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Warner Bros streaming set down under via Max
WB top brass Jean-Briac Perrette lets cat out of the bag
Warner Bros Discovery’s president of global streaming and games
“We’ll do Europe before the Olympics, which we have to get done because we have the Olympics coming in Paris next summer. And then we will get to Asia,” Mr Perrette told media executives in Bali at a summit a few weeks back.
“Asia continues to be critically important, but we have to do it in that sequence. And we will get to Asia before the end of next year with our existing markets and then roll out to new markets again, starting in 2025.”
Mr Perrette told the Media Partners Asia APOS event that Warner Bros Discovery would “probably look to launch in a market like Australia after that”. “Australia’s a critically important market for us, where again we think our content is very strong for that market.” he added.
“Our measures of success are different than some others in the industry. We have three metrics: we have profitability, we have share, and we have scale. And we always said, you know, we’d rather be profitable and in fewer households than have more households and be losing billions of dollars,” he said.
“The company lost over $2 billion last year, we’re now profitable in the first half of the year. We feel great about that ... It’s not just about scale for scale’s sake.”
“Over the next five to 10 years, you’re going to end up with three to five big global players, in addition to maybe some local champions,” he said, flagging Warner Bros Discovery would look to partner with local studios to make shows.
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Others: Britbox, CrunchyRoll, Hayu and Optus Sport (and a few unofficial ones!). Readers, you will have to find them yourselves, and we are not talking about just YouTube!
TV Guide: 2023 Bathurst 1000 on Seven, Foxtel, and SEN - 6 October 2023
2023 is the 60th anniversary of the Great Race
The 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000 kicks into gear for 2023, with three full days of action from Mount Panorama available to watch on Seven, 7Plus, and Foxtel / Kayo Sports. SEN will have an audio broadcast.
On the 60th anniversary of the Great Race, practice laps will lead up to the major race and celebrations on Sunday.
Channel Seven and 7Plus
Seven’s broadcast of the final day at Mount Panorama starts from 7.30am AEDT Sunday.
On Seven, also celebrating a milestone this year is Sunrise’s Mark Beretta, who will suit up for his 25th Bathurst 1000 coverage alongside 7SPORT’s Mel McLaughlin, to bring Aussies every moment from the mountain over the three days.
Joining them will be Erebus Motorsport driver Jack Perkins, who will provide commentary in between competing in the Bathurst 1000 alongside co-driver Will Brown, while Emma Freedman will bring viewers all the excitement from the mountain and the campgrounds, and Mark Larkham reports live from pit lane along Chris Stubbs, Chad Neylon and Riana Crehan.
Supercars icons Mark Skaife and Neil Crompton will lead the commentary of the Supercars Championship’s premier event, while Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy will also join Seven for special insights.
Seven has also partnered with Komo Technologies and Repco to deliver a cross-platform digital experience hub to connect broadcast audiences across the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend, and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Great Race, with customised and personalised mobile engagement.
Foxtel
Kayo Sports has introduced five live streams for the qualifying rounds, shootout, and the main race.
• Heli-Cam: a live helicopter camera brings a birds-eye view across the entire weekend
• Live Timing: Keeping track of the fastest laps, sectors and timing from all teams
• Gazoo Dipper: A live feed from the third corner of the Esses
• Camaro Channel (Race Day): A channel that will rotate across Camaro drivers throughout race day, including in key place battles
• Mustang Channel (Race Day): A channel will rotate across Mustang drivers throughout race day, including in key place battles
Fox Motorsport commentary will be led by six-time Bathurst victor, Mark Skaife, flanked by Fox Motorsport host, Jessica Yates.
SEN
The coverage begins on SEN 1170am (Sydney) with The Jimmy Smith Show broadcasting live trackside from BBQ Galore’s Steakhouse on both Thursday and Friday from 12pm to 3pm. Located at the fastest corner of the track, The steakhouse will feature some of the country’s best pitmasters cooking with Smokers, Pizza Ovens and the everyday gas grill.
The action heats up on Saturday with a live broadcast from 4pm to 6pm, setting the stage for the big race on Sunday. SEN will provide coverage from 10am to 6pm, with the trio of Jimmy Smith, Aaron Noonan, and Paul Dumbrell at the helm.
Foxtel Media teams up with Mater Prize Home for the fifth season of Love It or List It - October 12, 2023
Foxtel Media has announced that it has teamed up with Mater Prize Home for the fifth season of Love It or List It to give clued-in real estate fans a chance to win a piece of prime Gold Coast property and a host of other prizes, including a Tesla Model Y and SeaFox 268 Commander boat.
Foxtel Lifestyle talent and residential property expert Andrew Winter, has signed on as an official brand ambassador for Mater Prize Home. The partnership featuring bespoke integration across Foxtel linear channels, BINGE, and IQ VOD streaming spans multiple campaigns, including sponsorships of Love It or List It Australia and Selling Houses Australia. It will also be amplified via Mater Prize Home assets, including social media.
A custom digital billboard featuring Winter will capture on-site content of the Helensvale, QLD home and will, for the first time, run across Foxtel’s linear and digital assets, including BINGE and Foxtel GO.
Love It or List It, produced by Beyond Productions exclusively for Foxtel, follows Winter and design guru Neale Whitaker as they are tasked with helping Australian homeowners decide whether to renovate or relocate from their property.
Laura Elliman, head of entertainment partnerships at Foxtel Media, said: “Foxtel Media is delighted to support Mater Prize Home by leveraging the popularity of Love It or List It. Real estate is a true passion point of our engaged audiences, and this partnership taps into this interest perfectly whilst also helping to drive funding to Mater, through Mater Foundation who runs Mater Prize Home. Fans will undoubtedly appreciate the opportunity to win a piece of coveted real estate, as they follow Andrew and Neale across the season.”
Fans of the popular lifestyle series can place themselves in the running to win Mater Prize Home’s biggest prize package ever through the purchase of a ticket. Each ticket sold is helping to support vital medical research, equipment and patient care, bringing hope and healing to so many in the community.
Andrew Winter, co-host of Love It or List It, said: “With such a tight property market, I’m excited to see the Love It or List It audience be inspired by the new ideas we explore on the latest session of the show and try their luck in winning the great prize package on offer from Mater Prize Home. I’m excited to work with them on this campaign and contribute to the great healthcare initiatives that are supported through the Mater Foundation.”
Simon Jarvis, director Lotteries at Mater Foundation, said: “The choice to go with Foxtel Media, Andrew, and Love It or List It was an easy one. The Foxtel Group is known for its quality programming and premium advertising experience, so we knew that we would be able to reach exactly the right target audience through our collaboration. We can’t wait to see how Australia’s favourite property duo will transform the lives of real Australians on the newest season of the show.”
BINGE announces global news channels and 4K availability on the platform - October 5, 2023
BINGE customers will have access to global news channels, CNN International, MSNBC and Bloomberg TV
BINGE has announced that customers on standard and premium tiers will be able to stream the best of BINGE in 4K.
