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Boardroom is a sports, media and entertainment brand co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman and focused on the intersection of sports and entertainment. Boardroom’s flagship media arm features premium video/audio, editorial, daily and weekly newsletters, showcasing how athletes, executives, musicians and creators are moving the business world forward. Boardroom’s ecosystem encompasses B2B events and experiences (such as its renowned NBA and WNBA All-Star events) as well as ticketed conferences such as Game Plan in partnership with CNBC. Our advisory arm serves to consult and connect athletes, brands and executives with our broader network and initiatives.

Recent film and TV projects also under the Boardroom umbrella include the Academy Award-winning Two Distant Strangers (Netflix), the critically acclaimed scripted series SWAGGER (Apple TV+) and Emmy-nominated documentary NYC Point Gods (Showtime).

Boardroom’s sister company, Boardroom Sports Holdings, features investments in emerging sports teams and leagues, including the Major League Pickleball team, the Brooklyn Aces, NWSL champions Gotham FC, and MLS’ Philadelphia Union.

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September 12, 2025
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Those in Vatican City on Saturday will be treated to a free concert featuring Clipse and Pharrell Williams as part of the Grace for the World event. Held in St. Peter’s Square, the first-ever concert at the venue will also feature performances from Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, and Karol G, plus a Sistine Chapel-inspired drone and light show. The event will stream live on ABC News Live, Hulu, and Disney+ at 3 p.m. ET.

ESPN recorded its most-watched WNBA regular season ever, averaging 1.3 million viewers across 25 games on the network, a 6% increase from 2024’s total. Eight of the top 10 most-watched WNBA contests aired on ESPN platforms, including the most-watched game ever: Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever on May 17, with 2.7 million viewers. WNBA Countdown also saw growth, averaging 549,000 viewers. ESPN has exclusive broadcast rights for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, which begin Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Coco Gauff Enterprises has partnered with Religion of Sports (ROS), the media company founded by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and Gotham Chopra, to launch IROC, the Gauff family’s media hub. IROC will create a variety of content centered on Coco Gauff and her family, ranging from digital shorts to long-form projects. Powered by ROS’s creative team, their first project is a commercial campaign for Naked Juice, with future content aimed at highlighting Gen Z athletes and changemakers.

The late Giorgio Armani left behind two wills, dated March 15 and April 5, which were publicly unveiled following his death on Sept. 4 at age 91. Per WWD, both state that his namesake foundation will take control of the Armani fashion group. Within 12 to 18 months, 15% of the company may be sold to LVMH, EssilorLuxottica, L’Oréal, or a similarly positioned luxury company. Between Years 3 and 5, up to 54.9% could be sold to the same buyer, or the company could pursue a public listing with a preference in Italy within 5 to 8 years. The foundation will retain a 30.1% stake to maintain control.

Week 1 of the NFL was the most-watched in league history, averaging 22.3 million viewers per game, a 5% jump from last year and up 19% from 2023. Four games averaged over 20 million viewers for the third straight year. The Eagles vs. Cowboys Thursday Night Football opener drew 28.3 million viewers, making it the second-most-watched kickoff game ever, while the Ravens vs. Bills Sunday night matchup followed closely with 24.7 million viewers.

The WNBA and lifestyle brand WEAR by Erin Andrews announced Friday a multi-year partnership and the launch of a new women’s sportswear collection. Debuting just before the playoffs, pieces include jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, and more, representing all 13 WNBA teams and the league itself. The collection is available to shop now at the WNBA online store and Fanatics.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle earned $11.4 million from previews, setting a new record for an anime film and beating Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero‘s previous high of $4.3 million. Sony expects a $35 million opening weekend, though some projections range between $45 million and $60 million. The film is also getting positive reviews, with a 96% critics’ score and 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

After seven seasons as a cast member, Ego Nwodim is leaving Saturday Night Live, making her one of several cast members not returning for Season 51, including Heidi Gardner, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker. Known for her standout impression of Dionne Warwick and viral characters like Lisa from Temecula, Nwodim was one of the show’s most featured female cast members.

California is set to become the first state to regulate AI companion chatbots. SB 243, which passed both legislative chambers with bipartisan support, awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision by Oct. 12. If signed, the law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, banning chatbots from discussing suicide, self-harm, or sexual content, and requiring safety protocols, regular AI disclosure reminders, and transparency. Reporting rules for companies like OpenAI and Replika would begin in July 2027.

On Friday, Spotify unveiled The Drop Weekly, a new in-app experience for both free and premium users in the U.S., delivering expert music insights and personalized recommendations every Friday. Developed by Spotify’s music editors, it spotlights major new releases, cultural moments, and emerging artists, alongside personalized picks based on listening history. It also includes upcoming releases from your pre-saves and Spotify’s Countdown Pages. 

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Vinciane Ngomsi

Vinciane Ngomsi is a Staff Writer at Boardroom. She began her career in sports journalism with bylines at SB Nation, USA Today, and most recently Yahoo. She received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Truman State University, and when she's not watching old clips of Serena Williams' best matches, she is likely perfecting her signature chocolate chip cookie recipe or preparing a traditional Cameroonian meal.