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News Media Feb 2024
Super Bowl 2024 Advertising News Bytes
NFL Advertising Dept Scores Touchdowns
If you had a massive ad budget 30 secs of broadcasting time would set you back $US7 million or so at the Super Bowl.
Audience: 100 million approx
Some Brand Names:
DoorDash
Doritos
Uber Eats
CerVe
Liquid Death
Miller Lite
Dunkin' Donuts
Some Celeb Names:
Scorsese
Goldblum
Walken
Affleck
Damon
Brady
Beyoncé
Mr T
Beckham
Aniston
Schwimmer,
Schwarzenegger
Dove
Nike
Paramount
BMW
*Swifty (her own brand in many regards) and boyfriend (pitching NFL) was there, but you likely knew that already.
Who did we like? NFL, Paramount ('cause we like movies and have worked on some of their campaigns over the decades) and Mr T (due to the WWE WrestleMania and pro wrestling connection)
BMW - nice wheels
Liquid Death, as we enjoy promoting energy drinks and all things caffeine related
Dove, 'cause we love birds!
Thumbs down on Nike. Way too woke of a brand for us!
Big thumbs on on NFL Super Bowl Big Business. ESPN's done pretty well out of it too we heard via the Twitter er X bird, since the bird is now well and truely free.
Video
Watch all the BEST ads for Super Bowl LVIII I NFL. Fox. (For educational purposes)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gBxu6SR0f_c&ab_channel=mediamanint
Didn't, or don't have the ad budget for Super Bowl, or the like?! Contact Media Man, established over two decades. Special: Online Advertising on websites and they trends on the internet frequently, including via Elon Musk's X
Media Man: Advertising, PR, Journalism, Gonzo, Buzz, Project Management and even Ghost campaigns. Media Man: "Putting Your Name Out There"
#SuperBowlLVIII #SuperBowl #NFL #SuperBowlAds #popculture #AmericanFootball #TaylorSwift #Swifties #Paramount #ParamountGlobal #ParamountPlus #streaming #sportsstreaming #everydrink #ads #advertising #advertisingnews #adbiz #broadcast #broadcasting #brand #brands #branding #audience #Audiences #cafenewsmedia #adnewsmedia #SEO #agent #trend #trends #trending #buzz #YouTube #newsmedia #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Image credit: NFL with AI
Social Media, Pop Culture And Big Biz News
X Inks New Deals with WWE, BetMGM
Move Over Mr X From WWE (ex WWF); Nick Khan's WWE Gets WWE Speed via X! New Exciting Sports Tech Getting Unmasked!
Odds On betMGM @BetMGM Inks Great Win-Win Deal With Musk's X @X ; Everything Sports Betters Could Hope And Dream For - Betting On The Move
Sports Marketing Masterminds Meet Digital Platform Solutions
"The Everything App" As Elon Musk Was Pitching Becomes At Least Two Steps Closer To Reality
The Speed On Thought - Light Years Ahead Of Most Would Be Competitors Says Media Man Veteran/PPV Specialist
X is entering into a strategic partnership with BetMGM and will partner with WWE (aka World Wrestling Entertainment) to launch a new weekly series as the social media platform looks to expand its original content offerings.
Brett Weitz, head of partnerships and talent at X, discusses the new deals and how the company plans to expand its content and advertising strategy.
Bloomberg YouTube Channel
X Inks New Deals with WWE, BetMGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC3epcQGAjo&t=356s&ab_channel=BloombergTelevision
and there's more customers! ...
BetMGM CEO on new deal with X
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss BetMGM's new partnership with X, the company's strategy for attracting new customers, and more.
CNBC Television YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56c57NUwb9U&ab_channel=CNBCTelevision
More Pro Wrestling Fine Print and Bold Print
WWE Speed to launch on X within months as Elon and Linda's X continues to transform into "The Everything App"!
Wrestling News
WWE Speed Announced via WrestleMania XL Press Conference WWE Speed will be distributed exclusively on X
"A weekly video series showcasing new matches up to 5 minutes in length which will be distributed exclusively on X" - Michael Cole @MichaelCole
WWE Speed Deal Fresh Off The Heels Of Wrestling Giants Historical Netflix Billion Dollar b2b: Netflix Package To Launch Next Year; Many FOX Customers To Migrate AKA Churn Over To The New Provider
Likely To Disrupt The FOX - WBD - ESPN Bungle Team Up With Opposition. Friendly Business War With ESPN/Warner Tag Team May Last Years. 2 Out Of 3 Falls (in pro wrestling speak). No DQ?!
Live Sport and Near Live Sport Is Akin To Ultimate Hook For Passionate Fans And Insiders Who Need To Know Now! - Media Man
More Detail: Matches have five-minute time limits. The winner of the match receives a point, the loser is docked a point, and if the bout goes to a time limit draw, no points are awarded. A five-minute countdown clock appears on the video wall during the contest.
X Fintech Solution On The Way ala "PayPal'; Mr Musk Was PayPal Co-Founder For Those Not Aware.
More Legit Journalists And Media Figures To Join X; More Mainstream And Lamestream/Legacy Firms To Bleed; Red Will Turn To Green For X And Some Associates
Media Man: Totally pumped for this. Talk about the Dream Team in sports, entertainment and media. Everything a fan and/or media could hope and dream for! Win-Win-Win!
#XNews #WWE #BetMGM #MGM #WWESpeed #WWE #wwex #wwenews #wwemedia #xnews #socialmedianews #michaelcole #quote #quotes #betting #bettingnews #socialmedia #socialmedianew #socialmediatrends #platforms #platformnews #Bloomberg #CNBC #theeverythingapp #popculture #streaming #livesports #liveentertainment #associates #aff #affiliates #trends #trending #buzz #X #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Image credit: X
Pro Wrestling
WWE RAW To See Power Play!?
RAW Is Wrestling Politics?
Are You Ready?
Chatter and buzz concerning the building beef between Team Rock and Reigns vs Triple H, Cody Rhodes and Co!
Is someone going to get suspended?
Excertion of power!
Wrestling wars in the ring, backstage and perhaps in the boardroom?
The Rock's position in TKO Group
@TKOGrp
may be put front and centre into the public domain on this and upcoming editions of RAW.
Pro wrestling with TKO and KO.
Head Of The Table
Board Of Directors
Creative Control
Cerebral Assassin
King Of Kings
The Real People's Champion Is...
"We Want" chants
Who may get sent to Australia (for punishment or reward)!
The Art Of War
The Man In The Arena
On Script, off script, or elements of both!?
We The People
Broadcast announcers be ready to duck and weave!
Video
WrestleMania
@WrestleMania
XL teaser trailer https://youtube.com/watch?v=6aFgLHrMBuY&si=3NJTgcvu3OTs2vTz
WWE Official YouTube Channel to get hit with wave of People Power
http://youtube.com/WWE
#WWERaw #TripleH #TheRock #CodyRhodes #RandyOrton #RomanReigns #CMPunk #LAKnight #AdamPearce #NickAldis #WrestleMania #WrestleManiaXL #TKO #TKOGroup #KO #prowrestling #wrestling #Politics #entertainment #PopCulture #broadcast #promo #promotion #Video #stories #storytelling #storyline #trends #trending #buzz #TV #USA #Samoa #Vegas #Aussie #media
Image credit: WWE
Pro Wrestling
WWE @WWE RAW
February 12, 2024
Lexington, Kentucky
Wrestling With Politics?!
Battle In The Ring, Backstage And In The Boardroom?!
"Big" Bronson Reed vs Bobby Lashley in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match. Can The Aussie Tsunami fell and wipe out The Almighty? Is Mr Kross and The Final Testament lurking?
LA Knight vs Ivar. Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
JD McDonagh vs R-Truth - Battle Of Judgment Day!
Liv Morgan vs Zoey Stark. Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match. Battle Of Human Dynamos. Good things come in small packages. Femme fatales fighting for their place in the chamber.
WWE execs, management and staff better have their head on a swivel. Get ready Adam Pearce, Michael Cole, Nick Aldis and maybe even Triple H. KO and TKO action awaits. Following the script or flipping the script?!
Video
Elimination Chamber Match qualifying heats up: WWE Now, Feb. 12, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDjVkmRGMYw&ab_channel=WWE
WWE Official YouTube Channel to get hit with wave of People Power
www.youtube.com/WWE
#WWERaw #EliminationChamber #TripleH #TheRock #CodyRhodes #RandyOrton #RomanReigns #CMPunk #LAKnight #AdamPearce #NickAldis #BronsonReed #BobbyLashley #LAKnight #JudgementDay #WrestleMania #WrestleManiaXL #TKO #TKOGroup #KO #wwewomen #prowrestling #wrestling #Politics #entertainment #PopCulture #broadcast #promo #promotion #Video #stories #storytelling #storyline #trends #trending #buzz #TV #USA #Samoa #Vegas #Kentucky #Aussie #media
Image credit: WWE
Movie Box Office (North America)
Argylle is the real cats meow; Others scratching the litter
Not exactly 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof'!; Cat's Out Of The Bag!
Argylle @argyllemovie - stars Henry Cavill, John Cena and Bryce Dallas Howard
1. Argulle - $6.5 million
2. Lisa Frankenstein - $3.8 million
3. The Beekeeper $3.5 million
4. The Chosen -$3.2 million
5. Wonka - $3.1 million
6. Migration - $3 million
7. Anyone But You - $2.7 million
8. Mean Girls - $1.9 million
9. American Fiction - $1.3 million
10. Poor Things - $1.1 million
Media Man Int
Entertainment News (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/news4.html
#movienews #boxoffice #movieboxoffice #ArgylleMovie #Argylle #HenryCavill #JohnCena #BryceDallasHoward #LisaFrankenstein #TheBeekeeper #TheChosen #Wonka #Migration #MigrationMovie #AnyoneButYou #MeanGirls #AmericanFiction #PoorThings #showbiz #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Bitcoin pushes cryptos upwards
FX Pro intel via Media Man and Bitcoin News Media
Market picture
The crypto market reached a capitalisation of $1.82 trillion in the early hours of trading on Monday. By the early European session, it had corrected to $1.8 trillion, but this is still more than 10% above the levels of a week earlier.
Bitcoin remains the most crucial growth driver, adding 12% in 7 days against about 8% for Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano - important drivers of the current cycle. Bitcoin now accounts for 52.6% of the entire crypto market, adding more than ten percentage points over the year and 1.5p. p. over the month.
Bitcoin posted its seventh consecutive day of gains, but the strengthening slowed over the weekend. It also coincided with a move above 70 on the RSI on the daily timeframes, which could increase players' appetite for short-term profit-taking. Caution is also building as we approach the January peak. Bulls have clearly become more cautious, closing the week at the highest since December 2021.
News background
According to The Block, a month after launch, assets in the top nine spot bitcoin-ETFs exceeded 200,000 BTC ($9.5bn). The new bitcoin ETFs climbed to second place in the ranking of commodity exchange-traded funds in the US by assets, becoming a more popular investment vehicle than silver ETFs.
At the same time, the assets of Grayscale's GBTC fund have declined by 25% since 11 January, and in terms of trading volume, it has lost the lead to BlackRock's bitcoin ETF.
BlackRock, one of the largest investment companies in the US, plans to add more bitcoins to its investment portfolio. BlackRock now has 82,515 BTC on its balance sheet, worth about $4 billion. Interest in Bitcoin among investors remains high, according to the investment company's management.
Bankrupt cryptocurrency lender Genesis Global Trading has settled a lawsuit filed against it by the New York State Attorney General. Genesis will submit a plan of liquidation on 14 February.
The New York Attorney General's office has expanded its lawsuit against Digital Currency Group. The amount of fraud was three times the original estimate, exceeding $3bn.
According to a study by the Coinbase exchange, US residents could save at least $74 million (or $600 per household) in 2022 if they used cryptocurrencies rather than credit cards for payments. That includes businesses that paid $126 billion to process credit card transactions.
(Source: FxPro)
Media Man Int
Bitcoin News
www.mediamanint.com/articles/bitcoin_news.html
#Bitcoin #BitcoinNews #BTC #BitcoinETF #BitcoinETFs #cryptocurrency #cryptonews #CryptocurrencyNews #Solana #Cardano #CardanoNFT #TheBlock #ETF #Grayscale #GBTC #fintech #NFT #NFTS #market #trading #tradingnews #bitcoinbiz #bitcoincafe #bitcoingames #bitcoingaming #bitcoinpr #bitcoinewsmedia #FxPro #AlexKuptsikevich #GregTingle #affiliate #affiliates #aff #trends #trending #buzz #PR #newsbiz #X #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Gold’s Winning Streak Continues
Gold doesn’t break records too often.
It’s one of the most stable assets. It preserves value over generations.
But when the 18.6-year real estate cycle enters the stage that I call the “Eleventh Hour,” it’s frenzy everywhere.
Everything changes… and gold, like other assets, from real estate to stocks and beyond, soar.
And not only do they do that, but they do it in a spectacular fashion.
You might have missed this fact… but gold has been setting records not only in terms of price but also in terms of how fierce its ascent is.
Reference: S&P Capital IQ:
Gold prices have not closed below $2,000 per ounce for 50 days, easily outshining the precious metal’s 14-day streak in May 2023, its previous best run.“Along with the two major wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, the recent attack on a US base in Jordan by an Iranian-linked drone threatens to widen the latter conflict and potentially involve the US in the Middle East,” [S&P Global Commodity Insights analyst Aude] Marjolin wrote.“Moreover, with an uncertain picture regarding inflation as disrupted trade counters expected slower GDP growth, and then further down the road, the US presidential election, 2024 has the hallmarks of a volatile year for gold prices.”
Record highs for a record number of days… sounds familiar to me.
And yes, geopolitics and macroeconomics matter.
But what you don’t see in this analysis is the impact of the 18.6-year real estate cycle.
As always, it drives most assets up in value at an unprecedented rate.
And my knowledge of the cycle tells me that this trend is going to continue.
What’s Next for Gold?
Make no mistake, I’m not a gold bug. I’m focused on real estate investments first and foremost.
But when the market enters the “Eleventh Hour” stage… I expect assets to rise pretty much across the board.
Record prices, record winning streaks…
It becomes a “higher for longer” market, but not in the way mainstream media talks about it.
Assets reach new levels and refuse to back down… that’s where we are now.
And gold is no exception.
The problem is that investors get comfortable with this “everything rally” and become complacent.
Super Bowl, Politics and Truth Telling News
RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad
Robert F Kennedy Jr has apologised to relatives over a Super Bowl advert created by a group supporting his presidential bid, which mirrored one broadcast by his uncle John F Kennedy's campaign in 1960.
Mr Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, is running for president as an independent.
The ad aired just before the Super Bowl halftime on Sunday.
It included images of Robert F Kennedy Jr spliced into the original 1960 ad.
A jaunty jingle that repeated the Kennedy surname 15 times in 30 seconds also accompanied it.
The ad was made by American Values 2024 political action committee, a Super Pac.
Super Pacs are organisations that collect campaign contributions and donate them to political campaigns. They are allowed to raise and spend an unlimited amount of money in support of political candidates, but cannot co-ordinate with campaigns.
The Super Bowl spot cost $7m, according to American Values 2024 co-founder Tony Lyons. One donor to American Values 2024 Pac, Tim Mellon, has given the group $15m. Mr Mellon is also a major donor to Pacs supporting Mr Trump.
One of Mr Kennedy's cousins criticised the advert and the candidate's anti-vaccine activism.
"My cousin's Super Bowl ad used our uncle's faces - and my Mother's. She would be appalled by his deadly health care views," Bobby Shriver, the son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President Kennedy's sister, wrote in a post on X. "Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA."
In response, RFK Jr posted: "I'm so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain. The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you."
However, the advert remained pinned to the top of the candidate's X feed on Monday morning. Campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear told CBS News that the RFK Jr campaign was "pleasantly surprised and grateful to the American Values Pac for running an ad during the Super Bowl".
Media Man: Smart and educational ad. Decide your own truth says ex journalist. Trust in self, nature, higher power not big pharma, which is one of the corrupt and least trusted business sectors in the world. If the world "needs" political systems at least there's still good people in the mix.
Pro Wrestling
All Elite Wrestling Still Captures Fans Imagination
Stands Out In Saturated Market
Tends To Be More Geared Towards "Hardcore" Audiences
Storylines, Storytelling Has Picked Up Says Media Vet With Background In Optus Television Combat Sports PPV Sales And Marketing, Main Event TV Connection
Jon "Mox" Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli tag team matches via CMLL luchadores and others are impressive.
Clash of styles makes interesting and unique match ups.
Physical style sees Mox and CC get some dings and abrasions.
Inter-Promotional match ups have appeal in US, Canada,. Mexico, Europe, Australia and beyond.
AEW commentator Nigel McGuiness brings out the inner heel in all of us!
AEW focusing in on strengths and giving their audience what they want - at least most of the time.
Stardom Japanese Promotion Management Shake-up/Top Brass Departure Appears To Serve AEW Collaboration Well.
AEW on track with fully expected announcements of Okada and Mine (FKA S. Banks)
Will Osprey will be seen in an AEW more frequently; Permitted to still compete in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Gritty and fantastic promos by Mox, CSRO and Eddie Kingston well received by seasoned fans and media; Shades of Pulp Fiction, Sin City, Tarantino and Frank Miller. Stay the course and ramp up darkish overtones says Media. Garcia authentic genuine real life type promos, interviews impressive.
Keep utilising AEW's biggest earner Chris Jericho in best ways possible.
Jay White remains major player and extremely entertaining.
QT Marshall returns! Office!
FTR still may be the greatest pro wrestling tag team on the planet.
AEW Top Brass TK Keeping Watch On Streaming Deal Space, "Exciting"!
