the world. I mean, I could be wrong. I could be wrong, but I don't think WWE is selling wrestling matches. I just don't. I mean, the wrestling matches are the means to an end. That's the payoff, but I don't think WWE is truly selling wrestling. WWE is selling entertainment every week and hopefully, somebody will wise up and realize that this is the entertainment business.”

“I mean of course wrestling is on the marquee, but the real wrestlers are in the UFC. The real wrestlers are, you know, those collegiate guys, NCAA, all that kind of stuff. What we do is performing art and I really would implore these guys to understand to make it to that next level, you got to be entertaining, and I say that because when I came from WCW, I was a wrestler. I could do anything in the middle of that ring, but I wasn't an entertainment guy. Once I started learning how to do it, that's when I started getting over. That's when I started really making money. I say that, you know, from this perspective because everybody that has made it to that level has been able to entertain. I look at Kurt Angle and what I always think about is Kurt Angle with that little cowboy hat and that ukulele, you know, this is an Olympic Gold Medalist who won with a broken frickin neck. So my thing is, if you don't adapt to being an entertainer in this business, you're not going to last very long." - Booker T @BookerT5x

Videos

Reality Of Wrestling Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@RealityOfWrestling

EXCLUSIVE: Lexis King Interview: Talks NXT, Brian Pillman, Goals and More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ0p2XEds8k&ab_channel=RealityOfWrestling

Lola Vice: Exclusive Interview with the NXT Breakout Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUuqj21bE7g&ab_channel=RealityOfWrestling

Steve Austin Breaks Down Grocery Store Brawl with Booker T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrYrL4hJVOw&ab_channel=RealityOfWrestling

WWE Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/wwe

Top 10 WWE NXT moments: WWE Top 10, Nov. 21, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4jZD3VjQqo&t=86s&ab_channel=WWE

Full Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6DiL4IiKs&t=11s&ab_channel=WWE

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Booker T brawl it out inside a grocery store
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqx9iXvFTQ&ab_channel=WWE

Wrestling News (Media Man Int)
https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/wrestling_news.html

Image credit: WWE

#BookerT #quote #quotes #WWE #WWENXT #wrestling #prowrestling #entertainment #sportsentertainment #HallOfFame #halloffamepodcast #WarGames #SurvivorSeries #promoter #promotions #wrestlingpromotions #podcast #podcastofthemonth #showbiz #broadcast #broadcaster #trends #buzz #TV #media

November 26th, 2023

Movie Box Office

North America

1. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - $28.8m

2. Napolean - $20.4m

3. Wish - $19.5m

4. Trolls Band Together - $17.5m

5. Thanksgiving - $7.3m

6. The Marvels - $6.4m

7. The Holdover - $2.8m

8. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour - $2.3m

9. Five Nights at Freddy's - $1.8m

10. Saltburn - $1.7m

#movienews #boxoffice #boxofficenews #movieboxoffice #TheBalladOfSongbirdsAndSnakes #Napoleon #WishMovie #TrollsBandTogether #ThanksgivingMovie #TheMarvels #TheHoldovers #TaylorSwiftTheErasTour #TayorSwift #FiveNightsAtFreeddys #Saltburn #entertainment #EntertainmentNews #showbiz #biz #trends #trending #buzz #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling Legend Booker T On Pro Wrestling and Entertainment

WWE
@WWE
Legend Shares Wisdom Gems

WWE NXT
@WWENXT
Sports Entertainment Colour Commentator has the cred to back up claims says Media Man and numerous insiders

"I really don't think WWE is going to start making moves because of AEW signings. I just don't think that's going to happen. The reason why I don't think that's going to happen is that wasn't the blueprint when WCW started hiring guys. They just let WCW hire everybody out there. They didn't care. They had their core guys and they were going to ride on those core guys and those guys were good enough to ride on.”

“I think WWE right now, the talent in WWE, I think we got good enough talent to actually ride on and compete against any wrestling company in the world. I mean, I could be wrong. I could be wrong, but I don't think WWE is selling wrestling matches. I just don't. I mean, the wrestling matches are the means to an end. That's the payoff, but I don't think WWE is truly selling wrestling. WWE is selling entertainment every week and hopefully, somebody will wise up and realize that this is the entertainment business.”

“I mean of course wrestling is on the marquee, but the real wrestlers are in the UFC. The real wrestlers are, you know, those collegiate guys, NCAA, all that kind of stuff. What we do is performing art and I really would implore these guys to understand to make it to that next level, you got to be entertaining, and I say that because when I came from WCW, I was a wrestler. I could do anything in the middle of that ring, but I wasn't an entertainment guy. Once I started learning how to do it, that's when I started getting over. That's when I started really making money. I say that, you know, from this perspective because everybody that has made it to that level has been able to entertain. I look at Kurt Angle and what I always think about is Kurt Angle with that little cowboy hat and that ukulele, you know, this is an Olympic Gold Medalist who won with a broken frickin neck. So my thing is, if you don't adapt to being an entertainer in this business, you're not going to last very long." - Booker T

Combat Sports Business

News

For The Record.. and Need To Know basis...

Massive thumps up on WWE Survivor Series.

Professional Fighters League deal with Bellator complete.

Massive worldwide MMA news and sports news achieved. Should be a win for fighters and fans.

We are currently not on the payroll of PFL, TKO Group or ONE Championship, but are open to offers.

We have assisted with media and more with a number of the world's leading combat sports and wrestling companies over the years - some paid, some not paid, and as news only. The details are commercially sensative in nature.

We have officially sold WWF, WCW, UFC and Main Event TV PPV's (and others) previously. Confidential in detail.

We have some some official work and campaigns for the WWE in the past, as well as a number of Australia's leading pro wrestling and martial arts promotions, from media, driving, internet and beyond.

We are currently busy with our own company, however are open to the right sort of offers in the combat sports including pro wrestling arena/industry.

We continue to offer news coverage to combat sports firms and pro wrestling companies across the globe.

We love and respect the MMA and pro wrestling world.

Just getting that on the record so there's no confusion.

Greg Tingle, Founder, Media Man Group/Media Man Int

Pro Wrestling Dream Matches
(in a WWE
@WWE
ring)

Fantasy Booking. Speculative only at present.