In addition, all BINGE customers will have access to live and breaking news with global news channels, CNN International, MSNBC and Bloomberg TV.
The streaming platform offers customers the biggest shows from around the globe, including hits like The White Lotus, Vigil and American Horror Story: Delicate plus the best Australian originals like Colin from Accounts, The Twelve and Love Me.
Alison Hurbert-Burns, executive director of BINGE, said: “We know customers love streaming entertainment in 4K, especially big production shows like House of the Dragon and The Last of Us which is why I am so pleased that we can now provide this feature.
“The addition of live news channels will help viewers stay up to date with all the latest news from around the world, offering more content and greater value to our customers.”
4K will be available on the streaming platform from late October for elected content and selected devices that are 4K TV compatible and will require a minimum broadband speed of 25Mpbs.
The announcement comes after BINGE revealed the new cast of The Real Housewives of Sydney, including Dr Kate Adams, Terry Biviano, Caroline Gaultier, Victoria Montano, Sally Obermeder, Krissy Marsh and Nicole O’Neil.
The 10-part series commissioned by BINGE, is produced by Matchbox Pictures, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, with production taking place across Sydney and one special overseas adventure.
News
Tony Abbott and the meeting of minds at Fox - October 13, 2023
Former prime minister Tony Abbott is on track to join Fox Corporation’s board of directors next month, in Lachlan Murdoch’s first major move as he looks to stamp his authority as the company’s sole chair.
The announcement to nominate Abbott to the Fox board came one day after Lachlan Murdoch’s confirmation as heir to the News and Fox empire, carrying on the Murdoch tradition of bringing notable figures from the world of politics into the family’s corporate inner sanctum.
If the move is confirmed at Fox Corp’s annual meeting in November, Abbott will join conservative US politician Paul Ryan on the board, while former US senator Kelly Ayotte and former Spanish president José María Aznar sit on the News Corp board.
Bush and Trump administration secretary Elaine Chao also sat on News Corp’s board between stints in government.
Lachlan Murdoch and Abbott are close friends, their relationship dating beyond Abbott’s ascent to the top of Australian politics, with Sarah Murdoch, Lachlan’s wife, launching Abbott’s book, Battlelines, in 2009.
“I don’t know that he’s got much media experience beyond a few years in journalism,” says The Australian’s longest-serving editor-in-chief, Chris Mitchell. “I’m not sure he’d bring any particular skills to do with publishing, TV or pay TV.”
Mitchell, who has known Abbott since his days at The Australian in the 1980s, and Lachlan Murdoch “since he was a boy”, sees the two as a “meeting of minds”.
Apart from his time at The Australian, Abbott also worked at The Bulletin before being appointed press secretary to former Liberal opposition leader John Hewson in 1990.
“He didn’t have media respect,” Hewson says, noting his speech writing was usually “extremely right wing”.
Despite Abbott’s limited media experience, Fox’s board says he has the necessary skills and experience required, as noted in its AGM proxy statement.
Abbott ticks seven of the 10 boxes, according to the board, and is likely to earn anywhere between $467,000 and $543,000 depending on his extra duties, a similar return to his earning power for two years as prime minister.
After losing his electoral seat of Warringah in 2019, Abbott was appointed as a trade adviser to the UK government in 2020.
The decision to install Abbott may not be based on his relevant media qualifications, says Stephen Mayne, Crikey founder and shareholder activist, adding the Murdochs have form appointing former conservative politicians.
“It’s more than an anomaly now,” Mayne says.
If Abbott is successful, he will replace Jacques Nasser, a former CEO of Ford and chair of BHP. Mayne says Abbott replacing “Rupert’s most credible director”, having served 22 years, is telling of the direction of Fox.
Aznar serves as the best comparison to Abbott, a former senior executive in Rupert Murdoch’s team says. The former Spanish president’s appointment in 2006 to the News Corporation board is “a kind of pat on the back” for like-mindedness, Spain’s support of America in the Gulf War and “doing right by Western democracy”.
Aznar remains on the News Corp board 17 years later.
Former senior adviser to John Howard Niki Savva, who profiled Abbott’s leadership in a highly publicised 2016 book, now calls him a “warrior for conservative causes” in Australia and overseas, referencing his “pivotal role” in the 1999 republic referendum, and similarly in the likely successful campaign against the Voice, to be determined on Saturday.
The board move confirms News and Fox are “almost as much political organisations as commercial organisations”, says Mayne, this sentiment hardening since Fox’s exit from entertainment through the sale of 21st Century Fox to Disney in 2019.
An individual in Lachlan’s inner circle says political thinking can be an asset on boards, noting that Ryan, a former speaker of the House and Mitt Romney’s 2012 running mate, adds value in their directorial duties.
Long-time News Limited chair and CEO John Hartigan says, “he’s not out of place”, despite never getting the impression Abbott either had, or lacked, relevant media skills.
“Is Tony the appropriate person? Who knows,” says Hartigan, though he and Mitchell agree it is natural for a new chair to build out their own support.
Another factor behind Abbott’s nomination could be Lachlan Murdoch’s desire to shore up support in the event of the death of Rupert Murdoch, 92, who maintains considerable power through the Murdoch family trust.
Veteran ABC broadcaster Jon Faine, once referred to by Abbott as an “equal opportunity mongrel”, a badge he wears with pride, questions whether the former prime minister will look at Fox News’ role in a similar light in his new role.
“There’s great responsibility involved in these jobs, as with anyone in the media, and it will be really interesting to see which version of Tony Abbott we’re going to get on this board.”
Abbott declined to comment. Fox was approached for comment.
News
Sky Network Television taps Jarden as bid lands - October 13, 2023
Dual-listed pay-TV provider Sky Network Television has brought in its long-time adviser Jarden, after receiving a non-binding indicative offer from a mystery international bidder.
Sources said the bidder has hired Rothschild’s bankers to advise it on the tilt. Sky disclosed the approach in its exchange filings on Friday morning, citing it as the reason for the pause in its buyback.
However, Sky did not disclose the price. That’s unheard of if the company is still considering the NBIO and hasn’t rejected it yet.
It comes after Street Talk spotted at least two private equity firms kicking tyres at Sky last year.
In a research flash note mailed out to clients this morning, Forsyth Barr analysts Aaron Ibbotson and Matt Montgomerie said they expected Sky to fetch a “meaningful bid-premium”.
“SKT currently trades on a 12 month forward PE of ~6.5x, a ~-25% discount to its five year history and an EV/EBIT of ~4.5x, a ~-26% discount to its five year average; it is one of the lowest valued stocks on the NZX,” the duo wrote.
“More importantly, for a potential financial buyer we estimate that it is valued on a FY25 FCF yield of ~10% which makes it possible for a private equity buyer to offer a meaningful premium to the undisturbed price and still use leverage even in today’s high interest rate environment.”
