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Netflix reels in viewers with three-word hooks

One of the reasons the streaming giant’s engagement is so high is that it deploys tools to coax a viewer to watch. Executives know they have less than a minute to work.

Grey’s Anatomy is “soapy” and “emotional”. Emily in Paris is “campy” and “quirky”. Our Planet II is “relaxing” and “captivating”, while Gravity is “suspenseful” and “visually striking”.

Words such as these, displayed near the synopsis and movie poster-style tile for each one of the thousands of titles on Netflix, appear to be scooped out of a grab bag. In fact, they are a critical tool to induce viewers to hit play, and a key to Netflix’s dominance.

The two- or three-word tags, meant to convey the gestalt of a show or movie, regularly help viewers choose a show from the service’s nearly endless library, the company says. The words are selected by about 30 employees – so-called taggers.

“Imagine magazines that have no cover lines, and there were just photographs on them,” says Allan Donald, a director of product at Netflix. “Tags make as much of a difference as a cover line in that snap ‘This is for me’ decision.”

As Netflix widens its lead in the so-called streaming wars, the descriptive, if sometimes banal, tags stand out as an example of how the company stays ahead. Most rival streaming services don’t bother displaying tags, or don’t have the same financial resources to support a group of employees to do all the work behind them.

Netflix made about $US4.5 billion ($6.7 billion) in profit over the past four quarters, while most of its competitors continued to lose money in streaming. It commands 247 million subscribers worldwide, more than double many other streaming services. It accounted for 7.4 per cent of total television use in the United States in November, according to Nielsen, far outpacing Amazon Prime Video (3.4 per cent), Hulu (2.7 per cent) and Disney+ (1.9 per cent).

Less than a minute to work

One of the reasons Netflix’s engagement is so high is that it deploys numerous tools to coax a viewer to watch. And that’s no small matter. There are more than 10,000 titles on Netflix and thousands more on other streaming services. Picking a show or movie is often tedious and frustrating.

Through years of testing, Netflix executives know the tools, what they call “promotional assets”, have essentially less than a minute to work. “On average, if you haven’t gotten someone to hit play within 53 seconds, the likelihood goes down precipitously” that the person will watch anything, says Eunice Kim, Netflix’s chief product officer.

The assets include the movie poster-style tiles, as well as trailers and synopses. Tags are another, providing a mini preview to a viewer. Netflix also uses them to help populate theme rows of titles on the service, such as “Goofy TV Shows” and “Girls Night In”. Like the image tiles, the three tags that a subscriber is shown – out of the handful attributed to each show – are based on the person’s viewing history.

Each time the company has removed tags as an experiment, engagement has plummeted, executives say.

“People would take much longer to choose,” Donald says. “They would drop out of a title because they didn’t like it too much or because they didn’t know what they were getting.”

Julia Alexander, director of strategy at the research firm Parrot Analytics, says the tags probably work on a subtle level. As potential viewers, “when we see the term ‘gritty’ or we see the term ‘cerebral’, we understand intrinsically what that means,” she says.

Not keen on surprises

Not all of Netflix’s efforts to help subscribers find content have worked. In 2021, the company introduced a “Surprise Me” button, similar to the “I’m Feeling Lucky” search button on Google. Clicking it gave viewers something that Netflix’s algorithm was fairly certain they would like.

Even though executives felt “incredibly confident” that the algorithm was right, viewers rejected it. Apparently, they wanted more choice, and the button was abandoned early last year.

The company now features a “Match” button, which tells subscribers, down to a percentage, just how much a show would be to their liking. That tool is apparently a bit confounding to most members, and it is probably on the way out.

Tags have persisted since Netflix’s DVD days. Kim says, diplomatically, that its competitors often chose a more “minimalistic” approach heavy on the artwork.

“We’ve been around longer, so we probably have just done more experimentation to learn what works for our members,” she says.

There are more than 3000 tags, and their selection and creation are the subject of vigorous debate. The most-used tags are “romantic”, “exciting” and “suspenseful”. The least used? “Occupation: farmhand.”

In a recent meeting with 14 of the taggers, some with backgrounds as librarians or in information science, there was a discussion about whether they should try to eliminate a few tags that seemed to have overlapping definitions.

“Let’s start with something that’s been bubbling up from the analysts doing all of our tagging,” a senior tagger, Sherrie Gulmahamad, said in the meeting, held on the 10th floor of one of Netflix’s Sunset Boulevard offices in Hollywood. “We have ‘falling in love’ versus ‘finding love’, and we also have ‘looking for love’. Do we think we need to squish these down into one tag? Or do we think that they’re nuanced and there is a difference between them?”

That sparked a debate, including about how the change would affect scripted series, reality shows and international markets. After a 10-minute conversation, it was settled that all three tags were distinct enough and should be left alone.

Likewise, there were discussions about whether tags such as “cozy” and “villainous crush” should be introduced. Some taggers thought “cozy” was too subjective, and worried that describing a villain as crush-worthy was editorialising a bit much. A decision was punted to a future meeting.

Donald says that when he interviewed prospective taggers, he gave them the “cocktail party test”. How would they describe a film to a person they had just met at a cocktail party? He offered a suggestion: “Oh, God, I saw this film, you should absolutely watch this, this sort of slick, cyberpunk thriller you’ll love.”

In Donald’s view, that brief description – a slick, cyberpunk thriller – could provide the make-it-or-break-it moment for a viewer at home.

“If you’re on the fence with a title and you’re like, ‘OK, the box art looks catchy, and it’s popular, so everyone’s watching it – but is it for me?’” he says. “And then you’re like, ‘OK, it’s suspenseful – yes, this is for me.’ That’s what made you go click.”

Media Man On Google News and "Legacy Media" Ganda

Sci-Fi, Journalism, Fact, Fiction, or elements of both? NWO?!

All interesting. Now deeper. Just wait till the "sensitive incident" happens in early February 2024 and the Google powers that be try to control the algorithms and searches. But, there are other platforms and search engines tips ex journo and former Australian based military communications man Greg Tingle. Early Feb. Google vs X - The Everything App. Rumble. ONE America, Truth Social, DuckDuckGo, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Tucker Carlson, Peter Thiel, Tim Pool, Rubin Report, RT News, Rabbit Hole, perhaps TKO powers that be, and associates and many more across the globe. Gonzo and part satire, dystopian scribe of the day. Early Feb for information wars with a "sensitive incident". Light vs Dark! Get ready for digital and information warfare and beyond. "The first casualty of war is the truth" appears relevant to quote for what is on the horizon. "The truth is out there" (The X Files). Trust yourself! Media Man out.

NFL Reportedly Considers Ownership Stake in ESPN - January 2024

The National Football League (NFL) is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire an ownership position in ESPN, the largest sports media conglomerate in the United States.

The New York Post reported last week that the NFL is talking with Disney-owned ESPN about an equity stake in the sports media organization. Though neither side is commenting publicly on the rumors, sources close to the negotiations say the possible deal would result in ESPN assuming control of NFL Media.

NFL Media is the primary marketing and communications division of the professional football league. The company runs the NFL Network, NFL.com, NFL RedZone, NFL Films, and NFL+.

Insiders say the NFL has been shopping its media division for years. The league has secured over $110 billion in media deals in recent years with ESPN, Amazon, CBS, Fox, NBC, and YouTube.

ESPN currently pays the NFL about $2.6 billion a year for approximately 25 games, most of which air on the cable network’s Monday Night Football prime time slot.

The NFL was a leading opponent to New Jersey’s efforts to allow casinos in Atlantic City, horse racetracks, and online sportsbooks to take legal bets on professional and collegiate sports, including the NFL.

The U.S. Supreme Court in May 2018 ultimately ruled against the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA in giving states the freedom to determine their laws on sports gambling. Before the landmark ruling, a federal law had limited single game sports betting to Nevada.

The NFL, along with the other “Big Four” pro leagues and the NCAA, have since embraced sports betting after experiencing increased fan engagement, bigger television and streaming numbers, and overall interest in the sports they sanction. Sports betting has been credited for the increased broadcasting contracts the NFL has subsequently struck.

The NFL prohibits its players, coaches, team personnel, officials, and league staff from betting on the NFL.

ESPN Bet

ESPN last year teamed with Penn Entertainment, the regional casino operator based in Pennsylvania. It was in August when the Hollywood casino operator announced it would pay ESPN $1.5 billion over 10 years to leverage the sports media brand into its new sportsbook entity.

As part of the development, Penn announced it was folding on Barstool Sports, for which it paid more than $500 million beginning in 2020. Penn encountered a flurry of regulatory headaches because of Barstool founder Dave Portnoy’s flamboyant personality.

ESPN is reportedly developing a direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service that it hopes to launch in 2025. Bypassing cable networks, ESPN is said to be looking for “strategic partners” to assist in its content and distribution.

The NFL Network would bring Sunday International Series games and late-season Saturday games to the ESPN DTC service. The NFL Network additionally airs preseason contests.   

The NFL deal with ESPN won’t include the coveted Sunday Ticket, which was secured by Google’s YouTube TV in late 2022 for more than $2 billion a season.

Bet365 boss Coates gets pay lift to near $420m despite loss - January 9, 2024

New York | Bet365 Group founder and joint CEO Denise Coates’ salary rose 3.4 per cent last financial year to £220.7 million ($419 million) from the previous year even as the company swung to a loss.

The company swung to a pretax operating loss of £72.6 million, from the year-earlier £49.8 million profit, citing higher costs related to enter new markets, the UK-based betting group said in corporate filings for the year ended March 26.

Privately held Bet365 also paid out £100 million in dividends for the period. Ms Coates holds 58.3 per cent of the company’s shares, according to a separate filing.

Representatives for Ms Coates and Bet365 were not immediately available for comment. Ms Coates started the business in 2000 with 12 employees. It now has a staff of over 7000 and more than 90 million customers.

The median pay for a CEO at the UK’s top listed companies in the FTSE 100 Index is £3.8 million per year, the High Pay Centre think tank says.

Star Entertainment gets its house in order as others ponder its future - January 3, 2024

As any good negotiator will tell you, sometimes the best time to do a deal is right before the certainty has set in. Wait too long – and you’ll pay up for it.

But, in the case of Star Entertainment, the beleaguered operator of casinos in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the complete opposite is true.

Despite regular and unconfirmed speculation about companies – from Nevada giants to distressed asset specialists – eyeing the business, the widely held view is that now is not the time to swoop because the unknowns around this business are so great.

For its part, Star is focussed on getting its house in order.

Specifically, it’s awaiting decisions from two significant regulators: AUSTRAC, which needs to determine the size of the casino group’s fine, and Independent Casino Commission in NSW, which must sign off on the group’s suitability to run its casinos.

In early December, the NICC said Star had just six months to prove it could do so without supervision, a process it’s closely overseeing having installed state-appointed general manager Nick Weeks. Star Sydney’s licence was suspended in late 2022 after an inquiry exposed extensive anti-money laundering and counterterrorism failings.

Since then, the regulator has been hands-on. Very hands on, according to some close to the discussions, including demanding the company choose from two firms who are not among the four professional services majors to run an internal compliance audit.

And yet analysts say that Star – even with the uncertainty surrounding regulatory and operational issues – is starting to look attractive.

“We’re giving Star a much wider margin of safety than most companies … but we think it’s really good value at current prices,” says Morningstar’s Angus Hewitt, who is factoring in an AUSTRAC fine of $300 million.

“They’ve got a lot of headroom now with the two raises that they did to both pay the fines and keep operating. Keep in mind, it’s still profitable,” he adds. “Remediation costs continue to weigh on profitability, VIP gaming is still suspended, and to what level that can come back, if at all, remains to be seen. There is plenty of uncertainty around it.”

Hewitt’s view is shared by others, who point out that the group’s property and hotel assets are also valuable. But it’s hard to look away from the obvious deal – even if there is no suggestion it is an active discussion, or anywhere close to one.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that NSW has two casino operators looking for solutions to higher regulatory costs and weaker earnings profile: Star and the Blackstone-backed Crown Resorts, which the New York-headquartered private equity giant bought in 2022 when the earnings outlook and cost of debt was far better.

People close to both companies don’t deny the logic of a tie-up, but stress that it’s not remotely on the agenda.

A merger between Star and Crown has been considered before. In 2021, when Star looked at Crown, management estimated the merger would deliver between $150 million and $200 million of cost synergies per annum and unlock $2 billion in net value – or more than Star’s current market cap.

With higher costs across the board – including extra regulatory burdens – the annual benefits of a tie-up are tipped to be even higher.

Both Crown and Star are cleaning up their own houses – Blackstone president Jon Gray has called the hundreds of millions spent on regulatory and compliance “table stakes” – the price needed to start to play a game of poker, or sit at the table.

Now Crown is aggressively cutting costs. It axed 200 jobs last year alone.

Moreover, any corporate activity would trigger the debt terms to be renegotiated - something that Blackstone would probably prefer to avoid until it has its own casino in order.

As Bill Beath, the veteran Las Vegas gaming executive Blackstone installed as Crown’s chairman told The Australian Financial Review’s Chanticleer column last year, the private equity group underestimated the amount of work that would be required to transform the casino group following years of its own scandal.

Despite this, just how a tie-up between the two could look is a topic of discussion.

One unlikely option is that Crown does a backdoor listing through Star, in a similar structure to Chemist Warehouse and Sigma. Star’s low valuation is just one issue with this – even if both parties had the appetite to look at it.

Increasingly, focus is turning to whether Crown could instead simply assume Star’s superior gaming licence in Sydney.

Crown, of course, is limited to running a restricted high-rollers floor while Star has plenty of freedom. One option could be leasing the gaming operation to Crown, which could run it under its licence. That would require state government approval – and perhaps competition approval.

So an even simpler option may be just to run one license.

“The Crown licence was granted in a world of VIPs and junkets – much more difficult for it to operate. There is potential for two licences to continue to run in Sydney, but the businesses won’t be very profitable,” one industry insider says.

The bigger question? Does NSW really need two gaming licences, particularly when the logic to grant the second one was predicated on Chinese high rollers and local VIPs?

That’s just another uncertainty to add to the mix.

(AFR)

For some billionaires, limitless funds promote extreme behaviour – and that’s a risk - January 15, 2024

Billionaire antics got off to a flying start in 2024 thanks to two of the world’s richest and most vocal mega-wealthy people – America’s Elon Musk and our own environmental firebrand-cum-iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest; the former accused of drug-impaired decision-making, and Forrest’s sea and aerial public relations pincer attacks on Australia’s largest oil and gas company, Woodside.

The other thing these outspoken and insanely rich human headlines have in common is that they (or in Forrest’s case, his family and its charities) both got a lot richer over the past three years.

Oxfam has just crunched some numbers and concluded that the wealth of the three richest Australians, Gina Rinehart, Andrew Forrest and Harry Triguboff, has more than doubled since 2020, at a rate of $1.5 million an hour.

This growth can be extrapolated to the rest of the world, Oxfam says, with billionaires globally almost $5 trillion wealthier than in 2020, with their wealth growing three times faster than the rate of inflation.

But access to limitless funds can promote behavioural extremes.

Of course, some mega-billionaires go to great lengths to remain out of sight of the media, but scrutiny on how they conduct their personal affairs is intense.

While Forrest surely will be judged as being on the right side of history in his crusade to slow climate change, his extreme public relations escapades come with risks.

Take Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. When his marriage collapsed five years ago, the announcement came in what seemed an amicable enough tweet from the couple. That was soon replaced by allegations of blackmail over nude photos and a private investigation into leaked texts.

Last year after months of denials, Forrest and his now estranged wife Nicola finally confirmed their separation.

Unlike Forrest’s usual limelight-hogging behaviour, he was understandably extremely reluctant to have his personal life on display.

Instead, Forrest has been engaged in increasingly extreme ways to publicise his climate-saving credentials.

His attack on Woodside, however, was not only targeted but close to home, referring to the West Australian company’s $18 billion Scarborough gas export project as a “carbon dioxide bomb”.

As Forrest would see it, he is combating the oil and gas lobbying machine who he said, “had thousands of their little soldiers riding around in their little suits, pushing back on anyone who would even mention that fossil fuel is destroying our planet”.

While Forrest surely will be judged as being on the right side of history in his crusade to slow climate change, his extreme public relations escapades come with risks.

The most obvious of these is the view that his fervour renders him immune to taking the counsel of others inside his main listed company and cash cow, Fortescue Metals.

There is now a well documented long-list of senior executives inside Fortescue and his private company Tattarang that have moved on or been pushed out over recent years.

Analysts have concerns about the company’s governance, given the dominance of Forrest in all important decisions.

Meanwhile, governance concerns also have been raised about claims that Elon Musk has been allowed too much rope in his often outlandish social media posts, including his 2018 announcement that he was considering privatising Tesla.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal this month, “The world’s wealthiest person has used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private parties around the world, according to people to have witnessed his drug use and others with knowledge of it”.

The Journal reported also that members of the Tesla board were concerned that Musk wrote the Twitter (now X) post when he was on drugs, a claim the company has since denied.

Musk denied the drug allegations, claiming that three years of randomised drug tests never showed even “a trace” of illicit substances, and said the Wall Street Journal was “not fit to line a parrot cage”.

Realistically, even an accusation this serious is unlikely to stop Musk’s erratic behaviour.

And nothing appears to dampen Forrest’s relentless pursuit of his environmental cause.

So we can expect at least some of these increasingly rich billionaires to continue to behave bizarrely.

(SMH)

Wrestling Media

WWE on A&E returns Sunday, Feb. 25

WWE on A&E is back!

Beginning Sunday, Feb. 25, WWE and A&E present new seasons of “WWE Rivals” at 8 ET/PT followed by “Biography: WWE Legends” at 9 ET/PT.

Each series will continue to explore the lives and careers of some of the most beloved and well-known WWE Superstars and give viewers unparalleled access through in-depth interviews and archival footage.

Kicking off the night each week, “WWE Rivals” returns with actor and former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr. hosting a discussion on some of the epic rivalries that built WWE. Each one-hour episode features a roundtable of current and former WWE Superstars who discuss the dramatic storylines and unforgettable rivalries that defined WWE.

In the season premiere, the series will examine the infamous animosity between Superstars Triple H and The Rock, beginning with their heated rivalry over the WWE Championship in the early 2000s. The season continues with other iconic rivalries, including Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, John Cena vs. Randy Orton, Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz vs. Edge & Christian, as well as The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan.

Then, immediately following “WWE Rivals” every week, “Biography: WWE Legends” continues to convey the intimate, distinctive stories of the lives and events that molded some of the most beloved WWE Legends. Through archival footage and first-hand account interviews, each episode will examine a different Legend and showcase their career highlights and the effect they had on the industry and the WWE Universe.

The season begins with the enthralling life and career of the youngest world champion in WWE history, Randy Orton. Other Legends featured this season include Sgt. Slaughter, Scott Hall (Razor Ramon), Diamond Dallas Page, British Bulldog and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

(WWE)

Box Office News (North America) - January 14, 2024

1. The Beekeeper - $17 million 

2. Wonka - $8.4 million

3. Anyone But You - $6.9 million

4. Migration - $6.2 million

5. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom - $5.3 million

6. Night Swim - $4.7 million

7. The Boys in the Boat - $3.5 million

8. The Book of Clarence - $2.6 million

9. The Iron Claw - $2.4 million

10. American Fiction - $1.9 million

Billions surge into US bitcoin ETFs as Aussie hopefuls eye listings - January 12th, 2024

More than $US4.6 billion ($7 billion) has flowed into bitcoin exchange-traded funds on the first day of trade in the United States, a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency that has investment managers accelerating plans to launch local products.

Eleven ETFs were approved for trade by the Securities and Exchange Commission across the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and Cboe, and all are backed by major financial institutions including BlackRock, Grayscale, VanEck and Fidelity.

“It’s absolutely a positive start and very good for the long-term outlook for digital assets,” Lisa Wade, chief executive of ASX-listed wholesale fund manager DigitalX, said. “The race to the bottom on fees is going to be a problem, but for now, it’s a positive story.”

Ms Wade’s company lodged an application with the Australian exchange on Friday afternoon to launch its own version of the product, which is tied to the bitcoin spot price. Approval for these ETFs from the SEC was long awaited, and allows retail investors to gain exposure to the assets without having to store or manage cryptocurrencies.

In the US, Standard Chartered predicts inflows into bitcoin spot price ETF products could reach up to $US100 billion by the end of the year, which could boost the price of the cryptocurrency to $US100,000. It was trading at around $US46,000 on Friday.

Cathie Wood, the chief investment officer of ARK Invest, suggested it could go much higher. She said the wave of money flowing from retail investors into the new ETFs – ARK Invest also launched a product – would boost the price of bitcoin to $US1.5 million by 2030. Previously, her price target was $US1 million in the same time frame.

“We think the probability of the bull case has increased with this SEC approval,” Ms Wood said in an interview with CNBC. “This is a green light.”

Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, which now tracks the underlying price of bitcoin, handled about $US2.5 billion in new volume – that is investors who had not been rolled over from the firm’s previous fund to a new fund. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust facilitated more than $US1 billion throughout the first day’s trade.

Not a fan

Despite the enthusiasm this week, the price of bitcoin has remained largely steady. Over the past seven days, bitcoin has risen 4 per cent. The price of ethereum, another cryptocurrency, has risen 14 per cent over the past seven days to $US2598, with investors anticipating the approval of an ETF underpinned by its spot price by May.

But not everyone is pleased with the SEC decision. Vanguard, one of the world’s largest asset managers, announced it would not offer the new bitcoin ETFs on its brokerage platform.

“Spot bitcoin ETFs will not be available for purchase on the Vanguard platform,” the company said in a statement on Friday, adding the products did not align with Vanguard’s investment philosophy. Merrill Lynch and Northwestern Mutual have also said they would not offer their clients exposure to the new ETFs.

In Australia, major banks are moving the US ETFs through their due diligence processes before providing access to local investors. Commonwealth Bank said it expects to list the new products shortly on its CommSec platform, while National Australia Bank is still considering whether they will appear on customer dashboards.

Stake and SuperHero have confirmed the new products will be available just like any other US security.

While no spot-bitcoin ETF has appeared on the ASX, Australian investors have had ways to gain exposure for some time. Two years ago, the local alternative market run by Cboe listed ETFs for two local asset managers – Global X and Cosmos Asset Management.

The Global X 21Shares Bitcoin ETF still trades on that market, with only $40 million under management, while Cosmos delisted its offering in December on low volumes. BetaShares, a local ETF provider, launched a product in 2021 – as the price of cryptocurrencies soared – which tracked a bundle of listed companies that were themselves exposed to bitcoin or blockchain technology. At the time, it was popular, with $8 million in trades within the first 15 minutes of listing,

The ASX has long been cautious in its approach to crypto-related ETFs. DigitalX joins Brisbane’s Monochrome Asset Management in the queue to provide a local bitcoin spot price ETF. Monochrome expects to receive approval in the first half of this year.

Pro Wrestling and Casino Connection In Las Vegas

New Era Of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Kicks Off With Two Shows At The Palms Casino Resort In Las Vegas, January 13-14

Press Release / January 9, 2024 / by IMPACT Wrestling Staff

Hard To Kill & Snakes Eyes – Everything You Need To Know

Wrestling fans from around the world are coming to Las Vegas for the much-anticipated return of the new and improved Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

The cheering is nonstop: TNA * TNA * TNA * TNA.

The TNA action kicks off on Saturday night, January 13, with the Hard To Kill pay-per-view, which will air live around the world from the Palms Casino Resort. Then, on Sunday night, January 14, the in-ring action continues at The Palms, when the television trucks of iMPACT! on AXS TV roll in for Snake Eyes.

Here is everything you need to know for the return of TNA Wrestling in Las Vegas:

DOORS

The doors into The IMPACT Zone for Hard To Kill at The Palms on Saturday, January 13, will open at 3 p.m. local time.

The doors into The IMPACT Zone for Snake Eyes at The Palms on Sunday, January 14, will open at 3:30 p.m. local time.

COUNTDOWN SHOW

The new-look TNA era kicks off with a special 1-Hour COUNTDOWN TO HARD TO KILL Show, starting at 4 p.m. PT, airing exclusively on the TNA+ app.

The Countdown Show features a one-on-one battle of former IMPACT Wrestling World Champions, Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin. Plus, TNA Originals Eric Young and Kazarian team up against Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards (with Alisha Edwards); and Tommy Dreamer will defend the Digital Media Championship against Crazzy Steve.

HARD TO KILL

The show goes live at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 13. Here are the confirmed matches:

TNA World Championship: Alex Shelley (C) vs. Moose

Knockouts World Championship: Trinity (C) vs. Jordynne Grace

TNA Tag Team Championship: ABC (C) vs. Rascalz vs. Grizzled Young Vets vs. Mike Bailey and Trent Seven

Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone

X-Division Championship 3-Way: Chris Sabin (C) vs. Vikingo vs. KUSHIDA 

PCO vs. Dirty Dango w/ Oleg Prudius and Alpha Bravo

Knockouts Ultimate X: Dani Luna vs. Xia Brookside vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Alisha Edwards vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Jody Threat

SNAKE EYES

The show starts at 4:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, January 14. Here are the confirmed matches:

• Josh Alexander vs. Will Ospreay

• Moose, Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers vs. Kazuchika Okada and Motor City Machine Guns

TNA ROSTER

Over the past month or so, the TNA roster has been the talk of the wrestling industry. Here’s a look at some of the recent transactions:

Re-signed: The Rascalz (TREY MIGUEL & ZACHARY WENTZ)

Re-signed: BRIAN MYERS

Re-signed: EDDIE EDWARDS

Signed: DANI LUNA

Signed: JADE CHUNG, TNA Ring Announcer

Signed: TRENT SEVEN

Signed: KUSHIDA

About Total Nonstop Action

A subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. and a division of Anthem Sports Group, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling® is one of the world’s top wrestling brands, producing over 200 hours of original content annually and televised in 120 countries including AXS TV in the United States. Founded in 2002, TNA Wrestling’s deep library of premium content is streamed across the world on key OTT platforms including Pluto TV, Roku SamsungTV Plus and its own on-demand subscription service TNA+©. TNA Wrestling has a powerful social media presence with over 10 million engaged followers across all major services. Ancillary businesses include live events, merchandise, licensing, and sponsorship.

News

TNA And AAA Sign Official Working Agreement - 14th January 2024

TNA And AAA Have Entered A New Working Relationship

Last night was a historic one for TNA Wrestling, officially rebranding from “IMPACT” to “TNA” at their 2024 Hard To Kill PPV event in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort. The PPV saw two new world champions crowned in Jordynne Grace and Moose, and debuts from top names like Nic Nemeth. 

During the PPV, the president of TNA Scott D’Amore emerged in front of the TNA fans in Nevada alongside the CEO of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Dorian Roldán Peña, celebrating their ongoing cooperation over the years. It was announced that the two sides would once more be striking up an official working relationship going forwards, with one of the goals being to bring more Lucha Libre AAA stars to the US. It was noted that the aim was to change the landscape of professional wrestling in bringing together stars from both companies. 

TNA and AAA are no strangers to one another, having working relationships in the past. An example of this was when the AAA-affiliated Lucha Underground had a relationship with TNA, allowing their wrestlers to cross over the line and compete in both. They have also had crossover shows in the past too.

SMGHA & Palms Casino Resort Award More Than $1.3 Million in Grants to 52 Local Non-profits in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 21, 2023) – With a steadfast and ongoing dedication to making a positive impact in the Las Vegas community through philanthropy, the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA) and Palms Casino Resort for the second consecutive year, have announced the awarding of over $1.3 million in grants to support 52 local charities across Southern Nevada.

Revealed at the recent Philanthropy Leaders Summit in Las Vegas, representatives of the SMGHA and Palms Casino Resort’s Palms Cares community outreach program delighted several organizations including Henderson Firefighters Benevolent Society, Critical Care Comics, Collaboration Center Foundation, Indigenous AF, United Way of Southern Nevada, and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth with the announcement of grants ranging from $5,000-$100,000.

Underscoring an ongoing mission and commitment to providing a “hand up” to underserved populations in the communities that they serve, grants were awarded to nonprofits that reflect the pillars that are most meaningful to the SMGHA including education, empowering lives, reinforcing healthy and resilient communities, and preserving cultural traditions.

The grants awarded will be used in a variety of impactful and meaningful ways including establishing mental health services for Henderson firefighters, providing costumed superheroes and toys and comics for 300 children per month who are residing at all seven pediatric care facilities in Las Vegas, introducing therapy for patients with disabilities, increasing visibility around national Native American news coverage and cultural programming and assisting with the purchase of food and transportation passes for 400 homeless youth ages 12‐20 in Southern Nevada.

Additionally, with these grants, the Springs Preserve Foundation will be able to offer cultural ethnobotany education and provide an educational cultural space for up to 175,000 visitors from tribal communities in Nevada. The Clark County Public Education Foundation will launch a pilot program that seeks to help eliminate barriers preventing students from attending school through family engagement and Southern Nevada Public Television will increase visibility around national Native American news coverage and cultural programming. 

"We are dedicated to upholding our legacy while striving to become a leading force in our community for fostering positive social change," said Latisha Prieto, Chairperson of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority. "We refer to this ethos as 'The Spirit of Yawa' – the action of following one's convictions. It's what motivates us to support the Las Vegas community and the local organizations committed to shaping a brighter future."

The 2023 grants extend the philanthropic values of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI), which began in Las Vegas prior to the purchase of Palms. Since January 2020, the Tribe has awarded $12 million to educational institutions and charities in Las Vegas, including $9 million to UNLV for the Boyd School of Law and the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality to fund education programs in Tribal law and Tribal gaming operations.

"There are numerous exceptional organizations in Southern Nevada that are working tirelessly to transform lives," said Cynthia Kiser Murphey, General Manager of Palms. "We are so proud and honored to help support them and continue to bolster their remarkable work. This second consecutive year of grants reinforces our commitment to uplifting the community and our neighbors.”

Complete list of 2023 Grant Recipients:

•    Live Life By Music Inc

•    Board Of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno

•    Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

•    Jobs for Nevada's Graduates, Inc.

•    Donna Street Community Center

•    Clark County Public Education Foundation Inc

•    Nevada School of the Arts

•    After-School All-Stars Las Vegas

•    Spread the Word Nevada

•    Southern Nevada Public Television

•    DISCOVERY Children's Museum

•    IndigenousAF

•    Washiw Zulshish Goom Tahn Nu

•    Springs Preserve Foundation 

•    Arriba Las Vegas Worker Center

•    Stewart Indian School Preservation Alliance - State of Nevada Indian Commission

•    The Animal Foundation

•    Puentes

•    Southern Nevada Senior Law Program

•    Shine A Light Foundation

•    Babys Bounty

•    Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada

•    Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth

•    United Way of Southern Nevada

•    Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas

•    Nevada News Bureau

•    HopeLink of Southern Nevada

•    Asian Community Development Council

•    HELP Of Southern Nevada

•    Vegas Stronger

•    Three Square

•    Adams Place

•    American Red Cross - Southern Nevada 

•    Chef For Kids Inc

•    Collaboration Center Foundation

•    Critical Care Comics

•    Equality California Institute

•    Green Chips

•    Henderson Firefighters Benevolent Association 

•    Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation

•    Nevada Diabetes Association for Children and Adults Inc

•    Nevada Health Centers, Inc.

•    Outside Las Vegas Foundation

•    St. Rose Dominican Health Foundation

•    Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

•    The National Hemophilia Foundation

•    Tyler Robinson Foundation Inc

•    U.S. VETS

•    USO Nevada

•    Safe Nest Temporary Assistance for Domestic Crisis 

•    Volunteers in Medicine Southern Nevada Inc. 

•    Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada

Casino News

Sen. Addabbo files 2024 bill to legalize icasino in New York, with 30.5% tax rate to fill state budget hole

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo delivered Thursday on his recent promise to introduce a new bill to legalize New York online casino gaming. Addabbo’s bill, SB 8185, could bring legal iCasino to the fourth-most populated state in the U.S. “I truly think that 2024 should be the year for iGaming and iLottery in New York given the fiscal situation of the state,” Addabbo said on Thursday’s episode of the Lawyers, Lines, and Money podcast. Addabbo cited the potential revenue generation from casino apps as a major reason for New York to consider legalization.

Robot baristas and AI chefs caused a stir at CES 2024 as casino union workers fear for their jobs

The barista tipped the jug of smooth, foamy milk over the latte, pouring slowly at first, then lifting and tilting the jug like a choreographed dance to paint the petals of a tulip. Latte art is a skill that can take months if not years of practice to master — but not for this barista powered by artificial intelligence. Robots of all kinds caused a stir on the show floor this week at the annual CES technology trade show in Las Vegas. It’s innovations like this that worry Roman Alejo, a 34-year-old barista at the Sahara.

F1 names Betsy Fretwell as COO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Betsy Fretwell, who spent three decades in public sector and private business leadership roles, was named chief operating officer of the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix on Tuesday. Fretwell will be responsible for the year-round operation of the Grand Prix, including developing a business surrounding Grand Prix Plaza, the $500 million centerpiece for the annual race. She will also oversee community relations. Fretwell will report to Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm, who is the chief legal officer of Colorado-based Liberty Media, which owns Formula One.

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix unrest among local businesses shows dark underbelly of sports boom town

It’s now been nearly two months since the Las Vegas Grand Prix. But local unrest is still palpable as the fallout from the much-debated Formula 1 event continues. After months of traffic headaches, construction hassles, and a crashing ticket market, the race itself defied expectations and was ultimately a solid success on TV. But a group of local small businesses wants to recoup millions of dollars alleged to have been lost because of the race.

In New York City, Trump name is replaced by Bally at a golf course

As closing arguments began in President Donald J. Trump’s civil fraud trial in Manhattan on Thursday, his name disappeared from a golf course in the Bronx that had long welcomed drivers to the borough with a large sign reading “TRUMP LINKS.” The golf course is under new management, and Mayor Eric Adams attended a rebranding event on Thursday at the course, formerly known as the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The new operator, Bally’s Corporation, revealed a new sign: “BALLY LINKS.” The sign’s removal was another example of Trump’s withdrawal from New York City.

California initiative will further ‘damage the brand’ of mobile sports betting, tribal gaming leaders say

One of California’s most outspoken tribal leaders, Indian Gaming Association Conference Chairman Victor Rocha, said Wednesday that he feared a new ballot initiative seeking to legalize sports wagering in the state was “destined to fail” and could further “damage the brand” of mobile sports betting apps in the wake of a historic 2022 thumping at the polls. “The reality is you have to get the California voters to approve it, and if they’re not ready to support any initiative, don’t move forward with a bad one,” added James Siva, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.

The high-speed train from Las Vegas to California is closer than ever to becoming reality

Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus has been working on a proposed high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California for some 25 years. That’s long enough for something that once seemed like a futuristic dream project to be mostly forgotten by skeptical local residents. But Titus believes this dream project is on the right track at last, thanks to a multi-jurisdictional strategic effort.

Millions are being spent on Mississippi Coast casino improvements. See what’s new

New and improved restaurants, updated hotel rooms and more entertainment is on the way as South Mississippi casinos spend millions on upgrades… Mignon’s Steaks & Seafood and Mignon’s Lounge at Palace Casino in Biloxi closed right after the busy New Year’s Eve celebration and reopens Friday, Jan. 12 with a makeover. “The popular, award winning restaurant was redecorated with a fresh new look, new booths, new tables and chairs,” said Keith Crosby, Palace general manager.

Las Vegas finally gets the hip-hop and R&B residencies fans deserve

Go hunting for the most successful Las Vegas Strip concert residency shows and you’ll find the obvious stars: Celine Dion, Elton John, Britney Spears, Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks and Bruno Mars. Recent additions like Adele at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Carrie Underwood at Resorts World Theatre and U2 at Sphere will certainly join that list soon. Pop, country and rock are certainly among the most consistently popular musical genres, on the charts and in the global cultural consciousness.

Peppermill’s distinct style is Bill Paganetti’s legacy

From the vivid, floor-to-ceiling screens beaming idyllic waterfalls and naturescapes into a Reno high-rise resort, to the gas fireplaces lending warm, retro vibes to a Las Vegas lounge, experts say Peppermill properties are unmistakable and iconic. They bear the fingerprints of Bill Paganetti, who died Dec. 29 at age 85 after a brief illness. Competitors and friends say his meticulous attention to detail and deep connection to his family have helped shape communities across the state where he did business. Paganetti was called an icon of Reno on more than one occasion.

Two more executives leave Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Two more executives at the newly opened Fontainebleau Las Vegas have left, less than a month after the resort’s opening. Chief Operating Officer Colleen Birch and Chief Marketing Officer Shane Smith “voluntarily resigned” from their leadership positions, a resort representative said in a statement. “We thank them for their contributions and wish them well in the future,” the representative said. The departures mark the third high-profile exit at the 67-story, $3.7 billion North Strip property. Michael Clifford, a senior vice president of casino operations, also left the company in the last two weeks.

As new senior VP takes reins, Caesars lops several entertainment executives

Caesars Entertainment has cut several high-level entertainment executives in a companywide consolidation. Multiple sources with knowledge of the moves confirmed that industry pros Chris Yancey, Amy Naples, Mark Weinstein, Jessica Tindor, Mike Hodin and Paul Shlisky are all out, among others. Up to 10 professionals left the company Tuesday — the same day Amy Graca began her tenure as Caesars senior vice president of entertainment. Graca was previously the company’s senior vice president of ticketing.

Nevada: Convicted chip thief nominated for casino exclusion list

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has nominated a man convicted of stealing chips for the state’s Black Book, excluding him from casinos. The exclusion of Neal Ahmed Hearne now goes before the Nevada Gaming Commission for approval. Senior Deputy Attorney General John Michela outlined the case to the three-member Board on Wednesday. In January 2018, Hearne was convicted of theft of gaming chips from a patron at the Aria Resort & Casino. He was ordered as a condition of probation not to enter any gaming establishment to gamble.

California: Koi Nation gets widespread support for Sonoma County casino project

The Koi Nation of Northern California has received widespread support from public figures and organizations for its proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino, which will feature a 400-room hotel, a large gaming complex and varied entertainment options. A large coalition, including current and former elected officials, public agencies, labor unions, tribal governments and members of the public, back the project. Supporters include California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, retired Lake County Sheriff Bryan Martin and Santa Rosa City Councilmembers Tom Schwedhelm and John Sawyer.

Connecticut: Mohegan Sun baccarat dealer charged with fixing games that cost casino $124,000

A Mohegan Sun baccarat dealer is facing charges that he fixed card games, costing Mohegan Sun $124,000. Tribal police said Yu Wen Fu, 64, of 74 Briar Lane, Norwich, was working as a baccarat dealer on the morning of April 21, 2023, when a pit manager noticed Fu handling the cards suspiciously. The manager notified the casino’s surveillance department, whose cameras are ubiquitous on the gaming floor.

Wall Street analyst tackles gaming stocks in 2024

According to a Wall Street analyst, Las Vegas Strip and locals casinos are the best positioned in the industry heading into 2024, despite the challenges of higher labor and utility costs and difficult comparisons with a strong 2023. “Despite challenging rate and cost comps going into 2024, the Strip and locals’ remain the most attractive market for casino operators, driven by group recovery and the sports and events calendar,” said David Katz of Jefferies Equities Research in a note to investors

Georgia: Sports betting back on the table as Legislature resumes

Georgia’s 2024 legislative session will mark another effort to legalize sports betting in the state, lawmakers say, and this year’s push comes after previous attempts have been unsuccessful despite the increasing interest and potential economic benefits associated with legal sports betting in the Peach State. In the last legislative session, Republican Rep. Ron Stephens introduced House Bill 237, which proposed up to 16 online sportsbooks regulated by the Georgia Lottery, with a significant tax on sports betting revenue to fund education.

Ecuador government making strides to legalize gambling

The Ecuadorian government could be about to break a 13-year old ban on all forms of gambling as part of President Daniel Noboa’s plans to survey the population on several policy points. President Noboa has given the Constitutional Court 11 questions to survey the country’s population as part of a Public Consultation, the last of which includes the gambling sector. Ecuador has had a ban on bingo halls and casinos since 2011, however, there was a lack of clarity when it came to online platforms, which paved the way for a gray market to develop.

MMA News - January 2024

UFC Saudi Arabia postponed to June in order to produce a “more entertaining fight card”

On Monday, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed on ‘The MMA Hour’ that the event scheduled for March 2 has been postponed until June. Helwani claims the higher-ups in Saudi Arabia pushed for the event to be postponed so the card could be deeper and have more well-known names.

“I am being told via sources that the planned March 2nd UFC event in Saudi Arabia is being postponed and the target is June. I was told that the reason for the postponement is because, they just want, the powers that be in Saudi Arabia want a more entertaining fight card, they want a deeper fight card with bigger names on it, they weren’t too pleased with what was being offered. So, it is being at this point moved to later in the year, June,” Helwani said… “Saudi Arabia was never going to accept a lesser card than what Abu Dhabi is getting or anyone else is getting. I always found it a little bit surprising that it was just being billed as Fight Night. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a pay-per-view.”

Of course, just recently, Islam Makhachev called out Justin Gaethje for a June 8 pay-per-view, which could be the new date for the Saudi Arabia card. Originally, UFC Saudi Arabia was just a Fight Night card and before the event was postponed to June, the main event of the card had not been revealed. But, according to Helwani, the higher-ups in Saudi Arabia who are paying for the card to be there, weren’t happy with the plans.

As of right now, the UFC has yet to confirm if the Saudi Arabia has indeed been postponed to June. But, all signs point to that happening, which perhaps could be the date for Makhachev’s next fight.

Before UFC Saudi Arabia got postponed, the card was to feature the following bouts:

Alex Perez vs. Muhammad Mokaev

Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Shamil Gaziev

Eryk Anders vs. Jamie Pickett

Joel Alvarez vs. L’udovit Klein

Vinicius Oliveira vs. Yanis Ghemmouri

Javid Basharat vs. Aiemann Zahabi

Mohammed Yahya vs. Brendon Marotte

Loik Radzhabov vs. Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady

Pro Wrestling

WWE RAW - January 15, 2024

Seth “Freakin” Rollins def. Jinder Mahal to retain the World Heavyweight Championship

Looking to dial back the clock to 2017, The Modern Day Maharaja attempted to take Seth “Freakin” Rollins’ World Heavyweight Title. 

Rollins had his back was against the wall, with not only Sanga and Veer of Indus Sher at ringside for Mahal, but the arrival of Señor Money in the Bank Damian Priest, who sauntered down to ringside with his briefcase. 

Deep into the match, Rollins went for the Pedigree, nailing it but coming down hard on his knee, allowing Indus Sher to help Mahal get his foot on the bottom rope. 

With both men down, Priest considered cashing in his contract, but Drew McIntyre attacked him to prevent the cash-in. 

During this fracas, Mahal took advantage, hitting a gutbuster for a close two-count. Indus Sher then gave Mahal a Hail Mary, hitting Rollins with the briefcase before Mahal almost captured the victory with the Khallas. 

Rollins miraculously kicked out at the last second, saving his championship reign with a last-gasp effort. The Visionary then hit the Stomp on Mahal to claim a hard-earned title defense.

(WWE.com)

Gaming News

Entain Exits 140 Markets, Including Antarctica, Vatican City - January 11, 2024

The Antarctica gambling market took a hit in recent days as Entain has announced its intention to exit the region in order to enhance its compliance.  The penguin population there can't be happy.  Vatican City will also be without Entain.  We send our prayers.

Not NIce

These were just two of the regions named of 140 BetMGM's parent company said it will cease operating in.  Not surprising, Entain does not generate any revenue in either Antarctica or Vatican City.

The company has been under increasing pressure to clean up its act and commit to withdrawing from gaming markets with "no clear path to regulation".

Entain’s chair Barry Gibson said leaving the icy continent was "the right thing to do".

A criminal bribery probe by British authorities concluded last month with the gaming firm agreeing to pay a £615mn penalty.  Entain entered into a deferred prosecution agreement Entain signed with UK prosecutors over wrongdoing at its Turkish subsidiary.

The Financial Times reviewed internal tracking documents that showed a number of territories listed among the 140 Entain exited as having populations below 1000.

The Flight Thing to Do

A 40 per cent share price slump since August has slashed its market capitalisation to more than £5.1bn.  An investor revolt in recent weeks forced the departure of CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen.  Entain employees commonly referred to her as "Private Jette" for her reported "overuse of a private plane". 

Nygaard-Andersen issued the following statement earlier this week:

After four years at the company, and three years as CEO, I’ve decided to leave Entain.

 

It hasn’t been an easy decision to make. First and foremost, I want to thank colleagues and partners for their hard-work, support, and dedication over the past few transformational years. I’ve really enjoyed working with you all.

 

Entain is fundamentally a better and stronger company today than it has ever been. Through a multitude of twists, turns and challenges, we’ve transformed the business from the GVC of old to one with the highest standards of governance, compliance, player safety, a new effective strategy setting the Company up for further growth in all markets, old and new, and excellent quality of earnings.

 

Over the past four years, we have dramatically shifted the company to be a responsible operator, a reputable employer, strategically put the customer front and centre of business operations, worked on transforming the technology to make it future fit, diversified the portfolio and so much more. That luminous GVC orange evolved to an iconic bright Entain purple and Entain became a business that partners want to work with, people want to work for, and customers trust with their entertainment.

 

Thanks to the professionalism and passion of Entainers around the world, the business tackled challenges such as the pandemic head-on, navigated a path to 100% regulated operations and always thought of the customer. As a result, Entain is now a business that has scaled and operates in over 30 territories with 30,000 employees.

 

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. There is enormous opportunity to innovate in the gaming industry. What has worked in the past will not always work in the present and this industry needs strategic thinkers and innovators that are passionate about doing the right thing for customers. That said, I am grateful that I have met and worked with some brilliant and talented individuals over the last four years that live and breathe this mindset.

 

I am taking a break over this holiday period to decompress before deciding on my next executive opportunity. So, on that note, I hope everyone has had an enjoyable festive period and I look forward to connecting with you in 2024.

 

Happy New Year!

A Fond Farewell

Judging by the responses, it seemed there were plenty of folks who admired Nygaard-Andersen.

One wrote: "It was an amazing experience working with you Jette! Wishing you a restful break and excited to see what you do next!!"

Another offered: "Best of luck Jette. From the sidelines, tranformation (sic) and progress of Entain over last 4 years seem substantial and fantastic. Keep it up and we stay in touch."

And still another offered: "Congratulations on a job very well done Jette."

According to the Financial Times, the company counts four US activist hedge funds among its top-20 shareholders, including Corvex Management and Eminence Capital, and last week granted Eminence’s founder Ricky Sandler a board seat.

Entain, we would note, was forced to pay a record £17 million for regulatory failures in August of 2022, during Nygaard-Andersen's reign.  So much for the "high standards of governance, compliance, player safety".

(Gambling911)

Without proper regulation, AI could overtake online spaces

What is often described as a conspiracy theory could be a reality if action isn’t taken.

In the past few years, a conspiracy theory called the dead-internet theory emerged on social media forums, eventually spreading to larger publications such asThe Atlantic.

The idea is that the majority of content online is not generated by humans but by bots and artificial intelligence, commanded by algorithms to cater to you.

This would mean interactions you have on the internet are not often with other humans, but with thinking and reacting machines.

Of course, this is not true. But with a recent report stating that nearly half of online traffic is automated, it could be truer than we first thought.

Cybersecurity firm Imperva stated in a 2023 report that in 2022, 47.4 per cent of online traffic was made by bots, which were divided as ‘good’ and ‘bad’.

‘Good’ bots could be software that improves search functions such as Google, whereas ‘bad’ bots can emulate humans and connect to websites with malware (malicious software).

This was a 5.1 per cent increase in automated traffic from 2021, which was at 42.3 per cent.

During this time, billionaire Elon Musk bought the social media platform media Twitter and rebranded it as X.

Shortly after, studies noticed a surge in bot activity on the site, such as during the first US Republican primary debate this year.

With bot activity on the rise, some suggest the far-fetched conspiracy theory could become more likely, if steps to regulate and verify AI aren’t taken.

Digital marketing strategist Prosper M. Taruvinga said that he expected government regulation on AI sooner rather than later, due to the large amount of kids and teenagers with access to the internet.

“It’s only a matter of time until some regulatory bodies start seeing that this is not good for humans,” he said. “Especially when kids start getting involved.”

Mr Taruvinga said in the meantime, it was a matter of individuals noticing the difference between technology and reality, while governments catch up with necessary policy.

“Right now, I think we’ve got discernment,” he said. “You can tell when somebody … doesn’t sound human, because you can’t tweet a hug.”

But Lambros Photios, CEO of software development company Adaca, said that he was concerned the speed of AI’s advancement is growing faster than our ability to recognise it.

As an example, he mentioned that AI software ChatGPT currently has an estimated IQ of 155.

“I think in the short term, we need to just get a bit smarter,” he said, but added that it was a short term solution that may only last “for the next 12 to 18 months; just due to the [speed] AI is progressing.”

Mr Photios said he believed big tech would be the field pushing for safety from bots, rather than federal legislators.

“Those larger groups like Apple and Google have historically created technologies to prevent people, like you and I from being affected by scammers – and it hasn’t been at the instruction of government,” he said.

“Cybersecurity has been something historically, I’d probably say four or five plus years ago, that was left up to the consumer. You know, ‘go get your Norton Antivirus’, ‘go get your McAfee’, ‘get these antivirus technologies for your computer, and you’ll be protected’.

Mr Photios said that now larger tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and Apple are considering cybersecurity as a requirement for their products.

“When it comes to big tech, they’re all needing to continue to innovate in this space, simply to keep up with each other,” he said. “So the great thing about the competitiveness of these groups is they’re going to continue to advance the feature sets around cybersecurity, to protect us as consumers.”

But as these protections are still developing, Mr Photios said it was important to have a plan to protect yourself from scams and AI impersonating friends and family.

“A larger scale cybersecurity strategy hasn’t kicked in yet to actually prevent these bots from making their way through,” he said.

Jocelyn Brewer, cyberpsychologist – a psychologist trained in understanding our relationship with technology – said that teaching people to be aware of their safety online should be about education rather than restricting access.

“The focus with regard to technologies has traditionally been a protectionism approach,” she said. “Do less, avoid, or ‘stop’ mentality, rather than to deeply understand and participate intentionally in digital spaces.”

Ms Brewer said that because of this, people don’t have a clear guideline for teaching humans how to responsibly operate in online areas.

“Rather than teach this (too expensive!) and develop responsible technology use policies, governments create phone ‘bans’ at schools (cheap option!), where the opportunity to drive safely is removed and pushed into home contexts,” she said. “Parents also, often, have no strong skills in this either”.

“We have lots of media attention on teens and screens and impacts of social media on mental health, but we have not seriously paused to consider how to support young people (or in fact people of any age) to participate well in these spaces.”

What Is Google Trends?

Google Trends is a tool for analyzing search queries that shows search trends over a period of time, depicted in a graph.

It offers the ability to compare up to five keyword search terms and to tune the results by geographic location, topic, time period, and search surface (image, news, shopping, and video).

There are four selectable ways to customize the keyword data:

Geographic location (by individual country or worldwide).

Topic categories (25 categories plus all categories simultaneously).

Four different search surfaces (image, news, shopping, YouTube).

Time.

Online Newspapers

Online newspapers (or e-news or e-news publications) are online versions of newspapers, either as stand-alone publications or as online versions of printed periodicals. Going online has created more opportunities for newspapers, such as competing with broadcast journalism in providing more timely breaking news. Many in the newspaper industry believe that long-established newspapers' credibility, strong brand recognition and close relationships with advertisers also improve their chances of survival. Migrating away from the print process can also help reduce costs. Online newspapers have the same legal restrictions on defamation, privacy and copyright as print newspapers do, and in most countries, including the UK, apply to online publications as well. UK data protection law also applies to online newspapers and news pages. Until 2014, the UK was ruled by the PCC, but there was no clear distinction between real online newspapers and forums and blogs. In 2007, it formally regulated UK-based online newspapers, news audio and news video websites, covering the responsibilities expected of them, defining what is an online news publication and what is an online news publication. A judgment was made to clarify whether it is not a thing. 

Online gambling: Definition, Advantages, Disadvantages, and much more!

What is online gambling?

Online gambling has come a long way in the past few decades, and now it's more viable than ever before! With internet gambling, there's no need to trek out to the casino and deal with the hassle of crowds, traffic, and high stakes. You can gamble right on your desktop or laptop computer!

Ever since online poker burst onto the scene in 2003, it has grown into one of the most popular forms of gambling worldwide. In 2017, online poker made up more than 56% of all online gaming revenue in North America.

Of course, there are other forms of online gambling out there, and one of the most popular is online casino gambling – with the latter indicating that you could be playing for real money.

Online casino gambling not only has you play for real money, but it also allows you to access international and high-stakes games for clients, who are allowed to deposit and withdraw funds from anywhere in the world. Due to this aspect, some call online casino gambling "the world's most universal betting platform.

However, online casino gambling isn't for everyone. If you want to remain anonymous and don't mind paying the flat $10 registration fee, then you can enjoy playing with an online site like UFABET.

An introduction to online gambling

Before you start playing at an online casino, make sure that you have a strategy as to how much money you will spend on the games. For example, do not play more than 10 percent of your total net worth on one game. This is a common cardinal rule for all types of gambling.

Besides playing at an online casino, you can also test your luck at land-based casinos that offer online gaming. If you're more comfortable with a physical table and want to be able to partake in the bigger games, then you may want to include casino vouchers as part of your planning.

You can get free spins available through the UFABET site – including casinos that offer free cash bonuses upfront.

Advantages of online gambling

Affordable games with no set-up fees. 

Unlike brick-and-mortar establishments, online casinos don't have any casino rent or floor attendants to pay for. They also don't have to worry about maintenance costs for roulette wheels or card shufflers because they're digital! As a result, all of their money goes into games.

Great games. 

With online casinos, you can almost always try the game before you buy it! Most online casinos have a demo mode where you can play with play money. This allows you to learn a game without putting your money at risk.

Free credit offers. 

Online casino websites have tie-ins with major credit card companies which means that they often offer free gambling with every purchase of a certain amount or more.

Disadvantages of online gambling?

There are many arguments for and against the popularity of online gambling. Some people enjoy betting on their favorite sports team or playing penny slots, while others would rather put their money toward more productive activities. The US doesn't have laws regulating online casinos, so a large portion of the population is addicted to gambling. The question is why are people addicted to gambling? Is it because it's fun and exciting, or does the house have something to do with casino gambling being so addicting? Read on for some of the disadvantages of online gambling.

People that play online casino games are not only addicted to the action and excitement, but also because many times they cannot control their impulses. Online casinos have a lot of games that require quick reactions and having a good amount of skill in order to earn more money in return. Players get caught up in the thrill of the activity and get carried away in the moment.

People that play online casino games are not only addicted to the action and excitement, but also because many times they cannot control their impulses. Online casinos have a lot of games that require quick reactions and having a good amount of skill in order to earn more money in return. Players get caught up in the thrill of the activity and get carried away in the moment.

Drinking might be enjoyable with friends, but drinking alone is an entirely different story. Alcoholism is a word that is used to describe one's addiction to alcohol and their inability to stop drinking. Many people become alcoholics after just one night of binge drinking. Drinking is no longer a social pastime, but an addiction that has taken over their life.

When you play online casino games, you're not only gambling in your money, but also your time. Gambling addicts are often so far hooked on gambling that they find it difficult to pull themselves away from the excitement of betting on numbers or sports competitions.

Online gambling vs traditional gambling:

There are two different ways to gamble. One is in person, like at a casino or a race track. The other is online, such as through an internet betting site like UFABET. The differences between online gambling and traditional gambling are vast and worth considering before you put your money behind them for the first time! 

We'll start with the similarities: both offer additional game options not available from traditional casinos, including games that aren't found in any land-based establishment. And both offer promotions and the chance to win cash prizes. While both offer the same things, one is not necessarily better than the other. The two biggest differences are where you gamble and your potential to win. Traditional gambling is almost always based on chance, whether through a casino blackjack table or betting on horses in a race track. 

Online gambling offers many more options for players, which can make it more difficult for them to win what they hoped to earn. Let's start with the similarities. Both gambling types offer players the possibility to bet on a wide variety of games, from parlay bets on individual games to play multiple games at once. But that doesn't mean you'll win more money with online gambling. The problem arises when you bet on one or two games and lose. Rather than being stuck with a $2 for a $10 bet, as in blackjack or at a race track, players who gamble online lose all their money on any single game. 

So the question becomes, will the player win more money with online gambling or traditional? To answer this question, we'll look at how online and traditional gambling is set up. Traditional gambling is always based on a game of chance. You put your money behind a nice horse and hope for the best. Online gambling is different. The house always has more control of how you play and how much you win — in fact, it's almost impossible to win big without risking large sums of money.

Online Gambling explained

Gambling over the Internet. Online gambling includes casino-style gambling, betting on sports events, virtual poker and an array of games that were developed strictly for the online use. Online gambling is illegal in many countries as well as several states in the U.S. According to Statista.com, the worldwide gambling industry reached $67B in 2020 with expected growth to reach $92B by 2023. 

What is online business? Definition and examples

All activities where products and services are negotiated and paid for across the Internet are examples of Online Business. If somebody asks whether you are involved in online business, they want to know whether you buy and/or sell goods or services electronically. Electronically, in this case, means online or through the Internet.

Engaging in online business also encompasses the development of digital marketing strategies to promote and differentiate products and services in the virtual marketplace.

Australia’s Northern Territory Government has the following definition of online business:

“Online business is any kind of business activity that happens over the internet. Running an online business can include buying and selling online or providing an online service.”

Online business means the activity or the company

The term online business may refer to the activity of buying and selling goods and services online, or specific companies. In other words, the focus might be on what a company does or what it is.

When talking about an activity, i.e., doing business online, it means the same as e-Commerce. E-Commerce is a type of business model where commercial transactions occur through digital or electronic networks. In most cases, this means through the Internet.

For example, e-Bay is involved in e-Commerce, it is an online business. PayPal, Netflix, and Booking.com are online businesses; they are also involved in e-Commerce.

When the term refers to a company, we place the indefinite article (the word ‘an’) before it. When referring to just the activity, there is no definite article. Look at the two sentences below:

PayPal is an online business. (we use the word ‘an’ when talking about a company)

PayPal is involved in online business (we don’t use ‘an’ when talking about its activity).

When an online business refers to a company, it means the same as an e-Business.

Online business includes goods and/or services

All types of business activities that take place via the Internet are examples of online businesses. Somebody who provides a service online and has paying customers has an online business, as does an entrepreneur who sells products over the Internet.

The opposite of an online business is an offline business. Fifty years ago, all companies’ activities were offline because the Internet did not exist. If you wanted to buy something, you had to go to the physical premises of the seller, telephone them, or post a letter with a check (British English: cheque).

In the 1950s, customers had to walk into a branch of their bank if they wanted to take out money or make a transfer. There were no personal computers, mobile phones, tablets, or Internet, which means that online banking did not exist.

Online business grew and grew

Since the turn of the century, online business volume has increased dramatically. Unfortunately, many bricks-and-mortar companies, such as high street shops, have had to pay the price. If you walk down the high street (commercial street) of any town or city of an advanced economy today, you will see far fewer stores that there were a few decades ago.

Over the last couple of decades, consumers have become increasingly involved in online shopping and visited their local stores less often. Hundreds of thousands of physical shops could not cope and closed down.

People’s shopping habits during the weeks leading up to Christmas have changed significantly. Many people still enjoy walking up and down the street and entering stores when Christmas shopping. However, a significant number today opt to make all their purchases online. They can sit in the comfort of their living room or bedroom, avoid angry crowds and winter weather, and make comparisons much more quickly.

Giant Internet businesses today

Today, there are literally thousands of different kinds of online businesses. Amazon.com, for example, is a mega-giant. It is the world’s largest online retailer. It also focuses on digital streaming, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

Amazon currently employs 1,335,000 workers globally. It is one of America’s ‘Big 5′ in the tech world. ‘Tech’ in this context refers to electronic-based technology companies that are involved in creating software, providing Internet-related services, cloud computing, AI (artificial intelligence), and digital electronics.

Moreover, the flexibility of online business models has led to the rise of micro-entrepreneurship, where individuals can operate global businesses right from their smartphones or laptops.

ARISTOCRAT BRINGS LAND-BASED AND ONLINE GAMING TOGETHER AT ICE 2024

11 January 2024

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Aristocrat Gaming invites the gaming industry to "Play the A" at ICE 2024 in London, taking place from 6-8 February 2024. The company is set to display more than 75 games as part of its expansive portfolio of Premium, For Sale, and For Sale Link titles for the EMEA region.

Anaxi, Aristocrat's online Real Money Gaming and Customer Experience Solutions business, will bring customers along the one-player experience while showcasing the latest developments and popular titles including the Buffalo Gold Collection, Jackpot Carnival, and more.

"We are committed to the growth of EMEA and expanding our offerings to our customers, that is why we continue to invest heavily in design and development each year, to create games that help to meet our customers' needs and player demand," said Marcel Heutmekers, VP of Sales and Operations in EMEA for Aristocrat Gaming. "We invite all ICE attendees to come experience our industry-leading games, cabinets, and online integrations first-hand to see what's possible for their floors."

Leading the display of Premium titles is Jackpot Carnival. Named "Slot of the Year" at the Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas 2023, ICE 2024 marks the game's European premiere. Housed in the MarsX Portrait cabinet, Jackpot Carnival is a festival of fun with innovative gameplay, complete with themed bonus features and free games with multipliers, as well as familiar game titles like Buffalo, THE POWER OF 88, and more on the horizon.

Other Premium titles on display include:

- Tarzan Link: City of Gold and Palace of Diamonds which offer popular mechanics like Hold & Spin, Super Hold & Spin, and Super Super Hold & Spin features with guaranteed Cash-on-Reels prizes.

- Where's the Gold Jackpots: Buffalo, Geisha, and Pompeii currently topping the Eilers U.S. charts, these games expand on player-favorite titles with an increase in base game and jackpot multipliers.

- Dragon Link: Autumn Moon, Genghis Khan, Golden Century, Happy & Prosperous, Panda Magic, and Peace and Long Life provide entertainment with every spin as players chase the free spin scatter, wild stacks, and the Hold & Spin Bonus.

- Super Bowl Link, the first NFL-themed slot on the MarsX Portrait cabinet from the company's exclusive NFL Slots global license.

For Sale Links by Aristocrat Gaming continue to gain popularity with operators and players across EMEA, and this year, 100 percent of the Game Sales titles featured at ICE are link-enabled. New For Sale Link games on display include Ju Cai Gin Gui and Fortune Harmony on the MarsX Upright, and Lunar Cash, Reign of Gold, and Triple Power Link on the MarsX Portrait cabinet.

Also featured will be a zone dedicated to South Africa with the popular 5 Dragons game family configured in South African Rand currency. Additionally, a section dedicated to the U.K. will feature a lineup of five game families and well-established hits.

Proudly part of Aristocrat, Anaxi brings a portfolio of world-class content, technology, and creativity to the iGaming industry. Bridging the player journey from land-based to online, popular Aristocrat titles like Buffalo, Buffalo Gold, Buffalo Chief, Cash Express Luxury Line and Jackpot Carnival can now be enjoyed in online casinos. With new games and jackpot features, players globally can enjoy the largest suite of game options, all of which will be on display at ICE.

Aristocrat recently opened its newest integration center in Barcelona, another milestone for the company, reinforcing its long-term investment in the EMEA region and the teams that serve within it.

META FINED $6.5 MILLION FOR VIOLATION OF ITALY GAMBLING AD BAN

22 December 2023

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Authority for Communications Guarantees, in its session on 20 December, imposed a fine of €5.85 million on the company Meta Platforms Ireland Limited Ltd. for violating the prohibition of gambling advertising under Article 9 of the legislative decree of 12 July 2018, no. 87. The proceeding, initiated following numerous reports received by the Authority and concluded with Resolution No. 331/23/CONS, confirmed the presence of promotional or indirectly advertising content related to games or bets with cash prizes on 18 profiles/accounts (5 on Instagram and 13 on Facebook), as well as 32 "sponsored" contents, i.e., distributed for payment on the aforementioned social media, aimed at promoting and/or advertising online gambling and betting activities with cash prizes through videos and images. Similar to the recent decisions against Google Ireland Ltd. (Resolution No. 317/23/CONS) and Twitch Interactive Germany GmbH (Resolution No. 316/23/CONS), Meta was deemed responsible as the owner of the dissemination means, i.e., the video-sharing platforms "Facebook" and "Instagram," for the 32 "sponsored" contents. It emerged that the company did not merely host, with purely technical, passive, and automatic methods, user-uploaded content but provided an actual advertising service; this circumstance puts the company in a position to be aware of the illegality of the content.

Regarding the 18 profiles/accounts (5 on Instagram and 13 on Facebook), the company was held responsible for only 5 accounts since, following the notification of the contestation act - marking the moment when the company became fully aware of the illicit content distributed - it only removed 11 of the 18 reported profiles/accounts. The decision aligns with the provisions of Article 6, paragraph 1, letter b) of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The sanction is accompanied by an order of notice & take down, as well as an order of notice & stay down.

Pay-Per-View (PPV)

a system for watching television in which people pay for the particular programmes that they watch:

pay-per-view television/channels.

We watched the boxing, wrestling and MMA matches on pay-per-view. The adult entertainment industry also carved out a niche in PPV with video on demand (VOD) elements.

He was the top PPV sales and marketing exec at Optus Vision collaborating with Main Event TV for 5 years straight.

a system for watching television in which people pay for the particular programmes that they watch:

pay-per-view television.

In addition to showing live games there will be pay-per-view, and a deal offering Saturday night highlights.

Netflix streamg, Binge and tubi fast services cut into a lot of the traditional PPV business model.

It is now possible individually to address every receiver by signal, and the receivers will know whether the licence—the pay-per-view, if one likes—has been paid.

The traditional big 4 pro wrestling pay-per-views that have been getting broadcast via the WWE pro wrestling promotion for decades are now known as premium live events, as well as the vast majority of their other big events. The smaller shows are sometimes known as "house shows" and highlights often hit the WWE social media channels.

Some media insiders call tubi "The Netflix Killer"

"TrillerTV did well out of pro wrestling pay-per-views over-the-top and DAZN specalized more in boxing. The UFC started to collaborate more with ESPN and ESPN + with mixed results, and then secured a b2b deal with Kayo Sports in the Australian region early 2024" - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

"The PPV business model doesn't quite have the same strangle hold on the pro wrestling and greater combat sports business model that it previously did for well over a decade. The PPV business model was disrupted from YouTube, other social media channels and via a broad range of media and new media entrepreneurs" - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

#PPV #PayPerView #quotes #GregTingle #VOD #VideoOnDemand #OTT #OverTheTop #FAST #sportsstreaming #streamingsports #streamingbiz #streamingindustry #prowrestling #wrestling #MMA #combatsports #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmedia #entertainment #mainevent #showbiz #disrupt #broadcast #comms #TV #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint

Box Office News (North America)

1. The Beekeeper - $17 million 

2. Wonka - $8.4 million

3. Anyone But You - $6.9 million

4. Migration - $6.2 million

5. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom - $5.3 million

6. Night Swim - $4.7 million

7. The Boys in the Boat - $3.5 million

8. The Book of Clarence - $2.6 million

9. The Iron Claw - $2.4 million

10. American Fiction - $1.9 million

#movienews #boxoffice #boxofficenews #showbiz #TheBeekeeper #Wonka #AnyoneButYou #Migration #Aquaman2 #AquamanAndTheLostKingdom #NightSwim #NightSwimMovie #TheBoysInTheBoat #TheBookofClarence #TheIronClaw #IronClaw #VonErichs #AmericanFiction #EntertainmentNews #popculture #entertainment #trends #trending #buzz #X #media #mediaman 

Australian Open on ESPN in US

January 12, 2024

ESPN is bringing tennis fans in North America every match from every round of the 2024 Australian Open live from Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. Exclusive coverage begins on January 13th with coverage across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ which will include all matches from all 15 courts – with every match streaming live on ESPN+.

With Melbourne 16 hours ahead of the US, day session matches will air on ESPN linear networks in primetime ET and night session matches will air at 3am ET.  In all, ESPN will air more than 240 hours of live coverage on its linear networks, an increase of 35 per cent over 2023.

Coverage will culminate with the Women’s and Men’s Championships on January 27th and 28th, respectively, at 3:30m ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

This is ESPN’s 40th annual presentation of this Australian Open, representing its longest uninterrupted professional sports programming relationship. ESPN has held the rights to the event since 1984.

WBD Sports outlines Australian Open coverage

January 8, 2024

Some of the biggest names in tennis return to Melbourne Park for the first Grand Slam of 2024, kick-starting a busy year of sporting action for Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe.

From January 14th to 28th, tennis fans in 50 markets in Europe won’t miss a single ball hit throughout the tournament with live and on-demand coverage streamed exclusively on discovery+, and the Eurosport App. Coupled with 260 live hours of television coverage on Eurosport’s linear channels from 17 courts, tennis fans will be treated to the ultimate Australian Open experience as Novak Djokovic bids for an 11th Australian Open title while Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka continue their rivalry in their quest for the world number one spot.

WBD will also harness its free-to-air networks across Europe to air some of the key matches to the largest possible audiences. Both men’s and women’s singles finals will be broadcast in Sweden (via K9), Finland (via TV5) and Norway (via Max), whilst the women’s singles final will be available in Poland via TVN should it feature world number one Iga Swiatek. Finals highlights will also be available in the UK on DMAX. Additionally, tennis fans in Denmark (via 6’eren) will be able to watch local players such as Holger Rune and Clara Tauson progress through the tournament.

Scott Young, Group SVP, Content, Production and Business Operations, WBD Sports Europe, said: “We first delivered the Australian Open under the Eurosport brand in 1995 and this year’s tournament promises to be one of the best yet, packed with so many inspiring stories and battles that fans can follow every step of the way across our channels and platforms. No other broadcaster provides a 360-degree tennis ecosystem that connects tennis fans to the sport they love like we do. To enhance the storytelling like never before, we’ve assembled one of the most impressive expert line-ups of tennis legends and superstars. We’re particularly excited to welcome Nick Kyrgios to our English language commentary team this year and know fans will benefit from his unique perspectives and closeness to the current crop of champions and competitors taking to the court this year.”

WBD’s commitment to covering every story from the tournament includes localised studio shows for fans in the UK, Germany, France and Spain fronted by Boris Becker and Barbara Rittner (Matchball Becker from Munich), Alex Corretja and Carla Suarez Navarro (Pasando Bolas from Madrid), Justine Henin (ESP Tennis Club from Paris) and Roberta Vinci (from Milan).

In addition to wall-to-wall main draw coverage, Eurosport and discovery+ will show all qualifying rounds (from January 8th) as well as junior, wheelchair and legends matches. Eurosport’s live coverage each day will begin from 01:00 CET with a morning news show and pre-night session show from 08:45 CET each day.

Alongside all the live action, Eurosport.com will showcase free daily highlights complemented by behind-the-scenes clips, expert opinions and athlete reactions on Eurosport’s social platforms.

Furthermore, on the road to Melbourne, WBD will present new and exclusive content to build anticipation for the main event. These include Djokovic Unmasked – a documentary profiling the most the prolific winner in Australian Open history, an in-depth 2024 Australian Open preview show featuring expert interviews and a look back at some of the key highlights from the 2023 edition of the ‘Happy Slam’.

During the tournament, player-led opinion features including My Playlist, My Grand Slam Appetite and My Social Network will give fans access to their favourite players from the Tour.

In 2023, WBD’s coverage of the Australian Open across Europe resulted in record growth on its streaming platforms. Audiences rose by almost a third across Europe on discovery+ and the Eurosport App and doubled across key markets including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK as fans tuned in to the action in their millions. Similarly, linear television viewership across Europe on Eurosport 1 remained consistent with the 2022 tournament, which was a previous record audience for Eurosport’s coverage of the Australian Open.

Tennis News

The decision that changed the Australian Open’s fortunes - January 14, 2024

A decision made a decade ago to set up an in-house production team for the Australian Open has paid dividends for the world’s champion tennis players, who will compete for a record $86.5 million prize pool at this year’s tournament.

The prize money offered by Tennis Australia to champions such as Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka has more than doubled in a decade and is now almost on par with the amount offered by the world’s other major grand slams – the US Open, Roland-Garros (aka the French Open) and Wimbledon.

The increase – more than 150 per cent since 2013 – is driven by rapid growth in the amount of money made from Tennis Australia’s broadcast and sponsorship deals, which have grown exponentially because of a decision by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley to bring production of its flagship tournament in-house.

Tennis Australia makes its money from broadcasters, sponsors and crowds, and uses it to reinvest in grassroots tennis and prize money at its major tournaments. Further increases to prize money and revenue are among Mr Tiley’s future ambitions, and could also be vital to stave off the threat of investment in the sport from Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tiley, who is also the Australian Open’s tournament director, said his decision to take control of all tournament production and feed it to local and international broadcasters was key to his organisation’s success. In 2023, nearly 111,000 hours of coverage was broadcast around the world, an increase of 9.8 per cent in 2022.

“Bringing the broadcast of the AO in-house has enabled us to expand the overall coverage hours exponentially,” he said. “We’ve done this by implementing things that are now seen as standard at Slams, such as live coverage of every court, behind-the-scenes coverage … and new stats. As a result, our media rights revenue has grown considerably over this period.”

In 2023, the US Open offered a prize pool of $US65 million ($97.2 million) and Roland-Garros awarded competitors €49.6 million ($81.3 million). Wimbledon split £44.7 million ($85.2 million) among its competitors. The Australian Open’s prize pool was $76.5 million – the smallest pool in comparative currency terms.

