Stephen Curry’s $400M Li-Ning Deal Sets Stage for Global Brand Takeover
Stephen Curry is making a major long-term bet on his off-court brand empire, signing a 10-year endorsement deal with Li-Ning reportedly worth more than $400 million, marking a major global expansion after his split from Under Armour. Curry supposedly passed on rival offers that would have paid even more for the opportunity to scale Curry Brand. The partnership expands into basketball, golf, and lifestyle apparel, with plans for retail stores in the U.S. and China as Curry builds a global sportswear business beyond his playing career.
BTS, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg & More to Perform at iHeartRadio Music Festival
BTS, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, and Zara Larsson lead a stacked lineup for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 18-19. The two-night Las Vegas event will also feature performances from Muse, Weezer, Benson Boone, Kenny Chesney, and more, with Ryan Seacrest set to host. The festival will stream live on Disney+ and Hulu.
Anthropic Files Confidential IPO While Scaling Cybersecurity Model Mythos
Anthropic is heading toward Wall Street. The AI startup behind Claude has confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO, beating rival OpenAI to the punch in the race to go public. The company was recently valued at $965 billion and is simultaneously expanding access to its cybersecurity-focused Mythos AI model across 150 new organizations in 15-plus countries. Anthropic says partners have already uncovered more than 10,000 critical software vulnerabilities using the system.
Conan O’Brien, Trevor Noah Podcasts Head to Tubi in New SiriusXM Deal
SiriusXM is expanding the reach of its top podcasts by bringing video versions to free streaming platform Tubi through a new distribution and advertising deal. Shows including Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and Trevor Noah’s What Now?, along with other top-ranked podcasts, will begin streaming in late June. The non-exclusive arrangement keeps content available across other platforms while boosting video distribution, as Tubi builds out its podcast strategy.
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart to Take ‘Roommates Show’ to Fanatics Fest with Aaron Judge
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are taking their podcast The Roommates Show to Fanatics Fest NYC on July 16 for a live taping featuring New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge. The crossover event brings together stars from the Knicks and Yankees for an unscripted conversation about competition, New York sports culture, and life on and off the field. The taping will come on the heels of Brunson, Hart, and the Knicks competing for a championship in the NBA Finals, which tips off on Wednesday night in San Antonio.
A24’s ‘Backrooms’ Continues to Dominate the Box Office
A24’s Backrooms is quickly becoming the surprise box office story of the summer. The viral horror hit earned $7.6 million on Monday, the biggest June Monday ever for an R-rated horror film, pushing its domestic total to $89 million in just four days. Made for under $10 million, the Kane Parsons-directed film is already A24’s biggest opening ever and is expected to hold strong against major studio releases, cementing internet-born horror as a serious force at the box office.
Alphabet Raises $80B to Fuel AI Infrastructure Push With Berkshire Backing
Alphabet is raising $80 billion to supercharge its AI ambitions, underscoring just how expensive the race for computing power has become. The Google parent says the funding will expand its AI infrastructure as demand for Gemini and cloud services outpaces available capacity. Berkshire Hathaway is contributing $10 billion as part of the deal, deepening its AI bet.
Aryna Sabalenka, WNBA Stars Invest in WTGL
WTGL is adding serious star power before its first season even begins. The upcoming women’s golf league, backed by TMRW Sports and Alex Morgan’s Trybe Ventures, has brought in a new wave of athlete investors, including Aryna Sabalenka, Hilary Knight, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier. The league is set to launch this winter and is still finalizing media rights, with ESPN viewed as the frontrunner.
Sony Pushes Into Desktop Gaming With New PlayStation Hardware Line
Sony is making a bigger push into the desktop gaming market with a new lineup of PlayStation hardware launching later this year. The company unveiled the $199 FlexStrike wireless fight stick, a 27-inch gaming monitor built for PS5 and PC play, and upcoming Pulse Elevate wireless speakers. The rollout signals Sony’s growing focus on competitive gaming and players moving beyond traditional living room setups, as the company builds a broader ecosystem.
ESPN Eyes Long-Term Future With Pat McAfee in Early Extension Talks
ESPN is reportedly already in talks to extend Pat McAfee’s deal years before his current contract expires in 2028, signaling how valuable the network views his growing media empire. McAfee continues to dominate with younger sports audiences while helping drive major sponsorship business, including a newly announced DraftKings partnership. The early negotiations also come as Netflix aggressively expands into sports podcasts, raising the stakes in the battle for top creator-led sports media talent.
Hilton Launches Undergraduate Brand to Capture College Town Market
Hilton is expanding its lifestyle hotel strategy with a new college-town brand, Undergraduate by Hilton, aimed at tapping consistent demand around campuses. Positioned in the upper-midscale segment, the concept will scale aggressively, with plans for up to 400–500 properties over time. The hotels will emphasize affordable stays and campus-inspired design meant to feel like “off-campus hangouts.” The first location is expected to open in 2027.
Will Arnett Joins Prime Video’s ‘The Challenger’ Cast Alongside Kristen Stewart
Will Arnett has joined Prime Video’s limited series The Challenger, starring Kristen Stewart as astronaut Sally Ride. Arnett will play NASA official George Abbey in the drama, which chronicles the lead-up to the 1986 Challenger disaster, its aftermath, and Ride’s historic role as the first American woman in space. The series is based on Meredith E. Bagby’s book The New Guys and comes from Amblin Television, Big Swing Productions, and Stewart’s Nevermind Pictures.
Image: Courtesy of Stephen Curry / Curry Brand
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