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Monday, February 12, 2024

Jon Stewart returns to "The Daily Show," Disney teases its "Magic Wands," Tucker Carlson praises Moscow, Mark Zuckerberg announces Threads will test trending topics, Bill Ackman rages against The WaPo, Warner Bros. inks a deal with Margot Robbie's production company, and so much more. But first, the A1.

THE A1

In a League of Its Own

CNN Photo Illustration/Michael Owens/Getty Images

The National Football League is an anomaly.

While nearly every legacy media company is in peril, facing the cold bitter winds and existential crises that the streaming era has given way to, the sports juggernaut is openly thriving as a peerless entertainment force.

Instead of finding itself in decline, the NFL is in the envious position of scoring ratings touchdowns and blitzing past its own impressive viewership records.

Super Bowl LVIII was no different, averaging 123.4 million viewers across several platforms to shatter previous records and become the most-watched live television program in a generation, according to preliminary numbers released by CBS Monday night. That ratings figure was up 7% from last year's Big Game, which previously held the title for the most-watched Super Bowl of all-time. 120 million viewers watched the sporting event on CBS, the largest audience ever for a single network, the company said.

In fact, the highly anticipated Sunday evening showdown in Las Vegas between the Kansas City Chiefs face and San Francisco 49ers drew such a large audience that it approached the number of viewers that tuned in for the historic Apollo 11 moon Landing. That seminal moment averaged 125 to 150 million U.S. viewers, according to estimates.

The record-breaking Super Bowl capped a strong season for the NFL, with the NFC championship game on Fox averaging 56 million viewers and the AFC championship game averaging 55 million on CBS. The epic conclusion to an already epic season proved that the NFL is at the apex of its powers.

It's all the more impressive given the collapse of the infrastructure that has defined the media business over the past several decades. Broadly speaking, the entire industry is in decline, as millions of people cut the cord each year, trading in traditional one-size-fits-all cable packages for a la carte streaming offerings, upending the entire business.

As a result, conventional media companies are struggling. Movie theaters are struggling. Even other sports leagues are struggling.

But the NFL is different. Instead of seeing its audience dwindle and taper off, the sports-media powerhouse appears immune to those forceful — and merciless — industry trends, which have wreaked havoc on everyone else.

"The NFL during the 2023-24 season – perhaps more so than any season in recent memory – separated itself from the rest of live entertainment properties on U.S. airwaves (entertainment, sports or political)," said Austin Karp, the digital managing editor of Sports Business Journal.

Notably, the NFL has managed to pull this feat off while its other two big counterparts in sports have not. The NBA and MLB still command sizable live audiences, but their viewership has slid considerably in recent years.

"Other sports like the NBA and MLB have work to do in making it easier to deliver live games for fans," Karp added. "There is the legal headache of the regional sports network situations. Also with delivery streaming locally to fans."

Last week, the Pew Research Center reported that more than half of Americans now believe football is "America's sport" — more than twice as many as those who said baseball, which has long been considered America's favorite pastime. It's a testament to how sown into the fabric of American life the NFL has become, which was on full display Sunday.

The NFL's cultural cache could not have been any more glaring, as Allegiant Stadium transformed into a Las Vegas carnival for the ages, attended by a parade of celebrities and other members of the societal elite.

What other event in America can draw a crowd mixed up of celebrities, politicians, and business leaders who fly across the world and pay it to be there? In attendance Sunday were Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Elon Musk, Gavin Newsom, Jay-Z, Tim Cook, LeBron James, Jimmy Kimmel, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Paul Rudd, Martha Stewart, Mark Wahlberg, Kendall Jenner, Shaquille O'Neal, Lizzo, and scores of other A-listers. No other event rivals the star power the Super Bowl draws.

"The NFL continues to separate itself from all other entertainment or sports programming, and I don't see it stopping," CBS Sports boss Sean McManus said in a Q&A with Puck's John Ourand. "I really don't. As it becomes more difficult to generate large audiences, the NFL is going to continue to be every bit as important and probably more important in the coming years."

