Super Bowl LVI Draws 36M American Viewers
Nearly one in four American households tuned into Sunday night’s matchup between the Rams and the Bengals, Samba TV has reported. With 36 million people, the viewership demonstrates a 12% increase year-over-year from last year’s showdown between the Bucs and the Chiefs. The game rounded out a huge year for the NFL, which posted viewership gains across the board. The news is especially relevant as there are expected to be some big off-season shakeups in both announcing crews and broadcast rights.
Dan Le Batard and Meadowlark Media Producing NFL Musical
The NFL season has come to a close, but there’s plenty of off-season action to keep fans entertained. Dan Le Batard and his media company, Meadowlark Media, are said to be preparing an NFL musical in partnership with Nashville-based musician JT Daly. The production is slated for a release the week of Feb. 28.
NFL Goes to Washington for Crypto Adoption
The NFL has remained mum on its plans for cryptocurrency; however, reports indicate that the shield spent more than $600,000 lobbying the SEC for “issues related to blockchain technology.” According to CNBC, the league’s efforts correspond with their internal exploration of the future of crypto and crypto adoption across the league.
Mastercard Prepares for Crypto Adoption with New Hires
The crypto wave is upon us, and for companies that have traditionally succeeded in the field of fiat banking the time has come to prepare for the transition to crypto. Mastercard is just one of those and it has posted over 500 jobs that will facilitate its adoption of cryptocurrency as part of its standard operations. The news comes just a month after Mastercard revealed its partnership with Coinbase, which will allow seamless NFT transactions.
Nike Unveils BHM Collection
Nike revealed its newest sneaker and apparel collection for Black History Month on Monday as part of its 17-year tradition of driving conversations about justice, education, and innovation. Additionally, the company announced the latest grant recipients for its $140 million Black Community Commitment program, which were each selected for its work towards those commonly held goals. The collection, which features three new Air Force 1 Low FM sneaker colorways from Black designers, seeks to provide visibility for Black history and heritage, and use that momentum to inspire the next generation of athletes.
New Yorkers Wagered $2B in First Month of Legalized Mobile Gambling
All bets are on in New York. Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed in a statement that the state pulled in over $2 billion in bets in the first month of legalized gambling. With a 51% rate, that netted nearly $71 million in tax revenue. Additionally, gross gaming revenue was estimated at $138 million.
Magic Johnson Four-part Docuseries Gets Premiere Date
Lakers fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming months, as the golden era of purple and gold is set to get the silver screen treatment. Apple TV+ debuted the trailer for “They Call Me Magic,” a four-part docuseries chronicling Magic Johnson’s playing career and business ventures. The series is slated for an April 22 release.
GoPuff and McLaren Ink F1 Sponsorship Deal
Last week, McLaren paved the way for the 2022 season, re-signing Lando Norris to a long-term deal. Now, the British auto company is preparing for the inaugural race of the F1 season with the announcement that it is teaming up with Philadelphia-based home delivery company Go Puff. Go Puff will leverage the partnership to build its global brand awareness and will be a featured sponsor on McLaren cars.
Dwyane Wade’s “The Cube” Gets Picked up for Second Season
Dwyane Wade has been building an empire in retirement. The show, which debuted last June, pairs contestants against each other in a series of challenges while inside a Perspex cube has been renewed for a second season by TBS. Wade’s production company 59th & Prairie, which is committed to “telling new and untold stories” signed a multi-year agreement with Warner Media in 2019, and is listed as one of the executive producers.