Gunther
@Gunther_AUT
vs Brock Lesnar
@BrockLesnar

CM Punk
@CMPunk
vs Grayson Waller
@GraysonWWE

Randy Orton
@RandyOrton
vs Cody Rhodes
@CodyRhodes

Logan Paul
@LoganPaul
& Dominik Mysterio vs Kevin Owens
@FightOwensFight
& Sami Zayn
@SamiZayn

Shinsuke Nakamura
@ShinsukeN
vs Dragon Lee
@dragonlee95

Santos Escobar
@EscobarWWE
vs Tony D'Angelo
@TonyDangeloWWE

Nick Aldis
@RealNickAldis
vs Adam Pearce
@ScrapDaddyAP

Roman Reigns vs CM Punk

Pro Wrestling

2015 Flashback

Val Venis Talks Attitude Era, Owen Hart, And Medical Marijuana

Hello, ladies! Those two iconic words set ablaze the hearts of many female wrestling fans in the late 1990s when Val Venis made his seductive entrance into the arena. As a smooth saxophone played in the background, Venis swayed his hips and many times locked his lips with lucky members of the WWE Universe.

Nowadays, Venis is not as entrenched in the wrestling business. With a busy schedule and personal goals, religiously keeping up with wrestling is not on Venis’ agenda.

“As far as performing, yes, I’m always gonna love to perform, but I don’t really watch wrestling too much right now just because I don’t have the time to. I have so many other things on the go, the only thing I really get time to watch is a little bit of UFC here and there,” said Venis. “So, I don’t really know what’s going on in the wrestling world, as it stands right now anyway.”

As he mentions UFC, a sport that has grown leaps and bounds since he was at his peak in wrestling, Venis admits that he is a big time fanatic of the sport and would have potentially been interested in trying it himself. But he remains a fan first and wishes a fellow professional wrestler and soon-to-be UFC fighter luck with his new endeavor.

“I love the UFC, UFC is phenomenal, I hope CM Punk does really well there. I probably would have tried it, you know, I definitely would have tried it but as far as me not wrestling and taking MMA as a career, I wouldn’t go that far,” said Venis.

During the Attitude Era, Venis was a staple of the federation. A former Intercontinental, European, and Tag Team champion, Venis accomplished a lot. The character he portrayed, that of an adult film actor, Venis found it to be an entertaining role and one he believes can still exist today.

“It’s one of those things where I don’t think there was ever society where it couldn’t exist, I think the question would be would it cause the same amount of controversy,” said Venis. “I think it could cause controversy, maybe not to the same level, that’s just what I’m thinking. It could absolutely cause the same controversy as before but I those walls have already have been broken down and in order to reinvent it, you have to come up with something more spectacular than it was during the Attitude Era.”

Even though he no longer works for WWE or even keeps up with the business as a whole, Venis spent over a decade under contract with WWE. In that time, he wrestled legends such as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Ric Flair, The Rock, and a bevy of other iconic names.

But the man who left a significant impression on him is the late Owen Hart. The “King of Harts” was a well-known “ribber” or prankster during his time in wrestling. Specifically, Venis recalls an instance in which Hart, Jeff Jarrett, and himself shared a car and Hart parlayed something he did onto Jarrett.

“There was one time when we watched Owen, he had a driver and he was in the passenger seat and Jeff Jarrett was in the backseat behind Owen. And as they are going up the ramp to drive out from the bottom of the arena, all you hear on the top of the roof of the car is ‘whack!’ And Owen looks over to the driver, he says ‘that guy up there just threw a rock down on your car.’ So, the guy stops the car on the ramp, gets out of the car, runs up the ramp, runs around the rail and charges at the guy Owen pointed at. Well, a cop steps out in front of the driver and says ‘whoa, this guy didn’t throw any rock, the guy with the blonde hair in the car hit the roof of your car with his hand. And when the driver looks over the rail to look at Owen, Owen turns around and says ‘Jeff, why did you hit the top of the car?’ and put all the heat on Jeff.”

As stated earlier, aside from a few independent bookings, Venis is out of the wrestling spotlight and focused on a new goal: medical marijuana. He runs his own business, which you can learn more about via his Twitter. He wants to teach the world about the benefits of the drug, when, in his mind, many people aren’t educated of its benefits.

“I love getting out there and teaching people the truth about cannabis. There is so much cannabis can do, I don’t think people have any reason to fear it at all. We’re trying to get the truth out there so people can absorb that truth and really have a huge paradigm shift in the way people feel and think about cannabis,” said Venis.

In fact, Venis says that marijuana is something that not only helped him recover from the years of wear and tear on his body from wrestling but actually saved his life due to its non-addictive nature.

With some deaths in wrestling coming from addictions to pain medication and various other drugs, Venis says that marijuana is the way to go.

“It’s actually saved my life. I had six pins put in my shoulder, can’t get my elbows straight anymore, they’re always hurting. Doctors had me on anti-inflammatory’s and pain pills for years and you can’t take those things for the rest of your life without suffering serious consequences. And when I found out about marijuana and started utilizing that instead, in 2008, I came off all pharmaceuticals and never looked back,” said Venis. “I could smoke marijuana and eat marijuana for the rest of my life and never suffer any liver disease or kidney failure due to pills. The pills will get you every single time, with marijuana, you could be 110-years-old and still smoke it.”

All told, Venis remains busy and is looking forward to continuing to grow his marijuana business and expand it to a bigger scale than it is today. With the impressive accolades that Venis has in wrestling, he hopes to leave a similar impact in his latest venture.

“Just going to continue building my stature in the medical marijuana business. Hopefully, we’re gonna get a 2016 recreational in Arizona and expand it from there. We opened up a vapor lounge in Phoenix which is shut down now because have to move it to a free standing unit. We’re probably going to wait legalization for 21 and older until we open up again,” said Venis.

RugbyPass TV wins 350K+ subs during World Cup - November 23, 2023

In September, World Rugby partnered with Endeavor Streaming to launch the RugbyPass TV streaming service, bringing live and on-demand content of the 2023 Rugby World Cup directly to fans around the world.

Since its launch, the platform has seen strong viewing figures and hit streaming milestones, attracting 350K+ subscribers and a total 1.7 million users around the world. It streamed nearly 500K hours of content throughout the Rugby World Cup with 3.3 million total views, including nearly 700K live views.

The service has enabled World Rugby to reach fans directly in markets where broadcast deals for the tournament were not in place, including audiences across Greece, South Korea and Hungary. The platform reached its biggest audience in South Africa, followed by Great Britain and the US.

World Rugby Chief Marketing and Content Officer, James Rothwell, commented: “World Rugby’s objective is to drive global and diverse fan growth for our sport by making the game as relevant, accessible and entertaining as possible. RugbyPass TV is a cornerstone of our fan engagement strategy, and provides a platform to deliver programming to fans around the world through live matches, highlights, on-demand matches and shoulder content.”