The company has a $NZ358 million market capitalisation. Sky last traded at $2.33 a share on the ASX after gaining 10.95 per cent year to date.
More to come
(AFR)
News
The real family drama behind ‘Succession’ - October 6, 2023
From sibling squabbles to inheritance infighting, the popular television series has a rich history of familial strife on which to draw.
thought my family was f---ed up,” says a character in the forthcoming third series of Succession. “This is next level.” That’s an understatement: Succession seems to be the penthouse of dramas, far above ordinary means and mayhem.
Yet the Emmy-winning HBO show does not imagine what could go wrong in family empires; it plasters together what has gone wrong in case after case in real life, and applies a glorious gloss of wordplay and satire. In Succession, history really does repeat itself, the second time as farce and much more enjoyable.
The show centres on the Roys, a plutocratic media family grappling with two biological facts: the patriarch will die, and none of his children is his clone. (This article contains spoilers for seasons one and two.) In the very first episode, billionaire Logan Roy has a stroke – before naming a successor. He joins a very large club. Medieval kings were desperate to produce an heir; their modern equivalents are inclined to forget their mortality. Indian magnates Anil and Mukesh Ambani feuded after their father Dhirubhai died following a stroke, without leaving a will.
Logan’s problem is more complicated. As he lies in a coma, we discover his company has billions in hidden debt. Now we are in the annals of Robert Maxwell, whose media group was revealed by the Financial Times, the day after his death in 1991, to owe hundreds of millions of pounds more than stated. Maxwell’s sons Kevin and Ian found that their first inheritances from their father were a financial crisis and a fraud trial.
Unlike Maxwell, Succession’s Logan survives. He retakes the reins of his empire, despite being so unwell that he confuses his son’s office carpet for a urinal. It is enough to rival Sumner Redstone, who tried to remain chairman of his media conglomerates, CBS and Viacom, when he could no longer speak. Redstone communicated via an iPad loaded with audio clips of himself saying “yes”, “no” and “f--k you”.
“I have no intention of ever retiring, or of dying,” he had said, at the age of 85. He died last year, aged 97, two years after a court had declared him incapacitated.
More to the picture
But Succession never pulls too hard on one thread; there is always more to the picture. Shortly before his stroke, Logan tries to blindside his children into weakening their control of the family trust, telling them on his 80th birthday that it’s the one present he really wants.
Welcome to the life and times of Australian mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, who warned her children that they would go bankrupt unless they agreed, within three days, to extend her control of a family trust. A judge found her legal tactics against her children had “closely approach[ed] intimidation”.
“They don’t appreciate ... the efforts I went to,” Rinehart shot back, soon afterwards.
In Succession, Logan ends up facing a boardroom coup, led by his son Kendall. That scene will not have surprised the Shin family, head of South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group, where the younger son convened a board meeting and removed his father. Kendall fails in his coup, so teams up with a hedge fund and a rival media group to mount a hostile takeover. The set-up recalls the case of George Strawbridge, grandson of the founder of Campbell’s Soup, who allied with activist hedge fund investor Dan Loeb to oust the entire board.
However, Kendall is troubled by addiction problems, which recall the struggles of Australian scion James Packer. He drives a car off the road into a lake, and his young companion drowns, an incident that strongly resembles Senator Ted Kennedy’s crash on Chappaquiddick Island.
Succession’s characters are constantly questioning what is real — “Is this real?” ; “Are you for real?“; “No real person involved”. The joke is that none of it is real, and yet all of it is.
The family that Succession draws most from is the Murdochs. Years ago the show’s creator, Jesse Armstrong, wrote a script (never produced) about Rupert Murdoch’s 78th birthday party. These days he and the show’s stars sometimes play down the link, and not just because Murdoch knows good libel lawyers.
The endless ingredients generate the richness, like a sort of Oedipal Ottolenghi recipe.
They cite other influences for Succession: King Lear; Roman tragedies; Ivan the Terrible, who murdered his adult son; and Andre Agassi, whose father devised a machine that would force him to hit nearly 1 million tennis balls a year. The endless ingredients generate the richness, like a sort of Oedipal Ottolenghi recipe.
But the dominant flavour is still Murdoch: a right-wing media magnate who allows three of his children to compete with each other for position; who fights off a corporate debt crisis; who indulges an extremist TV host; who denies all knowledge of criminal behaviour in his empire; who tries, with mixed success, to buy trophy media assets; and who hires a therapist to try to reconcile his family in what may be a publicity stunt.
It’s all in the Murdoch family history and it’s all in Succession. “I read everything ever written on the Murdochs,” Jeremy Strong, the actor who plays Kendall, has said. “I read that James Murdoch ties his shoelaces very tightly. That was interesting.”
The Roys and the Murdochs
In broad brush, Kendall is James Murdoch, the child who feels he has earned the top job by slaving away in the empire but who is passed over. His sister Shiv Roy is Elisabeth Murdoch – the liberal who keeps her distance but would love to take over. Roman is Lachlan Murdoch – the maverick. (Lachlan now runs much of what remains of the Murdoch empire after the family sold out lucratively to Disney.) The Roy children are not only competing for their father’s job; they are competing for his affection, which he offers just often enough to keep them interested. “For a media guy, he’s not the greatest communicator,” Kendall notes drily.
The fact that Succession is recognisable from reality makes it more compelling (see also: The Crown, The West Wing). But how recognisable is it for people who don’t travel on superyachts, who don’t spend $US15,000 on a birthday present or eat endangered songbirds for dinner, and who actually need to wear overcoats because they may not be chauffeured at every turn? How universal are its depictions of sibling rivalry, the desire for parental approval and dilemmas about family obedience?
More universal than it might seem. In his book The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama seeks to explain the “chronic restlessness” that drove him into politics. “Someone once said that every man is trying to either live up to his father’s expectations or make up for their father’s mistakes,” he writes. Obama went from hero-worshipping his father to being shocked by his failings. Unlike Succession’s Logan, Obama snr was not visible on every TV screen and every newspaper, but he still shaped his son’s outlook.
Logan doesn’t push his kids to flatter him, like Donald Trump did when he interviewed Donald jnr and Ivanka on camera. But he has fixed expectations: he wants his children to be like him. That is impossible, not least because his wealth means that they didn’t have his impoverished childhood.
Some psychotherapists use the term “reproductive narcissism” to describe parents’ tendency to favour children who resemble them. Logan forces his children to choose between two versions of themselves, one that is defined by his achievements and one that isn’t. His own narcissism comes to the fore at the end of series two, when Kendall betrays him again. Logan smiles, because finally his son is acting as ruthlessly as he would.
Sibling rivalry
A school of economics posits that sibling competition is widespread and rational, not limited to family businesses. The bestselling book SuperFreakonomics cited evidence that adult children who stood to receive a large inheritance visited an elderly parent more often if they had a sibling. Subsequent research has questioned that conclusion, suggesting siblings may not be mercenaries after all.