Fans looking forward to more Samoa Joe and Hook developments.
Swerve Strickland has World Champion Vibe 'N Confidence. Fans, media keen to see SS make history in AEW!
Samoa Joe still walks away from dives and leaps; No BS style welcome in pro wrestling.
World Class Pro Wrestling Action And Drama. Highlights, moments and more via the official AEW YouTube Channel
Pro Wrestling
All Elite Wrestling @AEW
Top Brass Tony Khan on the announced ESPN, Warner Bros Discovery, and FOX Sports Streaming Collaborating Which Is To Be Released in 2025:
“It’s something to keep an eye on” Tony Khan advised.
“We have a great thing going with TBS and TNT, and now, the streaming side of it, I haven’t sold my streaming rights. It’s an option that we have, and it’s going to be a very exciting year for media rights in wrestling, and AEW is coming up in a contract year.”
Media Man: Certainly is exciting times in the pro wrestling, streaming services and PPV business on many fronts.
Do yourself a favor and check out some of the great past, present and future via the official AEW YouTube channel
www.youtube.com/AEW
#AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEWRevolution #TonyKhan #quote #quotes #TBS #TNT #WBD #WarnerBros #WarnerBrosDiscovery #ESPN #FOX #FOXSports #mediarights #streamingrights #sportsstreaming #streamingindustry #streamingbiz #streamingsports #sportsstreaming #combatsports #popculture #wrestling #prowrestling #wrestlingnews #entertainmentnews #biznews #technews #broadcast #broadcasting #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmarketing #trend #trends #buzz #Video #TV #media #mediaman
Pro Wrestling
WWE @WWE RAW (is attitude)!
"I have to ask. What are we supposed to do with the nuggets"? Cody Rhodes @CodyRhodes
"Tell him" Michael Cole @MichaelCole
"I don't know" @PatMcAfeeShow Pat McAfee
"Pat, you were there. What am I expected to do with these nuggets"? CR
"I think... er, your shoving them up your *ss" PM
"Don't mistake the levity here in my candor for any weakness and please don't thin that I'm not a fan of The Rock, I am a fan of The Rock. I think all of us at times have been fans of The Rock" CR
Highlights and moments to hit the official WWE YouTube Channel soon!
www.youtube.com/wwe
Bobby Lashley clatters with “Big” Bronson Reed in Qualifying Match: Raw highlights, Feb. 12, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC9FNM5L0h4&ab_channel=WWE
Shinsuke Nakamura warns Sami Zayn about their match: Raw highlights, Feb. 12, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuHQYDPWXgU&t=7s&ab_channel=WWE
Andrade's direction is clear: Raw highlights, Feb. 12, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn9iz2XQGVE&ab_channel=WWE
Jey Uso & The New Day vs. Imperium: Raw highlights, Feb. 12, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4eocDaV4Vc&t=6s&ab_channel=WWE
Elimination Chamber Match qualifying heats up: WWE Now, Feb. 12, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDjVkmRGMYw&t=2s&ab_channel=WWE
The Tribal Chiefs return!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoFd4z0DdLI&ab_channel=WWE
The Genius of the Sky graces the Canvas: WWE Canvas 2 Canvas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1Nq2Al-Ko&t=12s&ab_channel=WWE
#WWERaw #SmackDown #CodyRhodes #TheRock #PatMcPhee #MichaelCole #quote #quotes #Nuggets #WrestleManiaXL #WrestleMania40 #EliminationChamber #RoyalRumble #RomanReigns #TheBloodline #BobbyLashley #TheAlmighty #BronsonReed #AussieTsunami #Big #SamiZayn #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #USANetwork #legends #YouTube #Video #trends #trending #TV #buzz #Aussie #USA #media
Image credit: WWE
Pro Wrestling Living Legend Charlotte Flair Update On Tech Stocks and Recovery Progress From Knee Surgery
Shake-Ups and Developments Continue In Wrestling, Combat Sports, Streaming Entertainment and Big Tech Sector
"Well, Netflix @Netflix has 250 million subscribers so it's only going to make WWE's content even more popular" - Flair
The WWE @WWE signed Flair was quizzed about her recovery from surgery during a recent CNBC interview.
“I am six weeks out [from having surgery] Thursday, I’m ahead of schedule, and every day all I can think about is returning back to the ring, especially with all the excitement with Raw going to Netflix, WrestleMania 40, and Philadelphia. All I can think about is getting back and winning that number 15 [Women’s Title].”
"WWE has always been revolutionary" Flair
Charlotte was forecast to miss 9 months of of a WWE ring!
WWE Flashback via official WWE YouTube Channel
FULL MATCH — Flair vs. Ripley — SmackDown Women's Title Match: WrestleMania 39 Saturday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lT9DIey1Ts&ab_channel=WWE
Fellow Legend "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
Ric Flair via Busted Open Radio:
“So I was speaking with Dr. Dugan, he’s been there 30 years. You know what he said to me? He said since he’s been at the Andrews Clinic, 30 years, right, Ashley is one of the top three athletes, not wrestlers, they’ve ever done surgery on. Think about that. We’re talking Bo Jackson, I could go down the list of people, the Tommy Johns. He said, ‘We consider her one of the top three athletes, not wrestlers, to ever come through the doors.’ Her recovery, she’s crushing it. She’s not gonna come back faster than they will ever recommend, but it’s unbelievable. But I thought that might be one of the biggest compliments anybody could ever get. It’s unfortunate that it had to come from a doctor at a hospital, but I keep telling people, man, she’s a different kind of cat.”
Videos
CNBC YouTube
Netflix will make WWE content more popular, says Wrestling Superstar Charlotte Flair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hASqoNfB0EA&ab_channel=CNBCTelevision
Busted Open Podcast
Ric Flair on the Legendary 1992 Royal Rumble | Busted Open
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8JmEb_mD_8&ab_channel=BustedOpenPodcast
Flashback
Sting on the similarity of his matches with Ric Flair: WWE Network
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxXsAYfVRVA&ab_channel=WWE
Sting's First Championship Win at Great American Bash 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv3WY9Y8XfU&ab_channel=WWE
Media Man Int
WWE News (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/wwe_news.html
#CharlotteFlair #RicFlair #quote #quote #interview #interviews #wrestlingnews #wrestling #prowrestling #WWE #WrestleMania #WrestleMania40 #Netflix #NWA #legend #legends #streaming #streamingnews #streamingindustry #streamingsports #sportsstreaming #broadcast #broadcasting #YouTube #TY #podcast #podcasts #entertainment #popculture #socialmedia #socialmedianews #socialmediaplatforms #trends #trending #buzz #media
Pro Wrestling/MMA Connection
WWE @WWE champion Seth Rollins on Pro Wrestling vs Mixed Martial Arts, UFC @UFC , Pro Sports et al
Rollins Spills Guts to ESPN MMA
“They don’t have the stamina for it”
“They don’t fight every single weekend. Especially the top stars over there, they’re catered to a certain way. That’s great, that’s their style, that’s what works for them. I understand that. You fight maybe once, twice a year. You’re crazy if you’re fighting three times a year. But to fight over 100 times a year, make all those towns, still be able to train, still be able to do all the media, it’s an exhausting industry.”
“I don’t wanna knock Ronda Rousey, because I love Ronda”
“She did a lot for our industry, for women in our industry, and for the fight industry in general. It was tough for Ronda. She tried her damndest and it was hard for her. I’d love for somebody to come over and take a crack if you think you can hang, but it’s hard. I’ll call them all out man, I don’t care, try it out. I can’t do what they do, I’d go in there and get knocked out and choked out in two seconds. I’ll probably do better than [CM] Punk, but I still would lose, most likely.”
Videos
ESPN MMA @espnmma YouTube
Will Israel Adesanya be next for Du Plessis? + Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins joins the show! | DC & RC (Rollins from 43 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNGiA9AltEs&ab_channel=ESPNMMA
NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL YouTube
Seth Rollins talks Bears, WrestleMania & The Rock riding his coattails | Not Just Football
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNCvhk1fCCI&ab_channel=NFLonESPN
Cam Heyward is joined by World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins to talk about the Bears future and if they should trade down or stick with Justin Fields. And will Seth ever see a Bears Super Bowl in his lifetime? Plus, they talk WrestleMania, The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and more, and who he thinks is the best wrestler right now…. Other than himself of course.
Media Man: Very few have what it takes to compete at or near the top of both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. The list includes Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Brock Lesnar, Rhonda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Josh Barnett and if you go back far enough, there's certainly a case for the late Antonio Inoki (former WWE Japan - phantom title change in Japan), Judo Gene LeBell. Current WWE signed wrestling legend CM had a short stint in the UFC as was defeated in the Octagon in swift and brutal fashion. It takes massive guts and skills to do either sport so much respect to those who compete. Those who can do it, those who can't are fans!
Hall of Fame?
Many fans believe that Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett, Gene LeBell and CM Punk are worthy of the WWE Hall of Fame. WWE powers that be, including Booker T - over to you!
Media Man Int
Combat Sports (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/combat_sports.html
MMA - Wrestling - Boxing Connection via Media Man Group
www.mediamanint.com/articles/mma_wrestling.html
#prowrestling #wrestling #WWE #UFC #SethRollins #CMPunk #WrestleMania #WrestleManiaXL #MMA #combatsports #ESPN #RondaRousey #TheRock #BMF #KenShamrock #DanSevern #JoshBarnett #GeneLeBell #ShayneBaszler #mixedmartialarts #legends #LiveEntertainment #LiveSports #PPE #PLE #HallOfFame #WWEHOF #SuperBowl #NFL #sportsnews #sportsmedia #podcasts #entertainment #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media #mediaman
Image credit: TKO Group
Surfing News
ISA @ISAsurfing Adds New Members on Three Continents Expanding Global Reach of Surfing
The British Virgin Islands (BVI), Kuwait and Romania have today been announced as the latest Member Nations to join the International Surfing Association (ISA).
California, USA – February 13th, 2024
The three new nations are the 114th, 115th and 116th members to be officially recognised by the ISA, demonstrating the global growth of surfing and its ability to expand to new territories and connect with new audiences.
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands National Surfing Association joins the ISA after successfully staging national competitions and building the surf community on a national level over a number of years. The organization’s mission is to create an environment for national athletes to compete domestically and internationally in ISA World Championships.
As part of its development strategy, the BVI has set out a plan, which includes enhancing youth engagement, promoting environmental best practices, improving surfing infrastructure and better talent identification.
Membership is subject to final approval of the ISA Annual General Meeting.
View more on the British Virgin Islands National Surfing Association here:
www.bvisurfing.org/
Kuwait
With a mission to create a vibrant surf community in the country, the Kuwait Surf Committee joins the ISA as it’s 115th member nation. The Kuwait Surf Committee strives to educate, inspire, and educate Kuwaiti surfers. Their short- and long-term development goals include improving access to surfing in the country to attract new participants, securing better equipment and resources for surf training, establishing a dedicated surf training center in Kuwait and hosting more regional surf competitions and events.
The core values of the Kuwait Surf Committee are passion for surfing, community, respect for the ocean, education, and inclusivity. Learn about the Kuwait Surfing Committee here:
www.kuwaitsurfcommittee.com/
Romania
The Romanian Surfing Federation (Federatia Romana de Surfing [FRS]) has contributed to the growth and development of surf sports across the country – with new, young surfers taking up the sport year-on-year.
The first Romanian national surfing competition was held in 2018 and this event continues to take place annually under the remit of the FRS. Romania has also hosted ISA Surf Coaching and Instructing Courses in 2018 and 2023 for surf coaches on the Black Sea.
Romania also participated in their first ISA Event at the 2023 World Junior Surfing Championship in Brazil represented by Aris Voicu.
FRS plans to increase the participation in and awareness of Surfing in Romania, train more ISA coaches and judges, and develop more surfing competitions in Romania.
ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said:
“At the ISA, we are happy to welcome the British Virgin Islands, Kuwait and Romania to our global surfing family. We will continue to work with them to support the development of surfing and inspire new athletes and fans to embrace our sport.
“It is especially pleasing to announce three members from three different continents that are non-traditional surf nations. This shows the power of surfing to engage with people in every part of the world who share our love of the ocean and nature.
“We are equally excited to see the establishment and growth of national surfing events in these nations to drive forward competitive surfing and help create a new generation of talent that we hope will soon be able to compete on the international stage.
“I can’t wait to see more young women and men surfers from these three stunning nations take to the ocean, improve their skills and aim for the Olympics one day!”
#ISA #NationalSurfingAssociation #FernandoAguerre #surfing #prosurfing #surfingassociation #surfers #surfingindustry #surfingbusiness #surftour #BVI #VirginIslands #BlackSea #sportsnews #sportsmedia #pressrelease #surfingnews #surfingmedia #trend #trends #ocean #sea #PR #WorldSport #WorldNews #buzz #media
(Source/Credit: International Surfing Association)
MMA
UFC @UFC 298
Event: Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria
Sunday February 18, 2024
Location: Honda Center - Anaheim, CA
Via ESPN / ESPN+
Complete Fight Card:
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa
Geoff Neal vs. Ian Machado Garry
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo
Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov
Prelims:
Amanda Lemos vs. Mackenzie Dern
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Justin Tafa
Rinya Nakamura vs. Carlos Vera
Zhang Mingyang vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Josh Quinlan vs. Danny Barlow
Oban Elliott vs. Val Woodburn
Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick
Videos via UFC Official YouTube
UFC 298 Countdown - Dvalishvili vs Cejudo | Featured Bout
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKBbs4C5M3s&ab_channel=UFC
UFC 298 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZeVPJgslIM&t=4s&ab_channel=UFC
UFC 298 Countdown - Volkanovski vs Topuria | Main Event Feature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZXiudUYQdM&t=67s&ab_channel=UFC
UFC 298 Countdown - Whittaker vs Costa | Co-Main Event Feature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQUpBC24kw&ab_channel=UFC
Volkanovski vs Topuria - I'm Unbreakable | UFC 298
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRG2IkwSw0c&t=12s&ab_channel=UFC
Media Man: As legendary MMA expert and world renown podcaster Joe Rogan pointed out, "Ilia Topuria is a real assassin. He is so skilled and so devastating".
We're rooting for Volk as he's a great bloke, great fighter, Aussie, and we went one on one with him on the mic, and he was a real good sport about it. Looks to be a pretty even fight, but there can be only one winner!
Special thanks: UFC and ESPN
Media Man Int
UFC 2024 (Media Man Int) *in progress
www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_2024.html
Combat Sports (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/combat_sports.html
#UFC298 #Volk #AlexanderVolkanovski #IliaTopuria #ElMatador #RobertWhittake #PauloCosta #GeoffNeal #IanGarry #MerabDvalishvili #HenryCejudo #AnthonyHernandez #RomanKopylov #MMA #mixdmartialarts #combatsports #mmanews #ufcnews #YouTube #YT #Video #Videos #PPV #PayPerView #ESPN #sportsnews #sportsmedia #popculture #livesports #liveentertainment #broadcast #broadcasting #trend #trends #trending #buzz #Aussie #California #USA #HondaCenter #media
Image credit: UFC
Pro Wrestling
Babyface To Heel; Wrestling With Politics: Dwayne Johnson
WWE @WWE signed Dwayne Johnson (who just happens to be on the TKO Board Of Directors) can't stay out of the news, one way or another, and that includes press conferences, real, staged, or elements of both Las Vegas style.
News outlet FOX plays FOX And The Hound
Love - Hate Relationship With Mainstream News Media
Art Often Reflects Life; WWE storylines are showbiz but frequently borrow are inspired by real life events and narratives
Pro Wrestling Living Legend Cody Rhodes Aims To "Finish His Story" and "The Rock' May Get To Add Another Chapter To His Story
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson blasts reporter over framing of Maui relief efforts: 'False clickbait garbage'
WWE and Hollywood superstar Dwayne Johnson has torn into a journalist who raised questions about his financial commitment to Maui in the wake of last year's devastating wildfires.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson took issue with a recent report that touched on his financial commitment to Maui in the wake of last year's devastating wildfires.
Johnson described the report from Mr Nick Sortor as "toxic, false clickbait garbage."
Johnson pushed back against the way the report framed his recent appearance at a semi-staged WWE press conference in Las Vegas. A video from the event in question showed attendees booing at the 51-year-old wrestler and actor. WWE production couldn't or wouldn't drown out the boos.
Sortor suggested the crowd's negative reaction stemmed from Johnson failing to deliver on his pledge to help provide financial support to the Hawaiian island.
"Dwayne Johnson promised TENS OF MILLIONS to the victims of the Maui fires, but many victims still have not seen a dime," he wrote on Elon Musk owned X. $44bn was the price of freedom of speech.
The reporter then claimed that "many" victims had not received any financial relief from the WWE legend.
"Dwayne Johnson promised TENS OF MILLIONS to the victims of the Maui fires, but many victims still have not seen a dime," Sortor wrote.
Although it is difficult to clearly decipher the chanting, the reporter asserted that the shouts from the crowd were directly related to the alleged Maui wildfire donation discrepancy.
"The crowd started booing and chanting ‘MAUI! MAUI! MAUI!" MAKE IT HAPPEN!'"
Last year, Johnson along with embattled media figure Oprah Winfrey launched the "People's Fund of Maui" to assist those who were negatively impacted by the wildfires. Johnson and Winfrey jump-started the campaign by making an initial $10 million donation. However, backlash has grown in the weeks and months since the fund was started back in August 2023.
Johnson decided to address the controversy last October.
"I could have been better, and next time, I will be better," the WWE superstar said at the time.
Johnson also decided to respond to the claim from Sortor, but this time he took a much stronger approach.
"I typically refrain from responding to toxic, false clickbait garbage like this because I hate dignifying *ullshit with a response, but when you use Hawaii’s tragic events to draw attention to yourself I won’t stay quiet," Johnson wrote on X.