Pete Bellamy, Chief Commercial Officer at Endeavor Streaming, added: “RugbyPass TV’s impressive results exemplify the power that direct-to-consumer services have in reaching fans on a global scale, particularly around highly charged moments such as a World Cup tournament. These platforms are influential and essential tools for helping sports organisations deepen their engagement with fans, offering highly personalised experiences that traditional channels cannot offer.”

RugbyPass TV is hosted on Endeavor Streaming’s Vesper platform, an end-to-end streaming solution that enables clubs and rightsholders to build upon and deliver direct-to-consumer streaming experiences for their viewers. Endeavor Streaming, a subsidiary of Endeavor, is a specialist in video distribution and monetisation for live and on-demand content across sports, entertainment, media and lifestyle.

World Rugby, Endeavor Streaming launching RugbyPass TV - August 25, 2023

World Rugby, the governing body of Rugby Union, has partnered with Endeavor Streaming to expand its international media distribution with the launch of a free-to-air, global streaming service. The OTT platform, branded RugbyPass TV, marks the first time the federation has introduced its own, standalone service to stream its international competitions live to fans around the world.

Live coverage will kick off with the Rugby World Cup 2023 on September 8th. RugbyPass TV will stream World Cup matches to fans in all global territories where broadcast deals are not in place. The platform will also stream all fixtures from World Rugby’s upcoming tournaments, including the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups, WXV and the HSBC SVNS series.

Additionally, it will host more than 1,000 hours of archive content from historic matches alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, documentary and feature content produced by World Rugby Studios.

World Rugby Chief Marketing and Content Officer, James Rothwell, commented: “This is an opportunity for rugby fans around the world to get closer to the game we love. Rugby is an incredible sport, and we want to deepen the connection it has with new and existing fans through live rights, never seen before archive content, and our World Rugby Studios original programming. RugbyPass TV is the destination for global rugby content.”

Pete Bellamy, Chief Commercial Officer at Endeavor Streaming, added: “With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner, global interest in Rugby Union has never been higher. We’re proud to partner with World Rugby at this pinnacle moment in its calendar to help the sport expand its international reach, connect and grow its worldwide fanbase and help to deliver brand new content formats in a highly personalised manner.”

RugbyPass TV will be hosted on Endeavor Streaming’s Vesper platform. The service will be available for fans to watch online via a dedicated OTT website, iOS and Android mobile apps, and via Smart TV devices including Apple TV and Android TV.

Bluey heads to Middle East - November 23, 2023

BBC Studios Kids & Family has announced that celebrated animated series Bluey is set to expand its presence in the Middle East in 2024.

For the first time, the show will be available to watch on free-to-air platform Spacetoon Kids, while the hit theatre show, Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show, will makes its debut in Abu Dhabi following sell-out shows across the US and Australia. Bluey merchandise is also set to grow in the region following the appointment of Spacetoon International Agent as licensing representative.

Spacetoon Kids TV will air Season 1 of the hit TV series created and written by Joe Brumm and produced by the multiple Emmy Award-winning Ludo Studio.

The series follows Bluey, a loveable, inexhaustible, Blue Heeler dog, who lives with her Mum, Dad and her little sister, Bingo. Bluey uses her limitless energy to play games that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways, bringing her family and the whole neighbourhood into her world of fun.

Bluey showcases the joyful simplicity that can be found in families turning everyday events like going to the shops or visiting the doctor into unique adventures, bringing to life how children learn and grow through play.

The series is made by Ludo Studio and jointly commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and BBC Studios Kids & Family with BBC Studios owning international distribution and licensing rights outside Australia.

BBC Studios appointed Spacetoon International Agent as the licensing representative for Bluey, to oversee the expansion of the Bluey licensing programme in the Middle East. Spacetoon International Agent have just added Hollywoood Magic to the local roster of licensees, which will see Bluey apparel launch later next year. Toy Pro will be launching musical toys and puzzles and the master toy line from Moose Toys is distributed locally by Playtrend Trading.

Daisy Griffiths, BBC Studios Senior Licensing Executive EMEA, said: “We are delighted to partner with Spacetoon, working together to increase the presence of Bluey in the territory and grow Bluey’s fanbase in the Middle East in 2024. It is going to be an exciting year. The launch of the Bluey licensing programme marks a significant next step in the global expansion of Bluey following huge success across multiple regions including North and South America, UK, Europe and Australia/New Zealand.”

Bluey’s Big Play is a brand new theatrical adaptation of the television series and will make its Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi from August 30 2024 at the Etihad Arena. With an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush, audiences of all ages will get to see Bluey, her younger sister Bingo and Mum and Dad as they’ve never seen them before, featuring brilliantly created puppets, live actors, and iconic sets.

It features original voices from the TV sensation, including the instantly recognisable voices of Dave McCormack and Melanie Zanetti as Bandit and Chilli Heeler, while the larger-than-life puppets are commanded by the stage show’s talented cast.

Bluey’s Big Play is produced by Andrew Kay and Theory Eleven with Windmill Theatre Co for BBC Studios.

Sia Farr, Managing Director at Theory Eleven Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to bring Bluey’s Big Play to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Another world-class entertainment show, Bluey’s heart-warming and relatable stories make it a perfect addition to our line-up of family-friendly experiences.”

The stage show has enjoyed much success in Australia, where it premiered in Bluey’s hometown Brisbane and went on to perform 447 times across 65 venues, including the Sydney Opera House. The tour is currently in the US where it’s played at the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and the iconic Chicago Theatre. There is also an upcoming UK and Ireland premiere tour starting this December until summer 2024.

Since bursting on to TV screens in Australia in 2018, Bluey has enjoyed a plethora of critical success at home and abroad, recently winning a 2022 BAFTA Children & Young People Award in the International category and picking up its consecutive fourth AACTA Best Children’s Programme award to add to an International Emmy and numerous awards for craft and production around the world.

The series streams to US and global audiences (outside of Australia, New Zealand and China) across Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ through a global broadcasting deal between BBC Studios Kids & Family and Disney Branded Television. Disney+ has first-window broadcast rights for Bluey in the Middle East. In its native Australia, the show goes out on ABC.

Drone Champions League set for further expansion - November 23, 2023

The Drone Champions League (DCL), the world’s premier professional drone racing organisation, is set for further expansion in the Gulf Region following an exciting and dramatic winter season final in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The event, spread out over two days from November 17th-18th, featured six of the best DCL teams competing together on a brand-new virtual track based on the real-world location of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. British team Xblades came out on top, narrowly beating the newest team to enter the league, American-based Cyclone. The two teams will be among those facing off next month for the DCL Super Final 2023, on December 20th, with the venue to be unveiled shortly.