Psychotherapists tend to distinguish between natural sibling rivalries and desires for parental attention, and pathologies that emerge when affection is in short supply. “Some families think healthy competition is good for children. I really don’t think that is a good idea at all,” says Hannah Sherbersky, senior lecturer in psychology at Exeter university.
In Succession, the Roy children are subjected to intense, Maxwell-style bullying and belittling by their father, who refuses to appreciate whatever they give him (particularly when Roman tries to buy him his favourite Scottish football team but mistakenly buys Hearts, not Hibs). Their mother is just as bad, spending the reception before her daughter’s wedding asking guests to bet how long the marriage will last.
The show suggests that the Roys are not a family at all, just a conglomerate of unintegrated assets. “We’re eating family-style,” says Logan’s third wife, Marcia, at a get-together. “Almost like we’re a family,” quips Roman. Strong, who plays Kendall, has quoted a phrase attributed to Carl Jung: “Where love is absent, power fills the vacuum.”
But there is love in Succession. Kendall is passed over by his father to become chief executive, but still ends up singing a laudatory, cringe-inducing rap: “L to the O, G, A, N.”
Many family disputes — the Ambanis, the Murdochs — have involved siblings taking on siblings. In 1980, Charles Koch, chief executive of Koch Industries, survived a coup attempt by his younger brother Bill. He voted his brother out of the company at the next board meeting. By contrast, the Roy siblings jostle, but they haven’t actually fought directly in Succession. They recognise that they alone share the burden of being Logan’s children. And better that one of them takes control than an outsider.
Ultimately, the Roys can hire people to cook their meals, treat their psyches, and clean up their mess. But they can’t hire people to be their family (although Connor, the eldest, most delusional child, does try). When Logan’s spiteful brother, Ewan, is asked to back a no-confidence vote in him, he replies: “My brother’s an ex-Scot, an ex-Canadian, an ex-human being. But he’s still my brother.”
Family v non-family business
Family businesses have strange dynamics, particularly around the selection of an heir. At least Oedipus didn’t have to win his father’s backing as his named successor. The oldest is not always the best fit. “I’ve managed to get myself into this situation, where ‘what does my dad think?’ is my entire fucking universe,” laments Succession‘s Shiv, as she tries to overcome Logan’s resistance to favouring a woman. With your parent as your boss, you may be infantilised forever.
One tempting conclusion from the show is that you should never try to work with your family. That would be wrong. For every feuding family business, there are probably several happy ones. Eddie Hearn, the British boxing promoter who is taking over his father Barry’s business, has said of Succession: “It’s just like us!” The Hearns’ rivalries seem to be contained in a successful business that is bigger than father or son could have built alone. Succession may be a modern King Lear, but Shakespeare wrote more comedies than tragedies.
“Family businesses at their best are world-beating,” says Professor Nigel Nicholson, an evolutionary psychologist at London Business School. He recalls one British family business owner who felt confident enough to surround himself with clever people because he knew he was unsackable.
By contrast, “the level of competition and distrust in non-family businesses is seriously problematic”, says Nicholson. (Even in Succession, arguably the most duplicitous character isn’t one of the Roys but Stewy, a private equity investor and university friend of Kendall’s.)
Jonathan Knee, a former investment banker and a professor at Columbia Business School, argues that family and non-family businesses are less different than they appear. Among turbulent US banks in the early 2000s, “every single one of them had a Succession-like drama”, he says.
“There are two different lines of research that I’ve never been able to reconcile,” says Knee. “One is that family businesses do better and there are reasons that make sense for that: levels of trust, facility of communication etc. Then there’s a bunch of really interesting research that diversity really does allow you to cross-pollinate and learn things. What is the opposite of diverse? A family!”
Knee’s working hypothesis is that organisations outperform when they are “at the extremes” — with lots of family control or lots of diversity. The problems come in the middle, when organisations are too heterogeneous to have high trust and not diverse enough to cross-pollinate. “That’s most of the world!”
Perhaps the most far-fetched part of Succession is Shiv working for a Bernie Sanders-style senator intent on destroying the family empire. That has no parallel in real life. But scions are speaking out: Abigail Disney campaigned against the pay of Disney’s then chief executive, Bob Iger. Mary Trump detailed the psychological flaws of her uncle Donald (who is now suing her, accusing her of leaking his tax affairs).
James Murdoch quit News Corp’s board last year and has since taken potshots at his family’s Fox News. And the idea of Succession’s Connor Roy – a man so privileged and bored that he “hyper-decants” his wine – running for president as a libertarian has precedents: David Koch was the Libertarian party’s candidate for vice-president in 1980, and Steve Forbes, of the Forbes publishing family, ran for the Republican nomination in 1996 and 2000.
We wait to find what happens in the third season of Succession. But if the writers wanted material, they could have looked to the UK’s Sir Frederick Barclay, who was bugged by his own nephews while he smoked cigars in London’s Ritz Hotel (which the family owned at the time). And if the show wants a dark turn, there’s the fate of Robert Maxwell’s favourite daughter: Ghislaine Maxwell goes on trial next month on sex-trafficking charges, which she denies. By comparison, the Roys are not exceptional. They even start to look like us.
(Financial Times)
Rich Lister accused of encouraging ‘incredibly inappropriate’ behaviour - October 13, 2023
Ed Craven, the young Rich Lister and founder of one of the world’s biggest online casinos, Stake.com, has been accused of encouraging inappropriate behaviour towards a woman on his live-streaming platform, Kick.
Kick, which was only established in Melbourne last year, was founded by Craven and his business partner, Bijan Tehrani, and is the main competitor to Amazon’s Twitch.
Stake.com’s Ed Craven and American internet personality Paul Denino, known as “Ice Poseidon”.
The multibillion-dollar live-streaming industry boasts of tens of millions of users worldwide who upload videos or provide commentary as they play video games and go about their daily lives. It has attracted some 20 per cent of US teens to Twitch, Kick’s rival, according to Pew Research Centre. It has also created niche celebrities with avid fan bases.
Mr Craven’s Kick has sought to boost the platform’s popularity further by sponsoring the Alfa Romeo F1 Team and Everton Football Club.
In late September, Mr Craven met streamer Paul Denino, or “Ice Poseidon”, when he visited Australia. Famous for distasteful stunts and a fan base called the “Purple Army”, Mr Denino has hundreds of thousands of subscribers on Kick and his videos clock millions of views.
The multibillion-dollar live-streaming industry boasts of tens of millions of users worldwide who upload videos or provide commentary as they play video games and go about their daily lives. It has attracted some 20 per cent of US teens to Twitch, Kick’s rival, according to Pew Research Centre. It has also created niche celebrities with avid fan bases.
Mr Craven’s Kick has sought to boost the platform’s popularity further by sponsoring the Alfa Romeo F1 Team and Everton Football Club.