"This moment you’re referring to is from our WWE press conference this past Thursday where I turned ‘heel’ – wrestling parlance for bad guy. I’m playing it up with our crowd as they boo. It’s what we do in our WWE universe, and we all love every second of it."
Johnson also provided some clarification on the amount of money that the fund has provided for wildfire victims.
He also mentioned that he traveled to Hawaii and challenged Sortor to pay the island state a visit.
"Our People’s Fund of Maui has already DELIVERED over $50 MILLION DOLLARS to over 8,000 survivors who were affected by the fires, and I’m grateful to the bone that we’ve been the primary funders," Johnson wrote.
"Nick, instead of posting bu-----t like this that you know is false - I encourage you to post something positive for Hawaii, for our Polynesian American people. Or actually take positive action and come to Hawaii to help out in an uplifting way. I’m in Hawaii now, and I guarantee you, you’ll get great content that can actually make a difference in people’s lives. Genuinely."
Sortor admitted in a follow-up post on X that Johnson’s explanation for the booing seemed "to have some validity," but he decided not to remove his original post because he wants "to provide context to the ongoing dispute between the two of us regarding funding for Maui."
WWE continues to wiggle itself out of a Rock and a hard place at the Road To WrestleMania 40 continues. Many hardcore fans and industry media tip double duty (matches) for Rock cousin Roman Reigns.
No matter what, Rock will continue to heat the noise. Ah, the power and the passion.
Media Man Int
WWE Press (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/wwe_press.html
#TheRock #DwayneJohnson #WWE #WrestleMania #WrestleManiaXL #WrestleMania40 #pressconference #mediaconference #SmackDown #Maui #OprahWinfrey #CodyRhodes #RomanReigns #prowrestling #wrestling #wrestlingnews #wrestlingmedia #politics #FOX #FoxNews #FoxAndTheHound #heel #babyface #storyline #storylines #storytelling #showbiz #finishthestory #TKO #KO #RockBottom #PeoplesElbow #PeoplesEyebrow #newsmedia #socialmedia #socialmedianews #popculture #broadcast #fans #eco #econews #wrestlingnewsmedia #trend #trends #trending #LasVegas #VegasNews #Hawaii #buzz #X #XNews #media
Social Media, Pop Culture And Big Biz News
X Inks New Deals with WWE, BetMGM
Move Over Mr X From WWE (ex WWF); Nick Khan's WWE Gets WWE Speed via X! New Exciting Sports Tech Getting Unmasked!
Odds On betMGM @BetMGM Inks Great Win-Win Deal With Musk's X @X ; Everything Sports Betters Could Hope And Dream For - Betting On The Move
Sports Marketing Masterminds Meet Digital Platform Solutions
"The Everything App" As Elon Musk Was Pitching Becomes At Least Two Steps Closer To Reality
The Speed On Thought - Light Years Ahead Of Most Would Be Competitors Says Media Man Veteran/PPV Specialist
X is entering into a strategic partnership with BetMGM and will partner with WWE (aka World Wrestling Entertainment) to launch a new weekly series as the social media platform looks to expand its original content offerings.
Brett Weitz, head of partnerships and talent at X, discusses the new deals and how the company plans to expand its content and advertising strategy.
Bloomberg YouTube Channel
X Inks New Deals with WWE, BetMGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC3epcQGAjo&t=356s&ab_channel=BloombergTelevision
and there's more customers! ...
BetMGM CEO on new deal with X
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss BetMGM's new partnership with X, the company's strategy for attracting new customers, and more.
CNBC Television YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56c57NUwb9U&ab_channel=CNBCTelevision
More Pro Wrestling Fine Print and Bold Print
WWE Speed to launch on X within months as Elon and Linda's X continues to transform into "The Everything App"!
Wrestling News
WWE Speed Announced via WrestleMania XL Press Conference WWE Speed will be distributed exclusively on X
"A weekly video series showcasing new matches up to 5 minutes in length which will be distributed exclusively on X" - Michael Cole @MichaelCole
WWE Speed Deal Fresh Off The Heels Of Wrestling Giants Historical Netflix Billion Dollar b2b: Netflix Package To Launch Next Year; Many FOX Customers To Migrate AKA Churn Over To The New Provider
Likely To Disrupt The FOX - WBD - ESPN Bungle Team Up With Opposition. Friendly Business War With ESPN/Warner Tag Team May Last Years. 2 Out Of 3 Falls (in pro wrestling speak). No DQ?!
Live Sport and Near Live Sport Is Akin To Ultimate Hook For Passionate Fans And Insiders Who Need To Know Now! - Media Man
More Detail: Matches have five-minute time limits. The winner of the match receives a point, the loser is docked a point, and if the bout goes to a time limit draw, no points are awarded. A five-minute countdown clock appears on the video wall during the contest.
X Fintech Solution On The Way ala "PayPal'; Mr Musk Was PayPal Co-Founder For Those Not Aware.
More Legit Journalists And Media Figures To Join X; More Mainstream And Lamestream/Legacy Firms To Bleed; Red Will Turn To Green For X And Some Associates
Media Man: Totally pumped for this. Talk about the Dream Team in sports, entertainment and media. Everything a fan and/or media could hope and dream for! Win-Win-Win!
#XNews #WWE #BetMGM #MGM #WWESpeed #WWE #wwex #wwenews #wwemedia #xnews #socialmedianews #michaelcole #quote #quotes #betting #bettingnews #socialmedia #socialmedianew #socialmediatrends #platforms #platformnews #Bloomberg #CNBC #theeverythingapp #popculture #streaming #livesports #liveentertainment #associates #aff #affiliates #trends #trending #buzz #X #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Image credit: X
Gemini Apps Privacy Hub
“Google collects your Gemini Apps conversations, related product usage information, info about your location, and your feedback. Google uses this data, consistent with our Privacy Policy, to provide, improve, and develop Google products and services and machine learning technologies, including Google’s enterprise products such as Google Cloud.”
#Google #Gemini #GoogleGemini #GeminiApps #Alphabet #GoogleNews #GoogleCloud #searchengine #searchengines #SEO #TechNews #searchnews #data #AI #AINews #ArtificialIntelligence #digitalnews #technews #MachineLearning #media
Wrestling And Canna News
Ric Flair To Tour Michigan Dispensaries To Promote His New Cannabis Company
Former World Champion and newly-minted cannabis entrepreneur Ric Flair is coming to Michigan.
"MLive" is reporting that Flair will be touring Michigan cannabis dispensaries on March 16 and 17 to celebrate the launch of his marijuana strain Ric Flair Drip in the state of Michigan. March 16 will see Flair tour dispensaries in Romeo, Mt. Clemens, and Madison Heights, MI, and he will then spend March 17 touring two Detroit area dispensaries. Customers will be able to shop Ric Flair Drip's many products, as well as meet "The Nature Boy" and take pictures with him.
According to MLive, this is Flair's tour schedule:
March 16
- Dispo Romeo, 100 Shafer Dr, Romeo from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
- JARS Mount Clemens, 101 N Groesbeck Hwy, Mt. Clemens from 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
- PUFF Madison Heights, 2 Ajax Dr, Madison Heights from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
March 17
- Cloud Detroit, 16001 Mack Ave, Detroit from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- House of Dank, 3340 8 Mile Rd, Detroit from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Flair launched the cannabis brand through Mike Tyson's cannabis company Tyson 2.0 and cannabis conglomerate Verano in March of last year. Ric Flair Drip is available in flower, prerolls, vape cartridges, and edibles. Flair has credited cannabis for weening him off of prescription sleep aids like Ambien and Xanax.
The Hall of Famer is not the only pro wrestling personality involved in the legal cannabis industry, as famously THC-infused wrestler Rob Van Dam announced a new cannabis brand in September of last year, after spending many years already the face of a CBD brand.
Flair retired from wrestling in July 2022 but is still open to working as a manager, though he's noted that neither WWE nor AEW has offered him any kind of position.
Ric Flair Recalls Being So High With Mike Tyson That He Thought He Died - April 8, 2024
Ric Flair has made no secret of his wild past during his days as a wrestler, and while his party days may have slowed down after multiple health scares, he's still The Nature Boy.
Flair has become business partners with Mike Tyson in the cannabis industry, and as part of their partnership, they had a night to remember.
"I got so high with Mike [Mike Tyson] one night in the Hamptons that I went into a cannabis coma. I actually thought I died. They brought my back to my room, and I laid there and I wasn't aware of anything. I kept asking them to touch me, like you do when you think you've been hurt. People were squeezing my hand. I would be talking to them, and they wouldn't talk back to me. I was on a delayed process. I said to myself, 'Did I die? Have I just died? I feel like I did when I was in my coma, but I can think, and I don't think I could think in my coma.' That's the way I was talking to myself. All of a sudden, at three in the morning, I sat up in a blur and went, 'I'm alive. I'm back.' I called someone on the phone, 'is this really you?' That's how screwed up I got," Flair recalled while speaking to Theo Von on This Past Weekend.
Flair was placed in a medically induced coma in 2017 for kidney and heart-related issues.
Flair returned to the ring for his last match one year ago, teaming with Andrade El Idolo to take on Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal.
Wrestling Icon Ric Flair Enters Cannabis Ring - October 19, 2023
The range of premium products from the WWE legend’s new cannabis brand has been formulated to elevate your relaxation game.
Wrestling fans, get ready to put a figure-four leglock on relaxation with pro wrestling legend Ric Flair. The Nature Boy himself has tag-teamed with cannabis industry heavyweights to release a range of premium products that add a certain, yes, flair to the market. The 16-time world champion and one of the most recognized names in professional wrestling is diving headfirst into the cannabis market with the launch of his very own line, aptly named Ric Flair Drip. And when Flair enters a new market, you better believe he’s doing it with style.
The WWE legend has partnered with Chad Bronstein, founder and president of Carma Holdings, the powerhouse behind Mike Tyson’s cannabis line, Tyson 2.0. The origin story of the collab is almost as intriguing as a wrestling storyline. Flair and Bronstein were neighbors in Tampa and one day as Bronstein gazed across the white-picket fence (or possibly a ten-foot steel cage), inspiration struck. He recalls telling Mike Tyson, “I’ve got Ric Flair right next door. What if we create the most legendary cannabis line ever, Ric Flair Drip?”
Intertwining the worlds of professional wrestling and cannabis, the Ric Flair Drip promises to be a high-flying, body-slamming experience—in the most relaxed way possible. In the words of Nature Boy himself, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.” With the introduction of Ric Flair Drip, the grappling star just might become “the man” in the world of cannabis.
Ric Flair Drip Cannabis Products
By partnering with top cultivators across the country, Flair has access to the very best genetics available, which he carefully selects himself. His Ric Flair Drip line of cannabis products include flower, pre-rolls and edibles. He also has a range of 510 cartridges, with disposable vapes available in certain markets. Further expansion plans are in place for 2024.
Gummies
D9 Cherry Diamond: Each gummy packs a punch with 10mg of hemp-derived delta-9 THC.
D9 Figure Four Lemonade: Each delicious gummy packs a powerful 10mg of hemp-derived delta-9 THC.
Wooooo! Energy Drinks
In addition to his cannabis offerings, Flair has also launched Wooooo! Energy, a beverage that will have you strutting like the man himself in no time.
Infused with a unique blend of functional mushrooms, including Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Turkey Tail, Shiitake, Maitake and Reishi, all of which are known to boost cognitive function, support your immune system and ensure that your energy is as clean as a Ric Flair robe. Say goodbye to those jittery feelings and dreaded sugar crashes.
Adding to the potency, Wooooo! Energy gets its kick from a blend of Taurine, L-Theanine and Gotu Kola Extract, while thoughtfully balancing 150mg of caffeine with just 6g of sugar. Oh, and let’s not forget those tantalizing flavors: vibrant Dragon Fruit, zesty Lemon, and creamy Strawberry Banana.
“It embodies a celebratory spirit; it’s about energy, zeal and success,” Bronstein says. “It’s not just wrestling lingo anymore—it’s ingrained in our pop culture.”
With Wooooo! Energy, Ric Flair isn’t just sharing a drink; he’s sharing his indomitable spirit, his passion and his boundless energy. Who among us doesn’t need a little Wooooo! Energy in their life?
Ric Flair Drip products are available at select dispensaries nationwide.
Wrestling legend Ric Flair launches new cannabis company: Edibles changed my life - April 21, 2023
Flair tells 'Kennedy' why he is stylin' and profilin' into the cannabis business
Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair is introducing his new personal cannabis line, "Ric Flair Drip."
The wrestling icon is teaming up with Carma Holdings founder and president Chad Bronstein to launch the celebrity-inspired product.
Carma Holdings is also the parent company of former professional boxer Mike Tyson's premier cannabis line, TYSON 2.0.
Bronstein told Kennedy he and Flair first met as neighbors in Tampa, Florida and pitched the idea to Flair about launching a cannabis product.
He recalled, "I called up Mike and I said, hey, Ric Flair is my neighbor. What if we dropped a line called, "Ric Flair Drip," with Ric? And I walked up to Ric and I said, Ric, I'm gonna start cannabis line with you. And he goes, cannabis line? I said, trust me. It's gonna, it's gonna do well. And Ric got you know, very educated in the space and, you know, the brand is really booming."
Bronstein added that Flair has been an "unbelievable partner."
Flair shared the inspiration behind his new business venture with FOX Business host Kennedy on Tuesday.
"It started a learning process, and it continued," said Flair. "I learn something new every day and that I never imagined. I'd been approached for years to get involved, but it wasn't as socially acceptable then it is now. And I mean now, I mean… I didn't realize just how popular it is. I'd forgotten… and now I'm honored to be part of this company and working with Chad and every day is a learning process."
Flair touted how "fantastic" edibles are and how they have changed his life by the way he sleeps.
He also said that he's been hooked on Xanax since 1989, and no longer takes it, thanks to edibles.
"Obviously, Xanax being so addictive, it's not good for anybody, so edibles are great," he said.
Flair claimed he doesn't smoke a lot, but enjoys doing it "periodically."
(FOX)
The Secret Behind The Weed Company Working With Future, Mike Tyson, Ric Flair And Hulk Hogan - CEO Tells All - Feb 13, 2024
In the most recent episode of Benzinga’s Cannabis Insider, Adam Wilks, the co-founder and CEO of Carma HoldCo, delved into the significance of crafting celebrity-driven cannabis brands that resonate with authenticity and personal stories.
“All of the products that we develop, our R&D process is all developed with our talent,” Wilks emphasized, setting the stage for a discussion that revolved around genuine connections and the transformative power of celebrity narratives in the cannabis industry.
Crafting Authentic Connections
Wilks’ method isn’t exactly a traditional celebrity endorsement model: Instead, he focuses on implementing the celebrity’s personal cannabis journey into the product. Discussing partnerships with icons like Mike Tyson, Ric Flair and Future, Wilks shared, “Starting with Mike, he uses cannabis every day… it’s authentic to him and his purpose of use.” This philosophy extends across Carma HoldCo’s portfolio, ensuring that each product reflects the celebrity’s lifestyle and preferences, thus forging a deeper bond between the brand and its consumers.
Celebrity Stories Changing Cannabis Perception
Wilks illustrated how these celebrity partnerships are business ventures and personal transformations shared with the public.
He recounted Ric Flair’s shift from pharmaceuticals to cannabis, a change that significantly impacted his life. “He’s been off Xanax now for the last couple of years and focused on just, again, plant-based medicine,” Wilks revealed, highlighting the possibility of these stories to alter public perception and encourage a shift towards natural wellness solutions.
Expansion and Genuine Engagement
Looking ahead, Wilks discussed Carma HoldCo’s ambitious plans for expansion, both domestically and internationally, with a keen eye on maintaining the authenticity that has been their hallmark. “We’ve already launched in a few states, already live in California and Nevada, and have another handful coming online in the next 60 days,” he stated, underlining the brand’s rapid growth trajectory.
Tyson 2.0, Mike Tyson's Premium Cannabis Brand, Announces Acquisition of Majority Stake in Ric Flair Drip, Inc.
March 24, 2022
Strategic Alliance with Ric Flair, 16 Time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Establishes Tyson 2.0 as Leading Cannabis Brand Powerhouse
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., March 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyson 2.0, legendary boxer, entrepreneur and cannabis advocate Mike Tyson's newly launched cannabis company, today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Ric Flair Drip, Inc., the 16 time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion's business entity with an aim to launch a second celebrity cannabis line in its portfolio furthering their house of brands strategy.
Tyson 2.0's strategic alliance with Ric Flair, popularly known as "Nature Boy®," enables the company to assume control of Ric Flair's trademarks and intellectual properties to launch cannabis flower and edible products under the Ric Flair brand name in the near future.
Launched in October 2021, Tyson 2.0 brings to market innovative, high-quality, Tyson-branded cannabis products known for purity, precision, and wide accessibility to consumers nationwide. Co-founded by Mike Tyson as Chief Brand Officer and Chad Bronstein as Chairman, and led by Adam Wilks, Chief Executive Officer - the company partners with world-class cannabis retailers and leading multi-state operators to provide a suite of products designed to reach consumers in legal markets.
"Thanks to Mike Tyson and Tyson 2.0, I've become a true cannabis advocate and enthusiast. I am thrilled to partner with a long time friend and fellow warrior whom I greatly admire and respect," said Ric Flair. "There are a lot of synergies between me and Mike - we've both had many ups and downs, but we keep going at life. With Mike's passion for cannabis, Chad and Adam's industry knowledge, I look forward to creating cannabis products that will appeal to my national fanbase. Tyson 2.0 products make me go 'WOOOOO!', and soon my fans everywhere can get in the Ric Flair state of mind – limousine riding, jet-flying, feeling good, and 'WOOOOO!'"