In a sign of the league’s growth, the Abu Dhabi event also saw DCL secure ASPIRE as a sponsor of the league. ASPIRE is the technology development pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council. The partnership will see the DCL work closely with ASPIRE’s Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), furthering knowledge-exchange and promotion between the leagues.

As part of the agreement, two new events in Abu Dhabi will be added to DCL’s 2024 calendar, in April and November next year. More information of the 2024 calendar will be announced following the culmination of the 2023 season.

Markus Stampfer, Board member of Drone Champions AG, which organizer the DCL, said: “This event in Abu Dhabi has taken our league to new levels. Having the pilots together in person again, playing on a brand-new virtual track, created a fantastic celebration for our league, which continues to lead the way in excitement, technology and globality. We can’t wait for our Super Final next month and to announce our plans for the 2024 season soon. We are already looking forward to being back in Abi Dhabi next year.”

Swan Versmissen, pilot of the winning Xblades team, added: “Racing in the DCL continues to be the ultimate thrill. We’re a supportive community and to be able to enjoy races such as this one on-site, in person, only strengthens our teams and the league as a whole. As a team, we’re of course delighted to have come out on top of really tough competition, and we know it’ll be a great battle again next month, and next season.”

Dr. Tom McCarthy, Executive Director at ASPIRE, said: “Drone racing is quickly capturing the public imagination, and drones today are gaining uptake in multiple sectors, including in e-commerce delivery, last mile logistics, environmental best practices, and disaster search and rescue efforts. With A2RL, ASPIRE is combining autonomous robotics, AI, and extreme sports to advance the future of mobility. We were delighted to support DCL in their drone gaming competition, which brings attention to the sport, and we look forward to collaborating with them on future endeavors.”

WWE bringing SmackDown to Berlin - November 20, 2023

WWE, part of TKO Group Holding, has announced that due to the incredible early pre-registration response for Bash in Berlin – the first-ever major WWE Premium Live Event to be held in Germany – one of the company’s weekly flagship TV shows, SmackDown, will also emanate from the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany, the night before on August 30th 202.

This marks the first time ever that SmackDown will broadcast from Germany.

Presales for combo tickets will be begin on November 28th. Fans can register now to receive an exclusive presale offer. General public onsale for SmackDown and Bash In Berlin will be available on November 30th through Ticketmaster.

SmackDown and Bash In Berlin Priority Pass ticket packages are available now from On Location, offering fans the chance to be ringside for all the action – including premium seating, pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and more.

France to host WWE Backlash - November 16, 2023

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, has announced that WWE Backlash France will be the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event to be held in France, emanating from the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines on May 4th 2024.

Additionally, SmackDown will emanate from the LDLC Arena on May 3rd 2024, marking the first time SmackDown will broadcast from France.

Other artists set to hold major events at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines, France, in the coming months include Sting, Jonas Brothers and Green Day. The news also follows the announcement of Bash In Berlin taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany, on August 31st 2024.

Backlash 2023, held earlier this year at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, became WWE’s highest-grossing and most-viewed Backlash in company history.

WWE readies for Elimination Chamber: Perth - November 7, 2023

WWE makes its long-awaited return to Australia for a globally televised Premium Live Event in 2024.

Elimination Chamber: Perth will take place at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, on February 24th 2024. This will mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Australia since 2018 and the only PLE in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024.

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will be broadcast live in approximately 165 countries in 25 languages and seen in more than 1 billion homes.

The globally-televised spectacle will feature a host of top tier matches – including the famous ‘Elimination Chamber’ match – a large chain-linked steel structure surrounding the ring comprising four pod enclosures at each corner that will see two participants begin in the ring, with the remaining participants released from their pods at regular intervals with the final objective being to eliminate each other via pinfall or submission. The Elimination Chamber structure takes a 50ft flatbed truck to transport and many hours of construction to be suspended over the ring in the centre of the stadium.

The 2023 edition of WWE Elimination Chamber from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada broke multiple WWE company records. Viewership of the event saw a +54 per cent increase versus the prior record set in 2022. It also marked new high points for gate, merchandise and sponsorship.

Tickets for Elimination Chamber: Perth will be available for general purchase via Ticketmaster on November 10th for fans who wnat to be there in person. There is a also an exclusive presale on November 8th that WWE fans can register for.

Three free MMA events on Fubo Sports - November 16, 2023

Fubo Sports, the live, free-to-consumer TV network from FuboTV, the sports-first TV streaming platform, will feature an action-packed weekend with three exclusive MMA events, including Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) 54 and 55, as well as former NFL star Shawne Merriman’s Lights Out Xtreme Fighting (LXF) 12.

Exclusively on Fubo Sports, the network’s MMA weekend will kick off with BKFC 54 on Friday, November 17, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The full night of bare-knuckle action will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, and will culminate with a main event featuring two BKFC newcomers, Todor Zhelyazkov versus Rosen Dimitrov, in a middleweight bout.

On Saturday, November 18, BKFC will take its talents to Leeds, England, for BKFC 55, which will feature a light heavyweight main event between the division’s undefeated and top-ranked, Danny Christie, against Jared Warren, currently ranked third in the weight class. Ahead of the main event, prelims will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET.

To wrap up the MMA-filled weekend, Fubo Sports will feature LXF12, taking place in Long Beach, Calif. The event’s preliminary fights will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT, followed by the main event at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, featuring Americans Carlos Puente Jr. versus Victor Rosas, fighting it out for the vacant Flyweight title.

Tune-in Schedule

November 17: BKFC 54
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
Main event: Todor Zhelyazkov v. Rosen Dimitrov
November 18: BKFC 55
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
Main event: Danny Christie v. Jared Warren
November 18: LXF12
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Main event: Carlos Puente Jr. v. Victor Rosas

Fans can stream both BKFC events and LXF12 for free on Fubo Sports available on Amazon Freevee, LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, The Roku Channel, VIZIO WatchFree+, Tubi, Plex and Tablo TV.

Beachfront launches self-serve Select platform - November 7, 2023

Beachfront, the sell-side ad platform built for convergent TV and streaming, has announced the launch of Beachfront Select, a fully self-service deal ID curation platform for connected TV (CTV) and video advertising. An extension of Beachfront’s Marketplace (SSP), Select enables media buyers and proprietary data owners to more easily plan, curate, and activate data-enabled private marketplaces (PMPs) across premium TV, connected TV (CTV), and online video inventory.

As a fully self-service platform, Beachfront Select is built to solve these considerations for media buyers and proprietary data owners. Select provides direct access to a scaled CTV and video inventory footprint with intuitive audience management and matching capabilities that bring data-driven ad targeting to the supply-side. Additionally, Select provides unrivaled transparency into programmatic ad delivery, including through rich log-level data, comprehensive content-level reporting, and detailed information on fees.