In late September, Mr Craven met streamer Paul Denino, or “Ice Poseidon”, when he visited Australia. Famous for distasteful stunts and a fan base called the “Purple Army”, Mr Denino has hundreds of thousands of subscribers on Kick and his videos clock millions of views.
Mr Denino and two others live-streamed themselves on the Kick platform hiring an escort at an apartment in Brisbane in which they showed her face online. An account in Mr Craven’s name posted laughing emojis in the chat section of the stream while it took place.
Marcus Graham, a former top executive at Twitch and veteran live-streamer, described the behaviour as “incredibly inappropriate and incredibly unsafe”. “Those who can’t see what is wrong with it is the audience Kick is trying to go after,” he said.
Mr Craven was one of 26 debutants on last year’s Young Rich List, entering at age 27 with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. Stake.com is the shirt sponsor of English Premier League team Watford.
Silence condemned
Mr Denino was arrested in Thailand for inappropriate behaviour at a Bangkok restaurant prior to his arrival in Australia. He was later released after issuing an apology.
After a barrage of criticism of the video, Mr Craven responded by outlining new community guidelines, but streamers condemned his silence on his own participation.
“Ed did put out a tweet to discuss changes happening at Kick, however, has taken no accountability for his own actions during that stream, that he allowed this stream to carry on,” a live-streamer known as SailorPeach, 31, told The Australian Financial Review.
Mr Craven declined to comment.
The fast-growing streaming service has offered a 95-5 revenue split with the creators, who make money through subscriptions and donations on the platform, with the hopes of luring young talent away from larger streaming services such as Twitch.
Some streamers who had been sponsored by Stake.com decamped to Kick after Twitch began enforcing a ban on certain gambling live-streams.
The platform prominently features streamers playing games on his online casino, Stake.com, which critics say promotes gambling to children since under-18s are big users of live-streaming.
This is despite the fact Australians are technically banned from using Stake.com, which is run out of Australia. The site is geo-blocked from Australia.
“They are showcasing gambling in a very positive light to impressionable kids,” Mr Graham said. Kick asks users to confirm they are above the age of 18 when viewing certain content, including gambling.
Australian regulators say they cannot intervene. The communications watchdog can apply to the Federal Court to fine a business up to $281,700 for each advertisement that promotes prohibited interactive gambling services, such as casino-style slots.
However, the Australian Communications and Media Authority acknowledged it had limited power to rein in global platforms.
“Prohibition includes the publication of these advertisements on a website accessible by Australians, but if and only if the ACMA is satisfied that the majority of persons who access the content are physically present in Australia,” a spokesman for ACMA said.
“This potentially limits the reach of the advertising prohibition for websites that have a global audience such as Kick, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.”
Promoter
Especially: one who assumes the financial responsibilities of a sporting event (such as a boxing match) including contracting with the principals, renting the site, and collecting gate receipts.
He was a promoter of boxing, pro wrestling, martial arts and the health and well-being sector. He combined both news, journalism, advertising and various promotions in the course of business. Promotions were both traditional and online based.
More examples:
As a promoter, the model significantly reduces costs, especially for the middle shows on a three, four or five night run.—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2023
Mike O’Malley, who was also the series showrunner, starred in the role of Charlie Gully, a rival promoter.—Joe Otterson, Variety, 25 Sep. 2023
Lam was a promoter of the crypto exchange JPEX, which was publicly admonished last week by the Hong Kong’s version of the SEC, the Securities and Futures Commission, or SFC. - Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Crypto, 19 Sep. 2023
Bruce Lee
“Empty your mind. Be formless. Shapeless. Like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” - Bruce Lee
SEJ Paid Organic LinkedIn
SEJ's Brooke with another insightful and educational feature on organic vs paid social media. Numerous valid points. In theory it would make strategic sense to balance the risk and adopt and execute both paid and organic. On my own experience as an agent and longtime online publisher I discovered with a number of our clients that one they stopped paying for paid social media results their online visibility and exposure via social media greatly diminished. Sometimes it can be better to build and ramp up at your own pace, in your own natural and organic way - and not be so reliant upon others, be it big tech platforms or other. Platforms have been known to pull the rug out from people, so a Plan A,.B.and C, as well as other safeguards and fool-proof formula is recommended. Own website/s are greatly recommended and the sites can then link to the channels. Don't put the cart before the horse as the old saying goes..I'm most greatly that I focussed on organic growth and development many moons ago. So all SEO,.SEM, social media with the.main business model, aims and objectives in mind. Build, test and improve. Success!
WWE FASTLANE ® DELIVERS RECORDS FOR VIEWERSHIP, GATE & SPONSORSHIP
STAMFORD, Conn., October 9, 2023 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that Fastlane, which emanated from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, became the most-watched and highest-grossing Fastlane in company history. The premium live event set new Fastlane records for viewership, gate and sponsorship.
Viewership for Fastlane was up 71 percent versus the previous record set in 2021. The sold-out show marked the largest gate ever for any Fastlane, up more than 31 percent versus the previous record set in Cleveland in 2016, and became the highest-grossing WWE event ever held in Indianapolis.
In addition, Fastlane sponsorship revenue was up 60 percent versus the previous record set in 2021.
About WWE
WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in approximately 165 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
09.21.2023
Smackdown Returns To USA Network as part of Five-Year Agreement Between WWE and NBCUniversal
WWE to Make NBC Primetime Debut with Launch of Four Network Specials
STAMFORD, Conn., Sep. 21, 2023 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), and NBCUniversal have agreed to a five-year domestic media rights partnership that will bring Friday Night SmackDown back to USA Network beginning October 2024. Additionally, beginning in the 2024/25 season, WWE will produce four primetime specials per year that will air on NBC, marking the first time WWE will air on the network in primetime.
SmackDown will come exclusively to NBCU as one of television’s longest-running programs, regularly rating as the No. 1 show in the 18-49 advertising demographic on Friday nights and featuring many WWE Superstars including John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Rey Mysterio.
“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”
“It’s a privilege and thrill to continue NBCU’s decades-long partnership with WWE which has helped cement USA Network’s consistent position as the top-rated cable entertainment network in live viewership” said Frances Berwick, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment. “With Friday nights on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock, we’ll continue to use the power of our portfolio to super-serve this passionate fanbase.”
As part of WWE and NBCUniversal’s longstanding relationship, USA Network is currently home to WWE NXT and WWE Monday Night Raw, which is the #2 cable entertainment program in 2023 in the 18-49 demo. Demonstrating the deeply engaged WWE audience on USA, WWE NXT (+27%) and WWE Monday Night Raw (+15%) are up double-digits year-over-year in the target demographic. WWE Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT will continue to air on USA Network through September 2024.
In addition, since 2021, Peacock has been the exclusive home of WWE Network in the U.S. where Peacock subscribers can stream thousands of hours of on-demand programming from WWE including original series, groundbreaking documentaries, fan-favorite shows from the WWE archives, and premium live events like WrestleMania, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, Summer Slam, and more. WWE continues to drive high engagement on the platform, with this April’s WrestleMania 39 livestream delivering a record-breaking weekend for Peacock as its highest weekend usage to-date.