Tyson 2.0's latest venture with Ric Flair establishes the Company as a leading celebrity cannabis brand powerhouse. Since its launch in October 2021, the company continues to execute its nationwide growth strategy bringing Tyson 2.0 branded products to consumers and fans nationwide. Through licensing, cultivation and agreements, Tyson 2.0 products are available across dispensaries and retail locations across the states of Colorado, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Michigan with plans to expand nationally and internationally.
"For the last fifty years, Ric has been synonymous with high impact, high energy experiences," said Chad Bronstein, Co-Founder and Chairman, Tyson 2.0. "Similar to how we rolled out Tyson 2.0, Ric Flair cannabis products will reach nationwide distribution through our robust network of industry partners. With flower strains named after Ric's iconic sayings like 'limousine riding' and 'jet-flying', we aim to honor Ric's energy and share it with his fans."
Bronstein continued, "Tyson 2.0 is establishing itself as a cannabis marketing and celebrity licensing powerhouse. Our aim is to bring more celebrity brands to market in the coming months."
Ric Flair will be featured in the seventh episode of Peacock's first ever WWE original series, WWE Evil which begins streaming exclusively on Peacock starting Thursday, March 24. The eight-part docuseries, created and hosted by John Cena, the first-ever original from WWE Studios takes an unprecedented look inside the psyche of the most diabolical antagonists in WWE, unveiling rare behind-the-scenes details from some of the biggest names in the industry and their impact on mainstream culture.
For more information on Tyson 2.0, visit Tyson20.com. Tyson 2.0-branded merchandise is available for purchase at shoptyson20.com.
About Tyson 2.0
Tyson 2.0 is a premier cannabis company formed with legendary boxer, entrepreneur and icon Mike Tyson. The company's mission is to produce innovative, high-quality cannabis products known for purity, precision, and wide accessibility. Providing consumers an outstanding selection of products, Tyson 2.0 is an extraordinary balance of premium and affordable, full-spectrum cannabis flower, concentrates and consumables available at retailers nationwide. Learn more at Tyson20.com.
SOURCE Tyson 2.0
BetMGM and X Sign Exclusive Sports Betting Partnership
JERSEY CITY, NJ (February 9, 2024) – BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, today announced a strategic partnership with X, becoming the social media platform’s exclusive Live Odds Sports Betting partner. The first-of-its-kind partnership between a premier social media brand and a sports betting operator will integrate BetMGM’s odds and branding into X, with each game linking to BetMGM’s website and app.
X is the center of the sports world’s conversation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Being directly accessible within that forum is an unprecedented opportunity to expand our reach to a passionate and engaged audience. We look forward to adding intel and content that enhances the platform’s interaction around sports.
ADAM GREENBLATT - BETMGM CEO
X users in the United States can explore BetMGM’s latest betting odds on pro football, with each of the major professional and college sports expected to follow in the coming weeks. The odds interface provides an easy clickthrough for each game to BetMGM’s app or website, creating a seamless user experience. The integration will continue to evolve and grow in its functionality over the coming months.
Sports never sleep on X and now with our strategic partnership with BetMGM, fans are practically in the front row. We're bringing sports fans on X even closer to the action so they can cheer, and now bet, on their favorite teams.
LINDA YACCARINO - X CEO
As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets, responsible gaming remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM’s mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to count on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM’s already existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.
The BetMGM app is available for download on both iOS and Android and is accessible via desktop at http://www.betmgm.com.
For more information, follow @BetMGM on X.
About BetMGM
BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM’s U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain’s US-licensed, state of the art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. For more information, visit www.betmgminc.com.
Rising High: Exclusive talk with house of brands Carma HoldCo
Interview with Adam Wilks, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Carma HoldCo, a house of brands focused on creating icon-inspired cannabis products. Here are some highlights:
AUTHENTICITY: Carma HoldCo is a cannabis company that aims to develop products evoking deep consumer connection and elevated experiences. The company houses TYSON 2.0, the premium cannabis brand of legendary boxer Mike Tyson, as well as Ric Flair Drip and Wooooo! Energy, the cannabis and energy drink lines of renowned pro-wrestler Ric Flair. Carma also launched Immortal, a wellness brand by professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, in May and Evol, a cannabis brand by four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Future, in April. Distribution of Carma’s products spans over 110,000 retailers worldwide across 16 countries. “There are many different ways that Carma sets itself apart from others in the space, including our focus on product quality, product innovation, exceptional marketing strategies, our unique brand positioning and our incredible team,” Wilks said. “But I think our most impactful difference from everybody else is the authenticity of our celebrities behind the brands.”
He noted each one of Carma’s celebrities openly uses the plant-based medicines daily. “Mike uses cannabis for his mental health every day and Future uses it in his daily routine for his own health reasons,” the CEO said. “Ric uses it to help him sleep after thirty years of Xanax use and Hulk has had 29 surgeries and uses our own brand of CBD products for his back pains. The authenticity of our talent would be our number one differentiator.”
BRAND LAUNCHES: In April, Carma announced a partnership with rapper Future to launch Evol, a THC line, and in May, the company announced Hulk Hogan’s health and wellness brand, Immortal, featuring CBD and THC products. “It has been a huge success since we brought Hulk and Future into the mix with Ric and Mike,” Wilks said. “We continue to expand as we enter new categories and new markets.”
Hogan’s brand developed through the wrestler’s deep relationship with Carma partner Ric Flair, he said. “Everyone on our team knew who Hulk was,” the CEO said. “We heard his stories around the 29 back surgeries, dozens of knee replacement surgeries and his hip surgery. We had talks with him about what he was using and introduced him to CBD and THC products to try. When we saw the peace that came from the use of these plant-based medicines, we saw a huge opportunity to continue this authentic wave of using celebrities to educate and tell their stories around the plant-based medicine.”
He added Carma felt Hogan could raise awareness around the fact that there are other alternatives to traditional medicines. “That’s what started the Hulk idea,” Wilks said. “Not to mention, he is obviously one of the number one wrestling superstars of our time. He has done several films and we have known him in and out of the ring as Hollywood Hogan and Hulkamania. We thought it was a huge platform for us to keep the authentic story alive.”
The Evol brand launch with Future was interesting, he said, as it was Carma’s first entry into the hip-hop scene, where historically there is a heavy tie-in to the cannabis industry. “There are a lot of hip-hop brands out there and we wanted to find something real and authentic sticking with all of our other talent,” the CEO said. “We felt Future, as a four-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop star with numerous top Billboard Chart tracks, was another massive superstar able to leverage his platform to educate and bring attention to plant-based medicine.”
The company opted into bringing Future on board as he incorporates cannabis into his daily life and features it in several of his top charting songs, he said. “With one of our investors having close ties to his management, we reached out and the rest is history,” Wilks said, “Evol has quickly expanded into a half dozen states and we’ve launched the brand in a few other categories as well connecting to the cannabis space. We’re excited to continue to grow both Hulk and Future’s brands. They’ve done really well on the short runway that we have had to take them to market.”
WOOOOO! ENERGY: In July, Carma launched Wooooo! Energy by Ric Flair, a mushroom-infused energy drink to support immune and cognitive function and provide clean energy. “We are always looking for new products and everybody knows Ric for his famous Wooooo! and the energy that he brings,” the CEO said. “I look at him as one of the greatest entertainers to ever exist. He went into character over thirty years ago and he’s never come out. Seeing him and the energy that he embodies, we created Wooooo! Energy by Ric Flair, putting his boundless energy into a can.”
The drink is a non-crash, non-jittery, low-sugar beverage that centers on athletes, he said. “That demographic, which is really hyped on Ric and his decades of entertainment, we felt was a home run,” Wilks said. “We quickly became the exclusive energy drink for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ohio State University and AEW wrestling. The drink is already available in grocery stores, including Giant Eagle in Ohio, one of the first markets we launched in.”
Carma is continuing to expand distribution across the nation to ensure availability in every state. “We are really excited about Wooooo! Energy tapping into a new category,” the CEO said. “It’s not just an energy drink, we also added functional mushrooms for brain health and added focus.”
PARTNERSHIPS: In October, Immortal and Ric Flair Drip partnered with cannabis cultivator Premium Produce to bring their product lines to the Nevada market. “When we go into a new market, we are always looking for high-quality products, great operators, financial means to continue on and ample distribution,” Wilks said. “When we came across Premium Produce for Hulk and Ric, we toured the facility, spent time in their grow and had our cannabis team in there. We discovered their high-quality indoor cannabis and their commitment to excellence in their cultivation practices and SOPs, ensuring that there is a consistent product that aligns with our brand standards.”
He noted some of Carma’s other collaborations had already worked with Premium Produce with “huge” success. “Since launching in Nevada with both brands, we have quickly become two staples on many of the top shelves,” the CEO said. “We continue to grow in the Nevada market, and we are excited about that partnership.”
Additionally in November, Evol partnered with cannabis company House of Dank in Michigan and Tyson 2.0 partnered with cultivator Hudson Cannabis in New York. “House of Dank and Hudson Cannabis are both high-quality cultivators with great distribution,” Wilks said. “Similar to why we chose Premium Produce, both House of Dank and Hudson grow great quality flower. We spent time with both ensuring the SOPs were aligned with our brand standards, and we’re always aiming for the best quality we can find with the expertise and the financial means to continue on.”
Carma is particularly excited about the Hudson collaboration due to Tyson’s roots in New York, he said. “For the last couple of years, Mike has been talking about how badly he wanted TYSON 2.0 to launch in New York and we were waiting for the right time and the right partner,” the CEO said. “Coming home to New York in the legal cannabis space was monumental for Mike and the brand. We’re really excited about growing the New York market, which I think is going to be one of the more powerful markets in the U.S.”
DELIVERY SYSTEMS: As delivery systems for cannabinoids become more diverse and consumers have more options for consumption, Wilks said he believes preferences will continue to shift towards more discrete methods. “We’re seeing flower as a leader as it always has been, but I think edibles are going to be a leader, it’s just a matter of time,” he said. “It’s a smaller portion of sales right now, but that is going to change.”
Edibles come without the smell of cannabis and offer an ease of dosing, enabling users to be very precise, the CEO said. “It is discrete in consumption,” he said. “Between vape, topicals and edibles, all of those categories have room for so much growth and it’s just about the education and overall experience to get to that point.”
Wilks added he believes there will be a day when cannabis is sold in grocery stores. “There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to buy a frozen pizza in the frozen pizza section with an infusion process of some sort,” he said. “There is a long way to go as far as the regulations around the processes, but once federal legalization, the SAFE Banking Act, and all of that passes through, there is definitely a possibility in the future that edible consumption at restaurants and grocery stores will continue to grow.”
SAFER BANKING: In September, a U.S. Senate committee voted to advance The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act bill, which seeks to ensure that all businesses, including cannabis businesses, have access to deposit accounts, insurance and other financial services. “This is a topic that has been continuing to gain traction with a long way to go,” the CEO said. “The advancement of the SAFER Banking Act is huge news for us and the whole industry as it signals a potential shift towards financial stability and accessibility for all cannabis businesses.”
If the bill can pass in the senate, it opens the way for improved banking services and a reduced risk for the whole industry, he said. “Predicting it is challenging as there are so many different elements and political dynamics to work through before this does get pushed through at the federal level,” Wilks said. “But on a positive note, it is no longer an if, it’s a when. The ability to bank safely and access to capital will change the space as a whole. We are excited about it and hope it comes sooner rather than later.”
SCHEDULING: In August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Agency that cannabis be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. “This is huge news and not only for cannabis users and the cannabis space,” the CEO said. “This will impact the non-cannabis users, opening up people’s eyes to where the cannabis space is going. It is the way that people will look at cannabis as a medicine and the value of cannabis as opposed to looking at it as a street drug. As soon as that passes, it opens up the door for so much more opportunity for the industry as a whole and you have to think about how much R&D will go into cannabis after this reclassifies.”
CHALLENGES: When asked about the largest hurdles facing the cannabis space, Wilks said he believes the biggest challenge has been state-by-state legalization. “When you are having to find licensees in every market and you’re setting up manufacturing and distribution, you’re spending millions and millions and millions of dollars for every state you want to operate in,” he said. “It is one of the only industries that you can’t distribute across the country, making it an extremely challenging space to operate in.”
Until there is federal legalization, there will continue to be challenges for operators, cultivators, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and everybody within the industry, the CEO said. “There is a positive, a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We think it’s a slow process step-by-step and as all these positives come to this industry, I think it will ease up and there will be additional positives to see. We have a bright future ahead in the cannabis space.”
OPPORTUNITIES: As the cannabis space develops, Wilks said Carma is excited to continue growing its brands both nationally and internationally. “International growth is really exciting,” he said. “We have a lot of stuff in the works for 2024, including another handful of countries coming online. I’m really excited personally about the German market, which has talked about an April date to go recreational. We also opened our first retail cannabis café in Amsterdam, which quickly became one of the number one cafes out there and we’re working on our second location as well as a few others in Europe. We’re excited to grow the retail side and the licensing side on the cannabis front. All four brands are now sold in multiple countries. We’re excited to continue to grow these globally and continue to be one of the largest cannabis brands on the planet by geographic coverage.”
CANNABIS/PSYCHEDELIC STOCKS: Publicly-traded companies in the space include Acreage (ACRHF), Audacious (AUSAF), Atai Life Sciences (ATAI), Aurora (ACB), Avant Brands (AVTBF), Ayr Wellness (AYRWF), BZAM (BZAMF), Cannara Biotech (LOVFF), Canopy Growth (CGC), Chicago Atlantic (REFI), Clearmind (CMND), Clever Leaves (CLVR), Cresco Labs (CRLBF), CordovaCann (LVRLF), Cronos (CRON), Columbia Care (CCHWF), Compass Pathways (CMPS), CURE Pharmaceutical (CURR), Curaleaf (CURLF), CV Sciences (CVSI), Cybin (CYBN), Delic Holdings (DELCF), Delta 9 (DLTNF), Entourage Health (ETRGF), Enveric Biosciences (ENVB), Fire & Flower (FFLWF), Flora Growth (FLGC), Trees Corporation (CANN), Goodness Growth (GDNSF), Greenlane (GNLN), Green Thumb (GTBIF), GrowGeneration (GRWG), Hemp (HEMP), High Tide (HITI), India Globalization Capital (IGC), Indiva (NDVAF), IM Cannabis (IMCC), Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR), InterCure (INCR), Wellbeing Digital (KONEF), Khiron Life Sciences (KHRNF), Lotus Ventures (LTTSF), Lowell Farms (LOWLF), Lucy Scientific Discovery (LSDI), MediPharm (MEDIF), MedMen (MMNFF), MindMed (MNMD), NewLake Capital (NLCP), Numinus (NUMIF), Optimi Health (OPTHF), Organigram (OGI), Planet 13 (PLNHF), Red White & Bloom (RWBYF), Reunion Neuroscience (REUN), Revitalist (RVLWF), RIV Capital (CNPOF), Relmada (RLMD), RYAH Group (RYAHF), Safe Harbor Financial (SHFS), SNDL (SNDL), Sproutly (SRUTF), Skye Biosciences (SKYE), Stem Holdings (STMH), Sunniva (SNNVF), TerrAscend (TRSSF), Tetra Bio-Pharma (TBPMF), Tilray (TLRY), Trulieve (TCNNF), Tryp Therapeutics (TRYPF), Verano (VRNOF), Village Farms (VFF), Wesana Health (WSNAF), Zynerba (ZYNE) and 4Front Ventures (FFNTF).
"All the world's a stage" is the phrase that begins a monologue from William Shakespeare's pastoral comedy As You Like It, spoken by the melancholy Jaques in Act II Scene VII Line 139.
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Media Man Int
Entertainment News (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/news4.html
#WilliamShakespeare #Shakespeare #AsYouLikeIt #AllTheWorldsAStage #merelyplayers #SevenAgesOfMan #monologue #creative #creativity #art #legend #popculture #entertainment #media #mediaman
Corporate Entertainment And Media
Job Cuts Continue
Industry Giant Paramount Global lays off 800 employees days after broadcasting record-breaking Super Bowl
Days after CBS' Super Bowl LVII broke viewership records, its partner company Paramount Global advised it was laying off 800 employees as it seeks to cut costs and streamline its operations.
The firms CEO Bob Bakish made the announcement Tuesday in an internal memo to employees.
"These adjustments will help enable us to build on our momentum and execute our strategic vision for the year ahead," Bakish said, "and I firmly believe we have much to be excited about."
The announcement comes weeks after Bakish had told employees on Jan. 25 that there would be terminations, though did not disclose how many jobs would be slashed.
He defended the move last month by saying they aim "to operate as a leaner company" while spending less, specifically on international content.
"Our priority is to drive earnings growth," Bakish said in the January memo. "And we'll get there by growing our revenue while closely managing costs -- a balance that will require every team, division and brand to be aligned."
Paramount Global, which owns several media and entertainment companies, including CBS and streaming service Paramount+, saw its shares dive 4% Tuesday morning.
The announcement of layoffs comes on the heels of CBS broadcasting Sunday's record-breaking Super Bowl LVII, which garnered 123.4 million average viewers across all platforms, making it the most-watched telecast in history.
However, the announcement also makes it one of numerous tech and media companies to announce cuts to staff this year, including eBay, Sports Illustrated, Prime Video, MGM Studios, Twitch, Meta and Alphabet's Google in the mix.
The news is something for both other companies, potential business partners and even job seekers to consider when deciding their next move in the game of life.