“With the proliferation of CTV consumption in recent years and the changes unfolding across the programmatic landscape, media buyers and data owners are increasingly seeking more control over their advertising supply chain,” said Chris Maccaro, CEO at Beachfront. “Today, we are thrilled to formally launch the Beachfront Select platform. Already, Select is providing our partners with the tools they need to streamline and enhance execution of data-driven CTV advertising strategies within a more transparent and controllable environment.”

At launch, Beachfront Select has rapidly gained traction amongst media buyers and proprietary data owners, who are using the platform’s self-service features and audience matching technology to unlock greater workflow efficiencies, fee transparency, and scale in their CTV and video advertising campaigns.

Sports Content Expected to Increasingly Migrate to FAST Channels - October 19, 2023

ree Ad-Supported Television (FAST) usership is growing–fast. Ampere Analysis reported that 37% of U.S. internet users used an AVoD service in Q3 ’22, up from 17% in Q3 ‘19.

The emergence of/growth in internet connected televisions (i.e., distribution), and the increasing costs associated with unbundled content are spurring adoption.

However, much of the programming on digitally native platforms, like Roku, PlutoTV, Xumo and Samsung TV Plus, remains entertainment focused. No major sports or sports media property has allocated live rights to a FAST channel, and few have invested in building out otherwise compelling content offerings for them.

Existing contractual limitations and the need to manage Pay TV affiliate relationships have prevented rights owners from fully embracing the opportunity. Any potential upside has been outweighed by the corresponding risk (think: damaging future rights negotiations).

But as purchasing power –and reach– within the Pay TV universe continue to dwindle, the expectation is rights holders will find a way to get comfortable with sports content living in more places. And FAST channels are expected to be among them.

A FAST channel builds “goodwill and its marketing,” Jason Coyle (president, Stadium) said. “It’s great for [sports properties and] sponsors to be associated with a free, broadly available execution. We’re [currently] talking to a number of [rights owners], and I wouldn’t cap how significant the rights could be if we get [the partnership structure] right.”

Legacy entertainment companies with large content libraries have embraced FAST and already moved programming over to those platforms en masse.

“There are now 1,400 [plus] FAST channels,” Coyle said. “So, the category has been well confirmed.”

Just not in sports. While a plethora of niche sports-centric options exist, few maintain any semblance of brand presence and the content that lives on them is largely of low value.

While FAST has been an afterthought in the sports media equation, several of the 20+ ad-supported platforms in operation are eager to change that. There is a desire to capture the higher CPMs sports content can command (it must be noted that digital CPMs are less valuable than CPMs on established platforms).

At the same time, FAST channels can help fulfill the sports content void that exists outside of the cable bundle.

“When you look at the landscape, the best rights are splintering and there is a proliferation of players,” Coyle said. “Even in an up economy, our research shows fans are [only] going to pay for two or three of those [services]; they’re going to need something else.”

And FAST channels can help support tier two and tier three rights owners in need of broadening their reach. Just yesterday, Tennis Channel’s FAST network (T2) debuted on Amazon Freevee and Fubo.

“It’s [about] trying to make yourself relevant to as many fans, in as many places, as you possibly can,” Coyle said.

Monthly active users vary across platforms. But the top platforms have 50 million plus (Pluto has 80 million).

Of course, that is the total addressable market, not the audience for any one channel.

Tier one sports or sports media properties could, in theory, launch FAST channels alongside their existing linear television and/or streaming partnerships as part of a holistic distribution strategy. Rights owners/holders would simply need to program it with content that isn’t already assigned elsewhere (think: archived or condensed versions of games).

Classic games won’t draw audiences on par with a live broadcast, but some fans –particularly those without access to other sports content– will watch.

FAST is not going to be able to help rights owners in transition (think: those leaving RSN ecosystem) bridge the revenue gap in any meaningful way, at least not in the next half decade.

However, the most watched FAST channels on each platform can earn millions of dollars annually. The rights owner tends to retain ~50-55% of the advertising revenues generated.

And FAST channels can be easily distributed across multiple platforms, so a potential multiplier effect exists too.

“It depends on the media mix and what kind of rights and promotion [the platforms] put on [the channel],” Coyle said. “But [total revenues] could be tens of millions over time.”

In the short-term, FAST represents a low-risk, incremental revenue opportunity for rights owners placing archived content on their channel (see: NHRA).

The upside potential can be even greater for properties willing to park live rights on a FAST channel as an alternative to a promotion-owned website.

Logic indicates a correlation exists between how compelling the content is and audience size. Discovery aids also plays a critical role in digital video consumption (think: event promotion, a ‘sports zone’).

But it seems unlikely that a property capable of commanding large, guaranteed fees –and eyeballs– from established platforms will be the first to test that theory. Leagues further down the value chain are more apt to take a chance on the emerging distribution platform, particularly when they realize the alternative.

“People have seen it takes a lot of time, skill, dedication and money to drive a [DTC] platform and get people to come watch it,” Coyle said.

By contrast, many of these FAST platforms are already at scale.

And “some have put together good [consumer viewing] experiences creating a great opportunity to partner [and] get a free product into the hands of fans,” Coyle said.

In theory, rights owners may be able to use FAST channels to cross or upsell viewers (think: subscription to a D2C streaming service, season tickets). Though, it remains to be seen how effective those efforts will be.

Coyle acknowledges FAST platforms will have to prove there are ways for rights owners to monetize content beyond advertising for higher profile properties to move their live rights there.

“If we want to get serious about rights, we need to make the platform capable of driving revenues other than just sponsorship,” he said.

But the digital media executive is convinced that time is coming.

“We could see FAST [as an addition] to an overall [media distribution] strategy in the next 12 months. Not the primary strategy, necessarily, but a key component,” Coyle said.

(John Wall Street)

Tennis Channel's fast network T2 launches on Amazon, Freevee, Fubo - October 17, 2023

Customers Can View the Sport’s Best Players and Events Live Every Day – for Free.

OS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2023 – Tennis Channel’s free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel T2 is now available to Amazon Freevee viewers, and on sports-first live TV streaming platform Fubo in its base Pro channel plan, available to all subscribers. This greatly expands the number of viewers in the United States who have access to daily tennis throughout the year, with live coverage of the top-ranked players and most-important tournaments in the sport.

Introduced in 2022, T2 is Tennis Channel’s second television network, with matches and original programming that do not appear on its sibling channel. Because of the volume of professional tennis any given week – multiple men’s and women’s tournaments; singles, doubles and mixed matches; a variety of courts all day – T2 is unprecedented and unrivaled as a FAST channel that is able to provide top-tier, daily live competition from one of America’s most popular sports. This includes matches played by tennis superstars like US Open champions Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff. Since its launch, T2 has aired more free live tennis to U.S. audiences per year than ever before in television.