But with an increase to $86.5 million this year, Tennis Australia has increased the Australian Open prize money by more than $50 million – the largest increase of any major grand slam in the past decade. A $425 million broadcast rights extension with Nine Entertainment, publisher of The Australian Financial Review, and a nine-year extension with ESPN are among the factors that could have contributed to this year’s increase.

In an interview with AFR Weekend, Mr Tiley flagged his ambition to make $1 billion in revenue within five years.

“I want to be able to pay the players more, I want more tennis players to make more money,” Mr Tiley said.

Hunter Fujak, a sports management lecturer at Deakin University, said the prize money was now in the proximal range of other major grand slams. But he said continued increases could be vital to the future of the four major tennis championships.

“Tennis and golf are similarly structured sports,” he said. “If there’s an interesting element to the prize pool, it’s that we might see all the majors continue to increase at a higher rate, simply because they might perceive there to be a threat from a Saudi-backed fund.

“One way to counteract that would be to try to increase the playing pool among the established tournaments to ward off that risk.”

The big picture in Australia

Tennis Australia has increased revenue to $505 million in 2022 from $186 million in 2013, and crowds at its flagship tournament have increased 22.6 per cent in the same period. Its strategy under Mr Tiley has solidified its position as the third-biggest money-making sport in Australia.

In calendar 2022, the AFL made $944 million in revenue, while the NRL had revenue of $585 million, their annual reports say. In the most recent financial year, Cricket Australia made $426.6 million.

“Tennis Australia slides under the radar because they just have one very big event … as opposed to other sports, which run in a broader window,” Mr Fujak said. “They are the dark horse in Australian sport.”

(AFR)

Sports Rights Bubble Narrative “Overstated and Under Researched”

The Premier League’s domestic rights deals, the ongoing fractionalization of national rights in the U.S. (see: NFL, MLB, NASCAR) and MLS’ move to Apple have all be cited as evidence that sports rights values may be close to peaking. The narrative gained steam in the wake of Mark Cuban’s sale of the Dallas Mavericks.

But at least some industry veterans remain bullish on national broadcast-related revenues continuing to grow, and by proxy, pro team and league-level investments.

“This concept of a sports media rights bubble is overstated and under researched,” Brian Flinn (partner and COO, Isos7 Sports) said. Leagues may not be able to command “a 3x or 4x increase in negotiations anymore, but a 2x increase remains achievable and can still be a gamechanger for most properties.”

Remember, after the revenue stream is split with the players, much of the balance should hit the bottom line. 

“People aren’t realizing the impact 2x growth with near 100% margins will have on the economics of these leagues and teams,” George Barrios (founder and co-managing partner, Isos7 Sports) said. “These are businesses you should be running to invest into.”

The TV advertising and subscription business (think: affiliate fees) consistently grew at a 5-10% YoY clip in the U.S. in recent decades, and much of that revenue trickled down to the rights owner. Now, with the industry undergoing a transition and the profits embedded in the old system slowly leaking away, an increasing number of observers are wondering where future growth will come from. 

“They see the networks struggling and the streamers losing money and wonder how rights fees can continue to increase,” Barrios said.

While that logic makes sense, it fails to account for the critical role sports play in legacy broadcaster portfolios.  

“If those networks don’t have live sports, their value goes to zero because nobody cares about their content,” Barrios said. 

So, Isos7 Sports expects the legacy outlets to increasingly shift resources from unscripted and scripted programming to sports. 

“There’s still a lot of room for them to invest in more sports content, which has stable, reliable, predictable audiences, as opposed to guessing on a new show,” Flinn said.

It also does not account for the possibility of the digital players spending more aggressively on live rights in the years ahead.

“There is a significant amount of their revenues that they can spend to drive acquisition and retention through sports,” Flinn said. 

Isos7 Sports acknowledges there may be some short-term turbulence and disruption in the marketplace as the legacy players work to right-size their businesses and the tech giants continue to test and learn.

But "our math suggests that this blip people are negotiating in should go away pretty quickly," Flinn said.

How quickly?

“In 10 years, U.S. sports rights are going to be, in aggregate, 2-3x greater than they are today,” Barrios predicted.

And Isos7 Sports believes the new distribution system will end up being more profitable for rights owners too because of how revenues are disseminated.

In the old system, “the networks would buy content from others, bundle it, double the price, and sell it to the MVPD,” Barrios said. “They'd make a 50% margin and the MVPD would take the offering and double the price to the consumer.”

More of the economics are expected to flow down from the distribution layer to the content suppliers in the new system.

“To where the value really is,” Flinn said.

Power laws should ensure sports properties command the bulk of incremental revenues, or at least that those at the very top of the value chain do.

“The break points between [property] tiers and the slope of the curve is changing,” Barrios said.

Tier two and tier three properties will likely have to get more creative and deliver more value to keep their rights revenues rising.

Isos7 Sports assumes increasing fandom abroad, spurred on by digital and social media content, will be another catalyst for future growth.   

“What’s happening globally is really misunderstood,” Barrios said (think: ongoing wealth transfer + tech adoption in emerging markets). 

And it views the continued expansion of legalized sports betting in the U.S. as another strong tailwind.

“The ability for a casual fan to participate and be engaged with league content is valuable,” Barrios said. 

Time will tell how large the pie can ultimately grow to be. But it certainly seems premature to call the top on sports rights before the new distribution system shakes out.

(John Wall Street)

Interactive Ads Worth Billions in Incremental Media Rights and Partnership Revenue - November 30, 2023

Thanksgiving is rooted in tradition. Americans eat the same foods (think: turkey, sweet potato pie), watch the same events on television (NFL games, Macy’s parade), and gather with the same family members and friends on the last Thursday of every November. Then many will head to the mall the following day to shop for the upcoming holiday season.

But Amazon uprooted tradition this year by streaming an NFL game on Black Friday for the first time. The e-commerce giant’s move to keep more people home on one of the busiest shopping days of the year could influence two of sports’ most important revenue streams moving forward–media rights and partnerships.

Amazon’s coverage of the Jets and Dolphins on November 26 integrated its ecommerce platform (and several advertisers’ direct websites) into the stream. Fans watching the game were able to simultaneously purchase products, like a Nintendo Switch, an Apple watch, or a pack of Gillette Labs razor blades, via QR codes on screen.

Traditionally, a consumer who sees a sponsor logo or product offering during a sports broadcast would have to leave the viewing platform or utilize a second screen to complete the transaction.

Amazon is increasingly working to sell product where customers (and potential customers) consume content. In addition to the Black Friday broadcast, the company recently announced strategic partnerships with both Meta and Snap.

The strategy makes sense as in-app shopping becomes increasingly commonplace.

“The younger generation is used to buying things on Instagram and [that] has changed its [purchasing] muscles,” Peter Scott (chief strategy officer, Play Anywhere and former VP of emerging media and innovation, Warner Media) said. “Amazon has the store and Meta [and Snap have] the targeting abilities and audience. [So, they are] pretty amazing opportunities.”

Live sports account for nearly all of the top telecasts (94/100 in ’22). But historically speaking, direct commerce integrations have not been a part of the game broadcast–or the media rights business model. Networks and streamers have instead monetized the valuable content with a mix of affiliate, retransmission, subscription, and advertising revenues.

That should be changing though. The strain that exists on cable networks as the Pay-TV universe continues to dwindle has been well documented. To date, direct-to-consumer offerings that helped upend the old system have failed to replace the lost economics.

“These leagues [know they] need to create more revenue streams for the rights holder,” Scott said. “Interactive ads will help rights holders pay the same amount or a little more for rights given these ads are new inventory, that can help [broadcasters] make more money from the rights.”

Amazon’s Black Friday broadcast showed how interactive ads have the potential to spur incremental revenue growth.

“Amazon [received] higher CPMs for the ad inventory because it knows more about those [watching],” Scott said. “Other cable and connected TV [operators will also look to] leverage first-party data to better target consumers in similar ways using interactive ads [and] increase their ad dollars.”

Rights holders should also find an increasing number of interested marketing partners as interactive ad integrations become more commonplace. Companies value assets capable of driving direct returns to their business and the Black Friday game seemingly supports the notion that reducing consumer friction leads to spending.

Play Anywhere partnered with 1Q to conduct a real-time mobile phone survey panel of 120 people during the broadcast. 84% of those polled said the codes made it easier to buy products. 43% reported they used a QR code to make a purchase during game.

Amazon’s own data supports the panel insights. The company reported a record breaking Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) Holiday shopping event that saw consumers purchase more than 1 billion items. The Black Friday game was cited among the “highlights” of the two-day extravaganza. It was most-watched event of the day across all demographics.

Digital ad integrations make it easier for brand partners to calculate ROI too. Historically speaking, the challenge with many sports-related sponsorship assets (think: jersey patches, television viewable signage, and in-game commercials) is that it can be difficult to tie exposure to consumer activity.

“Companies want to see their ad dollars [are] effectively [driving] transactions,” Scott said. “[And] that is what we are seeing here.”

To clarify, interactive ads are not necessary for a sports partnership to drive revenue. Excel Analytics has found increases in top-of-funnel brand awareness and brand sentiment have strong and statistically significant correlations with revenue generation.

And one cannot fully measure the impact of an interactive ad by simply viewing the number of ecommerce transactions originated through a QR code. Consumers may see the advert and make a purchase influenced by it at a later date.

Finally, it’s not as if this is new or revolutionary concept. There were efforts to deliver a “shop and watch” experience during a Friends broadcast more than two decades ago.

It never took off.

But “the timing is better [now] than [it was with Jennifer] Anniston’s sweater,” Scott said. “The technology is [finally] coalescing around a developing ecosystem that makes the shopping experience [more intuitive] and ensures everyone involved gets paid.”

While important to note, those caveats do not change the fact that in-game ecommerce integrations have the potential to create billions of dollars in incremental rights and partnership revenues, or that the inaugural Black Friday game may be viewed, in hindsight, as a seminal moment for the industry.

“It was NFL and Amazon–two of the largest brands of the world,” Scott said. “This was tentpole event that people and companies will [look to] replicate over and over again.”

(John Wall Street)

1/04/2024

TKO MERGES UFC® AND WWE® GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS TEAMS TO CREATE SPORTS MARKETING POWERHOUSE

Combined Unit to Offer Blue-Chip Brands Unprecedented Integration within Two of the World’s Most Iconic Sports and Entertainment Properties

NEW YORK, Jan. 04, 2024 – KO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company, today announced that it has combined the UFC and WWE global partnerships teams into one unit, providing brands with access to one of the most formidable sports marketing portfolios in the world.

UFC and WWE, which collectively serve more than one billion young and diverse fans in 170 countries, provide brand partners unparalleled scale and reach across multiple platforms, including premium live events, original content, and digital media. Further powered and enhanced by the Endeavor flywheel, the company’s global infrastructure that also includes IMG’s dynamic sales teams around the world, UFC and WWE together can offer marketers significantly expanded inventory, vastly increased brand visibility, extensive international reach, and unique integration opportunities across UFC and WWE premier content.

Grant Norris-Jones, who has played a key role in driving UFC’s global partnerships to six consecutive years of record revenue, has been elevated to lead the integrated unit as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships for TKO, which includes the entirety of UFC and WWE properties. Norris-Jones will work alongside Lou Koskovolis, who is also taking on an expanded role as TKO’s Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships. Together, they will focus on delivering unique, authentic integrations for TKO’s corporate partners. This new joint effort will further benefit from additional support and collaboration with the Endeavor Partnerships team to maximize value for brands across the entire Endeavor portfolio of assets.

With partnership sales, activations, and operations teams in New York, Las Vegas, Stamford, Conn., London, Sao Paulo, Sydney, Shanghai, and Toronto, the newly combined unit will focus on creating new revenue opportunities and brand integrations across UFC’s and WWE’s must-watch live and original content.

“Since Endeavor acquired UFC in 2016, UFC’s global partnerships business has become a significant growth area,” said Andrew Schleimer, Chief Financial Officer, TKO, “and we believe WWE’s partnerships business has similar potential. Together, UFC and WWE create a sports marketing powerhouse, with hundreds of live events per year and a reach that’s equal to, or better than, the world’s biggest sports properties. The newly integrated global partnerships team will offer premium brands the opportunity to integrate and activate within UFC’s and WWE’s extraordinarily popular content to engage their massive fan bases around the world.”

In recent years, UFC has partnered with brands that are consumer product and category leaders, including Anheuser-Busch, Crypto.com, DraftKings, Jose Cuervo, Monster Energy, PRIME Hydration, Timex, and VeChain.-

In addition, WWE has worked with dozens of blue-chip brands across its roster of promotional assets. Over the last year, WWE has activated with Applebee’s, General Mills, Mattel, Netflix, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut, Slim Jim, and Snickers.

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.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 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 and @UFC on X, 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

Wrestling Observer Covers WWE and Japanese Pro Wrestling Connection - April 2024

Paul Levesque and perhaps Nick Khan are looking at Japanese allies going forward with the step one with All Japan this week and are looking for a women’s group ally as well. Obviously there is an All Japan/NXT alliance with Charlie Dempsey going there this week and Katsuhiko Nakajima, whose style is the farthest thing from what WWE does, talking about defending the Triple Crown here. There has been talk internally of them trying to make another go with New Japan, now that Hiroshi Tanahashi is president. With AEW having Forbidden Door which has been a major success for both sides the past two years, that would be a key factor in play for continuing the relationship with AEW, plus AEW allows its top stars to go to major New Japan events both in the U.S. and Japan.

WWE PLE's 2024

WWE Royal Rumble

January 27.

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

February 24.

Optus Stadium

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

WWE WrestleMania 40

April 6, April 7. 

Lincoln Financial Field

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WWE Backlash: France

May 4.

LDLC Arena

Décines-Charpieu, Greater Lyon, France

WWE Money in the Bank

July 6.

Scotiabank Arena

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

WWE Bash in Berlin

August 31.

Mercedes-Benz Arena

Berlin, Germany

Pro Wrestling

Hulk Hogan’s status for WWE’s Hulkamania 40th Anniversary plans - April 2024

The spirit of Hulkamania is set to be celebrated by WWE, but it's uncertain whether Hulk Hogan will be making a televised appearance. 

Hogan captured the WWF Championship for the first time on January 23, 1984, which is widely recognized as the day that 'Hulkamania' was born. Hogan would capture the title from The Iron Sheik, who proved to be a transitional champion after dethroning seven-year champion Bob Backlund. The Iron Sheik won the title due to Vince McMahon wanting the gold on Hogan but didn't want the Hulkster to dethrone his fellow babyface. 

A Celebration of Hulkamania

Wrestle Votes reports that WWE is planning quite the celebration to mark 40 years of Hulkamania's birth. New pieces of merchandise and collectibles about Hogan's win are in store. The report adds that an appearance by Hogan isn't out of the question, but is not being planned as of right now. Hogan's most recent appearance for WWE came as part of the Raw is XXX episode in January 2023. 

Media and tech war over generative AI reaches new level - January 2, 2024

News groups risk surrendering their audience to AI companies, and could see the value of their brands diluted if ChatGPT and its like become the new oracles. Pressure is mounting to strike deals.

The simmering war between the tech and media industries over generative AI just turned serious.

For a technology that raises profound questions about the way things such as text, images and music are produced and used, the legal challenges last year were surprisingly few and far between.

Several novelists, journalists and comedians have sued for copyright infringement over allegations that their work has been used to train the large language models (LLMs). Getty Images took on Stability AI over use of its picture library, and Anthropic was sued over song lyrics.

Yet most major rights owners have held back, hoping to find ways to share in the spoils from the new technology rather than seek to thwart it. In the only two notable agreements between the tech and media worlds so far, AP allowed its archives to be used to train OpenAI’s models, while Axel Springer, owner of Politico, Die Welt and Business Insider, reached a broader deal with the same company earlier this month.

That makes the lawsuit The New York Times lodged last week against OpenAI and Microsoft an ominous sign of what lies in store this year. According to the Times, months of negotiation have failed to produce terms that protect the company’s rights and provide fair compensation.

The lawsuits over generative AI carry a strong echo of the early cases that established the legal basis for search engines. Then, the US courts ruled that it was “fair use” to index copyrighted content when this was used to create “transformative” new search services.

The short snippets of text and “thumbnail” images displayed in search engines were also found not to be substitutes for the original content, limiting the damage search might have on the media companies’ businesses.

Greater legal risks

There are some important differences this time. In its lawsuit, the NYT showed how it coaxed OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing into producing extensive, verbatim quotes from its reporting.

Also, while search engines were designed to send traffic to other websites, generative AI services such as ChatGPT answer questions directly, making them a more obvious substitute for the original source material. These greater legal risks should make AI companies hesitate about having their defence of “fair use” tested in front of a jury.

Yet, there are also considerations that weigh in the other direction – starting with the fact that the risk of an unpredictable jury verdict cuts both ways. OpenAI will be able to point out that news publishers can easily block it from crawling their content if they don’t want it to be used for training its LLMs. That is something many publishers, including the NYT, have done this year.

In addition, generative AI threatens to commodify many types of information. Once it has trained its models on the content it gets from AP and Axel Springer, OpenAI will have less need of further news archives. This seriously limits the compensation that each publisher will be able to negotiate, as well as the number of bilateral deals the AI companies will be willing to reach.

All this makes a return to the negotiating table before a court showdown the most likely outcome. Generative AI promises to create big new markets for media content: the question, as always, is how the spoils should be shared.

The media companies hope to reap value from the technology directly, training AI models on their archives and summarising their news content to enhance their own services. But judging from the large audience ChatGPT generated in its first months, smart chatbots and other AI-powered services look set to become huge media sites themselves.

Axel Springer stands to make “tens of millions of euros” a year from its OpenAI agreement. For a transformative technology that could upend much of the media business, that may not be much. Even a payment of €40 million ($65 million) would still add only about 1 per cent to Springer’s revenue each year.

In return, the news groups risk surrendering their audience to the AI companies. They could also see the value of their brands diluted if ChatGPT and its successors become the new oracles of the internet.

With generative AI still in its infancy, it is impossible to envisage exactly what new services it will lead to, or how valuable these will become. That, more than anything, makes it hard for media companies to agree terms that trade away their future rights.

But as generative AI catches on with more internet users, the pressure to reach a deal will only increase.

Media News

Lehrmann, the Murdochs, Ita Buttrose and media’s big hits in 2023 - December 27, 2023

Australia’s media landscape was once again dominated by the big names, though with landmark court rulings, shock resignations, redundancies and succession plans finally playing out, the industry offered a year to remember.

The year kicked off when The Australian appointed Michelle Gunn as its first-ever female editor-in-chief just six days into the year, but ultimately, Sky News Australia boss Paul Whittaker was installed as chair of an editorial board set up to oversee her big moves.

Most in media still had their feet up in mid-January, including one of Nine’s biggest stars, Karl “Karlos” Stefanovic, yet he still found himself in the headlines after a car park bust-up also featuring former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The brouhaha ultimately cost “Pup” a high-paying commentary gig in India.

The ABC made its push to become a truly digital media company and made a number of staff redundant – none as high-profile as news breaker and political editor Andrew Probyn, who Nine (owner of this masthead) subsequently hired. Newly relocated host of Insiders David Speers picked up the confusingly titled role of “political lead” in the national capital.

Other high-profile departures from Aunty included Stan Grant, Tracey Holmes and more recently Triple J stalwart Richard Kingsmill.

While the bosses of the ABC (David Anderson) and SBS (James Taylor) got new contracts, ABC chair Ita Buttrose said she wouldn’t be seeking a second term. Her replacement could be announced as early as January, two months before Buttrose is due to depart. Expect the tributes to flow in the early months of 2024.

There was more movement on the national broadcaster’s board: Laura Tingle was elected staff representative, and Nicolette Maury and Louise McElvogue filled two more spots.

The ABC wasn’t the only one to make hard decisions, with a weak advertising market making for a tough year for commercial media, with subdued earnings calls and generally downbeat outlooks. Most conversations on 2024 budgets include an expectation Meta will fight tooth and nail to avoid stumping up in new commercial deals with media companies as part of the News Media Bargaining Code.

A win for journalism

Perhaps the biggest story of the year (no bias) was Justice Anthony Basenko’s ruling on Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation suit, vindicating reporting from Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters in this masthead. With an appeal by the disgraced war hero set to be heard in February, this stays on the radar into 2024.

Seven West Media found itself on the end of some poor PR in 2023, with chair Kerry Stokes’ bankrolling of Roberts-Smith continuing to raise questions about his and the company’s involvement in the case.

At risk of “personally embarrassing” emails coming to light, Stokes eventually agreed to pay the entire costs for Nine’s legal troubles.

Seven also did its best to insert itself in the Bruce Lehrmann fracas by securing what a Seven insider described as a “grubby” deal to cover the former Liberal staffer’s rental costs for a year. Such were the murky details of the “exclusive” interview series, the scoop was retrospectively disqualified from its finalist status at the Walkley Awards.

Along with Optus Sport, Seven bagged the broadcast rights for the Matildas games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which swept the nation, and shattered viewership records as the tournament went on, delivering a halo effect for the network’s surrounding programming, despite chief executive James Warburton lamenting a lack of financial benefit it could reap.

Warburton, described in this masthead as one of television’s “last great showmen”, will leave Seven in 2024 after a shock exit announcement in December. Chief financial officer Jeff Howard will be installed into the top job. All eyes are on Seven’s next moves; will they open the chequebook further after raiding ARN Media’s share register, or will the hunter become the hunted?

ARN was responsible for one of the more audacious moves of the year as it moved to swallow up rival Southern Cross Media in October with help from Anchorage Capital Partners. The outcome remains undecided going into 2024.

The eldest boy gets the gig

A sigh of relief was heard in Sydney’s inner-east where media scion and billionaire Lachlan Murdoch resides when his father, Rupert Murdoch, pulled the curtains on his 70-year career, officially handing over the keys to the empire after a two-decade succession saga, not long after the fictionalised smash-hit HBO show ended its four-season run.

The “eldest boy” is now sole chair of News Corp and Fox Corp. The plan to re-merge the two was scrapped early in the year, though this could be back on the cards in 2024. Locally, expect changes in the next 12 months as Lachlan Murdoch looks to put his stamp on the Australian business. Foxtel’s mooted IPO may also be back on the cards at some point in the new year.

Murdoch’s rise was good news for former prime minister Tony Abbott, the pair formalising their relationship with his appointment into a cushy new $500,000 director role on the board of Fox. Former editor-in-chief of The Australian Chris Mitchell told us: “I’m not sure he’d bring any particular skills to do with publishing, TV or pay TV.”

It wasn’t all good news, though. Murdoch dropped his defamation suit against plucky website Crikey in April, handing a famous win to Eric Beecher’s company just days after settling for $1.17 billion in its case against Dominion Voting Systems.

News Corp also parted ways with gambling start-up Betr after punting an enormous sum for what turned out to be little return. An inside source close to the top at the US-owned company says its losses could be as high as $125 million, with official filings reported to have sunk at least $70 million into the venture.

International streamers continue to face off against local rivals, and shortly after the Australian cricket team returned home as world champions, Amazon picked up the rights to ICC tournaments until 2027. If you’re to believe Foxtel’s Patrick Delany though, the deal doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Qantas’ year from hell extended into media as Alan Joyce banned copies of The Australian Financial Review from its Chairman’s Lounge and in-flight Wi-Fi after sustained scrutiny by former Rear Window columnist Joe Aston. This was eventually overturned, but not until Joyce was out the door.

Network 10 and its US owners, Paramount, mostly stayed out of the headlines, though spent a decent chunk of time in Australia’s court chambers. It sued former political editor Peter van Onselen for breach of contract; was sued by current employee and former host of The Project Lisa Wilkinson; is getting sued by Lehrmann for defamation; and is facing a legal dispute with another employee over bullying claims. Some year.

Race to the finish line

The year didn’t slow down in December, with publication of Kate McClymont’s three-year investigation into Alan Jones, documenting allegations of indecent assault towards young men. Jones maintains his denial of the allegations.

At Nine, there were some big outs. Publishing boss James Chessell is standing down, 3AW veteran Neil Mitchell resigned after 30 years hosting the morning shift, and Peter Hitchener moved off the network’s weekday news bulletins after 25 years in Melbourne.

Finally, there was movement in the government’s media reform agenda late in the game, with two pieces of legislation introduced to parliament at the latest possible moment.

Perhaps the most important piece of work remains up in the air – reform of gambling advertising regulation. It’s been slated as an incredibly complex piece of work, with wagering dollars tangled in the finances of major sporting codes and media companies. This explains the hold-up, yet consensus shows Australians only want one thing: to see less of them.

All of that in 12 months! Let’s do it all again next year.

(SMH)

Bitcoin reverses ahead of eagerly awaited ETF decision - January 4, 2024

A slump in bitcoin led the cryptocurrency to erase almost all gains it had made so far this year, bucking a long-running upswing that outperformed a global malaise in traditional assets.

The world’s largest token fell as much as 9.2 per cent to dip briefly below $US41,000 shortly after 7am in New York, a day after the digital asset had topped the $US45,000 mark in a 21-month-high. At 10.30am, bitcoin was 6 per cent lower to $US42,458 on bitstamp.net.

The volatility also spilled over into crypto-linked stocks, with shares in the US crypto exchange Coinbase Global falling 6.9 per cent.

“We will likely see some increased volatility in the short term as markets start to measure risk in all asset classes, as we enter a year that has many question marks,” said Fadi Aboualfa, head of research at crypto custodian Copper Technologies. “Regardless, we saw markets tank just the same at the start of December, only to rally up further.”

More than $US500 million in positions across all cryptocurrencies on major exchanges have been liquidated so far on Wednesday, according to data by Coinglass. It is the largest amount of liquidations since December 11.

Bitcoin has been on a tear before the January 10 deadline that could result in the US Securities and Exchange Commission approving the first exchange traded fund tied directly to the asset’s spot price. The cryptocurrency’s value rose almost 160 per cent in 2023, alongside a broader rally in digital-asset fortunes.

Even so, Matrixport analyst Markus Thielen said in a note that he expected the SEC to decline all bitcoin ETF proposals this month. Mr Thielen said recent applications would still fall short of requirements that must be met before the SEC signed off on them.

If the SEC were to reject the proposals, some market watchers predicted issuers may opt to retaliate against the regulator.

Several issuers have recently filed named authorised participants for their potential bitcoin-linked products, a sign that the funds could be nearing approval. Among those named are Wall Street heavyweights Jane Street Capital and JPMorgan, who will be responsible for steering cash in and out of ETFs.

Other assets also fell in tandem with bitcoin, which celebrated its fifteenth year since the mining of its first block on January 3, 2009. Ether declined as much as 11 per cent on Wednesday, while Solana’s SOL tumbled more than 28 per cent.

Pat McAfee claims notable ESPN executive is 'sabotaging' his show - January 5, 2024

ESPN airs the show for two hours daily

Pat McAfee is now in the business of making headlines, post-NFL career.

He's become one of the most prominent names in all of sports media and has become Aaron Rodgers' go-to guy.

That's landed both the New York Jets quarterback and McAfee in some hot water recently (more on that later), but one thing is clear — while McAfee has developed a cult following, plenty also hate him.

The former NFL punter sports analyst has even made note that he isn't sure of his future on ESPN's "College GameDay" because of the naysayers he has.

But one of those naysayers, McAfee believes, is somebody at ESPN, which simulcasts his show.

McAfee said that someone rather important at the network is trying to "sabotage" him and the show, name-dropping executive senior vice president of studio and event production Norby Williamson.

"There are folks actively trying to sabotage us from within ESPN. More specifically, I believe Norby Williamson is the guy attempting to sabotage our program. I’m not 100% sure — that is just seemingly the only human that has information, and then somehow that information gets leaked and it's wrong, and then it sets a narrative of what our show is," McAfee said on Friday's show, which was being broadcast on the network.

"And then are we just going to combat that from a rat every single time?"

McAfee noted a "sabotage attempt" in which someone tried to release inaccurate ratings of the show because they were made public.

"it's been happening basically this entire season from some people who didn't necessarily love the old addition of the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ to the ESPN family," he continued, citing "anonymous" quotes in other outlets.

McAfee said he and Williamson have "zero respect" for each other.

"That guy left me in his office for 45 minutes and no-showed me in 2018, so this guy has had zero respect for me, and in return, same thing back to him for a long time," he said.

But even with the "rat," McAfee said his show is "still growing somehow."

"So we’re very thankful. I think we’re doing it right. We’re trying to do it as right as possible. We have good intentions every single time we come in here. We don’t always get it right, but motherf---ers been getting it wrong for a long time in this specific field. Long time," he said.

"We’re having a good time. We’re lucky to do this, obviously. Sports are amazing. They’re supposed to unify. If you look at our demo, I think we’re one of the most unified shows that’s ever been allowed on TV from political backgrounds, religion backgrounds. These ratings are stupid, who knows what they actually mean, but we’re thankful that a lot of people allegedly watch our show."

ESPN declined comment.

The show put itself in hot water this week when Rodgers, a weekly guest on the program, said that Jimmy Kimmel should be "really hoping [the Jeffrey Epstein list] doesn’t come out."

McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, equated the comments Rodgers made as an attempt to "talk s---" and apologized for "being a part of" the drama that came about afterward.

"We obviously don’t like the fact that we’re associated with anything negative ever. We like our show to be an uplifting one. A happy one. A fun one. But it’s because we talk s--- and try to make light of everything, some things obviously people get very p---ed off about, especially when they’re that serious of allegations," he said.

McAfee added, "Hopefully those two will be able to settle this."

ESPN apologized for Rodgers' comments earlier Friday.

"Aaron made a dumb and factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel. It should never have happened. We all realized that in the moment," ESPN senior vice president of digital and studio production Mike Foss said, via Front Office Sports.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report

The Top 3 Google Ranking Factors That Really Matter (Festive Flashback) 

(Search Engine Journal)

Gain more insights on what's important to rank according to Google. While there's no straightforward list, understand key signals, industry complexities, and the evolving landscape.

Celebrate the Holidays with some of SEJ’s best articles of 2023.

Our Festive Flashback series runs from December 21 – January 5, featuring daily reads on significant events, fundamentals, actionable strategies, and thought leader opinions.

2023 has been quite eventful in the SEO industry, and our contributors produced some outstanding articles to keep pace and reflect these changes.

Catch up on the best reads of 2023 to give you plenty to reflect on as you move into 2024.

If only SEO were as simple as having a list of ranking factors that Google applies to its algorithm.

If only SEO were as simple as Google having one algorithm.

If only every niche and location were ranked in the same way.

Long gone are the days when search engines operated on a basic level, where keyword stuffing and a volume of links were obviously direct factors that impacted ranking. Oh, and there was only one algorithm to worry about.

Over the last 25 years, SEO has become an increasingly complex and nuanced discipline.

Ranking factors differ by the vertical and the keyword. YMYL rankings are handled differently from how ecommerce transactional queries are ranked, and local search is different again.

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEO's Shelley with a great feature on Google SEO. Key takeaway: The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know. "I know that I know nothing" is a saying derived from Plato's account of the Greek philosopher Socrates: "For I was conscious that I knew practically nothing..." (Plato).  Search Engine Journal continues to help webby's win the day the world over: Media. 

Research: 5% US connected homes have just pay-TV - January 5, 2024

Research firm Parks Associates’ latest update of its Streaming Video Tracker reveals that just 5 per cent of US Internet households have only a pay-TV service, indicating legacy pay-TV companies continue to lose subscribers to streaming video services. However, the average annualised industry churn rate for streaming services is 50 per cent meaning many streaming services are also struggling to keep their customers.

“Sixty-five per cent of Internet households have a smart TV,” advises Eric Sorensen, Director, Streaming Video Tracker, Parks Associates. “This platform interface serves as the entry point for many households to their content services. Competition for attention is extreme, while the continued rollout of the ATSC 3.0 standard gives viewers even more options, so in 2024, we will see increased consolidation, mergers, and acquisitions as all providers must find ways to innovate alongside the greater emphasis on profitability.”

Parks notes that traditional telcos are exploring new ways to get their products in front of streaming consumers with services such as Cox’s Neighborhood TV. Cox is positioning this hyperlocal streaming service to expand its influences in its communities and as a gateway to attract consumers to its phone, Internet, and TV bundle. Station groups such as Sinclair and Hearst have also launched local streaming services to leverage the consumer desire for local content in this age of streaming.

“The hyperlocal approach clearly attracts interest from consumers,” Sorensen adds. “With the increase of AVoD business models, consumer adoption indicates that relevance is a key factor, namely consumers are likely to turn off services if the service and messaging are repetitive and irrelevant to them. Even manufacturers recognise the need for personalisation—for example, LG will be displaying its MyView smart monitors at CES 2024, which the company designed to deliver a personalised experience to the user.”

3 UK celebrities that advertised gambling – and their favourite aspect of it - January 4, 2024

Celebrities endorsing products and services is a tale as old as the first celebrity. Still, it adds a little something extra when a celebrity endorses a product or service that they seem to legitimately enjoy. This is the case with some UK celebrities and gambling. Many famous people have lent their clout to gambling and betting platforms and services. The glitz and glamour of Las Vegas that is associated with gambling and celebrity is a worldwide phenomenon. Specifically in this article, we will look at the gambling habits of Kerry Katona, Keith Lemon and Ray Winstone.

Of course, you don’t need to be a celebrity to enjoy or partake in gambling. If you would like to enjoy some online gambling action from the comfort of your own home you should visit casino.online and make use of the promo and bonus codes that they offer. Even celebrities aren’t above making good use of some tactical bonus codes to boost their playtime, as Digitial Whiskers reveals:

Kerry Katona

Kerry Katona is our first celeb on the list. Katona is a former 2-time member of the successful girl group Atomic Kitten and is unafraid to espouse her enjoyment of gambling. She has lent her name and face to many different gambling brands over the years and has always seemed to enjoy the risk, thrill and excitement that gambling can bring as a leisure activity. These same qualities can be seen throughout her personal life, which she has laid bare in several books.

Katona has spoken about the lure of the unknown and the thrill of chance taking control of a situation that she associates with gambling. She sees gambling as a great way to be entertained and is known to particularly enjoy roulette and card games, as well as bingo.

Keith Lemon

Okay, you got us, Keith Lemon isn’t a real person, but the actor/comedian who created him, Leigh Francis, is. Francis, as Lemon, has endorsed a number of gambling platforms. Typically in his humourous way, he paints gambling as a form of adult entertainment that is best enjoyed with friends. With a bold and over-the-top personality, Lemon claims that gambling adds a little extra spice to life, just like he does.

The typical ad that Lemon appeared in usually involved several other people all enjoying themselves while sitting around a casino table. It is this sort of lively and energetic gathering that Lemon sees in gambling, a communal and social activity, full of energy and brimming with fun.

Ray Winstone

By far the biggest name on our list today, Ray Winstone is a well-known English-Hollywood hardman actor. In many roles across the silver screen, he’s been presented as a tough-as-nails and no-nonsense mobster. Lending this image and his commanding presence to gambling adverts gives them a huge sense of gravitas that many other adverts lack.

For himself, it seems that Winstone enjoys the tactical and strategic aspects of betting. A perfectly played table, a perfectly laid bet, picking just the right moment to lay the bet, these are images that recur in all of his adverts. All of this reinforces that gambling isn’t just a game of chance for Winstone, but that gambling can be about skill and knowledge as well.

Celebrity gambling ads no longer allowed in the UK

While the celebrities we’ve mentioned and many more have been endorsing various forms of gambling for many years, that is no longer the case. New regulatory rules have made it so that celebrities and people deemed influential to young people are banned from being in ads that promote gambling. This is another of the UK’s many steps that are made to protect vulnerable individuals from developing gambling problems.

While this might seem a bad thing, in reality, it’s great. We must recognise that gambling isn’t for everyone and that we treat it as a form of entertainment that should be enjoyed responsibly.

The importance of gambling responsibly

As gambling becomes more popular on the worldwide stage, it is ever more important to make sure that we are treating the time with the respect it deserves. Just like many other forms of entertainment that adults can enjoy, gambling needs to be enjoyed in moderation and with a respectful understanding of the risks involved.

To gamble responsibly, you should set yourself limits, never bet more than you can afford to lose, never chase losses and keep alert for any signs that you might be developing a gambling habit. If gambling is enjoyed responsibly it can be a great source of entertainment.

Study: Spotify app shares most data with third parties - January 4, 2024

In a study of 100 popular apps, research from cybersecurity company Surfshark highlights entertainment apps, particularly Spotify and SoundCloud, share data with third parties the most, while YouTube collects significant amounts of user data.

Out of the 10 analysed entertainment apps, almost half track some of the data points collected across platforms. Research is aided by a free App privacy checker tool where users can select the specific apps they have on their phone and receive a report on the extent of data collection.

“Analysing 100 popular apps on the App Store, we’ve found a concerning trend: nearly 20 per cent of collected data is used for tracking. Such tracked data can be shared with third-party advertisers or data brokers, who use it to deliver personalised ads targeting the users, or aid companies in market research,” said Agneska Sablovskaja, Lead Researcher at Surfshark. “Understanding an app’s privacy policy is crucial for safeguarding digital autonomy.”

Entertainment apps collect an average number of data points

On average, travel and mobility apps collect 15 out of 32 possible data points. That is the same as the average: 15 collected data points across all 100 examined apps. Moreover, these apps link 94 per cent of collected data points to the user’s identity. Also, 4 out of 10 such apps use collected data points to track users across third-party platforms (Spotify, Soundcloud, Audible and Wattpad).

YouTube could be named the most data-hungry app within the entertainment apps category, collecting 25 out of 32 data points respectively, and linking all data points to the user’s identity, although they don’t use data to track their users across third-party advertising networks.

Spotify and SoundCloud are apps that share the most data points with third parties. Six data points collected by Spotify are used to track the user, like email address, phone number, product interaction and advertising data. Soundcloud is second when it comes to user tracking, tracking five data points across third-party platforms. Its competitor, Amazon Music, tracks zero data points out of 16 collected.

Out of the 10 analysed travel and mobility apps, Libby collects the least data points (3) and doesn’t track users across third-party advertising platforms. Ten popular analysed travel and mobility apps were YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Shazam, Audible, Amazon Kindle, Goodreads, Wattpad and Libby.

Around half of analysed apps collect search history and precise location

Some 1,523 data points are collected across 100 of the most popular apps. Statistically speaking, that’s an average of 15 unique data points per app out of the 32 unique data points defined by Apple. Around 90 per cent of the apps collect usage, diagnostic, and identifier data such as product interaction, user ID, device ID, crash, and performance data. Most are essential for their app functionality.

Two-thirds of the apps collect name and coarse location, and nearly half collect precise location. Coarse location is a more general estimation of where users are, while precise location is more detailed and accurate. Over a third of the apps collect contacts, and a fifth collect emails or text messages and browsing history.

Facebook and Instagram are the two most privacy-invasive apps. Both apps collect all 32 data points defined by Apple and are the only two to do so. Signal is also the only social media and messaging app to make the top ten most privacy-sensitive list. It is the second least data-hungry app, collecting just one data point (phone number) that is not linked to the user or used to track them.

Research: 92% US homes have broadband - January 4, 2024

In advance of CES in Las Vegas, Parks Associates research reports 92 per cent of US households now have broadband at home. There has been steady growth in smart home and security adoption over the years as US Internet households accumulate more connected devices through an increasingly diverse list of channels, from retail to service bundles to dealers/installers.

“Consumers’ lives practically revolve around the Internet and connected devices, and in all residence types, safety leads smart home product use cases,” notes Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, VP, Marketing, Parks Associates. “Many consumers are also interested in convenience and automation and rate valuable benefits of smart home devices around monitoring, notifications, automation, and remote controls.”

Other findings:

42 per cent of US Internet households own at least one smart home device

66 per cent own a smart TV

20 per cent own a video doorbell

17 per cent own a smart thermostat

Wrestling News

WWE Royal Rumbe 2024 News

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight — Fatal 4-Way Match)

NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, January 13, 10 p.m. Eastern time via TrillerTV pay-per-view --

Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay

No DQ match: Jon Moxley vs. Shingo Takagi

AEW Continental Crown: Eddie Kingston defends against Gabe Kidd

Matt Riddle & a mystery partner vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Bad Dude Tito

NJPW Strong Women's Champion Giulia defends against Trish Adora

NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Hikuleo & El Phantasmo defend against Clark Connors & Alex Coughlin

David Finlay vs. TJP

Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada vs. Rocky Romero & Soberano Jr.

Shota Umino, Fred Rosser & Jacob Fatu vs. Tom Lawor, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs

Kickoff match: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Viva Van

Kickoff match: Matt Vandagriff vs. Goldy

Pro Wrestling

Media Man/Media Man Int X Coverage Of AEW Worlds End Sees Some X Twitter Posts Exceed 3000!

Pro Wrestling

WWE Internet Based Buzz re potential new Paul Heyman New Faction aka modem day version of:

"The Dangerous Alliance". Or "America's Most Hated"?!

Led by Paul Heyman, the faction may consist of for example:

CM Punk 

Brock Lesnar 

Logan Paul 

Grayson Waller

Austin Theory

Media Man: This is speculative in nature however there has been numerous Internet based rumors and buzz for a number of months. The rumours and buzz have not diminished so we are covering this now to help further prepare the WWE fanbase for what may develop in early to mid 2024. The dynamic has changed greatly in The Bloodline and a shuffling of the deck would help keep things fresh. Surely Roman Reigns would be aware of these rumours by now, and if not, perhaps he is now.

Fans, be sure to keep checking the WWE YouTube channel as well as the X and even the Paul Heyman/Heyman Hustle channels as you never know what other clues may be disclosed. Raw and SmackDown are forecast to remain appointment viewing and red hot in 2024. 

Pro Wrestling News

WWE News - January 2024

WWE Raw Day 1 will be the first event to kick off WWE’s New Year’s Knockout week, celebrating the first week of 2024. Scheduled for the New Year's Day show is Seth Rollins defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defending against Ivy Nile.

In addition of NXT’s New Year’s Evil event next Tuesday, next Friday will see WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution. That show will be headlined by a three way match between AJ Styles, LA Knight, and Randy Orton where the winner will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27.

WWE News - January 2024

Monday, January 1 - RAW: DAY ONE on USA

Tuesday, January 2 - NXT: NEW YEAR’S EVIL on USA

Wednesday, January 3 - Best of THE BUMP on YouTube

Thursday, January 4 - Best of WWE 2023 (4pm ET) and a live WWE 2024 Preview Special (8pm ET) on Peacock

Friday, January 5 – SMACKDOWN: NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION on FOX

AEW Worlds End

MJF vs Samoa Joe. AEW Title

"Didn't expect so many people on Long Island chanting Joe's name.. smart" Taz

"Going to be a tough one for MJF.. he's banging up" Taz

Promo: "Our scumbag"

Fans: "He's our scumbag"

"There's another problem too. The left shoulder of MJF" Tony Schiavone

"Thumbing Joe in the eye..the advantage" Excalibur

"I'm telling ya, Max is in a lot of trouble here tonight" Taz

"It is the last thing Max wanted" Excalibur

"He's in deep you know what right now" Taz

"Max has felt this muscle buster"

"Max is hurt. He's going for those quick covers" Taz

"Kangaroo kick"

"Didn't work"

"Going to skin the cat"

"Tried to skin the cat,. couldn't do it" Tony Schiavone

"He landed on the back of his head did Max" Taz

"Dragon Suplex, landed on the top of his head"

"Muscle buster on the outside"!

"He came down on the left shoulder" Taz

"A hell of a night for him" TS

"1, 2,.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,.9, 10" fans

"He wants this kangaroo gimmick" Taz

"Collapsing under the weight of the opponent" Excalibur

"He's thinking heat seeker here"

"The story written all over the face of MJF" Excalibur

"Now the salt of the earth"

"He got red handed through" Excalibur

"There goes the ref"

"Max knows the refs down" Taz

"Got to get a cover" Taz

"MJF is calling for the ring"

"He's looking for it"

"Joe transitions"

"What a struggle this has been" TS

"Ring the bell, that's it"

"Choked him out" Taz

Media Man: So pumped for this historic professional wrestling match. MJF makes history again, as does Joe. Much credit to both, as well as for the AEW team for making this possible. Social media channels are going off the hook. Expecting a very strong PPV number from TrillerTV 

@FiteTV

 and the like.

The AEW YouTube Channel is going to get further hammered once the powers that be release more footage from today's Worlds End.

AEW Official YouTube

http://youtube.com/aew

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #AdamCole #prowrestling #wrestling #AndNew #EntertainmentNews #PopCulture #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #X #media 

Image credit: AEW

All Elite Wrestling @AEW 

A Le Sex Gods Reunion? Sammy Guevara & Chris Jericho address their pasts! | 12/29/23, AEW Rampage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owgfbdGtSu0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"Hey, hey, Hey. Well, alright. You guys are hot in O-Town tonight. Welcome to Rampage. We had a huge night on Dynamite last Wednesday, when Sammy Guevara quit The Don Callis Family"... Chris Jericho

and more great AEW footage via the AEW Official YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@AEW

#AEWRampage #AEW #LeSexGods #SammyGuevara #ChrisJericho #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Image credit: AEW

All Elite Wrestling Facebook

AEW Worlds End is stacked. The Devil is in the detail. Nic? Kevin? Booked via TrillerTV (KFA FITE). 

UFC: A Win-Win-Win. A win for promoters, fighters and fans. Sean "Tarzan" Strickland is our 'Fighter Of The Year'. 

WWE 'Moment Of The Year. We'll buy that suggestion.  Classic turn with months teasing and the big pay off at the Royal Rumble PLE. 

Wrestlers Passed In 2023

Some of the wrestlers we lost this year

Shiek Adnan Al-Kaissie aged 84

Exotic Adrian Street aged 83

The Iron Sheik aged 81

Jerry Jarrett aged 80

Superstar Graham aged 79

Terry Funk aged 79

Butch Miller aged 78

Joyce Grable aged 70

Lanny Poffo aged 68

Jeff Gaylord aged 64

Brett Wayne Sawyer aged 63

"Mantaur" Mike Halac aged 55

Droz aged 54

Jay Briscoe aged 38

Bray Wyatt aged 36

Pro Wrestlers Passed In 2023

Some of the wrestlers we lost this year

Shiek Adnan Al-Kaissie. aged 84

Exotic Adrian Street. aged 83

The Iron Sheik. aged 81

Jerry Jarrett. aged 80

Superstar Billy Graham. aged 79

Terry Funk. aged 79

Butch Mille.r aged 78

Joyce Grable. aged 70

Lanny Poffo. aged 68

Jeff Gaylord. aged 64

Brett Wayne Sawyer. aged 63

"Mantaur" Mike Halac. aged 55

Droz. aged 54

Jay Briscoe. aged 38

Bray Wyatt. aged 36

Media Man Int YouTube

Pro Wrestling. Terry Funk tribute

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yG2Mqig9OD4

Wrestling Legends. Terry Funk. RIP

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jqfX7SWxap0

#prowrestling #prowrestlers #professionalwrestling #RIP #BrayWyatt #WindamRotuna #TerryFunk #AdrianStreet #IronSheik #JerryJarrett #BillyGraham #ButchMiller #JoyceGrable #LannyPoffo #Droz #JayBrisco #RestInPeace #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

Pro Wrestling

Get Ready for All Elite Wrestling @AEW Worlds End

Updated Intel

8 Man Tag

Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, & Sting vs AEW World Tag Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks and The Don Callis Family (ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs)

Videos via the Official AEW YouTube Channel

The Don Callis Family celebrates Boxing Week with surprising results! | 12/27/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHfYiBHaMHE&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Set Your Reminder For Zero Hour!

ZERO HOUR: AEW Worlds End Pre Show | LIVE - Saturday, December 30 | 6:30e/3:30p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbP1EAbSXU&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Set Your Reminder For The Media Scrum!

AEW Worlds End Media Scrum | 12/30/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ7MUAiqF5I&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Continental Classic Final: Jon Moxley v Eddie Kingston | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88yM1kOvrjg&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW World Championship: MJF v Samoa Joe | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDXY2TMFyc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW World Championship: MJF v Samoa Joe | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDXY2TMFyc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Booked via TrillerTV @FiteTV (previously known at FITE)

Who is "The Devil"? Could it be Nic Nemeth or Adam Page?

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #EddieKingston #JonMoxley #ChristianCage #AdamCopeland #RRatedSuperstar #ChrisJericho #DarbyAllin #SammyGuevara #Sting #NicNemeth #Ziggler #AdamPage #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #PPV #PayPerView #TrillerTV #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: AEW

Pro Wrestling 

All Elite Wrestling @AEW

Worlds End

ZERO HOUR: AEW Worlds End Pre Show | LIVE - Saturday, December 30 | 6:30e/3:30p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbP1EAbSXU&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Broadcasting Now!

Kris Statlander vs Willow Nightingale

Hook vs Wheeler Yuta. FTW Rules match for the FTW championship

20 man battle royal for an anytime, anywhere TNT title shot!

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #AEWZeroHour #AEW #ZeroHour #KrisStatlander #WillowNightingale #Hook #WheelerYuta #FTW #BattleRoyal #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #TrillerTV #YouTube #wrestlingnews #sportsmedia #sportsnews #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: AEW

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW Official YouTube Channel

Worlds End Zero Hour is broadcasting now!

ZERO HOUR: AEW Worlds End Pre Show | LIVE - Saturday, December 30 | 6:30e/3:30p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbP1EAbSXU&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"We are just under 20 minutes away"

"Who is The Devil"?

"Is it better to be first, or is it better to be first"?!

"It is FTW Rules. Anything goes"!

AEW World Championship: MJF v Samoa Joe | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDXY2TMFyc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #ZeroHour #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #EddieKingston #JonMoxley #ChristianCage #AdamCopeland #RRatedSuperstar #ChrisJericho #DarbyAllin #SammyGuevara #Sting #NicNemeth #Ziggler #AdamPage #Hook #FTW #FTWRules #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #PPV #PayPerView #TrillerTV #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #media

Image credit: AEW

Mixed Martial Arts

UFC @UFC 

World's leading MMA promotion, the UFC, highlights 'Year Of The Fighter'; Big thumbs up from fans and sports media says Media Man

PS: Sean Strickland, UFC Middleweight champion is our 'MMA Fighter Of The Year' award winner!

Year of the Fighter - Daniel Cormier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THQzZsSW4Ks&t=6s&ab_channel=UFC

Year of the Fighter - Max Holloway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ7MUAiqF5I&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Year of the Fighter - Israel Adesanya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh6iH0Rbq1s&t=2s&ab_channel=UFC

UFC Official YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@ufc

Media Man Int

UFC News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_news.html

#UFC #YearOfTheFighter #DamielCormier #MaxHolloway #IsraelAdesanya #ufcnews #ufcmedia #mmanews #mmamedia #YouTube #YT #highlights #moments #interview #interviews #feature #spotlight #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: UFC

I Have Some Things to Say, Please Read, By Maxwell Jacob Friedman

I don’t usually do stuff like this but I have sh*t to get off my chest.

I’m wrestling Samoa Joe for the world title on Saturday night, and I have no idea what’s going to happen after that. You’ll probably hear some stories about me over the next few days, about my contract, about the injuries I’ve been dealing with, about the condition my body is in, about who knows what else. I’m sure it’ll all leak. That’s fine.

But AEW turns FIVE on Monday — January 1st, 2024. And that f*cking means something to me. And since everything beyond Saturday feels so uncertain, I want to share my thoughts on it now. I want our fans to hear from me ahead of whatever comes next.

1.

There’s a reason that “workers rights” get brought up so often in conversations around AEW: It’s because we have a lot goddamn more of them now. This sh*t isn’t rocket science. Competition = bad for management, good for labor. There used to be one major American wrestling company, now there’s two. That f*cking matters. It matters for the wrestlers who work here, since we all have jobs that literally didn’t exist five years ago. But it also matters for the wrestlers who don’t work here. For everyone in WWE, AEW means not having to work in monopoly conditions. It means more options, which means more leverage, which means more money. (And I’ll take a wild guess and say better treatment.) And for wrestlers outside those two companies, AEW matters not just because it exists, but because of how it exists. Listen … if you google me, I think it says I’m 5'11" — but we all know that’s horsesh*t. I’m like 5'8", guys. And this is a place where, simply put, a 5'8" Jew can be world champ. If you know wrestling history then you know that’s a big deal and why.

So while I welcome anyone being critical of AEW (God knows I am)..... if you’re actually actively rooting against us? Against us EXISTING? Guess what, you’re the f*cking worst. You’re rooting against workers. And that’s the truth. Because out of all the incredible things that AEW has done over these last five years, #1 with a bullet is “put MJF on TV.” But #2 is “make the wrestling industry just a little bit better to work in.”

2.

Cody took a chance on me and put me on the card at All In. Then Tony took a chance on me and signed me to AEW full-time. But let’s not kid ourselves: I was pretty much brought in to be the guy you disliked — who didn’t stand a chance against the guys you loved. You know those wrestling moments we all grew up on, where some legend comes out to talk to the crowd, but then a younger guy interrupts them, is an asshole, and eats a fist to the face? I think that’s what they saw me as when we started. Just look at Double or Nothing 2019, our first-ever PPV. They had Bret Hart come out to unveil the AEW World Title. They had Hangman Page come out to get Bret’s co-sign and look cool. Me??? I said a few words, got booed, and took a punch. I wasn’t looked at as being a potential top guy. 

But I’ll never forget the moment before I went out there. I mean, picture it: I’m 21, barely a few years into the business, and I’m being told to cut a promo on Bret Freaking Hitman Hart. Over 10,000 people in the arena, something like 100,000 watching on PPV. So before I walk out, I ask Tony and those guys what feels like a pretty f*cking good question: “Ummm…... what do I say??” And they just look at me for a second with these blank-ass stares. And they’re like, “........what do you mean? You know how to talk.” That’s when I realized what AEW was going to be like — and that it’s where I was meant to wrestle. Because, yeah, O.K., they brought me in as fodder. Tough luck. But they also gave me a chance to make my own luck. You know what I mean? Like — they threw me into the deep end, floaties off, and said sink or swim. Get over with our fans or don’t. And I’ll take that any day compared to the other way it’s been done in our business, historically, which is: they place you gently in the shallow end, floaties on, no actually you can’t take them off (it’s a rule), also you never get over because you look f*cking ridiculous with floaties on, but you don’t sink so that’s good, and oh yeah you’re fired.

Trust me, though, AEW isn’t for everyone. “Sink or swim” cuts both ways like a motherf*cker. If you watched us in Year One, you know that. I won’t name any names. But suffice to say, there were guys who had all the buzz in the world coming in at the start — and it turns out it was just that. Buzz. Seriously, there were guys who no one could shut up about. Oh my god, so and so, that dude is a MASSIVE star. Then you’d hear someone mention Darby Allin and it’s like, Yeah, Darby’s cool and all … but he’s little. He’s not REALLY gonna get over. You know who the GUY is? It’s so and so.

But here’s the thing: It wasn’t so and so. It was f*cking Darby, who was supposed to be too small and too weird. (And is a b*tch who I’ve beaten twice with a headlock takeover — but still.) And it was f*cking Penta and Fenix, who definitely got dismissed by a lot of people at first as just these “run-of-the-mill” luchas. And it was f*cking Kingston, who is a BUM sure but got crazy over just by being himself, a dude from Yonkers. And it was f*cking me — who was meant to top out at “Cody’s sidekick” or the douchebag of the month or whatever. (And then of course you’ve got someone like Hangman, who everyone said would be great and he was. Prick!)

Bottom line: AEW = opportunity in every sense of the word. If you’re good, it’s an opportunity to show that. If you’re mid, it’s an opportunity to show that. If you’ve still got it, it’s an opportunity to show that. If you’re washed as f*ck, it’s an opportunity to show that.

And if you’re a generational talent (me), it’s an opportunity to show that.

3.

I want to say a few things about the people who helped build this place.

Tony — yeah he’s my boss, yeah he’s a billionaire’s son, no one wants to hear about him, I’ll be brief. 1. Most billionaires’ sons, as I understand it, are rude idiots who watch Netflix all day on mountains of drugs while siphoning money from Mommy and Daddy. Tony isn’t that. So on a baseline level I guess I respect him for being a nice guy who gives a sh*t and loves this sport. 2. Tony honors contracts. If you think that’s a low bar, cool. Welcome to wrestling.

Cody — we have a beautiful friendship, in a business where friends are like unicorns, and I’ll just leave it at that.

Kenny and the Bucks — I always hear how “polarizing” they are and my response is thank f*ck. Literally every performer worth caring about is polarizing. Every athlete who I’d buy a ticket to watch, every artist who doesn’t put me to sleep. I can probably count all the genuinely punk rock moments in recent wrestling history on two hands. And those dudes betting on themselves and winning is one of them.

Jericho — it’s really fun to sh*t on him, I know. (Trust me, I do it all the time.) But people have the weirdest, shortest memories when it comes to who he is and what he represents. Like: I respect Tony and the EVPs a lot. (See above.) But if AEW at the start had just been those guys, plus a ragtag group of indie wrestlers with zero TV exposure (myself included)?? Sorry…… but no. We would have been dead in the water. Chris gave us a legitimacy that people take so f*cking for granted now it’s insane. And he didn’t just make AEW feel legit — he also made AEW’s world title feel legit. Which might seem like the same thing but it’s different. (It’s harder.) And let’s be clear: Chris also gave legitimacy to MJF. I mean, when he decided to deal with me for a YEAR?? I was already doing well, of course, but his buy-in cemented me. To our fans, to my bosses, to myself. It was like, Yeah, go ahead and get invested in this MJF guy. He’s for real. He’s worth a year of CHRIS JERICHO’s time. I assure you I’m forgetting no one when I say: Chris was the biggest star AEW had at its inception, and most likely still is (besides me, duh).

Moxley — the thing you have to understand with Mox is that he chose AEW. Maybe that sounds obvious, but it’s not. It’s hard to explain. It’s like people have these weird emotional scars about wrestling, from so many years of there being only one game in town. Where it’s like..… Ok. You wrestled classics in Ring of Honor? You were a top guy on the indies? You sold out arenas in Mexico? You were (literally) “big in Japan”? Cool…… have you ever said “Welcome to Monday Night Raw,” though?? I just think there’s a segment of fans who would always assume, no matter what, that WWE was Plan A. But Jon took a f*cking sledgehammer to that assumption. He was part of WWE’s Plan A. He headlined there for half a decade. Was their world champ, was in their biggest stable, drew money, drew ratings, moved assloads of merch. And in the absolute prime of his career he said, Thanks for the memories, thanks for the gigantic offer. But I’mma try this other thing over here. That’s the sh*t a lot of guys will TALK about doing. Jon is the one guy who actually went out and did it. Dude has my infinite respect.

The Originals — Jericho and Moxley, they’re the blueprint for established guys coming in and understanding AEW from Day One. Someone like Bryan, he’s a blueprint for coming in later and doing the same. But this won’t shock you: Not everyone has been like them. Other established dudes came in, thought of us as a parachute between forgettable WWE runs, and didn’t respect what this was built on — or who it was built by, or why it was built in the first place. And while it would be so fun to write a few names down right now, what’s even more fun is I really don’t have to. Because guys like that, their laziness comes out in the wash. It shows up in the f*cking work. Doesn’t mean they’re bad people!! I just don’t respect them. They never understood what Mox or Jericho or Danielson understood, or what The Elite understood, which is that the core of AEW’s success came from two places: 1. Our fans, and 2. The Originals. And it gets easier and easier to overlook the work the Originals put in, the further we get away from it. But I f*cking remember. I remember how we just tried sh*t in Year One. I remember how we not only stayed afloat in the pandemic — we came together and flourished. I remember how influential so many of our ideas were, and how shamelessly they all got copied, because they were new and different and good. Bottom line: Growth is important…… but so is what made that growth possible. I’m proud of the Originals and proud to be one.

Our fans — they’re the best. F*cking sue me. They’re smart, they’re passionate (which is usually code for “lunatic” but not in this case) (mostly), and simply put they love this sh*t. And I don’t mean “love” as in blind loyalty, or “love” as in mark behavior. “Love” as in love. “Love” as in, embracing our best stuff: Swerve and Hangman’s deathmatch. Darby’s stunts. Eddie Kingston’s promos (still a bum). “Timeless” Toni Storm. The f*cking bangers that Jamie Hayter was putting on. MJF-Cole. MJF-Cody. MJF-Bryan. MJF-Punk. MJF-Kenny. MJF-Joe. MJF’s promos. MJF’s body. Wardlow being a pig and betraying MJF. (I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things.) But also “love” as in, holding us accountable: When there’s too much of something. Or when there hasn’t been enough (look at the responses Swerve is getting right now; I don’t like him but come on!!!). Or when we forget what we’re supposed to be about. I’m sure some people will roll their eyes at this but (guess what???) I don’t care: I grew up a fan, I’m still a fan. AEW only works because of our fans. I’m also aware that there’s a contingent of fans who are frustrated with me right now. And you know what?! Those sick f*cks are still the best. They didn’t magically wake up and go from loving to hating me. It happened because they hold me to the highest standard. And I’m GLAD I’m held to that standard — I hold them to the same. If I’m ever missing the mark, I want to know. And I want them to know that when I miss the mark, the next time I’m out there I’m going to hit the living piss out of it. And that for as long as I’m in this company I will give them my all.

It’s weird. During my time in AEW, I’ve had the highest highs — so high they’re untouchable for anyone else in this business (no offense!!). But I’ve also had the lowest lows — so low, with such stupidly bad timing, that I honestly sometimes think I’m cursed. Like I think maybe the wrestle gods were trolling one day and said, “Alright. Let’s create this dude who’s a GOAT on the mic, up there with anyone bell-to-bell, looks electric in a Burberry scarf, is unnecessarily good at singing, and is easily the most exciting performer of the biggest boom period in decades. But every time he does something great let’s have this other dude (note: whom I wish the best!!!) eat a f*cking muffin. Or let’s have someone get injured. Or let’s have someone else do some other dumb sh*t.” It’s like all of my best moments have come with a bad moment attached.

Not sure why it’s worked out like that…. but you play the hand you’re dealt. And while I’m proud of a lot of things I’ve done in AEW, near the tippy top of the list is the fact that I’ve never made an excuse. Not one single time. No matter how much bullsh*t has come my way (and so much bullsh*t has come my way). No matter how much pain I’m in behind the scenes (and sometimes I wish you guys knew). No matter what, man. I’ve just done my job. What a concept.

4.

Top five title defenses of the MJF era (in no order):

Danielson in San Francisco. Bell-to-bell, Bryan is the best wrestler alive — and for my money the best who’s ever done it is him or Eddie Guerrero. That match was such f*cking validation, and it always will be. For whatever reason (the reason is they have brainworms) people love to use my mic skills against me as an in-ring performer. As if being a great promo must mean I can’t hang as a wrestler. I despise that perception of me. And I wrestle with a chip on my shoulder because of it. So when I went 60 minutes with the GOAT? To me that wasn’t just me vs. Bryan. It was me vs. the people who think they know what I’m capable of. It was me saying, Motherf*ckers I walk the walk. And I walk it with more swag than anyone you’ve ever seen.

Four Pillars in Vegas. Speaking of chips on shoulders. Go ahead and think what you want about “four pillars” as a concept — but getting to headline a PPV with those three dudes, when none of them had main-evented a PPV before? That was a big deal to me. And of course we heard what people were saying in the lead-up to it: Why is Sammy in the main event? Why is Jungle Boy in there? (Darby on the other hand..… everyone loves that emo c*nt.) And honestly that offended me and Darby as much as it offended Sammy and Jack. It was like, who is anyone to tell us who belongs in a match? And then of course those dudes all wrestled like the f*cking Michael Jordan “.....I took that personally” meme, and it was one of the best world title matches in AEW history. And afterwards everyone was like, Huh. Well…. THAT was incredible. Sammy, Jungle Boy, who knew? Umm, I knew. We knew.

Kenny at Mohegan Sun. Kenny has a lot of detractors and none of them can lace up his boots. (Well, his kick pads, but I digress.) (Thanks, Taz.) I think people fear change, and fear what they don’t know. And Kenny wrestles a style that confronts those people with the fact that what they don’t know could fill ten f*cking oceans. Is it MY style, personally?? No. But I appreciate that it comes from genius, and that guys like Kenny are how we evolve. Also holy sh*t I loved wrestling him.

Cole at Wembley. Oh, look, another example of me doing something incredible and the big story afterwards being “old man gets in fracas.” In seriousness: To main-event Wembley Stadium at all would have been something I was proud of. But what meant even more is that 1. I did it with Adam, who’s become a really good friend, and 2. We did it in a match that actually felt worthy of main-eventing Wembley Stadium. It SUCKS how Adam got injured — he was insanely good this summer and deserved to have it all play out. But I’m glad we got that match. It’s forever and it f*cking ruled.

Joe at Arthur Ashe. I’m putting this one in as a placeholder until Saturday. Joe is a monster, an athletic freak, a legit tough guy in a world full of pretend “tough guys,” a living legend, and this makes no sense but I think he’s the best he’s ever been. And there’s a reason why we had to run that match back with a sequel: It was way too good not to.

5.

I’m tired.

I know that’s not what you’re supposed to say as a professional wrestler — especially not before a big world title defense in your hometown. I know I should take my vitamins, brother, order up an expensive coffee to the five-star hotel room I’m staying in (thanks, Tony), and end this article by cutting an ’80s good guy promo about the evil Samoa Joe. Let’s sell some Pay-Per-Views!!!!!!! But I don’t know, man. I’m just so, so, so tired. That’s the God’s honest truth. My hip is a mess. My arm won’t lift above my head. I’m on painkillers, which are not my thing. I can’t sleep.

But like I said earlier…… I know it’s not only me who’s tired. I know our fans are a little tired of this run I’ve been on. And for the first time since this company started, I know there’s some MJF fatigue. Which is fine, by the way — no one stays hot forever.

Right now, though, as I'm writing this? It’s Wednesday morning. It’s three days before Worlds End.

It’s five days from five years of MJF in AEW.

And I don’t know what comes next.

Here’s what I do know. Wrestling in the main event of a card at Nassau Coliseum as AEW world champ? That sh*t means everything to me. Really. EVERYTHING. People are always telling me how Long Island is a part of my “character” — nope, f*ck you, it’s home. I’m a short kid with learning disabilities from Long Island. Not a character. People are always telling me how getting bullied is a part of my “backstory” — nope, f*ck you, it happened. Kids threw quarters at me and told me to “pick it up, Jew Boy.” Not a backstory. And if you think this is that ’80s good guy promo I was teasing a couple of paragraphs ago, it isn’t. Actually … you want to know the truth? Sometimes I wonder if standing up to antisemitism would even be a “babyface move” anymore. No, for real — I legit wonder. I wonder if being a proud Jew like I am, in 2023, has actually made me LESS popular as a wrestler. And if deep down, when someone says they have “MJF fatigue,” what they really mean is “enough with the Jewish stuff already.” I honestly don’t know the answer to that … and I’m sure I’ll get sh*t for even asking the question. But that’s where my thoughts are right now. It’s “fear the worst.” I’m a Jew in America and I’m f*cking soul sick. 

Allow me to say this, straight up, point blank: I don’t support terrorism, Zionism, genocide, war, bombs, genocidal governments, dead innocent Palestinians, dead innocent Israelis. I don’t support people — any people — dying because of hate. I’ll tell you what I do support, and what I definitely am: I’m anti-hate. I’m sick to my stomach that people are calling for the death of Jews over something that’s happening on the other side of the world. And I’m sick that Hamas, a literal terrorist organization, has fans on this side of the world — as on a daily basis I’m having to read antisemitic sh*t from all kinds of people: celebrities (hi, Kanye), strangers, even people I know. It’s just very sad. We’re all human, man. We all deserve rights, we all deserve freedom, we all deserve happiness and respect. (I really wanted to clarify these things and I hope I have. These are the serious conversations I have with the very hot woman I’m in love with, who by the way is Palestinian.)

Sorry — I got off track. This thing was supposed to be about “AEW turning five” + the PPV.

Here’s the last thing I’ll say about my Jewishness: If you’re over it, tough sh*t. If you feel like it’s a political statement, I can’t help you. If it makes you uncomfortable, good I’m glad. If you think I should tone it down, no I won’t. If you hate me for other reasons, yeah that’s fair.

Here’s the last thing I’ll say about Worlds End — and don’t worry it’s toxic: I will tear the f*cking house down against Joe or I will LITERALLY DIE TRYING. Do not celebrate that sentence, it’s so stupid. If I was being smart I’d sit this one out. I’m not being smart. I only get one first title reign, and one first title defense in my hometown. I won’t tell you my entire career has been building to this because my entire life has been building to this.

And then finally…. here’s the last thing I’ll say about AEW: Happy birthday, you f*cking weirdo. To everyone who’s helped us succeed, THANKS. And to everyone who hoped we would fail — Yikes!!!!! Sorry for your loss, my condolences truly. Order the PPV though it will be sick. 

— Max

Movie News

North American Box Office

1. Wonka - $24 million

2. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom - $19.5 million

3. Migration - $17.2 million

4. The Color Purple - $13 million

5. Anyone But You - $9 million

6. The Boys in the Boa - $8.3 million

7. The Iron Claw - $5 million

8. Ferrari - $4 million

9. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - $2.9 million

10. The Boy and the Heron $2.5 million

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‘Masterpiece’ Collection Fetches More Than $500k in Coinbase Drop

08-18-2023

"Masterpiece"—a digital art collection curated by Coca‑Cola—brought in $543,660 this week during Coinbase’s “Onchain Summer” event celebrating the launch of the cryptocurrency exchange platform’s Base blockchain.

During the 72-hour sale, collectors snatched up more than 80,000 minted iterations of the eight digital artworks, which mash up timeless masterpieces like "The Scream" by Edvard Munch and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer with contemporary creations from emerging talents like Fatma Ramadan, Aket, Vikram Kushwah, Stefania Tejada and WonderBuhle.

Each collectible intertwines with the Coca‑Cola bottle for a one-of-a-kind convergence of iconic brand imagery, classic art and contemporary creativity in the digital realm. The NFT (non-fungible token) collection draws inspiration from the global Coca‑Cola “Masterpiece” campaign and hero film, which depicts art students sketching select paintings on display in a gallery. When one student appears uninspired, an arm from a painting reaches across the gallery to grab the Coke bottle from Andy Warhol’s pop-art masterpiece. From there, it’s relayed from works including JMW Turner’s “The Shipwreck”, “The Scream” and Van Gogh’s “Bedroom in Arles” before finally landing with “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, whose subject opens the bottle for the student in need of inspiration and refreshing upliftment. The film bridges the worlds of classical and contemporary art by featuring work from emerging creators from Africa, India, the Middle East and Latin America. 

Coca‑Cola curated the collection to celebrate artistic diversity and the dynamic convergence between art, technology and human connection. “Masterpiece” invites art enthusiasts and Coca‑Cola aficionados alike to explore the blurred boundaries between physical and digital art.

“At Coca‑Cola, we have a long history of collaborating with the artist community, and now technology and innovation allows us to continue creating with artists in new and interesting ways,” said Pratik Thakar, Senior Director of Generative AI at The Coca‑Cola Company. “We chose to release our Coca‑Cola Masterpiece digital collectibles collection during Onchain Summer with Coinbase because they are leaders in the Web3 and crypto space."

Coca‑Cola entered the metaverse in 2021 by auctioning off its first-ever NFT collectibles on International Friendship Day, with the company’s cut of the proceeds donated to Special Olympics International. In July 2022, the company released 136 collectibles to commemorate Pride Month.

NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that can be bought and sold like any other piece of personal property but have no tangible form. Like cryptocurrencies, NFTs are created on a digital ledger commonly known as a blockchain. Collectors and crypto investors purchase NFTs—which are created as tokens, a type of certificate of ownership—via online marketplaces. 

Donald Trump Just Dumped $2.4 Million of Crypto

The former president still has $2.2 million of crypto to his name, however.

Former president Donald Trump, who recently accelerated his push into the $9 billion non-fungible token (NFT) space with the launch of a “Mug Shot” digital collection, has dumped $2.4 million worth of ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency.

Since launching his third NFT trading card collection, Trump is now switching gears and divesting from ethereum, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham.

Trump had acquired the $2.4 million ETH from royalties from sales of his NFT collections. Arkham’s data shows that in the previous three weeks, the former commander-in-chief reportedly sold $2.4 million, or 1,075 ETH, from royalties he collected.

Trump, however, still has $2.2 million of crypto to his name. These digital asset holdings include $1.4 million ETH, $649,000 WETH, $167,000 MAGA coins, $340 Pepecoin, and $145 in JESUS coins.

The former president initially entered the NFT space in December 2022, and his first set of digital collectibles earned him approximately $4.5 million. At the time, Trump had unveiled 45,000 cards priced at $99 apiece, all of which sold out in less than 24 hours. According to the marketing blitz around the NFTs at the time, Trump’s digital trading cards offered “amazing art of [Trump’s] life and career,” while also claiming to be “very much like a baseball card but hopefully much more exciting.” Fans could choose among cards of Trump dressed as a wrestler, astronaut, racecar driver, or as a footballer. Every card was emblazoned with Trump’s presidential number: 45.

The success of the first NFT cards spurred the Trump team to launch a second set in April of this year. The second batch of NFTs were sold for a little less than $99 apiece, and that was quickly followed up by the latest iteration this December – a “Mugshot Edition” of 100,000 NFTs, complete with a piece of Trump’s suit worn while he was arrested in Georgia. But the Mugshot Edition NFTs ended up depressing the floor price of the first two NFT collections, making them seem like a bad investment altogether.

In fact, Trump’s latest collection of NFTs has yet to sell out – to date, the former president has only sold less than half of the 100,000 NFTs minted for the collection.

Content creators concerns rise with the new AI features in Bing and Google; Search and AI minefield. Humans vs bots? 