#showbiz #EntertainmentNews #entertainmentindustry #Paramount #ParamountGlobal #ParamountPlus #businessnews #showbiz #production #creativity #content #broadcast #broadcasting #streaming #streamingnews #biznews #disrupt #disruptor #disruption #bigtech #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media
"Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own" - Bruce Lee
Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html
Mind, Body and Sprit (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/mind_body.html
Combat Sports (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/combat_sports.html
#BruceLee #quote #quotes #bestquotes #bestquotesoftheday #BQOTD #Philosophy #martialarts #combatsports #life #mbs #mindbodyspirit #media #mediaman
Gold’s Winning Streak Continues
Gold doesn’t break records too often.
It’s one of the most stable assets. It preserves value over generations.
But when the 18.6-year real estate cycle enters the stage that I call the “Eleventh Hour,” it’s frenzy everywhere.
Everything changes… and gold, like other assets, from real estate to stocks and beyond, soar.
And not only do they do that, but they do it in a spectacular fashion.
You might have missed this fact… but gold has been setting records not only in terms of price but also in terms of how fierce its ascent is.
Reference: S&P Capital IQ:
Gold prices have not closed below $2,000 per ounce for 50 days, easily outshining the precious metal’s 14-day streak in May 2023, its previous best run.“Along with the two major wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, the recent attack on a US base in Jordan by an Iranian-linked drone threatens to widen the latter conflict and potentially involve the US in the Middle East,” [S&P Global Commodity Insights analyst Aude] Marjolin wrote.“Moreover, with an uncertain picture regarding inflation as disrupted trade counters expected slower GDP growth, and then further down the road, the US presidential election, 2024 has the hallmarks of a volatile year for gold prices.”
Record highs for a record number of days… sounds familiar to me.
And yes, geopolitics and macroeconomics matter.
But what you don’t see in this analysis is the impact of the 18.6-year real estate cycle.
As always, it drives most assets up in value at an unprecedented rate.
And my knowledge of the cycle tells me that this trend is going to continue.
What’s Next for Gold?
Make no mistake, I’m not a gold bug. I’m focused on real estate investments first and foremost.
But when the market enters the “Eleventh Hour” stage… I expect assets to rise pretty much across the board.
Record prices, record winning streaks…
It becomes a “higher for longer” market, but not in the way mainstream media talks about it.
Assets reach new levels and refuse to back down… that’s where we are now.
And gold is no exception.
The problem is that investors get comfortable with this “everything rally” and become complacent.
Media Man Int
Gold Directory (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/articles/gold_directory.html
#GOLD #GoldNews #GoldDirectory #goldnewsmedia #Commodities #commodity #markets #biznews #businessnews #finance #finnews #SP #SandP #media #mediaman #mediamanint
Super Bowl, Politics and Truth Telling News
RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad
Robert F Kennedy Jr has apologised to relatives over a Super Bowl advert created by a group supporting his presidential bid, which mirrored one broadcast by his uncle John F Kennedy's campaign in 1960.
Mr Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, is running for president as an independent.
The ad aired just before the Super Bowl halftime on Sunday.
It included images of Robert F Kennedy Jr spliced into the original 1960 ad.
A jaunty jingle that repeated the Kennedy surname 15 times in 30 seconds also accompanied it.
The ad was made by American Values 2024 political action committee, a Super Pac.
Super Pacs are organisations that collect campaign contributions and donate them to political campaigns. They are allowed to raise and spend an unlimited amount of money in support of political candidates, but cannot co-ordinate with campaigns.
The Super Bowl spot cost $7m, according to American Values 2024 co-founder Tony Lyons. One donor to American Values 2024 Pac, Tim Mellon, has given the group $15m. Mr Mellon is also a major donor to Pacs supporting Mr Trump.
One of Mr Kennedy's cousins criticised the advert and the candidate's anti-vaccine activism.
"My cousin's Super Bowl ad used our uncle's faces - and my Mother's. She would be appalled by his deadly health care views," Bobby Shriver, the son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President Kennedy's sister, wrote in a post on X. "Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA."
In response, RFK Jr posted: "I'm so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain. The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you."
However, the advert remained pinned to the top of the candidate's X feed on Monday morning. Campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear told CBS News that the RFK Jr campaign was "pleasantly surprised and grateful to the American Values Pac for running an ad during the Super Bowl".
Media Man: Smart and educational ad. Decide your own truth says ex journalist. Trust in self, nature, higher power not big pharma, which is one of the corrupt and least trusted business sectors in the world. If the world "needs" political systems at least there's still good people in the mix.
Video
Kennedy 2024. (For educational purposes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vN2Y4tZlIw&ab_channel=mediamanint
#Kennedy24 #Kennedy #RFKJr #RFKJr2024 #SuperBowl #SuperBowlLVIII #ad #ads #Politics #truth #truthinads #TruthSeeker #USPolitics #broadcast #broadcasting #newsbiz #USA #sportsnews #sportsbiz #trend #trends #buzz #AI #X #media #mediaman
Image credit: Kennedy 2024 and AI
Pro Wrestling Potential Dream Match
Austin vs Punk?!
In A WWE Ring; WrestleMania @WrestleMania ?
Stone Cold Steve Austin on CM Punk and Wrestling
“I said I’d never get in a ring again unless all the stars aligned. And for some reason, somehow, they all did. And at the age of 57, I headlined the first night of WrestleMania. I never thought I’d do that. If you’d have told me that when I retired in, I’d have said, ‘You’re crazy.’ So I’m not gonna sit here and say no to anything, because you never say never in this crazy business of sports entertainment.”
“I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me - so, as long as he can take a Stunner. I consider him a great friend, a great guy, and a great wrestler who’s had a great career. We’ll see.”
#dreammatch #dreammatches #SteveAustin #StoneColdSteveAustin #CMPunk #AustinPunk #WrestleMania #WrestleManiaXL #prowrestling #wrestling #sportsentertainment #entertainment #legend #legends #Goat #Goats #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #X #Xwrestling #media
Image credit: WWE @WWE
MMA
UFC @UFC
UFC 298 Press Conference
"I respect you as a person, as a professional. I'm just fighting for my dreams" - Ilia 'El Matador' Topuria
Media Man: Volk is not bothered by the UFC 35 year old plus "curse".
Volk goes cosplay/dress up under Dana White's creative promotional ideas
Videos via official UFC YouTube Channel
UFC 298: Pre-Fight Press Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3ORoTVxxDY&ab_channel=UFC
Why Ilia Topuria Is The Scariest Fighter In Featherweight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCfVOgYxMqU&t=16s&ab_channel=UFC
"Constantly makeing Topuria adjust. Can't shoot on him. Can't get a hold of the legs" Michael Bisping
UFC 298 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SImfWUx5aX0&t=4s&ab_channel=UFC
"We just finished training at Pacific MMA. Now straight to California.
"I was waiting fo this day. Saturda is a blessed day" Merba Dvalishvili
Volkanovski vs Topuria - I'm Unbreakable | UFC 298 https://youtube.com/watch?v=sRG2IkwSw0c&si=AQsXx9OSZwcEJrks…
"I was born to be a fighter. That was my destiny. Right now, I am more confident than ever that I will become the best in the world" Ilia Topuria
"Ilia Topuria, a legit prospect out of Spain"
"He caries this intensity about him. That's a little big different than most of these young fighters. He is sure he will wear a UFC championship belt"
"I am Ilia 'El Matador' Topuria"
Media Man: Word on the street is that Volk is in for one hell of a fight. May the best man win.
More great MMA past, present and future via the official UFC YouTube Channel
youtube.com/ufc
Media Man Int
UFC 2024 (Media Man Int) *in progress
www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_2024.html
#UFC298 #Volk #Volkanovski #OldManVolk #Topuria #IliaTopuria #ElMatador #UFC #UFCChampion #UFCTitle #ufcpress #ufcmedia #ufcnews #PressConference #Dvalishvili #Aljo #RobertWhittaker #IanMachado #MichaelBisping #MMA #mixedmartialarts #combatsports #Video #YouTube #YT #feature #legends #sportsnews #sportsmedia #PPV #PayPerView #trend #trends #trending #buzz #Aussie #Spain #USA #Anaheim #HondaCentre #California #mediaman
Image credit: UFC
Pro Wrestling
WWE @WWE SmackDown
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis @RealNickAldis Posts To Social Media re what to expect at the upcoming WWE SD and beyond
On Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Roman Reigns:
“I hear they like to cook – I have a few dishes prepared myself, if you catch my drift.”
Shotzi has been injured
On SmackDown In Shotzi’s place, will be Zelina Vega who will be squaring off against former WWE NXT @WWENXT Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton for a spot in the women’s Chamber on Friday’s show. Vega was originally set to face Naomi in a qualifying match. Alba Fyre will now be wrestling Naomi on Smackdown.
White witches and black magic witches at work in and around the WWE. On a side-note Charlotte Flair's rehab is going ahead of schedule.
Femme Fatales
Yes, that is Scarlett, real life wide of Karrion Kross who is now brunette in 'The Final Testament'. Femme Fatales remain all the rage. Natalya Neidhart continues to train both men and women behind the scenes for the WWE and NXT brands, and the promotion is all the better for it. Natalya may just be one of the greatest pro wrestling trainers of all time, and that covers a lot of ground. Like fellow pro wrestling legend Chris Jericho, currently signed to the 'Big A', she enjoys a background including in authentic journalism and media. Big respect.
Last but not least, Mickie James, the multi-talented pro wrestler, performing artist + + + will be appearing at Melbourne, Australia's Starrcade Down Under.
News
WWE continues to release more excellent videos to their award winning YouTube Channel
Every Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes match, ever: WWE Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njE7jNoPukQ&ab_channel=WWE
FULL SEGMENT — The Rock returns to WWE for first time in seven years: Raw, Feb. 14, 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFYR7K4957s&ab_channel=WWE
Love story of Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio: WWE Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxo7HXk4pg4&t=6s&ab_channel=WWE
FULL MATCH — Charlotte Flair vs. Naomi — SmackDown Women's Title Match: SmackDown, Feb. 11, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2XcF-03V0U&t=14s&ab_channel=WWE
WWE YouTube
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Penn Entertainment’s Q4 2023 earnings draw analyst attention as ESPN Bet plays out
Penn Entertainment Thursday during its earnings conference call reported revenue of $1.37 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023, a 13.2% drop compared to $1.58 billion for the same time period in 2022. The company’s casinos continued profitability, with its northeast and south regions posting revenue drops of 0.6% and 6.3%, while the west and midwest posted revenue gains of 2.3% and 3.0%. But Penn’s interactive segment...drew attention from analysts because of the operator’s ongoing collaboration with ESPN.
Bill allowing up to 10 casinos, sports betting, and lottery passes key vote in Alabama House; moves to Senate
Lottery and casino legislation passed a key test Thursday in the Alabama Legislature as the House of Representatives approved a sweeping gambling proposal with an aim to get the measure before voters in November. The House of Representatives approved the proposed constitutional amendment to allow up to 10 casino sites with table games and slot machines, a state lottery, and to allow sports betting at in-person locations and through online platforms. It would also authorize the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
California: Mechoopda Casino in Butte County opens today
After a 25-year journey, the Mechoopda Casino in Butte County opened Thursday, February 15. The establishment, 15 miles south of Chico near Highway 99 at 149 Openshaw Road in Oroville, is the first phase of the tribe’s development plans. “The process of getting here started 25 years ago for the tribe,” Dana Dubois, the casino’s general manager, told ABC7/KRCR, adding that the casino has focused on personal qualities rather than the direct experience for its staff. “We have hired heart, not skillset.” Dubois told the first patrons to visit, “come in and enjoy yourself.”
New study claims igaming increases brick-and-mortar revenue
A study released Thursday indicates that operators should not worry about their brick-and-mortar casinos being cannibalized by igaming. Comparing Online and Land-based Casino Gaming, commissioned by the iDevelopment and Economic Association (iDEA Growth) through Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) claims igaming helps boost brick-and-mortar revenue. “This study offers compelling evidence that online gambling is a catalyst for growth, not a competitor to land-based casinos,” said iDEA Growth Founder and General Counsel Jeff Ifrah.
Macau registers more than 200,000 visitor arrivals for second day running
Macau’s visitor arrivals topped 200,000 for a second consecutive day on Tuesday as the Lunar New Year Golden Week continued to exceed expectations, according to information from the Public Security Police Force. Just 24 hours after setting a new post-pandemic high of Day 4 of 217,451 visitor arrivals on Monday, the fourth day of the Golden Week holiday saw another 201,023 arrivals, taking the four-day tally 703,347. At the halfway mark of the eight-day holiday, total visitation is already closing in on 960,000 arrivals predicted for the entire period by the Macao Government Tourism Office (although visitation is expected to tail off in the coming days).
Sportsbooks revenue gears up while casinos stall
Indiana (results) - While casino revenue remains sluggish, sportsbooks are gearing up for a banner year. Analysts from PlayIndiana.com report the state saw a slight decrease in sports wagers in January following a near-record December, but Indiana’s casinos saw a 17% dip in revenue compared to the same month last year. Over $480.5 million was wagered through sportsbooks in the state in January. Adjusted gross revenue was $53.5 million with $5.1 million paid to the state…Casinos have brought in less money year-over-year for 11 of the past 12 months with January seeing $161.8 million in adjusted gross revenue, a decline of almost $30 million.
Superstar performer announces Las Vegas tour stop
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Jennifer Lopez has announced her highly anticipated return to touring with “This Is Me … Now The Tour,” with T-Mobile Arena among the stops. Lopez will perform in Las Vegas on July 20, a Live Nation news release announced.
Capacity to surge at Las Vegas airport
Nevada (Las Vegas) - While there are more airline seats coming into Las Vegas from a record number of destinations and international flights have recovered from the COVID-19 downturn, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is still looking for more nonstop flights from Asia. More than 100,000 airline seats a day will become routine by summer at Harry Reid International Airport, aviation experts told the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors Tuesday. Since October 2022, capacity has averaged around 97,000 inbound seats. In October 2023, capacity peaked at 104,239 seats, now seat capacity will climb above 100,000 beginning in April and continuing through June.
Apartment project planned for vacant lot in Arts District
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Roughly 2.3 acres of vacant land in the Arts District of Las Vegas sold for $6 million and the buyers are eyeing apartments for the site. Dubbed Flats Arts District, the $180 million mixed-use apartment project is planned for 123 W. Imperial Ave. Before the property sold in January for $6 million, the 2.3 acres, located a block away from Main Street, sold in 2011 for just over $322,000, according to Clark County property records.
FanDuel had Over $250 Million In Revenue In Virginia
FanDuel totaled more than $250 million in gross sports betting revenue in Virginia for 2023, closing out the year by topping $30 million in December…FanDuel finished with $265.4 million in winnings, accounting for 47% of the $560.2 million in revenue among statewide operators…FanDuel’s gross revenue was up 10% from 2022. The increase in handle — 12.2% to nearly $2.27 billion — outpaced revenue. Virginia operators set an all-time high in December with $57.2 million in adjusted gross revenue, while the $633.2 million handle and $63.6 million in gross winnings ranked second out of 36 months of wagering.
Super Bowl Betting News
Sun shines on KC as books feel the heat on margins
KC win drives negative margins: Totals wagered were close to the $1.5bn predicted by the markets, but the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers led sportsbooks’ hold levels into negative territory as they recorded -4% margins for Super Bowl LVIII.
The Macquarie team said this “was not as bad” as the worst case scenario that had Kansas winning with a points total of more than 47.5pts, which would have led to a negative hold of -14%.
Best case scenario: A San Francisco win “in a low scoring game” could have led to 30% margins and driven “$450m of market GGR and $315m of NGR (~30% promo/GGR)”, added Macquarie.
JMP said operators likely had a mixed outcome as the game “pushed into overtime, a negative within itself”, which enabled “several more prop bets (50% to 60% of total wagers) to hit, including a Kansas City win, and acted as headwinds for margins”.
OSB hold for the Super Bowl was between -5% and 0% vs. 2023 industry average of 9.2%, said JMP.
Q1 impact: The -4% hold for the Super Bowl will result in a $64m drop in GGR for the market and should “result in 2-5% of downside to Q1 consensus revenue”, noted Macquarie.
Big Apple offset: But with January's high hold rate of 10.8% in New York not reflected in forecasts, this “more than offsets the Super Bowl result with an incremental $250m of market GGR in Jan24”, Macquarie added.
Record audience: The analysts added that Super Bowl LVIII would likely be a turning point for “customer acquisition and NFL growth in new demographics”. This year’s event hit viewership records, with CBS Sports reporting that more than 123 million viewers watched the game, making it the most-watched sports broadcast in U.S. history.
This was “partly driven by over 50% of the U.S. population now having access to OSB in addition to Taylor Swift's involvement, which has brought interest from a whole new demographic, mostly women, we view Super Bowl LVIII as unequivocally positive for sportsbooks”, said Macquarie.
GeoComply said betting geolocation transactions had increased +22% YoY since the start of the NFL playoffs in January, with active user accounts up 12% and “transactions and actives +35% and +13% YoY respectively” in the final round of playoffs.
The company added that several NFL stadiums saw over 60,000 on-site betting transactions per game through the regular season. The Bengals stadium had 67,000 transactions, “against a stadium capacity of 65,500, this implies at least one bet per spectator per game”, the group said.
Break it down: JMP meanwhile said parlays accounted for 34% of bets and 25% of handle. FanDuel's average bet size of $22 was well below the average industry bet size, implying a heavy skew toward parlay betting for the company, noted the analysts.
The average number of legs was 5.1 for each parlay wager and was “most impactful for DraftKings and FanDuel”. Single bets accounted for 74% of handle and 66% of all bets and 17% of bets were tied to a promotion.
In the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, U.S. app downloads were flat YoY and totaled 1.4 million, while on Super Bowl Sunday they were 38% down on 2023 at 295,000.
Download charts: FanDuel had 28% download market share (-12% YoY), DraftKings 29% (-22% YoY), BetMGM aired a commercial during the game and its 15% download share was +12% YoY.