Fubo is a sports-first cable TV replacement product that aggregates more than 300 live sports, news and entertainment networks and is the only live TV streaming platform with every Nielsen-rating sports channel (source: Nielsen Total Viewers, 2022). In addition to coverage of tennis and other sports, Fubo also streams popular live entertainment and news programming and features more than 40,000 TV shows and movies on-demand each month.

“We’re excited to work with Amazon Freevee and Fubo to bring live, daily tennis to millions of tennis fans all year long,” said Lee Schlazer, senior vice president, distribution, Sinclair and Tennis Channel. “There’s never been this opportunity for so many Americans to watch the best tennis matches and players in the world every day. We’re thrilled to expand our availability to Freevee and Fubo.”

T2 carries live, different matches from almost all tournaments that appear on Tennis Channel throughout the year. Among these in 2023 were Roland Garros (commonly known as the French Open and one of the sport’s four major annual events), the BNP Paribas Open, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo Masters, Italian Open, Canadian Open, Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

T2 is also available for free on Samsung TV Plus and YouTube TV.

Amazon Freevee is a streaming video service with thousands of premium movies and TV shows, including Originals and free ad-supported (FAST) Channels, available anytime, for free. All FAST Channels available on Freevee can be accessed through the Freevee app, as well as within Fire TV and Prime Video.

About Fubo

With a mission to build the world’s leading global live TV streaming platform with the greatest breadth of premium content and interactivity, FuboTV Inc. (d/b/a Fubo; NYSE: FUBO) aims to transcend the industry’s current TV model. The company operates Fubo in the U.S., Canada and Spain and Molotov in France.

In the U.S., Fubo is a sports-first cable TV replacement product that aggregates more than 175 live sports, news and entertainment networks and is the only live TV streaming platform with every Nielsen-rated sports channel (source: Nielsen Total Viewers, 2022). Leveraging Fubo’s proprietary data and technology platform optimized for live TV and sports viewership, subscribers can engage with the content they are watching through interactive product features like FanView, an in-video experience showcasing live game, team and player stats and scores in real time. Fubo was also the first virtual MVPD to enable simultaneous viewing of up to four live channels (Multiview on Apple TV) as well the first to stream in 4K HDR.

Learn more at https://fubo.tv

Tennis Channel (www.tennischannel.com) which is owned by Sinclair Inc., is the only television-based multiplatform destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle. The network has the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television in one of the world’s most voluminous sports, with multiple men’s and women’s tournaments and singles, doubles and mixed competition throughout the year. Tennis Channel has rights at the four majors – US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open) and Australian Open – and is the exclusive U.S. home of all men’s ATP World Tour and women’s WTA Tour competitions, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup. Direct-to-consumer streaming service Tennis Channel Plus is available to everyone in the United States and allows subscribers to select from another 4,500 live and on-demand matches and award-winning content from short-form to films throughout the tennis season. Tennis Channel International brings live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels.Additional platform www.tennis.com is the largest digital outlet dedicated to the sport. Tennis Channel also manages a network of close to 20 podcasts.

About Sinclair, Inc.

Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD and The Nest; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports network brands. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.

One big problem with Netflix’s Squid Game reality show - November 24, 2023

A new reality show on Netflix sees contestants win an enormous $4.56m prize – but the show is doing more harm than good.

When Netflix announced they were making a reality competition based on the hit series Squid Game, many waited with bated breath knowing that more harm than good would come out of it. And they were right.

From the get-go, the reality show has been plagued with controversy as several former contestants claimed they spent “hours” in freezing weather and faced medical issues while filming. Later, another contestant called it the “cruellest, meanest thing” they’ve ever endured.

Netflix has since denied the accusations, writing in a statement that they “care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew.”

But now that the first five episodes of the show have been released, it’s easy to note the exploitative nature of the competition.

The talking head segments with the players, dispersed between challenges, often involve them discussing what they’d do with the cash prize and reflecting on their current financial situations.

Like the fictional series, the reality show follows 456 players as they compete in a variety of games to win a $4.56 million cash prize. The cash reward is reportedly the largest in game in reality show history.

In the fictional drama, “elimination” meant death and to carry the high stakes through to the reality show, Netflix has the losing contestants pretend to dramatically fall to the floor after being pelted with a paint gun.

The first episode features two contestants opening up about how winning the show would change their lives. “Who’s not in debt? We’re facing a recession,” says Starla, contestant 318, to the cameras. “But you’re dreaming, you’re taking a chance. What’s that like to be able to pay off your house? What’s that like to pay off your car? … I got my own dreams. They may not be much but I’ve got dreams too.”

After the first round of eliminations take place, the rules of the game are explained.

In the dorm room, a screen depicts the faces of the eliminated players and a total count of who’s currently in the game. A giant clear ball hangs from the ceiling and as each player gets eliminated, more money is added to it, until it totals to the grand prize. Looking at the ball, Contestant 243 Stephen says, “Holy crap, that’s so much money! I don’t come from old money, I come from broke money.” Then when explaining what he’d do with the prize, he says, “I wanna help my family out, I want to support my girls for the rest of their life, financially. It would be everything.”

Given these admissions, the elimination sequences are hard to watch and sometimes feature contestants in tears and frustration, but Netflix quickly skirts over those moments and quickly moves on to the next challenge.

Here’s the issue: in the fictional series, it was obvious who the villains were. But what about with Squid Game: The Challenge? This is a reality show that takes real-life people — many of whom are admittedly are in debt or low income — and film them as they fight to the “death” for a cash prize. The only entity to place blame on is Netflix. Though, when we do that, what does it say about us — the people watching the show?

Streamers accounted for a quarter of European original content spend in 2022

Global streamers’ spending accounted for 24% of all spending on European original content last year, according to a study by the European Audiovisual Observatory.

The report found that global streamers’ spending increased by 70% versus 2021 to €4.9 billion, with Netflix accounting for about 45% of streamer spending on European original content, down from 58% in 2021, as other SVOD services, notably Amazon Prime, increased their investments.

According to the report, Audiovisual services spending in original European content – a 2012-2022 analysis, spending on original content has increased faster than European audiovisual sector revenues, while at the same time sports rights spending is increasing sharply.

Among broadcasters, who also increased their spending significantly, original content accounted for 35% of broadcaster spending, followed by sports rights and acquired programming, accounting for28% and 26%, respectively.

The study nevertheless found that sports rights are number one in terms of content spending for commercial broadcasters, and they grew significantly faster than any other category of programming.