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Pro Wrestling 

AEW @AEW

AEW Worlds End Media Scrum | 12/30/23 https://youtube.com/live/yZ7MUAiqF5I?si=Vge6OTLlXp15hvN

Media Man:. We're loving Joe's attitude and style of communication.  

"Try that to my face"! Samoa Joe 

"We got the right belt" Joe 

"We are definitely in some cross promotions" Joe   

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #AEW #aewmedia #aewnews #MediaScrum #SamoaJoe #quotes #AndNew #prowrestling #wrestling #combatsports #Goat #Legend #WrestlingLegend #wrestlingnews #popculture #entertainmentnews #showbiz #promotion #promotions #crosspromotion #WBD #WarnerBros #WBGames #movies #movienews #gamenews #gamingnews #YouTube #TY #socialmedia #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: AEW

Search Engine Journal

Google On Knowing If Best SEO Was Applied

Google's John Mueller answers a question about being assured of having done the best effort for SEO

In a recent Google office hours recording, Google’s John Mueller answered a question about how one knows if their SEO coverage is complete and if there are any tools that can spot something that they might have missed.

That question the way it was originally asked sounds somewhat strange and that may be because of a language translation issue. The person asking the question has an Indian name so it’s quite possible that the oddness of the question (how do I know my SEO is perfect) was due to language.

That the question makes more sense if it’s  understood as how does one know that their SEO is optimal and that nothing was left undone. That’s a legitimate question and fits into the idea of SEO that is free from flaws, given that the definition of “perfect” is being as free as possible from flaws.

Here’s the question and answer as read by John Mueller:

“Charan asks: How to know if my SEO is perfect? Are there any tools, apps or websites available for it?”

What the person asking the question appears to be asking is if there are any standards or best practices to measure their SEO efforts against.

That’s why they also asked if there are any tools or websites that could offer a support in that direction.

Mueller answered the question as asked, without taking into account that the person asking the question may have had a different intent apart from the literal meaning of the question.

Mueller Offers “Disappointing” Answer

John Mueller offered what he self-described as a disappointing answer.

Given that there may have been a language issue, maybe answering the literal question of “what is perfect SEO,” wasn’t the most nuanced approach.

Here’s Mueller’s response:

“Sorry to disappoint, Charan, but your SEO is not perfect. In fact, no SEO is perfect.

The Internet, search engines, and how users search is always changing, so SEO will evolve over time as well.

This includes both technical elements, like structured data, as well as considerations around quality. Just because you can’t do perfect SEO shouldn’t discourage you though!”

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Roger with an insightful and almost perfect summary article on best effort SEO. I'm not disappointed at all in the findings and revolutions. The imperfections make and prove us human, along the same train of thought and similar scribes to greats such as Rick Rubin, Albert Einstein. To aim or expect for absolute perfection ala perfect result in search engine optimization and other related disciplines may be a frugal and totally unrealistic approach and mindset. The Internet with its Google algorithm updates, core changes, trade secrets and all means it's dynamic in nature and the goal posts are ever changing. Best effort for best result to help ensure one doesn't go totally mad in the process of seeking out the Holy Grail of Internet SEO. And as per journals, sometimes 2nd or 3rd place can even be better than an official 1st in some categories or platform situations, so no need to stress too much. Business/work - life balance to win the day and a sustainable business model. Follow Google protocols and guidelines and smile all the.way to the bank or crypto exchange says media scribe. Winning with priceless SEJ tips. Happy New Year to all.

Searching for the Holy Grail of The Internet meets media/digital media/online publishing 

#holygrail #search #internet #web #web3 #worldwideweb #onlinemedia #onlinepublishing #onlinepublisher #SEO #SME #expert #authority #code #webcode #thematrix #biz #business #Sustainability #searchengines #popculture #digitalnews #digitalbiz #niche #nichenews #nichemedia #nichemarketing #formula #mathematics #frequency #ads #businessmodels #world #worldnews #sportsnews #sportsbiz #trends #buzz #media #mediaman 

How Search Engines Work

Want to optimize your site the right way and set yourself up for success? Then it’s critical to know how search engines operate today.

Search engines are a significant factor in everyday life. From recipes to the news, from images to videos, we use search engines like Google to help us with information. But what are search engines, really? How do they work? What actually is the process for information retrieval?

Search engines have to review millions of web pages to provide the most useful information for each search query. They must then decide how to organize that information and present it to the search user.

Google and other search engines prioritize their search users’ experience over anything. Therefore, their goal is to provide the best results for every query.

So for search users, it’s simple. They enter their query, and search engines look through their index of web pages to find the best matches. Those matches are then ranked by an algorithm and displayed in search engine results pages (SERPs).

For marketers, search engines are tools for getting eyes on your content or on your products. But how can you optimize your site to set it up for success? What is the difference between crawling, indexing, and ranking, and why do you need to know?

Google and other search engines work using a variety of different elements. First, they use web crawlers to crawl pages to get data. Next, they index them to be retrieved in future search queries.

Ultimately, they rank the indexed content based on a variety of factors. These factors are part of the algorithm to determine what results are relevant and which results are quality.

Over time, search engines have become more complicated. They can answer questions directly on search engine results pages, surface different content types, and even change the SERPs to reflect queries.

They’ve also been able to understand more diverse web sites. All of this has created an answer engine ecosystem that changes daily.

In 2020, Google ran over 600,000 experiments to make improvements to the Search algorithm. Live traffic experiments allow Google to test new search features before they are rolled out globally.

Understanding how these algorithms and features work is fundamental to making sure your content gets seen on Google. It will also help you understand the results you see when you perform searches yourself.

How Search Engines Work, written by VIP contributor Dave Davies, tackles the following questions:

What are search engines crawlers? How do search engines use crawlers?

How do crawlers discover and index new pages?

What is rendering, and why is it important to search?

What are search algorithms, and how do they play into search?

What do you need to know about ranking? How do algorithms measure factors like quality and relevance?

How do search engines answer questions?

Media Man Web Tips

Modern link building is ultra aggressive: It’s all about using the opportunities when you see them, and sometimes creating your own. Seize the day and make those deals webbys!

#link #linkbuilding #text #textlink #textlinks #linking #seo #searchengineoptimization #expert #authority #entertainmentnews #popculture #combatsports #gonzo #showbiz #SEM #authority #SERPS #onlinenews #onlinebiz #algorithm #algorithms #web #web3 #webtips #bizdev #seonews #seotips #top10 #agent #agency #network #onlineads #trend #trends #buzz #news #newsbiz #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

How To Manage Crawl Budget For Large Sites

Optimize your site so Google will find your content faster and index your content, which could help your site get better visibility and traffic.

The Internet is an ever-evolving virtual universe with over 1.1 billion websites.

Do you think that Google can crawl every website in the world?

Even with all the resources, money, and data centers that Google has, it cannot even crawl the entire web – nor does it want to.

What Is Crawl Budget, And Is It Important?

Crawl budget refers to the amount of time and resources that Googlebot spends on crawling web pages in a domain.

t is important to optimize your site so Google will find your content faster and index your content, which could help your site get better visibility and traffic.

If you have a large site that has millions of web pages, it is particularly important to manage your crawl budget to help Google crawl your most important pages and get a better understanding of your content.

Google states that:

If your site does not have a large number of pages that change rapidly, or if your pages seem to be crawled the same day that they are published, keeping your sitemap up to date and checking your index coverage regularly is enough. Google also states that each page must be reviewed, consolidated and assessed to determine where it will be indexed after it has crawled.

Crawl budget is determined by two main elements: crawl capacity limit and crawl demand.

Crawl demand is how much Google wants to crawl on your website. More popular pages, i.e., a popular story from CNN and pages that experience significant changes, will be crawled more.

Googlebot wants to crawl your site without overwhelming your servers. To prevent this, Googlebot calculates a crawl capacity limit, which is the maximum number of simultaneous parallel connections that Googlebot can use to crawl a site, as well as the time delay between fetches.

Taking crawl capacity and crawl demand together, Google defines a site’s crawl budget as the set of URLs that Googlebot can and wants to crawl. Even if the crawl capacity limit is not reached, if crawl demand is low, Googlebot will crawl your site less.

Here are the top 12 tips to manage crawl budget for large to medium sites with 10k to millions of URLs.

1. Determine What Pages Are Important And What Should Not Be Crawled

Determine what pages are important and what pages are not that important to crawl (and thus, Google visits less frequently).

Once you determine that through analysis, you can see what pages of your site are worth crawling and what pages of your site are not worth crawling and exclude them from being crawled.

It manages its crawl budget by informing Google not to crawl certain pages on the site because it restricted Googlebot from crawling certain URLs in the robots.txt file.

Googlebot may decide it is not worth its time to look at the rest of your site or increase your crawl budget. Make sure that Faceted navigation and session identifiers: are blocked via robots.txt

2. Manage Duplicate Content

While Google does not issue a penalty for having duplicate content, you want to provide Googlebot with original and unique information that satisfies the end user’s information needs and is relevant and useful. Make sure that you are using the robots.txt file.

Google stated not to use no index, as it will still request but then drop.

3. Block Crawling Of Unimportant URLs Using Robots.txt And Tell Google What Pages It Can Crawl

For an enterprise-level site with millions of pages, Google recommends blocking the crawling of unimportant URLs using robots.txt.

Also, you want to ensure that your important pages, directories that hold your golden content, and money pages are allowed to be crawled by Googlebot and other search engines.

4. Long Redirect Chains

Keep your number of redirects to a small number if you can. Having too many redirects or redirect loops can confuse Google and reduce your crawl limit.

Google states that long redirect chains can have a negative effect on crawling.

5. Use HTML

Using HTML increases the odds of a crawler from any search engine visiting your website.

While Googlebots have improved when it comes to crawling and indexing JavaScript, other search engine crawlers are not as sophisticated as Google and may have issues with other languages other than HTML.

6. Make Sure Your Web Pages Load Quickly And Offer A Good User Experience

Make your site is optimized for Core Web Vitals.

The quicker your content loads – i.e., under three seconds – the quicker Google can provide information to end users. If they like it, Google will keep indexing your content because your site will demonstrate Google crawl health, which can make your crawl limit increase.

7. Have Useful Content

According to Google, content is rated by quality, regardless of age. Create and update your content as necessary, but there is no additional value in making pages artificially appear to be fresh by making trivial changes and updating the page date.

If your content satisfies the needs of end users and, i.e., helpful and relevant, whether it is old or new does not matter.

If users do not find your content helpful and relevant, then I recommend that you update and refresh your content to be fresh, relevant, and useful and promote it via social media.

Also, link your pages directly to the home page, which may be seen as more important and crawled more often.

8. Watch Out For Crawl Errors

If you have deleted some pages on your site, ensure the URL returns a 404 or 410 status for permanently removed pages. A 404 status code is a strong signal not to crawl that URL again.

Blocked URLs, however, will stay part of your crawl queue much longer and will be recrawled when the block is removed.

Also, Google states to remove any soft 404 pages, which will continue to be crawled and waste your crawl budget. To test this, go into GSC and review your Index Coverage report for soft 404 errors.

If your site has many 5xx HTTP response status codes (server errors) or connection timeouts signal the opposite, crawling slows down. Google recommends paying attention to the Crawl Stats report in Search Console and keeping the number of server errors to a minimum.

By the way, Google does not respect or adhere to the non-standard “crawl-delay” robots.txt rule.

Even if you use the nofollow attribute, the page can still be crawled and waste the crawl budget if another page on your site, or any page on the web, does not label the link as nofollow.

9. Keep Sitemaps Up To Date

XML sitemaps are important to help Google find your content and can speed things up.

It is extremely important to keep your sitemap URLs up to date, use the <lastmod> tag for updated content, and follow SEO best practices, including but not limited to the following.

Only include URLs you want to have indexed by search engines.

Only include URLs that return a 200-status code.

Make sure a single sitemap file is less than 50MB or 50,000 URLs, and if you decide to use multiple sitemaps, create an index sitemap that will list all of them.

Make sure your sitemap is UTF-8 encoded.

Include links to localized version(s) of each URL. (See documentation by Google.)

Keep your sitemap up to date, i.e., update your sitemap every time there is a new URL or an old URL has been updated or deleted.

10. Build A Good Site Structure

Having a good site structure is important for your SEO performance for indexing and user experience.

Site structure can affect search engine results pages (SERP) results in a number of ways, including crawlability, click-through rate, and user experience.

Having a clear and linear structure of your site can use your crawl budget efficiently, which will help Googlebot find any new or updated content.

Always remember the three-click rule, i.e., any user should be able to get from any page of your site to another with a maximum of three clicks.

11. Internal Linking

The easier you can make it for search engines to crawl and navigate through your site, the easier crawlers can identify your structure, context, and important content.

Having internal links pointing to a web page can inform Google that this page is important, help establish an information hierarchy for the given website, and can help spread link equity throughout your site.

12. Always Monitor Crawl Stats

Always review and monitor GSC to see if your site has any issues during crawling and look for ways to make your crawling more efficient.

You can use the Crawl Stats report to see if Googlebot has any issues crawling your site.

If availability errors or warnings are reported in GSC for your site, look for instances in the host availability graphs where Googlebot requests exceeded the red limit line, click into the graph to see which URLs were failing, and try to correlate those with issues on your site.

Also, you can use the URL Inspection Tool to test a few URLs on your site.

If the URL inspection tool returns host load warnings, that means that Googlebot cannot crawl as many URLs from your site as it discovered.

Wrapping Up

Crawl budget optimization is crucial for large sites due to their extensive size and complexity.

With numerous pages and dynamic content, search engine crawlers face challenges in efficiently and effectively crawling and indexing the site’s content.

By optimizing your crawl budget, site owners can prioritize the crawling and indexing of important and updated pages, ensuring that search engines spend their resources wisely and effectively.

This optimization process involves techniques such as improving site architecture, managing URL parameters, setting crawl priorities, and eliminating duplicate content, leading to better search engine visibility, improved user experience, and increased organic traffic for large websites.

SEJ's Winston on some helpful and useful tips re having websites ready for optimal site indexing by the search engine king, Google. Our summary of this for online news media and pop culture themed sites:

Relevant content to the core business

Indexed content helps the business

Update with fresh news

Links to be relevant to content

Pages to contain relevant images

Niche articles can have infographics

Follow Google policy and guidelines

Do own internal testing when possible

We're not pretending to know every single "secret"/technique for success in their field however we did use some of these approaches to help get one of our Media Man themed websites into the HitwiseeTop 10 (entertainment/personality categories). Number 3 position was our peak. This is an extension of the sought after pop culture category. Trust this summary will prove helpful and useful to others, just as Search Engine Journal tips frequently help us in search of the Internet Holy Grail. Back to the webcode.

#sej #searchenginejournal #seo #sem #searchengine #searchengines #index #indexing #sitemap #websites #content #contentnews #contentmarketing #onlinepublishing #onlinenews #digitalnews #technews #media 

Search Engine Journal

SEO Best Effort For Best Results

SEJ's Roger with an insightful and almost perfect summary article on best effort SEO. I'm not disappointed at all in the findings and revolations. The imperfections make and prove us human, along the same train of thought and similar scribes to greats such as Rick Rubin, Albert Einstein. To aim or expect for absolute perfection ala perfect result in search engine optimization and other related disciplines may be a frugal and totally unrealistic approach and mindset. The Internet with its Google algorithm updates, core changes, trade secrets and all means it's dynamic in nature and the goal posts are ever changing. Best effort for best result to help ensure one doesn't go totally mad in the process of seeking out the Holy Grail of Internet SEO. And as per journals, sometimes 2nd or 3rd place can even be better than an official 1st in some categories or platform situations, so no need to stress too much. Business/work - life balance to win the day and a sustainable business model. Follow Google protocols and guidelines and smile all the.way to the bank or crypto exchange says media scribe. Winning with priceless SEJ tips. Happy New Year to all.

Pro Wrestling

Worlds End

MJF vs Samoa Joe. AEW Title

"Didn't expect so many people on Long Island chanting Joe's name.. smart" Taz

"Going to be a tough one for MJF.. he's banging up" Taz

Promo: "Our scumbag"

Fans: "He's our scumbag"

"There's another problem too. The left shoulder of MJF" Tony Schiavone

"Thumbing Joe in the eye..the advantage" Excalibur

"I'm telling ya, Max is in a lot of trouble here tonight" Taz

"It is the last thing Max wanted" Excalibur

"He's in deep you know what right now" Taz

"Max has felt this muscle buster"

"Max is hurt. He's going for those quick covers" Taz

"Kangaroo kick"

"Didn't work"

"Going to skin the cat"

"Tried to skin the cat,. couldn't do it" Tony Schiavone

"He landed on the back of his head did Max" Taz

"Dragon Suplex, landed on the top of his head"

"Muscle buster on the outside"!

"He came down on the left shoulder" Taz

"A hell of a night for him" TS

"1, 2,.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,.9, 10" fans

"He wants this kangaroo gimmick" Taz

"Collapsing under the weight of the opponent" Excalibur

"He's thinking heat seeker here"

"The story written all over the face of MJF" Excalibur

"Now the salt of the earth"

"He got red handed through" Excalibur

"There goes the ref"

"Max knows the refs down" Taz

"Got to get a cover" Taz

"MJF is calling for the ring"

"He's looking for it"

"Joe transitions"

"What a struggle this has been" TS

"Ring the bell, that's it"

"Choked him out" Taz

Media Man: So pumped for this historic professional wrestling match. MJF makes history again, as does Joe. Much credit to both, as well as for the AEW team for making this possible. Social media channels are going off the hook. Expecting a very strong PPV number from TrillerTV 

@FiteTV

 and the like.

The AEW YouTube Channel is going to get further hammered once the powers that be release more footage from today's Worlds End.

AEW Official YouTube

http://youtube.com/aew

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #AdamCole #prowrestling #wrestling #AndNew #EntertainmentNews #PopCulture #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #X #media 

Image credit: AEW

Search Engine Journal

Media Man SEO Research Continued

All roads lead back to Google and Search Engine Journal! Almost without exception says media scribe...

Aim for best effort and results; Perfect doesn't really exist in this corner of The Internet

Roger from SEJ finds more gold for webbys across the globe...

Here’s John Mueller’s response:

“Sorry to disappoint, Charan, but your SEO is not perfect. In fact, no SEO is perfect. The Internet, search engines, and how users search is always changing, so SEO will evolve over time as well. This includes both technical elements, like structured data, as well as considerations around quality. Just because you can’t do perfect SEO shouldn’t discourage you though!”

#sej #searchenginejournal #google #seo #SearchEngineOptimization #sem #searchenginemarketing #authority #expert #seonews #seomarketing #Algorithm #digitalnews #internet #theinternet #web #web3 #digitalbusiness #technews #AI #media 

Pro Wrestling

AEW Worlds End: Media Scrum Notes

Great vibe once the media scrum commenced. Lots of positive achievements - Media Man

"The gate. It was a big gate. It was a sell-out".."Just around, close to 10,000 in earshot" Tony Khan 

AEW Top Brass Tony Khan gives in-depth detail on current state of the companyz industry and where they are heading.

"It is a company that has that challenger spirit" Tony Khan 

"I believe 2024 being the most important year of the company.. we're in a great position" TK

"We've been having hard hitting great matches with the great women and men week after week".."We've been focussing on wrestlers that the crowd believes in" TK

"I believed, the Continental Classic..I think the fans will. Money where their mouth is and they did. Clearly demonstrated. That worked"..TK

"We had to develop new stars. We've had new faces step in"

"Constantly improving"

"This year was a huge year. It was our biggest year ever on Pay-Per-View, so thank you for the platform to talk about that. It's a big risk for a company to expand the Pay-Per-View calender the way that we did, and talk about being rewarded, and tonight as a great example of that"..

"It was a big risk to expand from 5 to 8 (PPVs) but holy cow did it work"

"All the new events this year did really well". 

"The word that we've always thrown around a lot in the back..punk rock, If you lose that punk rock feel then I think you lose what AEW is" Tony Khan

"Right now can't comment on the future of MJF and AEW, other than to say we're very grateful for everything that he's done to this point to get us here. MJF's been a big part of AEW now for 5 years and he is one of the people who helped build this place"...

"I also wanted to thank all of you. Giving us your time, staying here to cover this"

"I believe our presence has changed pro wrestling. I think AEW has done great things for the wrestling business and none of it would be possible without all of you"...

"When we launched this company we didn't have any TV"..."the buzz you helped create"

"Helped get us on TBS. Helped us get on TNT. Now we've been there over 4 years"

"You've all been very fair to us. Thank you very much" Tony Khan 

Vale John Pilger

Pilger has died aged 84.

The award winning journalist and documentary maker helped demonstrate the difference between real aka authentic news and fake news, well before those terms became freqently thrown around. Much of his work contained both strong opinion, first hand accounts, as well as pure truths that many in government and politics would have prefered it if they never had seen the light of day.

He told us, "The best compliment that a journalist can ever receive is to be banned". We felt in great company. Not quite "banned", but close enough by a few publications that are little more than propaganda outlets.

It will not surprise anyone that "truth tellers" (those who speak and write the truth) are not on the Christmas card list of many in government.

John, thank you for your wisdom and courage. Your light shines on.

Authentic news day again.

Media Man Group management

Media Man Int

The Power of the Documentary: Breaking the Silence

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/the_power3.html

#JohnPilger #JohnPilgerRIP #RIP #journalism #journalism #realnews #authenticnews #truthteller #filmmaker #documentarymaker #thepowerofthedocumentary #worldnews #media #mediaman 

John Pilger, controversial campaigning journalist, has died - January 1, 2024

At his best, Pilger would take an obscure subject, meticulously research it and make unforgettable television.

John Pilger, who has died aged 84, was a journalist and documentary maker for whom the word uncompromising might have been invented; he was also probably the only one to inspire his own neologism; in 1991 the Oxford English Dictionary of New Words included the verb “to Pilger”, which it defined as “to conduct journalism in a manner supposedly characteristic of (Australian author and journalist) John Pilger”.

The term had been coined by the conservative journalist and satirist Auberon Waugh, who explained that “it means when anybody who wants to make a good argument shouts and waves his arms about a lot and, oh, vaguely blames you for murdering Vietnamese babies.” For AA Gill it was “a particularly monotonous, self-righteous, partial and ism-bound view of the world, posing as journalism”. It should perhaps be pointed out, for students of etymology, that Waugh also coined the terms pilgerism, pilgered, pilgering, pilgerish, pilgerise, pilgeristic, pilgeresque, pilgerite, pilgeration and even pilgerama.

Yet, many regarded Pilger as the finest crusading journalist of his generation. He did much to draw world attention to some of the most notorious human rights abuses of the late 20th century, winning a slew of humanitarian and journalism awards, including Journalist of the Year (twice), the United Nations Media Peace Prize, the Bafta Richard Dimbleby Award for factual reporting, the Sydney Peace Prize and numerous honorary doctorates.

In 1970 his World in Action documentary, The Quiet Mutiny, exposed a rebellion within the US army at the time of the Vietnam War. From the late 1970s, in articles in the Daily Mirror and in his documentary Cambodia Year Zero (1979), he was one of the first to reveal to the world the full horrors of the “killing fields” of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, helping to kick-start a global humanitarian response.

Similarly, his harrowing documentary Death of a Nation (1994), helped to galvanise international support for the people of East Timor, then brutally occupied by Indonesia, while another documentary, Stealing a Nation (2004), revealed how British governments of the late 1960s and early 1970s had secretly and brutally expelled the entire indigenous population of the Chagos Islands to make way for an American military base.

At his best Pilger would take an obscure subject, meticulously research it and, through the personal histories of those on the receiving end of state-sanctioned brutality, make unforgettable television.

According to Pilger’s critics, the trouble was that he was never content to let the facts speak for themselves. The title of one of his books was Hidden Agendas, about the power structures that “really” run the world. For Pilger the “real” story was nearly always about American (and/or British) imperialist dirty tricks.

In many situations, there was evidence to support this narrative. But in his demonisation of western leaderships (he once described the American political class as “the Third Reich of our times”), Pilger never had a stop button. Thus the important thing about the killing fields of Cambodia for Pilger was not so much the murderous regime of the Khmer Rouge as his tendentious theory that their role in Cambodia had been sustained by British and American backing.

In a New Statesman article in 1991 he described Pol Pot (then holed up with his supporters on the Thai border) as one of the Bush administration’s “acceptable aggressors”, maintaining that “in the spirit of the new age the Bush administration no longer recognises the killing of a million and a half Cambodians under Pol Pot as genocide”.

He presented a similar message in a documentary, Cambodia: The Betrayal (1990). What he omitted to mention was that Pol Pot was a communist who had been lionised by the Left at exactly the time he was sending millions of Cambodians to their deaths. During the period 1975-78, when the killing was at its height, Left-wing apologists tended to equate opposition to the Khmer Rouge with anti-communist zealotry.

Nor did Pilger’s historical amnesia stop there. In praising the “remarkable achievement of the Cambodian people” under the Vietnam-backed (and therefore praiseworthy) Hun Sen government, which came to power in 1978, he forgot to mention that Hun Sen and many other members of the ruling clique were former members of the Khmer Rouge who had held senior positions of power when the killing fields were filling with corpses – and that they were still being accused of human rights abuses.

Similarly, in his 2007 film The War on Democracy (which won Best Documentary at the 2008 One World Media Awards), about the damage done to Latin American countries by the US’s foreign policies, Pilger’s interview with the Left-wing Venezuelan demagogue Hugo Chavez was described in the normally sympathetic New Statesman as “one of the most toe-curlingly obsequious episodes in modern cinema, putting to shame any run-of-the-mill Hollywood political toadie”.

Pilger was contemptuous of that shibboleth of British journalism, the objective news story. His approach was to adopt a view about a situation and then find the interviews, facts and images to back it up. His critics, however, complained that when the facts did not say what Pilger wanted them to say, he was prepared to invent them.

In 1982 the Daily Mirror printed a dramatic story by Pilger about a young Thai girl, called Sunee, who had been forced to work as a slave in appalling conditions before being rescued by Pilger and reunited with her grateful family in a village outside Bangkok. But soon after, the Thai press claimed that Sunee the slave girl did not exist.

As the story began to unravel (Auberon Waugh gleefully claimed that Pilger had been hoaxed), Pilger at first blamed a CIA plot to discredit him. But the truth was more pedestrian. Sunee, it turned out, was the daughter of a taxi driver whose “identity” as a child slave worker had been fabricated by a local “fixer” hired by Pilger’s research team.

In his 1990 documentary about Cambodia, Pilger alleged that the British Government was providing “direct” assistance to Pol Pot and had sanctioned the training by the SAS of Khmer Rouge forces in minelaying and other techniques. Subsequently, two SAS officers identified in the report as having been involved accepted “very substantial” libel damages in the High Court. An investigation by the Evening Standard established that Pilger had neither met nor spoken to the men before he faced them in court.

Yet child labour did exist in Thailand, and in 1991 John Major’s government was forced to admit that the SAS had indeed been involved in training Cambodian guerrilla groups (though not, it seems, the Khmer Rouge). The irony was that underneath what one critic called Pilger’s “Dave Spartism”, there was usually a good story struggling to get out. But Pilger was always so obviously grinding axes that his message was easy to resist.

Noam Chomsky once said that people mocked Pilger because they were uncomfortable with the awful reality of US foreign policy; but the journalist William Shawcross, who himself did much to expose the Nixon-Kissinger “secret war” in Cambodia, felt that Pilger was “dangerous to the causes which he claims to espouse”. Comparing Pilger to Henry Kissinger, he observed that “both men enjoy a ‘fabulous’ reputation; each … has a record for ‘greatness’ which, in my view, does not withstand examination.”

For Auberon Waugh, meanwhile, Pilger was simply “just another conceited hack like the rest of us.”

John Richard Pilger was born on October 9 1939 in Sydney, Australia. His father, from a German family, had worked as a boy in the coal mines; his mother was a schoolteacher and the descendant of a convict. Pilger grew up in Bondi and was educated at Sydney Boys’ High School, where he swam and rowed for the school and started a newspaper.

At 17 he joined the Sydney Sun as a junior reporter, but became the story himself on his second day when, sent to report on a swarm of bees, he was stung between the eyes. The following day a rival newspaper carried a photograph of the rookie journalist with his head in his hands under the banner headline “Bees Terror: Man Hurt”.

From the Sun, Pilger moved to the Sydney Daily Telegraph, but within a couple of years was on his way to Europe. He freelanced in Italy for a while before settling in London where, in 1963, he got a job on the Daily Mirror, then a campaigning and highly successful newspaper under Cecil King and Hugh Cudlipp. He worked for the paper for 23 years until he was sacked following the arrival of Robert Maxwell.

Pilger became a feature writer on the paper, then special correspondent and chief international correspondent. He reported from all over the world and covered numerous wars. Still in his 20s, he became the youngest recipient of the Journalist of the Year award (for his reporting on Vietnam), then the first to won the award twice (for his reporting on Cambodia).

During the eight years he covered the Vietnam War Pilger divided his time between there and the US, where he marched with civil rights campaigners from Alabama to Washington following the assassination of Martin Luther King. He was in the same room when Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968.

He was banned from South Africa in the 1970s for his attempt to expose the reality of apartheid and reported on racism in London.

In 1970, he began a parallel career in British television, starting with the ITV current affairs series World in Action, and later making freelance documentaries. By the end of his life he had made more than 60 films.

But the main focus of his anger remained the United States, which could never do right in Pilger’s book. In his exposé of the situation in East Timor he accused the US and its allies of knowing about the massacres that took place following the Indonesian invasion of 1975 and of acting shamefully in their decision to do nothing about them. But, following the 2003 coalition intervention in Iraq to depose the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein, he launched a two-page rant in the Daily Mirror illustrated with a front page montage of Tony Blair with “blood” on his hands.

He later called for Blair (“Britain’s Henry Kissinger”) to be prosecuted as a war criminal for his part in precipitating a conflict which had “resulted in the deaths of more than a million people” (an estimate which has been widely criticised as grossly exaggerated).

In 2014, the BBC came under attack from Tory MPs and from some BBC journalists for an edition of the Today programme on Radio 4, guest-edited by the musician PJ Harvey, in which Pilger was given airtime to attack David Cameron and Barack Obama. Pilger had suggested that the corporation should not have broadcast tributes to Nelson Mandela from Obama because he had failed to close Guantanamo Bay, or from Cameron because he had visited South Africa during the Apartheid era.

In a seven-minute diatribe against the “criminal power of our government”, Pilger also suggested that the centuries-old conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims had been caused by the British and American invasion of Iraq.

In 2018, when Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned in Salisbury, Pilger told the Russia Today channel: “This is a carefully constructed drama as part of the propaganda campaign that has been building now for several years in order to justify the actions of Nato, Britain and the United States towards Russia. That’s a fact.”

The following year in The Dirty War on the National Health Service, Pilger argued that governments beginning with that of Margaret Thatcher had waged a secret war against the NHS with a view to privatising it.

In his writing and documentaries, Pilger rarely showed much in the way of a sense of humour. But those who met him found a gentle, quiet, rather dapper individual at odds with the image of the scourge of international capitalism.

His marriage to the journalist Scarth Flett, with whom he had a son, Sam, a sportswriter, was dissolved; he also had a daughter, Zoe, a novelist and art critic, with the journalist Yvonne Roberts.

(The Telegraph London)

MMA News

"Ladies and gentlemen, a happy New Year to you all. I would like to announce the return date for myself, 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor. The greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight Week on June 29th"

And the opponent, Michael Chander. And the weight, Mr. Chandler, is 185lbs.

"I always said I wanted you at your biggest, your baddest and your best. 185 would look good on me" - Conor McGregor

McGregor is the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion and holds notable wins over Eddie Alvarez, Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes among others.

Chandler is the former Bellator lightweight champion and holds notable wins over Benson Henderson, Eddie Alvarez, Patricky Pitbull, and Brent Primus among others.

Sources: Conor McGregor, X, BJ Penn, Figure 4, News Corp and Wires

#ConorMcGregor #McGregor #quote #quotes #MMA #UFC #Fightweek #MichaelChander #McGregorChandler #combatsports #PPV #PPVS #PayPerView #legend #legends #Goat #Goats #sportsnews #sportsmedia #trends #trending #buzz #sportsbetting #mmabetting #wager #LasVegas #vegasnews #media 

MMA News

Conor McGregor announces ‘greatest comeback of all time’

Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC for the first time in two years with the former world champion’s next fight announced.

Conor McGregor has announced he will make his UFC return on June 29 against Michael Chandler.

McGregor took to social media on Monday morning to say he will fight Chandler on International Fight Week after months of speculation.

And with a menacing laugh he claimed the bout will be at the 185lb middleweight limit — a career heaviest for the pair., The Sun reports.

Holding a glass of red wine, said: “Ladies and gentlemen, a happy new year to you all.

“I’d like to announce the return date for myself, The Notorious Conor McGregor for the greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight week on June the 29th.

“Come a little closer... and the opponent is Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr Chandler 185 pounds.”

McGregor, 35, has been out of action since July 2021 after he broke his leg in round one against Dustin Poirier, 34.

But he made a full recovery and returned to training with comeback rumours shortly following.

Having been out of the UFC’s year-round random drug testing pool, McGregor was required to re-enrol.

But he only did so in October and would need six months of clean testing before he was eligible to make a return.

By that time, he had already coached against Chandler on reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter.

As time went on, concern was raised over whether the fight would go ahead or a new opponent would be found.

But McGregor and UFC president Dana White insisted it would be Chandler, 37, to welcome the MMA icon back to the cage.

White recently revealed he was going to meet with McGregor in the Middle East to finally confirm his long-anticipated comeback.

And The Notorious revealed he would make a fight announcement on New Year’s Day - although he appeared to go a day early.

The UFC are yet to announce the fight and McGregor has been known to make premature announcements.

And his last fight was also at lightweight - two below middleweight - while he has never fought above welterweight.

McGregor and Chandler were frontrunners to headline UFC 300 on April 13.

But, it looks as though they could instead target the annual International Fight Week.

News

Search Engine Journal

Google On Knowing If Best SEO Was Applied

Google's John Mueller answers a question about being assured of having done the best effort for SEO

In a recent Google office hours recording, Google’s John Mueller answered a question about how one knows if their SEO coverage is complete and if there are any tools that can spot something that they might have missed.

That question the way it was originally asked sounds somewhat strange and that may be because of a language translation issue. The person asking the question has an Indian name so it’s quite possible that the oddness of the question (how do I know my SEO is perfect) was due to language.

That the question makes more sense if it’s  understood as how does one know that their SEO is optimal and that nothing was left undone. That’s a legitimate question and fits into the idea of SEO that is free from flaws, given that the definition of “perfect” is being as free as possible from flaws.

Here’s the question and answer as read by John Mueller:

“Charan asks: How to know if my SEO is perfect? Are there any tools, apps or websites available for it?”

What the person asking the question appears to be asking is if there are any standards or best practices to measure their SEO efforts against.

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Roger with an insightful and almost perfect summary article on best effort SEO. I'm not disappointed at all in the findings and revolutions. The imperfections make and prove us human, along the same train of thought and similar scribes to greats such as Rick Rubin, Albert Einstein. To aim or expect for absolute perfection ala perfect result in search engine optimization and other related disciplines may be a frugal and totally unrealistic approach and mindset. The Internet with its Google algorithm updates, core changes, trade secrets and all means it's dynamic in nature and the goal posts are ever changing. Best effort for best result to help ensure one doesn't go totally mad in the process of seeking out the Holy Grail of Internet SEO. And as per journals, sometimes 2nd or 3rd place can even be better than an official 1st in some categories or platform situations, so no need to stress too much. Business/work - life balance to win the day and a sustainable business model. Follow Google protocols and guidelines and smile all the.way to the bank or crypto exchange says media scribe. Winning with priceless SEJ tips. Happy New Year to all.

Search Engine Journal

How To Manage Crawl Budget For Large Sites

Optimize your site so Google will find your content faster and index your content, which could help your site get better visibility and traffic.

The Internet is an ever-evolving virtual universe with over 1.1 billion websites.

Do you think that Google can crawl every website in the world?

Even with all the resources, money, and data centers that Google has, it cannot even crawl the entire web – nor does it want to.

What Is Crawl Budget, And Is It Important?

Crawl budget refers to the amount of time and resources that Googlebot spends on crawling web pages in a domain.

Search Engine Journal

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Winston on some helpful and useful tips re having websites ready for optimal site indexing by the search engine king, Google. Our summary of this for online news media and pop culture themed sites:

Relevant content to the core business

Indexed content helps the business

Update with fresh news

Links to be relevant to content

Pages to contain relevant images

Niche articles can have infographics

Follow Google policy and guidelines

Do own internal testing when possible

We're not pretending to know every single "secret"/technique for success in their field however we did use some of these approaches to help get one of our Media Man themed websites into the Hitwise Top 10 (entertainment/personality categories). Number 3 position was our peak. 

This is an extension of the sought after pop culture category. 

Trust this summary will prove helpful and useful to others, just as Search Engine Journal tips frequently help us in search of the Internet Holy Grail. Back to the webcode.

#sej #searchenginejournal #seo #sem #searchengine #searchengines #index #indexing #sitemap #websites #content #contentnews #contentmarketing #onlinepublishing #onlinenews #digitalnews #technews #media 

Pro Wrestling

WWE 

Internet Based Buzz re potential new Paul Heyman New Faction aka modem day version of:

"The Dangerous Alliance". Or

"America's Most Hated"?!

Led by Paul Heyman, the faction may consist of for example:

CM Punk 

Brock Lesnar 

Logan Paul 

Grayson Waller

Austin Theory

Media Man: This is speculative in nature however there has been numerous Internet based rumors and buzz for a number of months. The rumours and buzz have not diminished so we are covering this now to help further prepare the WWE fanbase for what may develop in early to mid 2024. The dynamic has changed greatly in The Bloodline and a shuffling of the deck would help keep things fresh. Surely Roman Reigns would be aware of these rumours by now, and if not, perhaps he is now.

Fans, be sure to keep checking the WWE YouTube channel as well as the X and even the Paul Heyman/Heyman Hustle channels as you never know what other clues may be disclosed. Raw and SmackDown are forecast to remain appointment viewing and red hot in 2024. 

Mining industry to spend $24m to derail IR laws - October 25, 2023

Mining companies expect to spend up to $24 million to bury the Albanese government’s new industrial relations laws, surpassing the cost of the industry’s campaign to kill off Labor’s resource super profits tax in 2010.

The Minerals Council of Australia revealed to the Senate inquiry into the Closing Loopholes Bill that Rio Tinto, BHP and Glencore were the top contributors to the campaign, which includes radio, print, television and social media advertisements.

The resources industry has warned that the bill’s requirement for companies to pay labour hire workers at least the same as direct employees will cost it billions of dollars through complex administration and threaten the viability of projects.

“At this stage the MCA’s campaign spend in 2023-2024 is anticipated to be $20-$24 million,” the council said in a document posted last week in response to the Senate’s request for more particulars about its spend.

BHP has estimated the labour hire laws will strip at least $1.3 billion from its annual earnings and significantly more if they also cover service contractors, as they currently do.

MCA chief executive Tania Constable said that “the intention of the campaign is to raise awareness and understanding of the damaging nature and wide implications of the bill”.

“Our expectation is that the government will wisely go back to the drawing board on the policy,” she said.

Super-profits tax

The industry spent $22 million to stop the former Rudd government’s super-profits tax in a campaign that dominated the airwaves for two months before Julia Gillard took over from Kevin Rudd as prime minister and negotiated a compromise.

The MCA’s IR campaign has no set period and is expected to get even bigger over the coming months. The bill is expected to go to a vote of the Senate as early as February.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said “it’s time to choose a side”.

“The opposition can either be on the side of the Minerals Council of Australia, spending vast sums of money to protect their bottom line. Or the side of the workers – who desperately need these loopholes closed to get wages moving in a cost-of-living crisis.”

Mining and Energy Union general secretary Grahame Kelly said: “We are not surprised at big mining companies spending tens of millions trying to bully governments through misleading scare campaigns – it’s what they do.”

“We are surprised at how bad the ads are. They do nothing to explain or justify the loophole that lets them pay thousands of labour hire mine workers less for doing the same job,” he said.

‘Bad legislation’

“It’s a $24 million waste of money that could have been better spent looking after local communities or paying workers fairly.”

Rio Tinto has argued in submissions to the Senate inquiry that the laws are bad legislation that will anchor productivity at record lows, while gold miner Newmont says it will leave some Australian projects unviable.

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting feared the laws would force the company to share its generous “chairman profit share” bonus – up to 30 per cent of an employee’s salary – to “our entire supply chain”.

Unions have argued that because the labour hire laws only apply to sites with enterprise agreements, most of the mines in WA will not be covered as bargaining was “virtually non-existent” in the Pilbara.

However, the Australian Workers Union has recently started negotiating with Citic Mining’s Sino Iron for an agreement, and this week got a protected action ballot approved – paving the way for the first industrial action in the iron ore sector for more than a decade.

(AFR)

Mavericks on top of the Business People of the Year list - December 2023

This year’s list reflects a world in which Australia’s biggest companies took a cautious approach to investing and deal-making in an uncertain economic environment.

The choice of Gina Rinehart as The Australian Financial Review’s 2023 Business Person of the Year duly recognises a lifetime of independent business success and achievement.

Her famous father, Lang Hancock, who pioneered the opening up of Western Australia’s Pilbara and Australia’s great iron ore export trade with Japan in the 1950s and 1960s, was named as one of the seven entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who most shaped modern Australian business over the previous seven decades when the Financial Review celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022.

Yet the father never made the leap from prospecting and staking out iron ore claims to mining the stuff. This year’s record shipment from the Roy Hill iron ore mine established by the daughter underpinned the $5 billion profit of the once-bankrupt company Mrs Rinehart inherited, and has entrenched her No. 1 position on the Financial Review’s Rich List for the fourth year running.

With its $38 billion of assets beyond iron ore and across multiple interests in mining, energy and agribusiness industries, Mrs Rinehart has built her Hancock Prospecting empire into by far the nation’s biggest private company.

The annual AFR Business Persons of the Year list recognises Australia’s top leaders, builders, pioneers and stirrers. Mrs Rinehart – who is an earthy political standout with her own views in an ESG social licence-constrained corporate world – fits all these criteria.

Her eclectic dealmaking and investment profile in the past 12 months span a hard-fought battle to win control of WA gas developer Warrego Energy; a kingmaker role in Australia’s new critical minerals boom that blocked the takeovers of lithium miners Azure Minerals and Liontown Resources; buying iconic Aussie bush outfitters Driza-Bone; and her well-progressed plans to become Australia’s biggest truffle farmer to help sate the growing local and overseas appetite for gourmet foods.

The Business Person of the Year awards are often dominated by the top echelons of blue-chip corporate Australia. As Chanticleer columnist James Thomson writes, this year’s list reflects a world in which Australia’s biggest companies took a cautious approach to investing and deal-making in the uncertain economic environment of higher inflation, rising interest rates and greater geopolitical risk.

That has opened the way for the entrepreneurial mavericks who have successfully ridden the big transformational themes of the global economy, from the energy transition to big data and artificial intelligence.

Consider the story of AirTrunk founder and chief executive Robin Khuda. Less than eight years ago, he struggled to get meetings with bankers and funders shocked at the size of the start-up’s hyper-scale data centre plans. But having picked that the move to the cloud, streaming and generative AI would call for super-sized digital infrastructure, and having gone from zero to becoming one of Australasia’s biggest data centre operators, Mr Khuda makes the list for sealing this year’s biggest global debt deal – $4.6 billion – for data centres, which more than 40 investors piled into.

Forty years ago, medical technology company Pro Medicus CEO Sam Hupert was a Melbourne GP wanting to introduce computers into medicine to help manage doctors’ practices. In today’s world of cloud-based hospital systems and post-pandemic remote work, Pro Medicus imaging software, which lets radiologists and doctors view scans anywhere, has secured a string of big contracts with American healthcare groups and a 40 per cent share price jump in the last six months.

Colourful Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze has earned her place on the list not just for having built Lynas into the world’s biggest producer of geo-strategically critical rare earths outside China, but for successfully traversing the world’s most treacherous geopolitical territory. Managing to get Beijing to seemingly withdraw its covert opposition to the company’s Malaysian processing plant, while also getting the Pentagon to back Lynas’ processing plant in Texas, is a rare feat indeed.

Chief investment officer Mark Delaney is on the list for having overseen from the start AustralianSuper’s rise into Australia’s $310 billion industry superannuation giant with the power to single-handedly block Brookfield’s mega $20 billion takeover bid for Origin Energy, which has confirmed that big super is now the dominant force in Australia’s capital markets.

And Boral CEO Vik Bansal rounds out this year’s top five for coming back from his exit from Cleanaway over his old-school leadership style and for shaking up and revitalising one of the pillars of Australia’s old postwar manufacturing base by bringing a new age style of decentralised management and accountability to the building materials and concrete supplier.

What our top CEOs read, watched and listened to in 2023 - December 27, 2023

Feminist icons, inspirational leaders, sports stars and punk rock got Australia’s top chief executives excited this year. 

Like billions of other movie goers, Lynas Rare Earths boss Amanda Lacaze had a “road to Barbie Land” moment in 2023.

“When I had my daughter it was my intention that there would be no Barbies in our house. After all, who could ever aspire to look like Barbie? I will admit I was singularly unsuccessful and we ended with a very large collection of Barbies and associated items which gave Tessa great joy,” she says.

“But Barbie has always been more than stereotypical Barbie and the Barbie movie has illustrated that. I love that Barbie is now such a firm feminist icon. The movie shows that women can choose their own paths, including non-traditional and traditional roles.

“I have been amazed at how many women have identified with the different characters in the movie and rejoice in the diversity of that response.”

The Chanticleer team couldn’t agree more – we’re still thinking Barbie and its myriad messages months after seeing it.

RELATED QUOTES

WESWesfarmers

$57.040

 

-0.14%

1 year

1 day

Jan 23

Jul 23

Dec 23

44.000

52.000

60.000

Updated: Jan 1, 2024 – 1.47pm. Data is 20 mins delayed.

View WES related articles 

But our annual Chanticler CEO poll revealed a slew of thought-provoking books, podcasts, movies and TV shows that top business leaders enjoyed this year.

Apple TV’s all-time classic Ted Lasso scored highly again with Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Tim Ford, NIB’s Mark Fitzgibbon, South32’s Graham Kerr and Mirvac’s Campbell Hanan.

“It’s as good a tutorial on leadership as I’ve encountered – ever,” Fitzgibbon says.

Two more sports-related picks were Netflix’s documentary on football star David Beckham (a lesson in performance under pressure, according to Westpac’s Peter King) and the streamer’s Formula 1 series, Drive to Survive (nominated by GrainCorp’s Robert Spurway).

Looking for something more weighty on the ways of the world? NAB’s Ross McEwan devoured David Enrich’s Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction, while Xero’s Sukhinder Singh Cassidy enjoyed Better not Bitter, by Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five who were wrongly convicted in the Central Park jogger case and went to prison as teenagers for between seven and 13 years.

Andrew Harding, boss of logistics giant Aurizon, appropriately picked The Box, How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, by Marc Levinson, while Worley’s Chris Ashton plumped for From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman. TPG Telecom boss Iñaki Berroeta loved How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley.

Naturally, our top leaders love stuff on leadership and had some good picks in this area.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson drew inspiration from the many podcast appearances made by mindset coach Ben Crowe, who famously helped tennis champion Ash Barty.

“I liked his perspective on learning from adversity, keeping a positive mindset and focusing on the things you can control, which can be hard to do in the moment,” Hudson says.

Newmont’s Tom Palmer and Telstra’s Vicki Brady got to meet their favourite authors.

Palmer met US Admiral William McRaven and loved his book Make Your Bed, while Brady re-read Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella’s tome Hit Refresh.

“I love his approach of not being a ‘know-it-all’ but a ‘learn-it-all’. This comes from a person who knows a lot, and he wants to keep learning. It really was one of the most inspirational reads and discussions of my year,” she says.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott rocked out to When The Birdmen Flew, George Munoz’s illustrated history of seminal punk band Radio Birdman, while Woodside’s Meg O’Neill loved Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

“I think the main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a great role model – independent, intelligent and resilient,” she says. “I particularly loved seeing a woman excelling in STEM as a protagonist and inspiring others.” Chanticleer would add that the Apple series based on the book is brilliant, too.

When Seven Group’s Ryan Stokes wasn’t watching Frozen for the 57th time – and being chastised by his daughter for not singing along – he was visiting the National Gallery’s Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibition. “I commend it to everybody. It celebrates the timeless art of a pre-eminent Australian artist, one of the world’s most significant contemporary painters.”

Finally, Chanticleer simply had to mention the excellent recommendation from Endeavour Group’s Steve Donohue.

“I’m lucky to be a Collingwood supporter, and I’ve enjoyed watching the replay of the AFL Grand Final a few times over. Credit to Craig McRae and the whole Collingwood team for giving Pies supporters a wonderful season.”

Amen, Steve. Amen.

(AFR)

WBD acquires BluTV - December 29, 2023

In a move that will further bolster its growing streaming business, with the international rollout of Max beginning in the next few months, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has acquired BluTV, a subscription video-on-demand service in Turkey.

The announcement follows three years of extensive partnership, which started in 2021 with the launch of discovery+ on BluTV and an investment by Discovery Inc that made the company a 35 per cent shareholder of BluTV. One of the components of the partnership was the option to invest further in BluTV, which has now resulted in the acquisition of the rapidly growing SVoD service.

Since its launch in 2016, BluTV has demonstrated a strong growth trajectory thanks to its focus on original content and content library, offering over 10,000 hours of leading local and international series and movies. As part of the strategic partnership, discovery+ was made available on BluTV in 2021, giving subscribers access to content from WBD’s iconic brands such as Discovery Channel, TLC, DMAX and ID in a dedicated discovery+ branded area. In addition, viewers can enjoy live sports with Eurosport 1 and 2.

In February 2023 the parties deepened their partnership by adding HBO content and the kids channels Cartoon Network and Cartoonito to BluTV, offering their members an even wider variety of global content and hit series such as The Last of Us, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City and Tom & Jerry.

“We are very excited for this new chapter,” declared Jamie Cooke, GM CEE, Middle East & Turkey of Warner Bros Discovery. “Turkey has been an important investment territory for us for over 20 years and the acquisition of BluTV brings Turkey’s first local SVoD player into our portfolio. The combination of compelling Turkish content and a broad range of the best international series and shows from Warner Bros Discovery is an unbeatable recipe to be locally relevant and successful. Together we bring Turkish audiences the most compelling viewing experience and expand the reach of Turkish content globally.”

“As BluTV, we are very happy that our strategic partnership with Discovery Inc, which started in 2021, has resulted in us becoming one of the Warner Bros Discovery brands today,” added Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz, CEO of BluTV. “As Turkey’s leading local subscription video platform, we are proud that our steady growth since day one has made us a part of one of the largest media companies in the world. From now on, we will blend the best local stories we have ever presented to our viewers with the world’s best global content to curate Turkey’s strongest streaming platform and bring our most successful local stories to the world.”

(Advanced Television)

Stumble Guys adds new Tetris-inspired course - December 22, 2023

Stumble Guys is adding another new way to play as the Tetrimino shapes from the world-famous Tetris game are used to create an all-new level mechanic in the frenetic and highly social party battle royale game. In addition to the new course, Tetris-themed cosmetics and flair will be rotating and fitting in perfectly throughout the Stumbleverse.

Stumblers will jump into a brand new Tetris experience as they compete to be the last stumbler standing while navigating over and through Tetrimino-shaped objects in the latest wonderfully wacky experience that can only be found in Stumble Guys.

The all-new in-game level brings the fun and chaos of surviving on an active Tetris Matrix, where players must be careful not to be blasted by Line-Clearing events or Tetriminos falling in place. As the board clears, players can be blasted off the map while Tetriminos start falling, moving, and rotating faster and faster until more players are eliminated.

“It has been terrific collaborating with the Tetris team to create an entirely new level of Stumble Guys. Integrating such a beloved experience into Stumble Guys will give players a bit of nostalgia and a whole lot of fun as they try to finish the course before Tetriminos fall into place,” said Naz Amarchi, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Stumble Guys at Scopely.

“This collaboration is truly a unique experience that blends the timeless appeal of Tetris with the lively, engaging environment of Stumble Guys,” added Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris. “This is more than just a merging of two fan-favourite games, but also a celebration of creativity and fun we believe players around the world will love. As we head into 2024, we’re excited to announce our collaboration with Stumble Guys to kick off the Tetris brand’s 40th anniversary.”

Study: News broadcasters must adapt to keep Gen Z engaged - December 18, 2023

Vizrt, a specialist in real-time graphics and live production solutions for content creators, has released research signifying a shift in the viewing habits of Gen Z when it comes to news consumption.  

As the first generation born into a fully digital world, this age group according to a new global study is no longer interested in traditional news formats where dynamic on-screen graphics are underutilised. 

The research shows a stark shift to social-first content formats, with the majority of Gen Z now opting to consume news on social media; with Instagram (60 per cent), TikTok (38 per cent), and Facebook (38 per cent) identified as the most popular sources for keeping up to date with news and current affairs. 

The intensity of news cycles, volume of negative stories and a growing loyalty in social first news brands are also broadly cited as reasons behind the significant shift in viewing habits.  

“Our research highlights the importance of real-time data and on-screen graphics in retaining Gen Z and futureproofing newsroom content creation. Content creators, traditional broadcasters and newer online news outfits, must adapt to meet the evolving needs of news consumers as each generation becomes more digitally advanced. Immersive storytelling with AR and XR can quickly and easily break down barriers to news accessibility and drive audience engagement,” commented Ulrich Voigt, Global Head of Product Management, Vizrt.

On-screen graphics considered essential for broadcasters 

The global report of thousands of UK and US respondents commissioned by Vizrt examined how Gen Z consumes news in comparison to other generations and revealed a significant reliance on on-screen graphics among the younger generation.  

Gen Z is twice as likely to pay attention to content with on-screen graphics in comparison to other generations (31 per cent vs 14 per cent average of other generations), helping them to understand complex stories (51 per cent Gen Z vs 42 per cent average) read data clearly (48 per cent Gen Z vs 46 per cent average), and receive additional information not otherwise shown on screen (54 per cent Gen Z vs 50 per cent average).  

Gen Z demands social-first formats   

Despite Gen Z opting to consume news content on their phones, broadcasters are yet to adapt to meet their digital needs.  

Over half (56 per cent) of those aged 18-25 find it challenging to watch content in this format due to horizontal content not being adapted for vertical viewing.  

Another issue faced by almost half of respondents (45 per cent) is the lack of on-screen graphics when watching content on the go.   

Vizrt reveals its research on the newsroom consumption habits of Gen Z and millennials after sharing research on the changing viewer habits of Gen Z and millennial sports fans earlier this year. The main findings of both studies prove that social media consumption via mobile phones is on the rise, and attentions are won over with engaging visual graphics regardless of demographic, whether it is news or sports.  

UFC News

WHERE WE STAND: UFC 2024 DIVISION-BY-DIVISION GUIDE

Take A Look At Each Division To See Which Champs And Contenders Are Primed To Make Moves In 2024

BY ZAC PACLEB, ON X @ZACPACLEB • DEC. 31, 2023

The 2023 campaign started to feel like a “normal” type of year in the UFC, which is to say there were shocking and stunning upsets of historic proportions, legacies being created, defined and rewritten from moment-to-moment and eye-popping highlights throughout.

So, essentially, a year of MMA.

But it also gave a view into the UFC calendar and travel schedule post-2020. The Octagon landed in several cities across the globe for pay-per-views and fight nights alike, including returns to Australia, Brazil and Miami alongside the usual stops in New York City, Jacksonville, London and of course, the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The action was good as ever, and undisputed titles changed hands nine times throughout the year.

As we look ahead to 2024, this is where each division stands at-present.

Women’s Strawweight

Champion: Zhang Weili

In The Mix: Yan Xiaonan, Tatiana Suarez

The championship carousel in the strawweight division was relatively inactive for the first time in a handful of years as Zhang Weili dominated en route to a second title defense and first since recapturing the belt in 2022. Meanwhile, a pair of title challengers emerged. Yan Xiaonan fought once and finished Jéssica Andrade in impressive fashion. The 34-year-old from China bounced back well from two consecutive losses to cement her spot in the title conversation. On the other side of the coin was the long-awaited return of Tatiana Suarez, who fought twice after four years away from competition. The injury-riddled layoff halted the momentum of the undefeated Suarez, but she picked up right where she left off and submitted Montana De La Rosa and Andrade.

The champion’s next fight isn’t set just yet, although some hoped Zhang and Yan would partake in an all-China title fight, but Suarez’s dominant return makes for an intriguing matchup, as well. Both fights could happen in 2024, which could see the instability at strawweight continue or Zhang establish herself as one of the best champions in the division’s history.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Mackenzie Dern, Amanda Ribas, Loopy Godinez

Women’s Flyweight

Champion: Alexa Grasso

In The Mix: Valentina Shevchenko, Erin Blanchfield, Manon Fiorot

Alexa Grasso of Mexico reacts after retaining her title with a draw against Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan in the UFC flyweight championship fight during the Noche UFC event at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Alexa Grasso of Mexico reacts after retaining her title with a draw against Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan in the UFC flyweight championship fight during the Noche UFC event at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Home of the biggest surprise of 2024, the women’s flyweight division has never looked more intriguing thanks to a handful of contenders coming into their own but mostly because of Alexa Grasso. Mexico’s first female champion shocked the MMA world with her submission win over longtime champ Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. She shocked again when she fought Shevchenko to a draw at Noche UFC in the headlining bout.

Although the rematch did not provide a definitive conclusion to the Grasso-Shevchenko saga, it did leave the door cracked for a fresh face to enter the title picture. That’s where Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot come into the conversation. Blanchfield aced both her tests in 2023, first submitting Andrade in February - a real breakout performance for the 24-year-old - before outhustling Taila Santos in Singapore in the latter half of the calendar. The results stretched her UFC run to 6-0. Fiorot matched “Cold Blooded,” returning from injury to spoil Rose Namajunas’ flyweight debut in front of a raucous Parisian crowd, which also stretched “The Beast” to a perfect 6-0 in the Octagon. The two are scheduled to face off in Atlantic City in late-March, which likely determines the next title challenger while Grasso and Shevchenko each recover from injuries sustained in their Noche battle.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Maycee Barber, Rose Namajunas, Natalia Silva, Ariane Lipski, Tracy Cortez

Women’s Bantamweight

Champion: N/A

In The Mix: Julianna Peña, Mayra Bueno Silva, Raquel Pennington, Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana

Julianna Pena punches Amanda Nunes of Brazil in their UFC bantamweight championship bout during UFC 269

Julianna Pena punches Amanda Nunes of Brazil in their UFC bantamweight championship bout during UFC 269 on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

To say Amanda Nunes’ retirement in June left a power vacuum atop the bantamweight division would sell the situation short. “The Lioness” left more of a black hole that was left vacant for the remainder of the year. Former champion Julianna Peña, naturally upset with Nunes’ decision, clamored for a chance to regain her belt, but that chance goes to Brazilian upstart Mayra Bueno Silva, who will battle Raquel Pennington in Toronto at UFC 297. Pennington won her lone fight of 2023, defeating Ketlen Vieira to extend her winning streak to five. Peña did not compete in 2023 after losing to Nunes in their rematch at UFC 277. Bueno Silva, meanwhile, started 2023 off with a bang, submitting Lina Lansberg via kneebar in February. She passed her first main event test against former champion Holly Holm, but that victory was turned into a no contest after Bueno Silva failed a drug test. Even still, the performance was impressive, and she goes into her first title shot unbeaten in her last four fights. Ketlen Vieira and Irene Aldana each went 1-1 in 2023 and figure to be a win or two away from title shots themselves.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Karol Rosa, Pannie Kianzad

Flyweight

Champion: Alexandre Pantoja

In The Mix: Amir Albazi, Brandon Moreno, Manel Kape, Kai Kara-France

“The Cannibal” cemented his spot as the flyweight champion with a steady decision win over Brandon Royval to close 2023. The Brazilian is eager to keep a busy schedule and welcomes all challengers familiar and fresh. His next challenger will likely distinguish themselves in February when two-time champion Brandon Moreno hosts Amir Albazi in Mexico City. A definitive win could give Moreno another shot at Pantoja while Albazi hopes to parlay a sixth UFC victory into his first crack at UFC gold.

Meanwhile, Manel Kape continues doing what he can to tout himself as the next champion. The 30-year-old from Portugal has had myriad unlucky situations during his time in the promotion, but Pantoja himself cited “StarBoy” as someone he would enjoy fighting again (Pantoja defeated Kape in Kape’s UFC debut). Kape was scheduled to fight Kara-France in September before a concussion kept “Don’t Blink” out of action. The Kiwi was only able to compete once in 2023, a controversial split decision loss to Albazi in June, and, despite back-to-back losses, Kara-France figures to play a major part in the 2024 title picture.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Brandon Royval, Matheus Nicolau, Muhammad Mokaev, Tagir Ulanbeknov, Tatsuro Taira

Bantamweight

Champion: Sean O’Malley

In The Mix: Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen, Henry Cejudo

Sean O'Malley reacts after his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

Sean O'Malley reacts after his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

With a sweet right hand to Aljamain Sterling’s jaw, Sean O’Malley fulfilled his dreams of becoming the UFC bantamweight champion. The fan-favorite and Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus has the potential to go from star to superstar with a successful reign on the throne, and he gets to immediately right his lone loss in the Octagon at UFC 299. There, he will face Marlon “Chito” Vera in a rematch of 2020 bout which Vera won via TKO.

Although Vera picked up a solid win over Pedro Munhoz in 2023, it was his 2020 victory over “Suga” that did a lot of heavy lifting to get him the title shot. It’s a narrative everyone is intrigued with seeing play out, and the two are a couple of the most entertaining fighters on the roster, as well as mainstays in the stacked title picture. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen will likely have to pick up another win as they make their slower treks to potential championship opportunities. “The Machine” dominated former champion Petr Yan in a main event while Sandhagen did the same against Vera and Rob Font, but a tricep injury against the latter sidelined Sandhagen for the early part of the calendar. Dvalishvili gets a chance to rack up another win over a former champion when he faces Henry Cejudo at UFC 298.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Petr Yan, Deiveson Figueiredo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Yadong Song

Featherweight

Champion: Alexander Volkanovski

In The Mix: Ilia Topuria, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, Max Holloway

It’s a testament to the talent in the featherweight division that it can have a dominant champion like Alexander Volkanovski on top and remain one of the most intriguing weight classes in the UFC. “The Great” defended his belt once in 2023, besting Yair Rodriguez after “El Pantera” earned the interim title against Josh Emmett in the early part of the year while Volkanovski made his bid for double-champ status. Volkanovski will make his next defense against the undefeated and surging Ilia Topuria – who heeded Volkanovski’s advice to not fight Max Holloway while waiting – at UFC 298 in Anaheim.

Should Volkanovski win, the next in line hasn’t yet distinguished themselves. Arnold Allen lost a competitive main event to Holloway, but he can bounce back in January when he faces the undefeated Movsar Evloev in Toronto. Aljamain Sterling is set to make his featherweight debut at UFC 300 against Calvin Kattar, who returns from a major knee injury sustained in October 2022. A dominant win could catapult Sterling into the title talk against Volkanovski. Holloway remains stuck behind his Australian foil despite a pair of good wins over Allen and “The Korean Zombie.” The former champion has said he’d love to fight Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt, but he’ll likely be rooting hard for Topuria to open up a chance for a second “Blessed” title reign.  

Names to Watch For in 2024: Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez, Movsar Evloev

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Will Ospreay Wants IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship - December 12, 2023

“It is going to be defended around the globe, and there is no one better served to do that.”

New Japan Pro-Wrestling is introducing a new championship: the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

During yesterday’s World Tag League press conference, New Japan Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that the new title will be on the line at the upcoming Wrestle Kingdom 18 event at the Tokyo Dome on January 4.

A three-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 18 between Jon Moxley, David Finlay, and Will Ospreay will determine the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. The title replaces the IWGP United States and United Kingdom championships, which Finlay destroyed last month at Power Struggle.

Instead of reintroducing the IWGP Intercontinental title, the decision was made to unveil a new championship. And before he becomes a full-time star with AEW, Ospreay wants to become the first-ever champion.

“It is going to be defended around the globe, and there is no one better served to do that,” said Ospreay. “I’m performing at the highest level around the world.

“This is my chance to cross-promote. That’s truly a special thing to have. I want to elevate the promotions I work with and my opponents in the ring. I am going to deliver the best possible matches I can deliver.”

While Ospreay and Moxley will demand the most attention in the buildup, it is Finlay who may leave the lasting impression. His work as leader of Bullet Club has been unheralded, yet extremely convincing. Wrestling fans will be treated to his superb style of pro wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 18, which particularly shines against Ospreay, a longtime contentious foe.

“Me and Finlay, we’ve got a huge history,” said Ospreay. “We’re the same age, only a few days between us. I’m sure there is some underlying jealousy about my ascent in New Japan. But it just clicked for me. I just operate differently.

“It’s a real rivalry. Finlay is ruthless and one of the best wrestlers, learning that from his father. He’s got a different way of looking at the wrestling industry.”

The combination of Ospreay, Moxley, and Finlay should lead to an exceptionally compelling bout. Ospreay and Moxley have wrestled only once against one another in a singles bout, then once more in a four-way. In their singles match, which took place in April of 2022, Moxley emerged victorious.

“I want to walk out of New Japan defeating Finlay, but there is Moxley, too,” said Ospreay. “Moxley needs to understand something. We had one match, and that was in Chicago, and it was a botch by the referee, who f----- up on the three-count. Moxley can say whatever he wants, but that’s not going to happen in Japan.

“At Wrestle Kingdom, I am going to be in my element. They’re going to focus on violence, I’m going to focus on winning.”

(S.I)

Pro Wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling 

 

On December 31st All Japan Pro Wrestling present its first New Year's Eve event live on TrillerTV 

 - it's MANIAx. The event features the Triple Crown Heavyweight Title match where the 71st champion Katsuhiko Nakajima makes his firts defense against Kento Miyahara.

Full Card:

Shotaro Ashino ＆ T-Hawk vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan ＆ Seigo Tachibana

AJPW (Atsuki Aoyagi ＆ Rising HAYATO) vs DDT (Yuki Ueno & Tohei Kojima)

World Junior Heavyweight Title Match

El Linderman vs Dan Tamura

Special Single Match to determine the true Rookie of the Year

Jun Saito vs Rei Saito

Special 6-man Tag Match

Suwama & Hideki Suzuki & Hikaru Sato vs Minoru Suzuki & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Hokuto Omori

Gaora TV Championship Preliminary Round 6-Man Tag Team Match

Black Mensore & Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe vs Minoru Tanaka & Shigeki Doi & Koji Iwamoto

*lineup subject to change

Despite Bellator purchase, PFL has a long way to go to catch up with UFC - November 28, 2023

There are people who still ask for a Kleenex when what they really want is a tissue. And there are people who tell coworkers they’re heading to the Xerox machine when what they mean is they’re going to the copier.

In the same vein, fight fans often refer to the sport of mixed martial arts as UFC.

It’s a sign that the UFC — one of hundreds of promoters of MMA shows active today — has hit the mainstream. When fans — not media, not fighters, not promoters, not publicists, not managers — think of major league MMA, they think of the UFC.

It doesn't help that when the Professional Fighters League completed the acquisition of Bellator last week, it put out a news release that was highly misleading.

A sub-headline on the release said, “PFL + Bellator Combined Fighter Roster Equal to UFC — Both Rosters 30% Top 25 World-Ranked,” which PFL spokesman Loren Mack said the promotion used the Fight Matrix rankings when coming up with that number.

But, that just doesn’t jive with what MMA media which covers the sport religiously reports. Yahoo Sports took the Top 10 from the divisional rankings of ESPN, Sherdog and MMA Junkie in the eight men’s weight classes and noted what organization the fighters compete with.

Of the 80 spots in ESPN’s rankings, 68 were UFC fighters, one was a PFL fighter, nine were Bellator Fighters and two were from ONE Championship. In Sherdog’s rankings, 72 were UFC fighters, none were from either PFL or ONE and eight were from Bellator. And in MMA Junkie’s, 67 were UFC fighters, two each were from PFL and ONE and nine were from Bellator.

One of the PFL fighters ranked by MMA Junkie was heavyweight Francis Ngannou, who has not fought for the PFL yet and hasn’t fought an MMA bout since January 2022. The only other PFL fighter ranked in the Top 10 by any of those three outlets was Derek Brunson, the middleweight who made his PFL debut Friday.

Pound-for-pound wise, it’s the same. ESPN’s Top 10 has 10 UFC fighters. Sherdog and MMA Junkie each have nine UFC fighters in its Top 10 pound-for-pound. Those fighters are essentially the sport’s top stars.

This, though, isn’t meant to bash any UFC competitor, including Bellator, PFL or ONE. Rather, it’s to point out they’re focusing on the wrong thing if they want to somehow reach equal footing with the UFC as MMA promoters. No MMA promoter is remotely close to the UFC now, not in revenue, not in sponsorships, not in quality of fighters, not in promotion, not in marketing, not in ticket sales, not in television ratings nor in terms of television production.

It’s good for a sport, and particularly for the athletes, to have an alternative, because it will create more opportunities. However, there is one major league in baseball, one in football and one in basketball and those athletes are doing extraordinarily well.

But in MMA, it’s good for fighters to have a choice, particularly if they somehow run afoul of UFC CEO Dana White. Brunson, for example, is a lot more significant to the PFL than he is to the UFC. ESPN and MMA Junkie have eight UFC fighters among their Top 10 middleweights, while Sherdog has nine. Until recently, Brunson was part of that UFC list.

But the UFC has so much depth that Brunson’s loss will hardly be felt. He will be an impact talent for the PFL, though. As a result, the PFL paid him more than the UFC would have given his relative value to the organizations. So having an organization like the now combined PFL and Bellator competing for talent with the UFC makes it better for the fighters who hit the market. While it’s one less bidder, the fact that the PFL now has all of those roster spots means there will be competition for available fighters.

That said, it seems unlikely any promotion is going to overtake the UFC as No. 1 in MMA in the near future.

Talent is an important part of the equation, but it’s not everything. If the UFC and the combined Bellator/PFL group swapped rosters, the UFC would still come out on top because it does so many of those other things better than any MMA promotion you’d care to name.

So talent is important, but PFL should learn a lesson from the mistakes Bellator president Scott Coker made in his run. He relied far too much on older, veteran fighters who were mostly used up, thinking they’d attract attention. Instead, the PFL needs to find a way to get the elite young talent signed before the UFC and then develop it.

That’s only one part of the equation, though. PFL needs to continue to develop new markets, and create fans not just of MMA but of the PFL itself. It needs to succeed in merchandising and sponsorships and television production.

It needs to promote and market infinitely better and not just be a place for the disaffected UFC fans. It needs to learn how to turn fighters into stars. Who was the last fighter who didn’t have a lengthy run in the UFC who was widely recognizable and became a star? Tough question to answer, isn’t it?

There will be some interesting fights that could be put together between the champions at Bellator and PFL, but are there any that will get the juices flowing from fans around the world? At this stage, probably not.

The PFL has a lot of work ahead of it and it’s not going to be easy. It’s lapped in every category imaginable now.

But it’s wise to forget about comparing rosters and getting to work on building a product that actually makes it difficult for White to sleep.

As it stands now, he’s sleeping far too easily, with way too little to worry about from any competitor.

Pro Wrestling

Samoa Joe Captures The AEW World Championship - January 2024

AEW World Championship Match!

MJF (c.) vs. Samoa Joe!

The sold out arena chanted “He’s our scumbag! He’s our scumbag!”

MJF pointed to the entrance ramp and Adam Cole’s music hit, baybay! Adam Cole came down to the ring on crutches. Cole stood in his best friend’s corner, and MJF smiled. 

MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eye and then kicked him. MJF charged at Samoa Joe, but Joe grabbed him and slammed him to the mat. MJF clutched his arm. Samoa Joe punched MJF in the shoulder and then stomped a mudhole into him. Samoa Joe hit a leg drop on MJF’s arm. Samoa Joe put a tight grip on MJF’s shoulder. MJF fought out of it with a series of chops. Samoa Joe booted the champ in the face!

“Max is in deep you know what right now,” said Taz.

Samoa Joe went for the muscle buster, but Max escaped. MJF grabbed an inside cradle for a near fall. MJF tried to schoolboy Samoa Joe and Joe kicked out of it. MJF went for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe anticipated it and blocked it. MJF went to skin the cat, but as MJF was inverted, Samoa Joe kicked MJF in the head. Samoa Joe dived out of the ring with an elbow suicida and mowed down MJF.

Samoa Joe planted Max with a Death Valley Driver in the center of the ring. Joe nailed MJF with a German Suplex and then a dragon suplex. Samoa Joe followed up with a straitjacket suplex! Samoa Joe decimated MJF with a muscle buster on the ring apron! MJF landed directly on his injured left shoulder. Joe covered MJF but MJF managed to kick out at two.

MJF headbutted Joe. MJF connected with a rolling elbow strike to the back of Joe’s head. MJF chomped on Samoa Joe’s forehead. MJF tried for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe booted Max out of the air. MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eyes. MJF tried to hoist up Samoa Joe, but MJF collapsed under the weight. MJF ran into Samoa Joe, throwing his body at Joe. MJF landed the heat seeker on Samoa Joe for a two-count! MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar on Samoa Joe. The challenger escaped and put MJF into an arm bar. Samoa Joe wrenched upwards. Adam Cole cheered on MJF, and MJF was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold.