Caesars had 4% share (-5% YoY), while ESPN Bet was up 192% with 10% share. Bet365’s download share of 7% was +50% YoY and Fanatics dropped back to 3% share after hitting 6% two weeks ago.
More records: The Nevada Gaming Control Board said sportsbooks took a record $186m in wagers on the game and generated $6.8m in revenue while FanDuel said it took $307m in wagers on the game, also a new record for the U.S OSB leader.
ESPN Bet heads to New York
Penn Entertainment, parent company of ESPN Bet, is heading to New York after it revealed that it had acquired Wynn Bet’s New York mobile sports betting license for $25m.
The transaction gives ESPN Bet market access to the largest OSB state in the U.S., with launch set for this year “pending regulatory approvals”.
Jay Snowden, PENN CEO and President, said: “This important development will bring ESPN Bet to the largest regulated online sports wagering market in North America. Together with ESPN, we’re building a brand that is synonymous with sports betting, and operating in the New York market is key as we grow ESPN Bet across the U.S.”
New York sports betting handle was down 4.5% in January to $1.9bn on a monthly basis, but GGR hit a monthly record high of $211.5m.
New York: Oneida Nation casino slated for $50 million expansion project
The Oneida Indian Nation on Wednesday announced a $50 million, large-scale expansion at its Point Place Casino, located in the Bridgeport area of the town of Sullivan in Madison County. The expansion comes in response to demand from guests for additional amenities as well as economic development occurring across the Central New York region.
Hard Rock International to donate $250,000 to global charities
The Hard Rock Heals Foundation Wednesday announced it will contribute $250,000 to global charitable organizations. The philanthropic arm of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, will distribute the funds through individual grants of $5,000.
Casino and sports betting proposal swiftly advances in the Alabama legislature
A gambling proposal to authorize a lottery, sports betting, and multiple casinos across Alabama was swiftly advanced by a legislative committee on Wednesday. The Alabama House Economic Development and Tourism Committee approved the two-bill package, putting the proposal in line for a key vote Thursday in the state House of Representatives.
Flutter pens first external B2B sportsbook deal with France’s Pari Mutuel Urbain
Flutter Entertainment has agreed a deal to provide a multi-channel B2B sportsbook platform to France’s Pari Mutuel Urbain. The agreement sees PMU become the first external brand outside the Flutter group to use the B2B sportsbook platform. It extends a partnership between the parties that launched in 2010. PMU gains access to customer products and associated operational services via the Flutter platform.
Cryptocurrency News
Dogecoin Jumps 8% After Shiba Inu Dog's 14th Internet Anniversary, Leaving Bitcoin, Ethereum In The Dust - Feb 14, 2024
Dogecoin , the cryptocurrency inspired by a viral meme, has outperformed other major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin
BTC/USD +5.53% and Ethereum +5.55% with an 8% price increase over the last 24 hours.
What Happened: Data from LunarCrush Pro reveals a massive rise in the social dominance score of Dogecoin, which has spiked by 1800% in a single day.
Bitcoin and Ethereum have each seen their values increase by 4-6% over the past 24 hours.
The surge in DOGE comes with a special occasion for the Dogecoin community, as shared by the MyDoge wallet on the X platform. They commemorated the 14th anniversary of the Shiba Inu dog Kabosu—the face of the Dogecoin meme—whose pictures were first shared online by owner Atsuko Sato.
Dogecoin was created by software developers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer as a joke. Markus launched the coin after merely a few hours of coding.
Why It Matters: The rise in DOGE also comes as speculation triggered last month by the profile @xpayments on the social app X, about the potential adoption of Dogecoin for payments on X.
While no formal statement has been made about Dogecoin being integrated as a payment method on par with Bitcoin or Ethereum, conversations about the possibility have been circulating, fueled by Musk’s past suggestions on Twitter about the potential for Dogecoin as a payment option for Twitter Blue. Additionally, Musk’s Tesla already enables the purchase of merchandise using Dogecoin through the Tesla Store.
Price Action: At the time of writing, DOGE was trading at $0.087, up 8% over the past 24 hours,
Pro Wrestling
EC# from National Wrestling Alliance
As long as I don’t have to wrestle Moose again. I’m kidding. [Moose is one of] my good buddies, but he hits really, really hard. But I believe in collaborations in all forms of this business. I think it needs to be done in a way too, it’s like your businesses that are in theory competitive, that it has to work for both. How does that work? Sometimes you’re gonna miss out on potential things you really want to see. Like hypothetically if it was champion versus champion, how does one company sacrifice their champion because that’s making the other company look superior, and vice versa. How do you deliver a satisfying finish to fans without having some horseshit DQ or nonsensical kind of, everything remains 50/50. So I think that’s the one hill to climb when it comes to that kind of business. But then also, sometimes art is more important, creative is important, when people are willing to sacrifice for it. So it would all depend I guess on the business end.
Combat Sports
Paige VanZant announces boxing match expected for this summer: “F*ck it, let’s go” - Feb 14, 2024
“I got called by my manager day before yesterday, and I got offered a fight,” Paige VanZant stated on her podcast earlier this week. “A boxing match, and I took it. I don’t know if I can give all the details, I haven’t signed a contract yet. I accepted the fight. It was initially, the date they offered me was March 23, which was perfect. Hell yeah, I’ll get one more fight in before I turn 30, because I turn 30 [on] March 26. So I told my manager f*ck yeah, I’ll take it. I’ll get back into boxing.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
She continued, “I was just really excited. The opportunity was really cool. So it was perfect, an eight-week camp, I don’t that long to stress or overthink, or anything like that, so that’s perfect. It turns out it’s not going to be March 23. After I accepted it, they’re like, you know what, we’re going to move it to [May or June]. I heard both dates, so once I have the full information, we’ll be able to release it on the podcast. Accepted a boxing match, that will be my next fight. It’s really, really exciting.”
“Gloves on, it’s just straight boxing,” Paige VanZant concluded. “I did think my next fight would be a bare-knuckle boxing match, but this opportunity came forward, and I was just like f*ck it, let’s go. So I took a fight.”
What is SEO?
SEO means Search Engine Optimization and is the process used to optimize a website's technical configuration, content relevance and link popularity so its pages can become easily findable, more relevant and popular towards user search queries, and as a consequence, search engines rank them better.
Search engines recommend SEO efforts that benefit both the user search experience and page’s ranking, by featuring content that fulfills user search needs. This includes the use of relevant keywords in titles, meta descriptions, and headlines (H1), featuring descriptive URLs with keywords rather than strings of numbers, and schema markup to specify the page's content meaning, among other SEO best practices.
Search engines help people find what they’re looking for online. Whether researching a product, looking for a restaurant, or booking a vacation, search engines are a common starting point when you need information. For business owners, they offer a valuable opportunity to direct relevant traffic to your website.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of orienting your website to rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP) so that you receive more traffic. The aim is typically to rank on the first page of Google results for search terms that mean the most to your target audience. So, SEO is as much about understanding the wants and needs of your audience as it is about the technical nature of how to configure your website.
How do search engines work?
Search engines provide results for any search query a user enters. To do so, they survey and “understand” the vast network of websites that make up the web. They run a sophisticated algorithm that determines what results to display for each search query.
Why SEO focuses on Google
To many people, the term “search engine” is synonymous with Google, which has about 83% of the global search engine market. Because Google is the dominant search engine, SEO typically revolves around what works best for Google. It’s useful to have a clear understanding of how Google works and why.
What Google wants
Google is designed to deliver the best search experience to its users, or searchers. That means providing the most relevant results, as quickly as possible.
The 2 core elements of the search experience are the search term (the user input) and the search results (the output).
Let’s say you search “Mailchimp guides and tutorials.” This is a clear, unambiguous search. Google understands what you’re asking for, and it delivers a useful page as the top organic result—Mailchimp’s own page.
From Google’s perspective, this is a very good search result and a positive user experience, because it’s likely that the user will click the top result and be happy with the outcome.
How Google makes money
Google profits from people trusting and valuing its search service. It achieves this by delivering useful search results.
Google also provides businesses with the opportunity to pay for an advertorial placement at the top of search result pages. The word “Ad” indicates these listings. Google makes money when searchers click on these pay-per-click (PPC) advertisements, which you purchase through Google Ads. You’ll see these ads on more generic queries in particular.
Other than the small label, these search results look almost indistinguishable from other search results. Of course, this is intentional, as lots of users click on these results without realizing that they’re ads.
This is what Google counts on. Advertising revenues accounted for more than 80% of the $279.8 billion that Google generated in 2022. So while search functions remain its core product, it depends on its advertising business.
The anatomy of search results
SERPs consist of paid search results and “organic” search results, where the organic results don’t contribute to Google’s revenue. Instead, Google delivers organic results based on its assessment of a site’s relevance and quality. Depending on the type of search query, Google will also include different elements on the SERP, like maps, images, or videos.
The volume of ads on a SERP depends on what users have searched. If you were to search the word “shoes,” for example, you’d likely find a substantial number of the top results are ads. In fact, you’ll probably have to scroll down the page to find the first organic result.
A query like this usually generates so many ads because there’s a strong chance that the searcher is looking to buy shoes online, and there are lots of shoe companies willing to pay for a feature in the AdWords results for this query.
On the other hand, if you search for something like “Atlanta Falcons,” your results will be different. Because this search is mostly tied to the professional American football team by that name, the top results relate to that. But it’s still a less clear query. You’ll find news stories, a knowledge graph, and their homepage. These 3 kinds of results at the top indicate that Google doesn’t know the precise intention of your search, but provides quick pathways to learn about the team, read their latest news, or go to their website.
Since there appears to be no purchase intent behind the query, advertisers are not willing to bid for the keyword, so there are no AdWords results.
However, if you change the query to “Atlanta Falcons hat,” which signals to Google that you might be shopping, the SERP results change to feature more sponsored results.
The role of SEO
The goal of SEO is to raise your ranking in organic search results. There are different practices for optimizing AdWords, shopping, and local results.
While it may appear that so many competing elements taking up real estate on SERPs push the organic listings down, SEO can still be a very powerful, lucrative effort.
Considering that Google processes billions of search queries daily, organic search results are a very large slice of a very large pie. And while there is some up-front and ongoing investment required to secure and maintain organic rankings, every click that sends traffic to your website is completely free.
Website Ranking Factors For SEO
Here are the top categories:
Domain Factors
Page-Level Factors
Site-Level Factors
Backlink Factors
User Interaction
Special Google Algorithm Rules
Brand Signals
On-Site Webspam Factors
Off-Site Webspam Factors
Domain Factors
Domain factors are all ranking factors that connect with your domain (the basic example.com version of your website), including:
Your domain age
Keyword in your domain
Keyword is the first word in your domain
Domain registration length
Keyword in subdomain
Domain history
Penalized Whois owner
Public WhoIs instead of private Whois
Page-Level Factors
Page-level factors are factors on each page that you can optimize, such as:
Presence of the keyword in the title tag
Having the keyword at the beginning of your title tag
Keyword in your meta description tag
Presence of the keyword in the H1 tag
Keyword is frequently used in the content
Content length
Word count rankings
Presence of a linked table of contents
Keyword density
Presence of semantically related keywords
Semantically related keyword in meta title and description
In-depth quality content
Useful content
Page loading speed via HTML
Page loading speed tested on Chrome
Core web vitals
No duplicate content on the same site
Image optimization through ALT, title, and file name
Content recency (the newer, the better)
Page age
How many edits were made to the content during updates
Historical data on page updates
Proper use of rel=canonical
Presence of keyword in H2 and H3 tags
Presence of keyword in the first 100 words
Grammar and spelling
Originality of the page's content
Entity match
Number of outbound links
Mobile useability and optimization
Hidden content on mobile (may not be indexed)
Page optimized for mobile
Presence of multimedia, for example, images and videos
Number of outbound links
The quality of outbound links
Theme of outbound links
Presence of helpful supplementary content, like free tools and calculators
Content hidden behind tabs (it may not be indexed and wouldn't show up in search snippets)
Number of internal links pointing to the page
Quality of the internal links
Presence of too many broken links (could lower ranking capabilities)
The reading level of the page
Presence of many affiliate links
Presence of many HTML errors
Authority/trust-level of the domain
Authority/trust level of the page
PageRank
Length of URL
Closeness of URL to the homepage
Presence of keyword in URL
Opinion of human editors
Relevance of page's category to page
Content formatting for user-friendliness and readability
Priority of the page in the sitemap.xml
UX signal from pages ranking for the same keyword
Citing references and sources
Use of a user-friendly layout
URL string in Google search engine results
Internal link anchor text to the page
Use of structured data
Site-level factors
Site-level factors go above the page level and take a look at things on the entire site. They include:
Presence of a contact us page or appropriate amount of contact information
Content on site provides value or new insights
TrustRank (how close your site is to a known and trusted site in terms of linking)
Website updates for freshness factor
Site architecture
Presence of a sitemap
Long-term site downtime
Location of server
HTTPs / use of a valid SSL certificate
Presence of legal pages (terms and conditions and privacy policy)
Unique metadata
Use of breadcrumb markup
Site-wide mobile optimization
Site-wide user-friendliness (usability and interactiveness)
Bounce rate
Domain authority
User reviews
Site reputation
Backlink factors
Backlink factors look at the sites that are linking to you to determine where to rank your page. Sites with better quality sites linking to them tend to be higher in rankings when they have quality content. The backlink factors are as follows:
Age of linking domain
Number of referring domains
Number of links from separate c-class IPs
Number of referring pages
Anchor text of backlinks
ALT tag of image links
Number of links from .edu and .gov domains
Trust factor of linking page
Trust factor of linking domain
Presence of links from competitors
Number of links from expected sites in your industry
Links from bad neighborhoods
Number of links that are not from ads
Country TLD of referring domains
Domain authority
Presence of some nofollow links
Diversity of link profile
Context of content the content of linking page
Presence of more follow links that sponsored or UGC
Lots of backlinks to URL with 301 redirects
The text that appears when you hover over a link
Link location on page
Location of link in content
Links from relevant domains
Links from relevant pages
Presence of your page's keyword in the title of the linking page
Natural rate of growth in number of links
Spiky and unnatural rate of growth in number of links
Links from top resources on a certain topic or hubs
Number of links from sites that are considered authority sites
Linked as a source in a Wikipedia article
Words around your backlinks
Backlink age
Links from real sites vs fake blogs
Natural link profile
Excessive reciprocal links
Links in real content vs. UGC
Backlinks from a page with a 301 redirect
TrustRank of linking site
Fewer outbound links on linking page
Links in real content vs links in forums
Word count of linking content
Quality of linking content
Sitewide links = one link
User Interaction
Google always emphasizes in their update announcements how important it is to provide an excellent user experience to website visitors. These factors measure user interaction to rank your page accordingly, including:
Organic click through rate for exact keyword
Organic click through rates for all ranking keywords
Dwell time
Bounce rate
Measurement of how users interact on your site based on RankBrain
Total direct traffic
Percentage of repeat visitors
Blocked sites
Percentage of visitors that click on other pages on the SERP after clicking visiting your page
Page frequently bookmarked by Chrome users
Number of comments on page
Special Google Algorithm Rules
Some Google Algorithm rules are not directly connected to your page or domain. They include factors that look at personalizing search results for the user or better search results as a whole. Here are some of them:
Need for diversity in the SERP
Need for freshness in the SERP
Browsing history of user
Search history of user
Succinct answers, formatting, page authority and HTTPS for featured snippets
Geo-targeting
Adult content or curse words (excluded from safe search results)
High content quality standards for YMYL keywords
Legitimate DMCA complaints
Need for domain diversity in SERP
Transactional searches
Local search results
Presence of news stories related to keyword for Top Stories box
Search intent
Presence of big brands with relevant content (they are often ranked higher)
Presence of results optimized for Google Shopping
Image results
Branded search
Easter eggs and April Fools' Day jokes and hoaxes from Google (this one makes me laugh)
Spammy queries
Spammy sites
Brand Signals
How great is your branding strategy in terms of SEO? If you haven't taken care of your brand mentions and brand all over the internet, you need to start now. Because there are some serious ranking factors related to your brand:
Brand + keyword searches (for example, Hubspot SEO)
Branded anchor text
Twitter profile with followers
Official LinkedIn page
Facebook page with lots of likes
Branded searches
Known author or verified online profile
Real social media accounts
Top stories with brand mentions
Brand mentions without links
Physical location of offices
On-site Web
To rank high on search engine results, you need to ensure your site isn't spammy and doesn't look spammy - as with many things in life, looks play a role in how we're perceived. Here are some factors around that:
Low-quality content
Links to bad neighborhoods
Multiple and sneaky redirects
Flagged server IP address
Distracting ads and popups
Popups that are spammy and difficult to close
Over-optimizing the site
Gibberish content
Use of doorway pages
Lots of ads above the fold and not much content
Hiding affiliate links
Low-value content sites
Affiliate sites
Keyword stuffing in meta tags
Compute generated content
Nofollowing all outbound links
Off-site Webspam Factors
The Off-site webspam factors affect spam based on what's done outside your website that connects with your website. They include:
Unnatural and sudden increase in backlinks
Hacked site
Lots of low-quality backlinks
High percentage of links from unrelated websites
Low-quality directory links
Automatic links in widgets
Links from sites with the same server IP
Using “poison” in your anchor text
Ignored manual actions in search console
Selling links
Temporary link schemes
Phew, we made it! Even though this list might seem overwhelming, I've condensed it to my top 10 to make things a bit more palatable.
Top 10 Google Ranking Factors
Before we go into my top 10 Google ranking factors, keep this in mind: everything is debatable in SEO. While several SEO experts might accept these 10 factors as their top ranking factors as well, other SEOs might disagree. But for me, these are what I've found to be most important.