The share of scripted programming (excluding news) in streamers’ spending on original content has slightly decreased over time but still accounts for the lion’s share (83%).

The UK and Spain accounted together for 37% of global streamers’ spending on original European content. The share of global streamers in original content spending is particularly high in Spain (over 50%) and, to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark and Sweden.

Germany and, to a lesser extent, the Netherlands and Poland, appear to be lagging behind with regard to their ability to capture global streamer investments.

The study found that public broadcasters invest particularly strongly in original content in Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the the Netherlands, while commercial broadcasters are key to original content in Poland, Italy and France, and streamers represent the bulk of spending in Spain.

Internet casinos thriving in six states - November 25, 2023

ATLANTIC CITY (AP) — In the 10 years that it has been operating in New Jersey, internet casino gambling has generated nearly $7 billion in revenue for casinos and their affiliates, sent over a billion dollars in tax revenue to the state’s coffers and helped keep Atlantic City’s nine casinos afloat while they were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So why hasn’t it caught on more widely across America?

Currently, only six states offer internet casino gambling: New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. (Nevada offers internet poker but not online casino games; Rhode Island has passed an online casino bill, but it is not expected to go into effect until March 2024.)

Casino operators, online gambling companies, analysts and elected officials offer a number of reasons why they think it has yet to expand more widely: among them, including fears (unfounded, analysts say) that internet gambling will draw gamblers away from physical casinos, and a higher priority effort to approve sports betting — nearly 90% of which is done online in two-thirds of the states.

Proponents say they expect additional states to adopt online casino gambling soon, in part because a wave of federal pandemic stimulus funding from the federal government is ending, and states are once again looking for new sources of tax revenue.

Internet gambling “stands out as the most lucrative revenue source from any gaming launch in history, and New Jersey is ‘exhibit A’ for its success,” said Howard Glaser of the internet gambling technology company Light & Wonder. He predicted dozens of states will adopt it in the near future.

However, Chris Krafcik, managing director of the Eilers & Krejcik gambling analytics firm, said some states may be hesitant to forge ahead with internet casinos, which some lawmakers may view as a more serious, high-stakes form of gambling than online sports betting. Another factor is competition from online giants like DraftKings and FanDuel that control nearly half the online casino market in the U.S.

Krafcik predicted “only a very small number of states” will legalize online casinos by the end of 2027.

“Online casino has always been a tough sell,” Krafcik said.

One of those states may be Indiana, where an online casino bill died in February due in large part to fears that it would hurt the state’s existing physical casinos. A report from the state’s Legislative Services Agency warned of that, citing “loss of tax revenues from displacement of gaming activities at brick-and-mortar casinos and racinos” of $134 million to $268 million a year. Lawmakers plan to try again next year.

Elaine Vallaster of New Jersey has been playing internet slots for about three years on the BetRivers.com site, where she also likes the free bingo games and a chat function that has enabled her to make several friends with whom she socializes in real life.

“There’s a lot of things to do there,” said Vallaster, who once won $14,000 online. “I’ve met people that I go to lunch with. You laugh and have a lot of fun.”

Legal internet gambling in New Jersey leads the nation in the amount of taxes paid to governments and money won by gambling companies. Collectively, internet gambling has generated $16.3 billion in revenue for the states that offer it, according to the American Gaming Association, the gambling industry’s national trade group.

Through September of this year, New Jersey generated $6.91 billion since Nov. 2013; Pennsylvania generated $4.34 billion since July 2019; Michigan generated $4.1 billion since Jan. 2021; Connecticut generated $615.3 million since Oct. 2021; West Virginia generated $294.7 million since July 2020, and Delaware generated $59.1 million since Nov. 2013.

In terms of tax revenue assessed on internet casino bets over those same time periods, Pennsylvania generated $1.83 billion; New Jersey and Michigan each generated $1.03 billion; Connecticut generated $88.4 million; West Virginia generated $44.2 million; and Delaware generated $19 million.

Internet gambling is not a total windfall for the casinos, who must share part of what they win from online casino games and sports bets with third parties including tech platforms. But that extra money came in handy in 2020, when Atlantic City’s nine casinos were closed for 3 1/2 months at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic, and internet gambling was just about the only money they had coming in. Most sports were shut down as well, and there was little to bet on.

Internet gambling, which began in New Jersey on Nov. 25, 2013, exceeded most expectations.

“The volume of wagering, the interest from people, the excitement surrounding it as an entertainment option shows the power and reach of the internet,” said David Rebuck, director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. “We were able to do it in a responsible, professional way that avoided embarrassment and scandal.”

There was concern initially that internet gambling would eat into money that would otherwise be won by brick-and-mortar casinos from people physically on their premises. But that has proved not to be the case.

Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling industry, noted that in most internet gambling states, brick-and-mortar gambling revenue has grown alongside that of internet betting, although at a slower pace.

Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, agreed that the two complement each other.

“New Jersey proved it,” said Schwartz, whose company operates the BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse platforms. “Casino revenue after the pandemic has stabilized, and online revenue is setting new records.”

Movie Box Office - 26th November 2023

North America

1. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - $28.8m

2. Napolean - $20.4m

3. Wish - $19.5m

4. Trolls Band Together - $17.5m

5. Thanksgiving - $7.3m

6. The Marvels - $6.4m

7. The Holdover - $2.8m

8. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour - $2.3m

9. Five Nights at Freddy's - $1.8m

10. Saltburn - $1.7m

Chris Hemsworth and Khabib Nurmagomedov attend Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

BU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thor and The Eagle: Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth and UFC pound-for-pound legend Khabib Nurmagomedov connect at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023's race day.

Thousands of F1 fans flocked to the venue for the four-day festival for the biggest edition of the Abu Dhabi GP weekend, with all-new fan experiences and vantage points introduced for the 2023 edition.

With a range of new additions for 2023, this year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw more fans than ever before attend the F1 season finale, enjoying the spectacle from all-new vantage points such as the West Straight Grandstand and the Deck at Two hospitality space overlooking Turn 2.

As well as watching the elite drivers during practice sessions, qualifying and the race, fans enjoyed a variety of entertainment off the track.

Global Sensation Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Hollywood's Orlando Bloom spotted at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Sensation Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Hollywood's Orlando Bloom spotted at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023.

Thousands of F1 fans flocked to the venue for the four-day festival for the biggest edition of the Abu Dhabi GP weekend, with all-new fan experiences and vantage points introduced for the 2023 edition.

With a range of new additions for 2023, this year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw more fans than ever before attend the F1 season finale, enjoying the spectacle from all-new vantage points such as the West Straight Grandstand and the Deck at Two hospitality space overlooking Turn 2.