Samoa Joe applied a sleeper. MJF pushed backwards, inadvertently shoving Samoa Joe into the referee. The ref collapsed. MJF smiled. MJF stunned Samoa Joe with a low blow. MJF hoisted up Samoa Joe and pancaked him! The ref finally turned around and began to count the pin, but Samoa Joe kicked out at two! MJF signaled for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Adam Cole had trouble finding it, and in the meantime, Samoa Joe grabbed Max from behind. Samoa Joe wrapped MJF in a deep submission. The referee lifted up MJF’s arm three times and MJF didn’t respond. MJF was choked out!

And new All Elite World Champion Samoa Joe!

(All Elite Wrestling)

ALL ELITE WRESTLING

AEW Revolution 2024

Date

MARCH 3, 2024

Venue

Greensboro Coliseum

City

Greensboro, NC

Elon Musk's X gets another valuation cut from Fidelity, By Dan Primack

Fidelity has again marked down the value of its shares in X Holdings, which the mutual fund giant helped Elon Musk buy for $44 billion when the company was known as Twitter.

By the numbers: Fidelity believes that X is worth 71.5% less than at the time of purchase, according to a new disclosure that runs through the end of November 2023 (Fidelity revalues private shares on a one-month lag).

This includes a 10.7% cut during November, during which time Musk told boycotting X advertisers to "go f**k yourself" during an on-stage interview with the New York Times.

In terms of publicly traded comps, Meta stock rose 4.9% in November while Snap shares climbed 38.2%.

The big picture: Fidelity began marking down its Twitter shares the first month after Musk's buyout. It increased the share value or kept it stable for a few months earlier in 2023.

Behind the scenes: Fidelity doesn't necessarily have much, if any, inside information on X's financial performance, despite being a shareholder in the privately held business. Other shareholders may value their X stock differently.

X News

Elon Musk’s X in political advertising push to offset revenue falls - December 20, 2023

Plans for new political ads team to hit $US100 million in sales ahead of US presidential election are met with industry scepticism.

London | A push by Elon Musk’s X to bring in $US100 million ($148 million) from political advertising in 2024 is being met by scepticism from industry insiders, hitting its hopes of offsetting revenue losses caused by big brands leaving the platform.

Earlier this year, X’s billionaire owner reversed a ban on political advertising instituted by former chief executive Jack Dorsey, a move designed to align with Musk’s stance as a “free speech absolutist”.

It has since increased its investment in the space, including hosting a recent event with about 100 existing and prospective political clients in Washington to promote its advertising services.

The company subsequently sent a message to some attendees saying it is “building the modern global town square – a place for causes & candidates to meet their constituents – and we are doing this with brand safety and election integrity at the forefront”.

The email, seen by the Financial Times, added that X had 92.4 million users in the US, 98 per cent of whom were of voting age.

Chief executive Linda Yaccarino has told industry figures she was aiming for the platform to bring in $US100 million annually in political ad revenues in a big election year, according to two people familiar with the projections.

X has set up a team of about 10 people that has held around 400 meetings and calls with digital marketers, strategists, campaigns and political action groups, according to those familiar with the operation.

X’s new political advertising sales team is headed by New York-based Sten McGuire, who has previously worked in political sales for Hulu and Walt Disney. X has hired Ms Yaccarino’s son Matthew Madrazo to manage Republican relationships.

Media advertising veteran Jonathan Phelps has been tasked with soliciting business from Democratic groups. Semafor first reported the sales target and some of X’s recent hires.

The company is also advertising more positions for its “growing” political ads sales team ahead of the “upcoming 2024 election cycle”, according to online job postings.

While X did not confirm the financial targets, it did confirm the communication related to the event and said it had been working on improving its targeting.

“On X, people can actively participate in vital discussions with elected officials, community leaders and fellow citizens,” said Joe Benarroch, X’s head of business operations. “That’s exactly why we’re constantly refining our policies and our products to ensure all communities have an open and secure platform for safe political discourse on X.”

The push has been met with scepticism by leading players in the US political advertising scene, particularly left-leaning groups.

During the 2018 midterm elections, X, then known as Twitter, brought in only about $US3 million in political advertising. As of December 11, the company had made about $US4.7 million from the start of 2023 from political ads, according to disclosure data that can be requested from the company.

One industry figure in US political marketing said that many in the sector believed X’s targets were too high, as the team lacked experience in Washington and the ads offering was not effective enough.

The company had previously touted a political advertising revenue target of $US200 million when pitching its plans but has since revised the figure, the person said. “Even $US100 million is unattainable,” the person said. “The numbers are misinformed and off.”

Mike Nellis, chief executive of Democratic ad group Authentic, which has run more than a dozen campaigns on the platform, said some of his clients were pulling back or refusing to spend on X.

“Our results on the site are weaker than they were in the first half of the year,” Mr Nellis said. “We believe this is because Elon is driving moderates and progressives off the site. If our target audience isn’t reachable on X, there’s no reason to spend any more.”

According to X’s data from earlier this month, US Republican presidential nominees testing the platform have ranged from spending a few cents on an individual ad campaign to tens of thousands of dollars.

The biggest spenders include Donald Trump’s campaign team, which has spent nearly $US36,000 in total, and Ron DeSantis, who has spent more than $US355,000.

Prominent Democratic politicians including Adam Schiff and Gavin Newsom have each spent close to $US100,000 on X. However, President Joe Biden does not appear to have run any ads on the platform.

Last month, Mr Musk told companies including Disney, IBM and Apple to “go f---” themselves, after the companies pulled their ad spending following his endorsement of an antisemitic post and the publication of research claiming to find some ads on X next to pro-Nazi content.

In 2021, the year before Musk’s takeover, X booked about $US5 billion in revenues mainly from advertising. In July, Mr Musk said ad revenues had dropped by 50 per cent, without giving precise details.

X has also outlined plans, first reported by the Financial Times, to focus on wooing small and medium-sized businesses to prop up its flailing ads business, alongside the political ads push.

Mr Dorsey banned political advertising in 2019 over fears that misinformation was rife in the space. Mr Musk’s decision to overturn the ban in August comes as he has worked with right-wing political figures, for example giving a platform to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to host his show, and helping Mr DeSantis launch his presidential bid via its Spaces audio feature.

Political marketers say X lends itself more to soliciting donations, collecting email addresses and efforts to boost voter turnout, rather than shifting opinions, as users of the platform tend to be entrenched in their political beliefs.

“Political campaigns will leverage it, particularly for fundraising and ‘get out the votes’,” said Grace Briscoe, senior vice-president of client development for Basis Technologies, but added that levels of interest from her clients were low.

Several political advertisers observed that the reach and performance of the services offered by Meta and Google-owned YouTube were superior to that of X.

Between October 12 and November 5, 79 per cent and 72 per cent of voters used YouTube and Facebook, respectively, while only 29 per cent used X, according to findings by Priorities USA, a progressive political action committee.

However, the head of one right-leaning outfit said the platform was becoming a more attractive place for Republicans, as the user base shifts towards their side of the political spectrum.

Courtney Weaver, executive vice-president at Washington digital marketer IMGE, said her company was pitching X to all clients looking to fundraise, adding that the platform had advantages such as the ability for brands to target “lookalike audiences”, which are similar to voters they may already have data for.

Democrats, however, are pulling away. “Many of the Democratic agencies are sensitive to the comments that [Mr Musk has] made that have degraded their candidates,” another industry insider said. “I think there is a genuine hesitation to jump back in again because many of them don’t trust the leadership.”

Backstage News On Takami Ohbari’s Departure As NJPW President, Ohbari and Kazuchika Okada Reportedly Had Heat

- December 29, 2023

Wrestling News

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

According to Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the departure of Ohbari, as well as other staff members, are a combination of external and internal factors contributing to this decision-making process. One section of the report reads:

“Ohbari and Nishizawa are gone for a number of reasons, both the external ones, New Japan and all of Japanese wrestling’s inability to fully recover from the pandemic, and internal ones not talked about.”

Later, Meltzer explains how Ohbari’s strained relationships within the company hurt his reputation, especially with top superstar Kazuchika Okada. This, on to of Ohbari’s general lack of understanding of the wrestling business, are reasons he is now gone.

“Another key reason has been that there were issues with staff members and Ohbari’s usage of power over them. Another major reason was that Ohbari had heat with a number of people, including the company’s top star, Kazuchika Okada. Okada was said to have wanted him out. Others said that Ohbari never really understood the wrestling business and didn’t respect the value of Okada. One person said that Ohbari saw Okada as the lead role actor in a touring show.”

Pro Wrestling

MLW - WWE News

Kasowitz Secures Settlement on Behalf of MLW Media Against World Wrestling Entertainment in Antitrust Suit

New York, NY, December 22, 2023 — Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of professional wrestling promotion company MLW Media (MLW), has reached a settlement with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) over MLW’s antitrust and state law claims against WWE for monopolizing and attempting to monopolize the market for the sale or licensing of media rights for professional wrestling programming in the United States. On December 22, 2023, MLW filed a stipulation and proposed order of dismissal of its lawsuit against WWE with the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, notifying the court that the parties have entered into a settlement agreement.

The settlement follows MLW’s successful defeat of WWE’s motion to dismiss, as well as its successful motion to strike numerous affirmative defenses in WWE’s answer to the amended complaint. The parties agreed to resolve the matter on mutually acceptable terms.

The Kasowitz Benson Torres team representing MLW is led by partners Marc E. Kasowitz and Christine A. Montenegro and includes partner Nicholas A. Rendino.

USFL, XFL announce merger, formation of new spring football league: The UFL - January 2, 2024

The two spring football leagues have formally announced plans to merge and begin play in 2024

Spring football enters a new chapter in 2024, as the USFL and the XFL have formally announced plans to merge and begin play.

The combined league, to be known as the United Football League, will begin play on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Leadership of the new league will combine the operations of the former leagues. Russ Brandon, former president and CEO of the XFL, and Daryl Johnston, former USFL President of Football Operations, will serve in the same roles at the UFL. Dwayne Johnson, who helped found the new version of the XFL, is among other investors involved with the new league.

The initial game will feature the two champions of their respective leagues: the USFL's Birmingham Stallions and the XFL's Arlington (Texas) Renegades. Further teams to be imported over from the former leagues are yet to be announced.

Officials from both leagues have praised spring football as a way for certain players to showcase their skills for a potential jump to the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey and Kavonte Turpin, for example, both had successful USFL careers before leaping to the NFL. For other players, spring football offers an opportunity to get in one last season of football before transitioning to life off the field.

On a larger scale, though, spring football also has substantial value as a broadcast asset. Both Fox and ESPN are involved in broadcasting the UFL. The league will provide inventory for both Fox and ESPN during a relatively quiet time on the sports calendar, when baseball is still in its early days and the playoffs of the NBA and NHL haven't yet hit full speed. Factor in gambling, and spring football is a viable program, even if it does only a tiny fraction of the NFL's ratings numbers.

According to the Washington Post, five XFL teams — the D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas, St. Louis Battlehawks and Arlington Renegades — will join three USFL teams, the Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers.

That leaves several teams — the XFL's Orlando Guardians, Seattle Sea Dragons and Vegas Vipers, and the USFL's Houston Gamblers, New Jersey Generals, New Orleans Breakers, Philadelphia Stars and Pittsburgh Maulers — will be dissolved, with the players under contract to those teams subject to a dispersal draft.

“From day one, our mission has been to expand the game of football and be a league of opportunity, culture and innovation," Johnson said in a statement announcing the new league. "As we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting and very cool for football fans — a spring league with lasting impact for all the players with a dream to play pro football and the ‘hardest workers in the room’ mentality to make their dreams come true.”

The first version of the USFL began play in the early 1980s, but dissolved following a failed attempt to move to the fall and go head-to-head against the NFL. The XFL began play in 2001 but quickly faltered; a second version of the XFL was obliterated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crypto News - December 30, 2023

Cryptocurrencies gain more than half a trillion in value despite controversies

The global value of cryptocurrencies surged by more than $800bn (£631bn) in 2023 as investors continued to pile into the speculative assets despite a series of scandals, bankruptcies and tougher regulation.

After losing more than half their value in the 12 months to December 2022, digital coins rebounded over the last year – with the whole sector worth roughly $1.6 trillion at Christmas.

The price of Bitcoin, the most popular and valuable cryptocurrency, more than doubled, up more than 150pc over the course of the year. A single Bitcoin is now worth north of $42,000, its highest point in 18 months.

Ethereum, the second most popular cryptocurrency, increased its value by 88pc over the year.

Solana, another widely-traded coin, climbed more than 1000pc during 2023. The digital currency data came from Coinmarketcap, which is owned by cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

Bitcoin’s previous high was just over $65,000, amid a buying frenzy in November 2021. High-profile investors including Elon Musk piled into cryptocurrencies, however much of its value was wiped out over the next 12 months.

Yet despite an ongoing series of controversies, cryptocurrencies rebounded in 2023.

These included the collapse of FTX, the world’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange, in late 2022. The offshore trading house was found to have misused customer funds to prop up high-risk investments and luxury purchases for executives.

Its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, was found guilty in November of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy that caused FTX’s bankruptcy.

That same month, the founder of Binance, the world’s largest digital coin exchange, agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges in a case brought by the US Justice Department over money laundering violations.

Changpeng Zhao said he would stand down as chief executive of Binance as part of a deal with prosecutors, while the exchange itself was hit by a $4bn fine.

However, despite the scandals, Matteo Grecco, an analyst at cryptocurrency investment firm Fineqia, said the shake-up at Binance had a “positive effect on the market”.

“The agreement between the largest digital asset exchange and US regulators diminished uncertainties, fostering a more optimistic outlook,” he said.

Regulators have also toughened up their stance against digital coins. In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority introduced new rules in October on how cryptocurrency companies can market to British consumers, ultimately blocking Binance from signing up new UK customers.

In the US, Coinbase, one of the largest digital currency exchanges with a popular app, has been sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The regulator accuses Coinbase of selling digital coins as unlicensed securities. Coinbase has disputed the claims and insists it does not sell securities.

Amid the crackdown, Coinbase’s stock was up more than 400pc over the course of 2023.

Podcast News List

The Diary Of A CEO

Hosted by serial entrepreneur and Britain's Dragon's Den investor Steven Bartlett, The Diary Of A CEO is an unfiltered, raw and emotional podcast exploring timeless leadership lessons and stories on a range of topics affecting aspiring leaders today, from psychology, to health, to business, and technology. Previous guests have ranged from well-esteemed industry stars such as Simon Sinek and Daniel Ek, to Richard Branson and Bozoma Saint-John.

The Ed Mylett Show

Hosted by business thought leader and coach Ed Mylett, this podcast allows you to take a peak into some of the greatest insights ever unveiled by other industry thought leaders, who share their expertise and journeys. Some easily recognizable guest names include Tony Robbins, Jim Kwik, and John Maxwell.

Joe Rogan

Three years after Joe Rogan signed with Spotify, he remains the biggest podcaster in the world. Will he renew his cushy licensing deal, find a new partner, or forge his own path?

For all of the changes Spotify has gone through over the past year, there is still more to come. Those three-year podcast deals the company struck are coming up for renewal, and what Spotify decides to do with them could have reverberations across the industry. The Joe Rogan Experience — the first, the biggest, and the most consequential — will expire in 2024. Today, after speaking with podcasters, producers, analysts, agents, and executives (mostly on background, though a few brave souls went on the record), I take a look at how the Spotify / Rogan relationship could play out. 

Let me be clear: this is purely a thought exercise. I did not hear back from Rogan’s management, and Spotify declined to comment on negotiations. But what is clear from my conversations is that, despite his issues, Rogan is seen as a vital part of Spotify’s podcast business. If he walks or (less likely) if Spotify chose not to renew, it would be another massive blow to the company’s podcasting editorial operation. If they cut a deal, Spotify is in a better position to rebuild, or at least maintain, its podcast arm. If Rogan goes to another platform, he could essentially be a kingmaker. And if he decided to launch his own network, he would have no trouble attracting listeners, advertisers, and talent.

As you can see, there are a lot of ifs! But that’s the fun of it.

Spotify really needs to find a way to make it work

The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that it is in Spotify’s best interest to keep Rogan on board. After all the money the company has sunk into deals that went nowhere (Harry and Meghan) and acquisitions that were eventually dismantled (Gimlet), Rogan is still the best bet the company has ever made. He remains the top podcaster in the world, and it’s not close. 

With Rogan, Spotify gets his very big and very loyal audience (though whether they have been able to translate those listeners into paying subscribers is up for debate). He is also a massive draw for advertisers, and there is an understanding in the industry that his presence on Spotify has a halo effect for ad sales on its other shows. And for all the hoopla over his scandalous comments on vaccines, race, and gender, he didn’t lose any earshare and Spotify didn’t lose subscribers.

But, and this is a big but, this is not 2020. Money is a lot tighter than it was several years ago — investors are pissed that Spotify’s podcast bet still is not profitable, and CEO Daniel Ek has pledged to focus on efficiency. Rogan’s current deal is reported to be worth as much as $200 million over three(ish) years. So then the question becomes whether Spotify can find the right price to keep him happy and mollify investors.

“It’s a situation where you are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don’t,” says Arete Research founder Richard Kramer. “If you do keep him, Spotify will be locked into paying Rogan as much or more than before, at a time when they need to contain costs. If you don’t keep him, then it’s really tough because your biggest property and source of sales within the ad business — walks.”

It is also worth keeping in mind that he will not be negotiating with the same team as last time. Dawn Ostroff, the former head of podcasting, is gone. So is Courtney Holt, who landed the deal in the first place. Spotify’s new head of podcasting, Sahar Elhabashi, worked closely with Ostroff, but unlike Ostroff, she reports up to chief business officer Alex Norstrom. Norstrom, who comes from the music side, is there as a check on wild podcast spending and has been unsparing in his cuts. How much Spotify will be willing to spend ultimately comes down to him. If competition from other platforms drives the price sky high, he may not have the tolerance for it.

Why Rogan could walk

Another thing agreed upon by the people I spoke with is that Rogan has the upper hand in this situation. He has a lot of power right now. Nobody has managed to knock him from his pedestal in the past several years, and it seems unlikely anyone will in the near future.

Rogan initially gained mainstream notice because of his ability to appeal across the ideological spectrum. I don’t think that is quite as true anymore, given his controversial statements and call to listeners to vote Republican in 2022. (Though it seems he may have found his weirdo independent of choice with RFK Jr.). But he does fill a gap in the media landscape. According to YouGov, Rogan’s listeners are overwhelmingly young men, many of whom say they reject politically correct stances, don’t trust traditional media, and really, really love to work out. 

This is to say, he has a loyal audience who will follow him wherever he goes and are unlikely to have brand loyalty to Spotify. Rogan is the brand, and if he wants to expand that brand into a network, he has the money and influence to do so. He can develop new shows, promote them on his own, and likely transfer at least some of his audience. And with another presidential election coming up, there may be no better time to do so.

There is also the matter of exclusivity. Even as Spotify has loosened its grip on other shows, Rogan is still exclusive to the platform, minus promotional YouTube clips. And while Spotify has become one of the biggest players in the market (in no small part thanks to Rogan), it is still the podcast app of choice for only 17 percent of podcast listeners, according to a study from Cumulus, and continues to lose share to YouTube. His reach will be greater if he goes independent again, and he is a guy who likes to be everywhere.

If he isn’t all that interested in being independent, we could also see other platforms try to swoop in with more money than Spotify can afford. YouTube is finally making a big push into podcasting. It doesn’t have any major licensing deals yet, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t. Amazon could sneak in with some crazy money and fewer restrictions, as it has with shows like My Favorite Murder and SmartLess. Hell, Elon Musk could make a play for Rogan as he tries to make Twitter / X a creator platform. The two even reunited yesterday for an episode that was specially licensed to X. 

Why Rogan could stay

This may be overly simple, but money is nice. Having a minimum guarantee during a period of turmoil is really nice. When that minimum guarantee is worth nine figures, it may be impossible to turn down, even for someone who already has more money than he knows what to do with.

For all of Rogan’s maverick cache, there is an ease to staying — all he has to do is show up and talk. Spotify has also made it clear that they will not place limits on anything he has to say. If they can come up with the cash to ward off competition and make it worth his while, it’s a sweet deal.

Rogan also values loyalty, according to those who have dealt with him. After his controversies in 2022, he was offered $100 million to switch to conservative streamer Rumble. He turned it down, saying that “Spotify has hung in with me, inexplicably.” That could also be a cover for not wanting to go to a dinkier platform / get sued, but there does seem to be a grain of truth to that.

I went into this thinking that, given all the options available to him, he couldn’t possibly stick with the same exclusive deal. Who needs another $100 million or two when you can bankroll your own thing and still make a boatload of cash? But Dan Granger, CEO of Oxford Road, made a point to me that made it seem shockingly simple.

“Rush Limbaugh stayed with Premiere Networks. Howard Stern has stayed with Sirius XM. And you better believe they had a lot of, you know, opportunities to leave,” he said. “But the house figured out how to keep them.”

Part of that could mean Spotify deciding to drop Rogan’s exclusivity with a renewal. The company has backed off exclusivity for most of its other shows and may figure there is more value (and certainly more ad revenue) in letting JRE distribute wide. 

That model could be tweaked even further. With yesterday’s Musk episode, the licensing entailed making the first two hours available on X, with the last 45 minutes exclusive to Spotify. That is something that could easily be replicated on other platforms. It’s not the most elegant solution, but it does keep committed Rogan-heads coming back to Spotify.

Verdict

If I had to place money on it (not $200 million, but you know, $50), I would say Rogan and Spotify manage to strike a deal. It may not look the same — in fact, it seems likely that it will be more flexible than the current deal structure. But bumps aside, it has been a remarkably successful relationship. Short of YouTube or Musk swooping in with $500 million, I think it will stay intact.

Joe Rogan’s ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’: A Hub for Engaging Cultural and Political Discourse

In 2023, Joe Rogan’s podcast ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ on Spotify continued to be a hub for engaging political and cultural discourse. The podcast, one of America’s most popular talk shows, served as a platform for Rogan’s commentary on some of the most controversial issues paired with engaging conversations with a diverse roster of guests, ranging from writers and journalists to comedians and public personalities.

Rogan’s Takes on Cultural and Political Issues

One of the many highlighted moments from the show included Rogan’s humorous take on an article associating fitness with extreme right ideology. Rogan argued that the left could be encouraging unhealthy lifestyles to garner support, causing ripples of laughter among his audience. Another significant moment was his commentary on Bud Light’s backlash for creating transgender-themed beer cans. Rogan didn’t shy away from pointing out the significant market loss the company faced as a result of this marketing decision.

A Clash of Opinions: Rogan vs Maher

Rogan’s conversation with liberal talk show host Bill Maher was a noteworthy event, marked by a heated debate on the performance of President Biden and former President Trump. Rogan emphasized Biden’s perceived mental decline while Maher acknowledged Trump’s robust appearance. This episode underscored the podcast’s commitment to facilitating diverse perspectives and fostering meaningful dialogue.

Media, Politics, and the Ukraine Conflict

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine also surfaced in Rogan’s discussions, with him praising Trump for advocating peace and criticizing the media for attempting to sensationalize the issue. This commentary resonated with listeners, further emphasizing Rogan’s ability to dissect complex political issues and present them in a digestible manner.

Societal Obsession with Gender Issues

The societal preoccupation with gender issues was another recurring theme in Rogan’s podcast. Drawing comparisons to historical civilizations on the brink of collapse, Rogan and his guests reflected on how shifting societal norms and internal conflicts within civilizations could be intertwined.

(BNN)

The ‘Great Resignation’: A Break from Monotony or a Return to the Status Quo?

In an era where wellness practices have taken center stage, 2023 marked an intriguing trend in the labor market, often referred to as the ‘Great Resignation.’ It was a year when an unprecedented number of workers, an average of 4 million Americans per month and 130,000 Britons, chose to bid adieu to their routine work lives. Not driven by termination, but by a personal choice to break away from the monotony, the ‘Great Resignation’ unveiled a dramatic shift in the workforce’s mindset.

The Rise of Wellness Practices

Before delving into the labor trend, it’s important to highlight the societal shift towards prioritizing wellness. Throughout 2023, hobby-based movement classes, medicinal energy leveraging, wellness retreats, emphasis on gut health, and burnout sabbaticals gained traction. Even the importance of sleep hygiene was stressed. Amidst the hustle and bustle of work life, these practices offered a respite, a chance to recharge and rejuvenate.

The ‘Great Resignation’

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, May 2023 saw more than 4 million workers quitting their jobs, signifying the onset of the ‘Great Resignation.’ This was not a wave of layoffs or terminations, but rather a mass realization among workers of the need to prioritize personal well-being over professional obligations. Many of these workers opted for wellness sabbaticals as a cure for burnout, leveraging the power of rest and relaxation to restore their mental and physical health.

Looking Ahead: 2024 and Beyond

As we step into 2024, the trend of prioritizing wellness is predicted to continue, if not intensify. More people are expected to seek relaxation and restoration by pausing work and other responsibilities. However, it’s crucial to remember that despite the rise of the ‘Great Resignation,’ the vast majority of workers have remained in their positions. They continue with their usual employment, perhaps contemplating alternative lifestyles but not yet ready to take the leap.

This dichotomy makes the term ‘Great Resignation’ a fascinating phrase. It signifies either a collective abandonment of tedious routines or, more accurately, a collective sigh and return to the status quo. So, while job opportunities are plentiful and the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled widespread job dissatisfaction, the reality is that most workers, despite their dreams and desires, continue to tread the familiar path.

MMA News

Israel Adesanya’s Potential Return at UFC 300: A Possibility?

Former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, Chael Sonnen, has stirred the speculative winds around the likely return of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya.

Following his loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, Adesanya had announced an unexpected time-off until 2027. However, recent comments from Adesanya hint at a potential comeback at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ boxing event, fueling speculations of Adesanya’s return at the historic UFC 300 event in Las Vegas.

Adesanya’s Expected Return

The UFC community is buzzing with expectations as Sonnen’s commentary on his YouTube channel suggests a strong likelihood of Adesanya’s return.

While UFC President Dana White has yet to announce the lineup for the UFC 300 card, Sonnen believes that the winner of the contest between Strickland and Du Plessis will face off against Adesanya.

This speculation is rooted in Adesanya’s reputation for rising to any challenge and his preference for announcing his return before a winner is declared. This would prevent any misconceptions of Adesanya seeking a favorable matchup.

A Potential Matchup

Adesanya’s possible return to the octagon and participation in UFC 300 could be an event of mammoth proportions, considering his reputation and prowess. If Sonnen’s speculation holds true, the victor of the Strickland vs. Du Plessis bout will find themselves in the middleweight championship showdown against Adesanya.

This potential matchup is anticipated to generate widespread attention and excitement among UFC fans worldwide.

The Road Ahead

While Sonnen’s comments suggest a high probability of Adesanya’s return at UFC 300, official confirmation from the UFC or Adesanya is eagerly awaited. Until then, the potential matchup remains a tantalizing prospect for UFC followers.

As the UFC 300 event approaches, the anticipation will only continue to grow, fueling the excitement and suspense that characterizes the world of mixed martial arts.

Gaming News

Over 9,000 employees fired by video gaming firms in 2023

The video game industry saw several rounds of layoffs in 2023, affecting at least 9,000 employees globally.

In September, Fortnite game developer Epic Games announced that it will lay off 16% of its employees, impacting nearly 870 people, chief executive Tim Sweeney wrote to employees.

"We've been spending way more money than we earn. I had long been optimistic that we could power through this transition without layoffs, but in retrospect, I see that this was unrealistic," Sweeney said.

In November, French video game company Ubisoft, which published popular franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, laid off about 124 employees as part of a corporate restructuring and reorganisation effort.

Embracer Group made headlines for its numerous purchases of gaming studios, media companies, and the IP rights to The Lord of the Rings. This year, it performed massive restructuring but in the aftermath of its failed investment strategy, it shut down three studios, cancelled several projects and laid off over 900 employees, The Verge reported.

EA laid off 6% of its workforce or around 780 people.

Other gaming companies like BioWare, Microsoft, Bungie, Naughty Dog,, Amazon, CD Projekt Red, Sega, Unity, and Activision Blizzard were also impacted this year.

What Is Stoicism? A Definition & 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started

Stoic Exercises, Wisdom, and More

For those of us who live our lives in the real world, there is one branch of philosophy created just for us: Stoicism. It’s a philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise–and as a result, better people, better parents and better professionals. 

Stoicism has been a common thread though some of history’s great leaders. It has been practiced by Kings, presidents, artists, writers and entrepreneurs. Marcus Aurelius. Frederick the Great, Montaigne, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Theodore Roosevelt, General James Mattis, —just to name a few—were all influenced by Stoic philosophy. 

So what is Stoicism? Who were the Stoics? How can you be a Stoic? We answer all your questions and more below. Click the links below to navigate to a specific section or scroll and read the entirety of the page:

What Is Stoicism?

“Of all people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only they truly live. Not satisfied to merely keep good watch over their own days, they annex every age to their own. All the harvest of the past is added to their store. ” — Seneca

The private diaries of one of Rome’s greatest emperors, the personal letters of one of Rome’s best playwrights and wisest power brokers, the lectures of a former slave and exile, turned influential teacher. Against all odds, some two millennia later, these incredible documents survive. They contain some of the greatest wisdom in the history of the world and together, they constitute the bedrock of what is known as Stoicism—an ancient philosophy that was once one of the most popular civic disciplines in the West, practiced by the rich and the impoverished, the powerful and the struggling alike in the pursuit of the Good Life. 

Except to the most avid seekers of wisdom, Stoicism is either unknown or misunderstood. To the average person, this vibrant, action-oriented, and paradigm-shifting way of living has become shorthand for “emotionlessness.” Given the fact that the mere mention of philosophy makes most nervous or bored, “Stoic philosophy” on the surface sounds like the last thing anyone would want to learn about, let alone urgently need in the course of daily life. 

It would be hard to find a word that dealt a greater injustice at the hands of the English language than “Stoic.” In its rightful place, Stoicism is a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom: something one uses to live a great life, rather than some esoteric field of academic inquiry. Certainly, many of history’s great minds not only understood Stoicism for what it truly is, they sought it out: George Washington, Walt Whitman, Frederick the Great, Eugène Delacroix, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, Matthew Arnold, Ambrose Bierce, Theodore Roosevelt, William Alexander Percy, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Each read, studied, quoted, or admired the Stoics. The ancient Stoics themselves were no slouches. The names you encounter on this site in our daily email meditations—Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca—belonged to, respectively, a Roman emperor, a former slave who triumphed to become an influential lecturer and friend of the emperor Hadrian, and a famous playwright and political adviser. 

What have all these and countless other great men and women found within Stoicism that others missed? A great deal. Primarily, that it provides much needed strength, wisdom, and stamina for all of life’s challenges.

II. How Did Stoicism Begin?

Around 304 BC, a merchant named Zeno was shipwrecked on a trading voyage. He lost nearly everything. Making his way to Athens, he was introduced to philosophy by the Cynic philosopher Crates and the Megarian philosopher Stilpo, which changed his life. As Zeno later joked, “I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered shipwreck.” He would later move to what became known as the Stoa Poikile, literally meaning “painted porch.” Erected in the 5th century BC—the ruins of it are visible still, some 2,500 years later—the painted porch is where Zeno and his disciples gathered for discussion. While his followers were originally called Zenonians, it is the ultimate credit to Zeno’s humility that the philosophical school he founded, unlike nearly every school and religion before or since, didn’t ultimately carry his name.

III. Who Were The Stoic Philosophers?

Agasicles, king of the Spartans, once quipped that he wanted to be “the student of men whose son I should like to be as well.” It is a critical consideration we need to make in our search for role models. Stoicism is no exception. Before we begin our studies we need to ask ourselves: Who are the people that followed these precepts? Who can I point out as an example? Am I proud to look up to this person? Do I want to be more like them?

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright and political advisor Seneca, and the slave turned prominent teacher Epictetus—these are the three Stoics you need to get to know first. Once you do, we’re confident you will want to follow in their footsteps. 

Who Is Marcus Aurelius?

“Alone of the emperors,” the historian Herodian would write of the man who became known to us as Marcus Aurelius, “he gave proof of his learning not by mere words or knowledge of philosophical doctrines but by his blameless character and temperate way of life.” Cassius Dio: “In addition to possessing all the other virtues, he ruled better than any others who had ever been in any position of power.” 

Born April 26th, 121, nobody would have predicted that Marcus Catilius Severus Annius Verus would one day be Emperor of the Roman Empire. The emperor Hadrian, who would have known young Marcus through his early academic accomplishments, sensing his potential, kept an eye on the boy. His nickname for Marcus, whom he liked to go hunting with, was Verissimus—a play on his name Verus—the truest one. What exactly Hadrian saw in Marcus is unclear. But by Marcus’s 17th birthday, Hadrian had begun planning something extraordinary. 

He was going to make Marcus Aurelius the emperor of Rome.

On February 25th, 138, Hadrian adopted a 51 year old man named Antoninus Pius on the condition that he in turn adopted Marcus Aurelius. Given life-expectancy statistics of the time, Hadrian figured this regent and mentor might be at the helm in five years. All was well, except Antoninus lived and ruled for twenty three years. 

In 161, as Antoninus died and ended one of the longest reigns, Marcus finally became the Emperor of the Roman Empire and ruled for nearly two decades until his death in 180. His reign wasn’t easy: wars with the Parthian Empire, the barbarian tribes menacing the Empire on the northern border, the rise of Christianity, as well as the plague that left millions dead.

The famous historian Edward Gibbon wrote that under Marcus, the last of the ‘Five Good Emperors,’ “the Roman Empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of wisdom and virtue”. The guidance of wisdom and virtue. That’s what separates Marcus from the majority of past and present world leaders. Just look at the journal that he left behind, which is now known as his Meditations: the private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world, admonishing himself on how to be more virtuous, more just, more immune to temptation, wiser.

And for Marcus, Stoicism provided a framework for dealing with the stresses of daily life as a leader of one of the most powerful empires in human history. 

Who Is Seneca?

Born around 4BC in Corduba, Spain, the son of a wealthy and learned writer known to history as Seneca the Elder, Seneca the Younger was destined for great things from birth. Seneca’s father selected Attalus the Stoic to tutor his boy, primarily for his reputation as a man of great eloquence. His son took to education with gusto—by Seneca’s own telling, he cheerfully “laid siege” to the classroom and was the first to arrive and last to leave it. The most powerful lesson that Seneca learned from Attalus was on the desire to improve practically, in the real world. The purpose of studying philosophy, Seneca learned from his beloved instructor, was to “take away with him some one good thing every day: he should return home a sounder man, or on the way to becoming sounder.”

While his commitment to self-improvement was beloved by his teachers, they also knew that his father—no fan of philosophy—was paying them to train his son for an active and ambitious political career. In Rome, a promising young lawyer could appear in court as early as age 17, and there is little doubt that Seneca was one…but, only in his early twenties, Seneca’s health nearly cut it all short. A lung condition forced him to take an extended trip to Egypt to recover where he would spend nearly a decade writing, reading, and building up his strength.

He returned to Rome at 35 in 31 AD—a time of paranoia and violence and corruption and political turmoil. Seneca kept his head down for the most part throughout the equally terrifying reigns of Tiberius and Caligula. His life took a sharp turn in 41 A.D. when Claudius became the emperor and exiled Seneca to the island of Corsica. It would be another eight years away from Rome—and although he started productively (writing Consolation to Polybius, Consolation to Helvia and On Anger in a short span), the many writing consolations soon needed some consoling himself. So began his practice of letter writing, which would continue all his life. 

Eight years later, in another sharp turn, Agrippina, mother of future emperor Nero and wife of Claudius recalled Seneca from exile to become her son’s tutor and adviser. At 53 years old, Seneca is suddenly elevated to the center of life in the Roman imperial court—a whirlwind of events that history still hasn’t wrapped its head around. In the end, Seneca made only minimal impact on Nero, a man whom time would shortly reveal to be deranged. Was it always a hopeless mission? Probably. But all a Stoic can do is show up and do our work. Seneca believed he had an obligation. As he would later write, the difference between the Stoics and the Epicureans is that the Stoics felt that politics was a duty.

Who Is Epictetus?

While Seneca would speak, with surprising relatability, about slave owners who became owned by the responsibility and management of their slaves or other Stoics would congratulate themselves for their humane treatment of their human chattel, Epictetus actually was one.

His given name is not known. Epictētos is Greek meaning “acquired.” Epictetus was born into slavery. Epictetus’ mention of his owner, Epaphroditus, is surprisingly neutral because we know Epaphroditus was cruel even by Roman standards. Later Christian writers tell us that Epictetus’s master was violent and depraved, at one point twisting Epictetus’s leg with all his might. As a punishment? As a sick pleasure? In a wrestling match? Trying to get a disobedient young kid to follow instructions? We don’t know. All we hear is that Epictetus calmly warned him about taking it too far. When the leg snapped, Epictetus made no sound, he uttered no tears. He smiled and looked at his master and said, “Didn’t I warn you?”

For the rest of his life, Epictetus would walk with a limp. But Epictetus remained unbroken by the incident. “Lameness is an impediment to the leg,” he would later say, “but not to the will.” Epictetus would choose to see his disability as only a physical impairment, and in fact it was that idea of choice that defined the core of his philosophical beliefs. Life was like a play, he liked to say, and if it was the playwrights “pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally. For this is your business, to act well the character assigned you; to choose it is another’s.”

And so he did. 

Law established by Augustus in 4AD determined that slaves could not be freed before their 30th birthday. Epictetus didn’t obtain his freedom until shortly after emperor Nero’s death. He chose to dedicate himself fully to philosophy and taught in Rome for nearly 25 years…Until the emperor Domitian famously banished all philosophers in Rome. Epictetus fled to Nicopolis in Greece where he founded a philosophy school and taught until his death.

IV. What Are The 4 Virtues of Stoicism?

Courage.

Temperance. 

Justice.

Wisdom. 

They are the most essential values in Stoic philosophy. “If, at some point in your life,” Marcus Aurelius wrote, “you should come across anything better than justice, truth, self-control, courage—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed.” That was almost twenty centuries ago. We have discovered a lot of things since then—automobiles, the Internet, cures for diseases that were previously a death sentence—but have we found anything better?

…than being brave

…than moderation and sobriety

…than doing what’s right

…than truth and understanding?

No, we have not. It’s unlikely we ever will. Everything we face in life is an opportunity to respond with these four traits:

Courage

If you’ve read Cormac McCarthy’s dark and beautiful novel All the Pretty Horses, you’ll remember the key question that Emilio Perez asks John Grady, one that cuts to the core of life and what we all must do to live a life worth living.

“The world wants to know if you have cojones. If you are brave?”

The Stoics might have phrased this a bit differently. Seneca would say that he actually pitied people who have never experienced misfortune. “You have passed through life without an opponent,” he said, “No one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”

The world wants to know what category to put you in, which is why it will occasionally send difficult situations your way. Think of these not as inconveniences or even tragedies but as opportunities, as questions to answers. Do I have cojones? Am I brave? Am I going to face this problem or run away from it? Will I stand up or be rolled over?

Let your actions etch a response into the record—and let them remind you of why courage is the most important thing.

Temperance 

Of course, life is not so simple as to say that courage is all the counts. While everyone would admit that courage is essential, we are also all well aware of people whose bravery turns to recklessness and becomes a fault when they begin to endanger themselves and others. 

This is where Aristotle comes in. Aristotle actually used courage as the main example in his famous metaphor of a “Golden Mean.” On one end of the spectrum, he said, there was cowardice—that’s a deficiency of courage. On the other, there was recklessness—too much courage. What was called for, what we required then, was a golden mean. The right amount.

That’s what Temperance or moderation is about: Doing nothing in excess. Doing the right thing in the right amount in the right way. Because “We are what we repeatedly do,” Aristotle also said, “therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

In other words: Virtue and excellence is a way of living. It’s foundational. It’s like an operating system and the code this system operates on is habit.

As Epictetus would later say, “capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking, and running by running… therefore, if you want to do something, make a habit of it.” So if we want to be happy, if we want to be successful, if we want to be great, we have to develop the capability, we have to develop the day-to-day habits that allow this to ensue.

This is great news. Because it means that impressive results or enormous changes are possible without herculean effort or magic formulas. Small adjustments, good systems, the right processes—that’s what it takes.

P.S. Daily Stoic sifted through the greatest Stoic wisdom and aimed it at one of the most challenging parts of life: habit formation and growth. Check out Daily Stoic Habits for Success, Habits for Success Challenge! Challenge yourself to change what you “repeatedly do.” We are promising that if you can do that, you can achieve excellence—personally and professionally. 

Justice

Being brave. Finding the right balance. These are core Stoic virtues, but in their seriousness, they pale in comparison to what the Stoics worshipped most highly: Doing the right thing. 

There is no Stoic virtue more important than justice, because it influences all the others. Marcus Aurelius himself said that justice is “the source of all the other virtues.” Stoics throughout history have pushed and advocated for justice, oftentimes at great personal risk and with great courage, in order to do great things and defend the people and ideas that they loved. 

Cato gave his life trying to restore the Roman Republic.

And Thrasea and Agrippinus gave theirs resisting the tyranny of Nero.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson formed a new nation—one which would seek, however imperfectly, to fight for democracy and justice—largely inspired by the philosophy of Cato and those other Stoics.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a translator of Epictetus, led a black regiment of troops in the US Civil War.

Beatrice Webb, who helped to found the London School of Economics and who first conceptualized the idea of collective bargaining, regularly re-read Marcus Aurelius.

Countless other activists and politicians have turned to Stoicism to gird them against the difficulty of fighting for ideals that mattered, to guide them towards what was right in a world of so much wrong. A Stoic must deeply believe that an individual can make a difference. Successful activism and political maneuvering require understanding and strategy, as well as realism… and hope. It requires wisdom, acceptance and also a refusal to accept the statue quo. 

It was James Baldwin who most brilliantly captured this tension in Notes of a Native Son:

It began to seem that one would have to hold in mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as they are: in light of this idea it goes without saying that injustice is commonplace. But this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one’s own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but one must fight them with all one’s strength.

A Stoic sees the world clearly…but also sees clearly what the world can be. And then they are brave, and strategic enough to help bring it into reality. 

Wisdom

Courage. Temperance. Justice. These are the critical virtues of life. But what situations call for courage? What is the right amount? What is the right thing? This is where the final and essential virtue comes in: Wisdom. The knowing. The learning. The experience required to navigate the world. 

Wisdom has always been prized by the Stoics. Zeno said that we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason: to listen more than we talk. And since we have two eyes, we are obligated to read and observe more than we talk as well. 

It is key today, as it was in the ancient world, to  be able to distinguish between the vast aggregations of information that lay out there at your disposal—and the actual wisdom that you need to live a good life. It’s key that we study, that we keep our minds open always. You cannot learn that which you think you already know, Epictetus said. It’s true. 

Which is why we need to not only be humble students but also seek out great teachers. It’s why we should always be reading. It’s why we cannot stop training. It’s why we have to be diligent in filtering out the signal from the noise. 

The goal is not just to acquire information, but the right kind of information. It’s the lessons found in Meditations, in everything from the actual Epictetus to James Stockdale entering the world of Epictetus. It’s the key facts, standing out from the background noise, that you need to absorb.

Thousands of years of blazing insight are available to the world. It is likely that you have the power to learn anything you want at your fingertips. So today, honor the Stoic virtue of wisdom by slowing down, being deliberate, and finding the wisdom you need.

Two eyes, two ears, one mouth. Remain a student. Act accordingly—and wisely.

P.S. If you’re looking to be a better reader—to build a real reading practice—the Stoics can help. We built out some of their best insights into our Daily Stoic: Read-to-Lead Reading Challenge. It’s going to walk you through more than a dozen actionable challenges that will help you elevate your game as a reader, learn how to think more critically and discover important books that will change your life. We’ve got videos and worksheets and all sorts of recommendations and strategies for you. If you’ve liked any of our other courses, you’ll love this one—it’s awesome, it’s actionable and it will help you get a better ROI out of one of the most important ways we spend our time and enrich our minds. Give it a shot. 

V. What Are The Best Books On Stoicism?

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. It is the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. Marcus stopped almost every night to practice a series of spiritual exercises—reminders designed to make him humble, patient, empathetic, generous, and strong in the face of whatever he was dealing with. You cannot read this book and not come away with a phrase or a line that will be helpful to you next time you are in trouble. Read it, it is practical philosophy embodied.

Letters From A Stoic by Seneca

While Marcus wrote mainly for himself, Seneca had no trouble advising and aiding others. In fact, that was his job—he was Nero’s tutor, tasked with reducing the terrible impulses of a terrible man. His advice on grief, on wealth, on power, on religion, and on life are always there when you need them. Seneca’s letters are the best place to start, but the essays in On the Shortness of Life are excellent as well.

Discourses by Epictetus

That Epictetus’ teachings survive to us is remarkable. It is only thanks to a student named Arrian, who’s credited with transcribing the lessons he learned in Epictetus’ classroom at the beginning of the second century AD. Arrian wrote in a letter prior to the Discourses’ publishing, “whatever I used to hear him say I wrote down, word for word, as best I could, as a record for later use of his thought and frank expression.” Arrian would use those lessons to achieve renown throughout Rome as a political advisor, military commander, and prolific author. Interestingly, in the first book of Meditations, titled “Debts and Lessons,” Marcus thanks one of his philosophy teachers, Rusticus, “for introducing me to Epictetus’s lectures – and loaning me his own copy.”

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living features not only 366 all-new translations of brilliant stoic passages but 366 exciting stories, examples and explanations of the stoic principles from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus but also some of the lesser known but equally wise stoics from Zeno to Cleanthes to Chrysippus. The book takes the reader on a daily journey through practical, pragmatic philosophy. Each day offers a new stoic insight and exercise. By following these teachings, you’ll find the serenity, self-knowledge and resilience you need to live well.

 The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday 

Inspired by Stoicism and the maxim from Marcus Aurelius—“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way”—The Obstacle Is The Way is a primer of the key principles for thriving under pressure. Through historical examples of great men and women, it teaches us how to overcome adversity and difficulties, turn obstacles upside down, and shows us how to love our fate, no matter what it might bring. The book has become a cult classic with coaches and athletes alike and has been featured in prominent outlets like Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

VI. How To Be A Stoic: 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started

1. The Dichotomy Of Control 

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own . . .” Epictetus

The single most important practice in Stoic philosophy is differentiating between what we can change and what we can’t. What we have influence over and what we do not. A flight is delayed because of weather— no amount of yelling at an airline representative will end a storm. No amount of wishing will make you taller or shorter or born in a different country. No matter how hard you try, you can’t make someone like you. And on top of that, time spent hurling yourself at these immovable objects is time not spent on the things we can change.

Return to this question daily—in each and every trying situation. Journal and reflect on it constantly. If you can focus on making clear what parts of your day are within your control and what parts are not, you will not only be happier, you will have a distinct advantage over other people who fail to realize they are fighting an unwinnable battle.

2. Journal

“Few care now about the marches and countermarches of the Roman commanders. What the centuries have clung to is a notebook of thoughts by a man whose real life was largely unknown who put down in the midnight dimness not the events of the day or the plans of the morrow, but something of far more permanent interest, the ideals and aspirations that a rare spirit lived by.” — Brand Blanshard

Epictetus the slave. Marcus Aurelius the emperor. Seneca the power broker and playwright. These three radically different men led radically different lives. But they seemed to have one habit in common: Journaling.

It would be Epictetus who would admonish his students that philosophy was something they should “write down day by day,” that this writing was how they “should exercise themselves.” Seneca’s favorite time to journal was in the evenings. When darkness had fallen and his wife had gone asleep, he explained to a friend, “I examine my entire day and go back over what I’ve done and said, hiding nothing from myself, passing nothing by.” Then he would go to bed, finding that “the sleep which follows this self-examination” was particularly sweet. And Marcus, he was the most prodigious of journalers, and we are lucky enough that his writings survive to us, appropriately titled, Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, Ta eis heauton, or “to himself.”

In Stoicism the art of journaling is more than some simple diary. This daily practice is the philosophy. Preparing for the day ahead. Reflecting on the day that has passed. Reminding oneself of the wisdom we have learned from our teachers, from our reading, from our own experiences. It’s not enough to simply hear these lessons once, instead, one practices them over and over again, turns them over in their mind, and most importantly, writes them down and feels them flowing through their fingers in doing so.

Stoicism is designed to be a practice and a routine. It’s not a philosophy you read once and magically understand at the soul-level. No, it’s a lifelong pursuit that requires diligence and repetition and concentration. (Pierre Hadot called it spiritual exercising). That’s one of the benefits of the page-a-day (with monthly themes) format we organized the Stoics into (and the weekly themes in The Daily Stoic Journal). It’s putting one thing up for you to review—to have at hand—and to fully digest. Not in passing. Not just once. But every single day over the course of a year, and preferably year in and year out. And if Epictetus is right, it’s something you’re supposed to keep within reach at all times—which is why a collection of the greatest hits, presented daily, was so appealing to us. 

In this way, journaling is Stoicism. It’s almost impossible to have one without the other.

P.S. Check out The Daily Stoic Journal. It’s an easy place to start and is built around the Stoic journaling methods of Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.

3. Practice Misfortune

“It is in times of security that the spirit should be preparing itself for difficult times; while fortune is bestowing favors on it is then is the time for it to be strengthened against her rebuffs.” — Seneca

Seneca, who enjoyed great wealth as the adviser of Nero, suggested that we ought to set aside a certain number of days each month to practice poverty. Take a little food, wear your worst clothes, get away from the comfort of your home and bed. Put yourself face to face with want, he said, you’ll ask yourself “Is this what I used to dread?”

It’s important to remember that this is an exercise and not a rhetorical device. He doesn’t mean “think about” misfortune, he means live it. Comfort is the worst kind of slavery because you’re always afraid that something or someone will take it away. But if you can not just anticipate but practice misfortune, then chance loses its ability to disrupt your life.

Emotions like anxiety and fear have their roots in uncertainty and rarely in experience. Anyone who has made a big bet on themselves knows how much energy both states can consume. The solution is to do something about that ignorance. Make yourself familiar with the things, the worst-case scenarios, that you’re afraid of.

Practice what you fear, whether a simulation in your mind or in real life. The downside is almost always reversible or transient.

4. Train Perceptions 

“Choose not to be harmed and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been.” — Marcus Aurelius

The Stoics had an exercise called Turning the Obstacle Upside Down. What they meant to do was make it impossible to not practice the art of philosophy. Because if you can properly turn a problem upside down, every “bad” becomes a new source of good.

Suppose for a second that you are trying to help someone and they respond by being surly or unwilling to cooperate. Instead of making your life more difficult, the exercise says, they’re actually directing you towards new virtues; for example, patience or understanding. Or, the death of someone close to you; a chance to show fortitude.

Marcus Aurelius described it like this:

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

It should sound familiar because it is the same thinking behind Obama’s “teachable moments.” Right before the election, Joe Klein asked Obama how he’d made his decision to respond to the Reverend Wright scandal. He said something like ‘when the story broke I realized the best thing to do wasn’t damage control, it was to speak to Americans like adults.’ And what he ended up doing was turning a negative situation into the perfect platform for his landmark speech about race.

The common refrain about entrepreneurs is that they take advantage of, even create, opportunities. To the Stoic, everything is opportunity. The Reverend Wright scandal, a frustrating case where your help goes unappreciated, the death of a loved one, none of those are “opportunities” in the normal sense of the word. In fact, they are the opposite. They are obstacles. What a Stoic does is turn every obstacle into an opportunity.

There is no good or bad to the practicing Stoic. There is only perception. You control perception. You can choose to extrapolate past your first impression (‘X happened.’ –> ‘X happened and now my life is over.’). If you tie your first response to dispassion, you’ll find that everything is simply an opportunity.

Note: This exercise served as the inspiration behind The Obstacle Is The Way.

5. Remember—It’s All Ephemeral

“Alexander the Great and his mule driver both died and the same thing happened to both.” — Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself a simple and effective reminder to help him regain perspective and stay balanced:

“Run down the list of those who felt intense anger at something: the most famous, the most unfortunate, the most hated, the most whatever: Where is all that now? Smoke, dust, legend…or not even a legend. Think of all the examples. And how trivial the things we want so passionately are.”

It is important to note that ‘passion’ here isn’t the modern usage we’re familiar with as in enthusiasm or caring about something. As Don Robertson explains in his book, when the Stoics discuss overcoming ‘passions’, which they called patheiai, they refer to the irrational, unhealthy and excessive desires and emotions. Anger would be a good example. What is important to remember, and this is the crucial bit, they seek to replace them with eupatheiai, such as joy instead of excessive pleasure.

Returning to the point of the exercise, it’s simple: remember how small you are. For that matter, remember how small most everything is.

Remember that achievements can be ephemeral, and that your possession of them is for just an instant.

If everything is ephemeral, what does matter? Right now matters. Being a good person and doing the right thing right now, that’s what matters and that’s what was important to the Stoics.

Take Alexander the Great who conquered the known world and had cities named in his honor. This is common knowledge. The Stoics would also point out that, once while drunk, Alexander got into a fight with his dearest friend, Cleitus, and accidentally killed him. Afterward, he was so despondent that he couldn’t eat or drink for three days. Sophists were called from all over Greece to see what they could do about his grief, to no avail.

Is this the mark of a successful life? From a personal standpoint, it matters little if your name is emblazoned on a map if you lose perspective and hurt those around you.

Learn from Alexander’s mistake. Be humble and honest and aware. That is something you can have every single day of your life. You’ll never have to fear someone taking it from you or, worse still, it taking over you.

6.Take The View From Above

“How beautifully Plato put it. Whenever you want to talk about people, it’s best to take a bird’s- eye view and see everything all at once— of gatherings, armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths, noisy courtrooms or silent spaces, every foreign people, holidays, memorials, markets— all blended together and arranged in a pairing of opposites.” — Marcus Aurelius

Marcus would often practice an exercise that is referred to as “taking the view from above” or “Plato’s view.” It invites us to take a step back, zoom out and see life from a higher vantage point than our own. This exercise—envisioning all the millions and millions of people, all the “armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths”—prompts us to take perspective and just like the previous exercise, remind us how small we are. It reorients us, and as Stoic scholar Pierre Hadot put it, “The view from above changes our value judgments on things: luxury, power, war…and the worries of everyday life become ridiculous.”

Seeing how small we are in the grand scheme of things is only one portion of this exercise. The second, more subtle point, is to tap into what the Stoics call sympatheia, or a mutual interdependence with the whole of humanity. As the astronaut Edgar Mitchell, one of the first people to actually experience a real ‘view from above’ put it, “In outer space you develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it.” Take a step back from your own concerns and remind yourself of your duty to others. Take Plato’s view.

7. Memento Mori: Meditate On Your Mortality

“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” Seneca

The quote from Seneca above takes part of Memento Mori—the ancient practice of reflection on mortality that goes back to Socrates, who said that the proper practice of philosophy is “about nothing else but dying and being dead.” In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote that “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” That was a personal reminder to continue living a life of virtue now, and not wait.

Meditating on your mortality is only depressing if you miss the point. The Stoics find this thought invigorating and humbling. It is not surprising that one of Seneca’s biographies is titled Dying Every Day. After all, it is Seneca who urged us to tell ourselves “You may not wake up tomorrow,” when going to bed and “You may not sleep again,” when waking up as reminders of our mortality. Or as another Stoic, Epictetus, urged his students: “Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible— by doing so, you’ll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire.” Use those reminders and meditate on them daily—let them be the building blocks of living your life to the fullest and not wasting a second.

8. Premeditatio Malorum

“What is quite unlooked for is more crushing in its effect, and unexpectedness adds to the weight of a disaster. This is a reason for ensuring that nothing ever takes us by surprise. We should project our thoughts ahead of us at every turn and have in mind every possible eventuality instead of only the usual course of events… Rehearse them in your mind: exile, torture, war, shipwreck. All the terms of our human lot should be before our eyes.”  — Seneca

The premeditatio malorum (“the pre-meditation of evils”) is a Stoic exercise of imagining things that could go wrong or be taken away from us. It helps us prepare for life’s inevitable setbacks. We don’t always get what is rightfully ours, even if we’ve earned it. Not everything is as clean and straightforward as we think they may be. Psychologically, we must prepare ourselves for this to happen. It is one of the most powerful exercise in the Stoics’ toolkit to build resilience and strength.

Seneca, for instance, would begin by reviewing or rehearsing his plans, say, to take a trip. And then, in his head (or in journaling as we said above), he would go over the things that could go wrong or prevent it from happening—a storm could arise, the captain could fall ill, the ship could be attacked by pirates.

“Nothing happens to the wise man against his expectation,” he wrote to a friend. “. . . nor do all things turn out for him as he wished but as he reckoned—and above all he reckoned that something could block his plans.”

By doing this exercise, Seneca was always prepared for disruption and always working that disruption into his plans. He was fitted for defeat or victory.

9. Amor Fati

“To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony.” — Marcus Aurelius

The great German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche would describe his formula for human greatness as amor fati—a love of fate. “That one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backwards, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it….but love it.”

The Stoics were not only familiar with this attitude but they embraced it. Two thousand years ago, writing in his own personal journal which would become known as Meditations, Emperor Marcus Aurelius would say: “A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.” Another Stoic, Epictetus, who as a crippled slave has faced adversity after adversity, echoed the same: “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens happen the way it happens: then you will be happy.”

It is why amor fati is the Stoic exercise and mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens: Treating each and every moment—no matter how challenging—as something to be embraced, not avoided. To not only be okay with it, but love it and be better for it. So that like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity become fuel for your potential.

VII. What Are The Best Stoic Quotes?

For more Stoic quotes, follow us on Instagram.

“We are often more frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” — Seneca

“It’s silly to try to escape other people’s faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.” —Marcus Aurelius

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” — Marcus Aurelius

“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”  Epictetus

“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill— of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, ‘He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'” — Epictetus

“If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.” — Marcus Aurelius

“You become what you give your attention to…If you yourself don’t choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will.” — Epictetus

“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” — Marcus Aurelius

“You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.” — Marcus Aurelius

“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.” — Marcus Aurelius

“No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have.” — Seneca

“If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone.” — Marcus Aurelius

“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions not outside.” — Marcus Aurelius

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

“It isn’t events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgements about them.” — Epictetus

“To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.” — Marcus Aurelius

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One.” — Marcus Aurelius

“The primary indication of a well-ordered mind is a man’s ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company.” — Seneca

“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.” — Marcus Aurelius

VIII. 3 Physical Stoicism Reminders

Our most popular item, the memento mori medallion has been added to the daily carry of thousands as a literal and inescapable reminder that “you could leave life right now.” The front features an interpretation of the three essentials of existence – the tulip (life), the skull (death), and the hourglass (time). The back shows a quote from Marcus Aurelius “You could leave life right now.”

 Amor Fati Medallion

Amor fati (Latin: “a love of fate”) is a mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens: Treating each and every moment—no matter how challenging—as something to be embraced, not avoided. The flame on the front of the medallion is inspired by Marcus Aurelius’s timeless wisdom: “a blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.” The back features an excerpt of the great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s formula for greatness: “Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it….but love it.”

(Daily Stoic)

Seerch Engine Journal

Tangential SEO: Finding Keywords For Content No One Else Has (Festive Flashback)

Navigate the dynamic landscape of SEO with a guide to Tangential SEO – a strategy that goes beyond traditional approaches to captivate a broader audience.

n the rapidly evolving world of SEO, staying ahead of the curve is critical.

Traditional SEO focuses on optimizing for keywords and topics directly related to your business.

However, as markets become increasingly saturated, new strategies are needed to stand out and reach a broader audience. That’s where tangential SEO comes in.

Tangential SEO involves creating and optimizing content for topics that are tangentially related to your core business. This allows you to engage with audiences who may not be actively looking for your products or services but who could still find them relevant or useful.

It is a strategy designed to build brand visibility, establish authority, attract a wider audience, and ultimately drive more traffic to your site.

Whether you’re a content marketer seeking to diversify your strategy, a business owner aiming to extend your online reach, or a newcomer to the field eager to learn, this guide is for you.

Not only will I explain what tangential content is at a broader level, but I’ll also show you how we find alternative keywords using untraditional methods.

You’ll have a methodology for finding keywords none of your competitors have even thought about.

Excited?

Let’s begin.

What Is “Tangential Content”?

Quite simply, tangential content is content that is not directly related to your product or service offering.

For example, instead of only focusing on sportswear, Nike might generate content around topics like music playlists for different moods or workout routines, exploring various global music trends.

It could even discuss urban design and its impact on outdoor physical activities. These are topics not directly related to Nike’s products but themes that would likely resonate with its audience.

Let’s give some more examples for context:

Starbucks: Beyond coffee, Starbucks could create content discussing books and literature, considering that many people enjoy reading while sipping its coffee. The brand could start a book club, share reviews, and host author interviews.

Apple: Apple might deviate from its technology-centered content to explore topics like interior design, highlighting aesthetic and minimalistic arrangements that complement its devices or discussing how different spaces foster productivity and creativity.

IKEA: While primarily focused on furniture, IKEA could develop content around topics like urban gardening, offering tips for creating green spaces in small city apartments, or sharing recipes to create using limited kitchen tools.

Why Create Tangential Content?

Creating tangential content can have numerous benefits, particularly when it comes to reaching a wider audience, building brand authority, and improving SEO performance.

As a food lover, I wanted to try and squeeze a food analogy in, so I’m going to do it here. Let’s consider the benefits of creating tangential content as a master chef in the culinary world.

Broader audience reach: Just like a versatile chef caters to various palates, tangential content allows your brand to cater to a wider audience – which is especially important for weirder or more abstract niches.

Increased engagement: Changing up the menu keeps diners interested, just like a variety of content can keep your audience engaged. By showing that your brand can whip up more than just the standard fare, you’re demonstrating a deeper understanding of your audience’s diverse tastes.

Building brand authority: When you create a variety of dishes, you prove your culinary skills beyond your signature dish. Similarly, creating content on a range of topics positions your brand as an authority in your field, enhancing your reputation and influence.

Creating more emotional content and aligning with customer lifestyle: Tangential content is akin to designing a themed dining experience that aligns with your customer’s lifestyles and preferences. For instance, if you know your customers are environmentally conscious, you might focus on farm-to-table ingredients or share stories of local farmers. This not only provides content that resonates emotionally but also aligns your brand more closely with your customer’s values and lifestyles.

Link building: Just as a unique fusion dish might get rave reviews and recommendations, tangential content often has a higher potential to be shared, earning you backlinks from various domains. These backlinks boost your site’s authority, much like word-of-mouth boosts a restaurant’s reputation.

SEO performance: By offering a variety of dishes, you’re catering to more tastes and attracting more diners. Similarly, by covering a range of topics, you’re likely to rank for more keywords, attracting more organic traffic to your website.

While the benefits of publishing tangential content are clear, don’t overlook the value in the research process itself.

The analogy continues like so: consider researching tangential content ideas similar to the time a chef spends experimenting in the kitchen and interacting with their customers.

It’s during this phase that the chef discovers which dishes their customers can’t get enough of, which ones they’re not too fond of, and what cuisine they’re yearning to try next.

In the same way, when you research diverse topics for your tangential content, you’re not only gathering material for your next post – you’re also gaining a broader understanding of your customers’ unmet needs or interests.

This insight is just as valuable, if not more so, as it can guide the development of new products, services, or post-purchase support articles.

So, even before you’ve served up your tangential content to your audience, the research phase itself can help you refine your ‘menu,’ making your brand more attuned to your customers’ tastes and more valuable in their eyes.

Hopefully, the hokey simile made sense, hasn’t made you hungry, and you’re sold on the concept of tangential content.

I’ll now show you how we generate tangential content ideas.

How To Generate Tangential Content Ideas?

To walk through the following process, I’m going to use an example as if I was doing this research for a fictional hair removal company.

Step 1: Establish Buyer Personas

Buyer personas are essentially fictional representations of your ideal customers, often based on real data and market research about your existing customers. They help us understand our customers (and potential customers) better and make it easier for us to “get into their minds.”

These personas can include information such as demographics, behavior patterns, motivations, goals, challenges, values, and fears.

Sometimes your marketing department will already have one of these, but if they don’t, you could ask our new friend, ChatGPT, to produce one.

Step 2: Create A Mind Map

A mind map typically starts with a central idea, placed in the middle of your page. From this central idea, you’ll draw lines that branch out into main topics.

It’s like a tree sprouting branches.

These main branches can further sprout smaller branches, each representing related subtopics or ideas.

In our scenario, we’ll plant the name of the buyer persona as the seed of our mind map. From there, we’ll let branches grow out, each representing key values, aspirations, preferences, and hobbies that we’ve identified for this persona.

Remember, this isn’t the stage for keyword research; there’s no need to think about keyword volume data. This is more about emptying out your mind and exploring potential questions this persona might have.

This process is about trying to see the world through their eyes.

If you find that you’re not the best match for this persona – for example, if the persona is a 28-year-old woman and you’re not a 28-year-old woman (as I am not) – then it could be beneficial to bring in someone who aligns more closely with the persona.

This way, you can ensure you’re covering all bases and not missing any important insights.

In any case, here’s one I started doing for a persona I called “Sarah Thompson.”

Also, it’s wise to create several mind maps to cater to different segments of your target audience.

For instance, when I analyzed a renowned hair removal company’s website data using Similarweb, I discovered a substantial interest from males in hair removal.

*go to Search Engine Journal for full article

(Search Engine Journal)

Robinhood acquires Chartr as it expands media portfolio - December 29, 2023

Retail trading giant Robinhood has announced a deal to acquire U.K.-based Chartr Limited, a media company that specializes in data visualization and newsletters, to add to its in-house, independent media brand Sherwood Media.

Why it matters: The acquisition is intended to help Sherwood expand its editorial offerings as it gears up to launch a news hub early next year.

Catch up quick: Robinhood launched Sherwood Media as an independent business and finance media company earlier this year.

The outlet, which is led by veteran tech editor and media entrepreneur Joshua Topolsky, was set up as an independent LLC that exists as a subsidiary of Robinhood.

It focuses on delivering news, analysis and opinion for young, financial news consumers — an audience that aligns with Robinhood's retail trading user base.

Details: Chartr will remain its own stand-alone entity under Sherwood Media after the deal closes, and its branding will remain intact, per Topolsky, who serves as president and editor-in-chief of Sherwood.

Chartr's products focus on simplifying complicated topics with data visualizations that Sherwood plans to integrate into its content, including its daily financial newsletter, Snacks, its web products and its social media content.

Between the lines: Sherwood launched with a focus on newsletters but has since begun expanding into other platforms.

In June the company said it planned to expand to events, podcasts and build out a print magazine. It hired a head of sales to begin its commercial expansion.

The firm makes money mostly by selling advertising. Its content isn't paywalled.

The big picture: More companies are investing in media as a customer acquisition tool, but it's unclear how financially successful those outlets can be when their ultimate purpose is to drive customers for their parent companies.

Asked about Sherwood Media's financials, including its revenue and profitability, Topolsky declined to share any details.

Social Media News

Twitter backer knocks billions off its value after Musk’s outburst - January 1, 2024

An investor in X, formerly called Twitter, has written down the value of its stake by $US2.85 billion ($4.2 billion) after its owner Elon Musk told boycotting advertisers to “go f--- yourself”.

Fidelity, which helped Musk buy the company for $US44 billion ($65 billion) in 2022, now believes it is worth 71.5 per cent less than at the time of purchase.

The US investment giant had already slashed the value of its investment by 65 per cent at the end of October but deepened the discount in November. It came in the same month that Musk launched a tirade against advertisers.

Speaking at a New York Times conference, Musk claimed a boycott by advertisers was going to “kill” the company, adding, “If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f--- yourself.”

Apple, IBM and Disney are among the major brands to cut ties with the social media platform, amid concerns about lax moderation under Musk and the billionaire’s freewheeling personal style.

Fidelity’s valuation cut, which was first reported by Axios, gives the company a notional value of just $US12.5 billion and suggests X has lost $US2.85 billion of worth in the eyes of Fidelity in just four weeks.

The investment group, which contributed more than $US300 million to Musk’s takeover, does not disclose how it values privately held companies. Other shareholders may value their stakes differently.

However, X’s own internal share plan for staff valued the company at just $US19 billion in October – less than half the sum Musk paid for it.

X has undergone a turbulent period under the ownership of the Tesla billionaire. The debt-fuelled takeover has left the company struggling to break even and Musk has slashed thousands of jobs and introduced subscription fees in response.

Worsening the debt crisis is the reluctance of advertisers to work with the platform since the takeover.

X is believed to have lost 60 per cent of its advertisers after the takeover amid concerns brands were appearing alongside harmful material.

The European Commission has opened an investigation into the company over its alleged role in disseminating propaganda relating to terrorist group Hamas.

Musk has also been accused of personally promoting antisemitic and racist conspiracy theories, although he has insisted he is against antisemitism of any kind.

Linda Yaccarino, who replaced Musk as chief executive in June, has been scrambling to revive revenue and has staged a charm offensive with advertisers in a bid to win back trust.

(The Telegraph, London)

Search Engine Journal

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Andy on tangible keywords, keywords no one else has etc. He's used Apple, IKEA and Nike. How's this for our example.

Agent: Online agency, change agent

PPVs: Pay-Per-View, MMA PPV, WWE premium live events

UFC MMA PPV, martial arts special event

Lifestyle Marketing: Beach Lifestyle, Beach Life, Surf Culture, beach bum,. coastal living, living free

Website Publishing: pop culture news, lifestyle news, combat sports news, surf sports news, news media books, media rates, news media veteran.and ex journo.

That should keep the keywords analysts busy for a while, even though it's largely evergreen content and creative content for all seasons as well as topical SEO blog and website fodder. Compliments of the season.

The Greatest Quotes of Ancient Greek Stoic Philosophers

Stoicism, was one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC.

Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. For the Stoic, virtue alone is sufficient for human happiness.

For Stoics, emotions like fear, envy, passionate love were merely false judgements and the sage, a person who had attained moral and intellectual perfection, would not be touched by them.

It is a philosophy of life where the individual maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions, and helps him or herself hone their virtues of character.

The name derives from the porch (stoa poikile) in the Agora at Athens decorated with mural paintings, where the members of the school congregated, and their lectures were held.

Birth of Stoicism, one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements

The philosophy of Stoicism was originally known as “Zenonism” after the founder, Zeno of Citium.

Zeno ended up in Athens after his ship wrecked near the city. He was not a philosopher, but he turned his misfortune into an opportunity by studying all the philosophical resources available in the city.

He sat in on lectures from the other schools of philosophy (e.g., Cynicism, Epicureanism) and eventually started his own.

However, the Stoics did not believe that the founders were perfectly wise. In order to avoid their philosophy becoming a cult of personality, they chose to name it Stoicism after the place they were meeting, the stoa poikile of the Agora.

Zeno’s ideas developed from those of the Cynics, whose founding father, Antisthenes, had been a disciple of Socrates. Zeno’s most influential follower was Chrysippus, who was responsible for molding what is now called Stoicism.

Other prominent Stoics included Cleanthes of Assos, Panaetius of Rhodes, Aristo of Chios, Posidonius of Apameia, Diodotus, and others.

Later, Seneca, Epictetus, and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius ushered Stoicism to the Roman world. The philosophy flourished until the 3rd century AD.

Stoic Philosophy

According to Stoicism, the path to eudaimonia (happiness) is embracing and accepting the moment as it presents itself by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or by the fear of pain.

The Stoic must use his or her mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan by working together and treating others fairly and justly.

The Stoics are especially known for the teaching “virtue is the only good” and that people must lead a virtuous life to be accomplished and complete human beings.

External things—such as health, wealth, and pleasure—are not good or bad in and of themselves but have value as “material for virtue to act upon.”

The Stoics also held that certain destructive emotions, such as fear or jealousy, resulted from errors of judgment, and they believed people should aim to maintain a prohairesis (will) that is “in accordance with nature.”

To live a good life, a person had to understand the rules of the natural order, Stoics believed, since everything was rooted in nature.

For many Stoics, virtue is sufficient for happiness. Thus, a sage would be emotionally resilient to misfortune and would therefore be considered truly free.

According to Stoics, people don’t truly have control over many things and situations in life. Therefore, they believe that worrying about things outside of their control is unproductive, or even irrational for a person who wants to attain tranquility and happiness.

Stoics differentiate between what is and what is not under human control and do not waste energy and thoughts over uncontrollable adverse events.

Where many people worry endlessly about things out of their control, the Stoics believe they should expend their energy in thinking of creative solutions to problems, rather than the issues themselves.

Stoicism is not about having a set of beliefs or ethical claims. It is not a school of philosophy that is separate from everyday life.

The stoic must continuously practice and train (“askesis”). Stoic philosophical and spiritual practices include logic, Socratic dialogue and self-dialogue.

Influence of Stoicism on Christianity

The virtuous life of the Stoic has resemblances to a life led by a good Christian. Stoic writings such as “Meditations,” by Marcus Aurelius, have been highly regarded by many Christians throughout the centuries.

The Greek term for word is logos. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus used logos (the word) to explain what he saw as the universal force of reason that governed everything.

In the 5th century BC, Heraclitus said that all things happen according to the Logos. The Stoics also believed in the Logos, along with the notions of conscience and virtue.

A few centuries later, Greek-speaking Jews came to view the Logos as a force sent by God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is referred to as the Word — “and the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among men.”

The apostle Paul is known to have met with Stoics during his stay in Athens. In his letters, Paul reflected on his knowledge of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist new converts in their understanding of Christianity.

Both Stoicism and Christianity teach a person the importance of training their mind and body to be disciplined.

Both encourage the elimination of passions and inferior emotions, such as lust and envy, from one’s life, so that the higher possibilities of one’s humanity can be awakened and developed.

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven,” Jesus preached.

Similarly, as Seneca wrote, “We must give up many things to which we are addicted, considering them to be good.”

The Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodox Church accept the Stoic ideal of dispassion to this day, as do ascetics all over the world.

Stoicism today

Daily Stoic, How to be a Stoic, The Modern Times Stoic, Modern Stoicism, Traditional Stoicism: these are only a handful of the websites that hail the importance of—even the need for—Stoicism in the 21st century.

Is it possible, though, for today’s man to embrace a philosophy that teaches indifference to material things and possessions in a ruthlessly material world?

An intellectual and popular movement called Modern Stoicism began at the end of the 20th century which is aimed at reviving the practice of Stoicism.

However, before that, Stoic philosophy served as the original philosophical inspiration for modern cognitive psychotherapy, particularly as mediated by Dr. Albert Ellis’ Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the major precursor of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

In the original cognitive therapy treatment manual for depression by Aaron T. Beck et al., it is stated, “The philosophical origins of cognitive therapy can be traced back to the Stoic philosophers.”

A well-known quotation from the “Enchiridion” of Epictetus was taught to most clients during the initial session by Ellis and his followers: “It’s not the events that upset us, but our judgments about the events.”

This subsequently became a common element in the socialization phase of many other approaches to CBT.

Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way; Stoicism—A Stoic Approach to Modern Life, by Tom Miles; Modern Stoicism, by Steve Brooks; and Modern Stoicism—How to Be a Stoic in the 21st Century, by Stephen Ryan are some of the books on Stoicism that have been published recently.

Famous Stoic quotes

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”

“To live a good life; we all have the potential for it, if we learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.”

“Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back.”

“Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?”

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”

“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is nature’s delight.”

“It is not because things are difficult that we don’t dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”

“The bravest sight in the world is to see a man struggling against adversity.”

“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack.”

“Life is never incomplete if it is an honorable one. At whatever point you leave life, if you leave it in the right way, it is whole.”

“Man is affected not by events, but by the view he takes of them.”

“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”

“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.”

“He suffers more than necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.”

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”

“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”

“If you want to improve, be content to be foolish and stupid.”

“The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”

“Seek not the good in eternal things, seek it in yourselves.”

“It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.”

“No man is free who is not a master of himself.”

“It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.”

“Never depend on the admiration of others. There is no strength in it. Personal merit cannot be derived from an external source.”

(G Reporter)

Lehrmann, the Murdochs, Ita Buttrose and media’s big hits in 2023 - December 27, 2023

Australia’s media landscape was once again dominated by the big names, though with landmark court rulings, shock resignations, redundancies and succession plans finally playing out, the industry offered a year to remember.

The year kicked off when The Australian appointed Michelle Gunn as its first-ever female editor-in-chief just six days into the year, but ultimately, Sky News Australia boss Paul Whittaker was installed as chair of an editorial board set up to oversee her big moves.

Most in media still had their feet up in mid-January, including one of Nine’s biggest stars, Karl “Karlos” Stefanovic, yet he still found himself in the headlines after a car park bust-up also featuring former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The brouhaha ultimately cost “Pup” a high-paying commentary gig in India.

The ABC made its push to become a truly digital media company and made a number of staff redundant – none as high-profile as news breaker and political editor Andrew Probyn, who Nine (owner of this masthead) subsequently hired. Newly relocated host of Insiders David Speers picked up the confusingly titled role of “political lead” in the national capital.

Other high-profile departures from Aunty included Stan Grant, Tracey Holmes and more recently Triple J stalwart Richard Kingsmill.

While the bosses of the ABC (David Anderson) and SBS (James Taylor) got new contracts, ABC chair Ita Buttrose said she wouldn’t be seeking a second term. Her replacement could be announced as early as January, two months before Buttrose is due to depart. Expect the tributes to flow in the early months of 2024.

There was more movement on the national broadcaster’s board: Laura Tingle was elected staff representative, and Nicolette Maury and Louise McElvogue filled two more spots.

The ABC wasn’t the only one to make hard decisions, with a weak advertising market making for a tough year for commercial media, with subdued earnings calls and generally downbeat outlooks. Most conversations on 2024 budgets include an expectation Meta will fight tooth and nail to avoid stumping up in new commercial deals with media companies as part of the News Media Bargaining Code.

A win for journalism

Perhaps the biggest story of the year (no bias) was Justice Anthony Basenko’s ruling on Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation suit, vindicating reporting from Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters in this masthead. With an appeal by the disgraced war hero set to be heard in February, this stays on the radar into 2024.

Seven West Media found itself on the end of some poor PR in 2023, with chair Kerry Stokes’ bankrolling of Roberts-Smith continuing to raise questions about his and the company’s involvement in the case.

At risk of “personally embarrassing” emails coming to light, Stokes eventually agreed to pay the entire costs for Nine’s legal troubles.

Seven also did its best to insert itself in the Bruce Lehrmann fracas by securing what a Seven insider described as a “grubby” deal to cover the former Liberal staffer’s rental costs for a year. Such were the murky details of the “exclusive” interview series, the scoop was retrospectively disqualified from its finalist status at the Walkley Awards.

Along with Optus Sport, Seven bagged the broadcast rights for the Matildas games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which swept the nation, and shattered viewership records as the tournament went on, delivering a halo effect for the network’s surrounding programming, despite chief executive James Warburton lamenting a lack of financial benefit it could reap.

Warburton, described in this masthead as one of television’s “last great showmen”, will leave Seven in 2024 after a shock exit announcement in December. Chief financial officer Jeff Howard will be installed into the top job. All eyes are on Seven’s next moves; will they open the chequebook further after raiding ARN Media’s share register, or will the hunter become the hunted?

ARN was responsible for one of the more audacious moves of the year as it moved to swallow up rival Southern Cross Media in October with help from Anchorage Capital Partners. The outcome remains undecided going into 2024.

The eldest boy gets the gig

A sigh of relief was heard in Sydney’s inner-east where media scion and billionaire Lachlan Murdoch resides when his father, Rupert Murdoch, pulled the curtains on his 70-year career, officially handing over the keys to the empire after a two-decade succession saga, not long after the fictionalised smash-hit HBO show ended its four-season run.

The “eldest boy” is now sole chair of News Corp and Fox Corp. The plan to re-merge the two was scrapped early in the year, though this could be back on the cards in 2024. Locally, expect changes in the next 12 months as Lachlan Murdoch looks to put his stamp on the Australian business. Foxtel’s mooted IPO may also be back on the cards at some point in the new year.

Murdoch’s rise was good news for former prime minister Tony Abbott, the pair formalising their relationship with his appointment into a cushy new $500,000 director role on the board of Fox. Former editor-in-chief of The Australian Chris Mitchell told us: “I’m not sure he’d bring any particular skills to do with publishing, TV or pay TV.”

It wasn’t all good news, though. Murdoch dropped his defamation suit against plucky website Crikey in April, handing a famous win to Eric Beecher’s company just days after settling for $1.17 billion in its case against Dominion Voting Systems.

News Corp also parted ways with gambling start-up Betr after punting an enormous sum for what turned out to be little return. An inside source close to the top at the US-owned company says its losses could be as high as $125 million, with official filings reported to have sunk at least $70 million into the venture.

International streamers continue to face off against local rivals, and shortly after the Australian cricket team returned home as world champions, Amazon picked up the rights to ICC tournaments until 2027. If you’re to believe Foxtel’s Patrick Delany though, the deal doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Qantas’ year from hell extended into media as Alan Joyce banned copies of The Australian Financial Review from its Chairman’s Lounge and in-flight Wi-Fi after sustained scrutiny by former Rear Window columnist Joe Aston. This was eventually overturned, but not until Joyce was out the door.

Network 10 and its US owners, Paramount, mostly stayed out of the headlines, though spent a decent chunk of time in Australia’s court chambers. It sued former political editor Peter van Onselen for breach of contract; was sued by current employee and former host of The Project Lisa Wilkinson; is getting sued by Lehrmann for defamation; and is facing a legal dispute with another employee over bullying claims. Some year.

Race to the finish line

The year didn’t slow down in December, with publication of Kate McClymont’s three-year investigation into Alan Jones, documenting allegations of indecent assault towards young men. Jones maintains his denial of the allegations.

At Nine, there were some big outs. Publishing boss James Chessell is standing down, 3AW veteran Neil Mitchell resigned after 30 years hosting the morning shift, and Peter Hitchener moved off the network’s weekday news bulletins after 25 years in Melbourne.

Finally, there was movement in the government’s media reform agenda late in the game, with two pieces of legislation introduced to parliament at the latest possible moment.

Perhaps the most important piece of work remains up in the air – reform of gambling advertising regulation. It’s been slated as an incredibly complex piece of work, with wagering dollars tangled in the finances of major sporting codes and media companies. This explains the hold-up, yet consensus shows Australians only want one thing: to see less of them.

All of that in 12 months! Let’s do it all again next year.

(SMH)

The Power of Do-Follow Backlinks: Maximizing SEO Impact with Quality Link Juice

Backlinks look mere connectors between two websites that people can click to navigate the internet world. But they aren’t that simple. Behind the scenes, a lot of things happen. In the world of SEO, They raise pages to the top. That’s why they were manipulated in the past.

When Google introduced nofollow links against link manipulation, the traditional links got another name, “do follow.” Do follow backlinks carry more weight than others and bring leads and free traffic.

So it’s important for website owners to know what is do follow backlink, how it works, dofollow vs nofollow, how both differ, How both influence rankings, and what tool can help to monitor them.

What Are Dofollow Backlinks and How Do They Work?

Most links that take place on the Internet are, by default do follow backlinks—Unless they are altered manually or a website setting changes them automatically. Dofollow links are also called follow links because they don’t contain link attributes.

Search engine crawlers (unlike nofollow links) crawl them and pass link juice to sites they are linked to. They also lead internet users from one website to another when they click them.

It all begins when website owners find your content valuable and decide to use it. So, they mention a portion of it on their website and direct a link to your website as a reference. In the same manner, you can also place a link on your site that can be pointed to other’s valuable content.

Businesses spend thousands of dollars to acquire as many do follow backlinks as possible. But why?

Why Are Do Follow Backlinks Important?

We learned dofollow backlinks meaning and how they work. It’s time to discuss what is a do follow link in SEO. Why do businesses spend big bucks on them?

Dofollow SEO links are important because they help search engines find new pages, speed up indexing, and determine content relevancy.

Google algorithm Pagerank uses do follow backlinks to give points to the website they are linked to. They also help brands become an authority within the industry and in the search engine’s eyes. A website with more dofollow SEO backlinks has a better chance of ranking on the first page than others. These features make them very important for businesses.

What Are Dofollow & Nofollow Backlinks, and How Do They Work?

Nofollow and do follow backlinks work similarly. Either other web owners direct a link to your website, or you direct to their website.

When it comes to noffollow, however, the one who points the link is telling search engines not to follow or pass authority to the website it is pointed. That’s because the site owner doesn't trust the content, finds the content irrelevant to the niche, or the link is paid, etc.

Nofollow vs dofollow, what similarities and differences do they have?

Similarities.

Both links look the same to the outside world.

Both work similarly.

Both bring free traffic to the website.

Both affect rankings.

Now the differences:

No follow links contain an additional rel=”nofollow” attribute, while dofollow doesn’t.

Do follow passes equity to the linked website and speeds up the indexing process, while nofollow isn’t crawlable.

Do follow affects rankings significantly, but no follow is only taken as a hint by search engines.

Do follow backlinks are only one type, and no follow backlinks have different types.

Types of No Follow Backlinks

In 2019, Google introduced two more no follow backlinks to mitigate link manipulation. They are called sponsored and UGC. They carry rel=”sponsored” and rel="ugc" attributes.

Sponsored links: They are used to show Google that the link is compensated in some form. These links can be affiliate links or can come from ads and sponsored content.

UGC links: UGC stands for user generated content. These links tell Google that users are generating links in the comment section or forums. These links, according to Ahref’s study, are only used by 1% of websites.

The rel=”nofollow” attribute, however, can be used instead of both above-mentioned attributes.

How to Create a Dofollow Backlink?

Do follow links are originally just backlinks. And a backlink means they come from other websites. So, you need to provide value to others to get backlinks. One way to do that is by creating helpful content. This way, others will use your content and refer a link. This is one strategy; there are others.

What are do follow backlinks strategies?

Guest posting: it is quite common and simple. Find a relevant website, ask if they are currently accepting guest posts, create content, submit it, and wait. Once they publish your content, you’ll get a do follow backlink.

Reciprocal strategy: this is also a common strategy— 43.7% of the top-ranking pages use it to get backlinks, according to Thrivemyway. This strategy works (as the name suggests) you give me a link and I will return the favor. The exchange happens between website owners. A word of warning though, doing it carelessly will penalize the content.

How Long Do Follow Link Takes to Work?

Do follow backlinks are unpredictable. There is no exact time for them to show effect. They may take anywhere from 3 to 12 months, according to search engine journal, while the founder of SEOchatter say that some take ten weeks and some take a few days. But why is there no exact time given by Google?

That’s because many factors, such as domain authority, website age, and site content, are at play. If a website's DR rating is high, has existed for years, and publishes quality content, then do follow backlinks may take only days to show effect. Otherwise, they may take years or never work.

How to Tell if a Backlink is dofollow?

To know if a backlink is a dofollow:

Go to any page on the Internet that contain links.

Right-click and find the “view page resource” option.

Click that option, and a new page with codes will open.

Next, hit the CTRL + F buttons on Android or command + F on Mac; this will open a search box.

Now, write nofollow in the box.

If the page has a nofollow link, the text will be highlighted; if not, that means all links on that page are dofollow backlinks—because what is a do follow backlink? It’s a link that contains no additional attribute.

Best Tools to Check Do Follow Backlinks of Your Site

You can check do follow backlinks on any page by going to its code page. But when an external page directs a link to your website, then you won't get any clue to get to that page. Due to the Internet’s expanse, finding directed links manually is next to impossible. But you can find them with tools.

You can also monitor your site's backlink profile every once in a while with them. Doing so will give you a better idea of what changes to make or not in your link-building strategies.

Here are a few good tools to check do follow backlinks.

Ahref site explorer

Dofollow link checker

Sitechecker

Semrush

Mozbar SEO checker

Automatic backlink checker extension.

Conclusion

Links influence ranking positively and negatively. That’s why it’s important to know what are dofollow links, and how they work. You should also monitor backlink profiles and see the source they are coming from. It will help you in the SEO journey.

Also, don’t overlook the importance of no follow backlinks; they can be used strategically to diversify the backlink profile.

When it comes to creating backlinks, there are a lot of good and bad strategies. Try to choose those that align with Google guidelines. When you succeed in getting backlinks and don’t see immediate changes, just be patient. They sometimes take a while before showing effects.

FAQS

Are YouTube Links Dofollow?

It depends on where they are placed on YouTube. If they are inserted on YouTube profiles, video descriptions, video cards, and end screens, they are do follow backlinks. If links are commented, then they are no follow.

What is the Major Difference Between a No Follow Backlink and a Do Follow Backlink?

The one major difference is that, do follow backlinks pass authority to the website it’s linked, and nofollow is just a hint for search engines.

Are Nofollow Links Bad?

Nofollow links aren't bad for SEO because Google itself encourages web owners to use them.

Are No Follow Links Worth It?

Nofollow links diversify backlink profiles and help in SEO campaigns but aren’t a major ranking factor. So we can say, they are worth it, just not a lot.

Media Man

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Media Man/Media Man Int X Coverage Of AEW Worlds End Sees Some X Twitter Posts Exceed 3000!

Pro Wrestling

WWE Internet Based Buzz re potential new Paul Heyman New Faction aka modem day version of:

"The Dangerous Alliance". Or "America's Most Hated"?!

Led by Paul Heyman, the faction may consist of for example:

CM Punk 

Brock Lesnar 

Logan Paul 

Grayson Waller

Austin Theory

Media Man: This is speculative in nature however there has been numerous Internet based rumors and buzz for a number of months. The rumours and buzz have not diminished so we are covering this now to help further prepare the WWE fanbase for what may develop in early to mid 2024. The dynamic has changed greatly in The Bloodline and a shuffling of the deck would help keep things fresh. Surely Roman Reigns would be aware of these rumours by now, and if not, perhaps he is now.

Fans, be sure to keep checking the WWE YouTube channel as well as the X and even the Paul Heyman/Heyman Hustle channels as you never know what other clues may be disclosed. Raw and SmackDown are forecast to remain appointment viewing and red hot in 2024. 

Pro Wrestling News

WWE News - January 2024

WWE Raw Day 1 will be the first event to kick off WWE’s New Year’s Knockout week, celebrating the first week of 2024. Scheduled for the New Year's Day show is Seth Rollins defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defending against Ivy Nile.

In addition of NXT’s New Year’s Evil event next Tuesday, next Friday will see WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution. That show will be headlined by a three way match between AJ Styles, LA Knight, and Randy Orton where the winner will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27.

WWE News - January 2024

Monday, January 1 - RAW: DAY ONE on USA

Tuesday, January 2 - NXT: NEW YEAR’S EVIL on USA

Wednesday, January 3 - Best of THE BUMP on YouTube

Thursday, January 4 - Best of WWE 2023 (4pm ET) and a live WWE 2024 Preview Special (8pm ET) on Peacock

Friday, January 5 – SMACKDOWN: NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION on FOX

AEW Worlds End

MJF vs Samoa Joe. AEW Title

"Didn't expect so many people on Long Island chanting Joe's name.. smart" Taz

"Going to be a tough one for MJF.. he's banging up" Taz

Promo: "Our scumbag"

Fans: "He's our scumbag"

"There's another problem too. The left shoulder of MJF" Tony Schiavone

"Thumbing Joe in the eye..the advantage" Excalibur

"I'm telling ya, Max is in a lot of trouble here tonight" Taz

"It is the last thing Max wanted" Excalibur

"He's in deep you know what right now" Taz

"Max has felt this muscle buster"

"Max is hurt. He's going for those quick covers" Taz

"Kangaroo kick"

"Didn't work"

"Going to skin the cat"

"Tried to skin the cat,. couldn't do it" Tony Schiavone

"He landed on the back of his head did Max" Taz

"Dragon Suplex, landed on the top of his head"

"Muscle buster on the outside"!

"He came down on the left shoulder" Taz

"A hell of a night for him" TS

"1, 2,.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,.9, 10" fans

"He wants this kangaroo gimmick" Taz

"Collapsing under the weight of the opponent" Excalibur

"He's thinking heat seeker here"

"The story written all over the face of MJF" Excalibur

"Now the salt of the earth"

"He got red handed through" Excalibur

"There goes the ref"

"Max knows the refs down" Taz

"Got to get a cover" Taz

"MJF is calling for the ring"

"He's looking for it"

"Joe transitions"

"What a struggle this has been" TS

"Ring the bell, that's it"

"Choked him out" Taz

Media Man: So pumped for this historic professional wrestling match. MJF makes history again, as does Joe. Much credit to both, as well as for the AEW team for making this possible. Social media channels are going off the hook. Expecting a very strong PPV number from TrillerTV 

@FiteTV

 and the like.

The AEW YouTube Channel is going to get further hammered once the powers that be release more footage from today's Worlds End.

AEW Official YouTube

http://youtube.com/aew

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #AdamCole #prowrestling #wrestling #AndNew #EntertainmentNews #PopCulture #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #X #media 

Image credit: AEW

All Elite Wrestling @AEW 

A Le Sex Gods Reunion? Sammy Guevara & Chris Jericho address their pasts! | 12/29/23, AEW Rampage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owgfbdGtSu0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"Hey, hey, Hey. Well, alright. You guys are hot in O-Town tonight. Welcome to Rampage. We had a huge night on Dynamite last Wednesday, when Sammy Guevara quit The Don Callis Family"... Chris Jericho

and more great AEW footage via the AEW Official YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@AEW

#AEWRampage #AEW #LeSexGods #SammyGuevara #ChrisJericho #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Image credit: AEW

All Elite Wrestling Facebook

AEW Worlds End is stacked. The Devil is in the detail. Nic? Kevin? Booked via TrillerTV (KFA FITE). 

UFC: A Win-Win-Win. A win for promoters, fighters and fans. Sean "Tarzan" Strickland is our 'Fighter Of The Year'. 

WWE 'Moment Of The Year. We'll buy that suggestion.  Classic turn with months teasing and the big pay off at the Royal Rumble PLE. 

Wrestlers Passed In 2023

Some of the wrestlers we lost this year

Shiek Adnan Al-Kaissie aged 84

Exotic Adrian Street aged 83

The Iron Sheik aged 81

Jerry Jarrett aged 80

Superstar Graham aged 79

Terry Funk aged 79

Butch Miller aged 78

Joyce Grable aged 70

Lanny Poffo aged 68

Jeff Gaylord aged 64

Brett Wayne Sawyer aged 63

"Mantaur" Mike Halac aged 55

Droz aged 54

Jay Briscoe aged 38

Bray Wyatt aged 36

Pro Wrestlers Passed In 2023

Some of the wrestlers we lost this year

Shiek Adnan Al-Kaissie. aged 84

Exotic Adrian Street. aged 83

The Iron Sheik. aged 81

Jerry Jarrett. aged 80

Superstar Billy Graham. aged 79

Terry Funk. aged 79

Butch Mille.r aged 78

Joyce Grable. aged 70

Lanny Poffo. aged 68

Jeff Gaylord. aged 64

Brett Wayne Sawyer. aged 63

"Mantaur" Mike Halac. aged 55

Droz. aged 54

Jay Briscoe. aged 38

Bray Wyatt. aged 36

Media Man Int YouTube

Pro Wrestling. Terry Funk tribute

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yG2Mqig9OD4

Wrestling Legends. Terry Funk. RIP

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jqfX7SWxap0

#prowrestling #prowrestlers #professionalwrestling #RIP #BrayWyatt #WindamRotuna #TerryFunk #AdrianStreet #IronSheik #JerryJarrett #BillyGraham #ButchMiller #JoyceGrable #LannyPoffo #Droz #JayBrisco #RestInPeace #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

Pro Wrestling

Get Ready for All Elite Wrestling @AEW Worlds End

Updated Intel

8 Man Tag

Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, & Sting vs AEW World Tag Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks and The Don Callis Family (ROH World Television Champion Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs)

Videos via the Official AEW YouTube Channel

The Don Callis Family celebrates Boxing Week with surprising results! | 12/27/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHfYiBHaMHE&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Set Your Reminder For Zero Hour!

ZERO HOUR: AEW Worlds End Pre Show | LIVE - Saturday, December 30 | 6:30e/3:30p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbP1EAbSXU&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Set Your Reminder For The Media Scrum!

AEW Worlds End Media Scrum | 12/30/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ7MUAiqF5I&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Continental Classic Final: Jon Moxley v Eddie Kingston | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88yM1kOvrjg&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW World Championship: MJF v Samoa Joe | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDXY2TMFyc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW World Championship: MJF v Samoa Joe | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDXY2TMFyc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Booked via TrillerTV @FiteTV (previously known at FITE)

Who is "The Devil"? Could it be Nic Nemeth or Adam Page?

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #EddieKingston #JonMoxley #ChristianCage #AdamCopeland #RRatedSuperstar #ChrisJericho #DarbyAllin #SammyGuevara #Sting #NicNemeth #Ziggler #AdamPage #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #PPV #PayPerView #TrillerTV #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: AEW

Pro Wrestling 

All Elite Wrestling @AEW

Worlds End

ZERO HOUR: AEW Worlds End Pre Show | LIVE - Saturday, December 30 | 6:30e/3:30p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbP1EAbSXU&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Broadcasting Now!

Kris Statlander vs Willow Nightingale

Hook vs Wheeler Yuta. FTW Rules match for the FTW championship

20 man battle royal for an anytime, anywhere TNT title shot!

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #AEWZeroHour #AEW #ZeroHour #KrisStatlander #WillowNightingale #Hook #WheelerYuta #FTW #BattleRoyal #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #TrillerTV #YouTube #wrestlingnews #sportsmedia #sportsnews #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: AEW

Pro Wrestling

AEW @AEW Official YouTube Channel

Worlds End Zero Hour is broadcasting now!

ZERO HOUR: AEW Worlds End Pre Show | LIVE - Saturday, December 30 | 6:30e/3:30p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwbP1EAbSXU&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"We are just under 20 minutes away"

"Who is The Devil"?

"Is it better to be first, or is it better to be first"?!

"It is FTW Rules. Anything goes"!

AEW World Championship: MJF v Samoa Joe | AEW Worlds End, LIVE Tonight on PPV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDXY2TMFyc&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #ZeroHour #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #EddieKingston #JonMoxley #ChristianCage #AdamCopeland #RRatedSuperstar #ChrisJericho #DarbyAllin #SammyGuevara #Sting #NicNemeth #Ziggler #AdamPage #Hook #FTW #FTWRules #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #PPV #PayPerView #TrillerTV #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #media

Image credit: AEW

Mixed Martial Arts

UFC @UFC 

World's leading MMA promotion, the UFC, highlights 'Year Of The Fighter'; Big thumbs up from fans and sports media says Media Man

PS: Sean Strickland, UFC Middleweight champion is our 'MMA Fighter Of The Year' award winner!

Year of the Fighter - Daniel Cormier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THQzZsSW4Ks&t=6s&ab_channel=UFC

Year of the Fighter - Max Holloway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ7MUAiqF5I&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Year of the Fighter - Israel Adesanya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh6iH0Rbq1s&t=2s&ab_channel=UFC

UFC Official YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@ufc

Media Man Int

UFC News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_news.html

#UFC #YearOfTheFighter #DamielCormier #MaxHolloway #IsraelAdesanya #ufcnews #ufcmedia #mmanews #mmamedia #YouTube #YT #highlights #moments #interview #interviews #feature #spotlight #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: UFC

I Have Some Things to Say, Please Read, By Maxwell Jacob Friedman

I don’t usually do stuff like this but I have sh*t to get off my chest.

I’m wrestling Samoa Joe for the world title on Saturday night, and I have no idea what’s going to happen after that. You’ll probably hear some stories about me over the next few days, about my contract, about the injuries I’ve been dealing with, about the condition my body is in, about who knows what else. I’m sure it’ll all leak. That’s fine.

But AEW turns FIVE on Monday — January 1st, 2024. And that f*cking means something to me. And since everything beyond Saturday feels so uncertain, I want to share my thoughts on it now. I want our fans to hear from me ahead of whatever comes next.

1.

There’s a reason that “workers rights” get brought up so often in conversations around AEW: It’s because we have a lot goddamn more of them now. This sh*t isn’t rocket science. Competition = bad for management, good for labor. There used to be one major American wrestling company, now there’s two. That f*cking matters. It matters for the wrestlers who work here, since we all have jobs that literally didn’t exist five years ago. But it also matters for the wrestlers who don’t work here. For everyone in WWE, AEW means not having to work in monopoly conditions. It means more options, which means more leverage, which means more money. (And I’ll take a wild guess and say better treatment.) And for wrestlers outside those two companies, AEW matters not just because it exists, but because of how it exists. Listen … if you google me, I think it says I’m 5'11" — but we all know that’s horsesh*t. I’m like 5'8", guys. And this is a place where, simply put, a 5'8" Jew can be world champ. If you know wrestling history then you know that’s a big deal and why.

So while I welcome anyone being critical of AEW (God knows I am)..... if you’re actually actively rooting against us? Against us EXISTING? Guess what, you’re the f*cking worst. You’re rooting against workers. And that’s the truth. Because out of all the incredible things that AEW has done over these last five years, #1 with a bullet is “put MJF on TV.” But #2 is “make the wrestling industry just a little bit better to work in.”

2.

Cody took a chance on me and put me on the card at All In. Then Tony took a chance on me and signed me to AEW full-time. But let’s not kid ourselves: I was pretty much brought in to be the guy you disliked — who didn’t stand a chance against the guys you loved. You know those wrestling moments we all grew up on, where some legend comes out to talk to the crowd, but then a younger guy interrupts them, is an asshole, and eats a fist to the face? I think that’s what they saw me as when we started. Just look at Double or Nothing 2019, our first-ever PPV. They had Bret Hart come out to unveil the AEW World Title. They had Hangman Page come out to get Bret’s co-sign and look cool. Me??? I said a few words, got booed, and took a punch. I wasn’t looked at as being a potential top guy. 

But I’ll never forget the moment before I went out there. I mean, picture it: I’m 21, barely a few years into the business, and I’m being told to cut a promo on Bret Freaking Hitman Hart. Over 10,000 people in the arena, something like 100,000 watching on PPV. So before I walk out, I ask Tony and those guys what feels like a pretty f*cking good question: “Ummm…... what do I say??” And they just look at me for a second with these blank-ass stares. And they’re like, “........what do you mean? You know how to talk.” That’s when I realized what AEW was going to be like — and that it’s where I was meant to wrestle. Because, yeah, O.K., they brought me in as fodder. Tough luck. But they also gave me a chance to make my own luck. You know what I mean? Like — they threw me into the deep end, floaties off, and said sink or swim. Get over with our fans or don’t. And I’ll take that any day compared to the other way it’s been done in our business, historically, which is: they place you gently in the shallow end, floaties on, no actually you can’t take them off (it’s a rule), also you never get over because you look f*cking ridiculous with floaties on, but you don’t sink so that’s good, and oh yeah you’re fired.

Trust me, though, AEW isn’t for everyone. “Sink or swim” cuts both ways like a motherf*cker. If you watched us in Year One, you know that. I won’t name any names. But suffice to say, there were guys who had all the buzz in the world coming in at the start — and it turns out it was just that. Buzz. Seriously, there were guys who no one could shut up about. Oh my god, so and so, that dude is a MASSIVE star. Then you’d hear someone mention Darby Allin and it’s like, Yeah, Darby’s cool and all … but he’s little. He’s not REALLY gonna get over. You know who the GUY is? It’s so and so.

But here’s the thing: It wasn’t so and so. It was f*cking Darby, who was supposed to be too small and too weird. (And is a b*tch who I’ve beaten twice with a headlock takeover — but still.) And it was f*cking Penta and Fenix, who definitely got dismissed by a lot of people at first as just these “run-of-the-mill” luchas. And it was f*cking Kingston, who is a BUM sure but got crazy over just by being himself, a dude from Yonkers. And it was f*cking me — who was meant to top out at “Cody’s sidekick” or the douchebag of the month or whatever. (And then of course you’ve got someone like Hangman, who everyone said would be great and he was. Prick!)

Bottom line: AEW = opportunity in every sense of the word. If you’re good, it’s an opportunity to show that. If you’re mid, it’s an opportunity to show that. If you’ve still got it, it’s an opportunity to show that. If you’re washed as f*ck, it’s an opportunity to show that.

And if you’re a generational talent (me), it’s an opportunity to show that.

3.

I want to say a few things about the people who helped build this place.

Tony — yeah he’s my boss, yeah he’s a billionaire’s son, no one wants to hear about him, I’ll be brief. 1. Most billionaires’ sons, as I understand it, are rude idiots who watch Netflix all day on mountains of drugs while siphoning money from Mommy and Daddy. Tony isn’t that. So on a baseline level I guess I respect him for being a nice guy who gives a sh*t and loves this sport. 2. Tony honors contracts. If you think that’s a low bar, cool. Welcome to wrestling.

Cody — we have a beautiful friendship, in a business where friends are like unicorns, and I’ll just leave it at that.

Kenny and the Bucks — I always hear how “polarizing” they are and my response is thank f*ck. Literally every performer worth caring about is polarizing. Every athlete who I’d buy a ticket to watch, every artist who doesn’t put me to sleep. I can probably count all the genuinely punk rock moments in recent wrestling history on two hands. And those dudes betting on themselves and winning is one of them.

Jericho — it’s really fun to sh*t on him, I know. (Trust me, I do it all the time.) But people have the weirdest, shortest memories when it comes to who he is and what he represents. Like: I respect Tony and the EVPs a lot. (See above.) But if AEW at the start had just been those guys, plus a ragtag group of indie wrestlers with zero TV exposure (myself included)?? Sorry…… but no. We would have been dead in the water. Chris gave us a legitimacy that people take so f*cking for granted now it’s insane. And he didn’t just make AEW feel legit — he also made AEW’s world title feel legit. Which might seem like the same thing but it’s different. (It’s harder.) And let’s be clear: Chris also gave legitimacy to MJF. I mean, when he decided to deal with me for a YEAR?? I was already doing well, of course, but his buy-in cemented me. To our fans, to my bosses, to myself. It was like, Yeah, go ahead and get invested in this MJF guy. He’s for real. He’s worth a year of CHRIS JERICHO’s time. I assure you I’m forgetting no one when I say: Chris was the biggest star AEW had at its inception, and most likely still is (besides me, duh).

Moxley — the thing you have to understand with Mox is that he chose AEW. Maybe that sounds obvious, but it’s not. It’s hard to explain. It’s like people have these weird emotional scars about wrestling, from so many years of there being only one game in town. Where it’s like..… Ok. You wrestled classics in Ring of Honor? You were a top guy on the indies? You sold out arenas in Mexico? You were (literally) “big in Japan”? Cool…… have you ever said “Welcome to Monday Night Raw,” though?? I just think there’s a segment of fans who would always assume, no matter what, that WWE was Plan A. But Jon took a f*cking sledgehammer to that assumption. He was part of WWE’s Plan A. He headlined there for half a decade. Was their world champ, was in their biggest stable, drew money, drew ratings, moved assloads of merch. And in the absolute prime of his career he said, Thanks for the memories, thanks for the gigantic offer. But I’mma try this other thing over here. That’s the sh*t a lot of guys will TALK about doing. Jon is the one guy who actually went out and did it. Dude has my infinite respect.

The Originals — Jericho and Moxley, they’re the blueprint for established guys coming in and understanding AEW from Day One. Someone like Bryan, he’s a blueprint for coming in later and doing the same. But this won’t shock you: Not everyone has been like them. Other established dudes came in, thought of us as a parachute between forgettable WWE runs, and didn’t respect what this was built on — or who it was built by, or why it was built in the first place. And while it would be so fun to write a few names down right now, what’s even more fun is I really don’t have to. Because guys like that, their laziness comes out in the wash. It shows up in the f*cking work. Doesn’t mean they’re bad people!! I just don’t respect them. They never understood what Mox or Jericho or Danielson understood, or what The Elite understood, which is that the core of AEW’s success came from two places: 1. Our fans, and 2. The Originals. And it gets easier and easier to overlook the work the Originals put in, the further we get away from it. But I f*cking remember. I remember how we just tried sh*t in Year One. I remember how we not only stayed afloat in the pandemic — we came together and flourished. I remember how influential so many of our ideas were, and how shamelessly they all got copied, because they were new and different and good. Bottom line: Growth is important…… but so is what made that growth possible. I’m proud of the Originals and proud to be one.

Our fans — they’re the best. F*cking sue me. They’re smart, they’re passionate (which is usually code for “lunatic” but not in this case) (mostly), and simply put they love this sh*t. And I don’t mean “love” as in blind loyalty, or “love” as in mark behavior. “Love” as in love. “Love” as in, embracing our best stuff: Swerve and Hangman’s deathmatch. Darby’s stunts. Eddie Kingston’s promos (still a bum). “Timeless” Toni Storm. The f*cking bangers that Jamie Hayter was putting on. MJF-Cole. MJF-Cody. MJF-Bryan. MJF-Punk. MJF-Kenny. MJF-Joe. MJF’s promos. MJF’s body. Wardlow being a pig and betraying MJF. (I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things.) But also “love” as in, holding us accountable: When there’s too much of something. Or when there hasn’t been enough (look at the responses Swerve is getting right now; I don’t like him but come on!!!). Or when we forget what we’re supposed to be about. I’m sure some people will roll their eyes at this but (guess what???) I don’t care: I grew up a fan, I’m still a fan. AEW only works because of our fans. I’m also aware that there’s a contingent of fans who are frustrated with me right now. And you know what?! Those sick f*cks are still the best. They didn’t magically wake up and go from loving to hating me. It happened because they hold me to the highest standard. And I’m GLAD I’m held to that standard — I hold them to the same. If I’m ever missing the mark, I want to know. And I want them to know that when I miss the mark, the next time I’m out there I’m going to hit the living piss out of it. And that for as long as I’m in this company I will give them my all.

It’s weird. During my time in AEW, I’ve had the highest highs — so high they’re untouchable for anyone else in this business (no offense!!). But I’ve also had the lowest lows — so low, with such stupidly bad timing, that I honestly sometimes think I’m cursed. Like I think maybe the wrestle gods were trolling one day and said, “Alright. Let’s create this dude who’s a GOAT on the mic, up there with anyone bell-to-bell, looks electric in a Burberry scarf, is unnecessarily good at singing, and is easily the most exciting performer of the biggest boom period in decades. But every time he does something great let’s have this other dude (note: whom I wish the best!!!) eat a f*cking muffin. Or let’s have someone get injured. Or let’s have someone else do some other dumb sh*t.” It’s like all of my best moments have come with a bad moment attached.

Not sure why it’s worked out like that…. but you play the hand you’re dealt. And while I’m proud of a lot of things I’ve done in AEW, near the tippy top of the list is the fact that I’ve never made an excuse. Not one single time. No matter how much bullsh*t has come my way (and so much bullsh*t has come my way). No matter how much pain I’m in behind the scenes (and sometimes I wish you guys knew). No matter what, man. I’ve just done my job. What a concept.

4.

Top five title defenses of the MJF era (in no order):

Danielson in San Francisco. Bell-to-bell, Bryan is the best wrestler alive — and for my money the best who’s ever done it is him or Eddie Guerrero. That match was such f*cking validation, and it always will be. For whatever reason (the reason is they have brainworms) people love to use my mic skills against me as an in-ring performer. As if being a great promo must mean I can’t hang as a wrestler. I despise that perception of me. And I wrestle with a chip on my shoulder because of it. So when I went 60 minutes with the GOAT? To me that wasn’t just me vs. Bryan. It was me vs. the people who think they know what I’m capable of. It was me saying, Motherf*ckers I walk the walk. And I walk it with more swag than anyone you’ve ever seen.

Four Pillars in Vegas. Speaking of chips on shoulders. Go ahead and think what you want about “four pillars” as a concept — but getting to headline a PPV with those three dudes, when none of them had main-evented a PPV before? That was a big deal to me. And of course we heard what people were saying in the lead-up to it: Why is Sammy in the main event? Why is Jungle Boy in there? (Darby on the other hand..… everyone loves that emo c*nt.) And honestly that offended me and Darby as much as it offended Sammy and Jack. It was like, who is anyone to tell us who belongs in a match? And then of course those dudes all wrestled like the f*cking Michael Jordan “.....I took that personally” meme, and it was one of the best world title matches in AEW history. And afterwards everyone was like, Huh. Well…. THAT was incredible. Sammy, Jungle Boy, who knew? Umm, I knew. We knew.

Kenny at Mohegan Sun. Kenny has a lot of detractors and none of them can lace up his boots. (Well, his kick pads, but I digress.) (Thanks, Taz.) I think people fear change, and fear what they don’t know. And Kenny wrestles a style that confronts those people with the fact that what they don’t know could fill ten f*cking oceans. Is it MY style, personally?? No. But I appreciate that it comes from genius, and that guys like Kenny are how we evolve. Also holy sh*t I loved wrestling him.

Cole at Wembley. Oh, look, another example of me doing something incredible and the big story afterwards being “old man gets in fracas.” In seriousness: To main-event Wembley Stadium at all would have been something I was proud of. But what meant even more is that 1. I did it with Adam, who’s become a really good friend, and 2. We did it in a match that actually felt worthy of main-eventing Wembley Stadium. It SUCKS how Adam got injured — he was insanely good this summer and deserved to have it all play out. But I’m glad we got that match. It’s forever and it f*cking ruled.

Joe at Arthur Ashe. I’m putting this one in as a placeholder until Saturday. Joe is a monster, an athletic freak, a legit tough guy in a world full of pretend “tough guys,” a living legend, and this makes no sense but I think he’s the best he’s ever been. And there’s a reason why we had to run that match back with a sequel: It was way too good not to.

5.

I’m tired.

I know that’s not what you’re supposed to say as a professional wrestler — especially not before a big world title defense in your hometown. I know I should take my vitamins, brother, order up an expensive coffee to the five-star hotel room I’m staying in (thanks, Tony), and end this article by cutting an ’80s good guy promo about the evil Samoa Joe. Let’s sell some Pay-Per-Views!!!!!!! But I don’t know, man. I’m just so, so, so tired. That’s the God’s honest truth. My hip is a mess. My arm won’t lift above my head. I’m on painkillers, which are not my thing. I can’t sleep.

But like I said earlier…… I know it’s not only me who’s tired. I know our fans are a little tired of this run I’ve been on. And for the first time since this company started, I know there’s some MJF fatigue. Which is fine, by the way — no one stays hot forever.

Right now, though, as I'm writing this? It’s Wednesday morning. It’s three days before Worlds End.

It’s five days from five years of MJF in AEW.

And I don’t know what comes next.

Here’s what I do know. Wrestling in the main event of a card at Nassau Coliseum as AEW world champ? That sh*t means everything to me. Really. EVERYTHING. People are always telling me how Long Island is a part of my “character” — nope, f*ck you, it’s home. I’m a short kid with learning disabilities from Long Island. Not a character. People are always telling me how getting bullied is a part of my “backstory” — nope, f*ck you, it happened. Kids threw quarters at me and told me to “pick it up, Jew Boy.” Not a backstory. And if you think this is that ’80s good guy promo I was teasing a couple of paragraphs ago, it isn’t. Actually … you want to know the truth? Sometimes I wonder if standing up to antisemitism would even be a “babyface move” anymore. No, for real — I legit wonder. I wonder if being a proud Jew like I am, in 2023, has actually made me LESS popular as a wrestler. And if deep down, when someone says they have “MJF fatigue,” what they really mean is “enough with the Jewish stuff already.” I honestly don’t know the answer to that … and I’m sure I’ll get sh*t for even asking the question. But that’s where my thoughts are right now. It’s “fear the worst.” I’m a Jew in America and I’m f*cking soul sick. 

Allow me to say this, straight up, point blank: I don’t support terrorism, Zionism, genocide, war, bombs, genocidal governments, dead innocent Palestinians, dead innocent Israelis. I don’t support people — any people — dying because of hate. I’ll tell you what I do support, and what I definitely am: I’m anti-hate. I’m sick to my stomach that people are calling for the death of Jews over something that’s happening on the other side of the world. And I’m sick that Hamas, a literal terrorist organization, has fans on this side of the world — as on a daily basis I’m having to read antisemitic sh*t from all kinds of people: celebrities (hi, Kanye), strangers, even people I know. It’s just very sad. We’re all human, man. We all deserve rights, we all deserve freedom, we all deserve happiness and respect. (I really wanted to clarify these things and I hope I have. These are the serious conversations I have with the very hot woman I’m in love with, who by the way is Palestinian.)

Sorry — I got off track. This thing was supposed to be about “AEW turning five” + the PPV.

Here’s the last thing I’ll say about my Jewishness: If you’re over it, tough sh*t. If you feel like it’s a political statement, I can’t help you. If it makes you uncomfortable, good I’m glad. If you think I should tone it down, no I won’t. If you hate me for other reasons, yeah that’s fair.

Here’s the last thing I’ll say about Worlds End — and don’t worry it’s toxic: I will tear the f*cking house down against Joe or I will LITERALLY DIE TRYING. Do not celebrate that sentence, it’s so stupid. If I was being smart I’d sit this one out. I’m not being smart. I only get one first title reign, and one first title defense in my hometown. I won’t tell you my entire career has been building to this because my entire life has been building to this.

And then finally…. here’s the last thing I’ll say about AEW: Happy birthday, you f*cking weirdo. To everyone who’s helped us succeed, THANKS. And to everyone who hoped we would fail — Yikes!!!!! Sorry for your loss, my condolences truly. Order the PPV though it will be sick. 

— Max

Movie News

North American Box Office

1. Wonka - $24 million

2. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom - $19.5 million

3. Migration - $17.2 million

4. The Color Purple - $13 million

5. Anyone But You - $9 million

6. The Boys in the Boa - $8.3 million

7. The Iron Claw - $5 million

8. Ferrari - $4 million

9. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - $2.9 million

10. The Boy and the Heron $2.5 million

Media Man Int

Entertainment News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/news4.html

Box Office (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/box_office.html

Movies (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/movies.html

#movienews #BoxOffice #popculture #SHOWBIZ #Wonka #Aquaman2 #Migration #MigrationMovie #TheColorPurple #AnyoneButYou #TheBoysInTheBoat  #TheIronClaw #IronClaw #VonErich #VonErichs #Ferrari #FerrariMovie #TheHungerGames #TheBoyAndTheHeron #moviebiz #entertainmentindustry #trends #trending #buzz #media 

‘Masterpiece’ Collection Fetches More Than $500k in Coinbase Drop

08-18-2023

"Masterpiece"—a digital art collection curated by Coca‑Cola—brought in $543,660 this week during Coinbase’s “Onchain Summer” event celebrating the launch of the cryptocurrency exchange platform’s Base blockchain.

During the 72-hour sale, collectors snatched up more than 80,000 minted iterations of the eight digital artworks, which mash up timeless masterpieces like "The Scream" by Edvard Munch and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer with contemporary creations from emerging talents like Fatma Ramadan, Aket, Vikram Kushwah, Stefania Tejada and WonderBuhle.

Each collectible intertwines with the Coca‑Cola bottle for a one-of-a-kind convergence of iconic brand imagery, classic art and contemporary creativity in the digital realm. The NFT (non-fungible token) collection draws inspiration from the global Coca‑Cola “Masterpiece” campaign and hero film, which depicts art students sketching select paintings on display in a gallery. When one student appears uninspired, an arm from a painting reaches across the gallery to grab the Coke bottle from Andy Warhol’s pop-art masterpiece. From there, it’s relayed from works including JMW Turner’s “The Shipwreck”, “The Scream” and Van Gogh’s “Bedroom in Arles” before finally landing with “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, whose subject opens the bottle for the student in need of inspiration and refreshing upliftment. The film bridges the worlds of classical and contemporary art by featuring work from emerging creators from Africa, India, the Middle East and Latin America. 

Coca‑Cola curated the collection to celebrate artistic diversity and the dynamic convergence between art, technology and human connection. “Masterpiece” invites art enthusiasts and Coca‑Cola aficionados alike to explore the blurred boundaries between physical and digital art.

“At Coca‑Cola, we have a long history of collaborating with the artist community, and now technology and innovation allows us to continue creating with artists in new and interesting ways,” said Pratik Thakar, Senior Director of Generative AI at The Coca‑Cola Company. “We chose to release our Coca‑Cola Masterpiece digital collectibles collection during Onchain Summer with Coinbase because they are leaders in the Web3 and crypto space."

Coca‑Cola entered the metaverse in 2021 by auctioning off its first-ever NFT collectibles on International Friendship Day, with the company’s cut of the proceeds donated to Special Olympics International. In July 2022, the company released 136 collectibles to commemorate Pride Month.

NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that can be bought and sold like any other piece of personal property but have no tangible form. Like cryptocurrencies, NFTs are created on a digital ledger commonly known as a blockchain. Collectors and crypto investors purchase NFTs—which are created as tokens, a type of certificate of ownership—via online marketplaces. 

Donald Trump Just Dumped $2.4 Million of Crypto

The former president still has $2.2 million of crypto to his name, however.

Former president Donald Trump, who recently accelerated his push into the $9 billion non-fungible token (NFT) space with the launch of a “Mug Shot” digital collection, has dumped $2.4 million worth of ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency.

Since launching his third NFT trading card collection, Trump is now switching gears and divesting from ethereum, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham.

Trump had acquired the $2.4 million ETH from royalties from sales of his NFT collections. Arkham’s data shows that in the previous three weeks, the former commander-in-chief reportedly sold $2.4 million, or 1,075 ETH, from royalties he collected.

Trump, however, still has $2.2 million of crypto to his name. These digital asset holdings include $1.4 million ETH, $649,000 WETH, $167,000 MAGA coins, $340 Pepecoin, and $145 in JESUS coins.

The former president initially entered the NFT space in December 2022, and his first set of digital collectibles earned him approximately $4.5 million. At the time, Trump had unveiled 45,000 cards priced at $99 apiece, all of which sold out in less than 24 hours. According to the marketing blitz around the NFTs at the time, Trump’s digital trading cards offered “amazing art of [Trump’s] life and career,” while also claiming to be “very much like a baseball card but hopefully much more exciting.” Fans could choose among cards of Trump dressed as a wrestler, astronaut, racecar driver, or as a footballer. Every card was emblazoned with Trump’s presidential number: 45.

The success of the first NFT cards spurred the Trump team to launch a second set in April of this year. The second batch of NFTs were sold for a little less than $99 apiece, and that was quickly followed up by the latest iteration this December – a “Mugshot Edition” of 100,000 NFTs, complete with a piece of Trump’s suit worn while he was arrested in Georgia. But the Mugshot Edition NFTs ended up depressing the floor price of the first two NFT collections, making them seem like a bad investment altogether.

In fact, Trump’s latest collection of NFTs has yet to sell out – to date, the former president has only sold less than half of the 100,000 NFTs minted for the collection.

Content creators concerns rise with the new AI features in Bing and Google; Search and AI minefield. Humans vs bots? 

Media Man Int

Content Creation (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/content_creation.html

Content Live (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/content_live.html

#content #contentcreators #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #bing #google #search #searchengine #searchengines #humans #bots #tech #news #trends #GPT #SEO #SEM #authority #expert #PopCulture #trends #trending #buzz #X #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Pro Wrestling 

AEW @AEW

AEW Worlds End Media Scrum | 12/30/23 

https://youtube.com/live/yZ7MUAiqF5I?si=Vge6OTLlXp15hvN

Media Man:. We're loving Joe's attitude and style of communication.  

"Try that to my face"! Samoa Joe 

"We got the right belt" Joe 

"We are definitely in some cross promotions" Joe   

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #AEW #aewmedia #aewnews #MediaScrum #SamoaJoe #quotes #AndNew #prowrestling #wrestling #combatsports #Goat #Legend #WrestlingLegend #wrestlingnews #popculture #entertainmentnews #showbiz #promotion #promotions #crosspromotion #WBD #WarnerBros #WBGames #movies #movienews #gamenews #gamingnews #YouTube #TY #socialmedia #broadcast #broadcasting #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Image credit: AEW

Search Engine Journal

Google On Knowing If Best SEO Was Applied

Google's John Mueller answers a question about being assured of having done the best effort for SEO

In a recent Google office hours recording, Google’s John Mueller answered a question about how one knows if their SEO coverage is complete and if there are any tools that can spot something that they might have missed.

That question the way it was originally asked sounds somewhat strange and that may be because of a language translation issue. The person asking the question has an Indian name so it’s quite possible that the oddness of the question (how do I know my SEO is perfect) was due to language.

That the question makes more sense if it’s  understood as how does one know that their SEO is optimal and that nothing was left undone. That’s a legitimate question and fits into the idea of SEO that is free from flaws, given that the definition of “perfect” is being as free as possible from flaws.

Here’s the question and answer as read by John Mueller:

“Charan asks: How to know if my SEO is perfect? Are there any tools, apps or websites available for it?”

What the person asking the question appears to be asking is if there are any standards or best practices to measure their SEO efforts against.

That’s why they also asked if there are any tools or websites that could offer a support in that direction.

Mueller answered the question as asked, without taking into account that the person asking the question may have had a different intent apart from the literal meaning of the question.

Mueller Offers “Disappointing” Answer

John Mueller offered what he self-described as a disappointing answer.

Given that there may have been a language issue, maybe answering the literal question of “what is perfect SEO,” wasn’t the most nuanced approach.

Here’s Mueller’s response:

“Sorry to disappoint, Charan, but your SEO is not perfect. In fact, no SEO is perfect.

The Internet, search engines, and how users search is always changing, so SEO will evolve over time as well.

This includes both technical elements, like structured data, as well as considerations around quality. Just because you can’t do perfect SEO shouldn’t discourage you though!”

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Roger with an insightful and almost perfect summary article on best effort SEO. I'm not disappointed at all in the findings and revolutions. The imperfections make and prove us human, along the same train of thought and similar scribes to greats such as Rick Rubin, Albert Einstein. To aim or expect for absolute perfection ala perfect result in search engine optimization and other related disciplines may be a frugal and totally unrealistic approach and mindset. The Internet with its Google algorithm updates, core changes, trade secrets and all means it's dynamic in nature and the goal posts are ever changing. Best effort for best result to help ensure one doesn't go totally mad in the process of seeking out the Holy Grail of Internet SEO. And as per journals, sometimes 2nd or 3rd place can even be better than an official 1st in some categories or platform situations, so no need to stress too much. Business/work - life balance to win the day and a sustainable business model. Follow Google protocols and guidelines and smile all the.way to the bank or crypto exchange says media scribe. Winning with priceless SEJ tips. Happy New Year to all.

Searching for the Holy Grail of The Internet meets media/digital media/online publishing 

#holygrail #search #internet #web #web3 #worldwideweb #onlinemedia #onlinepublishing #onlinepublisher #SEO #SME #expert #authority #code #webcode #thematrix #biz #business #Sustainability #searchengines #popculture #digitalnews #digitalbiz #niche #nichenews #nichemedia #nichemarketing #formula #mathematics #frequency #ads #businessmodels #world #worldnews #sportsnews #sportsbiz #trends #buzz #media #mediaman 

How Search Engines Work

Want to optimize your site the right way and set yourself up for success? Then it’s critical to know how search engines operate today.

Search engines are a significant factor in everyday life. From recipes to the news, from images to videos, we use search engines like Google to help us with information. But what are search engines, really? How do they work? What actually is the process for information retrieval?

Search engines have to review millions of web pages to provide the most useful information for each search query. They must then decide how to organize that information and present it to the search user.

Google and other search engines prioritize their search users’ experience over anything. Therefore, their goal is to provide the best results for every query.

So for search users, it’s simple. They enter their query, and search engines look through their index of web pages to find the best matches. Those matches are then ranked by an algorithm and displayed in search engine results pages (SERPs).

For marketers, search engines are tools for getting eyes on your content or on your products. But how can you optimize your site to set it up for success? What is the difference between crawling, indexing, and ranking, and why do you need to know?

Google and other search engines work using a variety of different elements. First, they use web crawlers to crawl pages to get data. Next, they index them to be retrieved in future search queries.

Ultimately, they rank the indexed content based on a variety of factors. These factors are part of the algorithm to determine what results are relevant and which results are quality.

Over time, search engines have become more complicated. They can answer questions directly on search engine results pages, surface different content types, and even change the SERPs to reflect queries.

They’ve also been able to understand more diverse web sites. All of this has created an answer engine ecosystem that changes daily.

In 2020, Google ran over 600,000 experiments to make improvements to the Search algorithm. Live traffic experiments allow Google to test new search features before they are rolled out globally.

Understanding how these algorithms and features work is fundamental to making sure your content gets seen on Google. It will also help you understand the results you see when you perform searches yourself.

How Search Engines Work, written by VIP contributor Dave Davies, tackles the following questions:

What are search engines crawlers? How do search engines use crawlers?

How do crawlers discover and index new pages?

What is rendering, and why is it important to search?

What are search algorithms, and how do they play into search?

What do you need to know about ranking? How do algorithms measure factors like quality and relevance?

How do search engines answer questions?

Media Man Web Tips

Modern link building is ultra aggressive: It’s all about using the opportunities when you see them, and sometimes creating your own. Seize the day and make those deals webbys!

#link #linkbuilding #text #textlink #textlinks #linking #seo #searchengineoptimization #expert #authority #entertainmentnews #popculture #combatsports #gonzo #showbiz #SEM #authority #SERPS #onlinenews #onlinebiz #algorithm #algorithms #web #web3 #webtips #bizdev #seonews #seotips #top10 #agent #agency #network #onlineads #trend #trends #buzz #news #newsbiz #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

How To Manage Crawl Budget For Large Sites

Optimize your site so Google will find your content faster and index your content, which could help your site get better visibility and traffic.

The Internet is an ever-evolving virtual universe with over 1.1 billion websites.

Do you think that Google can crawl every website in the world?

Even with all the resources, money, and data centers that Google has, it cannot even crawl the entire web – nor does it want to.

What Is Crawl Budget, And Is It Important?

Crawl budget refers to the amount of time and resources that Googlebot spends on crawling web pages in a domain.

It is important to optimize your site so Google will find your content faster and index your content, which could help your site get better visibility and traffic.

If you have a large site that has millions of web pages, it is particularly important to manage your crawl budget to help Google crawl your most important pages and get a better understanding of your content.

Google states that:

If your site does not have a large number of pages that change rapidly, or if your pages seem to be crawled the same day that they are published, keeping your sitemap up to date and checking your index coverage regularly is enough. Google also states that each page must be reviewed, consolidated and assessed to determine where it will be indexed after it has crawled.

Crawl budget is determined by two main elements: crawl capacity limit and crawl demand.

Crawl demand is how much Google wants to crawl on your website. More popular pages, i.e., a popular story from CNN and pages that experience significant changes, will be crawled more.

Googlebot wants to crawl your site without overwhelming your servers. To prevent this, Googlebot calculates a crawl capacity limit, which is the maximum number of simultaneous parallel connections that Googlebot can use to crawl a site, as well as the time delay between fetches.

Taking crawl capacity and crawl demand together, Google defines a site’s crawl budget as the set of URLs that Googlebot can and wants to crawl. Even if the crawl capacity limit is not reached, if crawl demand is low, Googlebot will crawl your site less.

Here are the top 12 tips to manage crawl budget for large to medium sites with 10k to millions of URLs.

1. Determine What Pages Are Important And What Should Not Be Crawled

Determine what pages are important and what pages are not that important to crawl (and thus, Google visits less frequently).

Once you determine that through analysis, you can see what pages of your site are worth crawling and what pages of your site are not worth crawling and exclude them from being crawled.

It manages its crawl budget by informing Google not to crawl certain pages on the site because it restricted Googlebot from crawling certain URLs in the robots.txt file.

Googlebot may decide it is not worth its time to look at the rest of your site or increase your crawl budget. Make sure that Faceted navigation and session identifiers: are blocked via robots.txt

2. Manage Duplicate Content

While Google does not issue a penalty for having duplicate content, you want to provide Googlebot with original and unique information that satisfies the end user’s information needs and is relevant and useful. Make sure that you are using the robots.txt file.

Google stated not to use no index, as it will still request but then drop.

3. Block Crawling Of Unimportant URLs Using Robots.txt And Tell Google What Pages It Can Crawl

For an enterprise-level site with millions of pages, Google recommends blocking the crawling of unimportant URLs using robots.txt.

Also, you want to ensure that your important pages, directories that hold your golden content, and money pages are allowed to be crawled by Googlebot and other search engines.

4. Long Redirect Chains

Keep your number of redirects to a small number if you can. Having too many redirects or redirect loops can confuse Google and reduce your crawl limit.

Google states that long redirect chains can have a negative effect on crawling.

5. Use HTML

Using HTML increases the odds of a crawler from any search engine visiting your website.

While Googlebots have improved when it comes to crawling and indexing JavaScript, other search engine crawlers are not as sophisticated as Google and may have issues with other languages other than HTML.

6. Make Sure Your Web Pages Load Quickly And Offer A Good User Experience

Make your site is optimized for Core Web Vitals.

The quicker your content loads – i.e., under three seconds – the quicker Google can provide information to end users. If they like it, Google will keep indexing your content because your site will demonstrate Google crawl health, which can make your crawl limit increase.

7. Have Useful Content

According to Google, content is rated by quality, regardless of age. Create and update your content as necessary, but there is no additional value in making pages artificially appear to be fresh by making trivial changes and updating the page date.

If your content satisfies the needs of end users and, i.e., helpful and relevant, whether it is old or new does not matter.

If users do not find your content helpful and relevant, then I recommend that you update and refresh your content to be fresh, relevant, and useful and promote it via social media.

Also, link your pages directly to the home page, which may be seen as more important and crawled more often.

8. Watch Out For Crawl Errors

If you have deleted some pages on your site, ensure the URL returns a 404 or 410 status for permanently removed pages. A 404 status code is a strong signal not to crawl that URL again.

Blocked URLs, however, will stay part of your crawl queue much longer and will be recrawled when the block is removed.

Also, Google states to remove any soft 404 pages, which will continue to be crawled and waste your crawl budget. To test this, go into GSC and review your Index Coverage report for soft 404 errors.

If your site has many 5xx HTTP response status codes (server errors) or connection timeouts signal the opposite, crawling slows down. Google recommends paying attention to the Crawl Stats report in Search Console and keeping the number of server errors to a minimum.

By the way, Google does not respect or adhere to the non-standard “crawl-delay” robots.txt rule.

Even if you use the nofollow attribute, the page can still be crawled and waste the crawl budget if another page on your site, or any page on the web, does not label the link as nofollow.

9. Keep Sitemaps Up To Date

XML sitemaps are important to help Google find your content and can speed things up.

It is extremely important to keep your sitemap URLs up to date, use the <lastmod> tag for updated content, and follow SEO best practices, including but not limited to the following.

Only include URLs you want to have indexed by search engines.

Only include URLs that return a 200-status code.

Make sure a single sitemap file is less than 50MB or 50,000 URLs, and if you decide to use multiple sitemaps, create an index sitemap that will list all of them.

Make sure your sitemap is UTF-8 encoded.

Include links to localized version(s) of each URL. (See documentation by Google.)

Keep your sitemap up to date, i.e., update your sitemap every time there is a new URL or an old URL has been updated or deleted.

10. Build A Good Site Structure

Having a good site structure is important for your SEO performance for indexing and user experience.

Site structure can affect search engine results pages (SERP) results in a number of ways, including crawlability, click-through rate, and user experience.

Having a clear and linear structure of your site can use your crawl budget efficiently, which will help Googlebot find any new or updated content.

Always remember the three-click rule, i.e., any user should be able to get from any page of your site to another with a maximum of three clicks.

11. Internal Linking

The easier you can make it for search engines to crawl and navigate through your site, the easier crawlers can identify your structure, context, and important content.

Having internal links pointing to a web page can inform Google that this page is important, help establish an information hierarchy for the given website, and can help spread link equity throughout your site.

12. Always Monitor Crawl Stats

Always review and monitor GSC to see if your site has any issues during crawling and look for ways to make your crawling more efficient.

You can use the Crawl Stats report to see if Googlebot has any issues crawling your site.

If availability errors or warnings are reported in GSC for your site, look for instances in the host availability graphs where Googlebot requests exceeded the red limit line, click into the graph to see which URLs were failing, and try to correlate those with issues on your site.

Also, you can use the URL Inspection Tool to test a few URLs on your site.

If the URL inspection tool returns host load warnings, that means that Googlebot cannot crawl as many URLs from your site as it discovered.

Wrapping Up

Crawl budget optimization is crucial for large sites due to their extensive size and complexity.

With numerous pages and dynamic content, search engine crawlers face challenges in efficiently and effectively crawling and indexing the site’s content.

By optimizing your crawl budget, site owners can prioritize the crawling and indexing of important and updated pages, ensuring that search engines spend their resources wisely and effectively.

This optimization process involves techniques such as improving site architecture, managing URL parameters, setting crawl priorities, and eliminating duplicate content, leading to better search engine visibility, improved user experience, and increased organic traffic for large websites.

SEJ's Winston on some helpful and useful tips re having websites ready for optimal site indexing by the search engine king, Google. Our summary of this for online news media and pop culture themed sites:

Relevant content to the core business

Indexed content helps the business

Update with fresh news

Links to be relevant to content

Pages to contain relevant images

Niche articles can have infographics

Follow Google policy and guidelines

Do own internal testing when possible

We're not pretending to know every single "secret"/technique for success in their field however we did use some of these approaches to help get one of our Media Man themed websites into the HitwiseeTop 10 (entertainment/personality categories). Number 3 position was our peak. This is an extension of the sought after pop culture category. Trust this summary will prove helpful and useful to others, just as Search Engine Journal tips frequently help us in search of the Internet Holy Grail. Back to the webcode.

#sej #searchenginejournal #seo #sem #searchengine #searchengines #index #indexing #sitemap #websites #content #contentnews #contentmarketing #onlinepublishing #onlinenews #digitalnews #technews #media 

Search Engine Journal

SEO Best Effort For Best Results

SEJ's Roger with an insightful and almost perfect summary article on best effort SEO. I'm not disappointed at all in the findings and revolations. The imperfections make and prove us human, along the same train of thought and similar scribes to greats such as Rick Rubin, Albert Einstein. To aim or expect for absolute perfection ala perfect result in search engine optimization and other related disciplines may be a frugal and totally unrealistic approach and mindset. The Internet with its Google algorithm updates, core changes, trade secrets and all means it's dynamic in nature and the goal posts are ever changing. Best effort for best result to help ensure one doesn't go totally mad in the process of seeking out the Holy Grail of Internet SEO. And as per journals, sometimes 2nd or 3rd place can even be better than an official 1st in some categories or platform situations, so no need to stress too much. Business/work - life balance to win the day and a sustainable business model. Follow Google protocols and guidelines and smile all the.way to the bank or crypto exchange says media scribe. Winning with priceless SEJ tips. Happy New Year to all.

Pro Wrestling

Worlds End

MJF vs Samoa Joe. AEW Title

"Didn't expect so many people on Long Island chanting Joe's name.. smart" Taz

"Going to be a tough one for MJF.. he's banging up" Taz

Promo: "Our scumbag"

Fans: "He's our scumbag"

"There's another problem too. The left shoulder of MJF" Tony Schiavone

"Thumbing Joe in the eye..the advantage" Excalibur

"I'm telling ya, Max is in a lot of trouble here tonight" Taz

"It is the last thing Max wanted" Excalibur

"He's in deep you know what right now" Taz

"Max has felt this muscle buster"

"Max is hurt. He's going for those quick covers" Taz

"Kangaroo kick"

"Didn't work"

"Going to skin the cat"

"Tried to skin the cat,. couldn't do it" Tony Schiavone

"He landed on the back of his head did Max" Taz

"Dragon Suplex, landed on the top of his head"

"Muscle buster on the outside"!

"He came down on the left shoulder" Taz

"A hell of a night for him" TS

"1, 2,.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,.9, 10" fans

"He wants this kangaroo gimmick" Taz

"Collapsing under the weight of the opponent" Excalibur

"He's thinking heat seeker here"

"The story written all over the face of MJF" Excalibur

"Now the salt of the earth"

"He got red handed through" Excalibur

"There goes the ref"

"Max knows the refs down" Taz

"Got to get a cover" Taz

"MJF is calling for the ring"

"He's looking for it"

"Joe transitions"

"What a struggle this has been" TS

"Ring the bell, that's it"

"Choked him out" Taz

Media Man: So pumped for this historic professional wrestling match. MJF makes history again, as does Joe. Much credit to both, as well as for the AEW team for making this possible. Social media channels are going off the hook. Expecting a very strong PPV number from TrillerTV 

@FiteTV

 and the like.

The AEW YouTube Channel is going to get further hammered once the powers that be release more footage from today's Worlds End.

AEW Official YouTube

http://youtube.com/aew

#AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #MJF #SamoaJoe #TheDevil #AdamCole #prowrestling #wrestling #AndNew #EntertainmentNews #PopCulture #showbiz #trends #trending #buzz #X #media 

Image credit: AEW

Search Engine Journal

Media Man SEO Research Continued

All roads lead back to Google and Search Engine Journal! Almost without exception says media scribe...

Aim for best effort and results; Perfect doesn't really exist in this corner of The Internet

Roger from SEJ finds more gold for webbys across the globe...

Here’s John Mueller’s response:

“Sorry to disappoint, Charan, but your SEO is not perfect. In fact, no SEO is perfect. The Internet, search engines, and how users search is always changing, so SEO will evolve over time as well. This includes both technical elements, like structured data, as well as considerations around quality. Just because you can’t do perfect SEO shouldn’t discourage you though!”

#sej #searchenginejournal #google #seo #SearchEngineOptimization #sem #searchenginemarketing #authority #expert #seonews #seomarketing #Algorithm #digitalnews #internet #theinternet #web #web3 #digitalbusiness #technews #AI #media 

Pro Wrestling

AEW Worlds End: Media Scrum Notes

Great vibe once the media scrum commenced. Lots of positive achievements - Media Man

"The gate. It was a big gate. It was a sell-out".."Just around, close to 10,000 in earshot" Tony Khan 

AEW Top Brass Tony Khan gives in-depth detail on current state of the companyz industry and where they are heading.

"It is a company that has that challenger spirit" Tony Khan 

"I believe 2024 being the most important year of the company.. we're in a great position" TK

"We've been having hard hitting great matches with the great women and men week after week".."We've been focussing on wrestlers that the crowd believes in" TK

"I believed, the Continental Classic..I think the fans will. Money where their mouth is and they did. Clearly demonstrated. That worked"..TK

"We had to develop new stars. We've had new faces step in"

"Constantly improving"

"This year was a huge year. It was our biggest year ever on Pay-Per-View, so thank you for the platform to talk about that. It's a big risk for a company to expand the Pay-Per-View calender the way that we did, and talk about being rewarded, and tonight as a great example of that"..

"It was a big risk to expand from 5 to 8 (PPVs) but holy cow did it work"

"All the new events this year did really well". 

"The word that we've always thrown around a lot in the back..punk rock, If you lose that punk rock feel then I think you lose what AEW is" Tony Khan

"Right now can't comment on the future of MJF and AEW, other than to say we're very grateful for everything that he's done to this point to get us here. MJF's been a big part of AEW now for 5 years and he is one of the people who helped build this place"...

"I also wanted to thank all of you. Giving us your time, staying here to cover this"

"I believe our presence has changed pro wrestling. I think AEW has done great things for the wrestling business and none of it would be possible without all of you"...

"When we launched this company we didn't have any TV"..."the buzz you helped create"

"Helped get us on TBS. Helped us get on TNT. Now we've been there over 4 years"

"You've all been very fair to us. Thank you very much" Tony Khan 

Vale John Pilger

Pilger has died aged 84.

The award winning journalist and documentary maker helped demonstrate the difference between real aka authentic news and fake news, well before those terms became freqently thrown around. Much of his work contained both strong opinion, first hand accounts, as well as pure truths that many in government and politics would have prefered it if they never had seen the light of day.

He told us, "The best compliment that a journalist can ever receive is to be banned". We felt in great company. Not quite "banned", but close enough by a few publications that are little more than propaganda outlets.

It will not surprise anyone that "truth tellers" (those who speak and write the truth) are not on the Christmas card list of many in government.

John, thank you for your wisdom and courage. Your light shines on.

Authentic news day again.

Media Man Group management

Media Man Int

The Power of the Documentary: Breaking the Silence

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/the_power3.html

#JohnPilger #JohnPilgerRIP #RIP #journalism #journalism #realnews #authenticnews #truthteller #filmmaker #documentarymaker #thepowerofthedocumentary #worldnews #media #mediaman 

John Pilger, controversial campaigning journalist, has died - January 1, 2024

At his best, Pilger would take an obscure subject, meticulously research it and make unforgettable television.

John Pilger, who has died aged 84, was a journalist and documentary maker for whom the word uncompromising might have been invented; he was also probably the only one to inspire his own neologism; in 1991 the Oxford English Dictionary of New Words included the verb “to Pilger”, which it defined as “to conduct journalism in a manner supposedly characteristic of (Australian author and journalist) John Pilger”.

The term had been coined by the conservative journalist and satirist Auberon Waugh, who explained that “it means when anybody who wants to make a good argument shouts and waves his arms about a lot and, oh, vaguely blames you for murdering Vietnamese babies.” For AA Gill it was “a particularly monotonous, self-righteous, partial and ism-bound view of the world, posing as journalism”. It should perhaps be pointed out, for students of etymology, that Waugh also coined the terms pilgerism, pilgered, pilgering, pilgerish, pilgerise, pilgeristic, pilgeresque, pilgerite, pilgeration and even pilgerama.

Yet, many regarded Pilger as the finest crusading journalist of his generation. He did much to draw world attention to some of the most notorious human rights abuses of the late 20th century, winning a slew of humanitarian and journalism awards, including Journalist of the Year (twice), the United Nations Media Peace Prize, the Bafta Richard Dimbleby Award for factual reporting, the Sydney Peace Prize and numerous honorary doctorates.

In 1970 his World in Action documentary, The Quiet Mutiny, exposed a rebellion within the US army at the time of the Vietnam War. From the late 1970s, in articles in the Daily Mirror and in his documentary Cambodia Year Zero (1979), he was one of the first to reveal to the world the full horrors of the “killing fields” of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, helping to kick-start a global humanitarian response.

Similarly, his harrowing documentary Death of a Nation (1994), helped to galvanise international support for the people of East Timor, then brutally occupied by Indonesia, while another documentary, Stealing a Nation (2004), revealed how British governments of the late 1960s and early 1970s had secretly and brutally expelled the entire indigenous population of the Chagos Islands to make way for an American military base.

At his best Pilger would take an obscure subject, meticulously research it and, through the personal histories of those on the receiving end of state-sanctioned brutality, make unforgettable television.

According to Pilger’s critics, the trouble was that he was never content to let the facts speak for themselves. The title of one of his books was Hidden Agendas, about the power structures that “really” run the world. For Pilger the “real” story was nearly always about American (and/or British) imperialist dirty tricks.

In many situations, there was evidence to support this narrative. But in his demonisation of western leaderships (he once described the American political class as “the Third Reich of our times”), Pilger never had a stop button. Thus the important thing about the killing fields of Cambodia for Pilger was not so much the murderous regime of the Khmer Rouge as his tendentious theory that their role in Cambodia had been sustained by British and American backing.

In a New Statesman article in 1991 he described Pol Pot (then holed up with his supporters on the Thai border) as one of the Bush administration’s “acceptable aggressors”, maintaining that “in the spirit of the new age the Bush administration no longer recognises the killing of a million and a half Cambodians under Pol Pot as genocide”.