I chose my top 10 based on what I've seen improves the user experience, optimizes conversion rates, signals trustworthiness, ranks well, brings in high amounts of organic monthly traffic, and promotes customer retention and loyalty. Let's dive in.
1. Content that provides valuable and unique insights.
As mentioned above, Google has always emphasized quality content. Providing content that provides value and unique insights not found on every other website can improve your ranking simply because your audience enjoys it.
To do this:
Ensure you are the subject expert in what you are writing about or that you understand that topic in-depth according to research.
Hire subject experts to write your content.
Provide factual information that informs your audience about the questions that are the most important to them.
Don't write fluff.
2. Content that covers a topic in-depth.
Want to rank on the first page? Stop writing thin content. Research has proven time and time again that content that covers all areas, whether long or short form, tends to do better in search results. Here's what to do:
Study your competitors' content and write about what they missed.
Cover all relevant areas and answer all questions that readers might have.
Make the text readable by adding elements like images, a clickable table of contents, jump links, and CTAs to relevant information.
3. Organic click-through rates.
Your organic click through rate helps Google understand whether people like your content or not. If more people are clicking on your post in the SERP, Google will believe your content is more relevant to that keyword and rank you higher for it.
You need to write a convincing meta title and description to improve your organic click-through rate. Here are tips for writing the best meta title and description:
Use power words.
Ensure your keyword is visible in the meta title.
Keep your meta title under 62 characters.
Keep your meta description at about 150 characters.
Your meta description should be helpful to readers (use it to show them how they benefit from reading your content).
Note that to get to a point where you can improve organic click through rate, you should have all other SEO factors in place for higher rankings. I mean anyways, if you are in the 100th position, most people wouldn't see your page to begin with.
4. Keywords in H1.
The H1 is an indication of what your content is about. So, include your keyword in your H1. Be careful, though; some SEOs say that using the same sentence in your H1 and meta title is an indication that you are keyword stuffing. So, you might want to spice it up a bit while still ensuring that your keyword is present. Do this in combination with all on-page optimization (meta data, URL, other headings).
5. The content's length.
Content length is one thing that several people debate about when it comes to SEO. Some believe an upward of 2000 words should be the standard. However, that shouldn't always be the case. Sure, long-form content seems to get the most backlinks, but it's crucial that you write long-form only when you need that to cover the entire topic.
It's also a best practice to check what your competitors have because that can be an indicator of quality content. If all competitors have between 2000-4000 words and you write 200 words, you will likely not rank high for that term.
6. Website domain authority.
Domain Authority (DA) is not a ranking factor despite what many say, and the simple reason is: Google didn't create it. When asked if it is a signal, John Mueller replied, “...it's a tool by Moz”.
But from my perspective, it's good to keep in mind because Moz uses particular signals to create that score (and other tools like SEMrush and Arel=" noopener" target="_blank" hrefs) that are similar to Google's ranking factors.
When more trusted sites are linking to yours and you have content that ranks well, that is an indicator that you should be trusted, which in turn increases your rankings even further - all of which plays into DA. So in a nutshell, you might want to focus on growing your DA even if Google doesn't confirm it.
7. Total number of backlinks from relevant sources.
The total number of your backlinks and referring domains are important, but only when they are from relevant sources. In February 2021, John Mueller commented about the importance of link relevance and that you can build many backlinks, but Google will ignore them if they are not relevant.
Rather than focusing on building millions of backlinks, focus on more relevant and quality backlinks.
8. Page loading speed via HTML.
Last year, Google announced that core web vitals would become a ranking signal and it's planned to launch in mid-June. Core web vitals is a part of PageSpeed, and page speed affects user experience.
If your site is too slow to load or slow to interact with, Google is more likely to reduce your rankings, especially when your competitors have fast site speed and great content.
9. Mobile usability.
User experience is key for SEO success and users are increasingly accessing your website via mobile. That's why Google sends constant mobile-friendliness notifications in Search Console when it sees that your site isn't responsive.
If you want to score points with Google and, more importantly, your users, work on your mobile usability.
10. Over-optimization.
Don't overdo it — this serves as a reminder that you must prioritize optimizing for humans, not the algorithm. When you over-optimize your pages, Google sees that you're trying too hard and might believe you are trying to game the system. If that happens, you get penalized.
Here are other important ranking factors that didn't make the top 10 cut, but you should make sure to work on as well:
Quality of internal links pointing to page
Site architecture
Site usability
Contextual links
Outbound link quality
Dwell time
Branded searches
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SEO for Beginners: SEO Basics in 2024
Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most important marketing tactics for your business. However, few actually know how to do it effectively. To help, we’ve put together an entire guide on SEO for beginners, which includes how SEO works, why it’s important and how to do it yourself. Use this beginners’ guide to rank your website higher in search engines like Google for relevant and high-value search terms.
What Is SEO?
SEO, short for search engine optimization, is the process of improving your website so it ranks higher for organic search terms and increases its visibility. The overall goal of SEO is to generate more traffic for your website to generate more leads and sales. There are three components of organic SEO, which include on-page, off-page and technical SEO.
On-page SEO represents factors directly related to your website’s content, which include things such as blog article quality, meta descriptions, keyword targeting and more. Off-page SEO comprises SEO factors that occur outside of your website, such as your overall backlink volume and quality. Finally, technical SEO represents your website’s overall performance and health, such as your desktop and mobile loading speed.
To rank your website higher for relevant and high-value keywords, it’s important to address all three of these SEO components. With this in mind, let’s discuss exactly how SEO works.
How Does SEO Work?
When someone searches for something on platforms such as Google, those search engines use proprietary algorithms to crawl the internet and rank the most relevant and high-quality content on a search engine results page (SERP). These pieces of content are typically blog articles targeting a specific keyword, but can also include other media types such as images or video.
To determine the most relevant results, Google and other search engines will first analyze the search term to understand the user’s overall intent, and then find content that best addresses the user’s query and overall intent based on a blend of on-page, off-page and technical SEO factors.
The goal of SEO is therefore to rank higher in SERPs for specific keywords—or queries—that are relevant to your business. To do so, it’s first important to do keyword research to determine which terms you should be targeting. From there, write high-value blog articles that directly address those keywords. Then, promote your content through off-page tactics that build backlinks and make sure your website is optimized to perform well for the user.
Why SEO Is Important
SEO is important for a multitude of reasons. It increases website visibility for relevant keywords that help you generate more leads and sales. But the benefits don’t stop there. Here’s exactly why SEO should be an important part of your marketing strategy:
Increase website visibility: SEO helps you rank your website higher in organic SERPs for high-value keywords that are important to your business. This allows potential customers to organically find your brand online and can result in more sales.
Build brand authority: Providing valuable content that ranks high for relevant search terms is a great way to build brand authority since potential customers inherently trust brands they see ranking high in search results.
Generate organic traffic: Optimizing your website’s SEO will help you generate more organic traffic with high intent for your product or service since you can target specific keyword terms relevant to your business.
Cost-effective and sustainable growth: Unlike tactics like social media or search advertising that only work if you’re actively paying for ads, organic SEO traffic is sustainable and cost-effective, generating long-term traffic you don’t have to pay for.
Improve website experience: Optimizing your technical SEO improves the overall user experience of your website, which can result in higher conversions and happier customers.
Overall, SEO should be a key part of your ongoing marketing strategy. It helps improve brand visibility and authority as well as generates organic traffic cost-effectively and sustainably. Now that you understand the benefits, let’s discuss exactly how to perform SEO.
How To Perform SEO
While SEO may seem complicated, there is a set of repeatable steps you can follow to execute an effective SEO strategy. These steps include defining your audience, identifying relevant keywords, crafting high-value content, generating backlinks and optimizing your website performance. Let’s take a detailed look at each of these steps:
1. Define Your Target Audience
The first thing you want to do is define your ideal audience, which will inform the topics and keywords you’re targeting. You can do this by creating an ideal customer profile or buyer persona that identifies things such as demographics, psychographics, firmographics and more. You can create one manually or use an online tool such as HubSpot’s Make My Persona to help you create one.
2. Conduct Keyword Research
With your target audience defined, the next step is to conduct keyword research to identify relevant search terms to target with high-quality pieces of content such as blog articles. The best way to do keyword research is to use a free tool such as Google’s Keyword Planner or a paid option such as Semrush.
Look up relevant topics using one of the tools above and note the overall keyword traffic and ranking difficulty for each topic. From there, put together a content runway of relevant and related keywords with high traffic potential and a reasonable chance of ranking based on the difficulty score.
3. Craft High-Quality Content
The next step is to write and publish quality blog articles each targeting one of the primary keywords on your content runway. To do so, start with an outline that identifies the overall header structure of your article and includes the primary keyword in elements such as the title and relevant headers.
From there, craft the entire piece, making sure to optimize for the primary keyword and adding elements such as imagery, statistics and more. Link relevant articles together using internal website links to help Google better discover your content.
4. Build Quality Backlinks
A backlink is a link from a third-party site pointing to your content, which Google views as a measure of authority. Once your blog articles are published, conduct off-page SEO tactics that generate quality backlinks, such as direct outreach. For example, research relevant websites that can benefit from linking to your content. Then, find their contact information and reach out with a suggestion to link to your site.
5. Optimize Your Website Performance
Make sure that you’re also improving your website’s overall health and performance, which includes things such as loading speed, mobile optimization and more. Google uses a Lighthouse performance score to rank your website on key performance metrics and assign you a score out of 100. Also included are scores for accessibility, best practices and overall SEO. The goal is to optimize your site to get these four scores as close to 100 as possible.
6. Iterate and Improve
Check your SEO metrics monthly to determine how your strategy is performing. You can use an SEO tool such as Semrush, Ahrefs or Google Search Console to track key SEO data such as traffic, ranking position and more. Iterate and improve your on-page, off-page and technical SEO tactics based on the results.
7. Stay Updated on Changing SEO Trends
Search algorithms are constantly changing, affecting the SEO best practices you should be following. Because of this, it’s important to stay abreast of the changing SEO trends and how they might affect your overall SEO strategy. Subscribe to or read online resources such as the newsletter Search Engine Journal to ensure you don’t miss any changes.
Bottom Line
SEO is the act of increasing your website’s organic visibility by ranking its content for relevant search terms. To do so, first conduct keyword research to find valuable terms that are relevant to your business. From there, write high-quality content that matches the intent of each search term and promote that content to generate backlinks. Also, ensure your website is optimized for performance and speed. If you do these things, you are well on your way to mastering the art and science of SEO.
Property News
South Coogee home that ‘floats above ocean’ sets $18.5m record, beats Fred Schebesta’s ‘castle’ - Feb 16, 2024
An incredible South Coogee home that ‘floats above the ocean’ has set a suburb record of $18.5m with its pre-auction sale last night, beating crypto king Fred Schebesta’s ‘Coogee Castle’.
The three-level five-bedroom clifftop residence at 1A Seaside Parade, that had cost the late Alan Cardy, a former Wallaby and property developer, $320,000 in 1981, had unobstructed views over the Pacific Ocean over Wedding Cake Island to Bondi and out to Malabar.
Sales agents Alexander Phillips of PPD, in conjunction with Ashley Bierman and Jordan L’Estrange of Ray White Double Bay, had an $18.45m guide for an auction scheduled for tomorrow, but instead they negotiated a deal last night.
Built from concrete, steel, stone and glass by Bellevarde Constructions, the interiors were by Alexandra Kidd Design.
It came with a heated mosaic-tiled pool, spa, sauna, gym and entertainer’s cabana right on the water’s edge.
Cardy, who died in 2021 aged 76, had bought the home next door for $230,000 from the ex Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor, Di Yerbury. That sold for $6.7m late last year.
Both homes were originally offered in one line with a guide of $25m. In the end, they got their money — and more — with the final result of $25.2m.
Each level was connected by an internal elevator and the palatial master retreat included a spa bath and en-suiite. There was laos a separate movie theatre room.
Other attractions were the large private rooftop with incredible views.
Fred Schebesta, the co-founder and CEO of the comparison website, Finder, had been the previous suburb record holder with his 2021 purchase of his Bunya Parade castle for $16.85m.
The 42-year-old went from working in a Pizza Hut call centre as a university student to running a business employing 450 staff in 80 countries and now has a net worth of more than $214m.
GeoComply releases Super Bowl LVIII betting activity figures - 12 Feb 2024
(PRESS RELEASE) -- GeoComply, a global leader in advanced anti-fraud and geolocation compliance technologies, has announced a 22.3 percent increase in geolocation checks throughout Super Bowl weekend, surpassing last year’s figures. This sustained growth underscores an important shift in the US towards a state-regulated, taxed, and secure betting environment, enabling more Americans to place legal bets on the year’s most anticipated football game. GeoComply analyzed its data across 28 US states*, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico with legal, online sports betting during Super Bowl LVIII weekend.
“The continued transition to the legal market set the stage for a historic first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, and the record-breaking results we saw did not disappoint. We are proud to help foster the growth of a regulated industry that puts accountability, security and player protection at the forefront,” said Anna Sainsbury, CEO and Co-Founder of GeoComply. “Compliance drives our mission, and with that commitment, we strive to help our customers reliably and responsibly expand the player funnel and boost their businesses. Every year the legal market grows is good news for consumers and states and bad news for illegal offshore sportsbooks that become marginalized.”
Additional Key Insights from Super Bowl LVIII Include:
- Throughout Super Bowl weekend, GeoComply saw a total of 8.5 million active accounts across states where online sports betting is legal. This represents a 15 percent increase over last year’s Super Bowl.
- During the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, GeoComply saw more than 1.77 million new users sign up for legal online betting accounts.
- Since the start of the 2023/2024 NFL Season through the Super Bowl GeoComply customers have added more than 13.7 million new accounts, a 28 percent increase from last season.
- Minutes before kick-off GeoComply saw a massive spike in traffic totaling 14.75 thousand transactions per second (TPS) immediately. This was the highest TPS ever recorded on GeoComply’s systems, nearly doubling the last Super Bowl’s peak.
- Tale of two Kansas Cities: Chiefs fans on both sides of the Kansas City border want to support their team. GeoComply’s real-time pin drop map from Super Bowl Sunday shows legal activity in Kansas, while just across the street in Missouri they are blocked from betting.
GeoComply’s technology is critical for the online sports betting industry. Its platform uses more than 800 data points to accurately confirm that players are located in a state where sports betting is legal before placing a bet. Super Bowl LVIII represents many new growth milestones for the legal online sports betting industry, but it also represents a significant technical achievement that ensures that players have a fantastic experience and regulators have the proper assurances that all bets placed fall within the appropriate state borders.
“GeoComply’s technology brings the perfect blend of geolocation precision mixed with a rock-solid player experience,” said Sainsbury. “These two aspects of our platform are critical to the industry’s success as a whole, and we designed the solution to meet these massive spikes in demand without compromising on either of them. Innovation is at the core of our brand, and we will continue to improve on our technology with the expectation that by the next Super Bowl, more states and more players will join the masses.”
BetMGM and X sign exclusive sports betting partnership
9 February 2024
(PRESS RELEASE) -- BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, today announced a strategic partnership with X, becoming the social media platform’s exclusive Live Odds Sports Betting partner. The first-of-its-kind partnership between a premier social media brand and a sports betting operator will integrate BetMGM’s odds and branding into X, with each game linking to BetMGM’s website and app.
“X is the center of the sports world’s conversation 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “Being directly accessible within that forum is an unprecedented opportunity to expand our reach to a passionate and engaged audience. We look forward to adding intel and content that enhances the platform’s interaction around sports.”
X users in the United States can explore BetMGM’s latest betting odds on pro football, with each of the major professional and college sports expected to follow in the coming weeks. The odds interface provides an easy clickthrough for each game to BetMGM’s app or website, creating a seamless user experience. The integration will continue to evolve and grow in its functionality over the coming months.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino said, "Sports never sleep on X and now with our strategic partnership with BetMGM, fans are practically in the front row.
We're bringing sports fans on X even closer to the action so they can cheer, and now bet, on their favorite teams."
As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets, responsible gaming remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM's mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to count on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM's already existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.
Rio, Rinehart discussed risk of third-party claim to mine venture - Novemeber 3, 2023
Senior Rio Tinto executives and Gina Rinehart discussed the risk that their lucrative iron ore joint venture may attract a royalty claim from another Perth mining dynasty in 2005, a court has heard.
But lawyers for Rio Tinto argued on Friday that revelations of the years-old discussions about a potential liability to pay Wright Prospecting mining royalties are not proof they ever considered that the company could claim an ownership stake in the project.
Almost 20 years after Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting struck a deal to mine Hope Downs, descendants of Lang Hancock’s former business partner Peter Wright are now demanding both royalties from the project, and a proprietary claim to the parts of the mine itself.
The court heard that Mrs Rinehart, Australia’s richest woman, acknowledged “question marks” over the potential for future royalty claims from other WA mining families as part of discussions with Rio Tinto in the mid-2000s.
However, lawyers for Hamersley Iron – the Rio Tinto subsidiary that inked the mining deal with Hancock Prospecting to develop Hope Downs – said discussions of a potential liability to pay royalties didn’t prove the parties considered a separate equitable claim to the project.
Grant Donaldson SC described Hamersley and Rio Tinto as an “innocent purchaser” in the mammoth mining deal.
“To make such a finding, the court is required to be convinced Hamersley executed the agreement knowing certain representations given were false, and that’s a serious thing indeed,” Mr Donaldson said.
Maximum figure undisclosed
“When one looks at these documents and the so-called ‘question marks’ related to potential royalty claims … the contention that is put as to knowledge is one of extraordinary vagary.
“This discussion, as recorded here, can only have been about royalty.”