As well as watching the elite drivers during practice sessions, qualifying and the race, fans enjoyed a variety of entertainment off the track.

Australian Internet News

Nbn Co reveals country’s the areas where Aussies are using the most internet data

New figures have shed light on the suburbs where Aussies are using the most internet data, and what exactly they are doing.

New figures have shed light on some of the country’s biggest data trends, including the suburbs where Aussies are downloading the most and what exactly they are doing.

Recently-released video games and major updates to popular titles are behind some of the country’s most data-consuming regions over the past month.

Nbn Co has revealed the top 10 local government areas (LGAs) across the country based on how much internet they use – with immensely popular games Fortnite and Call of Duty contributing to a record-high amount of traffic in early November.

In October, the average resident of the City of Playford in South Australia used 613GB download data, topping the list.

They were followed by Logan, Queensland (601GB) and Kwinana, Western Australia (596GB) to round out the top three.

Nbn’s Head of Customer Strategy and Innovation Dr Robert Joyce said new network usage records have been set and broken three times in the last 12 months.

“With data usage more than tripling in the past seven years, and with average households now having around 21 connected devices, it’s a timely reminder to check your home broadband plan is still meeting what you want from your broadband service,” Dr Joyce said.

Some of nbn’s other data trends for 2023 show Sunday is Australia’s busiest day for internet usage, with an average busiest time of between 9-10pm.

Fortnite, a 100-player battle royale third-person online shooter, underwent a major update on November 2, which prompted a massive influx of new and returning players as publishers Epic Games resurrected its original 2018 Fortnite map.

The nostalgia gambit appears to have paid off, with an all-time peak of 6.17 million players recorded the weekend following the update, according to unofficial website Fortnite. GG.

As gamers rushed back to Fortnite, a new game was released in the war-themed first-person shooter powerhouse franchise Call of Duty on November 3.

Despite a rocky launch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 still proved popular with fans of the series, with gigabytes of data downloaded to accommodate a game with notoriously large file sizes.

Depending on the platform and version purchased, the game could take up to 90GB to pre-load before the November 3 launch, with a further 100GB or so needed on release day.

The monster demand for data broke an nbn network traffic record, peaking at 26,7TB per second on November 3.

It is the equivalent of more than half-a-million simultaneous Fortnite downloads at 50Mbps, or more than 1.1 million simultaneous 4K video streams.

Movie Gaming

Can movie theatres and online streaming live side by side?

It’s been a tough time for movie theatres around the world with a number of factors contributing to the decline in the number of people heading to the cinema to watch movies. In a world that is embracing digital technologies, the movie industry is in danger of getting left behind unless they quickly embrace the technologies available that will get people excited to return to movie theatres and get the enjoyment of the cinema experience once again.

The rise of the video game industry

Whilst there are plenty of factors that are influencing people’s decision to visit the cinema, there is no doubt that the rapid rise of the online video game industry is a large contributing factor. People are starting to look elsewhere for their entertainment and online video gaming provides a lower-cost alternative to a trip to the cinema.

A report by MarketWatch in 2020 found that the video game industry is now bigger than the sports and movie industry combined. Just take a minute to digest that. Bigger than movies and sports - that’s big.

The news outlet reported that global video game revenue is expected to increase 20% in 2020, making $179.7 billion, according to data from IDC.

The biggest gain is expected to come from mobile gaming, according to the news outlet, which is expected to surge 24% to $87.7 billion. Part of this is due to China recently lifting a ban on gaming consoles.

Game console revenue is expected to soar to $52.5 billion this year, while PC and Mac games are expected to make $39.5 billion.

In their most recent report, MarketWatch reported that whilst overall revenue was expected to grow by 11% in 2021 to $251.39 billion, the forecast for 2022 is just a 2% growth and a flattening out of that rapid growth over the past two years.

Is this a potential opportunity for cinemas to reclaim some of that lost audience share?

Early signs look good for cinemas in 2022

If the latest movie releases in 2022 are anything to go by, it looks as though the movie theatre industry is not ready to give up just yet. Spider-Man: No Way Home became the biggest grossing movie of the past two years, grossing over $US1 billion ($1.38b) in the first two weekends. It is the second-fastest film ever to reach the $1 billion mark and suggests that this could be a big year for cinema-goers.

Following in its footsteps is another 2022 release, The Matrix Resurrections, a movie that grossed $US12 million in its opening weekend.

Whilst this is a great start to the New Year for movie theatres around the world, it remains to be seen whether this is a trend that continues throughout the year. With a number of high profile movies due for release in 2022, this could be a time for cinemas to really cash in.

The impact of streaming and long-form content

It is unlikely that cinemas will have it all their own way in 2022. Whilst it is great to see people returning to movie theatres to watch the latest releases on the big screen, there is no question that home viewing is here to stay.

As more studios and media distributors are developing their own direct-to-consumer streaming services, this starts to eat into the revenue of major studios.

Studios derive almost half of their revenues from theatrical releases. Although the average number of movie tickets purchased by Americans each year has declined from 4.2 in 2009 to 3.4 in 2019 (Source: Deloitte), studio revenues are driven more by box office tickets now than they were 20 years ago.

Streaming is having the biggest impact on people going to the movies. As televisions have improved, where you can now watch movies at home in 4K high-definition on screens with sizes up to 100”, with surround sound, people have become more willing to wait for the latest release movies to become available on streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Stan.

Another major impact on the cinema industry is the consumer switch to long-form content in the form of series. Many people feel there is more depth to a series that contains anywhere from six episodes upwards. Game of Thrones was one of the groundbreaking series to really capture the audience’s attention, however, there are so many amazing series now that it is becoming more difficult for movies to compete with the depth and the character development that a series can bring.

Huge series like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos and more recently, Succession, have really captured the attention of audiences around the world and this is something movie producers need to consider.

The entertainment factor

It’s not just video games and streaming that are competing for people’s attention. Another industry embracing technology is the online casino and betting sector. Here, we have seen huge advancements in the way people are able to game online. One company leading the way in the sector is Betway, “Developed by our exceptionally talented people, Betway creates market-leading, cutting-edge interactive gaming experiences. We bring people closer to the action – putting them at the centre, making them feel a part of it.”

From the introduction of in-game betting to the development of new and exciting interactive games, these online gaming sites are leading the way when it comes to embracing new technologies that can lead to better experiences for customers.

The movie industry is at a real crossroads. With competition coming from every direction within the entertainment industry, studios and distributors need to find a way to either a) get more people back into movie theatres or b) look at alternative ways to ensure that movies can compete with online gaming, live sports streaming and online casinos for a share of customer eyeballs.