# # #
About WWE
WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in approximately 165 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
About NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
About TKO
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company that comprises UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. Together, our organizations reach more than 1 billion TV households in approximately 170 countries, and we organize more than 350 live events year-round, attracting over one million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.
09.12.2023
Endeavor Announces Close of UFC® And WWE® Transaction to Create TKO Group Holdings, a Premier Sports and Entertainment Company
New Company to Begin Trading Today, September 12, on the New York Stock Exchange Under “TKO” Ticker Symbol
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & STAMFORD, Conn. (September 12, 2023) – Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) (“Endeavor”) and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (previously NYSE: WWE) (“WWE”) today announced the close of their previously announced agreement and the launch of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) (“TKO”).
TKO brings together UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment, to create a new premium sports and entertainment company serving more than one billion young and diverse fans1, reaching viewers in 180 countries, and producing more than 350 annual live events. Through this combination, TKO will leverage Endeavor’s expertise in areas including domestic and international media rights, ticket sales and yield optimization, event operations, global partnerships, licensing, and premium hospitality to drive revenue growth.
“The creation of TKO marks an exciting new chapter for UFC and WWE as leaders in global sports and entertainment,” said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor and TKO. “Given their continued connectivity to the Endeavor network, we are confident in our ability to accelerate their respective growth and unlock long-term sustainable value for shareholders. With UFC and WWE under one roof, we will provide unrivaled experiences for more than a billion passionate fans worldwide.”
“This is the culmination of a decades-long partnership between Endeavor and WWE across strategic initiatives including talent representation and media rights. Given our collaborative, trusted relationship and Endeavor’s incredible track record of success growing UFC, we believe WWE is optimally positioned for future growth and success as part of TKO,” said Vince McMahon, Executive Chairman of TKO. “Our focus remains on delivering for our fans across the globe as we take the business to the next level alongside UFC and Endeavor.”
TKO will begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TKO,” with Endeavor holding a 51% controlling interest in the new company and existing WWE shareholders holding a 49% interest in the new company, on a fully diluted basis.
Leadership Team
As previously announced, TKO is led by:
Ariel Emanuel, Chief Executive Officer, who continues as Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor;
Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, who continues as President and Chief Operating Officer of Endeavor;
Andrew Schleimer, Chief Financial Officer; and
Seth Krauss, Chief Legal Officer, who continues as Chief Legal Officer of Endeavor.
Dana White is now Chief Executive Officer of UFC and Lawrence Epstein remains Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of UFC. Nick Khan continues at WWE in the role of President.
The Board of Directors of TKO is led by Vince McMahon as Executive Chairman of the Board and consists of 11 members, including Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Shapiro, and Mr. Khan, in addition to the following directors:
Peter C.B. Bynoe, Senior Advisor at DLA Piper LLP;
Egon P. Durban, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Silver Lake;
Steven R. Koonin, Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Hawks, LLC;
Jonathan A. Kraft, President of the Kraft Group LLC;
Sonya E. Medina, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reach Resilience;
Nancy R. Tellem, Executive Chairperson and Chief Media Officer of Eko; and
Carrie Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer and a board member of Opendoor Technologies Inc.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisors to Endeavor, Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor to Endeavor, and Alvarez & Marsal served as integration advisor to Endeavor. The Raine Group served as lead financial advisor to WWE. J.P. Morgan and Moelis & Company LLC served as financial advisors to WWE. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal advisor to WWE, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to WWE’s controlling stockholder, McMahon.
# # #
About Endeavor
Endeavor (NYSE: EDR) is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events and experiences. The company is comprised of industry leaders including entertainment agency WME; and sports, fashion, events and media company IMG. Endeavor is also the majority owner of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company comprising UFC and WWE. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation, sports operations & advisory, event & experiences management, media production & distribution, experiential marketing and brand licensing.
About TKO
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company that comprises UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. Together, our organizations reach more than 1 billion TV households in approximately 180 countries, and we organize more than 350 live events year-round, attracting over one million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.
About WWE®
WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
Pro Wrestling News
Karrion Kross on the GOAT
Former two-time NXT Champion Karrion Kross was asked who he thought was the GOAT during a recent interview with Chris Van Vilet. Kross explained that it was the Rattlesnake who not only took pro-wrestling to the next level, but saved WWE during its Monday Night War against WCW.
Well, I think to me, the GOAT is the guy that did the most for the business. Not necessarily, had to be the best wrestler. But the guy that did meant the most to our business, and the guy that saved [it] in my eyes, saved the WWE. Steve Austin. Yeah, I mean, what Steve did, and then to be injured and retire at 39. I mean, I keep forgetting this and until people remind me, well, I don’t see Steve as much as I used to. But he quit. He had to quit because of a broken neck at 39. Yeah, he got back in and out. But I mean, think about that. I mean. And he took a couple of swings. They put one label on him, but when he found that niche, him and Vince The Attitude Era, but it was Stone Cold, Shawn, Mike Tyson. And we were arguing about the NWO who’s gonna win a match? And can we go with three minutes instead of 10? I mean, it’s just bullsh*t. But that’s, that’s when all of a sudden where Bischoff didn’t know how to run a company. Then he put himself into it, which made it worse.
Pro Wrestling News
Ric Flair on wrestling, Vince McMahon - Octobere 12, 2023
On Vince McMahon selling WWE:
To be honest with you, I was surprised. I never thought he would ever walk away from it but I think he probably felt the time was there and sold it for, you know, he actually put a price on it that he thought no one would ever pay and then along came somebody and paid the price. And I think he put 3 billion more than anybody ever estimated. And that’s just what I’ve been told and what I’ve read, doesn’t mean it’s true, but I think he thought nobody would ever buy it. And then they came along and bought it. The stock has held high and they continue to forge forward and they continue to be, in my opinion, the most entertaining product. Well, I think wrestling’s more entertaining period than any others for me. I think Tony’s done a great job with AEW too. The fact that Tony’s picking up more programming. The people at Turner aren’t dumb, they realized that the program is important and it’s keeping the ratings up and you know as an example last night, they loaded up the NXT show last night, did you notice? They’re really trying to beat Tony’s Wednesday night show. So that remains to be seen but I don’t think The Undertaker and everyone will be there every Tuesday night but it’s interesting to see the chess match between the two.
Clarifies that he doesn’t want to wrestle again:
No, that was completely taken out of context. No, I have no desire to wrestle again. I said I could, because I feel great. And if I did, I could be better because I would learn from the mistakes I made getting ready last time, which was not hydrating. I weighed 218 and I didn’t drink any water that day, a combination of nerves and everything else. We really had worked out what you would have thought, Mike, as a decent match, not great by any means. But when I mentioned that I didn’t feel good, everybody thought I was having a heart attack and that was a blatant error on my part but no, I feel great. I’m so damn…I’m probably the only guy in the business that doesn’t have a knee replacement or hip replacement or anything. I feel great.”