IN THE AD BREAK

It was a made-for-TV moment. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce embraced for the cameras after the Chiefs' victory, with Swift calling the game "one of the craziest things I've ever experienced." (NYT)
It wasn't just Swift who coursed through the discourse during the game. Beyoncé used the moment to drop new music and announce a new country album. (Variety)
Brian Steinberg reviewed the ads, noting that "Madison Avenue relied on a massive parade of celebrities to capture consumer attention, foregoing in many cases the social messages and dynamic creative concepts that have generated chatter in the past." (Variety)
And Todd Spangler assembled a list of the most-watched ads on YouTube. (Variety)
I liked the Google Pixel ad the most, but thought overall the ads were a bit lackluster!
Did you enjoy Usher's Apple Music Halftime Show performance? Chris Richards declared it a "triumph" and said the "R&B superstar's maximalist halftime show felt like a victory against the odds." (WaPo)
Jon Caramanica wrote that Usher brought "precise details to pop's biggest stage," delivering "a raucous Atlanta party and a lesson in intimate showmanship." (NYT)
Others did not enjoy the show as much. Dominic Patten argued that the show "never caught fire," adding that "amidst all the technique and spotlights, there was no heart-stopping moment or big shocker." (Deadline)
Personally, I couldn't stop thinking about how poor the audio quality was. And I wasn't the only one. (Mirror)
👀 "The NFL and Apple Music appear to have altered video of Alicia Keys's performance during the Super Bowl halftime show, editing cracks in her vocals that were heard live," Herb Scribner reported. (WaPo)
It seems everyone was chattering about that RFK Jr. ad invoking the Kennedy name. Well, RFK Jr. apologized to his family over the Super Bowl spot, pointing out it was aired by a super pac "without any involvement or approvals" from his campaign. (TheWrap)
Cetaphil insisted that its ad idea about young women watching football was an "original creation" and not lifted from a social media influencer. (NYT)
A Fox News panel was not too pleased by Swift having the nerve to chug a beer at the big game. (MMFA)
Sports talk shows, have come to embrace politics as hosts mesh their views with sports, Ken Bensinger and Kellen Browning write. (NYT)

——— BELOW THE FOLD ———

CNN Photo Illustration/Comedy Central

Stewart's Sequel: He's back! Jon Stewart reclaimed the hosting chair at "The Daily Show" on Monday, taping his first show for Comedy Central in nearly a decade. While the episode has not yet aired as I'm writing this, I'm told that there were multiple standing ovations and that the studio was buzzing with excitement for his return (a line formed around the block as fans tried to secure a spot in the live audience). Ahead of the episode, Stewart sat for an interview on "CBS Mornings," explaining why he wanted to return. "I very much wanted to have some kind of place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season," Stewart said. Stewart also addressed his exit from Apple TV+, saying "they decided that they felt that they didn't want me to say things that might get me in trouble."

🔎 Zooming in: Will Stewart be able to recapture the magic this season and return "The Daily Show" to its previous standing in the culture? That's the big question. With Donald Trump and Joe Biden running for president, Stewart will have no shortage of fodder for his trademark politics-focused comedic satire. But, as we've previously noted, the renowned comedian is entering the hosting slot in a much more fragmented media world than the one he previously anchored in. And his loyal fans, for what it is worth, also likely have different viewing habits. "Comedy Central really thinks us Elder Millennials who grew up with Jon are still gonna be awake at 11 now?" quipped Alex Fitzpatrick. While obviously a joke, it does get at a very real issue. Can Stewart overcome such challenges? Time will tell.

THE INDUSTRY

IN THE MARKET

"Disney's Magic Wands": Disney is harnessing the powers of A.I. to launch a new tool intended to sync advertising with the mood of movies and shows on its streaming services. (Reuters)
On that topic, Daniel Thomas looks at how A.I. is transforming the ad industry. (FT)
"The new sports venture grew out of a frenetic, almost chaotic period of experimentation": Don't miss this deep dive on the new sports super-streamer from Joe Flint, Jessica Toonkel, Isabella Simonetti, and David Marcelis. (WSJ)
Amazon is being confronted with a class action lawsuit for allegedly misleading Prime subscribers when it started charging them an additional fee for an ad-free experience. (THR)
Cox Media Group and DirecTV inked a years-long deal on Sunday and restored local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations. (Cord Cutters)
✂️ Cuts, cuts, cuts: SiriusXM axed 160 employees, or around 3% of its workforce, citing efforts to "become even more efficient." (THR)