The Australian Financial Review on Thursday revealed that Rio Tinto agreed to assume 50 per cent liability to any future royalty claim in 2005, but insisted it be capped at an undisclosed figure.
The mining giant has refused to disclose what the maximum figure it could be liable to pay in royalties should Hancock Prospecting lose the marathon trial.
Lawyers for both Wright and Hancock Prospecting have made reference to key elements of Rio Tinto’s liability on any potential claims to riches flowing from the Hope Downs mine throughout the trial.
Hancock Prospecting reported the four mines operated by Rio under the Hope Downs joint venture shipped 46.5 million tonnes of iron ore and contributed more than $1.3 billion to Hancock’s $5.04 billion net profit after tax in 2022-23.
Mrs Rinehart’s private company is pushing Rio to open new iron ore mines, including the Hope 2 project along with Hope 3, 5 and 6, under their long-standing partnership.
The trial was adjourned until mid-November, when lawyers for two of Mrs Rinehart’s children are expected to provide their closing arguments.
Bianca Rinehart and her sibling John Hancock have claimed they are the rightful owners of the Hope Downs mine because their grandfather Lang Hancock moved it into a trust for them before his death.
They claim Mrs Rinehart breached her fiduciary duties by moving the mining tenements out of that trust, and into her control. However, lawyers for Hancock Prospecting say Lang Hancock wrongly placed the Hope Downs asset into that trust in a bid to syphon money out of the business for his own use, and Mrs Rinehart moved to correct his wrongdoings.
(AFR)
Aussies at the Super Bowl. Just don’t ask about the prices - Feb 12, 2024
Former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan made the pilgrimage to Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium alongside Eddie Maguire and broadcaster Craig Hutchison.
On ordinary days, star spotting in Las Vegas is as easy as scouting fish in a barrel. But the fame-factor was dialled up to 10 at the weekend as Taylor Swift and the world’s glitterati descended on the desert city for the 58th NFL Super Bowl and the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
And then there were the Aussies.
Former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan made the pilgrimage to Allegiant Stadium – capacity 65,000 – along with AFL executives Peta Webster and commercial boss Kylie Rogers. Visit Victoria chairman and former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was also on the ground, as was sports broadcasting boss Craig Hutchison, on his annual ballpark tour.
Taylor Swift (centre) wearing a corset by Australian designer Dion Lee at Monday’s Super Bowl. AP
For McGuire, who still sits on Victoria’s tourism advisory and investment body, it’s more than just a good time. It’s an opportunity to tour the world’s best stadium infrastructure and to get an edge to bring back home at a time when Queensland is preparing for the 2032 Olympics and global competition for sporting events has never been more fierce.
“Two years ago NFL wouldn’t let Las Vegas be mentioned on any Super Bowl ads. Now [NFL commissioner] Roger Goodell calls Vegas ‘Sports City USA’,” the former Nine chief executive said via text from inside the stadium.
“West Coast America is setting the standard that we have to go past [because] the NFL is taking games to stadia as much as countries. Real Madrid stadium the Bernabeu is the template for what we need to be aiming at … not painting seats at the Gabba.”
Others sports bosses to make the schlep to Nevada for the Monday AEDT game included Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson and prominent Melbourne defamation lawyer Justin Quill, who turned out at Allegiant dressed in his Priscilla-in-the-Desert best – a plush pink bomber jacket. When in Vegas.
Not that any eyes were on the Aussie contingent.
Inside the stadium, galaxy-level megastar Taylor Swift emerged as the twin attraction as the 14-time Grammy winner who lands in Australia this week for the local leg of her 151-show Eras Tour cheered on Kansas Chiefs tight-end and boyfriend Travis Kelce.
Sitting in a box alongside US rapper Ice Spice and Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, the star was dressed in Australian designer Dion Lee and brought the crowd to a roar as she skulled a beer, and slammed the plastic cup down in triumph.
After the Chiefs defeated the 49ers by just three points in a nailbiting overtime, Swift and Kelce again dominated broadcast feeds on the pitch as the pair packed on the PDA in the latest instalment of the hyper-public romance.
For Four Pillars Gin founder Stuart Gregor, who sold his spirits business to beverage giant Lion in 2023 and also hit up this year’s Super Bowl, the star-spotting mother lode came the night before the game.
On Saturday, inside chef Evan Funke’s Roman-inspired eatery Mother Wolf, he scored the trifecta.
“Beyoncé and Jay Z walked straight past us and Queen Latifah sat behind us. It’s Vegas – so it’s crazy,” the PR veteran told The Australian Financial Review.
Just don’t ask about the prices.
“Only complaint, the beers are 750ml …. and $US20 plus tip.”
At the current exchange rate with a 15 per cent tip, that’s almost $40 per drink. An expensive sherbet.
(AFR)
Pro Wrestling
Seth "Freakin" Rollins and Cody Rhodes to appear on "The Grayson Waller Effect" at Elimination Chamber - Feb 14, 2024
World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins and 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes will appear on "The Grayson Waller Effect" live at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia.
Rollins and Rhodes forged a partnership after the WrestleMania XL Kickoff event that saw The Rock slap The American Nightmare, setting off a chaotic few moments. On the following episode of Monday Night Raw, The Visionary offered his services to Rhodes, which seem to have been accepted.
The moment will also be a homecoming for Grayson Waller, as he hosts his signature show in his home continent of Australia.
Be sure to tune in to WWE Elimination Chamber live from the Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, streaming LIVE at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else to see this unforgettable edition of "The Grayson Waller Effect."
Black Rifle Coffee Company kicks off UFC marketing partnership - Feb 14, 2024
As the Official Coffee of UFC, the veteran-owned coffee chain will have branding at the mixed martial arts organisation’s US competitions, as well as on its digital content and social media
Veteran-owned coffee chain Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) has signed a multi-year marketing partnership to become the Official Coffee of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the US.
The partnership includes ‘high-visibility’ on-site BRCC branding at all UFC mixed martial arts events in the US, as well as the coffee chain’s logo on live broadcasts and digital promotion materials.
Founded in 1993, UFC organises more than 40 live tournaments annually and broadcasts to over 900 million households globally. The organisation has eight US events lined up across the next three months.
The sponsorship will also see the two brands collaborate on content for UFC’s digital and social media channels, which reach 259 million users globally.
“We are immensely proud and excited to announce our partnership with UFC. UFC has revolutionised the landscape of competitive sports, and our collaboration aims to invigorate fans, fostering the creation of unforgettable experiences and lasting memories,” said Mat Best, Co-Founder, BRCC.
Launched in 2014, BRCC actively promotes support for veterans, law enforcement and first responders across its retail, wholesale and e-commerce channels. The coffee chain and roaster operated 17 stores across the US at the end of its 2023 third quarter and is forecasting full-year sales of around $440m.
10.24.2023
UFC® AND ANHEUSER-BUSCH ANNOUNCE MULTIYEAR PARTNERSHIP
Bud Light Returns as the Official Beer of UFC in the U.S.
Partnership Extends Worldwide as AB InBev Becomes “Official Global Beer Partner of UFC”
LAS VEGAS and NEW YORK – October 24, 2023 – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), together with Anheuser-Busch, one of America’s most iconic companies and the undisputed leader of the U.S. beer industry, today announced a new multiyear marketing partnership. Effective January 1, 2024, the brewer will become the exclusive “Official Beer Partner of UFC.” With this sponsorship, in the U.S., Bud Light will bring easy enjoyment to 21+ fans with 360-degree programming, including custom social and digital content, broadcast integration, on-site presence, and more.
UFC CEO Dana White said, “Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were UFC’s original beer sponsors more than fifteen years ago. I’m proud to announce we are back in business together. There are many reasons why I chose to go with Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light, most importantly because I feel we are very aligned when it comes to our core values and what the UFC brand stands for. I’m looking forward to all of the incredible things we will do in the years ahead.”
Brendan Whitworth, CEO, Anheuser-Busch, said, “Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light have always been on the cutting edge of iconic sporting moments that fans remember forever, and reuniting with UFC is a continuation of this industry leading legacy. As one of the largest and longest standing sport sponsors, we are excited to work with UFC to celebrate our passionate fans while always making a positive impact in communities across America.”
Marcel Marcondes, Global Chief Marketing Officer, AB InBev, said, “As leaders of our category, we are focused on new opportunities to connect with consumers in new occasions. UFC has become an undeniable force in the sports industry, and that’s why we’re so excited to partner with them and continue to amplify this sport around the world. We will be creating new and exciting brand experiences for UFC fans.”
BRANDED INTEGRATIONS AND ENTITLEMENTS
AB InBev, the world’s leading brewer and global parent company of Anheuser-Busch, will be UFC’s Official Global Beer Partner and will receive a deep level of integration into key UFC assets, ranging from live events, including broadcast features and in-arena promotion, to original content distributed through UFC’s popular digital and social channels. Through UFC’s far-reaching global footprint, AB InBev will have meaningful brand visibility before more than 700 million fans in 170 countries, as well as an estimated 900 million TV households that receive UFC’s broadcasts.
Among the more notable integrations, in the U.S. Bud Light will receive prominent branding inside the most recognizable setting in all of sports, the world-famous Octagon®, at every UFC event including all Pay-Per-Views and Fight Nights, DANA WHITE’S CONTENDER SERIES, THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER reality series, and ROAD TO UFC, a win-and-advance tournament for Asia’s top MMA prospects.
Bud Light will also be integrated into custom broadcast features in all U.S. UFC Pay-Per-Views, with their popular “Easy to Enjoy” and “Easy to Celebrate” fan campaigns highlighted in the segments.
In addition, UFC and Bud Light will collaborate on original content that will be distributed through UFC’s popular digital and social channels, which reach more than 243 million users worldwide. Bud Light will also have a highly visible presence at popular UFC fight week activities, including press conferences and weigh-ins, that help build anticipation for the main events.
The partnership will be truly global for UFC fans all across the world. In international markets, Budweiser and select local AB InBev brands will activate the sponsorship across events and marketing.
To learn more about Bud Light’s partnership with the UFC, follow Bud Light on Facebook at Facebook.com/BudLight, on Twitter at @BudLight, and on Instagram at @BudLight.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.
About Anheuser-Busch
At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in the world. We hope to build a future that everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share. For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most loved beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob ULTRA, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home.
For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About AB InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser®, Corona® and Stella Artois®; multi-country brands Beck’s®, Hoegaarden®, Leffe® and Michelob ULTRA®; and local champions such as Aguila®, Antarctica®, Bud Light®, Brahma®, Cass®, Castle®, Castle Lite®, Cristal®, Harbin®, Jupiler®, Modelo Especial®, Quilmes®, Victoria®, Sedrin®, and Skol®. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 167,000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. For 2022, AB InBev’s reported revenue was 57.8 billion USD (excluding JVs and associates).
AI mentions rise in S&P 500 earnings calls, Goldman says - Feb 16, 2024
The number of S&P 500 companies discussing artificial intelligence has climbed to a new high in fourth-quarter conference calls, Goldman Sachs strategists said, in the latest sign AI is a focal point for markets and corporate America.
The proportion of S&P 500 companies mentioning "AI" rose to 36%, up from 31% in the third quarter, Goldman strategists said in a research note published late Wednesday, at which point they said 360 companies representing 80% of the index's market cap had reported results.
Information technology stayed the sector with the most companies discussing AI, while energy had the largest increase in companies discussing the technology, according to the strategists led by David Kostin.
"Several companies discussed the strong demand for their AI product offerings and services," Goldman said in the note. "Many companies have also sought to weave AI into existing product offerings to improve the end-user's experience and drive further demand."
Companies also noted that spending on capital expenditures and research and development "will likely rise in the near term as they ramp up AI investments," Goldman said.
The Goldman report is in line with a Reuters analysis earlier in the fourth-quarter reporting season that found AI mentions picking up.
Such management enthusiasm has been reflected in stock performance as well, according to Goldman.
A Goldman stock basket of companies pursuing or enabling AI technology outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 by 19 percentage points year-to-date as of Wednesday.
Shares of IBM rose to a more than 10-year high late last month after the company gave a better-than-expected revenue outlook backed by strong demand for its AI service.
Chipmaker Nvidia, which has been at the center of the frenzy over AI, has seen its shares soar nearly 50% this year after more than tripling in 2023, becoming the third largest U.S. company by market value, surpassing Amazon and Alphabet.
Nvidia's quarterly results this coming Wednesday "will be closely watched as a barometer of AI momentum," Goldman said.
Cryptocurrency News - Feb 2024
All eyes are on the strongest Cryptos
Market picture
The crypto market continues to rise, adding 2.3% to the level of 24 hours ago. Bitcoin's capitalisation has surpassed 1 trillion, and its share of all coins is estimated at 52.5% by CoinMarketCap. The increase in share is due to USDT and the relative stagnation of the share of other cryptocurrencies outside the top five.
Bitcoin's price has surpassed $52.2K, the highest level since the end of 2021. Buyers in the first cryptocurrency are so strong that we don't even see a prolonged consolidation. This dynamic reinforces our view that the next meaningful shakeout may not come before the approach of 60K, where there were several inflexion points in 2021.
Ethereum is updating highs, but this is the highest level since July 2022. Solana has been at highs since late December last year, Cardano has only recovered to levels from 13 January, and XRP has been at its highest since 22 January. Clearly, the bigger the coin now, the more attention it gets.
News background
According to BitMEX data, daily inflows into bitcoin ETFs approached record levels on their first day of trading after the launch. BlackRock's fund is showing strong momentum, and experts are optimistic about Wall Street's acceptance of Bitcoin ETFs.
Anthony Scaramucci, a founder of SkyBridge Capital, urged to have no doubts and buy BTC at current levels. According to him, we are in for a great bull rally.
According to CoinGecko, the Bitcoin blockchain took the top spot for NFT trading volume in December, accounting for 42.1% of all trading activity.
Forbes included three crypto firms in its list of the top 50 fintech companies: Chainalysis, Fireblocks and Gauntlet.
In the last three months of 2023, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued 450 warnings to cryptocurrency firms for illegally advertising their products.
Super Bowl, Politics and Truth Telling News
RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad
Robert F Kennedy Jr has apologised to relatives over a Super Bowl advert created by a group supporting his presidential bid, which mirrored one broadcast by his uncle John F Kennedy's campaign in 1960.
Mr Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, is running for president as an independent.
The ad aired just before the Super Bowl halftime on Sunday.
It included images of Robert F Kennedy Jr spliced into the original 1960 ad.
A jaunty jingle that repeated the Kennedy surname 15 times in 30 seconds also accompanied it.
The ad was made by American Values 2024 political action committee, a Super Pac.
Super Pacs are organisations that collect campaign contributions and donate them to political campaigns. They are allowed to raise and spend an unlimited amount of money in support of political candidates, but cannot co-ordinate with campaigns.
The Super Bowl spot cost $7m, according to American Values 2024 co-founder Tony Lyons. One donor to American Values 2024 Pac, Tim Mellon, has given the group $15m. Mr Mellon is also a major donor to Pacs supporting Mr Trump.
One of Mr Kennedy's cousins criticised the advert and the candidate's anti-vaccine activism.
"My cousin's Super Bowl ad used our uncle's faces - and my Mother's. She would be appalled by his deadly health care views," Bobby Shriver, the son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President Kennedy's sister, wrote in a post on X. "Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA."
In response, RFK Jr posted: "I'm so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain. The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you."
However, the advert remained pinned to the top of the candidate's X feed on Monday morning. Campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear told CBS News that the RFK Jr campaign was "pleasantly surprised and grateful to the American Values Pac for running an ad during the Super Bowl".
Media Man: Smart and educational ad. Decide your own truth says ex journalist. Trust in self, nature, higher power not big pharma, which is one of the corrupt and least trusted business sectors in the world. If the world "needs" political systems at least there's still good people in the mix.
Pro Wrestling
All Elite Wrestling Still Captures Fans Imagination
Stands Out In Saturated Market
Tends To Be More Geared Towards "Hardcore" Audiences
Storylines, Storytelling Has Picked Up Says Media Vet With Background In Optus Television Combat Sports PPV Sales And Marketing, Main Event TV Connection
Jon "Mox" Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli tag team matches via CMLL
@CMLL_OFICIAL
luchadores and others are impressive.
Clash of styles makes interesting and unique match ups.
Physical style sees Mox and CC get some dings and abrasions.
Inter-Promotional match ups have appeal in US, Canada,. Mexico, Europe, Australia and beyond.
AEW commentator Nigel McGuiness brings out the inner heel in all of us!
AEW focusing in on strengths and giving their audience what they want - at least most of the time.
Stardom Japanese Promotion Management Shake-up/Top Brass Departure Appears To Serve AEW Collaboration Well.
AEW on track with fully expected announcements of Okada and Mine (FKA S. Banks)
Will Osprey will be seen in an AEW more frequently; Permitted to still compete in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Gritty and fantastic promos by Mox, CSRO and Eddie Kingston well received by seasoned fans and media; Shades of Pulp Fiction, Sin City, Tarantino and Frank Miller. Stay the course and ramp up darkish overtones says Media. Garcia authentic genuine real life type promos, interviews impressive.
Keep utilising AEW's biggest earner Chris Jericho in best ways possible.
Jay White remains major player and extremely entertaining.
QT Marshall returns! Office!
FTR still may be the greatest pro wrestling tag team on the planet.
AEW Top Brass TK Keeping Watch On Streaming Deal Space, "Exciting"!
Fans looking forward to more Samoa Joe and Hook developments.
Swerve Strickland has World Champion Vibe 'N Confidence. Fans, media keen to see SS make history in AEW!
Samoa Joe still walks away from dives and leaps; No BS style welcome in pro wrestling.
World Class Pro Wrestling Action And Drama. Highlights, moments and more via the official AEW YouTube Channel