Pro Wrestling News
Eric Bischoff Points Out Jade Cargill As An 'Interesting' Exception For WWE
Jade Cargill's arrival to WWE has attracted a lot of buzz, which was heightened when the former AEW TBS Champion made a special appearance on the WWE Fastlane pre-show alongside WWE CCO Paul "Triple H" Levesque. While many were expecting the company to change her ring name, WWE's newest signee was introduced with the same moniker she had assumed in AEW — her real name, Jade Cargill.
Speaking on the "83 Weeks" podcast, former WCW President Eric Bischoff pointed out the rarity of a WWE Superstar performing under their real name, especially one that was previously used in a promotion outside of WWE.
"There's no gimmick attorney Mike Dockins, trademark or copyright issues. But [the] point is, typically WWE wants to own that name, they want to merchandise that name," said Cargill. "So, they're basically doing a licensing deal with her as opposed to her showing up and being a talent, and they own the license or they own the trademarks. I think that's very interesting, and it does definitely break the paradigm. That is not what WWE normally does, over the decades. Fascinating to me."
Shortly after her signing was announced, Cargill told "The Ringer Wrestling Show" that keeping the Jade Cargill name was highly important to her when she considered joining WWE. "I built equity into it, and I've done outside PR. I put life into my name, so that's something that I didn't want to let go [of]," Cargill said.
Pro Wrestling News
Paul Heyman Says WWE NXT Star Could One Day Be 'Leading The Industry'
Bruno Sammartino. Hulk Hogan. Bret Hart. Steve Austin. The Rock. John Cena. Roman Reigns. Tiffany Stratton? Could a woman be the next face of WWE? According to Paul Heyman — who boasts a strong track record of forecasting the future stars of the industry — Stratton has every requisite tool to lead the sports entertainment leader into the next generation.
Speaking with Fox Sports, Heyman put Stratton in the same group as some of the other physical specimens who've dominated the WWE's women's division over the past few years, warning some of those main roster stars to brace for the inevitable storm coming their way. "Tiffany Stratton is someone that Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair and the main roster women better keep their eyes on because she's another one who, if she continues on this path, is going to be a significant player in the future of this industry and leading the industry into the future," Heyman said.
While Stratton has been wowing "WWE NXT" audiences for the past 18 months or so, main roster fans only recently got a glimpse of the "Blockbuster Blonde" during her feud with Becky Lynch. Heyman believes the feud with "The Man" — which included a brutal Extreme Rules Match — was a litmus test for Stratton that she passed with flying colors. "Tiffany held her own in a very tense situation with Becky Lynch and looked great doing it," Heyman said. "And it wasn't because Becky Lynch knew how to carry her through the segment. It was because Tiffany knew how to present herself, and she did it quite well – very impressive." Stratton — who began pro wrestling training in August 2021 — has been widely praised for learning the business so quickly, to the point where many believe she's ready for a main roster run.
Pro Wrestling News
Dave Meltzer Explains Primary Difference Between WWE And AEW Press Conferences
During a recent interview with "McGuire on Wrestling," Dave Meltzer was asked to weigh in on the differences between WWE and AEW press conferences.
"It's so different at a WWE press conference compared to an AEW press conference," Meltzer said. "The talent isn't that much different, but the Paul Levesque versus the Tony Khan is so different. Tony Khan, you ask him real business questions. Paul Levesque, you don't. It's just very different. WWE, they don't like to talk about business. When people have asked business questions to Paul Levesque, he tries to joke and whatever."
Meltzer added, "Tony Khan will give you a 20-minute answer. Sometimes he won't answer and still go 20 minutes talking about other things. But you can read a lot into it. With Levesque, I watch his answers to questions and I don't really read anything into it because it's not that serious. Even when Tony's not answering a question, I can read into a lot of his thoughts because he hints around about a lot of stuff without directly answering it."
Khan has been known to give long-winded answers during AEW's post-pay-per-view media scrums over the years. Of course, fans will always remember the All Out 2022 media scrum where CM Punk's comments on Colt Cabana and The Elite preceded a backstage altercation.
As of late, WWE has routinely put on press conferences featuring WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H and several top talent. The most recent one following WWE Fastlane stood out thanks to Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso partaking in celebratory drinks on a bus prior to their scheduled appearance.
Pro Wrestling News
Nick Aldis Explains Balancing Part-Time WWE Producer Role With Indie Commitments
Earlier this year, Nick Aldis finished his latest run with Impact Wrestling and it seemed as though he was bound for WWE. However, rather than appearing as a wrestler, Aldis has started working for the company part-time as a producer. Appearing on the "McGuire On Wrestling" podcast, Aldis opened up about his WWE role and balancing it with wrestling in the independent scene.
"I think it's safe to say I'm working with WWE, yes," Aldis said. "That's the way I look at it — I'm working with them at the moment. At least from my point of view, I feel like it's been very positive, and I've enjoyed it. And it's been rewarding, and I'm very obviously flattered that they would want my input and expertise, ... especially with helping some of the younger talent that are coming up from NXT."
Aldis shared that he's learning from the job just as much as he is passing on his knowledge to others, but his status as a full WWE producer is "still pending." As for his in-ring career, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion is still active outside of WWE and has to consider the schedule of his wife, former WWE star Mickie James.
"Fortunately, WWE [has] been very understanding of [my schedule]," Aldis said. "There have been times where I've been unable to make certain shows because of my independent commitments, and also because of Mickie's commitments. ... Fitting it all in is a challenge, but certainly fun. ... Basically, I'm currently attending 'Raw' and 'SmackDown' whenever I can."
Describing the environment backstage at WWE, Aldis said that it's a complicated production with many moving parts. The former Impact star stated that he simply tries to contribute while still learning as much as he can from the experience.
UFC/MMA News
Dana’s stunning Volk reward revealed as Aussie rockets up UFC rich list - October 12, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski’s decision to fight for the UFC lightweight title on 11 days notice has seen him rewarded with a huge new contract deal which, his agent says, now makes him one the highest paid fighters not named Conor McGregor.
Already regarded by many as the No.1 fighter on the UFC roster, Volkanovski has again gone and confirmed his greatness by agreeing to rematch lightweight king Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 on Sunday week.
Should the Wollongong fighter win in his second attempt to become a two-division champion, it can be revealed he will continue to fight in the lightweight division, defending that strap ahead of his UFC featherweight crown.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Volkanovski’s manager Ash Belcastro also revealed the Aussie superstar had this week become one the highest paid fighters in the UFC – having signed off on a bumper new contract after accepting the Abu Dhabi showdown.
The decision also means Australian sports fans have now been gifted one of the biggest fight weeks in the nation’s history – with Volkanovski and undefeated Australian boxer Tim Tszyu set to headline world title blockbusters within days of one another.
Tszyu defends his WBO super welterweight strap against American Brian Mendoza on the Gold Coast this Sunday.