THE FOURTH ESTATE

"Is the media prepared for an extinction-level event," Clare Malone wondered in a detailed piece about the many challenges confronting the news industry. (New Yorker)
Brian Stelter looked at the demise of The Messenger and how former employees of the Jimmy Finkelstein-led news startup "have been airing their grievances on Slack." (Air Mail)
404 Media — the journalist-owned tech outlet that launched six months ago — is already profitable, providing a stark contrast with another news start-up that recently failed, Hanaa' Tameez reports. (NiemanLab)
2023 was Slate's best year, with revenue up 28% on year, a spokesperson for the outlet told Maxwell Tani. (Semafor)
One less media newsletter — at least for now. The Daily Beast is putting Confider on hiatus, a move that comes after Lachlan Cartwright who helmed the letter departed for The Hollywood Reporter. (Confider)
Semafor Executive Editor Gina Chua spoke to Bron Maher about how "Signals" — the tool the outlet partnered with Microsoft for — generates its A.I.-driven news feed. (Press Gazette)
Jon Wertheim had a must-watch piece about the importance of Sports Illustrated and how the magazine tackled the country's broader issues through the lens of sports. (CBS News)
ICYMI: Noah Shachtman announced he will step down early next month as editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone. (CNN)
Marlow Stern, who worked with Shachtman at the Daily Beast and as senior entertainment editor at Rolling Stone, announced Monday on X he is also leaving due to "a change in editorial strategy."
Samir Shah, the incoming BBC chair, is looking to sell Juniper, his production TV company, to avoid winding it down. (FT)
RIP: Bob Edwards, who hosted NPR's "Morning Edition" for almost 25 years, died at age 76. (CNN)

MEDIA MOVES

Telemundo named Michael Learmonth a senior director of unscripted development. (LinkedIn)

THE INFO WARS

CNN Photo Illustration/Ryan Lim/AFP/Getty Images

Carlson's City on a Hill: Step aside, New York. After allowing himself to be turned into Vladimir Putin's propaganda poodle during his two-hour chat with the Russian authoritarian last week, Tucker Carlson is looking to earn some extra credit. In an interview at Dubai's World Government Summit on Monday, the former Fox News host gushed about how glorious Moscow is. "It is so much nicer than any city in my country," Carlson said. "I had no idea." Carlson described the Russian capital as "cleaner" and "safer" and "prettier aesthetically" than cities in the U.S. The statement seemed so stunning that the moderator asked Carlson if he is anti-American, to which Carlson insisted he is not. "I am the most pro-American," Carlson said, going on to trash the cities in the U.S. as "filthy" crime-infested danger zones.

► Speaking of how great Moscow apparently is: A Moscow court ordered the arrest of Andy Stone, a Meta spokesperson, as the country continues to crack down on free speech. If only someone might have had a recent opportunity to question Putin about his anti-press restrictions!

IN THE BATTLEFIELD

"One candidate is old and makes verbal flubs. The other candidate is old, makes verbal flubs, faces 91 felony counts and wants to be a dictator," writes Mark Jacob, imploring journalists to be "less concerned about minor things politicians do accidentally than major things they do on purpose." (Stop the Presses)
Andrew Weissmann skewered the press for its coverage of Robert Hur's report on Joe Biden's handling of classified info. (Mediaite)
Tom Jones noted the report was the "main topic on the Sunday shows." (Poynter)
Trump, meanwhile, Nikki Haley spoke to Jake Tapper about how Trump is locked in his media safe space. (CNN)
Switching gears: Reeves Wiedman explains how Bill Ackman's fight against Harvard transformed him into "the public face of a billionaire class anxious it no longer rules the world." (New York)
The WaPo also published a feature on Ackman, written by Elizabeth Dwoskin, that somehow made no mention of the billionaire's attacks on Business Insider, among other things. (WaPo)
"If he's such a tough guy, how is it that he cannot handle tough questions? Did they not ask? Did he decline? Lord is this is a tongue bath of a profile," Kara Swisher commented. (Threads)
Meanwhile, Ackman was still not satisfied, continuing his critiques of the press by writing a lengthy post about how the piece represented "bad journalism." Ackman went even as far as to say he "made the mistake of agreeing to be photographed," writing, "The subheading is followed by a portrait where half of my face is in shadow. This is a well-known media tactic to create the impression that the subject of the story is two-faced and evil." Uh, okay. (Jewish Journal)

