Meta, Microsoft See Stocks Surge After Beating Quarterly Expectations

Meta said Wednesday that its third-quarter sales will finish in the $47.5 billion to $50.5 billion range, beating Wall Street’s revenue expectations for a 12th consecutive quarter and leading to a stock jump in after-hours trading. Additionally, the number of daily users who are active on Meta’s suite of apps grew to 3.48 billion. Meanwhile, Microsoft also saw its shares rise in extended hours after exceeding projections by reporting $76.44 billion in revenue, an 18% year-over-year increase.

The NBA confirmed Wednesday plans to play at least six regular-season games in Europe over the next three years, beginning with a pair of games between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic this season. They’ll face each other first on Jan. 15 in Berlin and then again three days later in London. The league will also play games in Manchester, England, and Paris, France, in 2026-27 before returning to Berlin and Paris for games in 2027-28.

La Liga is teaming up with Lowe’s for its El Partidazo event series, which will see the home improvement company become the title sponsor starting with the 2025-26 season, Boardroom learned Wednesday. This adds to Lowe’s increased interest in soccer, which includes MLS club partnerships and a deal with Lionel Messi. El Partidazo, which translates to “the great game,” has organized more than 100 events since its launch in 2023. Through this new alliance, fans can expect family-friendly activities and DIY soccer-inspired experiences at select Lowe’s locations nationwide.

Amazon is set to pay The New York Times $20 million to $25 million annually in a content licensing deal, according to the Wall Street Journal. While the deal itself was previously announced in May, this is the first time financials are being reported. In the new partnership, Amazon will be allowed to take articles from the Times’s news and cooking verticals, as well as The Athletic, to train its AI models to create summaries and excerpts to incorporate into products such as Alexa.

Two years after he brought Maestro to the New York Film Festival (NYFF) for its U.S. debut, Bradley Cooper is heading back to Lincoln Center this fall to present his dramedy, Is This Thing On? The world premiere is scheduled for Oct. 10 and will serve as the closing film of the 63rd NYFF, which runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 13. Starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, the story is inspired by British comedian John Bishop.

Formula 1 fans attending the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November will be treated to headlining performances from mgk, T-Pain, and Zedd outside the Sphere in a concert sponsored by T-Mobile. Sofi Tukker, Jess Glynne, Cimafunk, Balu Brigada, and Cassian are also expected to take the stage in the glow of the Vegas venue. Unique ticket options are available for the weekend-long event, including three-day tickets with either assigned seating or standing-room only.

In spite of the chaos of tariffs, the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 3% between April and June after falling 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025, per data shared Wednesday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. However, the report also showed a dip in final sales to domestic purchasers, rising just 1.2% compared to the 1.9% in Q1.

Fans of Sunday Night Football know the all-too-familiar theme song sung by Carrie Underwood ahead of kickoff. In celebration of the program’s 20th season, NBC teased that “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” will have a new look. Shot at The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, creative director Tripp Dixon said the jingle not only “plays to Carrie’s powerhouse vocals,” it will also visually create “a seamless blend of stylized shots and behind-the-scenes moments.” Audiences will hear the anthem for the first time Sept. 7 when the Baltimore Ravens face off against the Buffalo Bills.

The 2026 Formula 1 season will see Audi on the grid when it takes over Sauber as a new works operation. On Wednesday, the German manufacturer announced that Revolut is coming along for the ride as the team’s title partner. Calling them a “global fintech leader with over 60 million customers,” both sides will work together to “establish new ways for fans to interact with the sport during race weekends, with unique experiences for a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts and exclusive benefits for Revolut customers.”

As anticipation builds for the next installment of the beloved Avatar franchise hitting theaters this December, James Cameron already has plans for his next move. The Hollywood Reporter writes the legendary director is eyeing a potential animated anthology series, either for streaming or another blockbuster theatrical release. No further moves have been made, like securing a cast of animators or developing a plot, but this endeavor is further indication that the Avatar universe is far from having an end date.

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