Then just seven days later, Volk will fight for ‘champ champ’ status against Makhachev.
While initially expecting to be out of action until next January, the Aussie superstar has been parachuted in to save UFC 294 as a late replacement for Brazilian Charles Oliveira, who was ruled out after being seriously cut during a sparring session.
UFC president Dana White revealed on Wednesday that Oliveira had split his eyebrow “wide open” during a training mishap and, after being forced to withdraw from the title fight, had been replaced by Volkanovski -- who needed only one phone call to step in.
All of which means the UFC featherweight champ has now been given a second shot at becoming a two-division king, having previously faced Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth, back in February.
On that occasion, The Great suffered a narrow, and contentious, decision loss.
Yet when called this week, the fighter agreed almost immediately to the rematch, despite having only returned home from a family holiday two days earlier.
Volkanovski is also only recently recovered from elbow surgery, but will now jet out for Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
As a result, UFC boss White has signed the superstar to an exciting new contract that, according to his management team, now puts him up among the highest paid fighters in the company.
Yet just as importantly, a win over Makhachev on such short notice now gives The Great a chance to confirm his legacy, indefinitely.
“Because if Volk gets off the couch and puts Makhachev away,” Belcastro said, “well, you have to ask ‘how good is he?’.”
And as for the new UFC deal earned by his willingness to throw down?
“Alex has been very well compensated,” Belcastro told Fox Sports Australia shortly after the deal was signed off.
“We’ve signed a great new agreement – not just for this fight but beyond -- and Volk is now at the top echelon of UFC athletes (in terms of pay).
“It’s not just money, either. There is a whole lot more around it and he has been given some really good guarantees.
“Typically in fight sports, the heavier you are the more you get paid.
“But with Alex, as a featherweight … he’s doing really well.
“As far as featherweights are concerned, he was already the highest paid fighter ever outside Conor McGregor.
“But this new deal, it puts him in a great position to look after his family and even beyond that.”
Asked what happens if Volkanovski owns both the UFC featherweight and lightweight titles after Sunday week, Belcastro said: “If we fight and win we stay at lightweight”.
When announcing the fight on Wednesday, White heaped praised on not only the fight readiness of Volkanovski but his entire team – which includes the likes of Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France.
“And (staying ready) has been a recipe for success for us as a team,” Belcastro agreed.
“We tell our athletes to stay consistent, always fight.
“With the beast of the UFC and their PR, the momentum they get … athletes have the opportunity to grow with that and build a brand.
“Which is what we’ve done.
“There is no better way to be relevant than stay in the gym and keep fighting.
“Everything else seems to follow consistency.”
Asked about Volkanovski’s decision to fight, his manager continued: “He’s a gamer.
“Straight away, Volk was excited.
“He just loves it.
“And the older he gets, the wiser he is getting about how to train and how to understand the sport.
“I think that’s his point of difference.
“He has a great team around him too but he’s just so grounded and focused on what he wants to achieve.
“He’s the ultimate competitor and that really shines through.
“Obviously though, we still had to sort through some facts around what was being presented to us.
“But as soon as he looked at the opportunity everything instantly clicked into gear.”
Within the hour, the fighter had taken advice from a range of members inside Team Volkanovski, including his manager, coach, dietitian, physiotherapist, and head trainer.
He will now fly out for Abu Dhabi this Sunday.
“Volk will still have to cut weight, but fighting at lightweight definitely makes things easier,” Belcastro said.
“Already, he’s in a good spot physically.
“Of course, he isn’t coming into this after a camp of 12 weeks.
“So we are behind the eight ball there.
“But he’s such an ultimate professional, he really is always fit and ready to go.
“So while he has been away enjoying the school holidays with his family, his idea of being on the couch isn’t like me and you.”
Belcastro also confirmed that, only recently, Volkanovski had verbally agreed to defend his UFC featherweight strap against Ilia Topuira next January.
“Initially, we were wanting to fight again this year, fight November or December,” he said.
“But the earliest date the UFC had was January so we said ‘OK, we’ll take it’.
“So that fight was verbally agreed.
“Volk was going to kick camp off at the end of this month.”
Logan Paul Claims Dillon Danis Fight Still On Despite Bloody Microphone Attack - 13th October 2023
Paul says the Danis fight will go on.
WWE superstar Logan Paul says the boxing match against Dillon Danis will take place as advertised.
Things took quite a turn during the pre-fight press conference for Paul vs. Danis. While the two will co-headline a card that will see KSI and Tommy Fury serve as the main event, there's no doubt that the lion's share of attention is on Paul and Danis. At the end of their time during the press conference, Logan Paul threw an object at the legs of Danis. "El Jefe" responded by hitting his opponent over the head with a microphone, bloodying him in the process.
After the physical encounter, many wondered if Paul would be medically cleared to fight Danis this Saturday (October 14). The question became even more pronounced after Danis and backup fighter Mike Perry went face-to-face for a staredown.
It appears the social media star has answered the question of whether or not the fight against Danis will happen, taking to his X account to claim the following:
Dillon can’t escape me. The fight is very much happening, the stakes just got higher," Paul wrote.
It'll be interesting to see if Logan Paul's words hold true. One of the fears was that if the cut was deep enough to where it required stitches, the fight could be ruled out.
KSI told media members backstage that Paul is still ready to go and he's "very angry." He claimed the injury was just a "little bump." KSI insists it won't be enough to cancel the fight and that Logan Paul will be fine.
MMA News
UFC Announces Partnership With New Drug Testing Provider, Legal Action Against USADA Possible
UFC is moving on from USADA with this new provider.
There's a new anti-doping partner for the UFC.
The relationship between the UFC and USADA has gone sour. On October 11, USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement announcing that effective January 2024, the drug testing agency would no longer be in business with the UFC.
The statement didn't go over too smoothly with the UFC brass, as Tygart said the partnership had become "untenable." Tygart mentioned issues with Conor McGregor re-entering the testing pool and Joe Rogan bashing USADA on his podcast.
During a media scrum, it was announced by the UFC that replacing USADA will be Drug Free Sport International. Hunter Campbell, UFC's Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, told reporters that a legal letter has been sent to USADA, demanding an apology and retraction of its initial statement. Campbell also remarked that what USADA has done to Conor McGregor is "disgusting," and the agency could be legally liable (via Aaron Bronsteter).
UFC Senior Vice President of Athlete Health & Performance, Jeff Novitzky, also chimed in, calling USADA's statement "garbage." He also claimed that fighters were frustrated with the USADA system due to the way its whereabouts policy was handled.
Novitzky promised that the UFC and Drug Free Sport would have "smarter, more efficient, more effective technology" with the new system being implemented. He also said it will be far more convenient for the fighters.
Time will tell how Drug Free Sport International meshes with the UFC and its athletes. As far as USADA is concerned, things have gotten ugly quickly, and it could lead to a battle in court with the UFC's legal team.