THE VALLEY

CNN Photo Illustration/Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP

Threads Tests Topics: One small step at a time, Threads is becoming more and more like Twitter of yesteryear. The Meta-owned app will start testing a list of trending topics, boss Mark Zuckerberg announced Monday. "Rolling out a small test of today's top topics on Threads in the US," Zuckerberg wrote in a post on the platform. "We'll roll it out in more countries and languages once we get it tuned up." And despite the Meta powers at be saying they will no longer recommend "political" content into users' feed (it's not clear how one exactly defines that and Meta has not offered its own description), a spokesperson for the app told TechCrunch's Sarah Perez that "political content can be a topic." More from Perez here.

TOO MANY TABS

A California federal court ordered Elon Musk to again testify as part of an SEC investigation into his 2022 purchase of Twitter. (CNBC)
Musk's X is also hoping to woo creators away from YouTube with new ad targeting. (Bloomberg)
TikTok just got a new user: Joe Biden. It's particularly notable given the national security concerns expressed by the U.S. government. (WSJ)
Mark Zuckerberg is facing more pressure to turn over documents related to Instagram to the U.S. Senate. (CNBC)
Sheryl Sandberg spoke to Jake Tapper about her new documentary focused on Hamas and sexual violence. (CNN)
Adam Rogers examined the long-term effects of Apple's Vision Pro, writing that the new device "may rewire our brains in some unexpected ways." (Business Insider)
The A.I. revolution is here: Ray A. Smith highlights how A.I. is beginning to threaten white-collar jobs. (WSJ)
Speaking of which, Google pledged $27 million to help teach people in Europe A.I. skills. (Reuters)
But maybe the humans will be around for a bit longer after all? Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot, both A.I.-powered chatbots, were caught making up stats. (TechCrunch)

CURTAIN CALL

CNN Photo Illustration/Gilbert Flores/Getty Images

Warner's Talent Wheel: Another Hollywood star has signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Pictures. The movie studio on Monday announced it had struck an agreement with "Barbie" star and producer Margot Robbie, inking a deal with the LuckyChap production company, which the actress co-founded with Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. "We are excited to have Margot, Tom and Josey join our extended family, making movies of all sizes and genres for moviegoers the world over," Warner Bros. co-bosses Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca said. The deal comes on the heels of Warner Bros. having secured a partnership with Tom Cruise. Deadline's Anthony D'Alessandro has details here.

OFF STAGE

On the topic of notable first-look deals, Tyler Perry inked one with Netflix. (The Wrap)
"Will Oscar ratings get a boost?": Rebecca Rubin wonders if major hits like "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" will power the annual awards show to ratings heights. (Variety)
Actors' Equity Association voted to authorize a strike against the Broadway League as the group continues to negotiate over work. (THR)
Rachel Brodsky sat down with Taylor Tomlinson to discuss the newly minted late-night host's career. (LAT)
"Everyone thought I was crazy": Jennifer Lopez spoke with Chris Gardner about financing her new Amazon Prime film. (THR)
PBS will premiere Ken Burns' new two-part Leonardo da Vinici documentary Nov. 18 and 19 starting at 8 p.m. ET. (TheWrap)
Sony has cast Ben Wang, known for his role in Disney+'s "American Born Chinese," to star as its new Karate Kid in its new martial arts franchise. (THR)
ABC renewed "Abbott Elementary" for a fourth season. (Deadline)
Netflix released the trailer for "Scoop," its dramatization of Prince Andrew's "Newsnight" interview. (YouTube)
Universal also released the official trailer for "Twisters." (YouTube)
Marvel released the trailer for "Deadpool & Wolverine." (YouTube)
20th Century Studios released the official trailer for "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." (YouTube)

Thank you for reading! This newsletter was edited by Jon Passantino and produced with the assistance of Liam Reilly. Have feedback? Send us an email. You can follow us on Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn. We will see you back in your inbox tomorrow.

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