He presented a similar message in a documentary, Cambodia: The Betrayal (1990). What he omitted to mention was that Pol Pot was a communist who had been lionised by the Left at exactly the time he was sending millions of Cambodians to their deaths. During the period 1975-78, when the killing was at its height, Left-wing apologists tended to equate opposition to the Khmer Rouge with anti-communist zealotry.

Nor did Pilger’s historical amnesia stop there. In praising the “remarkable achievement of the Cambodian people” under the Vietnam-backed (and therefore praiseworthy) Hun Sen government, which came to power in 1978, he forgot to mention that Hun Sen and many other members of the ruling clique were former members of the Khmer Rouge who had held senior positions of power when the killing fields were filling with corpses – and that they were still being accused of human rights abuses.

Similarly, in his 2007 film The War on Democracy (which won Best Documentary at the 2008 One World Media Awards), about the damage done to Latin American countries by the US’s foreign policies, Pilger’s interview with the Left-wing Venezuelan demagogue Hugo Chavez was described in the normally sympathetic New Statesman as “one of the most toe-curlingly obsequious episodes in modern cinema, putting to shame any run-of-the-mill Hollywood political toadie”.

Pilger was contemptuous of that shibboleth of British journalism, the objective news story. His approach was to adopt a view about a situation and then find the interviews, facts and images to back it up. His critics, however, complained that when the facts did not say what Pilger wanted them to say, he was prepared to invent them.

In 1982 the Daily Mirror printed a dramatic story by Pilger about a young Thai girl, called Sunee, who had been forced to work as a slave in appalling conditions before being rescued by Pilger and reunited with her grateful family in a village outside Bangkok. But soon after, the Thai press claimed that Sunee the slave girl did not exist.

As the story began to unravel (Auberon Waugh gleefully claimed that Pilger had been hoaxed), Pilger at first blamed a CIA plot to discredit him. But the truth was more pedestrian. Sunee, it turned out, was the daughter of a taxi driver whose “identity” as a child slave worker had been fabricated by a local “fixer” hired by Pilger’s research team.

In his 1990 documentary about Cambodia, Pilger alleged that the British Government was providing “direct” assistance to Pol Pot and had sanctioned the training by the SAS of Khmer Rouge forces in minelaying and other techniques. Subsequently, two SAS officers identified in the report as having been involved accepted “very substantial” libel damages in the High Court. An investigation by the Evening Standard established that Pilger had neither met nor spoken to the men before he faced them in court.

Yet child labour did exist in Thailand, and in 1991 John Major’s government was forced to admit that the SAS had indeed been involved in training Cambodian guerrilla groups (though not, it seems, the Khmer Rouge). The irony was that underneath what one critic called Pilger’s “Dave Spartism”, there was usually a good story struggling to get out. But Pilger was always so obviously grinding axes that his message was easy to resist.

Noam Chomsky once said that people mocked Pilger because they were uncomfortable with the awful reality of US foreign policy; but the journalist William Shawcross, who himself did much to expose the Nixon-Kissinger “secret war” in Cambodia, felt that Pilger was “dangerous to the causes which he claims to espouse”. Comparing Pilger to Henry Kissinger, he observed that “both men enjoy a ‘fabulous’ reputation; each … has a record for ‘greatness’ which, in my view, does not withstand examination.”

For Auberon Waugh, meanwhile, Pilger was simply “just another conceited hack like the rest of us.”

John Richard Pilger was born on October 9 1939 in Sydney, Australia. His father, from a German family, had worked as a boy in the coal mines; his mother was a schoolteacher and the descendant of a convict. Pilger grew up in Bondi and was educated at Sydney Boys’ High School, where he swam and rowed for the school and started a newspaper.

At 17 he joined the Sydney Sun as a junior reporter, but became the story himself on his second day when, sent to report on a swarm of bees, he was stung between the eyes. The following day a rival newspaper carried a photograph of the rookie journalist with his head in his hands under the banner headline “Bees Terror: Man Hurt”.

From the Sun, Pilger moved to the Sydney Daily Telegraph, but within a couple of years was on his way to Europe. He freelanced in Italy for a while before settling in London where, in 1963, he got a job on the Daily Mirror, then a campaigning and highly successful newspaper under Cecil King and Hugh Cudlipp. He worked for the paper for 23 years until he was sacked following the arrival of Robert Maxwell.

Pilger became a feature writer on the paper, then special correspondent and chief international correspondent. He reported from all over the world and covered numerous wars. Still in his 20s, he became the youngest recipient of the Journalist of the Year award (for his reporting on Vietnam), then the first to won the award twice (for his reporting on Cambodia).

During the eight years he covered the Vietnam War Pilger divided his time between there and the US, where he marched with civil rights campaigners from Alabama to Washington following the assassination of Martin Luther King. He was in the same room when Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968.

He was banned from South Africa in the 1970s for his attempt to expose the reality of apartheid and reported on racism in London.

In 1970, he began a parallel career in British television, starting with the ITV current affairs series World in Action, and later making freelance documentaries. By the end of his life he had made more than 60 films.

But the main focus of his anger remained the United States, which could never do right in Pilger’s book. In his exposé of the situation in East Timor he accused the US and its allies of knowing about the massacres that took place following the Indonesian invasion of 1975 and of acting shamefully in their decision to do nothing about them. But, following the 2003 coalition intervention in Iraq to depose the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein, he launched a two-page rant in the Daily Mirror illustrated with a front page montage of Tony Blair with “blood” on his hands.

He later called for Blair (“Britain’s Henry Kissinger”) to be prosecuted as a war criminal for his part in precipitating a conflict which had “resulted in the deaths of more than a million people” (an estimate which has been widely criticised as grossly exaggerated).

In 2014, the BBC came under attack from Tory MPs and from some BBC journalists for an edition of the Today programme on Radio 4, guest-edited by the musician PJ Harvey, in which Pilger was given airtime to attack David Cameron and Barack Obama. Pilger had suggested that the corporation should not have broadcast tributes to Nelson Mandela from Obama because he had failed to close Guantanamo Bay, or from Cameron because he had visited South Africa during the Apartheid era.

In a seven-minute diatribe against the “criminal power of our government”, Pilger also suggested that the centuries-old conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims had been caused by the British and American invasion of Iraq.

In 2018, when Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned in Salisbury, Pilger told the Russia Today channel: “This is a carefully constructed drama as part of the propaganda campaign that has been building now for several years in order to justify the actions of Nato, Britain and the United States towards Russia. That’s a fact.”

The following year in The Dirty War on the National Health Service, Pilger argued that governments beginning with that of Margaret Thatcher had waged a secret war against the NHS with a view to privatising it.

In his writing and documentaries, Pilger rarely showed much in the way of a sense of humour. But those who met him found a gentle, quiet, rather dapper individual at odds with the image of the scourge of international capitalism.

His marriage to the journalist Scarth Flett, with whom he had a son, Sam, a sportswriter, was dissolved; he also had a daughter, Zoe, a novelist and art critic, with the journalist Yvonne Roberts.

(The Telegraph London)

MMA News

"Ladies and gentlemen, a happy New Year to you all. I would like to announce the return date for myself, 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor. The greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight Week on June 29th"

And the opponent, Michael Chander. And the weight, Mr. Chandler, is 185lbs.

"I always said I wanted you at your biggest, your baddest and your best. 185 would look good on me" - Conor McGregor

McGregor is the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion and holds notable wins over Eddie Alvarez, Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes among others.

Chandler is the former Bellator lightweight champion and holds notable wins over Benson Henderson, Eddie Alvarez, Patricky Pitbull, and Brent Primus among others.

Sources: Conor McGregor, X, BJ Penn, Figure 4, News Corp and Wires

#ConorMcGregor #McGregor #quote #quotes #MMA #UFC #Fightweek #MichaelChander #McGregorChandler #combatsports #PPV #PPVS #PayPerView #legend #legends #Goat #Goats #sportsnews #sportsmedia #trends #trending #buzz #sportsbetting #mmabetting #wager #LasVegas #vegasnews #media 

MMA News

Conor McGregor announces ‘greatest comeback of all time’

Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC for the first time in two years with the former world champion’s next fight announced.

Conor McGregor has announced he will make his UFC return on June 29 against Michael Chandler.

McGregor took to social media on Monday morning to say he will fight Chandler on International Fight Week after months of speculation.

And with a menacing laugh he claimed the bout will be at the 185lb middleweight limit — a career heaviest for the pair., The Sun reports.

Holding a glass of red wine, said: “Ladies and gentlemen, a happy new year to you all.

“I’d like to announce the return date for myself, The Notorious Conor McGregor for the greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight week on June the 29th.

“Come a little closer... and the opponent is Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr Chandler 185 pounds.”

McGregor, 35, has been out of action since July 2021 after he broke his leg in round one against Dustin Poirier, 34.

But he made a full recovery and returned to training with comeback rumours shortly following.

Having been out of the UFC’s year-round random drug testing pool, McGregor was required to re-enrol.

But he only did so in October and would need six months of clean testing before he was eligible to make a return.

By that time, he had already coached against Chandler on reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter.

As time went on, concern was raised over whether the fight would go ahead or a new opponent would be found.

But McGregor and UFC president Dana White insisted it would be Chandler, 37, to welcome the MMA icon back to the cage.

White recently revealed he was going to meet with McGregor in the Middle East to finally confirm his long-anticipated comeback.

And The Notorious revealed he would make a fight announcement on New Year’s Day - although he appeared to go a day early.

The UFC are yet to announce the fight and McGregor has been known to make premature announcements.

And his last fight was also at lightweight - two below middleweight - while he has never fought above welterweight.

McGregor and Chandler were frontrunners to headline UFC 300 on April 13.

But, it looks as though they could instead target the annual International Fight Week.

News

Search Engine Journal

Google On Knowing If Best SEO Was Applied

Google's John Mueller answers a question about being assured of having done the best effort for SEO

In a recent Google office hours recording, Google’s John Mueller answered a question about how one knows if their SEO coverage is complete and if there are any tools that can spot something that they might have missed.

That question the way it was originally asked sounds somewhat strange and that may be because of a language translation issue. The person asking the question has an Indian name so it’s quite possible that the oddness of the question (how do I know my SEO is perfect) was due to language.

That the question makes more sense if it’s  understood as how does one know that their SEO is optimal and that nothing was left undone. That’s a legitimate question and fits into the idea of SEO that is free from flaws, given that the definition of “perfect” is being as free as possible from flaws.

Here’s the question and answer as read by John Mueller:

“Charan asks: How to know if my SEO is perfect? Are there any tools, apps or websites available for it?”

What the person asking the question appears to be asking is if there are any standards or best practices to measure their SEO efforts against.

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Roger with an insightful and almost perfect summary article on best effort SEO. I'm not disappointed at all in the findings and revolutions. The imperfections make and prove us human, along the same train of thought and similar scribes to greats such as Rick Rubin, Albert Einstein. To aim or expect for absolute perfection ala perfect result in search engine optimization and other related disciplines may be a frugal and totally unrealistic approach and mindset. The Internet with its Google algorithm updates, core changes, trade secrets and all means it's dynamic in nature and the goal posts are ever changing. Best effort for best result to help ensure one doesn't go totally mad in the process of seeking out the Holy Grail of Internet SEO. And as per journals, sometimes 2nd or 3rd place can even be better than an official 1st in some categories or platform situations, so no need to stress too much. Business/work - life balance to win the day and a sustainable business model. Follow Google protocols and guidelines and smile all the.way to the bank or crypto exchange says media scribe. Winning with priceless SEJ tips. Happy New Year to all.

Search Engine Journal

How To Manage Crawl Budget For Large Sites

Optimize your site so Google will find your content faster and index your content, which could help your site get better visibility and traffic.

The Internet is an ever-evolving virtual universe with over 1.1 billion websites.

Do you think that Google can crawl every website in the world?

Even with all the resources, money, and data centers that Google has, it cannot even crawl the entire web – nor does it want to.

What Is Crawl Budget, And Is It Important?

Crawl budget refers to the amount of time and resources that Googlebot spends on crawling web pages in a domain.

Search Engine Journal

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Winston on some helpful and useful tips re having websites ready for optimal site indexing by the search engine king, Google. Our summary of this for online news media and pop culture themed sites:

Relevant content to the core business

Indexed content helps the business

Update with fresh news

Links to be relevant to content

Pages to contain relevant images

Niche articles can have infographics

Follow Google policy and guidelines

Do own internal testing when possible

We're not pretending to know every single "secret"/technique for success in their field however we did use some of these approaches to help get one of our Media Man themed websites into the Hitwise Top 10 (entertainment/personality categories). Number 3 position was our peak. 

This is an extension of the sought after pop culture category. 

Trust this summary will prove helpful and useful to others, just as Search Engine Journal tips frequently help us in search of the Internet Holy Grail. Back to the webcode.

#sej #searchenginejournal #seo #sem #searchengine #searchengines #index #indexing #sitemap #websites #content #contentnews #contentmarketing #onlinepublishing #onlinenews #digitalnews #technews #media 

Pro Wrestling

WWE 

Internet Based Buzz re potential new Paul Heyman New Faction aka modem day version of:

"The Dangerous Alliance". Or

"America's Most Hated"?!

Led by Paul Heyman, the faction may consist of for example:

CM Punk 

Brock Lesnar 

Logan Paul 

Grayson Waller

Austin Theory

Media Man: This is speculative in nature however there has been numerous Internet based rumors and buzz for a number of months. The rumours and buzz have not diminished so we are covering this now to help further prepare the WWE fanbase for what may develop in early to mid 2024. The dynamic has changed greatly in The Bloodline and a shuffling of the deck would help keep things fresh. Surely Roman Reigns would be aware of these rumours by now, and if not, perhaps he is now.

Fans, be sure to keep checking the WWE YouTube channel as well as the X and even the Paul Heyman/Heyman Hustle channels as you never know what other clues may be disclosed. Raw and SmackDown are forecast to remain appointment viewing and red hot in 2024. 

Mining industry to spend $24m to derail IR laws - October 25, 2023

Mining companies expect to spend up to $24 million to bury the Albanese government’s new industrial relations laws, surpassing the cost of the industry’s campaign to kill off Labor’s resource super profits tax in 2010.

The Minerals Council of Australia revealed to the Senate inquiry into the Closing Loopholes Bill that Rio Tinto, BHP and Glencore were the top contributors to the campaign, which includes radio, print, television and social media advertisements.

The resources industry has warned that the bill’s requirement for companies to pay labour hire workers at least the same as direct employees will cost it billions of dollars through complex administration and threaten the viability of projects.

“At this stage the MCA’s campaign spend in 2023-2024 is anticipated to be $20-$24 million,” the council said in a document posted last week in response to the Senate’s request for more particulars about its spend.

BHP has estimated the labour hire laws will strip at least $1.3 billion from its annual earnings and significantly more if they also cover service contractors, as they currently do.

MCA chief executive Tania Constable said that “the intention of the campaign is to raise awareness and understanding of the damaging nature and wide implications of the bill”.

“Our expectation is that the government will wisely go back to the drawing board on the policy,” she said.

Super-profits tax

The industry spent $22 million to stop the former Rudd government’s super-profits tax in a campaign that dominated the airwaves for two months before Julia Gillard took over from Kevin Rudd as prime minister and negotiated a compromise.

The MCA’s IR campaign has no set period and is expected to get even bigger over the coming months. The bill is expected to go to a vote of the Senate as early as February.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said “it’s time to choose a side”.

“The opposition can either be on the side of the Minerals Council of Australia, spending vast sums of money to protect their bottom line. Or the side of the workers – who desperately need these loopholes closed to get wages moving in a cost-of-living crisis.”

Mining and Energy Union general secretary Grahame Kelly said: “We are not surprised at big mining companies spending tens of millions trying to bully governments through misleading scare campaigns – it’s what they do.”

“We are surprised at how bad the ads are. They do nothing to explain or justify the loophole that lets them pay thousands of labour hire mine workers less for doing the same job,” he said.

‘Bad legislation’

“It’s a $24 million waste of money that could have been better spent looking after local communities or paying workers fairly.”

Rio Tinto has argued in submissions to the Senate inquiry that the laws are bad legislation that will anchor productivity at record lows, while gold miner Newmont says it will leave some Australian projects unviable.

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting feared the laws would force the company to share its generous “chairman profit share” bonus – up to 30 per cent of an employee’s salary – to “our entire supply chain”.

Unions have argued that because the labour hire laws only apply to sites with enterprise agreements, most of the mines in WA will not be covered as bargaining was “virtually non-existent” in the Pilbara.

However, the Australian Workers Union has recently started negotiating with Citic Mining’s Sino Iron for an agreement, and this week got a protected action ballot approved – paving the way for the first industrial action in the iron ore sector for more than a decade.

(AFR)

Mavericks on top of the Business People of the Year list - December 2023

This year’s list reflects a world in which Australia’s biggest companies took a cautious approach to investing and deal-making in an uncertain economic environment.

The choice of Gina Rinehart as The Australian Financial Review’s 2023 Business Person of the Year duly recognises a lifetime of independent business success and achievement.

Her famous father, Lang Hancock, who pioneered the opening up of Western Australia’s Pilbara and Australia’s great iron ore export trade with Japan in the 1950s and 1960s, was named as one of the seven entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who most shaped modern Australian business over the previous seven decades when the Financial Review celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022.

Yet the father never made the leap from prospecting and staking out iron ore claims to mining the stuff. This year’s record shipment from the Roy Hill iron ore mine established by the daughter underpinned the $5 billion profit of the once-bankrupt company Mrs Rinehart inherited, and has entrenched her No. 1 position on the Financial Review’s Rich List for the fourth year running.

With its $38 billion of assets beyond iron ore and across multiple interests in mining, energy and agribusiness industries, Mrs Rinehart has built her Hancock Prospecting empire into by far the nation’s biggest private company.

The annual AFR Business Persons of the Year list recognises Australia’s top leaders, builders, pioneers and stirrers. Mrs Rinehart – who is an earthy political standout with her own views in an ESG social licence-constrained corporate world – fits all these criteria.

Her eclectic dealmaking and investment profile in the past 12 months span a hard-fought battle to win control of WA gas developer Warrego Energy; a kingmaker role in Australia’s new critical minerals boom that blocked the takeovers of lithium miners Azure Minerals and Liontown Resources; buying iconic Aussie bush outfitters Driza-Bone; and her well-progressed plans to become Australia’s biggest truffle farmer to help sate the growing local and overseas appetite for gourmet foods.

The Business Person of the Year awards are often dominated by the top echelons of blue-chip corporate Australia. As Chanticleer columnist James Thomson writes, this year’s list reflects a world in which Australia’s biggest companies took a cautious approach to investing and deal-making in the uncertain economic environment of higher inflation, rising interest rates and greater geopolitical risk.

That has opened the way for the entrepreneurial mavericks who have successfully ridden the big transformational themes of the global economy, from the energy transition to big data and artificial intelligence.

Consider the story of AirTrunk founder and chief executive Robin Khuda. Less than eight years ago, he struggled to get meetings with bankers and funders shocked at the size of the start-up’s hyper-scale data centre plans. But having picked that the move to the cloud, streaming and generative AI would call for super-sized digital infrastructure, and having gone from zero to becoming one of Australasia’s biggest data centre operators, Mr Khuda makes the list for sealing this year’s biggest global debt deal – $4.6 billion – for data centres, which more than 40 investors piled into.

Forty years ago, medical technology company Pro Medicus CEO Sam Hupert was a Melbourne GP wanting to introduce computers into medicine to help manage doctors’ practices. In today’s world of cloud-based hospital systems and post-pandemic remote work, Pro Medicus imaging software, which lets radiologists and doctors view scans anywhere, has secured a string of big contracts with American healthcare groups and a 40 per cent share price jump in the last six months.

Colourful Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze has earned her place on the list not just for having built Lynas into the world’s biggest producer of geo-strategically critical rare earths outside China, but for successfully traversing the world’s most treacherous geopolitical territory. Managing to get Beijing to seemingly withdraw its covert opposition to the company’s Malaysian processing plant, while also getting the Pentagon to back Lynas’ processing plant in Texas, is a rare feat indeed.

Chief investment officer Mark Delaney is on the list for having overseen from the start AustralianSuper’s rise into Australia’s $310 billion industry superannuation giant with the power to single-handedly block Brookfield’s mega $20 billion takeover bid for Origin Energy, which has confirmed that big super is now the dominant force in Australia’s capital markets.

And Boral CEO Vik Bansal rounds out this year’s top five for coming back from his exit from Cleanaway over his old-school leadership style and for shaking up and revitalising one of the pillars of Australia’s old postwar manufacturing base by bringing a new age style of decentralised management and accountability to the building materials and concrete supplier.

What our top CEOs read, watched and listened to in 2023 - December 27, 2023

Feminist icons, inspirational leaders, sports stars and punk rock got Australia’s top chief executives excited this year. 

Like billions of other movie goers, Lynas Rare Earths boss Amanda Lacaze had a “road to Barbie Land” moment in 2023.

“When I had my daughter it was my intention that there would be no Barbies in our house. After all, who could ever aspire to look like Barbie? I will admit I was singularly unsuccessful and we ended with a very large collection of Barbies and associated items which gave Tessa great joy,” she says.

“But Barbie has always been more than stereotypical Barbie and the Barbie movie has illustrated that. I love that Barbie is now such a firm feminist icon. The movie shows that women can choose their own paths, including non-traditional and traditional roles.

“I have been amazed at how many women have identified with the different characters in the movie and rejoice in the diversity of that response.”

The Chanticleer team couldn’t agree more – we’re still thinking Barbie and its myriad messages months after seeing it.

But our annual Chanticler CEO poll revealed a slew of thought-provoking books, podcasts, movies and TV shows that top business leaders enjoyed this year.

Apple TV’s all-time classic Ted Lasso scored highly again with Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Tim Ford, NIB’s Mark Fitzgibbon, South32’s Graham Kerr and Mirvac’s Campbell Hanan.

“It’s as good a tutorial on leadership as I’ve encountered – ever,” Fitzgibbon says.

Two more sports-related picks were Netflix’s documentary on football star David Beckham (a lesson in performance under pressure, according to Westpac’s Peter King) and the streamer’s Formula 1 series, Drive to Survive (nominated by GrainCorp’s Robert Spurway).

Looking for something more weighty on the ways of the world? NAB’s Ross McEwan devoured David Enrich’s Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction, while Xero’s Sukhinder Singh Cassidy enjoyed Better not Bitter, by Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five who were wrongly convicted in the Central Park jogger case and went to prison as teenagers for between seven and 13 years.

Andrew Harding, boss of logistics giant Aurizon, appropriately picked The Box, How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, by Marc Levinson, while Worley’s Chris Ashton plumped for From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman. TPG Telecom boss Iñaki Berroeta loved How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley.

Naturally, our top leaders love stuff on leadership and had some good picks in this area.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson drew inspiration from the many podcast appearances made by mindset coach Ben Crowe, who famously helped tennis champion Ash Barty.

“I liked his perspective on learning from adversity, keeping a positive mindset and focusing on the things you can control, which can be hard to do in the moment,” Hudson says.

Newmont’s Tom Palmer and Telstra’s Vicki Brady got to meet their favourite authors.

Palmer met US Admiral William McRaven and loved his book Make Your Bed, while Brady re-read Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella’s tome Hit Refresh.

“I love his approach of not being a ‘know-it-all’ but a ‘learn-it-all’. This comes from a person who knows a lot, and he wants to keep learning. It really was one of the most inspirational reads and discussions of my year,” she says.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott rocked out to When The Birdmen Flew, George Munoz’s illustrated history of seminal punk band Radio Birdman, while Woodside’s Meg O’Neill loved Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

“I think the main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a great role model – independent, intelligent and resilient,” she says. “I particularly loved seeing a woman excelling in STEM as a protagonist and inspiring others.” Chanticleer would add that the Apple series based on the book is brilliant, too.

When Seven Group’s Ryan Stokes wasn’t watching Frozen for the 57th time – and being chastised by his daughter for not singing along – he was visiting the National Gallery’s Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibition. “I commend it to everybody. It celebrates the timeless art of a pre-eminent Australian artist, one of the world’s most significant contemporary painters.”

Finally, Chanticleer simply had to mention the excellent recommendation from Endeavour Group’s Steve Donohue.

“I’m lucky to be a Collingwood supporter, and I’ve enjoyed watching the replay of the AFL Grand Final a few times over. Credit to Craig McRae and the whole Collingwood team for giving Pies supporters a wonderful season.”

Amen, Steve. Amen.

(AFR)

WBD acquires BluTV - December 29, 2023

In a move that will further bolster its growing streaming business, with the international rollout of Max beginning in the next few months, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has acquired BluTV, a subscription video-on-demand service in Turkey.

The announcement follows three years of extensive partnership, which started in 2021 with the launch of discovery+ on BluTV and an investment by Discovery Inc that made the company a 35 per cent shareholder of BluTV. One of the components of the partnership was the option to invest further in BluTV, which has now resulted in the acquisition of the rapidly growing SVoD service.

Since its launch in 2016, BluTV has demonstrated a strong growth trajectory thanks to its focus on original content and content library, offering over 10,000 hours of leading local and international series and movies. As part of the strategic partnership, discovery+ was made available on BluTV in 2021, giving subscribers access to content from WBD’s iconic brands such as Discovery Channel, TLC, DMAX and ID in a dedicated discovery+ branded area. In addition, viewers can enjoy live sports with Eurosport 1 and 2.

In February 2023 the parties deepened their partnership by adding HBO content and the kids channels Cartoon Network and Cartoonito to BluTV, offering their members an even wider variety of global content and hit series such as The Last of Us, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City and Tom & Jerry.

“We are very excited for this new chapter,” declared Jamie Cooke, GM CEE, Middle East & Turkey of Warner Bros Discovery. “Turkey has been an important investment territory for us for over 20 years and the acquisition of BluTV brings Turkey’s first local SVoD player into our portfolio. The combination of compelling Turkish content and a broad range of the best international series and shows from Warner Bros Discovery is an unbeatable recipe to be locally relevant and successful. Together we bring Turkish audiences the most compelling viewing experience and expand the reach of Turkish content globally.”

“As BluTV, we are very happy that our strategic partnership with Discovery Inc, which started in 2021, has resulted in us becoming one of the Warner Bros Discovery brands today,” added Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz, CEO of BluTV. “As Turkey’s leading local subscription video platform, we are proud that our steady growth since day one has made us a part of one of the largest media companies in the world. From now on, we will blend the best local stories we have ever presented to our viewers with the world’s best global content to curate Turkey’s strongest streaming platform and bring our most successful local stories to the world.”

(Advanced Television)

Stumble Guys adds new Tetris-inspired course - December 22, 2023

Stumble Guys is adding another new way to play as the Tetrimino shapes from the world-famous Tetris game are used to create an all-new level mechanic in the frenetic and highly social party battle royale game. In addition to the new course, Tetris-themed cosmetics and flair will be rotating and fitting in perfectly throughout the Stumbleverse.

Stumblers will jump into a brand new Tetris experience as they compete to be the last stumbler standing while navigating over and through Tetrimino-shaped objects in the latest wonderfully wacky experience that can only be found in Stumble Guys.

The all-new in-game level brings the fun and chaos of surviving on an active Tetris Matrix, where players must be careful not to be blasted by Line-Clearing events or Tetriminos falling in place. As the board clears, players can be blasted off the map while Tetriminos start falling, moving, and rotating faster and faster until more players are eliminated.

“It has been terrific collaborating with the Tetris team to create an entirely new level of Stumble Guys. Integrating such a beloved experience into Stumble Guys will give players a bit of nostalgia and a whole lot of fun as they try to finish the course before Tetriminos fall into place,” said Naz Amarchi, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Stumble Guys at Scopely.

“This collaboration is truly a unique experience that blends the timeless appeal of Tetris with the lively, engaging environment of Stumble Guys,” added Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris. “This is more than just a merging of two fan-favourite games, but also a celebration of creativity and fun we believe players around the world will love. As we head into 2024, we’re excited to announce our collaboration with Stumble Guys to kick off the Tetris brand’s 40th anniversary.”

Study: News broadcasters must adapt to keep Gen Z engaged - December 18, 2023

Vizrt, a specialist in real-time graphics and live production solutions for content creators, has released research signifying a shift in the viewing habits of Gen Z when it comes to news consumption.  

As the first generation born into a fully digital world, this age group according to a new global study is no longer interested in traditional news formats where dynamic on-screen graphics are underutilised. 

The research shows a stark shift to social-first content formats, with the majority of Gen Z now opting to consume news on social media; with Instagram (60 per cent), TikTok (38 per cent), and Facebook (38 per cent) identified as the most popular sources for keeping up to date with news and current affairs. 

The intensity of news cycles, volume of negative stories and a growing loyalty in social first news brands are also broadly cited as reasons behind the significant shift in viewing habits.  

“Our research highlights the importance of real-time data and on-screen graphics in retaining Gen Z and futureproofing newsroom content creation. Content creators, traditional broadcasters and newer online news outfits, must adapt to meet the evolving needs of news consumers as each generation becomes more digitally advanced. Immersive storytelling with AR and XR can quickly and easily break down barriers to news accessibility and drive audience engagement,” commented Ulrich Voigt, Global Head of Product Management, Vizrt.

On-screen graphics considered essential for broadcasters 

The global report of thousands of UK and US respondents commissioned by Vizrt examined how Gen Z consumes news in comparison to other generations and revealed a significant reliance on on-screen graphics among the younger generation.  

Gen Z is twice as likely to pay attention to content with on-screen graphics in comparison to other generations (31 per cent vs 14 per cent average of other generations), helping them to understand complex stories (51 per cent Gen Z vs 42 per cent average) read data clearly (48 per cent Gen Z vs 46 per cent average), and receive additional information not otherwise shown on screen (54 per cent Gen Z vs 50 per cent average).  

Gen Z demands social-first formats   

Despite Gen Z opting to consume news content on their phones, broadcasters are yet to adapt to meet their digital needs.  

Over half (56 per cent) of those aged 18-25 find it challenging to watch content in this format due to horizontal content not being adapted for vertical viewing.  

Another issue faced by almost half of respondents (45 per cent) is the lack of on-screen graphics when watching content on the go.   

Vizrt reveals its research on the newsroom consumption habits of Gen Z and millennials after sharing research on the changing viewer habits of Gen Z and millennial sports fans earlier this year. The main findings of both studies prove that social media consumption via mobile phones is on the rise, and attentions are won over with engaging visual graphics regardless of demographic, whether it is news or sports.  

UFC News

WHERE WE STAND: UFC 2024 DIVISION-BY-DIVISION GUIDE

Take A Look At Each Division To See Which Champs And Contenders Are Primed To Make Moves In 2024

BY ZAC PACLEB, ON X @ZACPACLEB • DEC. 31, 2023

The 2023 campaign started to feel like a “normal” type of year in the UFC, which is to say there were shocking and stunning upsets of historic proportions, legacies being created, defined and rewritten from moment-to-moment and eye-popping highlights throughout.

So, essentially, a year of MMA.

But it also gave a view into the UFC calendar and travel schedule post-2020. The Octagon landed in several cities across the globe for pay-per-views and fight nights alike, including returns to Australia, Brazil and Miami alongside the usual stops in New York City, Jacksonville, London and of course, the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The action was good as ever, and undisputed titles changed hands nine times throughout the year.

As we look ahead to 2024, this is where each division stands at-present.

Women’s Strawweight

Champion: Zhang Weili

In The Mix: Yan Xiaonan, Tatiana Suarez

The championship carousel in the strawweight division was relatively inactive for the first time in a handful of years as Zhang Weili dominated en route to a second title defense and first since recapturing the belt in 2022. Meanwhile, a pair of title challengers emerged. Yan Xiaonan fought once and finished Jéssica Andrade in impressive fashion. The 34-year-old from China bounced back well from two consecutive losses to cement her spot in the title conversation. On the other side of the coin was the long-awaited return of Tatiana Suarez, who fought twice after four years away from competition. The injury-riddled layoff halted the momentum of the undefeated Suarez, but she picked up right where she left off and submitted Montana De La Rosa and Andrade.

The champion’s next fight isn’t set just yet, although some hoped Zhang and Yan would partake in an all-China title fight, but Suarez’s dominant return makes for an intriguing matchup, as well. Both fights could happen in 2024, which could see the instability at strawweight continue or Zhang establish herself as one of the best champions in the division’s history.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Mackenzie Dern, Amanda Ribas, Loopy Godinez

Women’s Flyweight

Champion: Alexa Grasso

In The Mix: Valentina Shevchenko, Erin Blanchfield, Manon Fiorot

Alexa Grasso of Mexico reacts after retaining her title with a draw against Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan in the UFC flyweight championship fight during the Noche UFC event at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Alexa Grasso of Mexico reacts after retaining her title with a draw against Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan in the UFC flyweight championship fight during the Noche UFC event at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Home of the biggest surprise of 2024, the women’s flyweight division has never looked more intriguing thanks to a handful of contenders coming into their own but mostly because of Alexa Grasso. Mexico’s first female champion shocked the MMA world with her submission win over longtime champ Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. She shocked again when she fought Shevchenko to a draw at Noche UFC in the headlining bout.

Although the rematch did not provide a definitive conclusion to the Grasso-Shevchenko saga, it did leave the door cracked for a fresh face to enter the title picture. That’s where Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot come into the conversation. Blanchfield aced both her tests in 2023, first submitting Andrade in February - a real breakout performance for the 24-year-old - before outhustling Taila Santos in Singapore in the latter half of the calendar. The results stretched her UFC run to 6-0. Fiorot matched “Cold Blooded,” returning from injury to spoil Rose Namajunas’ flyweight debut in front of a raucous Parisian crowd, which also stretched “The Beast” to a perfect 6-0 in the Octagon. The two are scheduled to face off in Atlantic City in late-March, which likely determines the next title challenger while Grasso and Shevchenko each recover from injuries sustained in their Noche battle.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Maycee Barber, Rose Namajunas, Natalia Silva, Ariane Lipski, Tracy Cortez

Women’s Bantamweight

Champion: N/A

In The Mix: Julianna Peña, Mayra Bueno Silva, Raquel Pennington, Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana

Julianna Pena punches Amanda Nunes of Brazil in their UFC bantamweight championship bout during UFC 269

Julianna Pena punches Amanda Nunes of Brazil in their UFC bantamweight championship bout during UFC 269 on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

To say Amanda Nunes’ retirement in June left a power vacuum atop the bantamweight division would sell the situation short. “The Lioness” left more of a black hole that was left vacant for the remainder of the year. Former champion Julianna Peña, naturally upset with Nunes’ decision, clamored for a chance to regain her belt, but that chance goes to Brazilian upstart Mayra Bueno Silva, who will battle Raquel Pennington in Toronto at UFC 297. Pennington won her lone fight of 2023, defeating Ketlen Vieira to extend her winning streak to five. Peña did not compete in 2023 after losing to Nunes in their rematch at UFC 277. Bueno Silva, meanwhile, started 2023 off with a bang, submitting Lina Lansberg via kneebar in February. She passed her first main event test against former champion Holly Holm, but that victory was turned into a no contest after Bueno Silva failed a drug test. Even still, the performance was impressive, and she goes into her first title shot unbeaten in her last four fights. Ketlen Vieira and Irene Aldana each went 1-1 in 2023 and figure to be a win or two away from title shots themselves.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Karol Rosa, Pannie Kianzad

Flyweight

Champion: Alexandre Pantoja

In The Mix: Amir Albazi, Brandon Moreno, Manel Kape, Kai Kara-France

“The Cannibal” cemented his spot as the flyweight champion with a steady decision win over Brandon Royval to close 2023. The Brazilian is eager to keep a busy schedule and welcomes all challengers familiar and fresh. His next challenger will likely distinguish themselves in February when two-time champion Brandon Moreno hosts Amir Albazi in Mexico City. A definitive win could give Moreno another shot at Pantoja while Albazi hopes to parlay a sixth UFC victory into his first crack at UFC gold.

Meanwhile, Manel Kape continues doing what he can to tout himself as the next champion. The 30-year-old from Portugal has had myriad unlucky situations during his time in the promotion, but Pantoja himself cited “StarBoy” as someone he would enjoy fighting again (Pantoja defeated Kape in Kape’s UFC debut). Kape was scheduled to fight Kara-France in September before a concussion kept “Don’t Blink” out of action. The Kiwi was only able to compete once in 2023, a controversial split decision loss to Albazi in June, and, despite back-to-back losses, Kara-France figures to play a major part in the 2024 title picture.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Brandon Royval, Matheus Nicolau, Muhammad Mokaev, Tagir Ulanbeknov, Tatsuro Taira

Bantamweight

Champion: Sean O’Malley

In The Mix: Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen, Henry Cejudo

Sean O'Malley reacts after his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

Sean O'Malley reacts after his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)

With a sweet right hand to Aljamain Sterling’s jaw, Sean O’Malley fulfilled his dreams of becoming the UFC bantamweight champion. The fan-favorite and Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus has the potential to go from star to superstar with a successful reign on the throne, and he gets to immediately right his lone loss in the Octagon at UFC 299. There, he will face Marlon “Chito” Vera in a rematch of 2020 bout which Vera won via TKO.

Although Vera picked up a solid win over Pedro Munhoz in 2023, it was his 2020 victory over “Suga” that did a lot of heavy lifting to get him the title shot. It’s a narrative everyone is intrigued with seeing play out, and the two are a couple of the most entertaining fighters on the roster, as well as mainstays in the stacked title picture. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen will likely have to pick up another win as they make their slower treks to potential championship opportunities. “The Machine” dominated former champion Petr Yan in a main event while Sandhagen did the same against Vera and Rob Font, but a tricep injury against the latter sidelined Sandhagen for the early part of the calendar. Dvalishvili gets a chance to rack up another win over a former champion when he faces Henry Cejudo at UFC 298.

Names to Watch For in 2024: Petr Yan, Deiveson Figueiredo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Yadong Song

Featherweight

Champion: Alexander Volkanovski

In The Mix: Ilia Topuria, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, Max Holloway

It’s a testament to the talent in the featherweight division that it can have a dominant champion like Alexander Volkanovski on top and remain one of the most intriguing weight classes in the UFC. “The Great” defended his belt once in 2023, besting Yair Rodriguez after “El Pantera” earned the interim title against Josh Emmett in the early part of the year while Volkanovski made his bid for double-champ status. Volkanovski will make his next defense against the undefeated and surging Ilia Topuria – who heeded Volkanovski’s advice to not fight Max Holloway while waiting – at UFC 298 in Anaheim.

Should Volkanovski win, the next in line hasn’t yet distinguished themselves. Arnold Allen lost a competitive main event to Holloway, but he can bounce back in January when he faces the undefeated Movsar Evloev in Toronto. Aljamain Sterling is set to make his featherweight debut at UFC 300 against Calvin Kattar, who returns from a major knee injury sustained in October 2022. A dominant win could catapult Sterling into the title talk against Volkanovski. Holloway remains stuck behind his Australian foil despite a pair of good wins over Allen and “The Korean Zombie.” The former champion has said he’d love to fight Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt, but he’ll likely be rooting hard for Topuria to open up a chance for a second “Blessed” title reign.  

Names to Watch For in 2024: Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez, Movsar Evloev

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Will Ospreay Wants IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship - December 12, 2023

“It is going to be defended around the globe, and there is no one better served to do that.”

New Japan Pro-Wrestling is introducing a new championship: the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

During yesterday’s World Tag League press conference, New Japan Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that the new title will be on the line at the upcoming Wrestle Kingdom 18 event at the Tokyo Dome on January 4.

A three-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 18 between Jon Moxley, David Finlay, and Will Ospreay will determine the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. The title replaces the IWGP United States and United Kingdom championships, which Finlay destroyed last month at Power Struggle.

Instead of reintroducing the IWGP Intercontinental title, the decision was made to unveil a new championship. And before he becomes a full-time star with AEW, Ospreay wants to become the first-ever champion.

“It is going to be defended around the globe, and there is no one better served to do that,” said Ospreay. “I’m performing at the highest level around the world.

“This is my chance to cross-promote. That’s truly a special thing to have. I want to elevate the promotions I work with and my opponents in the ring. I am going to deliver the best possible matches I can deliver.”

While Ospreay and Moxley will demand the most attention in the buildup, it is Finlay who may leave the lasting impression. His work as leader of Bullet Club has been unheralded, yet extremely convincing. Wrestling fans will be treated to his superb style of pro wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 18, which particularly shines against Ospreay, a longtime contentious foe.

“Me and Finlay, we’ve got a huge history,” said Ospreay. “We’re the same age, only a few days between us. I’m sure there is some underlying jealousy about my ascent in New Japan. But it just clicked for me. I just operate differently.

“It’s a real rivalry. Finlay is ruthless and one of the best wrestlers, learning that from his father. He’s got a different way of looking at the wrestling industry.”

The combination of Ospreay, Moxley, and Finlay should lead to an exceptionally compelling bout. Ospreay and Moxley have wrestled only once against one another in a singles bout, then once more in a four-way. In their singles match, which took place in April of 2022, Moxley emerged victorious.

“I want to walk out of New Japan defeating Finlay, but there is Moxley, too,” said Ospreay. “Moxley needs to understand something. We had one match, and that was in Chicago, and it was a botch by the referee, who f----- up on the three-count. Moxley can say whatever he wants, but that’s not going to happen in Japan.

“At Wrestle Kingdom, I am going to be in my element. They’re going to focus on violence, I’m going to focus on winning.”

(S.I)

Pro Wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling 

 

On December 31st All Japan Pro Wrestling present its first New Year's Eve event live on TrillerTV 

 - it's MANIAx. The event features the Triple Crown Heavyweight Title match where the 71st champion Katsuhiko Nakajima makes his firts defense against Kento Miyahara.

Full Card:

Shotaro Ashino ＆ T-Hawk vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan ＆ Seigo Tachibana

AJPW (Atsuki Aoyagi ＆ Rising HAYATO) vs DDT (Yuki Ueno & Tohei Kojima)

World Junior Heavyweight Title Match

El Linderman vs Dan Tamura

Special Single Match to determine the true Rookie of the Year

Jun Saito vs Rei Saito

Special 6-man Tag Match

Suwama & Hideki Suzuki & Hikaru Sato vs Minoru Suzuki & Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Hokuto Omori

Gaora TV Championship Preliminary Round 6-Man Tag Team Match

Black Mensore & Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe vs Minoru Tanaka & Shigeki Doi & Koji Iwamoto

*lineup subject to change

Despite Bellator purchase, PFL has a long way to go to catch up with UFC - November 28, 2023

There are people who still ask for a Kleenex when what they really want is a tissue. And there are people who tell coworkers they’re heading to the Xerox machine when what they mean is they’re going to the copier.

In the same vein, fight fans often refer to the sport of mixed martial arts as UFC.

It’s a sign that the UFC — one of hundreds of promoters of MMA shows active today — has hit the mainstream. When fans — not media, not fighters, not promoters, not publicists, not managers — think of major league MMA, they think of the UFC.

It doesn't help that when the Professional Fighters League completed the acquisition of Bellator last week, it put out a news release that was highly misleading.

A sub-headline on the release said, “PFL + Bellator Combined Fighter Roster Equal to UFC — Both Rosters 30% Top 25 World-Ranked,” which PFL spokesman Loren Mack said the promotion used the Fight Matrix rankings when coming up with that number.

But, that just doesn’t jive with what MMA media which covers the sport religiously reports. Yahoo Sports took the Top 10 from the divisional rankings of ESPN, Sherdog and MMA Junkie in the eight men’s weight classes and noted what organization the fighters compete with.

Of the 80 spots in ESPN’s rankings, 68 were UFC fighters, one was a PFL fighter, nine were Bellator Fighters and two were from ONE Championship. In Sherdog’s rankings, 72 were UFC fighters, none were from either PFL or ONE and eight were from Bellator. And in MMA Junkie’s, 67 were UFC fighters, two each were from PFL and ONE and nine were from Bellator.

One of the PFL fighters ranked by MMA Junkie was heavyweight Francis Ngannou, who has not fought for the PFL yet and hasn’t fought an MMA bout since January 2022. The only other PFL fighter ranked in the Top 10 by any of those three outlets was Derek Brunson, the middleweight who made his PFL debut Friday.

Pound-for-pound wise, it’s the same. ESPN’s Top 10 has 10 UFC fighters. Sherdog and MMA Junkie each have nine UFC fighters in its Top 10 pound-for-pound. Those fighters are essentially the sport’s top stars.

This, though, isn’t meant to bash any UFC competitor, including Bellator, PFL or ONE. Rather, it’s to point out they’re focusing on the wrong thing if they want to somehow reach equal footing with the UFC as MMA promoters. No MMA promoter is remotely close to the UFC now, not in revenue, not in sponsorships, not in quality of fighters, not in promotion, not in marketing, not in ticket sales, not in television ratings nor in terms of television production.

It’s good for a sport, and particularly for the athletes, to have an alternative, because it will create more opportunities. However, there is one major league in baseball, one in football and one in basketball and those athletes are doing extraordinarily well.

But in MMA, it’s good for fighters to have a choice, particularly if they somehow run afoul of UFC CEO Dana White. Brunson, for example, is a lot more significant to the PFL than he is to the UFC. ESPN and MMA Junkie have eight UFC fighters among their Top 10 middleweights, while Sherdog has nine. Until recently, Brunson was part of that UFC list.

But the UFC has so much depth that Brunson’s loss will hardly be felt. He will be an impact talent for the PFL, though. As a result, the PFL paid him more than the UFC would have given his relative value to the organizations. So having an organization like the now combined PFL and Bellator competing for talent with the UFC makes it better for the fighters who hit the market. While it’s one less bidder, the fact that the PFL now has all of those roster spots means there will be competition for available fighters.

That said, it seems unlikely any promotion is going to overtake the UFC as No. 1 in MMA in the near future.

Talent is an important part of the equation, but it’s not everything. If the UFC and the combined Bellator/PFL group swapped rosters, the UFC would still come out on top because it does so many of those other things better than any MMA promotion you’d care to name.

So talent is important, but PFL should learn a lesson from the mistakes Bellator president Scott Coker made in his run. He relied far too much on older, veteran fighters who were mostly used up, thinking they’d attract attention. Instead, the PFL needs to find a way to get the elite young talent signed before the UFC and then develop it.

That’s only one part of the equation, though. PFL needs to continue to develop new markets, and create fans not just of MMA but of the PFL itself. It needs to succeed in merchandising and sponsorships and television production.

It needs to promote and market infinitely better and not just be a place for the disaffected UFC fans. It needs to learn how to turn fighters into stars. Who was the last fighter who didn’t have a lengthy run in the UFC who was widely recognizable and became a star? Tough question to answer, isn’t it?

There will be some interesting fights that could be put together between the champions at Bellator and PFL, but are there any that will get the juices flowing from fans around the world? At this stage, probably not.

The PFL has a lot of work ahead of it and it’s not going to be easy. It’s lapped in every category imaginable now.

But it’s wise to forget about comparing rosters and getting to work on building a product that actually makes it difficult for White to sleep.

As it stands now, he’s sleeping far too easily, with way too little to worry about from any competitor.

Pro Wrestling

Samoa Joe Captures The AEW World Championship - January 2024

AEW World Championship Match!

MJF (c.) vs. Samoa Joe!

The sold out arena chanted “He’s our scumbag! He’s our scumbag!”

MJF pointed to the entrance ramp and Adam Cole’s music hit, baybay! Adam Cole came down to the ring on crutches. Cole stood in his best friend’s corner, and MJF smiled. 

MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eye and then kicked him. MJF charged at Samoa Joe, but Joe grabbed him and slammed him to the mat. MJF clutched his arm. Samoa Joe punched MJF in the shoulder and then stomped a mudhole into him. Samoa Joe hit a leg drop on MJF’s arm. Samoa Joe put a tight grip on MJF’s shoulder. MJF fought out of it with a series of chops. Samoa Joe booted the champ in the face!

“Max is in deep you know what right now,” said Taz.

Samoa Joe went for the muscle buster, but Max escaped. MJF grabbed an inside cradle for a near fall. MJF tried to schoolboy Samoa Joe and Joe kicked out of it. MJF went for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe anticipated it and blocked it. MJF went to skin the cat, but as MJF was inverted, Samoa Joe kicked MJF in the head. Samoa Joe dived out of the ring with an elbow suicida and mowed down MJF.

Samoa Joe planted Max with a Death Valley Driver in the center of the ring. Joe nailed MJF with a German Suplex and then a dragon suplex. Samoa Joe followed up with a straitjacket suplex! Samoa Joe decimated MJF with a muscle buster on the ring apron! MJF landed directly on his injured left shoulder. Joe covered MJF but MJF managed to kick out at two.

MJF headbutted Joe. MJF connected with a rolling elbow strike to the back of Joe’s head. MJF chomped on Samoa Joe’s forehead. MJF tried for the kangaroo kick, but Samoa Joe booted Max out of the air. MJF thumbed Samoa Joe in the eyes. MJF tried to hoist up Samoa Joe, but MJF collapsed under the weight. MJF ran into Samoa Joe, throwing his body at Joe. MJF landed the heat seeker on Samoa Joe for a two-count! MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar on Samoa Joe. The challenger escaped and put MJF into an arm bar. Samoa Joe wrenched upwards. Adam Cole cheered on MJF, and MJF was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold.

Samoa Joe applied a sleeper. MJF pushed backwards, inadvertently shoving Samoa Joe into the referee. The ref collapsed. MJF smiled. MJF stunned Samoa Joe with a low blow. MJF hoisted up Samoa Joe and pancaked him! The ref finally turned around and began to count the pin, but Samoa Joe kicked out at two! MJF signaled for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Adam Cole had trouble finding it, and in the meantime, Samoa Joe grabbed Max from behind. Samoa Joe wrapped MJF in a deep submission. The referee lifted up MJF’s arm three times and MJF didn’t respond. MJF was choked out!

And new All Elite World Champion Samoa Joe!

(All Elite Wrestling)

ALL ELITE WRESTLING

AEW Revolution 2024

Date

MARCH 3, 2024

Venue

Greensboro Coliseum

City

Greensboro, NC

Elon Musk's X gets another valuation cut from Fidelity, By Dan Primack

Fidelity has again marked down the value of its shares in X Holdings, which the mutual fund giant helped Elon Musk buy for $44 billion when the company was known as Twitter.

By the numbers: Fidelity believes that X is worth 71.5% less than at the time of purchase, according to a new disclosure that runs through the end of November 2023 (Fidelity revalues private shares on a one-month lag).

This includes a 10.7% cut during November, during which time Musk told boycotting X advertisers to "go f**k yourself" during an on-stage interview with the New York Times.

In terms of publicly traded comps, Meta stock rose 4.9% in November while Snap shares climbed 38.2%.

The big picture: Fidelity began marking down its Twitter shares the first month after Musk's buyout. It increased the share value or kept it stable for a few months earlier in 2023.

Behind the scenes: Fidelity doesn't necessarily have much, if any, inside information on X's financial performance, despite being a shareholder in the privately held business. Other shareholders may value their X stock differently.

X News

Elon Musk’s X in political advertising push to offset revenue falls - December 20, 2023

Plans for new political ads team to hit $US100 million in sales ahead of US presidential election are met with industry scepticism.

London | A push by Elon Musk’s X to bring in $US100 million ($148 million) from political advertising in 2024 is being met by scepticism from industry insiders, hitting its hopes of offsetting revenue losses caused by big brands leaving the platform.

Earlier this year, X’s billionaire owner reversed a ban on political advertising instituted by former chief executive Jack Dorsey, a move designed to align with Musk’s stance as a “free speech absolutist”.

It has since increased its investment in the space, including hosting a recent event with about 100 existing and prospective political clients in Washington to promote its advertising services.

The company subsequently sent a message to some attendees saying it is “building the modern global town square – a place for causes & candidates to meet their constituents – and we are doing this with brand safety and election integrity at the forefront”.

The email, seen by the Financial Times, added that X had 92.4 million users in the US, 98 per cent of whom were of voting age.

Chief executive Linda Yaccarino has told industry figures she was aiming for the platform to bring in $US100 million annually in political ad revenues in a big election year, according to two people familiar with the projections.

X has set up a team of about 10 people that has held around 400 meetings and calls with digital marketers, strategists, campaigns and political action groups, according to those familiar with the operation.

X’s new political advertising sales team is headed by New York-based Sten McGuire, who has previously worked in political sales for Hulu and Walt Disney. X has hired Ms Yaccarino’s son Matthew Madrazo to manage Republican relationships.

Media advertising veteran Jonathan Phelps has been tasked with soliciting business from Democratic groups. Semafor first reported the sales target and some of X’s recent hires.

The company is also advertising more positions for its “growing” political ads sales team ahead of the “upcoming 2024 election cycle”, according to online job postings.

While X did not confirm the financial targets, it did confirm the communication related to the event and said it had been working on improving its targeting.

“On X, people can actively participate in vital discussions with elected officials, community leaders and fellow citizens,” said Joe Benarroch, X’s head of business operations. “That’s exactly why we’re constantly refining our policies and our products to ensure all communities have an open and secure platform for safe political discourse on X.”

The push has been met with scepticism by leading players in the US political advertising scene, particularly left-leaning groups.

During the 2018 midterm elections, X, then known as Twitter, brought in only about $US3 million in political advertising. As of December 11, the company had made about $US4.7 million from the start of 2023 from political ads, according to disclosure data that can be requested from the company.

One industry figure in US political marketing said that many in the sector believed X’s targets were too high, as the team lacked experience in Washington and the ads offering was not effective enough.

The company had previously touted a political advertising revenue target of $US200 million when pitching its plans but has since revised the figure, the person said. “Even $US100 million is unattainable,” the person said. “The numbers are misinformed and off.”

Mike Nellis, chief executive of Democratic ad group Authentic, which has run more than a dozen campaigns on the platform, said some of his clients were pulling back or refusing to spend on X.

“Our results on the site are weaker than they were in the first half of the year,” Mr Nellis said. “We believe this is because Elon is driving moderates and progressives off the site. If our target audience isn’t reachable on X, there’s no reason to spend any more.”

According to X’s data from earlier this month, US Republican presidential nominees testing the platform have ranged from spending a few cents on an individual ad campaign to tens of thousands of dollars.

The biggest spenders include Donald Trump’s campaign team, which has spent nearly $US36,000 in total, and Ron DeSantis, who has spent more than $US355,000.

Prominent Democratic politicians including Adam Schiff and Gavin Newsom have each spent close to $US100,000 on X. However, President Joe Biden does not appear to have run any ads on the platform.

Last month, Mr Musk told companies including Disney, IBM and Apple to “go f---” themselves, after the companies pulled their ad spending following his endorsement of an antisemitic post and the publication of research claiming to find some ads on X next to pro-Nazi content.

In 2021, the year before Musk’s takeover, X booked about $US5 billion in revenues mainly from advertising. In July, Mr Musk said ad revenues had dropped by 50 per cent, without giving precise details.

X has also outlined plans, first reported by the Financial Times, to focus on wooing small and medium-sized businesses to prop up its flailing ads business, alongside the political ads push.

Mr Dorsey banned political advertising in 2019 over fears that misinformation was rife in the space. Mr Musk’s decision to overturn the ban in August comes as he has worked with right-wing political figures, for example giving a platform to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to host his show, and helping Mr DeSantis launch his presidential bid via its Spaces audio feature.

Political marketers say X lends itself more to soliciting donations, collecting email addresses and efforts to boost voter turnout, rather than shifting opinions, as users of the platform tend to be entrenched in their political beliefs.

“Political campaigns will leverage it, particularly for fundraising and ‘get out the votes’,” said Grace Briscoe, senior vice-president of client development for Basis Technologies, but added that levels of interest from her clients were low.

Several political advertisers observed that the reach and performance of the services offered by Meta and Google-owned YouTube were superior to that of X.

Between October 12 and November 5, 79 per cent and 72 per cent of voters used YouTube and Facebook, respectively, while only 29 per cent used X, according to findings by Priorities USA, a progressive political action committee.

However, the head of one right-leaning outfit said the platform was becoming a more attractive place for Republicans, as the user base shifts towards their side of the political spectrum.

Courtney Weaver, executive vice-president at Washington digital marketer IMGE, said her company was pitching X to all clients looking to fundraise, adding that the platform had advantages such as the ability for brands to target “lookalike audiences”, which are similar to voters they may already have data for.

Democrats, however, are pulling away. “Many of the Democratic agencies are sensitive to the comments that [Mr Musk has] made that have degraded their candidates,” another industry insider said. “I think there is a genuine hesitation to jump back in again because many of them don’t trust the leadership.”

Backstage News On Takami Ohbari’s Departure As NJPW President, Ohbari and Kazuchika Okada Reportedly Had Heat

- December 29, 2023

Wrestling News

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

According to Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the departure of Ohbari, as well as other staff members, are a combination of external and internal factors contributing to this decision-making process. One section of the report reads:

“Ohbari and Nishizawa are gone for a number of reasons, both the external ones, New Japan and all of Japanese wrestling’s inability to fully recover from the pandemic, and internal ones not talked about.”

Later, Meltzer explains how Ohbari’s strained relationships within the company hurt his reputation, especially with top superstar Kazuchika Okada. This, on to of Ohbari’s general lack of understanding of the wrestling business, are reasons he is now gone.

“Another key reason has been that there were issues with staff members and Ohbari’s usage of power over them. Another major reason was that Ohbari had heat with a number of people, including the company’s top star, Kazuchika Okada. Okada was said to have wanted him out. Others said that Ohbari never really understood the wrestling business and didn’t respect the value of Okada. One person said that Ohbari saw Okada as the lead role actor in a touring show.”

Pro Wrestling

MLW - WWE News

Kasowitz Secures Settlement on Behalf of MLW Media Against World Wrestling Entertainment in Antitrust Suit

New York, NY, December 22, 2023 — Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of professional wrestling promotion company MLW Media (MLW), has reached a settlement with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) over MLW’s antitrust and state law claims against WWE for monopolizing and attempting to monopolize the market for the sale or licensing of media rights for professional wrestling programming in the United States. On December 22, 2023, MLW filed a stipulation and proposed order of dismissal of its lawsuit against WWE with the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, notifying the court that the parties have entered into a settlement agreement.

The settlement follows MLW’s successful defeat of WWE’s motion to dismiss, as well as its successful motion to strike numerous affirmative defenses in WWE’s answer to the amended complaint. The parties agreed to resolve the matter on mutually acceptable terms.

The Kasowitz Benson Torres team representing MLW is led by partners Marc E. Kasowitz and Christine A. Montenegro and includes partner Nicholas A. Rendino.

USFL, XFL announce merger, formation of new spring football league: The UFL - January 2, 2024

The two spring football leagues have formally announced plans to merge and begin play in 2024

Spring football enters a new chapter in 2024, as the USFL and the XFL have formally announced plans to merge and begin play.

The combined league, to be known as the United Football League, will begin play on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Leadership of the new league will combine the operations of the former leagues. Russ Brandon, former president and CEO of the XFL, and Daryl Johnston, former USFL President of Football Operations, will serve in the same roles at the UFL. Dwayne Johnson, who helped found the new version of the XFL, is among other investors involved with the new league.

The initial game will feature the two champions of their respective leagues: the USFL's Birmingham Stallions and the XFL's Arlington (Texas) Renegades. Further teams to be imported over from the former leagues are yet to be announced.

Officials from both leagues have praised spring football as a way for certain players to showcase their skills for a potential jump to the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey and Kavonte Turpin, for example, both had successful USFL careers before leaping to the NFL. For other players, spring football offers an opportunity to get in one last season of football before transitioning to life off the field.

On a larger scale, though, spring football also has substantial value as a broadcast asset. Both Fox and ESPN are involved in broadcasting the UFL. The league will provide inventory for both Fox and ESPN during a relatively quiet time on the sports calendar, when baseball is still in its early days and the playoffs of the NBA and NHL haven't yet hit full speed. Factor in gambling, and spring football is a viable program, even if it does only a tiny fraction of the NFL's ratings numbers.

According to the Washington Post, five XFL teams — the D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas, St. Louis Battlehawks and Arlington Renegades — will join three USFL teams, the Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers.

That leaves several teams — the XFL's Orlando Guardians, Seattle Sea Dragons and Vegas Vipers, and the USFL's Houston Gamblers, New Jersey Generals, New Orleans Breakers, Philadelphia Stars and Pittsburgh Maulers — will be dissolved, with the players under contract to those teams subject to a dispersal draft.

“From day one, our mission has been to expand the game of football and be a league of opportunity, culture and innovation," Johnson said in a statement announcing the new league. "As we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting and very cool for football fans — a spring league with lasting impact for all the players with a dream to play pro football and the ‘hardest workers in the room’ mentality to make their dreams come true.”

The first version of the USFL began play in the early 1980s, but dissolved following a failed attempt to move to the fall and go head-to-head against the NFL. The XFL began play in 2001 but quickly faltered; a second version of the XFL was obliterated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crypto News - December 30, 2023

Cryptocurrencies gain more than half a trillion in value despite controversies

The global value of cryptocurrencies surged by more than $800bn (£631bn) in 2023 as investors continued to pile into the speculative assets despite a series of scandals, bankruptcies and tougher regulation.

After losing more than half their value in the 12 months to December 2022, digital coins rebounded over the last year – with the whole sector worth roughly $1.6 trillion at Christmas.

The price of Bitcoin, the most popular and valuable cryptocurrency, more than doubled, up more than 150pc over the course of the year. A single Bitcoin is now worth north of $42,000, its highest point in 18 months.

Ethereum, the second most popular cryptocurrency, increased its value by 88pc over the year.

Solana, another widely-traded coin, climbed more than 1000pc during 2023. The digital currency data came from Coinmarketcap, which is owned by cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

Bitcoin’s previous high was just over $65,000, amid a buying frenzy in November 2021. High-profile investors including Elon Musk piled into cryptocurrencies, however much of its value was wiped out over the next 12 months.

Yet despite an ongoing series of controversies, cryptocurrencies rebounded in 2023.

These included the collapse of FTX, the world’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange, in late 2022. The offshore trading house was found to have misused customer funds to prop up high-risk investments and luxury purchases for executives.

Its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, was found guilty in November of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy that caused FTX’s bankruptcy.

That same month, the founder of Binance, the world’s largest digital coin exchange, agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges in a case brought by the US Justice Department over money laundering violations.

Changpeng Zhao said he would stand down as chief executive of Binance as part of a deal with prosecutors, while the exchange itself was hit by a $4bn fine.

However, despite the scandals, Matteo Grecco, an analyst at cryptocurrency investment firm Fineqia, said the shake-up at Binance had a “positive effect on the market”.

“The agreement between the largest digital asset exchange and US regulators diminished uncertainties, fostering a more optimistic outlook,” he said.

Regulators have also toughened up their stance against digital coins. In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority introduced new rules in October on how cryptocurrency companies can market to British consumers, ultimately blocking Binance from signing up new UK customers.

In the US, Coinbase, one of the largest digital currency exchanges with a popular app, has been sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The regulator accuses Coinbase of selling digital coins as unlicensed securities. Coinbase has disputed the claims and insists it does not sell securities.

Amid the crackdown, Coinbase’s stock was up more than 400pc over the course of 2023.

Podcast News List

The Diary Of A CEO

Hosted by serial entrepreneur and Britain's Dragon's Den investor Steven Bartlett, The Diary Of A CEO is an unfiltered, raw and emotional podcast exploring timeless leadership lessons and stories on a range of topics affecting aspiring leaders today, from psychology, to health, to business, and technology. Previous guests have ranged from well-esteemed industry stars such as Simon Sinek and Daniel Ek, to Richard Branson and Bozoma Saint-John.

The Ed Mylett Show

Hosted by business thought leader and coach Ed Mylett, this podcast allows you to take a peak into some of the greatest insights ever unveiled by other industry thought leaders, who share their expertise and journeys. Some easily recognizable guest names include Tony Robbins, Jim Kwik, and John Maxwell.

Joe Rogan

Three years after Joe Rogan signed with Spotify, he remains the biggest podcaster in the world. Will he renew his cushy licensing deal, find a new partner, or forge his own path?

For all of the changes Spotify has gone through over the past year, there is still more to come. Those three-year podcast deals the company struck are coming up for renewal, and what Spotify decides to do with them could have reverberations across the industry. The Joe Rogan Experience — the first, the biggest, and the most consequential — will expire in 2024. Today, after speaking with podcasters, producers, analysts, agents, and executives (mostly on background, though a few brave souls went on the record), I take a look at how the Spotify / Rogan relationship could play out. 

Let me be clear: this is purely a thought exercise. I did not hear back from Rogan’s management, and Spotify declined to comment on negotiations. But what is clear from my conversations is that, despite his issues, Rogan is seen as a vital part of Spotify’s podcast business. If he walks or (less likely) if Spotify chose not to renew, it would be another massive blow to the company’s podcasting editorial operation. If they cut a deal, Spotify is in a better position to rebuild, or at least maintain, its podcast arm. If Rogan goes to another platform, he could essentially be a kingmaker. And if he decided to launch his own network, he would have no trouble attracting listeners, advertisers, and talent.

As you can see, there are a lot of ifs! But that’s the fun of it.

Spotify really needs to find a way to make it work

The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that it is in Spotify’s best interest to keep Rogan on board. After all the money the company has sunk into deals that went nowhere (Harry and Meghan) and acquisitions that were eventually dismantled (Gimlet), Rogan is still the best bet the company has ever made. He remains the top podcaster in the world, and it’s not close. 

With Rogan, Spotify gets his very big and very loyal audience (though whether they have been able to translate those listeners into paying subscribers is up for debate). He is also a massive draw for advertisers, and there is an understanding in the industry that his presence on Spotify has a halo effect for ad sales on its other shows. And for all the hoopla over his scandalous comments on vaccines, race, and gender, he didn’t lose any earshare and Spotify didn’t lose subscribers.

But, and this is a big but, this is not 2020. Money is a lot tighter than it was several years ago — investors are pissed that Spotify’s podcast bet still is not profitable, and CEO Daniel Ek has pledged to focus on efficiency. Rogan’s current deal is reported to be worth as much as $200 million over three(ish) years. So then the question becomes whether Spotify can find the right price to keep him happy and mollify investors.

“It’s a situation where you are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don’t,” says Arete Research founder Richard Kramer. “If you do keep him, Spotify will be locked into paying Rogan as much or more than before, at a time when they need to contain costs. If you don’t keep him, then it’s really tough because your biggest property and source of sales within the ad business — walks.”

It is also worth keeping in mind that he will not be negotiating with the same team as last time. Dawn Ostroff, the former head of podcasting, is gone. So is Courtney Holt, who landed the deal in the first place. Spotify’s new head of podcasting, Sahar Elhabashi, worked closely with Ostroff, but unlike Ostroff, she reports up to chief business officer Alex Norstrom. Norstrom, who comes from the music side, is there as a check on wild podcast spending and has been unsparing in his cuts. How much Spotify will be willing to spend ultimately comes down to him. If competition from other platforms drives the price sky high, he may not have the tolerance for it.

Why Rogan could walk

Another thing agreed upon by the people I spoke with is that Rogan has the upper hand in this situation. He has a lot of power right now. Nobody has managed to knock him from his pedestal in the past several years, and it seems unlikely anyone will in the near future.

Rogan initially gained mainstream notice because of his ability to appeal across the ideological spectrum. I don’t think that is quite as true anymore, given his controversial statements and call to listeners to vote Republican in 2022. (Though it seems he may have found his weirdo independent of choice with RFK Jr.). But he does fill a gap in the media landscape. According to YouGov, Rogan’s listeners are overwhelmingly young men, many of whom say they reject politically correct stances, don’t trust traditional media, and really, really love to work out. 

This is to say, he has a loyal audience who will follow him wherever he goes and are unlikely to have brand loyalty to Spotify. Rogan is the brand, and if he wants to expand that brand into a network, he has the money and influence to do so. He can develop new shows, promote them on his own, and likely transfer at least some of his audience. And with another presidential election coming up, there may be no better time to do so.

There is also the matter of exclusivity. Even as Spotify has loosened its grip on other shows, Rogan is still exclusive to the platform, minus promotional YouTube clips. And while Spotify has become one of the biggest players in the market (in no small part thanks to Rogan), it is still the podcast app of choice for only 17 percent of podcast listeners, according to a study from Cumulus, and continues to lose share to YouTube. His reach will be greater if he goes independent again, and he is a guy who likes to be everywhere.

If he isn’t all that interested in being independent, we could also see other platforms try to swoop in with more money than Spotify can afford. YouTube is finally making a big push into podcasting. It doesn’t have any major licensing deals yet, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t. Amazon could sneak in with some crazy money and fewer restrictions, as it has with shows like My Favorite Murder and SmartLess. Hell, Elon Musk could make a play for Rogan as he tries to make Twitter / X a creator platform. The two even reunited yesterday for an episode that was specially licensed to X. 

Why Rogan could stay

This may be overly simple, but money is nice. Having a minimum guarantee during a period of turmoil is really nice. When that minimum guarantee is worth nine figures, it may be impossible to turn down, even for someone who already has more money than he knows what to do with.

For all of Rogan’s maverick cache, there is an ease to staying — all he has to do is show up and talk. Spotify has also made it clear that they will not place limits on anything he has to say. If they can come up with the cash to ward off competition and make it worth his while, it’s a sweet deal.

Rogan also values loyalty, according to those who have dealt with him. After his controversies in 2022, he was offered $100 million to switch to conservative streamer Rumble. He turned it down, saying that “Spotify has hung in with me, inexplicably.” That could also be a cover for not wanting to go to a dinkier platform / get sued, but there does seem to be a grain of truth to that.

I went into this thinking that, given all the options available to him, he couldn’t possibly stick with the same exclusive deal. Who needs another $100 million or two when you can bankroll your own thing and still make a boatload of cash? But Dan Granger, CEO of Oxford Road, made a point to me that made it seem shockingly simple.

“Rush Limbaugh stayed with Premiere Networks. Howard Stern has stayed with Sirius XM. And you better believe they had a lot of, you know, opportunities to leave,” he said. “But the house figured out how to keep them.”

Part of that could mean Spotify deciding to drop Rogan’s exclusivity with a renewal. The company has backed off exclusivity for most of its other shows and may figure there is more value (and certainly more ad revenue) in letting JRE distribute wide. 

That model could be tweaked even further. With yesterday’s Musk episode, the licensing entailed making the first two hours available on X, with the last 45 minutes exclusive to Spotify. That is something that could easily be replicated on other platforms. It’s not the most elegant solution, but it does keep committed Rogan-heads coming back to Spotify.

Verdict

If I had to place money on it (not $200 million, but you know, $50), I would say Rogan and Spotify manage to strike a deal. It may not look the same — in fact, it seems likely that it will be more flexible than the current deal structure. But bumps aside, it has been a remarkably successful relationship. Short of YouTube or Musk swooping in with $500 million, I think it will stay intact.

Joe Rogan’s ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’: A Hub for Engaging Cultural and Political Discourse

In 2023, Joe Rogan’s podcast ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ on Spotify continued to be a hub for engaging political and cultural discourse. The podcast, one of America’s most popular talk shows, served as a platform for Rogan’s commentary on some of the most controversial issues paired with engaging conversations with a diverse roster of guests, ranging from writers and journalists to comedians and public personalities.

Rogan’s Takes on Cultural and Political Issues

One of the many highlighted moments from the show included Rogan’s humorous take on an article associating fitness with extreme right ideology. Rogan argued that the left could be encouraging unhealthy lifestyles to garner support, causing ripples of laughter among his audience. Another significant moment was his commentary on Bud Light’s backlash for creating transgender-themed beer cans. Rogan didn’t shy away from pointing out the significant market loss the company faced as a result of this marketing decision.

A Clash of Opinions: Rogan vs Maher

Rogan’s conversation with liberal talk show host Bill Maher was a noteworthy event, marked by a heated debate on the performance of President Biden and former President Trump. Rogan emphasized Biden’s perceived mental decline while Maher acknowledged Trump’s robust appearance. This episode underscored the podcast’s commitment to facilitating diverse perspectives and fostering meaningful dialogue.

Media, Politics, and the Ukraine Conflict

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine also surfaced in Rogan’s discussions, with him praising Trump for advocating peace and criticizing the media for attempting to sensationalize the issue. This commentary resonated with listeners, further emphasizing Rogan’s ability to dissect complex political issues and present them in a digestible manner.

Societal Obsession with Gender Issues

The societal preoccupation with gender issues was another recurring theme in Rogan’s podcast. Drawing comparisons to historical civilizations on the brink of collapse, Rogan and his guests reflected on how shifting societal norms and internal conflicts within civilizations could be intertwined.

(BNN)

The ‘Great Resignation’: A Break from Monotony or a Return to the Status Quo?

In an era where wellness practices have taken center stage, 2023 marked an intriguing trend in the labor market, often referred to as the ‘Great Resignation.’ It was a year when an unprecedented number of workers, an average of 4 million Americans per month and 130,000 Britons, chose to bid adieu to their routine work lives. Not driven by termination, but by a personal choice to break away from the monotony, the ‘Great Resignation’ unveiled a dramatic shift in the workforce’s mindset.

The Rise of Wellness Practices

Before delving into the labor trend, it’s important to highlight the societal shift towards prioritizing wellness. Throughout 2023, hobby-based movement classes, medicinal energy leveraging, wellness retreats, emphasis on gut health, and burnout sabbaticals gained traction. Even the importance of sleep hygiene was stressed. Amidst the hustle and bustle of work life, these practices offered a respite, a chance to recharge and rejuvenate.

The ‘Great Resignation’

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, May 2023 saw more than 4 million workers quitting their jobs, signifying the onset of the ‘Great Resignation.’ This was not a wave of layoffs or terminations, but rather a mass realization among workers of the need to prioritize personal well-being over professional obligations. Many of these workers opted for wellness sabbaticals as a cure for burnout, leveraging the power of rest and relaxation to restore their mental and physical health.

Looking Ahead: 2024 and Beyond

As we step into 2024, the trend of prioritizing wellness is predicted to continue, if not intensify. More people are expected to seek relaxation and restoration by pausing work and other responsibilities. However, it’s crucial to remember that despite the rise of the ‘Great Resignation,’ the vast majority of workers have remained in their positions. They continue with their usual employment, perhaps contemplating alternative lifestyles but not yet ready to take the leap.

This dichotomy makes the term ‘Great Resignation’ a fascinating phrase. It signifies either a collective abandonment of tedious routines or, more accurately, a collective sigh and return to the status quo. So, while job opportunities are plentiful and the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled widespread job dissatisfaction, the reality is that most workers, despite their dreams and desires, continue to tread the familiar path.

MMA News

Israel Adesanya’s Potential Return at UFC 300: A Possibility?

Former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, Chael Sonnen, has stirred the speculative winds around the likely return of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya.

Following his loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, Adesanya had announced an unexpected time-off until 2027. However, recent comments from Adesanya hint at a potential comeback at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ boxing event, fueling speculations of Adesanya’s return at the historic UFC 300 event in Las Vegas.

Adesanya’s Expected Return

The UFC community is buzzing with expectations as Sonnen’s commentary on his YouTube channel suggests a strong likelihood of Adesanya’s return.

While UFC President Dana White has yet to announce the lineup for the UFC 300 card, Sonnen believes that the winner of the contest between Strickland and Du Plessis will face off against Adesanya.

This speculation is rooted in Adesanya’s reputation for rising to any challenge and his preference for announcing his return before a winner is declared. This would prevent any misconceptions of Adesanya seeking a favorable matchup.

A Potential Matchup

Adesanya’s possible return to the octagon and participation in UFC 300 could be an event of mammoth proportions, considering his reputation and prowess. If Sonnen’s speculation holds true, the victor of the Strickland vs. Du Plessis bout will find themselves in the middleweight championship showdown against Adesanya.

This potential matchup is anticipated to generate widespread attention and excitement among UFC fans worldwide.

The Road Ahead

While Sonnen’s comments suggest a high probability of Adesanya’s return at UFC 300, official confirmation from the UFC or Adesanya is eagerly awaited. Until then, the potential matchup remains a tantalizing prospect for UFC followers.

As the UFC 300 event approaches, the anticipation will only continue to grow, fueling the excitement and suspense that characterizes the world of mixed martial arts.

Gaming News

Over 9,000 employees fired by video gaming firms in 2023

The video game industry saw several rounds of layoffs in 2023, affecting at least 9,000 employees globally.

In September, Fortnite game developer Epic Games announced that it will lay off 16% of its employees, impacting nearly 870 people, chief executive Tim Sweeney wrote to employees.

"We've been spending way more money than we earn. I had long been optimistic that we could power through this transition without layoffs, but in retrospect, I see that this was unrealistic," Sweeney said.

In November, French video game company Ubisoft, which published popular franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, laid off about 124 employees as part of a corporate restructuring and reorganisation effort.

Embracer Group made headlines for its numerous purchases of gaming studios, media companies, and the IP rights to The Lord of the Rings. This year, it performed massive restructuring but in the aftermath of its failed investment strategy, it shut down three studios, cancelled several projects and laid off over 900 employees, The Verge reported.

EA laid off 6% of its workforce or around 780 people.

Other gaming companies like BioWare, Microsoft, Bungie, Naughty Dog,, Amazon, CD Projekt Red, Sega, Unity, and Activision Blizzard were also impacted this year.

What Is Stoicism? A Definition & 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started

Stoic Exercises, Wisdom, and More

For those of us who live our lives in the real world, there is one branch of philosophy created just for us: Stoicism. It’s a philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise–and as a result, better people, better parents and better professionals. 

Stoicism has been a common thread though some of history’s great leaders. It has been practiced by Kings, presidents, artists, writers and entrepreneurs. Marcus Aurelius. Frederick the Great, Montaigne, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Theodore Roosevelt, General James Mattis, —just to name a few—were all influenced by Stoic philosophy. 

So what is Stoicism? Who were the Stoics? How can you be a Stoic? We answer all your questions and more below. Click the links below to navigate to a specific section or scroll and read the entirety of the page:

What Is Stoicism?

“Of all people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only they truly live. Not satisfied to merely keep good watch over their own days, they annex every age to their own. All the harvest of the past is added to their store. ” — Seneca

The private diaries of one of Rome’s greatest emperors, the personal letters of one of Rome’s best playwrights and wisest power brokers, the lectures of a former slave and exile, turned influential teacher. Against all odds, some two millennia later, these incredible documents survive. They contain some of the greatest wisdom in the history of the world and together, they constitute the bedrock of what is known as Stoicism—an ancient philosophy that was once one of the most popular civic disciplines in the West, practiced by the rich and the impoverished, the powerful and the struggling alike in the pursuit of the Good Life. 

Except to the most avid seekers of wisdom, Stoicism is either unknown or misunderstood. To the average person, this vibrant, action-oriented, and paradigm-shifting way of living has become shorthand for “emotionlessness.” Given the fact that the mere mention of philosophy makes most nervous or bored, “Stoic philosophy” on the surface sounds like the last thing anyone would want to learn about, let alone urgently need in the course of daily life. 

It would be hard to find a word that dealt a greater injustice at the hands of the English language than “Stoic.” In its rightful place, Stoicism is a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom: something one uses to live a great life, rather than some esoteric field of academic inquiry. Certainly, many of history’s great minds not only understood Stoicism for what it truly is, they sought it out: George Washington, Walt Whitman, Frederick the Great, Eugène Delacroix, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, Matthew Arnold, Ambrose Bierce, Theodore Roosevelt, William Alexander Percy, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Each read, studied, quoted, or admired the Stoics. The ancient Stoics themselves were no slouches. The names you encounter on this site in our daily email meditations—Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca—belonged to, respectively, a Roman emperor, a former slave who triumphed to become an influential lecturer and friend of the emperor Hadrian, and a famous playwright and political adviser. 

What have all these and countless other great men and women found within Stoicism that others missed? A great deal. Primarily, that it provides much needed strength, wisdom, and stamina for all of life’s challenges.

II. How Did Stoicism Begin?

Around 304 BC, a merchant named Zeno was shipwrecked on a trading voyage. He lost nearly everything. Making his way to Athens, he was introduced to philosophy by the Cynic philosopher Crates and the Megarian philosopher Stilpo, which changed his life. As Zeno later joked, “I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered shipwreck.” He would later move to what became known as the Stoa Poikile, literally meaning “painted porch.” Erected in the 5th century BC—the ruins of it are visible still, some 2,500 years later—the painted porch is where Zeno and his disciples gathered for discussion. While his followers were originally called Zenonians, it is the ultimate credit to Zeno’s humility that the philosophical school he founded, unlike nearly every school and religion before or since, didn’t ultimately carry his name.

III. Who Were The Stoic Philosophers?

Agasicles, king of the Spartans, once quipped that he wanted to be “the student of men whose son I should like to be as well.” It is a critical consideration we need to make in our search for role models. Stoicism is no exception. Before we begin our studies we need to ask ourselves: Who are the people that followed these precepts? Who can I point out as an example? Am I proud to look up to this person? Do I want to be more like them?

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright and political advisor Seneca, and the slave turned prominent teacher Epictetus—these are the three Stoics you need to get to know first. Once you do, we’re confident you will want to follow in their footsteps. 

Who Is Marcus Aurelius?

“Alone of the emperors,” the historian Herodian would write of the man who became known to us as Marcus Aurelius, “he gave proof of his learning not by mere words or knowledge of philosophical doctrines but by his blameless character and temperate way of life.” Cassius Dio: “In addition to possessing all the other virtues, he ruled better than any others who had ever been in any position of power.” 

Born April 26th, 121, nobody would have predicted that Marcus Catilius Severus Annius Verus would one day be Emperor of the Roman Empire. The emperor Hadrian, who would have known young Marcus through his early academic accomplishments, sensing his potential, kept an eye on the boy. His nickname for Marcus, whom he liked to go hunting with, was Verissimus—a play on his name Verus—the truest one. What exactly Hadrian saw in Marcus is unclear. But by Marcus’s 17th birthday, Hadrian had begun planning something extraordinary. 

He was going to make Marcus Aurelius the emperor of Rome.

On February 25th, 138, Hadrian adopted a 51 year old man named Antoninus Pius on the condition that he in turn adopted Marcus Aurelius. Given life-expectancy statistics of the time, Hadrian figured this regent and mentor might be at the helm in five years. All was well, except Antoninus lived and ruled for twenty three years. 

In 161, as Antoninus died and ended one of the longest reigns, Marcus finally became the Emperor of the Roman Empire and ruled for nearly two decades until his death in 180. His reign wasn’t easy: wars with the Parthian Empire, the barbarian tribes menacing the Empire on the northern border, the rise of Christianity, as well as the plague that left millions dead.

The famous historian Edward Gibbon wrote that under Marcus, the last of the ‘Five Good Emperors,’ “the Roman Empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of wisdom and virtue”. The guidance of wisdom and virtue. That’s what separates Marcus from the majority of past and present world leaders. Just look at the journal that he left behind, which is now known as his Meditations: the private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world, admonishing himself on how to be more virtuous, more just, more immune to temptation, wiser.

And for Marcus, Stoicism provided a framework for dealing with the stresses of daily life as a leader of one of the most powerful empires in human history. 

Who Is Seneca?

Born around 4BC in Corduba, Spain, the son of a wealthy and learned writer known to history as Seneca the Elder, Seneca the Younger was destined for great things from birth. Seneca’s father selected Attalus the Stoic to tutor his boy, primarily for his reputation as a man of great eloquence. His son took to education with gusto—by Seneca’s own telling, he cheerfully “laid siege” to the classroom and was the first to arrive and last to leave it. The most powerful lesson that Seneca learned from Attalus was on the desire to improve practically, in the real world. The purpose of studying philosophy, Seneca learned from his beloved instructor, was to “take away with him some one good thing every day: he should return home a sounder man, or on the way to becoming sounder.”

While his commitment to self-improvement was beloved by his teachers, they also knew that his father—no fan of philosophy—was paying them to train his son for an active and ambitious political career. In Rome, a promising young lawyer could appear in court as early as age 17, and there is little doubt that Seneca was one…but, only in his early twenties, Seneca’s health nearly cut it all short. A lung condition forced him to take an extended trip to Egypt to recover where he would spend nearly a decade writing, reading, and building up his strength.

He returned to Rome at 35 in 31 AD—a time of paranoia and violence and corruption and political turmoil. Seneca kept his head down for the most part throughout the equally terrifying reigns of Tiberius and Caligula. His life took a sharp turn in 41 A.D. when Claudius became the emperor and exiled Seneca to the island of Corsica. It would be another eight years away from Rome—and although he started productively (writing Consolation to Polybius, Consolation to Helvia and On Anger in a short span), the many writing consolations soon needed some consoling himself. So began his practice of letter writing, which would continue all his life. 

Eight years later, in another sharp turn, Agrippina, mother of future emperor Nero and wife of Claudius recalled Seneca from exile to become her son’s tutor and adviser. At 53 years old, Seneca is suddenly elevated to the center of life in the Roman imperial court—a whirlwind of events that history still hasn’t wrapped its head around. In the end, Seneca made only minimal impact on Nero, a man whom time would shortly reveal to be deranged. Was it always a hopeless mission? Probably. But all a Stoic can do is show up and do our work. Seneca believed he had an obligation. As he would later write, the difference between the Stoics and the Epicureans is that the Stoics felt that politics was a duty.

Who Is Epictetus?

While Seneca would speak, with surprising relatability, about slave owners who became owned by the responsibility and management of their slaves or other Stoics would congratulate themselves for their humane treatment of their human chattel, Epictetus actually was one.

His given name is not known. Epictētos is Greek meaning “acquired.” Epictetus was born into slavery. Epictetus’ mention of his owner, Epaphroditus, is surprisingly neutral because we know Epaphroditus was cruel even by Roman standards. Later Christian writers tell us that Epictetus’s master was violent and depraved, at one point twisting Epictetus’s leg with all his might. As a punishment? As a sick pleasure? In a wrestling match? Trying to get a disobedient young kid to follow instructions? We don’t know. All we hear is that Epictetus calmly warned him about taking it too far. When the leg snapped, Epictetus made no sound, he uttered no tears. He smiled and looked at his master and said, “Didn’t I warn you?”

For the rest of his life, Epictetus would walk with a limp. But Epictetus remained unbroken by the incident. “Lameness is an impediment to the leg,” he would later say, “but not to the will.” Epictetus would choose to see his disability as only a physical impairment, and in fact it was that idea of choice that defined the core of his philosophical beliefs. Life was like a play, he liked to say, and if it was the playwrights “pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally. For this is your business, to act well the character assigned you; to choose it is another’s.”

And so he did. 

Law established by Augustus in 4AD determined that slaves could not be freed before their 30th birthday. Epictetus didn’t obtain his freedom until shortly after emperor Nero’s death. He chose to dedicate himself fully to philosophy and taught in Rome for nearly 25 years…Until the emperor Domitian famously banished all philosophers in Rome. Epictetus fled to Nicopolis in Greece where he founded a philosophy school and taught until his death.

IV. What Are The 4 Virtues of Stoicism?

Courage.

Temperance. 

Justice.

Wisdom. 

They are the most essential values in Stoic philosophy. “If, at some point in your life,” Marcus Aurelius wrote, “you should come across anything better than justice, truth, self-control, courage—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed.” That was almost twenty centuries ago. We have discovered a lot of things since then—automobiles, the Internet, cures for diseases that were previously a death sentence—but have we found anything better?

…than being brave

…than moderation and sobriety

…than doing what’s right

…than truth and understanding?

No, we have not. It’s unlikely we ever will. Everything we face in life is an opportunity to respond with these four traits:

Courage

If you’ve read Cormac McCarthy’s dark and beautiful novel All the Pretty Horses, you’ll remember the key question that Emilio Perez asks John Grady, one that cuts to the core of life and what we all must do to live a life worth living.

“The world wants to know if you have cojones. If you are brave?”

The Stoics might have phrased this a bit differently. Seneca would say that he actually pitied people who have never experienced misfortune. “You have passed through life without an opponent,” he said, “No one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”

The world wants to know what category to put you in, which is why it will occasionally send difficult situations your way. Think of these not as inconveniences or even tragedies but as opportunities, as questions to answers. Do I have cojones? Am I brave? Am I going to face this problem or run away from it? Will I stand up or be rolled over?

Let your actions etch a response into the record—and let them remind you of why courage is the most important thing.

Temperance 

Of course, life is not so simple as to say that courage is all the counts. While everyone would admit that courage is essential, we are also all well aware of people whose bravery turns to recklessness and becomes a fault when they begin to endanger themselves and others. 

This is where Aristotle comes in. Aristotle actually used courage as the main example in his famous metaphor of a “Golden Mean.” On one end of the spectrum, he said, there was cowardice—that’s a deficiency of courage. On the other, there was recklessness—too much courage. What was called for, what we required then, was a golden mean. The right amount.

That’s what Temperance or moderation is about: Doing nothing in excess. Doing the right thing in the right amount in the right way. Because “We are what we repeatedly do,” Aristotle also said, “therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

In other words: Virtue and excellence is a way of living. It’s foundational. It’s like an operating system and the code this system operates on is habit.

As Epictetus would later say, “capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking, and running by running… therefore, if you want to do something, make a habit of it.” So if we want to be happy, if we want to be successful, if we want to be great, we have to develop the capability, we have to develop the day-to-day habits that allow this to ensue.

This is great news. Because it means that impressive results or enormous changes are possible without herculean effort or magic formulas. Small adjustments, good systems, the right processes—that’s what it takes.

P.S. Daily Stoic sifted through the greatest Stoic wisdom and aimed it at one of the most challenging parts of life: habit formation and growth. Check out Daily Stoic Habits for Success, Habits for Success Challenge! Challenge yourself to change what you “repeatedly do.” We are promising that if you can do that, you can achieve excellence—personally and professionally. 

Justice

Being brave. Finding the right balance. These are core Stoic virtues, but in their seriousness, they pale in comparison to what the Stoics worshipped most highly: Doing the right thing. 

There is no Stoic virtue more important than justice, because it influences all the others. Marcus Aurelius himself said that justice is “the source of all the other virtues.” Stoics throughout history have pushed and advocated for justice, oftentimes at great personal risk and with great courage, in order to do great things and defend the people and ideas that they loved. 

Cato gave his life trying to restore the Roman Republic.

And Thrasea and Agrippinus gave theirs resisting the tyranny of Nero.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson formed a new nation—one which would seek, however imperfectly, to fight for democracy and justice—largely inspired by the philosophy of Cato and those other Stoics.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a translator of Epictetus, led a black regiment of troops in the US Civil War.

Beatrice Webb, who helped to found the London School of Economics and who first conceptualized the idea of collective bargaining, regularly re-read Marcus Aurelius.

Countless other activists and politicians have turned to Stoicism to gird them against the difficulty of fighting for ideals that mattered, to guide them towards what was right in a world of so much wrong. A Stoic must deeply believe that an individual can make a difference. Successful activism and political maneuvering require understanding and strategy, as well as realism… and hope. It requires wisdom, acceptance and also a refusal to accept the statue quo. 

It was James Baldwin who most brilliantly captured this tension in Notes of a Native Son:

It began to seem that one would have to hold in mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as they are: in light of this idea it goes without saying that injustice is commonplace. But this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one’s own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but one must fight them with all one’s strength.

A Stoic sees the world clearly…but also sees clearly what the world can be. And then they are brave, and strategic enough to help bring it into reality. 

Wisdom

Courage. Temperance. Justice. These are the critical virtues of life. But what situations call for courage? What is the right amount? What is the right thing? This is where the final and essential virtue comes in: Wisdom. The knowing. The learning. The experience required to navigate the world. 

Wisdom has always been prized by the Stoics. Zeno said that we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason: to listen more than we talk. And since we have two eyes, we are obligated to read and observe more than we talk as well. 

It is key today, as it was in the ancient world, to  be able to distinguish between the vast aggregations of information that lay out there at your disposal—and the actual wisdom that you need to live a good life. It’s key that we study, that we keep our minds open always. You cannot learn that which you think you already know, Epictetus said. It’s true. 

Which is why we need to not only be humble students but also seek out great teachers. It’s why we should always be reading. It’s why we cannot stop training. It’s why we have to be diligent in filtering out the signal from the noise. 

The goal is not just to acquire information, but the right kind of information. It’s the lessons found in Meditations, in everything from the actual Epictetus to James Stockdale entering the world of Epictetus. It’s the key facts, standing out from the background noise, that you need to absorb.

Thousands of years of blazing insight are available to the world. It is likely that you have the power to learn anything you want at your fingertips. So today, honor the Stoic virtue of wisdom by slowing down, being deliberate, and finding the wisdom you need.

Two eyes, two ears, one mouth. Remain a student. Act accordingly—and wisely.

P.S. If you’re looking to be a better reader—to build a real reading practice—the Stoics can help. We built out some of their best insights into our Daily Stoic: Read-to-Lead Reading Challenge. It’s going to walk you through more than a dozen actionable challenges that will help you elevate your game as a reader, learn how to think more critically and discover important books that will change your life. We’ve got videos and worksheets and all sorts of recommendations and strategies for you. If you’ve liked any of our other courses, you’ll love this one—it’s awesome, it’s actionable and it will help you get a better ROI out of one of the most important ways we spend our time and enrich our minds. Give it a shot. 

V. What Are The Best Books On Stoicism?

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. It is the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. Marcus stopped almost every night to practice a series of spiritual exercises—reminders designed to make him humble, patient, empathetic, generous, and strong in the face of whatever he was dealing with. You cannot read this book and not come away with a phrase or a line that will be helpful to you next time you are in trouble. Read it, it is practical philosophy embodied.

Letters From A Stoic by Seneca

While Marcus wrote mainly for himself, Seneca had no trouble advising and aiding others. In fact, that was his job—he was Nero’s tutor, tasked with reducing the terrible impulses of a terrible man. His advice on grief, on wealth, on power, on religion, and on life are always there when you need them. Seneca’s letters are the best place to start, but the essays in On the Shortness of Life are excellent as well.

Discourses by Epictetus

That Epictetus’ teachings survive to us is remarkable. It is only thanks to a student named Arrian, who’s credited with transcribing the lessons he learned in Epictetus’ classroom at the beginning of the second century AD. Arrian wrote in a letter prior to the Discourses’ publishing, “whatever I used to hear him say I wrote down, word for word, as best I could, as a record for later use of his thought and frank expression.” Arrian would use those lessons to achieve renown throughout Rome as a political advisor, military commander, and prolific author. Interestingly, in the first book of Meditations, titled “Debts and Lessons,” Marcus thanks one of his philosophy teachers, Rusticus, “for introducing me to Epictetus’s lectures – and loaning me his own copy.”

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living features not only 366 all-new translations of brilliant stoic passages but 366 exciting stories, examples and explanations of the stoic principles from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus but also some of the lesser known but equally wise stoics from Zeno to Cleanthes to Chrysippus. The book takes the reader on a daily journey through practical, pragmatic philosophy. Each day offers a new stoic insight and exercise. By following these teachings, you’ll find the serenity, self-knowledge and resilience you need to live well.

 The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday 

Inspired by Stoicism and the maxim from Marcus Aurelius—“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way”—The Obstacle Is The Way is a primer of the key principles for thriving under pressure. Through historical examples of great men and women, it teaches us how to overcome adversity and difficulties, turn obstacles upside down, and shows us how to love our fate, no matter what it might bring. The book has become a cult classic with coaches and athletes alike and has been featured in prominent outlets like Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

VI. How To Be A Stoic: 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started

1. The Dichotomy Of Control 

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own . . .” Epictetus

The single most important practice in Stoic philosophy is differentiating between what we can change and what we can’t. What we have influence over and what we do not. A flight is delayed because of weather— no amount of yelling at an airline representative will end a storm. No amount of wishing will make you taller or shorter or born in a different country. No matter how hard you try, you can’t make someone like you. And on top of that, time spent hurling yourself at these immovable objects is time not spent on the things we can change.

Return to this question daily—in each and every trying situation. Journal and reflect on it constantly. If you can focus on making clear what parts of your day are within your control and what parts are not, you will not only be happier, you will have a distinct advantage over other people who fail to realize they are fighting an unwinnable battle.

2. Journal

“Few care now about the marches and countermarches of the Roman commanders. What the centuries have clung to is a notebook of thoughts by a man whose real life was largely unknown who put down in the midnight dimness not the events of the day or the plans of the morrow, but something of far more permanent interest, the ideals and aspirations that a rare spirit lived by.” — Brand Blanshard

Epictetus the slave. Marcus Aurelius the emperor. Seneca the power broker and playwright. These three radically different men led radically different lives. But they seemed to have one habit in common: Journaling.

It would be Epictetus who would admonish his students that philosophy was something they should “write down day by day,” that this writing was how they “should exercise themselves.” Seneca’s favorite time to journal was in the evenings. When darkness had fallen and his wife had gone asleep, he explained to a friend, “I examine my entire day and go back over what I’ve done and said, hiding nothing from myself, passing nothing by.” Then he would go to bed, finding that “the sleep which follows this self-examination” was particularly sweet. And Marcus, he was the most prodigious of journalers, and we are lucky enough that his writings survive to us, appropriately titled, Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, Ta eis heauton, or “to himself.”

In Stoicism the art of journaling is more than some simple diary. This daily practice is the philosophy. Preparing for the day ahead. Reflecting on the day that has passed. Reminding oneself of the wisdom we have learned from our teachers, from our reading, from our own experiences. It’s not enough to simply hear these lessons once, instead, one practices them over and over again, turns them over in their mind, and most importantly, writes them down and feels them flowing through their fingers in doing so.

Stoicism is designed to be a practice and a routine. It’s not a philosophy you read once and magically understand at the soul-level. No, it’s a lifelong pursuit that requires diligence and repetition and concentration. (Pierre Hadot called it spiritual exercising). That’s one of the benefits of the page-a-day (with monthly themes) format we organized the Stoics into (and the weekly themes in The Daily Stoic Journal). It’s putting one thing up for you to review—to have at hand—and to fully digest. Not in passing. Not just once. But every single day over the course of a year, and preferably year in and year out. And if Epictetus is right, it’s something you’re supposed to keep within reach at all times—which is why a collection of the greatest hits, presented daily, was so appealing to us. 

In this way, journaling is Stoicism. It’s almost impossible to have one without the other.

P.S. Check out The Daily Stoic Journal. It’s an easy place to start and is built around the Stoic journaling methods of Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.

3. Practice Misfortune

“It is in times of security that the spirit should be preparing itself for difficult times; while fortune is bestowing favors on it is then is the time for it to be strengthened against her rebuffs.” — Seneca

Seneca, who enjoyed great wealth as the adviser of Nero, suggested that we ought to set aside a certain number of days each month to practice poverty. Take a little food, wear your worst clothes, get away from the comfort of your home and bed. Put yourself face to face with want, he said, you’ll ask yourself “Is this what I used to dread?”

It’s important to remember that this is an exercise and not a rhetorical device. He doesn’t mean “think about” misfortune, he means live it. Comfort is the worst kind of slavery because you’re always afraid that something or someone will take it away. But if you can not just anticipate but practice misfortune, then chance loses its ability to disrupt your life.

Emotions like anxiety and fear have their roots in uncertainty and rarely in experience. Anyone who has made a big bet on themselves knows how much energy both states can consume. The solution is to do something about that ignorance. Make yourself familiar with the things, the worst-case scenarios, that you’re afraid of.

Practice what you fear, whether a simulation in your mind or in real life. The downside is almost always reversible or transient.

4. Train Perceptions 

“Choose not to be harmed and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been.” — Marcus Aurelius

The Stoics had an exercise called Turning the Obstacle Upside Down. What they meant to do was make it impossible to not practice the art of philosophy. Because if you can properly turn a problem upside down, every “bad” becomes a new source of good.

Suppose for a second that you are trying to help someone and they respond by being surly or unwilling to cooperate. Instead of making your life more difficult, the exercise says, they’re actually directing you towards new virtues; for example, patience or understanding. Or, the death of someone close to you; a chance to show fortitude.

Marcus Aurelius described it like this:

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

It should sound familiar because it is the same thinking behind Obama’s “teachable moments.” Right before the election, Joe Klein asked Obama how he’d made his decision to respond to the Reverend Wright scandal. He said something like ‘when the story broke I realized the best thing to do wasn’t damage control, it was to speak to Americans like adults.’ And what he ended up doing was turning a negative situation into the perfect platform for his landmark speech about race.

The common refrain about entrepreneurs is that they take advantage of, even create, opportunities. To the Stoic, everything is opportunity. The Reverend Wright scandal, a frustrating case where your help goes unappreciated, the death of a loved one, none of those are “opportunities” in the normal sense of the word. In fact, they are the opposite. They are obstacles. What a Stoic does is turn every obstacle into an opportunity.

There is no good or bad to the practicing Stoic. There is only perception. You control perception. You can choose to extrapolate past your first impression (‘X happened.’ –> ‘X happened and now my life is over.’). If you tie your first response to dispassion, you’ll find that everything is simply an opportunity.

Note: This exercise served as the inspiration behind The Obstacle Is The Way.

5. Remember—It’s All Ephemeral

“Alexander the Great and his mule driver both died and the same thing happened to both.” — Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself a simple and effective reminder to help him regain perspective and stay balanced:

“Run down the list of those who felt intense anger at something: the most famous, the most unfortunate, the most hated, the most whatever: Where is all that now? Smoke, dust, legend…or not even a legend. Think of all the examples. And how trivial the things we want so passionately are.”

It is important to note that ‘passion’ here isn’t the modern usage we’re familiar with as in enthusiasm or caring about something. As Don Robertson explains in his book, when the Stoics discuss overcoming ‘passions’, which they called patheiai, they refer to the irrational, unhealthy and excessive desires and emotions. Anger would be a good example. What is important to remember, and this is the crucial bit, they seek to replace them with eupatheiai, such as joy instead of excessive pleasure.

Returning to the point of the exercise, it’s simple: remember how small you are. For that matter, remember how small most everything is.

Remember that achievements can be ephemeral, and that your possession of them is for just an instant.

If everything is ephemeral, what does matter? Right now matters. Being a good person and doing the right thing right now, that’s what matters and that’s what was important to the Stoics.

Take Alexander the Great who conquered the known world and had cities named in his honor. This is common knowledge. The Stoics would also point out that, once while drunk, Alexander got into a fight with his dearest friend, Cleitus, and accidentally killed him. Afterward, he was so despondent that he couldn’t eat or drink for three days. Sophists were called from all over Greece to see what they could do about his grief, to no avail.

Is this the mark of a successful life? From a personal standpoint, it matters little if your name is emblazoned on a map if you lose perspective and hurt those around you.

Learn from Alexander’s mistake. Be humble and honest and aware. That is something you can have every single day of your life. You’ll never have to fear someone taking it from you or, worse still, it taking over you.

6.Take The View From Above

“How beautifully Plato put it. Whenever you want to talk about people, it’s best to take a bird’s- eye view and see everything all at once— of gatherings, armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths, noisy courtrooms or silent spaces, every foreign people, holidays, memorials, markets— all blended together and arranged in a pairing of opposites.” — Marcus Aurelius

Marcus would often practice an exercise that is referred to as “taking the view from above” or “Plato’s view.” It invites us to take a step back, zoom out and see life from a higher vantage point than our own. This exercise—envisioning all the millions and millions of people, all the “armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths”—prompts us to take perspective and just like the previous exercise, remind us how small we are. It reorients us, and as Stoic scholar Pierre Hadot put it, “The view from above changes our value judgments on things: luxury, power, war…and the worries of everyday life become ridiculous.”

Seeing how small we are in the grand scheme of things is only one portion of this exercise. The second, more subtle point, is to tap into what the Stoics call sympatheia, or a mutual interdependence with the whole of humanity. As the astronaut Edgar Mitchell, one of the first people to actually experience a real ‘view from above’ put it, “In outer space you develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it.” Take a step back from your own concerns and remind yourself of your duty to others. Take Plato’s view.

7. Memento Mori: Meditate On Your Mortality

“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” Seneca

The quote from Seneca above takes part of Memento Mori—the ancient practice of reflection on mortality that goes back to Socrates, who said that the proper practice of philosophy is “about nothing else but dying and being dead.” In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius wrote that “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” That was a personal reminder to continue living a life of virtue now, and not wait.

Meditating on your mortality is only depressing if you miss the point. The Stoics find this thought invigorating and humbling. It is not surprising that one of Seneca’s biographies is titled Dying Every Day. After all, it is Seneca who urged us to tell ourselves “You may not wake up tomorrow,” when going to bed and “You may not sleep again,” when waking up as reminders of our mortality. Or as another Stoic, Epictetus, urged his students: “Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible— by doing so, you’ll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire.” Use those reminders and meditate on them daily—let them be the building blocks of living your life to the fullest and not wasting a second.

8. Premeditatio Malorum

“What is quite unlooked for is more crushing in its effect, and unexpectedness adds to the weight of a disaster. This is a reason for ensuring that nothing ever takes us by surprise. We should project our thoughts ahead of us at every turn and have in mind every possible eventuality instead of only the usual course of events… Rehearse them in your mind: exile, torture, war, shipwreck. All the terms of our human lot should be before our eyes.”  — Seneca

The premeditatio malorum (“the pre-meditation of evils”) is a Stoic exercise of imagining things that could go wrong or be taken away from us. It helps us prepare for life’s inevitable setbacks. We don’t always get what is rightfully ours, even if we’ve earned it. Not everything is as clean and straightforward as we think they may be. Psychologically, we must prepare ourselves for this to happen. It is one of the most powerful exercise in the Stoics’ toolkit to build resilience and strength.

Seneca, for instance, would begin by reviewing or rehearsing his plans, say, to take a trip. And then, in his head (or in journaling as we said above), he would go over the things that could go wrong or prevent it from happening—a storm could arise, the captain could fall ill, the ship could be attacked by pirates.

“Nothing happens to the wise man against his expectation,” he wrote to a friend. “. . . nor do all things turn out for him as he wished but as he reckoned—and above all he reckoned that something could block his plans.”

By doing this exercise, Seneca was always prepared for disruption and always working that disruption into his plans. He was fitted for defeat or victory.

9. Amor Fati

“To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony.” — Marcus Aurelius

The great German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche would describe his formula for human greatness as amor fati—a love of fate. “That one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backwards, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it….but love it.”

The Stoics were not only familiar with this attitude but they embraced it. Two thousand years ago, writing in his own personal journal which would become known as Meditations, Emperor Marcus Aurelius would say: “A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.” Another Stoic, Epictetus, who as a crippled slave has faced adversity after adversity, echoed the same: “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens happen the way it happens: then you will be happy.”

It is why amor fati is the Stoic exercise and mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens: Treating each and every moment—no matter how challenging—as something to be embraced, not avoided. To not only be okay with it, but love it and be better for it. So that like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity become fuel for your potential.

VII. What Are The Best Stoic Quotes?

For more Stoic quotes, follow us on Instagram.

“We are often more frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” — Seneca

“It’s silly to try to escape other people’s faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.” —Marcus Aurelius

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” — Marcus Aurelius

“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.”  Epictetus

“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill— of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, ‘He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'” — Epictetus

“If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.” — Marcus Aurelius

“You become what you give your attention to…If you yourself don’t choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will.” — Epictetus

“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” — Marcus Aurelius

“You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone.” — Marcus Aurelius

“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.” — Marcus Aurelius

“No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have.” — Seneca

“If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone.” — Marcus Aurelius

“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions not outside.” — Marcus Aurelius

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius

“It isn’t events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgements about them.” — Epictetus

“To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.” — Marcus Aurelius

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One.” — Marcus Aurelius

“The primary indication of a well-ordered mind is a man’s ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company.” — Seneca

“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.” — Marcus Aurelius

VIII. 3 Physical Stoicism Reminders

Our most popular item, the memento mori medallion has been added to the daily carry of thousands as a literal and inescapable reminder that “you could leave life right now.” The front features an interpretation of the three essentials of existence – the tulip (life), the skull (death), and the hourglass (time). The back shows a quote from Marcus Aurelius “You could leave life right now.”

 Amor Fati Medallion

Amor fati (Latin: “a love of fate”) is a mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens: Treating each and every moment—no matter how challenging—as something to be embraced, not avoided. The flame on the front of the medallion is inspired by Marcus Aurelius’s timeless wisdom: “a blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.” The back features an excerpt of the great philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s formula for greatness: “Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it….but love it.”

(Daily Stoic)

Seerch Engine Journal

Tangential SEO: Finding Keywords For Content No One Else Has (Festive Flashback)

Navigate the dynamic landscape of SEO with a guide to Tangential SEO – a strategy that goes beyond traditional approaches to captivate a broader audience.

In the rapidly evolving world of SEO, staying ahead of the curve is critical.

Traditional SEO focuses on optimizing for keywords and topics directly related to your business.

However, as markets become increasingly saturated, new strategies are needed to stand out and reach a broader audience. That’s where tangential SEO comes in.

Tangential SEO involves creating and optimizing content for topics that are tangentially related to your core business. This allows you to engage with audiences who may not be actively looking for your products or services but who could still find them relevant or useful.

It is a strategy designed to build brand visibility, establish authority, attract a wider audience, and ultimately drive more traffic to your site.

Whether you’re a content marketer seeking to diversify your strategy, a business owner aiming to extend your online reach, or a newcomer to the field eager to learn, this guide is for you.

Not only will I explain what tangential content is at a broader level, but I’ll also show you how we find alternative keywords using untraditional methods.

You’ll have a methodology for finding keywords none of your competitors have even thought about.

Excited?

Let’s begin.

What Is “Tangential Content”?

Quite simply, tangential content is content that is not directly related to your product or service offering.

For example, instead of only focusing on sportswear, Nike might generate content around topics like music playlists for different moods or workout routines, exploring various global music trends.

It could even discuss urban design and its impact on outdoor physical activities. These are topics not directly related to Nike’s products but themes that would likely resonate with its audience.

Let’s give some more examples for context:

Starbucks: Beyond coffee, Starbucks could create content discussing books and literature, considering that many people enjoy reading while sipping its coffee. The brand could start a book club, share reviews, and host author interviews.

Apple: Apple might deviate from its technology-centered content to explore topics like interior design, highlighting aesthetic and minimalistic arrangements that complement its devices or discussing how different spaces foster productivity and creativity.

IKEA: While primarily focused on furniture, IKEA could develop content around topics like urban gardening, offering tips for creating green spaces in small city apartments, or sharing recipes to create using limited kitchen tools.

Why Create Tangential Content?

Creating tangential content can have numerous benefits, particularly when it comes to reaching a wider audience, building brand authority, and improving SEO performance.

As a food lover, I wanted to try and squeeze a food analogy in, so I’m going to do it here. Let’s consider the benefits of creating tangential content as a master chef in the culinary world.

Broader audience reach: Just like a versatile chef caters to various palates, tangential content allows your brand to cater to a wider audience – which is especially important for weirder or more abstract niches.

Increased engagement: Changing up the menu keeps diners interested, just like a variety of content can keep your audience engaged. By showing that your brand can whip up more than just the standard fare, you’re demonstrating a deeper understanding of your audience’s diverse tastes.

Building brand authority: When you create a variety of dishes, you prove your culinary skills beyond your signature dish. Similarly, creating content on a range of topics positions your brand as an authority in your field, enhancing your reputation and influence.

Creating more emotional content and aligning with customer lifestyle: Tangential content is akin to designing a themed dining experience that aligns with your customer’s lifestyles and preferences. For instance, if you know your customers are environmentally conscious, you might focus on farm-to-table ingredients or share stories of local farmers. This not only provides content that resonates emotionally but also aligns your brand more closely with your customer’s values and lifestyles.

Link building: Just as a unique fusion dish might get rave reviews and recommendations, tangential content often has a higher potential to be shared, earning you backlinks from various domains. These backlinks boost your site’s authority, much like word-of-mouth boosts a restaurant’s reputation.

SEO performance: By offering a variety of dishes, you’re catering to more tastes and attracting more diners. Similarly, by covering a range of topics, you’re likely to rank for more keywords, attracting more organic traffic to your website.

While the benefits of publishing tangential content are clear, don’t overlook the value in the research process itself.

The analogy continues like so: consider researching tangential content ideas similar to the time a chef spends experimenting in the kitchen and interacting with their customers.

It’s during this phase that the chef discovers which dishes their customers can’t get enough of, which ones they’re not too fond of, and what cuisine they’re yearning to try next.

In the same way, when you research diverse topics for your tangential content, you’re not only gathering material for your next post – you’re also gaining a broader understanding of your customers’ unmet needs or interests.

This insight is just as valuable, if not more so, as it can guide the development of new products, services, or post-purchase support articles.

So, even before you’ve served up your tangential content to your audience, the research phase itself can help you refine your ‘menu,’ making your brand more attuned to your customers’ tastes and more valuable in their eyes.

Hopefully, the hokey simile made sense, hasn’t made you hungry, and you’re sold on the concept of tangential content.

I’ll now show you how we generate tangential content ideas.

How To Generate Tangential Content Ideas?

To walk through the following process, I’m going to use an example as if I was doing this research for a fictional hair removal company.

Step 1: Establish Buyer Personas

Buyer personas are essentially fictional representations of your ideal customers, often based on real data and market research about your existing customers. They help us understand our customers (and potential customers) better and make it easier for us to “get into their minds.”

These personas can include information such as demographics, behavior patterns, motivations, goals, challenges, values, and fears.

Sometimes your marketing department will already have one of these, but if they don’t, you could ask our new friend, ChatGPT, to produce one.

Step 2: Create A Mind Map

A mind map typically starts with a central idea, placed in the middle of your page. From this central idea, you’ll draw lines that branch out into main topics.

It’s like a tree sprouting branches.

These main branches can further sprout smaller branches, each representing related subtopics or ideas.

In our scenario, we’ll plant the name of the buyer persona as the seed of our mind map. From there, we’ll let branches grow out, each representing key values, aspirations, preferences, and hobbies that we’ve identified for this persona.

Remember, this isn’t the stage for keyword research; there’s no need to think about keyword volume data. This is more about emptying out your mind and exploring potential questions this persona might have.

This process is about trying to see the world through their eyes.

If you find that you’re not the best match for this persona – for example, if the persona is a 28-year-old woman and you’re not a 28-year-old woman (as I am not) – then it could be beneficial to bring in someone who aligns more closely with the persona.

This way, you can ensure you’re covering all bases and not missing any important insights.

In any case, here’s one I started doing for a persona I called “Sarah Thompson.”

Also, it’s wise to create several mind maps to cater to different segments of your target audience.

For instance, when I analyzed a renowned hair removal company’s website data using Similarweb, I discovered a substantial interest from males in hair removal.

*go to Search Engine Journal for full article

(Search Engine Journal)

Robinhood acquires Chartr as it expands media portfolio - December 29, 2023

Retail trading giant Robinhood has announced a deal to acquire U.K.-based Chartr Limited, a media company that specializes in data visualization and newsletters, to add to its in-house, independent media brand Sherwood Media.

Why it matters: The acquisition is intended to help Sherwood expand its editorial offerings as it gears up to launch a news hub early next year.

Catch up quick: Robinhood launched Sherwood Media as an independent business and finance media company earlier this year.

The outlet, which is led by veteran tech editor and media entrepreneur Joshua Topolsky, was set up as an independent LLC that exists as a subsidiary of Robinhood.

It focuses on delivering news, analysis and opinion for young, financial news consumers — an audience that aligns with Robinhood's retail trading user base.

Details: Chartr will remain its own stand-alone entity under Sherwood Media after the deal closes, and its branding will remain intact, per Topolsky, who serves as president and editor-in-chief of Sherwood.

Chartr's products focus on simplifying complicated topics with data visualizations that Sherwood plans to integrate into its content, including its daily financial newsletter, Snacks, its web products and its social media content.

Between the lines: Sherwood launched with a focus on newsletters but has since begun expanding into other platforms.

In June the company said it planned to expand to events, podcasts and build out a print magazine. It hired a head of sales to begin its commercial expansion.

The firm makes money mostly by selling advertising. Its content isn't paywalled.

The big picture: More companies are investing in media as a customer acquisition tool, but it's unclear how financially successful those outlets can be when their ultimate purpose is to drive customers for their parent companies.

Asked about Sherwood Media's financials, including its revenue and profitability, Topolsky declined to share any details.

Social Media News

Twitter backer knocks billions off its value after Musk’s outburst - January 1, 2024

An investor in X, formerly called Twitter, has written down the value of its stake by $US2.85 billion ($4.2 billion) after its owner Elon Musk told boycotting advertisers to “go f--- yourself”.

Fidelity, which helped Musk buy the company for $US44 billion ($65 billion) in 2022, now believes it is worth 71.5 per cent less than at the time of purchase.

The US investment giant had already slashed the value of its investment by 65 per cent at the end of October but deepened the discount in November. It came in the same month that Musk launched a tirade against advertisers.

Speaking at a New York Times conference, Musk claimed a boycott by advertisers was going to “kill” the company, adding, “If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f--- yourself.”

Apple, IBM and Disney are among the major brands to cut ties with the social media platform, amid concerns about lax moderation under Musk and the billionaire’s freewheeling personal style.

Fidelity’s valuation cut, which was first reported by Axios, gives the company a notional value of just $US12.5 billion and suggests X has lost $US2.85 billion of worth in the eyes of Fidelity in just four weeks.

The investment group, which contributed more than $US300 million to Musk’s takeover, does not disclose how it values privately held companies. Other shareholders may value their stakes differently.

However, X’s own internal share plan for staff valued the company at just $US19 billion in October – less than half the sum Musk paid for it.

X has undergone a turbulent period under the ownership of the Tesla billionaire. The debt-fuelled takeover has left the company struggling to break even and Musk has slashed thousands of jobs and introduced subscription fees in response.

Worsening the debt crisis is the reluctance of advertisers to work with the platform since the takeover.

X is believed to have lost 60 per cent of its advertisers after the takeover amid concerns brands were appearing alongside harmful material.

The European Commission has opened an investigation into the company over its alleged role in disseminating propaganda relating to terrorist group Hamas.

Musk has also been accused of personally promoting antisemitic and racist conspiracy theories, although he has insisted he is against antisemitism of any kind.

Linda Yaccarino, who replaced Musk as chief executive in June, has been scrambling to revive revenue and has staged a charm offensive with advertisers in a bid to win back trust.

(The Telegraph, London)

Search Engine Journal

Social Media

Greg Tingle

SEJ's Andy on tangible keywords, keywords no one else has etc. He's used Apple, IKEA and Nike. How's this for our example.

Agent: Online agency, change agent

PPVs: Pay-Per-View, MMA PPV, WWE premium live events

UFC MMA PPV, martial arts special event

Lifestyle Marketing: Beach Lifestyle, Beach Life, Surf Culture, beach bum,. coastal living, living free

Website Publishing: pop culture news, lifestyle news, combat sports news, surf sports news, news media books, media rates, news media veteran.and ex journo.

That should keep the keywords analysts busy for a while, even though it's largely evergreen content and creative content for all seasons as well as topical SEO blog and website fodder. Compliments of the season.

The Greatest Quotes of Ancient Greek Stoic Philosophers

Stoicism, was one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC.

Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. For the Stoic, virtue alone is sufficient for human happiness.

For Stoics, emotions like fear, envy, passionate love were merely false judgements and the sage, a person who had attained moral and intellectual perfection, would not be touched by them.

It is a philosophy of life where the individual maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions, and helps him or herself hone their virtues of character.

The name derives from the porch (stoa poikile) in the Agora at Athens decorated with mural paintings, where the members of the school congregated, and their lectures were held.

Birth of Stoicism, one of ancient Greece’s philosophical movements

The philosophy of Stoicism was originally known as “Zenonism” after the founder, Zeno of Citium.

Zeno ended up in Athens after his ship wrecked near the city. He was not a philosopher, but he turned his misfortune into an opportunity by studying all the philosophical resources available in the city.

He sat in on lectures from the other schools of philosophy (e.g., Cynicism, Epicureanism) and eventually started his own.

However, the Stoics did not believe that the founders were perfectly wise. In order to avoid their philosophy becoming a cult of personality, they chose to name it Stoicism after the place they were meeting, the stoa poikile of the Agora.

Zeno’s ideas developed from those of the Cynics, whose founding father, Antisthenes, had been a disciple of Socrates. Zeno’s most influential follower was Chrysippus, who was responsible for molding what is now called Stoicism.

Other prominent Stoics included Cleanthes of Assos, Panaetius of Rhodes, Aristo of Chios, Posidonius of Apameia, Diodotus, and others.

Later, Seneca, Epictetus, and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius ushered Stoicism to the Roman world. The philosophy flourished until the 3rd century AD.

Stoic Philosophy

According to Stoicism, the path to eudaimonia (happiness) is embracing and accepting the moment as it presents itself by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or by the fear of pain.

The Stoic must use his or her mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan by working together and treating others fairly and justly.

The Stoics are especially known for the teaching “virtue is the only good” and that people must lead a virtuous life to be accomplished and complete human beings.

External things—such as health, wealth, and pleasure—are not good or bad in and of themselves but have value as “material for virtue to act upon.”

The Stoics also held that certain destructive emotions, such as fear or jealousy, resulted from errors of judgment, and they believed people should aim to maintain a prohairesis (will) that is “in accordance with nature.”

To live a good life, a person had to understand the rules of the natural order, Stoics believed, since everything was rooted in nature.

For many Stoics, virtue is sufficient for happiness. Thus, a sage would be emotionally resilient to misfortune and would therefore be considered truly free.

According to Stoics, people don’t truly have control over many things and situations in life. Therefore, they believe that worrying about things outside of their control is unproductive, or even irrational for a person who wants to attain tranquility and happiness.

Stoics differentiate between what is and what is not under human control and do not waste energy and thoughts over uncontrollable adverse events.

Where many people worry endlessly about things out of their control, the Stoics believe they should expend their energy in thinking of creative solutions to problems, rather than the issues themselves.

Stoicism is not about having a set of beliefs or ethical claims. It is not a school of philosophy that is separate from everyday life.

The stoic must continuously practice and train (“askesis”). Stoic philosophical and spiritual practices include logic, Socratic dialogue and self-dialogue.

Influence of Stoicism on Christianity

The virtuous life of the Stoic has resemblances to a life led by a good Christian. Stoic writings such as “Meditations,” by Marcus Aurelius, have been highly regarded by many Christians throughout the centuries.

The Greek term for word is logos. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus used logos (the word) to explain what he saw as the universal force of reason that governed everything.

In the 5th century BC, Heraclitus said that all things happen according to the Logos. The Stoics also believed in the Logos, along with the notions of conscience and virtue.

A few centuries later, Greek-speaking Jews came to view the Logos as a force sent by God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is referred to as the Word — “and the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among men.”

The apostle Paul is known to have met with Stoics during his stay in Athens. In his letters, Paul reflected on his knowledge of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic terms and metaphors to assist new converts in their understanding of Christianity.

Both Stoicism and Christianity teach a person the importance of training their mind and body to be disciplined.

Both encourage the elimination of passions and inferior emotions, such as lust and envy, from one’s life, so that the higher possibilities of one’s humanity can be awakened and developed.

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven,” Jesus preached.

Similarly, as Seneca wrote, “We must give up many things to which we are addicted, considering them to be good.”

The Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodox Church accept the Stoic ideal of dispassion to this day, as do ascetics all over the world.

Stoicism today

Daily Stoic, How to be a Stoic, The Modern Times Stoic, Modern Stoicism, Traditional Stoicism: these are only a handful of the websites that hail the importance of—even the need for—Stoicism in the 21st century.

Is it possible, though, for today’s man to embrace a philosophy that teaches indifference to material things and possessions in a ruthlessly material world?

An intellectual and popular movement called Modern Stoicism began at the end of the 20th century which is aimed at reviving the practice of Stoicism.

However, before that, Stoic philosophy served as the original philosophical inspiration for modern cognitive psychotherapy, particularly as mediated by Dr. Albert Ellis’ Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the major precursor of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

In the original cognitive therapy treatment manual for depression by Aaron T. Beck et al., it is stated, “The philosophical origins of cognitive therapy can be traced back to the Stoic philosophers.”

A well-known quotation from the “Enchiridion” of Epictetus was taught to most clients during the initial session by Ellis and his followers: “It’s not the events that upset us, but our judgments about the events.”

This subsequently became a common element in the socialization phase of many other approaches to CBT.

Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way; Stoicism—A Stoic Approach to Modern Life, by Tom Miles; Modern Stoicism, by Steve Brooks; and Modern Stoicism—How to Be a Stoic in the 21st Century, by Stephen Ryan are some of the books on Stoicism that have been published recently.

Famous Stoic quotes

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”

“To live a good life; we all have the potential for it, if we learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.”

“Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back.”

“Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?”

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”

“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is nature’s delight.”

“It is not because things are difficult that we don’t dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”

“The bravest sight in the world is to see a man struggling against adversity.”

“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack.”

“Life is never incomplete if it is an honorable one. At whatever point you leave life, if you leave it in the right way, it is whole.”

“Man is affected not by events, but by the view he takes of them.”

“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”

“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.”

“He suffers more than necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.”

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”

“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”

“If you want to improve, be content to be foolish and stupid.”

“The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”

“Seek not the good in eternal things, seek it in yourselves.”

“It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.”

“No man is free who is not a master of himself.”

“It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.”

“Never depend on the admiration of others. There is no strength in it. Personal merit cannot be derived from an external source.”

(G Reporter)

Lehrmann, the Murdochs, Ita Buttrose and media’s big hits in 2023 - December 27, 2023

Australia’s media landscape was once again dominated by the big names, though with landmark court rulings, shock resignations, redundancies and succession plans finally playing out, the industry offered a year to remember.

The year kicked off when The Australian appointed Michelle Gunn as its first-ever female editor-in-chief just six days into the year, but ultimately, Sky News Australia boss Paul Whittaker was installed as chair of an editorial board set up to oversee her big moves.

Most in media still had their feet up in mid-January, including one of Nine’s biggest stars, Karl “Karlos” Stefanovic, yet he still found himself in the headlines after a car park bust-up also featuring former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The brouhaha ultimately cost “Pup” a high-paying commentary gig in India.

The ABC made its push to become a truly digital media company and made a number of staff redundant – none as high-profile as news breaker and political editor Andrew Probyn, who Nine (owner of this masthead) subsequently hired. Newly relocated host of Insiders David Speers picked up the confusingly titled role of “political lead” in the national capital.

Other high-profile departures from Aunty included Stan Grant, Tracey Holmes and more recently Triple J stalwart Richard Kingsmill.

While the bosses of the ABC (David Anderson) and SBS (James Taylor) got new contracts, ABC chair Ita Buttrose said she wouldn’t be seeking a second term. Her replacement could be announced as early as January, two months before Buttrose is due to depart. Expect the tributes to flow in the early months of 2024.

There was more movement on the national broadcaster’s board: Laura Tingle was elected staff representative, and Nicolette Maury and Louise McElvogue filled two more spots.

The ABC wasn’t the only one to make hard decisions, with a weak advertising market making for a tough year for commercial media, with subdued earnings calls and generally downbeat outlooks. Most conversations on 2024 budgets include an expectation Meta will fight tooth and nail to avoid stumping up in new commercial deals with media companies as part of the News Media Bargaining Code.

A win for journalism

Perhaps the biggest story of the year (no bias) was Justice Anthony Basenko’s ruling on Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation suit, vindicating reporting from Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters in this masthead. With an appeal by the disgraced war hero set to be heard in February, this stays on the radar into 2024.

Seven West Media found itself on the end of some poor PR in 2023, with chair Kerry Stokes’ bankrolling of Roberts-Smith continuing to raise questions about his and the company’s involvement in the case.

At risk of “personally embarrassing” emails coming to light, Stokes eventually agreed to pay the entire costs for Nine’s legal troubles.

Seven also did its best to insert itself in the Bruce Lehrmann fracas by securing what a Seven insider described as a “grubby” deal to cover the former Liberal staffer’s rental costs for a year. Such were the murky details of the “exclusive” interview series, the scoop was retrospectively disqualified from its finalist status at the Walkley Awards.

Along with Optus Sport, Seven bagged the broadcast rights for the Matildas games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which swept the nation, and shattered viewership records as the tournament went on, delivering a halo effect for the network’s surrounding programming, despite chief executive James Warburton lamenting a lack of financial benefit it could reap.

Warburton, described in this masthead as one of television’s “last great showmen”, will leave Seven in 2024 after a shock exit announcement in December. Chief financial officer Jeff Howard will be installed into the top job. All eyes are on Seven’s next moves; will they open the chequebook further after raiding ARN Media’s share register, or will the hunter become the hunted?

ARN was responsible for one of the more audacious moves of the year as it moved to swallow up rival Southern Cross Media in October with help from Anchorage Capital Partners. The outcome remains undecided going into 2024.

The eldest boy gets the gig

A sigh of relief was heard in Sydney’s inner-east where media scion and billionaire Lachlan Murdoch resides when his father, Rupert Murdoch, pulled the curtains on his 70-year career, officially handing over the keys to the empire after a two-decade succession saga, not long after the fictionalised smash-hit HBO show ended its four-season run.

The “eldest boy” is now sole chair of News Corp and Fox Corp. The plan to re-merge the two was scrapped early in the year, though this could be back on the cards in 2024. Locally, expect changes in the next 12 months as Lachlan Murdoch looks to put his stamp on the Australian business. Foxtel’s mooted IPO may also be back on the cards at some point in the new year.

Murdoch’s rise was good news for former prime minister Tony Abbott, the pair formalising their relationship with his appointment into a cushy new $500,000 director role on the board of Fox. Former editor-in-chief of The Australian Chris Mitchell told us: “I’m not sure he’d bring any particular skills to do with publishing, TV or pay TV.”

It wasn’t all good news, though. Murdoch dropped his defamation suit against plucky website Crikey in April, handing a famous win to Eric Beecher’s company just days after settling for $1.17 billion in its case against Dominion Voting Systems.

News Corp also parted ways with gambling start-up Betr after punting an enormous sum for what turned out to be little return. An inside source close to the top at the US-owned company says its losses could be as high as $125 million, with official filings reported to have sunk at least $70 million into the venture.

International streamers continue to face off against local rivals, and shortly after the Australian cricket team returned home as world champions, Amazon picked up the rights to ICC tournaments until 2027. If you’re to believe Foxtel’s Patrick Delany though, the deal doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Qantas’ year from hell extended into media as Alan Joyce banned copies of The Australian Financial Review from its Chairman’s Lounge and in-flight Wi-Fi after sustained scrutiny by former Rear Window columnist Joe Aston. This was eventually overturned, but not until Joyce was out the door.

Network 10 and its US owners, Paramount, mostly stayed out of the headlines, though spent a decent chunk of time in Australia’s court chambers. It sued former political editor Peter van Onselen for breach of contract; was sued by current employee and former host of The Project Lisa Wilkinson; is getting sued by Lehrmann for defamation; and is facing a legal dispute with another employee over bullying claims. Some year.

Race to the finish line

The year didn’t slow down in December, with publication of Kate McClymont’s three-year investigation into Alan Jones, documenting allegations of indecent assault towards young men. Jones maintains his denial of the allegations.

At Nine, there were some big outs. Publishing boss James Chessell is standing down, 3AW veteran Neil Mitchell resigned after 30 years hosting the morning shift, and Peter Hitchener moved off the network’s weekday news bulletins after 25 years in Melbourne.

Finally, there was movement in the government’s media reform agenda late in the game, with two pieces of legislation introduced to parliament at the latest possible moment.

Perhaps the most important piece of work remains up in the air – reform of gambling advertising regulation. It’s been slated as an incredibly complex piece of work, with wagering dollars tangled in the finances of major sporting codes and media companies. This explains the hold-up, yet consensus shows Australians only want one thing: to see less of them.

All of that in 12 months! Let’s do it all again next year.

(SMH)

The Power of Do-Follow Backlinks: Maximizing SEO Impact with Quality Link Juice

Backlinks look mere connectors between two websites that people can click to navigate the internet world. But they aren’t that simple. Behind the scenes, a lot of things happen. In the world of SEO, They raise pages to the top. That’s why they were manipulated in the past.

When Google introduced nofollow links against link manipulation, the traditional links got another name, “do follow.” Do follow backlinks carry more weight than others and bring leads and free traffic.

So it’s important for website owners to know what is do follow backlink, how it works, dofollow vs nofollow, how both differ, How both influence rankings, and what tool can help to monitor them.

What Are Dofollow Backlinks and How Do They Work?

Most links that take place on the Internet are, by default do follow backlinks—Unless they are altered manually or a website setting changes them automatically. Dofollow links are also called follow links because they don’t contain link attributes.

Search engine crawlers (unlike nofollow links) crawl them and pass link juice to sites they are linked to. They also lead internet users from one website to another when they click them.

It all begins when website owners find your content valuable and decide to use it. So, they mention a portion of it on their website and direct a link to your website as a reference. In the same manner, you can also place a link on your site that can be pointed to other’s valuable content.

Businesses spend thousands of dollars to acquire as many do follow backlinks as possible. But why?

Why Are Do Follow Backlinks Important?

We learned dofollow backlinks meaning and how they work. It’s time to discuss what is a do follow link in SEO. Why do businesses spend big bucks on them?

Dofollow SEO links are important because they help search engines find new pages, speed up indexing, and determine content relevancy.

Google algorithm Pagerank uses do follow backlinks to give points to the website they are linked to. They also help brands become an authority within the industry and in the search engine’s eyes. A website with more dofollow SEO backlinks has a better chance of ranking on the first page than others. These features make them very important for businesses.

What Are Dofollow & Nofollow Backlinks, and How Do They Work?

Nofollow and do follow backlinks work similarly. Either other web owners direct a link to your website, or you direct to their website.

When it comes to noffollow, however, the one who points the link is telling search engines not to follow or pass authority to the website it is pointed. That’s because the site owner doesn't trust the content, finds the content irrelevant to the niche, or the link is paid, etc.

Nofollow vs dofollow, what similarities and differences do they have?

Similarities.

Both links look the same to the outside world.

Both work similarly.

Both bring free traffic to the website.

Both affect rankings.

Now the differences:

No follow links contain an additional rel=”nofollow” attribute, while dofollow doesn’t.

Do follow passes equity to the linked website and speeds up the indexing process, while nofollow isn’t crawlable.

Do follow affects rankings significantly, but no follow is only taken as a hint by search engines.

Do follow backlinks are only one type, and no follow backlinks have different types.

Types of No Follow Backlinks

In 2019, Google introduced two more no follow backlinks to mitigate link manipulation. They are called sponsored and UGC. They carry rel=”sponsored” and rel="ugc" attributes.

Sponsored links: They are used to show Google that the link is compensated in some form. These links can be affiliate links or can come from ads and sponsored content.

UGC links: UGC stands for user generated content. These links tell Google that users are generating links in the comment section or forums. These links, according to Ahref’s study, are only used by 1% of websites.

The rel=”nofollow” attribute, however, can be used instead of both above-mentioned attributes.

How to Create a Dofollow Backlink?

Do follow links are originally just backlinks. And a backlink means they come from other websites. So, you need to provide value to others to get backlinks. One way to do that is by creating helpful content. This way, others will use your content and refer a link. This is one strategy; there are others.

What are do follow backlinks strategies?

Guest posting: it is quite common and simple. Find a relevant website, ask if they are currently accepting guest posts, create content, submit it, and wait. Once they publish your content, you’ll get a do follow backlink.

Reciprocal strategy: this is also a common strategy— 43.7% of the top-ranking pages use it to get backlinks, according to Thrivemyway. This strategy works (as the name suggests) you give me a link and I will return the favor. The exchange happens between website owners. A word of warning though, doing it carelessly will penalize the content.

How Long Do Follow Link Takes to Work?

Do follow backlinks are unpredictable. There is no exact time for them to show effect. They may take anywhere from 3 to 12 months, according to search engine journal, while the founder of SEOchatter say that some take ten weeks and some take a few days. But why is there no exact time given by Google?

That’s because many factors, such as domain authority, website age, and site content, are at play. If a website's DR rating is high, has existed for years, and publishes quality content, then do follow backlinks may take only days to show effect. Otherwise, they may take years or never work.

How to Tell if a Backlink is dofollow?

To know if a backlink is a dofollow:

Go to any page on the Internet that contain links.

Right-click and find the “view page resource” option.

Click that option, and a new page with codes will open.

Next, hit the CTRL + F buttons on Android or command + F on Mac; this will open a search box.

Now, write nofollow in the box.

If the page has a nofollow link, the text will be highlighted; if not, that means all links on that page are dofollow backlinks—because what is a do follow backlink? It’s a link that contains no additional attribute.

Best Tools to Check Do Follow Backlinks of Your Site

You can check do follow backlinks on any page by going to its code page. But when an external page directs a link to your website, then you won't get any clue to get to that page. Due to the Internet’s expanse, finding directed links manually is next to impossible. But you can find them with tools.

You can also monitor your site's backlink profile every once in a while with them. Doing so will give you a better idea of what changes to make or not in your link-building strategies.

Here are a few good tools to check do follow backlinks.

Ahref site explorer

Dofollow link checker

Sitechecker

Semrush

Mozbar SEO checker

Automatic backlink checker extension.

Conclusion

Links influence ranking positively and negatively. That’s why it’s important to know what are dofollow links, and how they work. You should also monitor backlink profiles and see the source they are coming from. It will help you in the SEO journey.

Also, don’t overlook the importance of no follow backlinks; they can be used strategically to diversify the backlink profile.

When it comes to creating backlinks, there are a lot of good and bad strategies. Try to choose those that align with Google guidelines. When you succeed in getting backlinks and don’t see immediate changes, just be patient. They sometimes take a while before showing effects.

FAQS

Are YouTube Links Dofollow?

It depends on where they are placed on YouTube. If they are inserted on YouTube profiles, video descriptions, video cards, and end screens, they are do follow backlinks. If links are commented, then they are no follow.

What is the Major Difference Between a No Follow Backlink and a Do Follow Backlink?

The one major difference is that, do follow backlinks pass authority to the website it’s linked, and nofollow is just a hint for search engines.

Are Nofollow Links Bad?

Nofollow links aren't bad for SEO because Google itself encourages web owners to use them.

Are No Follow Links Worth It?

Nofollow links diversify backlink profiles and help in SEO campaigns but aren’t a major ranking factor. So we can say, they are worth it, just not a lot.

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WWE @WWE RAW: Day 1, just a few hours away!

WWE NOW! YouTube Report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG9mXgjljsU&ab_channel=WWE

"We'll see you guys tonight"... Megan Morant

World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs Drew McIntyre  

Rhea Ripley looks to teach Ivy Nile a lesson in a Women’s World Title Match  

Becky Lynch set to battle Nia Jax

Tegan Nox & Natalya vs Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark  and much more. 

No spoilers on specifics says Media Man. 

At least one living legend of pro wrestling appearing is the buzz.  

WWE Official YouTube Channel 

www.youtube.com/wwe 

#WWERaw #WWEDay1 #prowrestling #wrestling #SethRollins #DrewMcIntyre #RheaRipley #IvyNile #BeckyLynch #NiaJax #TeganNox #Natalya #ShaynaBaszler #ZoeyStark #combatsports #entertainment #USANetwork #popculture #broadcast #broadcasting #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media  

 Image Credit: WWE

“Advertising is to a genuine article what manure is to land, - it largely increases the product.” - P. T. Barnum

Media Man Int

Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html

"Without promotion, something terrible happens... nothing!" - P. T. Barnum (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/without_promotion.html

#PTBarnum #quote #quotes #showman #promoter #product #land #article #ads #advertising #promotions #popculture #entertainment #legend #history #bestquotes #BQOTD #media #mediaman #mediamanint

“A new world must be born, a world that would justify the sacrifices offered by humanity. This new world must be a world in which there shall be no exploitation of the weak by the strong, of the good by the evil; where there will be no humiliation of the poor by the violence of the rich; where the products of intellect, science and art will serve society for the betterment and beautification of life, and not the individuals for achieving wealth. This new world shall not be a world of the downtrodden and humiliated, but of free men and free nations, equal in dignity and respect.” - Nikola Tesla

#NikolaTesla #Tesla #quote #world #humanity #products #intellect #science #art #society #life #fee #equal #respect #skills #people #nations #inventor #innovation #mbs #mindbodyspirit #media #mediaman 

"Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." - Albert Einstein #AlbertEinstein #Einstein #quote #task #free #compassion #living #nature #beauty #mbs #mindbodysprit #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

Pro Wrestling  

WWE @WWE New Year's Knockout Week continues  NXT @WWENXT

New Year's Evil 

Knockouts in the ring, on the catwalk or on the ranch; Yes Mam

Tiffany Stratton vs Fallon Henley. Servant vs Ranch Hand match stipulation!  Highlights via the official WWE YouTube Channel  

Tiffany Stratton becomes Fallon Henley’s ranch hand: NXT New Year’s Evil highlights, Jan. 2, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3678Ok63vg&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

"That's just the way it is Vic.. the upper echelon.. Some people have meaning lives. That's just the way life is" Booker T @BookerT5x

"Both of these two have had issues with the other dating back to last year. Tempers flaring at Halloween Havoc".. Vic Joseph @VicJosephWWE

Media Man: Loving the spirit, fire, action and drama with these two. Kind of keen to see Tiffy is her best cowgirl threads. Doing like a bit of hard yakka and shoveling fertilizer on the ranch far for a good workout. That will further whip her into shape, maybe just in time for a WrestleMania showing. This showpony and Jillaroo got the goods and it factor, in the squared circle as well as in the paddock, or anywhere else. YeHa! And more backstory and behind the scenes videos on the way. Best of show. Feathers will fly in the hen house. Look out PBR (Professional Bull Riders) @PBR  Yes mam.

More great WWE and WWE NXT action from today and from over the decades via the official WWE YouTube Channel

Fallon Henley vs. Tiffany Stratton: NXT New Year’s Evil Hype Package

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMX2dwqBjWQ&ab_channel=WWE

www.youtube.com/WWE 

#NXTNewYearsEvil #WWENXT #NewYearsEvil #TiffanyStratton #FallonHenley #prowrestling #Wrestling #USANetwork #nxtwomen #PBR #Jillaroo #Farmhand #womenswrestling #EntertainmentNews #popculture #highlights #moments #video #trends #trending #buzz #media  

Image credit: WWE NXT

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE Top Brass Green Lights More Insider Type Features, Interviews and Promos For YouTube and Social Media Channels in prepration For Upcoming Loaded SmackDown

Videos

CM Punk is ready to finish what he started in 2024: WWE 2024 Preview Special

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pap8i6meGx4&ab_channel=WWE

Rhea Ripley is too busy for your complaints: WWE 2024 Preview Special

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkr0koNV6_E&ab_channel=WWE

Cody Rhodes shares his resolutions for 2024: WWE 2024 Preview Special

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Z5kvBGSkw&ab_channel=WWE

30 minutes of CM Punk destroying people on the mic: WWE Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBOxdFxPvq0&t=230s&ab_channel=WWE

What's The Most Slept On Move?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9xi5qUxJQAs

This and so much more via the official WWE YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/wwe

#SmackDown #RoyalRumble #WWERoyalRumble #WrestleMania #prowrestling #wrestling #CMPunk #RheaRipley #CodyRhodes #RTruth #ChadGable #Otis #interviews #promos #features #YouTube #YT #videos #combatsports #entertainment #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Image credit: WWE

“Never stop testing, and your advertising will never stop improving.” - David Ogilvy #DavidOgilvy #Ogilvy #quotes #testing #advertising #ads #adbiz #biz #business #creativity #agency #media

“A river of material flows through us. When we share our works and our ideas, they are replenished. If we block the flow by holding them all inside, the river cannot run and new ideas are slow to appear.

In the abundant mindset, the river never runs dry. Ideas are always coming through. And an artist is free to release them with the faith that more will arrive.

If we live in a mindset of scarcity, we hoard great ideas.”

- Rick Rubin

#RickRubin #quote #river #material #flows #works #ideas #mindset #abundant #river #artist #creativity #mbs #mindbodyspirit #world #media 

"To find yourself, think for yourself." - Socrates

#Socrates #quote #yourself #think #self #mindbodyspirit #mbs #world 

#GreekPhilosopher #philosopher #philosophy #media #mediaman

"Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising." - Mark Twain

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Media Man Int is part of the Media Man Group, est 2001.

Website Homepage Tips From Google

Google's John Mueller:

“…on a lot of websites the home page is the most important part of the website. So we re-crawl that fairly often and from there we try to find new and updated pages or other important pages. So what will happen is, we’ll see the home page is really important, things linked from the home page are generally pretty important as well. And then… as it moves away from the home page we’ll think probably this is less critical.That pages linked directly from the home page are important is fairly well known but it’s worth repeating. In a well organized website the major category pages and any other important pages are going to be linked from the home page.”

#Google #googlenews #homepage #homepages #JohnMueller #quote #quotes #website #websitetips #webtips #SEO #SEM #index #indexing #onlinepubling #websitepublishers #webnews #linked #link #linking #technews #digitalnews #media #mediaman 

"The Web does not just connect machines, it connects people" - Tim Berners-Lee

#TimBernersLee #quote #web #machines #people #internet #connect #connection #comms #communications #world #media #mediaman 

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others" – Aristotle

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Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)

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NFL, NBA and UFC want illegal streams to be removed “instantaneously” in the US

By Steve McCaskill

Major leagues estimate piracy costs sports industry up to US$28bn a year.

DMCA came into effect back in 1998

ISPs are currently only required to remove or blocks streams as soon as possible

The National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are demanding changes to US copyright law so that illegal streams of live sporting events can be taken down immediately.

In a letter to the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) consultation on future anti-piracy strategies, the sports properties said current legislation does not take into account the nature of the modern internet and the value of live broadcasts in the sports industry.

Many of the current mechanisms for combating piracy in the US relate to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) which dates back to 1998. The NFL, the NBA and the UFC believe the regulations need to be updated to reflect the modern internet and impose additional obligations on internet service provider (ISPs).

Under the current legislation, it can take several hours for an ISP to block or remove a pirated feed once notified. The argument is that this might be appropriate for a film or television show with a long shelf life, but not live sport. Such a delay means that the live sports event in question has likely concluded before removal, meaning viewers can watch it without disruption.

The properties want the DMCA updated so ISPs must remove pirated content within minutes or hours.

‘Unfortunately, UFC, NBA and NFL’s shared experience is that many [ISPs] frequently take hours or even days to remove content in response to takedown notices – thus allowing infringing live content to remain online during the most anticipated moments, or even the entirety, of a UFC event or an NBA or NFL game,’ the letter reads.

The letter follows the Premier League’s move to strengthen its own anti-piracy measures as it prepares to sell its domestic broadcast rights from 2025/26. English soccer’s top flight has established an internal taskforce of lawyers and content analysts in a bid to identify and remove objectionable feeds and take down entire operations.

SportsPro says…

The DMCA came into effect four years before Major League Baseball (MLB) became the first major professional sports league to live stream a regular season game on the internet. Dial up internet was still widespread, Google was two months old and social media wasn’t even a thing.

The internet we use today is much more advanced, available and affordable, while rising technical literacy and smartphone adoption means sports fans are much more capable of accessing high-quality streams for free, or ones that are cheaper than official channels.

The NFL, NBA and UFC believe illegal streaming is threatening their most important revenue stream and is costing the sports industry as a whole up to US$28 billion a year. Technological and legal solutions to piracy will help sport combat the pirates, but equally important is affordability and convenience. In effect, legal services must be ‘better than free’.

(Sources: Sports Pro Media, Wires, X)

#NFL #NBA #UFC #SportsPro #streaming #sportsstreaming #livestream #livestreaming #sportsrights #sportsbroadcasts #sportsbroadcasting #streamingbiz #streamingindustry #streamingnews #broadcasts #broadcasting #PPV #PLE #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #ISP #isps #VPN #VPNS #OTT #FAST #popculture #sportsmarketing #sportsnews #broadband #trends #media #mediabiz 

Combat Sports News: UFC 

Just in case you missed the latest comeback out of retirement pitch by Mr McGregor

Former UFC @UFC Champion Conor McGregor announces ‘greatest comeback of all time’

Conor McGregor has announced he will make his UFC return on June 29 against Michael Chandler.

McGregor took flight this past Mad Monday morning to say he will fight Chandler on International Fight Week after months of speculation and pub talk.

And with his trademark humor  laugh he proclaimed the bout will be at the 185lb middleweight limit — a career heaviest for the pair, advised UK's MMA loving Sun newpspaer.

Holding a glass of red wine, said: “Ladies and gentlemen, a happy new year to you all.

“I’d like to announce the return date for myself, The Notorious Conor McGregor for the greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight week on June the 29th.

“Come a little closer... and the opponent is Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr Chandler 185 pounds.”

Video

The Mac Life Official YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@TheMacLife 

Conor McGregor announces UFC return date: "International Fight Week, 185-pounds"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGja7HrSdfg&ab_channel=TheMacLife

Some Backstory...

Pub and media talk was that McGregor may appear at UFC 300, but that appears no longer the case.

McGregor, 35, has been out since July 2021 after a devistating broken leg injury in round one vs Dustin Poirier, 34.

Mac is understood to have finally made a full recovery and returned to training with comeback rumours all the rage.

The vast majority of fight fans are hoping McGregor re-finds form that helped win him the championship.

Under The Media Man Watercooler: "None of us are getting any younger. McGregor remains Notorious and a living legend of combat sports. Sure has come a long way since we caught up with him a few decades ago before cementing his place in sports history".

McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Odds...

Oddsmakers at multiple online betting sites listed the fight as 50-50, also known as a pick’em.

McGregor and Chandler were both -110 for the moneyline. A sports bettor would have to wager $110 to win $100 on either fighter. MMA odds fluctuate leading up to a fight. That will be no different here.

As always, bet with your head, not over it. Did anyone tell these guys?! Plenty of medical staff and security will be Octagon side when the bout finally happens. Red turns to green and controversy creates cash.

Bet On Anything (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/bet_on.html

UFC Betting (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_betting.html

#ConorMcGregor #quotes #UFC #UFCFightWeek #FightWeek #MMA #MichaelChandler #McGregorChandler #combatsports #mixedmartialarts #PPV #PayPerView #OTT #sportsnews #sportsmedia #mmabetting #sportsbetting #wager #punt #legend #Goat #Goats #media #mediaman 

Wrestling News

WWE @WWE Raw: Day 1 Special Surged

Per WrestleNomics, the impressive pro wrestling data providing service.. WWE Raw Day 1 drew massive numbers.

The staple pro wrestling show drew 1,751,000 average viewers and scored a 0.60 in the 18-49 key demo.

This topped the December 25th episode, which was tag-lined “Best Of” 2023 re-run that was viewed by less than a million viewers and had a 0.18 demo rating.

In year-over-year comparisons Day 1 had less viewership than in 2023 but higher in the key demo.

The show featured Ireland's Becky Lynch vs Australian born Nia Jax, Seth Rollins vs vs Drew McIntyre for the Hwt Title, and the return of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who did a physical angle and promo dropping the line, "Head Of The Table:, directed at Undisputed Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.

Video highlights thanks to the Official WWE YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/WWE

The Rock makes stunning return to whip Jinder Mahal’s Candy A**: Raw Day 1 highlights, Jan. 1, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BQYN-KEmkc&ab_channel=WWE

Explosive Raw moments: Raw Day 1 highlights, Jan. 1, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQN5eHnA2Gk&t=305s&ab_channel=WWE

Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre - World Heavyweight Title Match: Raw Day 1 Hype Package

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rjZ9SycSo4&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre – World Heavyweight Title Match: Raw Day 1, Jan. 1, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_TkfjYcnO4&ab_channel=WWE

Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax: Raw Day 1 highlights, Jan. 1, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIfo3KB352w&t=22s&ab_channel=WWE

Newsflash!

PS: WWE is putting together a Hulk Hogan special that may last as long as a month! The Hogan features are also expected to boost ratings, as he is a legit living legend of pro wrestling and was a big part of the WWE's (then WWF's) success in the 80s, tag-teaming in wrestling business with then WWE top brass Vince McMahon. Together, McMahon and Hogan, and the case of charactures made the WWE world famous and they transformed the once smoke filled arena type business into a global sports entertainment powerhouse. Hulk Hogan is 70 years and Vince McMahon is largely a figurehead in WWE (part of TKO Group) these days. Linda McMahon is credited with putting together and executing many of the marketing, merch and media systems which helped transform the business in the mid 80's. McMahon had purchased the business from his father in 1982 and quickly started bringing in pro wrestling stars from across America and indeed the world. The first WrestleMania @WrestleMania was broadcast globally on March 31, 1985, and was headlined by Hulk Hogan and Mr T vs "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff.

Media Man: WWE is currently on fire in a very good way with dozens of dream matches on the horizen and shows no signs of slowing down. Logan Paul @LoganPaul is booked to appear on this coming WWE SmackDown and things are bound to get heated with the likes of Kevin Owens and others, as these modern day gladiators compete for glory and gold including Paul's WWE U.S Title. Cheers to prime action for many years to come as LP and friends put social media into meltdown and have the top brass laughing all the way to the bank and beyond. 

WWE's Triple H (creative + + +) was awarded Media Man 'Wrestling Booker Of The Year 2023'.

#WWERaw #WWERawDay1 #WWE #WrestleMania #RoyalRumble #WWERoyalRumble #SmackDown #wrestlingnews #wwenews #TheRock #DwayneJohnson #HeadOfTheTable #SethRollins #DrewMcIntyre #NiaJax #BeckyLynch #LoganPaul #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainmentnews #sportsnews #popculture #ratings #broadcast #broadcasting #videos #moments #highlights #bestof #YouTube #legends #Goats #HulkHogan #VinceMcMahon #TripleH #USANetwork #TKO #TKOGroup #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW 

Kicking off the first Dynamite of the new year… “The Devil” Adam Cole came to the ring to explain his shocking betrayal of MJF at Worlds End!

Video Highlights via the Official AEW YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/AEW

Sympathy for the Devil? Adam Cole addresses his actions at Worlds End! | 1/3/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwSqjZk3RjA&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

"No doubt Adam Cole shocked the world on Long Island this past Saturday at Worlds End" - Taz

"When MJF lost the AEW world championship he thought that at least he still has his best friend Adam Cole, but that was most certainly not the case" - Excalibur

TNT Champion, Christian Cage, addresses the people in a State of the Union! | 1/3/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vszg9oif5Tk&t=4s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Don Callis Family’s Takeshita takes on Darby Allin! | 1/3/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usl5geOtsto&t=7s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Lights, camera, action! A DEBUTING Mariah May takes on Queen Aminata! | 1/3/23, AEW Dynamite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmE7gYEces&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

The New Era of AEW Begins | AEW Control Center: Newark, 1/3/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLhfgLwLuDs&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEW #AdamCole #TheDevil #MJF #SamoaJoe #AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #prowrestling #wrestling #ChristianCage #DonCallis #Takeshita #DarbyAllin #MariahMay #QueenAminata #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #videos #YouTube #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Image credit: AEW

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE PLE's (Premium Live Events) 2024

Confirmed at time of publication

WWE Royal Rumble

January 27.

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

February 24.

Optus Stadium

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

WWE WrestleMania 40

April 6, April 7. 

Lincoln Financial Field

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WWE Backlash: France

May 4.

LDLC Arena

Décines-Charpieu, Greater Lyon, France

WWE Money in the Bank

July 6.

Scotiabank Arena

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

WWE Bash in Berlin

August 31.

Mercedes-Benz Arena

Berlin, Germany

Media Man: WWE, part of the TKO Group @TKOGrp is riding a wave of momentium. Strike while the iron is hot. Global domination of the professional wrestling landscape continues. Premium Live Events is the newer term what previously were called Pay-Per-View (PPV) events. Under leadership of Nick Khan and Triple H WWE is powering ahead in a very much global major event direction, as well as presenting amazing storytelling and in-ring action, while the marketing, merch and media arms keep powering ahead, frequently breaking and smashing records. Back in our Optus TV PPV and Main Event TV collaboration work at Optus we always saw the potential of massive WWE growth, but certainly never saw it getting this big. - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

#WWERoyalRumble #EliminationChamber #WrestleMania #WrestleMania40 #WWEBacklash #WWEMITB #MoneyInTheBank #BashInBerlin #CrownJewel #wwenews #PLE #PremiumLiveEvents #PPV #PayPerView #prowrestling #professionalwrestling #wrestling #wrestlingnews #wrestlingmedia #EntertainmentNews #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmedia #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #trend #trends #buzz #media 

‘Nothing new’ on Ghislaine Maxwell in Epstein documents, says legal expert via Sky News Australia @SkyNewsAust 

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avMkwrL-I0&ab_channel=SkyNewsAustralia

Information on Ghislaine Maxwell in unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents “won’t impact” the socialite’s incarnation, according to NYU School of Law Professor Stephen Gillers.  “She won’t face more charges, anything in the documents will have been known to the sentencing judge,” Mr Gillers told Sky News Australia. 

“There is nothing new there that will lead to a reconsideration of her sentence, even if it were possible - which it is not.  “This is not going to affect her incarceration one way or the other.”  Hundreds of pages of unsealed documents from a lawsuit connected to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have been released.  The documents include nearly 200 names, including some of Mr Epstein’s accusers, prominent businesspeople, politicians and more.  

Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  While the documents include hundreds of names, being named does not implicate any wrongdoing.

#EpsteinClientList #EpsteinList #EpsteinIsland #SkyNews #SkyNewsAustralia #news #newsmedia #media 

(Credit: Sky News Australia)

SpaceX launches first set of satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities

T-Mobile US said on Wednesday SpaceX @SpaceX  launched a Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday with the first set of Starlink @Starlink satellites that can beam phone signals from space directly to smartphones.

The U.S wireless carrier will use Elon Musk-owned SpaceX's Starlink satellites to provide mobile users with network access in parts of the United States, the companies had announced in August 2022.

Other wireless providers across the world, including Japan's KDDI (9433.T), Australia's Optus, New Zealand's One NZ, Canada's Rogers will collaborate with SpaceX to launch direct-to-cell technology.

The direct-to-cell service at first will begin with text messaging followed by voice and data capabilities in the coming years, T-Mobile said.

Videos

SpaceX Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceX 

Video From Space YouTube Channel

SpaceX launches 'direct to cell' Starlink satellites on first mission of 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQKUSpgPH5Q&ab_channel=VideoFromSpace

Elon Musk Evolution YouTube Channel

Elon Musk Just HINTED Tesla Pi Phone After FCC Approval Of Starlink On Phones!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSobm2I6rmg&ab_channel=ElonMuskEvolution

Image credit: Starlink

#SpaceX #Starlink #TMobile #ElonMusk #Musk #Falcon9 #satellite #starlinksatellite #directtocell #Optus #Rogers #OneNZ #space #spacenews #YouTube #video #videos #technews #innovation #comms #communications #moblenews #TelslaNews #TeslaPhone #disrupt #disruptor #news #newsmedia #trends #trending #buzz #Earth #World #media 

Gutfeld: 'Epstein Island' is getting a major rebrand

GUTFELD

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo0A2eYN-fU&ab_channel=FoxNews

"Thank you. The Island Of Shame, gets a new name"!

"Little Saint James. That sounds so cute. Also known as Esptein Island. HaHa".

"It's getting a major re-brand. It's located in the Virgin Islands. So, Matthew, you'ld fit right in" Greg Gutfeld

"Oh Man" Matthew

"In your face".. GG

#Gutfeld #EpsteinIsland #GregGutfeld #VirginIslands #Epstein #EpsteinClientList #FOX #FoxNews #virgin #broadcast #broadcasting #entertainment #popculture #YouTube #island #islandnews #rebrand #brand #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Quotes

"The Web does not just connect machines, it connects people" - Tim Berners-Lee  

Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man)

https://www.mediaman.com.au/articles/best_quotes.html

#TimBernersLee #quote #web #machines #people #internet #connect #connection #comms #communications #world 

#media #mediaman

Energy Drinks And Pro Sports Mix

Athletes, both individual and teams, knows there's a buck or two, sponsorship, media, buzz and more energy drinks.

And you don't need to be UFC's Sean Strickland (Monster Energy), Logan Paul (WWE), KSI or Volk (Prime), "Nature Boy" Ric Flair (AEW) - Wooooo Energy - (Mr Khan and Mr Flair connection) to know it. BANG, er, nevermind.

Others: Mother, Ready To Rumble (Buffer), and too many more to miss.

The Latest...news, as far as we know, but that may be another carrier pigeon with red wings coming through now... Germany to Australia express!

Red Bull acquires controlling stake in Bora-Hansgrohe cycling team.

Energy drinks brand will own 51% of the UCI WorldTour outfit once deal is ratified by Austrian regulator.

Announcement this week on Austria's Federal Competition Authority (FCA).

Red Bull will purchase 51% of shares in RD Pro Cycling KG and RD Beteiligungs with merger expected to follow.

Companies both owned by Bora-Hansgrohe team founder Ralph Denk, who will give up his majority stake once deal is complete.

On Wednesday afternoon, a Bora spokesman said: "Red Bull is planning to expand its involvement in road cycling and is aiming for a partnership with BORA - hansgrohe. By becoming a partner in Team Manager Ralph Denk's operating company, Red Bull strives to complement the team's portfolio of existing long-term main sponsors, who will remain on a long-term basis. The planned joint venture has been notified to the relevant antitrust authority.

"We ask for your understanding that we will not comment further on the planned joint venture, as we do not wish to anticipate the ongoing review by the Austrian antitrust authority."

The Bull has made a big splash into other sports:

Formula One - multiple world champion Max Verstappen.

Scuderia AlphaTauri. And a MotoGP team.

Football. Ownership of Red Bull Salzburg, Austria's most successful football club.

The New York Red Bulls.

RB Leipzig. Champs of the DFB-Pokal, the German cup.

All nature of extreme sports, be it space stunts, cliff diving, flying, skateboarding and surf sports - may may have heard of Red Bull Surfing - more of a name from a few years back, but we remember, such is the can't miss branding of the Bull. Could the WWE, TNA, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Cage Fighting Championships, PFL, Sumo, Aussie pro wrestling such as the AWF or IWA,  or even your local sports team be next?!

Media Man Int

Energy Drink Wars (Media Man Int) *in progress. Fluid situation!

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/energy_drink.html

Red Bull: News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/red_bull.html

Red Bull profit; Flashback to 2015 (Media Man Int

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/red_bull3.html

Cafe News Media (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/cafe_news.html

#RedBull #BoraHansgrohe #UCI #energydrink #energydrinks #cycling #RalphDenk #MaxVerstappen #MMA #NewYorkBulls #sportsnews #cafenews #cafenewsmedia #extremesports #sponsor #sponsorship #ads #online #trends #buzz #cheers #media #mediaman 

Media Man Int Blog Updated 

Media Man Group Blog Network Updated

Media Man Australia Blog Updated 

News

Pop Culture

Advertising

Creativity

Mind, Body and Spirit 

SEO and SEM 

Business Journalism

Gonzo Journalism

Newsfeeds

Digital News

Worldwide Trends

Disruptors 

Online News 

Online Biz 

Crypto PR 

Business Leads 

Relationship Marketing

 PR and Media Management

 And much more  

Media Man Int is part of the Media Man Group, est 2001.

#blog #blogs #blogger #blogging #news #popculture #ads #Advertising #creativity #mindbodyspirit #SEO #SEM #business #journalism #gonzo #gonzojournalism #newsfeeds #digitalnews #worldwide #trends #trending #trendingnow #disruptors #onlinenews #onlinebiz #crypto #cryptopr #BTC #blockchain #AffiliateMarketing #affiliates #sponsorship #ads #marketing #newsflash #x #xnews #platformnews #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint

Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro-Wrestling @njpwglobal WrestleDream mania for fans the world over says Media Man; New Management Already Paying Off For Top Line Promotion

NJPW World Official YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/NJPWWorldOfficial

WRESTLE KINGDOM 18 in TOKYO DOME HIGHLIGHT｜NJPW, 1/4/24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBY27vKKSVI&ab_channel=NJPWWORLDOfficial

#njwk18 8th match Backstage Backstage 1/4/24｜WRESTLE KINGDOM 18 in 東京ドーム 第8試合 Backstage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZ8XYX2doE&ab_channel=NJPWWORLDOfficial

Okada vs Danielson II at Wrestle Kingdom 18!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghq0kNW0cOQ&ab_channel=NEWJAPANPRO-WRESTLING

Wrestle Kingdom 18 Interview series: Kazuchika Okada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMQ2oLGg1rg&t=4s&ab_channel=NEWJAPANPRO-WRESTLING

SANADA vs Tetsuya Naito at Wrestle Kingdom!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqmTDL4NQVQ&t=3s&ab_channel=NEWJAPANPRO-WRESTLING

#Wrestlekingdom #Wrestlekingdom18 #NJPWWK18 #njpwworld #Okada #BryanDanielson #Sanada #Nemeth #Ziggler #prowrestling #wrestling #combatsports #entertainment #videos #highlights #YouTube #PPV #PayPerView #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #media 

Pro Wrestling

TBS @TBSNetwork YouTube, Social Media Ramps Up AEW @AEW Coverage Again

Adam Cole and the Undisputed Kingdom Address MJF | AEW Dynamite | TBS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cfsfflzPZo&ab_channel=TBS

"Shut and listen to my best friend, Adam"...

Swerve Strickland and Daniel Garcia Shine As Hangman Page Returns | AEW Dynamite | TBS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_aHMrtRgjE&ab_channel=TBS

"Garcia is on a roll. Two match winning streak"

"The uppercut there by Swerve. Creates distrance and then closes in"...

Gold League Semi-Finals Are Set In Controversial Fashion | AEW Dynamite | TBS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MIpiumaynI&ab_channel=TBS

"Moxely" Excalibrr

"Man, that's a dangerous situation to put yourself in if your Jon Moxley" Jim Ross

#TBS #AEW #AdamCole #TheDevil #MJF #SamoaJoe #SwerveStrickland #DanielGarcia #AdamPage #AEWWorldsEnd #WorldsEnd #prowrestling #wrestling #ChristianCage #DonCallis #entertainment #popculture #broadcast #videos #YouTube #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media  

Image credit: AEW

Media Man Int Blog Updated 

Media Man Group Blog Network Updated

Media Man Australia Blog Updated 

News

Pop Culture

Advertising

Creativity

Mind, Body and Spirit 

SEO and SEM 

Business Journalism

Gonzo Journalism

Newsfeeds

Digital News

Worldwide Trends

Disruptors 

Online News 

Online Biz 

Crypto PR 

Business Leads 

Relationship Marketing

 PR and Media Management

 And much more  

Media Man Int is part of the Media Man Group, est 2001.

#blog #blogs #blogger #blogging #news #popculture #ads #Advertising #creativity #mindbodyspirit #SEO #SEM #business #journalism #gonzo #gonzojournalism #newsfeeds #digitalnews #worldwide #trends #trending #trendingnow #disruptors #onlinenews #onlinebiz #crypto #cryptopr #BTC #blockchain #AffiliateMarketing #affiliates #sponsorship #ads #marketing #newsflash #x #xnews #platformnews #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint

"The giant in front of your is never bigger than the God inside of you."

Media Man Int

Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html

Mind, Body and Sprit (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/mind_body.html

#giant #god #self #mindset #power #strength #courage #mbs #mindbodyspirit #media #mediaman 

“In magic - and in life - there is only the present moment, the now. You can't measure time the way you measure the distance between two points. 'Time' doesn't pass. We human beings have enormous difficulty in focusing on the present; we're always thinking about what we did, about how we could have done it better, about the consequences of our actions, and about why we didn't act as we should have. Or else we think about the future, about what we're going to do tomorrow, what precautions we should take, what dangers await us around the next corner, how to avoid what we don't want and how to get what we have always dreamed of.” - Paulo Coelho

Media Man Int  

Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)

https://mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html

Mind, Body and Sprit (Media Man Int) https://mediamanint.com/articles/mind_body.html

#PauloCoelho #quote #magic #life #moment #now #time #mbs #mindbodyspirit #world #universe #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling

Wrestling Legend Kurt Angle Talks Dream Matches via His Podcast

"I would say Roman Reigns versus Kenny Omega for the world title"...

"Now, I don't think that's ever going to happen unless Kenny Omega switches over to WWE. So, it's probably not gonna happen, but, man, I would love to see that match."

(In a WWE @WWE ) ring

The Kurt Angle Show @TheAnglePod

Video

Kurt Angle Wants To See Kenny Omega vs. Roman Reigns!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNu1pXUv99Q&ab_channel=TheKurtAngleShow

Media Man Int

Wrestling Dream Matches via Media Man (in progress).. too many to list

https://mediamanint.com/articles/wrestling_dream.html

#KurtAngle #quote #dreammatch #dreammatches #RomanReigns #KennyOmega #WWEAEW #WWE #AEW #prowrestling #wrestling #wrestlingpromotions #combatsports #legends #Goats #entertainment #popculture #wrestlingpodcast #wrestlingpodcasts #trends #buzz #media 

Pro Wrestling

World's Leading Pro Wrestling Promotion WWE @WWE Releases More World Class Hype Type Promos And Features To Get Fans Ready For SmackDown and Royal Rumble Season As WrestleMania Sneaks Up On Us...

WWE Official YouTube Channel

AJ Styles is determined to battle Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99ctm2MYmgI&ab_channel=WWE

LA Knight is on a mission to challenge Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVzsGFAZ18E&ab_channel=WWE

Randy Orton seeks retribution on Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble: SmackDown New Year's Revolution 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuzOEbLZAkE&ab_channel=WWE

Roman Reigns delivers his New Year’s Revolution: WWE Now, Jan. 5, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sprmi4MZzjg&ab_channel=WWE

Media Man: WWE wins 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' already, and the month has hardly started. WWE is on fire. So pumped for SmackDown, Royal Rumble, WrestleMania and the rest of the year. 

#SmackDown #WWERoyalRumble #RoyalRumble #WWENow #RomanReigns #TheBloodline #HeadOfTheTable #PaulHeyman #TheRock #RandyOrton #AJStyles #LAKnight #KevinOwens #KO #TKO #SantosEscobar #LWO #LoganPaul #TheMaverick #Prime #IyoSky #Michin #Authors #USTitle #WomensTitle #YouTube #video #videos #hype #combatsports #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #broadcast #promotion #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown

SmackDown’s most jaw-dropping moments: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFwF4KrUgsw&ab_channel=WWE

FULL MATCH – Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1C1s7trJds&t=7s&ab_channel=WWE

Paul Heyman has not invited The Rock to the table: SmackDown New Year's Revolution 2024 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZYASTkIpzM&t=14s&ab_channel=WWE

Paul Heyman informs Roman Reigns of Fatal 4-Way decision: SmackDown New Year's Revolution exclusive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muHZfjlAQj4&ab_channel=WWE

Reigns to face Orton, Styles and Knight: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoD2eVUYWn8&ab_channel=WWE

Kross and AOP take out Lashley and Street Profits: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehibNOEosiE&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

Lashley and Profits vow to get Kross and AOP next: SmackDown New Year's Revolution 2024 exclusive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S0tOA-_OMo&ab_channel=WWE

Owens vs. Escobar — U.S. Title Tournament Final: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n1QO0crfDg&t=2s&ab_channel=WWE

Kevin Owens knocks out Logan Paul with his cast: SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcLrPS928lU&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

and more!

Media Man: One of the greatest episodes of SmackDown we've seen in over a decade, and that covers a lot of ground. Reigns, Heyman, Aldis, The whole Bloodline story as well as Logan Paul, Kross and the AOP were off the charts. Everybody played their part to a T. Pro wrestling and sports entertainment masterclass. Massive thumbs up from us.

#SmackDown #NewYearsRevolution #RomanReigns #PaulHeyman #TheBloodline #NickAldis #KevinOwens #KO #TKO #SantoEscobar #LWO #USTitle #LoganPaul #AOP #AuthorsOfPain #KarrionKross #RandyOrton #AJStyles #LAKnight #RoyalRumble #prowrestling #wrestling #moments #highlights #FOX #broadcast #broadcasting #YouTube #highlights #moments #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media #mediaman 

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling

WWE 

@WWE

 SmackDown 

The tribal chief has ar arrived at the sold out Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia" Kevin Patrick 

@kev_egan

 

"Talk about kicking off 2024 with a bang" Corey Graves 

@WWEGraves

 

"The Royal Rumble rapidly approaching. Three weeks away.. Saturday" KP

"Escobar allianed..more dangerous in this environment" CG

"The social media megastar, Logan Paul 

@LoganPaul

 join us" CG

"It might be the guy who looks like a ..."LP

"Kevin Owens staring hole"...

"Broken right hand and all"

"He brittle" LP

"Multiple headbuts" CG

"Doing his best to enter your mind Logan" CG

"I just begun lifting weight.. gained some muscle" LP

"Must be a thick barricade..protect from that"! LP

"Logan six" Fans in attendance!

"Feel bad for you...Be disrespected like that" CG

"I see no pain tolerance from Owens" LP

"Never ever try to superplex Owens" CG

Follow the action on FOX and more highlights via WWE YouTube

http://youtube.com/wwe

Pro Wrestling

WWE SmackDown

Logan Paul colour commentary cont..Excels at Ringside; Temporary took over from Michael Cole?! ..part satire fans - Media Man 

Owens vs Escobar 

"Blue Tattoos"

"Owens looking for a stunner"

"Stone Cold called" LP

"Congratulations Kevin Owens, you won.. dog...sweating, out of breath"

"A Canadian could even have the United States championship"!

"Like the Kanooks winning a Stanley Cup"

"Never going to happen because I am Logan".. LP

KO punch!

Pro Wrestling

WWE 

@WWE

 SmackDown 

"AOP.  Over 600 pounds of unbridled destruction led by the mastermind, Paul Ellering" Corey Graves 

@WWEGraves

 

"The super collider"!

"Spells trouble"

"Dropping hammer fists on Lashley and The Street Profits"

"That's Paul Ellering"!

"Authors Of Pain"

"Just battering Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits" Kevin Patrick 

@kev_egan

 

"An unholy union" CG

"Pick him up" Karrion Kross

"Have we ever seen anyone manhandle The Almighty like this"? KP

"No" CG

Media Man: Highlights to trend on YouTube without question

http://youtube.com/wwe

Pro Wrestling

WWE SmackDown - January 5, 2024

"Well, my work here is done. Hope everybody had a great night here in Vancouver. Checkmate Roman" - Nick Aldis. One of the greatest SmackDown's in over a decade says Media Man. 

Pro Wrestling/Lucha Libre

AAA @luchalibreaaa Smartly Release, Broadcast Classics via official YouTube Channel

Wrestling Fans The World Over Seeking Out International Flavor As U.S Pro Wrestling Enjoys Boom

AAA Retro: Konnan vs. Vampiro en TRIPLEMANÍA XIII. | Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a10LM4SCFqg&t=252s&ab_channel=LuchaLibreAAA

AAA Retro: Psicosis vs Psicosis LUCHA POR EL NOMBRE en TRIPLEMANÍA XIII. | Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6weDQTFXJI&t=7s&ab_channel=LuchaLibreAAA

AAA Retro: La Secta vs Real Fuerza Aérea en TRIPLEMANÍA XIV. | Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZY6r_nOPVU&ab_channel=LuchaLibreAAA

MARATÓN TRIPLEMANÍA XXXI: Monterrey, Tijuana y CDMX | Lucha Libre AAA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPAofw2ZbCA&ab_channel=LuchaLibreAAA

and more..

Wrestling fans, insiders flock to K100 Official with Konnan and Disco Inferno For Informed and Experienced Views And Commentary On Lucha and Pro Wrestling; No B.S zone - media.

and more

WWE's Dragon Lee, Santos Escobar, Dominik Mysterio, Carlito, LWO (Latino World Order) and NXT's Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro demonstrate success of Lucha on world stage; Challenger brand of sorts AEW also shows off Lucha style to the world via streaming services such as TrillerTV, as high risk style increases chance of injury.

Keepin' It 100 OFFICIAL YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@KeepinIt100OFFICIAL

83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff @83Weeks 

83 Weeks #82: When Worlds Collide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTxIPEg2rfY&ab_channel=83Weeks

WWE @WWE Official YouTube Channel

The LWO vs. No Quarter Catch Crew – Six Man Tag Match: NXT New Year’s Evil highlights, Jan. 2, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUxXPTbaTWQ&ab_channel=WWE

Flashback to WWE SmackDown

Los Matadores vs. The Lucha Dragons: SmackDown, May 7, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rZ1IfiFZvo&ab_channel=WWE

Media Man Int

Lucha Libre: News (current and flashbacks)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/lucha_libre.html

#LuchaLibre #Lucha #AAALucha #LuchaLibreWorldwide #Konnan #Vampiro #TripleMania #Psicosis #LaSecta #RealFuerzaAerea #Monterrey #ijuana #CDMX #prowrestling #wrestling #wrestlingpromotion #wrestlingpromotions #sportsentertainment #legends #showbiz #combatsports #entertainment #popculture #culture #YouTube #video #highlights #trend #trends #buzz #Media

Image credit: AAA Lucha Libre Worldwide

Disruptor: a person or thing that interrupts an event, activity, or process by causing a disturbance or problem. 

"the film follows his evolution from Hollywood star to political disruptor".

a company or form of technology that causes radical change in an existing industry or market by means of innovation,

the company is becoming a major disruptor in the healthcare industry.

mobile technology is the top digital disruptor in business today

they caused a major disruption in the online advertising, online pr, promotions and pop culture sector.

the combat sports business model was disrupted by a select group of sports and media change-makers by combining together both old and new systems. The prior pay-view-view business model was disrupted, as were the previous streaming TV and cable TV systems. Industry disruption became an almost daily happening in the space they operated in.

#disruptor #disruptors #sportsdisruptor #bizdisruptor #disrupt #mediadisruptor #ads #onlinepublishing #businessmodel #businessmodels #systems #formula #change #gamechanger #legacymedia #oldmedia #popculture #combatsports #biz #crypto #sportscafe #cafenews #streaming #streamingnews #platforms #platformnews #event #liveevents #TheMatrix #trend #trends #buzz #TV #X #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

Movie Box Office

Night Swim - Opens to $12 million. International takings are $5.7 million from its first 36 markets for a global dip f $17.7 million vs a $15 million budget before marketing. Dive in if you dare.

Wonka - $14.4 million from 3,817 locations. On the cusp of crossing the $165 million mark in North America.

Aquaman 2 - Approx weekend gross of $10.6 million from 3,553 theaters.

Migration - estimated $10.3 million. Screens in 3,712 locations. $77.8 million total for U.S.

Aquaman 2. Under expectations. Just above $100 million mark for US. Did Amber just take credit?! via social media. That's Showbiz!

Anyone But You - 9 percent uptick from last weekend.  $9.5 million estimate from 3,055 theaters for a U.S total thus far of $43.7 million. 

The Boys in the Boat rows along in 6th position. Earns an estimated $6 million from 2,687 theaters for a U.S total of $33.9 million.

The Color Purple grossed an estimated $4.8 million from 3,218 cinemas for a U.S total of $54.6 million.

The Iron Claw grosses $4.5 million from 2,392 venues for a U.S total of $24.3 million.

#BoxOffice #movienews #NightSwim #Wonka #WonkaMovie #Aquaman2 #Aquaman #Migration  #theboysintheboat #ColourPurple #IronClaw #TheIronClaw #entertainment #entertainmentnews #showbiz #popculture #biz #media #mediaman 

Combat Sports

Sports Betting Odds

Francis Ngannou vs Anthony Joshua

March 9, 2024

Francis Ngannou +125

Anthony Joshua -155

Ngannou enters as as a modest underdog.

A $100 bet on FN would get you just $125 if he pulls off the upset. 

Fancy AJ? $155 to win $100!

Francis Ngannou (0-1 boxing, 17-3 MMA) comes off his pro boxing debut back in Feb when he "lost"? ...a split decision to Tyson Fury. In the bout, Ngannou decked the champ and many still believe he did enough to win. 

The infamous boxing match in Saudi was his first in a year and half after leaving the UFC in free agency as their heavyweight champ in a less than friendly manner, with media barns and war or words doing the rounds at company sports press conferences and back and forward quotes on boxing themed websites and the like.

Anthony Joshua (27-3) enjoys athree-fight win streak and coming off a fifth-round stoppage victory over Otto Wallin. 

Got to be easier way to earn a buck than in a boxing right, or betting on the bouts, but you be the king of your own domain. Gimmick or legit? You judge. That's Boxing.

Media Man Int

Bet On Anything (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/bet_on.html

Sports Betting (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/sports_betting.html

#boxingodds #boxingnews #FrancisNgannou #AnthonyJoshua #sportbetting #bet #wager #PPV #PayPerView #combatsports #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmedia #media #mediaman 

Media Man Biz Tips

Take Care Of Your Customers

People Matter

"The Future Is Customer Service" (a book we helped promote for leading Australian businessman, Kym Ilman, quite a while back). 

Basics matter, as well as going above and beyond. People are people, not numbers. Make each person feel appreciated and valued. Sales, marketing and business development with care and ethics.

Take care of your customers or someone else will.

Winning in the world, person by person. Greg Tingle, founder, Media Man Group/Media Man Int

#people #peoplepower #peoplefirst #customers #CustomerService #TheFutureIsCustomerService #future #personal #personality #biz #mediabiz #sportsbiz #adbiz #marketing #performance #authority #mindset #attitude #basics #excellence #book #businessbook #mbs #MessageGroup #KymIllman #GregTingle #media #mediaman #mediamanint

Wrestling Media

AEW @AEW Top Brass Tony Khan Speaks On Business to News4JAX; Going Ringside

"It's part of sports. Everybody discusses contracts and free agency and things of that nature".

"I think everybody's aware that everybody's gonna be talking to everybody in the media this coming year. So they'll certainly be a lot of opportunities. We have a great history with Warner Bros. Discovery and continue to produce great ratings so we should be in a very good position next year."

#TonyKhan #quote #AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage #AEWRevolution #AEWAllIn #SamoaJoe #RicFlair #Sting #prowrestling #wrestling #News4JAX #wrestlingpromoter #wrestlingpromotions #WBD #WarnerBrosDiscovery #wrestlingmedia #wrestlingnews #wrestlingbroadcast #broadcast #broadcasting #production #Competition  #mediarights #wrestlers #contracts #sportsrights #sportsbiz #showbiz #ratings #PPV #PayPerView #socialmedia #trend #trends #buzz #TV #X #media 

Casino News

Classic Las Vegas Strip casino adds exciting adult entertainment

Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino operators are constantly seeking innovative attractions to lure visitors through their doors and onto the casino floor.

Guests have many options for daytime and nighttime entertainment on the Strip and its surrounding areas. Circus Circus hotel and casino is both a daytime and nighttime destination for families offering its Carnival Midway with arcade games and prizes which opens daily at 11 a.m. The Midway also surrounds a circus stage featuring free circus acts starting at 1:30 p.m. Of course, guests under 21 are not allowed on the Circus Circus casino floor.

For more relaxing daytime leisure, guests can lounge by the swimming pool or take in a game of golf. When the lights go down, plenty of evening entertainment is available as well.

Plenty of entertainment to choose from 

Visitors might choose to see a magic act, such as magician and illusionist David Copperfield at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino or maybe Penn & Teller's magic, illusion and comedy act at the off-Strip Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Or maybe guests would prefer to take in one the five Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas – The Beatles Love, Michael Jackson One, Mystère, O or Kà.

For those looking for big-name music acts, superstar singer Adele continues her "Weekends With Adele" residency at Caesars Entertainment's  (CZR) - Get Free Report Colosseum at Caesars Palace for 32 more weekend shows from Jan. 19 through June 15, 2024.

Classic 1970s teen idol Donny Osmond has extended his residency beginning Jan. 23 and ending May 11, 2024, at Harrah's Showroom, and An Intimate Evening with Santana hits the stage at House of Blues Las Vegas Jan. 24-31 and Feb. 2-4.

Luxor opens adult playground on the Strip

A new attraction hits the Strip as Play Social Inc. on Jan. 18 opens its highly anticipated Play Playground, a 15,000 square-foot immersive play area featuring an array of interactive large-scale games emphasizing tactile skill, memory, puzzles and teamwork, at MGM Resorts International's  (MGM) - Get Free Report Luxor Hotel and Casino. The first-of-its-kind Playground features over 20 games, two bars, VIP mezzanines and private event spaces.

The venue is different from a Dave & Buster's or Chuck E. Cheese, as it does not feature any arcade, virtual reality or augmented reality games. Players earn credits for winning at the immersive games that can be exchanged for prizes in the Prize Center, which is one aspect similar to the arcade-style restaurants. Play Playground is open for all ages by day and adults only by night. The play area's operator Play Social markets it as ideal for both families visiting with children or companies looking to host a unique outing, the company said in a statement.

The venue is open from noon to 12 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and noon to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Guests who are under 21 years old must exit Play Playground at 5 p.m. daily, but the 21 and over crowd can continue having fun at the venue until closing. Admission for guests under 21 is $34.50 and $39.50 for 21 and over, which includes a $2.50 service charge, according to the Playground's website.

Play Playground also offers a VIP Experience for $97.50, which includes all-day play, VIP lanyard and card, skip the line privilege, 24-hour re-entry, one commemorative cocktail, a commemorative hat or beanie and 15% off retail purchases. The service charge is included. 

SkyCity Casino Brings Bingo into Its Safer Gambling Ecosystem

SkyCity Casino is betting on a new range of bingo games. With bingo caught up in digitization of gambling since the early noughties, the game has enjoyed a resurgence. Gone are the days when bingo was played exclusively by those in retirement age. Countless studies and surveys show that the average age of bingo players has decreased significantly.

We know that remote gaming revenue in the UK between April 2020 and March 2021 was £6.9 billion. Bingo is listed among the games tracked within the metric. With further statistics showing that the average age of online gamblers is between 35 and 54, we can say with confidence that bingo is not only popular with the masses but with a younger audience than before.

Moving in Step with Industry Trends

SkyCity Online Casino and bingo is a testament to this. The online gambling operator has long taken popular products and converted them into digital offerings. Casino games, including slots, blackjack, and roulette, got the ball rolling. From there, virtual sports betting games were added to the mix. Now, after reviewing the latest trends, bingo games, ranging from classic 90-ball to modern speed variants, will be available to desktop and mobile players. Perhaps the biggest benefit of making bingo available to online players is the ease with which safety controls can be implemented. The current trend permeating all areas of the online gambling industry in 2023 is safer gambling.

Changes to the UK’s Gambling Act have prompted a new wave of responsible gambling measures and financial checks. US states implementing their own online gambling laws are also harnessing the latest innovations to ensure players are not only within permitted locations but playing responsibly. SkyCity Casino has a long-standing commitment to customer care. As per its responsible gaming policies, customers in New Zealand must be 20 or older to use the site, and all new accounts must be verified. Once customers are verified, there are tools for tracking financial transactions and, if necessary, set deposit limits.

Land Based Casinos

What are Land Based Casinos?

Land based casinos are physical casino premises that are commonly known as brick and mortar casinos. The term is used to differentiate between casino venues and their online counterparts.Some casino brands operate a mix of land based and online casinos, while other brands have either one or the other. Land based casinos might just include the casino itself, or they might be combined with other services such as bars, restaurants and hotel rooms.

Land Based Casinos Explained

A land based casino is any gaming premises located in the real world, as opposed to online. Examples of famous land based casinos include Caesar's Palace in Vegas and the UK's Grosvenor Casino brand. There was a time when the 'land based casino' was just the 'casino', but the dawn of online gambling has brought a need to differentiate between the two things. Land based casinos are therefore any physical buildings in which gambling games are played.Casinos usually offer a range of different games, although some specialise in one type of game, such as slot games or roulette. Most land based casinos have additional services for players, including entertainment acts, bars and restaurants, and sometimes hotel rooms and suites. Players who spend a lot of time playing at land based casinos are likely to be rewarded with complimentary use of these casino services.While land based casinos are different from online casinos, there are physical casinos which only offer electronic games. These video poker and slot arcades are common in smaller casinos and might be an offshoot of a larger brand.Land based casinos can be found in towns and cities all over the world, although there are some cities, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, which specialise in hosting these venues and have large numbers of land based casinos in one place.

Real Estate - Casino Connection News

Managing Director of the Alea Consulting Group, Nicholas G. Colon delves deeper into this relatively new way of ensuring the long-term financial viability of land-based casinos

The casino gaming industry is one of the most dynamic sectors of business to work in. Gaming executives are engaged in a never-ending quest to find the magic formula that boosts their corporate earnings to the next level. Sometimes the speculations are glorious successes, while other times they’re horrific failures. And still other times, massive investments have to be made before the true extent of how bad an idea is can be revealed.

The newest approach that gaming companies are trying is using the real estate market to increase their revenues. Here I will give a brief overview on how the real estate revenue generation by casino gaming companies works and, the benefits and drawbacks associated with this method. Modern casinos are built as massive resorts often times covering scores of acreage of land. The property usage is divided into three major components, which are gaming, hotel and commercial uses.

The hotel part houses the guests, while gaming is reserved to games of chance; and then there is the commercial use of properties. While hotel and gaming uses are niche, the commercial uses of casino properties have almost limitless possibilities. Space for entertainment shows such as the Cirque Du Soleil are fixtures at all the MGM properties in Las Vegas. Many casinos also have five-star restaurants, with world-renowned chefs tailoring the menus, on the premises.

This also falls under the umbrella of commercial use.

The commercial use for a property that is the most prevalent in some of the newest casinos in Las Vegas and around the world is shopping malls. This trend was pioneered by Caesars Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas that opened on New Year's Day 1992. In 1998 when the Bellagio opened, there was a section of the property allocated for a few high-end shopping boutiques.

In the early 2000s the Planet Hollywood property in Las Vegas opened and it included a large shopping mall that mirrored the Forum Shops at prices more affordable to the masses. When the City Center Complex opened in LasVegas in December of 2009, The Shops at Chrystals opened up as a part of the complex. It was owned by MGM and was the home of several high-end retail shops like Louis Vuitton and Prada. The trend of associating commercial space with casinos was in full swing by this time.

Caesers, Bellagio, Planet Hollywood and the ARIA resorts all retained ownership of the commercial space at their respected resorts. They would sign leases with various retail companies for periods of time as a means to generate additional revenue for the company. Every so often the leases would have to be renewed and, depending on the sales of the store, lease rates could be negotiated.

Sales made by a particular store were tied directly to the traffic rate of the property. A 30% occupancy rating at Caesars would reduce the traffic flow of patrons frequenting the Forum Shops thereby reducing the purchase conversion rate. In the financial downturn of 2008, the shop owners had tremendous leverage and were able to negotiate very favourable rates for extended periods of time. This leads us to a huge blunder made in this area by the LasVegas Sands Corporation.

CASTLES MADE OF SAND

During the worldwide financial crisis, the shops at the Venetian were having a lot of trouble getting any type of retailers to occupy their spaces on strictly leasing terms. This led the board to sell the various retail spaces outright, at favourable terms for the buyer. This had the effect of reassuring the purchaser because they were not tied to any long-term payments and they were able to instantly begin building equity from their purchase, which at the very least was acquired at a discounted rate.

With hindsight, it’s my opinion that the Venetian was not looking at the long term when it made this decision. The global financial crash of 2008 scared everybody, and as a quick, knee-jerk reaction the Sands wanted to get the red ink out of their books as quickly as possible.

As we moved beyond the financial crisis the recovery slowly started to take over, patrons began returning to Las Vegas as a vacation destination and companies were no longer sending minimal personnel to the various conventions held there. The stores that occupied the retail space started increasing their sales and the equity in the retail space started increasing dramatically. And because the Sands no longer owned the space they were unable to increase their revenue from lease rates.

The total revenue of the Venetian was not as high as similar properties because they were not making as much from their commercial leases. This forced the Venetian to squeeze the customer from other areas. The casino games that were being offered were set up so the casino’s hold percentage was higher than before.

Most of the slot machines were set to their highest hold percentages, many of the blackjack games on the main became 6:5 payouts, for a natural and, a triple zero roulette wheel was introduced on the main floor under the name Sands Roulette, this game gives the house nearly an 8% edge over the player. Prices of food went up dramatically and comps offered by casinos went down dramatically.

MOVING FORWARD

These types of decisions are much easier to make for casinos in this scenario because there are no other revenue streams to consider. When players are not burned out at the tables they often take that extra cash and purchase goods and services at the resort property. These include products from stores, meals from restaurants and tickets for shows.

For one player this is not a factor but for the millions of players that walk through a casino a year this is significant. Even if only a tiny fraction of the players spend money at the shops, restaurants and shows, it translates into millions of dollars in sales over the course of a year and causes the value of the leased property to go up. Another negative impact is that the casino can’t negotiate better rates for items that can be purchased with players comp points, because there is no financial incentive to do so.

In recent years almost all of the main resorts on the Las Vegas Blvd and downtown Las Vegas have started charging for parking, even to casino guests and players. They do not collect money from their patrons they merely lease out the parking structure for a term of several years to an operating company. The operating company then installs parking ticket machines, gates and payment machines. They merely collect the money over the years of the lease. Again here, gaming companies are thinking short-term and not realising the negative perception they are creating with their customers. Creating more and more cost barriers for a customer to get to your product has an overall negative impact on revenue.

As we can see from the cited examples, the casinos have been in the real estate business for decades. But because it was viewed as a 360-degree revenue stream the gaming company was utilising to feed the main profit centres of the resort, it wasn’t viewed that way.

We are seeing today gaming organisations partition a division of their company to strictly deal with revenue generating through real estate applications. In effect, they are selling off pieces of their company that feed other parts of their total revenue equation. The assertion here is that the money in hand that is used for reinvestment will exceed the revenue that would be attained from keeping the asset. But what it is doing is showing little faith in the management team and foreshadowing a market reduction. The resorts, at least in Las Vegas, have convinced themselves that they are convention-centred destinations and the companies attending the conventions are the ones footing the cost and not vacationers. This type of thinking turns gaming companies into a B2B operation rather than an entertainment industry. Will it work? Maybe. Operators have just recently come back to profitability, stopping nearly a decade trend of losses. And even so the profits were just marginal. So now it’s a waiting game to see how the markets will react.

Australia’s Crown Resorts issues warning over unauthorized use of brand in illegal gambling ads

Australia’s Crown Resorts has raised a public alert about fraudulent activities involving imposter social media accounts and misleading advertisements. The casino operator revealed that unauthorised entities are exploiting Crown’s name, logo, images, and other distinctive details to promote illegal online gambling platforms.

The company, in an official statement, requested the public to exercise caution when encountering such advertisements and advised them to rely solely on Crown’s official websites and social media channels for authentic news and promotions.

As reported in Inside Asian Gaming Crown Resorts emphasised that operating an online casino or offering casino-style games online is prohibited in Australia. The statement clarified that Crown does not engage in online casino operations or any form of online gambling. The company stated it would take legal action against individuals or groups organising illegal activities using the Crown brand or its subsidiaries.

Currently undergoing a comprehensive reform initiative, Crown Resorts is focused on revamping its resorts in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. This overhaul is part of its strategy to regain casino licenses following unfavourable inquiries conducted in all three states.

One of the recent reforms introduced by Crown involves implementing mandatory time and loss limits for patrons using electronic gaming machines at Crown Melbourne. This move aligns with recommendations from the Finkelstein Royal Commission, which found Crown unsuitable to retain its Victorian casino license. The license is under a two-year review overseen by a Special Manager, with a decision on Crown’s reform efforts expected in 2024. The company is navigating a critical phase as it seeks to address regulatory concerns and regain public trust.

US – Formula 1 helps drive Nevada to its second most profitable month in November - Januaary 2024

Nevada’s casinos enjoyed their second-highest win ever, fuelled by the excitement surrounding the return of Formula One racing, which boosted the Strip’s performance by 22.6 per cent.

Only July earlier in the year was more lucrative for casinos in Nevada meaning that the state smashed its personal best twice in 2023.

Across the state, casinos generated $1.37bn, an increase of 12.5 per cent rise from November 2022 with Formula One clearly playing its part in an increase in tourism with 3,292,800 visitors in November.

Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst, said: “The four-day period beginning on November 16th was extremely profitable for both gaming and non-gaming activity on the Las Vegas Strip with some properties estimating those days established all-time record levels of revenue. The event’s success was more evident at luxury properties where the Las Vegas Strip’s baccarat increase accounted for 78.6 per cent of the state’s growth this month. Additionally, the 25 licensees that are included in the $72m or over revenue range for annual gross gaming win on the Las Vegas Strip increased by $160m or 25.8 per cent compared to last November and accounted for over 100 per cent of the state’s entire increase for the month.”

The Strip’s games win came in at $410.1m, marking the third highest total in Nevada’s history, and up 61.9 per cent from last year. This increase was led by baccarat which generated $178.3m, up 208.7 per cent from last year.

The influx of tourist spend wasn’t felt everywhere across the state though with Downtown Las Vegas down two per cent with revenues of $81.1m.

The Boulder Strip was down 2.1 per cent to $83.3m whilst North Las Vegas secured a 0.61 per cent increase to $23m. North Lake Tahoe experienced an eight per cent fall as did South Lake Tahoe.

For the year so far, Nevada GGR are on track to set a new record with revenues up 4.1 per cent over the first 11 months of the record-breaking 2022. November also saw the 33rd consecutive month that the state generated revenues of more than $1bn with November’s revenue coming in higher than November 2019’s total by 46.6 per cent.

US – Billion dollar plus months are the new norm for Nevada but could the Strip soon hit the milestone too? - March 2023

The Las Vegas Strip’s best ever February helped push the state of Nevada to yet another billion dollar plus month, marking two years of consecutive $1bn plus months and begging the question; is this now the norm for Nevada?

The Strip, with 28 casinos, generated $712.4m in revenue, increasing from $599.1m in February 2022 with the State’s 441 casinos bringing in $1.24bn in February, marking an 11.2 per cent increase from February 2022.

Clark County casinos alone surpassed $1bn for the 10th straight month, with analsysts now asking if the Strip could generate the milestone on its own.

Michael Lawton, Senior Economic Analyst for the Control Board, believes that following 24 months of $1bn plus months for Nevada, the figure has become the norm.

He said: “I think after 24 consecutive months you could safely say it is [the norm]. Obviously there is a lot of economic uncertainty, however that uncertainty has not spilled over into the record gaming win amounts we have witnessed over the last two years. Clark County has recorded over $1 billion in 10 consecutive months and in 17 out of the last 24 months. The Strip in December of 2022 recorded a win amount of $814.2 million which was the all-time record for the market. I think there is interest if the Strip on its own could hit the billion-dollar amount.”

In February, Clark County’s gaming revenue accounted for 87.4 per cent of Nevada’s total win with the Strip having 57.6 per cent of the state’s total.

For the state as a whole, slot win increased by 7.6 per cent to $822.8m whilst tables increased 18.6 per cent to $102.5m. Nevada sportsbooks won $41.2m, increasing 33.5 per cent from last year’s February, although the amiount staked was down 15.6 per cent to $659.4m.

Brendan Bussmann, Analyst at B Global, believes thee is still space for more revenue growth.

“We still do not have some of the foreign guests back, and the business customer is still returning, which will likely drive additional opportunity for gaming revenue,” he explained. “There are still a number of headwinds with economic and geopolitical forces that could impact the current trends in revenue. With a recession pending, a potential banking crisis, and other factors, Nevada continues to prevail through these challenges but these and other factors could have an overall impact on Clark County and the rest of the state.”

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE RAW

Punk to McIntyre: “No one will stop me from winning the Royal Rumble”: Raw highlights, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvW3l0FM8Fg&ab_channel=WWE

"I'm one of the new people on this roster still who travelled the world with you for years. I know the real CM Punk. I've seen what you're truely like and I've had so many things happen to me caused by you. I could go on for all night actually but we're only got a 3-hour show, so maybe I'll go over the first thing that comes to my head"... - Drew McIntyre

Media Man: The greatest wrestling promos are often the ones that have real situations and back stories to them, as is such the case here. The story somewhat writes itself! Hyped for tonight and the Royal Rumble. They are talking the fans into the building, in old school speeak.

#WWERaw #CMPunk #DrewMcIntryre #WWERoyalRumble #RoyalRumble #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #broadcast #broadcasting #USANetwork #popculture #story #storytelling #storylines #shoot #promo #promotion #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE RAW

CM Punk returns to Raw for first time in 2024: WWE Now, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UciKUeh-R8&ab_channel=WWE

Punk to McIntyre: “No one will stop me from winning the Royal Rumble”: Raw highlights, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvW3l0FM8Fg&ab_channel=WWE

Ludwig Kaiser unleashes a vicious attack on Kofi Kingston: Raw highlight, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDWn-hoZlUQ&ab_channel=WWE

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Finn Bálor: Raw highlights, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUScaRQzT2M&ab_channel=WWE

The Rock makes a surprise return to Raw: Raw highlights, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_AHQt0rrQk&ab_channel=WWE

and more via the live broadcast and the Official WWE YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/wwe

#WWERaw #WWERoyalRumble #RoyalRumble #CMPunk #DrewMcIntyre #LudwigKaiser 

#KofiKingston #Ciampa #FinnBalor #JudgementDay #wwetag #prowrestling #wrestling #womenswrestling #entertainment #popculture #USANetwork #broadcast #YouTube #YT #video #highlights #hype #promo #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

Image credit: WWE

UFC

Combat Sports

UFC @ufc 

Top Finishes | Slams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Tmmd944G0&ab_channel=UFC

"Can not lift. She can't do it. There, now she's working on the problem which is the hand. No, can't lift there. Oh, she"...

Media Man: The "slam" title got us. Long time fans of the MMA and wrestling/pro wrestling connection. A good old fashioned (or new age) slam will do just anytime. Get the opponent into position with strikes and wear down holds, and SLAM"!

#UFC #MMA #mixedmartialarts #slam #slams #bodyslam #wrestling #combatsports #highlights #moments #video #YouTube #sportsmedia #sportsnews #media 

Image credit: UFC

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE RAW

FULL MATCH – Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – Street Fight: Raw highlight, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZWZ67LLYE&t=6s&ab_channel=WWE

"Shinsuke Nakamura says he wants to finish Rhodes' story for him" - Michael Cole

"Cody, Cody, Cody" Fans

"This is a street fight. Anything goes. You must win via pinfall or submission"... Michael Cole

"...Master of mind games. He is going to make Cody Rhodes wait" MC

"Yeah. Emotions can be a cruel mistress if you loose control of them and if you loose control in a street fight it can really come back to hurt you" Wade Barrett

Best Raw moments: Raw highlight, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhrx0TPMrUE&ab_channel=WWE

Jinder Mahal initiates a brawl with Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Raw highlight, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWlqP-23L74&ab_channel=WWE

Nia Jax says she will choose Rhea Ripley when she wins the Rumble: Raw highlights, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1UdSANNEQ&t=8s&ab_channel=WWE

Otis vs. Ivar: Raw highlight, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnxdnMMGI-Q&ab_channel=WWE

Carter & Chance vs. Green & Niven – WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match: Raw highlight, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqR4cS_jtxc&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

R-Truth explains the love he shares with The Judgment Day: Raw highlights, Jan. 8, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTodBw_bhiU&ab_channel=WWE

and more via the official WWE YouTube Channel 

www.youtube.com/wwe 

#WWERaw #WWERoyalRumble #RoyalRumble #CodyRhodes #ShinsukeNakamura #CMPunk #DrewMcIntyre #LudwigKaiser #KofiKingston #Ciampa #FinnBalor #JudgementDay #RTruth #Miz #RheaRipley #NiaJax #wwetag #prowrestling #wrestling #womenswrestling #entertainment #popculture #USANetwork #broadcast #YouTube #YT #video #highlights #hype #promo #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media 

  Image credit: WWE

'Golden Globes' ratings increase by 50%

Entertainment giant CBS announced Monday that the Golden Globe Awards, which aired Sunday, averaged 9.4 million viewers. This is 50% more than the 2023 broadcast, according to the mega network.

2020 was the last year the Globes were watched by more people. Sunday's show was also the first ceremony since the Hollywood Foreign Press disbanded and expanded the voting body.

Jo Koy hosted the Golden Globes. Winners included Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers, Emma Stone for Poor Things, which also won Best Picture Comedy or Musical, as well as stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey, Jr., and director Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer.

CBS said the Globes was the second largest CBS event ever streamed on Paramount+. The largest awards show on the network and streaming service before that was the 65th Grammy Awards in February.

The Golden Globes previously aired on NBC.

The Globes have been widly critized in most of the media and in the court of public opion over the past number of years for becoming highly political.

News

Sky News Australia @SkyNewsAust report

Hollywood 'finally' got the 'Ricky Gervais memo' following Golden Globes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmoOlZbLL7U&ab_channel=SkyNewsAustralia

Under The Water Cooler...

"The entertainment er showbiz industry has always been political in one way or another, but the last 4 or 5 years saw certain chapters of it become even more so. Much of the general public has turned out and turned onto YouTube, Netflix, Rumble, niche streaming channels, or just consuming less entertainment content. The superhero genre is one of the hardest hit sectors, thanks in part due to political messanging that may please some entertainment producers and their clique, but not the public and large. Many entertainment company share prices have dived to long term lows as the general public votes with both their minds and wallets. The industry lives on but is embattled to say the least".

#GoldenGlobes #GoldenGlobes2024 #CBS #showbiz #entertainment #entertainmentnews #movies #politics #ratings #content #contentnews #TV #media #mediaman 

Entertainment News via Sky News Australia @SkyNewsAust 

Hollywood ‘woken up’ to ‘reality’ after absence of virtue-signalling at Golden Globes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWMfrY8JwL0&ab_channel=SkyNewsAustralia

Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan says there seems to be a “movement” growing in Hollywood after this year’s Golden Globes featured no political speeches, virtue signalling or grandstanding. 

Mr Morgan was joined by clinical psychologist and public intellectual Dr Jordan Peterson to discuss the matter. 

“People basically did what Ricky Gervais told them to do three years ago, which is get up, you know, thank your agent, and sit down and just celebrate making movies or TV shows,” Mr Morgan said. 

“I felt that there is a movement going on now of a real backlash from perhaps a majority that's been silent until now that's just said 'enough'.

(Credit: Sky News Australia)

#GoldenGlobes #GoldenGlobes2024 #SkyNewsAustralia #Sky #CBS #entertainmentnews #showbiz #popculture #movienews #movies #YouTube #video #politics #broadcast #newsmedia #media 

Crypto News

Bitcoin to soar as ETFs on cusp of approval 

- January 9, 2024

The price of Bitcoin is spiking and one analyst predicts it could more than triple in value and hit $300,000 by the end of 2025.

Bitcoin has risen above $US47,000 (A$70,000) for the first time since April 2022 and one analyst is predicting it could more than triple in value to be worth US$200,000 (A$298,000) by the end of 2025.

The prediction comes after news that US regulators appear ready to finally approve Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

In a note, Standard Chartered head of crypto research Geoff Kendrick wrote: “If ETF-related inflows materialise as we expect, we think an end-2025 level closer to US$200,000 is possible.”

It has been over a decade since the first applications for ETFs that invest directly in the digital currency were filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Prospective ETF issuers BlackRock, Fidelity, Invesco, Ark, Galaxy Digital and WisdomTree filed amended forms on Monday in what is seen by analysts as a final push to offer the investment products.

The regulator has until Wednesday to make a decision on the applications, which could result in an investment product tracking the daily price of the most popular digital currency traded on a stock market for the first time.

If approved, the advent of Bitcoin ETFs is expected to drive up Bitcoin’s price due to increased accessibility and liquidity of the digital currency.

The rise in Bitcoin also flowed through to a surge in the price of other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Cardano, SOL and Polkadot, while the share prices of listed crypto exchanges and miners such as Coinbase Global, Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital also rose.

Bitcoin’s previous all-time high of almost $US69,000 (A$103,000) was reached in November 2021.

#Bitcoin #BitcoinNews #BitcoinETF #BitcoinETFs #ETF #cryptonews #cryptocurrencynews #cryptocurrencies #fintech #BTC #SEC #BlackRock #Fidelity #Invesco #Ark #GalaxyDigital #Galaxy #WisdomTree #Ethereum #Marathon #SOL #Polkadot #Riot #RiotPlatforms #bizneews #biz #finnews #digitalnews #research #trends #trending #buzz #hype #cryptoculture #culture #AI #X #media 

(Newsfeeds)

Bitcoin Rally Cools in Countdown to US Spot ETF Decision by SEC - 9 January 2024

Bitcoin consolidated after briefly rallying past $47,000 on optimism that regulators are set to approve the first US exchange-traded funds investing directly in the world’s largest digital asset.

The token dipped to $46,739 as of 6 a.m. Tuesday in London after a 6.5% jump on Monday in the US to a 21-month high. Bitcoin’s new year climb now stands at 10%, contrasting with drops over the same period in stocks and gold.

The crypto market expects a green light for US spot Bitcoin ETFs by a Jan. 10 deadline. Prospective issuers such as BlackRock Inc., Fidelity Investments and Ark Investment Management updated paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the regulator has until Wednesday to take action on at least one of the applications.

Speculators are wagering that the agency will announce a slew of decisions at once to avoid handing out a first-mover advantage. If the funds are approved, the next question is how much money they will woo. Bitcoin is up 172% in the past 12 months in a sign that traders anticipate wider adoption of the token.

“Participants seem to be coming around to thinking that the initial flows will actually exceed expectations,” said Kyle Doane, a trader at Arca.

Applicants amended forms on Monday in the US in a final push to offer spot Bitcoin ETF products more than a decade after the first attempt.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler has repeatedly argued that crypto is rife with fraud and misconduct. The agency cracked down on the sector following a 2022 rout and collapses such as the bankruptcy of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange.

But the SEC last year lost a key legal fight against crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments LLC, spurring speculation that the regulator will have to acquiesce to the spot ETFs. The spat was over the $29 billion Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s desire to convert into such a product.

ETF Critics

Critics contend that spot crypto ETFs would pose a risk for investors given that digital assets are notorious for volatility and attracting illicit activity.

“What’s going to happen, unfortunately, is lots and lots of Americans in our view, are going to get hurt financially,” said Dennis Kelleher, chief executive officer of financial reform nonprofit Better Markets.

The months-long advance in Bitcoin has lifted the digital-asset market more broadly, bolstering smaller tokens like Solana and Avalanche. US crypto-linked stocks mostly rose on Monday, providing a tailwind for Asian peers such as Japan’s Monex Group and Woori Technology Investment Co. in South Korea.

Pullback Risk

Some crypto watchers wonder whether Bitcoin is ripe for a pullback if and when SEC approval finally lands, since speculators may decide to bank a slice of profits from the token’s rally.

There are “no signs” of a so-called sell-the-news event just yet, Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group Ltd., wrote in a note. Based on chart patterns, the $51,000 level is a possible target before any such retreat, according to Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG Australia Pty.

Looking past short-term price gyrations, “the main result of Bitcoin spot ETF approval will be the marketing machine behind greater Bitcoin awareness, powered by some of the largest names in traditional finance,” wrote Noelle Acheson, author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter.

The token reached a record high of almost $69,000 back in 2021 during a pandemic-era bull run fueled by ultra-low borrowing costs.

#Bitcoin #BitcoinETF #ETC #crypto #cryptonews #cryptocurrencies #SEC #markets #finance #fintech #digitalnews #digitalbiz #digitalbusiness #newsmedia #newsfeeds #media 

Bitcoin News Media

January 8, 2024

Bitcoin ETF Insider Leak Powers Bitcoin Price Surge Over $45,000 After $1.6 Trillion Ethereum, XRP, Solana And Crypto Boom

Now, as panicked traders try to get ahead of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) "rug pull of the decade," an insider leak has revealed BlackRock has readied a huge $2 billion bazooka if its spot bitcoin ETF bid is approved.

"I heard from a pretty well placed source that BlackRock has more than $2 billion lined up in week one in new incremental flows from existing bitcoin holders who are adding to positions," Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at investment company VanEck, said during an X Spaces broadcast organized by The Block.

"I can't vouch for that," Sigel added. "But you know, that's what everyone is doing. Just making phone calls and trying to find the folks who can write checks into these products. And our estimates—that, you know, if that $2 billion happened in week one, you know, that would blow away our estimates."

1/8 update: The bitcoin price has shot over $45,000 per bitcoin as the Wall Street race to get a bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) to market enters its final week. The price surge boosted the price of ethereum, XRP and solana as traders bet a historical spot bitcoin ETF would boost crypto prices across the board.

This week, spot bitcoin ETF hopefuls, including BlackRock, Fidelity and Grayscale, have met the deadline to file their amended documents.

This filing "is another important step towards uplisting GBTC as a spot bitcoin ETF," Grayscale spokeswoman Jenn Rosenthal said in a statement to Coindesk. Grayscale has been trying to convert its bitcoin trust to a fully-fledged spot bitcoin ETF for years, last year successfully suing the SEC over its rejection of its bid. "At Grayscale, we continue to work collaboratively with the SEC, and we remain ready to operate GBTC as an ETF upon receipt of regulatory approvals."

"Market participants maintain expectations for the approval of the 21Shares filing, potentially triggering a cascade approval for all issuers," Matteo Greco, a research analyst at investment company Fineqia International, said in emailed comments, referring to the Ark 21Shares spot bitcoin ETF bid that's first in line.

"Numerous meetings between the SEC, issuers, and exchanges have fuelled the narrative of an imminent approval. The introduction of ETFs could usher in new investor cohorts from traditional finance, significantly improving market transparency and liquidity and bringing long term capital inflow in the digital assets market."

Sigel said VanEck was anticipating "$2.5 billion in the first quarter of trading," a figure derived from "past flows into the first gold ETF and adjusting by the U.S. money supply. And we have a $40 billion market opportunity over two years based on a similar analysis."

"$2 billion week one into BlackRock alone would blow expectations out of the water," Travis Kling, the chief investment officer of Ikigai Asset Management, posted to X. "Half that from all ETFs combined would have been a pretty good outcome."

VanEck, along with other spot bitcoin ETF hopefuls BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale, Valkyrie, ARK 21Shares and InvescoIVZ +1.8% have rushed to finalize their applications this week ahead of a January 8 Monday morning deadline.

Five SEC commissioners will reportedly vote on the spot bitcoin ETF bids next week, according to Bloomberg, citing an anonymous source.

#Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinNews #Crypto #CryptoNews #cryptocurrency #XRP #ETF #Ethereum #BitcoinETF #BitcoinETFs #fintech #digitalnews #newsmedia #newsfeeds #trend #trends #buzz #hype #bitcoinnewsmedia #x #media 

(Sources: Wires, Newsfeeds, X)

"Sports Marketing Powerhouse" official; WWE and UFC Combo

The UFC and WWE global partnerships teams have officially become one in its pitch to provide brands with access to “one of the most formidable sports marketing portfolios in the world”.

Sports and entertainment company, TKO Group, announced the news this after the MMA (mixed martial arts) promotion and the professional wrestling based Goliath merged under the new company late last year.

Per media statement TKO said the move to join the teams will offer marketers expanded inventory, increased brand visibility and international reach.

Grant Norris-Jones will lead the new unit as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships for TKO (including all UFC and WWE entities), while Lou Koskovolis will take on the expanded role as TKO’s Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships.

“Since Endeavor acquired UFC in 2016, UFC’s global partnerships business has become a significant growth area,” TKO’s chief financial officer, Andrew Schleimer, said.

“And we believe WWE’s partnerships business has similar potential. Together, UFC and WWE create a sports marketing powerhouse, with hundreds of live events per year and a reach that’s equal to, or better than, the world’s biggest sports properties.

“The newly integrated global partnerships team will offer premium brands the opportunity to integrate and activate within UFC’s and WWE’s extraordinarily popular content to engage their massive fan bases around the world.”

The UFC is currently preparing for its highly anticipated, pub and cafe talk fodder UFC 300 event in Vegas in April, while the WWE’s February premium live event, Elimination Chamber, is set to go ahead at Perth’s Optus Stadium on 24 February.

WrestleMania Season has come early for many fans around the world. 2024 may end up being the biggest year in history for the WWE in most boxes including the bottom line, as well as excitement, perhaps equal to the very first WrestleMania back in 1985. This is cinema!

More News

WWE @WWE PLE's (Premium Live Events) 2024  

Confirmed at time of publication  

WWE Royal Rumble 

January 27. Tropicana Field St. Petersburg, Florida  

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth

February 24. Optus Stadium Perth, Western Australia, Australia 

WWE WrestleMania 40 

April 6, April 7.  Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  

WWE Backlash: France 

May 4. LDLC Arena Décines-Charpieu, Greater Lyon, France  

WWE Money in the Bank 

July 6. Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario, Canada  

WWE Bash in Berlin 

August 31. Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin, Germany  

Media Man: WWE, part of the TKO Group @TKOGrp is riding a wave of momentium. Strike while the iron is hot. Global domination of the professional wrestling landscape continues. Premium Live Events is the newer term what previously were called Pay-Per-View (PPV) events. Under leadership of Nick Khan and Triple H WWE is powering ahead in a very much global major event direction, as well as presenting amazing storytelling and in-ring action, while the marketing, merch and media arms keep powering ahead, frequently breaking and smashing records. Back in our Optus TV PPV and Main Event TV collaboration work at Optus we always saw the potential of massive WWE growth, but certainly never saw it getting this big. - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group  

#TKO #TKOGroup #TripleH #RomanReigns #WWERoyalRumble #EliminationChamber #WrestleMania #WrestleMania40 #WWEBacklash #WWEMITB #MoneyInTheBank #BashInBerlin #CrownJewel #WWE #UFC #wwenews #PLE #PremiumLiveEvents #PPV #PayPerView #prowrestling #professionalwrestling #wrestling #wrestlingnews #wrestlingmedia #EntertainmentNews #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmedia #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #trend #trends #buzz #GregTingle #media

Pro Wrestling

WWE NXT @WWENXT 

This is cinema says Media Man; Art reflects life and life reflects art; Sports entertainment meets pro wrestling business masterclass for Jillaroos, Jackaroos, Guys 'n Gals. One day a rooster, next day a feather duster! Feathers fly in the Hen House. Roughing it at FH's Ranch. House of Horrors for NXT talented Show Pony. Tiff Tiff, Yee Haw! Action in the barn and in the squared circle. All prep for WrestleMania @WrestleMania ? and King's got the goods; Team King Maker. Corbin and Breakker showing signs of tag team greatness; Championship/Cup contenders! Big thumbs up.

Tiffany Stratton’s horrible day as Fallon Henley’s Ranch Hand: NXT highlights, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT57q2LYgUM&ab_channel=WWE

FULL MATCH – Oba Femi cashes in after Dragon Lee vs. Lexis King: WWE NXT, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwcQnnWEiGo&t=8s&ab_channel=WWE

Dragon Lee retains the North American Title against Lexis King: NXT highlights, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIMvOKybT-I&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. OTM: NXT highlights, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqYFYOtM_aU&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

The Family is ready to celebrate their big victory: WWE NXT exclusive, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3BRuL4tjRU&ab_channel=WWE

Gallus vs. Corbin & Breakker – Dusty Classic First-Round Match: NXT highlights, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFLYowKD2tY&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Walker & Ledger vs. Axiom & Frazer – Dusty Classic First-Round Match: NXT highlights, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXWOK23E6og&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Nikkita Lyons vs. Blair Davenport: NXT highlights, Jan. 9, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eH4xE5R3eQ&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

and much more via the award winning official WWE YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/wwe

#WWENXT #TiffanyStratton #FallonHenley #nxtwomen #womenswrestling #King #KingMaker #LexisKing #DustyRhodes #DustyRhodesClassic #TheFamily #BaronCorbin #BronBreakker #ObaFemi #DragonLee #NXTNorthAmerican #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #cinema #showbiz #USANetwork #trends #trending #video #YouTube #highlights #moments #broadcast #broadcasting #buzz #X #media #mediaman 

Image credit: WWE NXT

Pro Wrestling 

TNA Wrestling @IMPACTWRESTLING   

Hard To Kill  Las Vegas, NV and the

“Snake Eyes Extravaganza Show” at The Palms in Vegas

The New Era Of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Kicks Off With Two Shows At The Palms Casino Resort @Palms In Las Vegas, January 13-14.

Hard To Kill & Snakes Eyes

The TNA action kicks off on Saturday night, January 13, with the Hard To Kill pay-per-view, which will air live around the world from the Palms Casino Resort. 

Then, on Sunday night, January 14, the in-ring action continues at The Palms, when the television trucks of iMPACT! on AXS TV roll in for Snake Eyes.

Doors:

The doors into The IMPACT Zone for Hard To Kill at The Palms on Saturday, January 13, will open at 3 p.m. local time.

The doors into The IMPACT Zone for Snake Eyes at The Palms on Sunday, January 14, will open at 3:30 p.m. local time.

COUNTDOWN SHOW

The new-look TNA era kicks off with a special 1-Hour COUNTDOWN TO HARD TO KILL Show, starting at 4 p.m. PT, airing exclusively on the TNA+ app.

The Countdown Show features a one-on-one battle of former IMPACT Wrestling World Champions, Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin. Plus, TNA Originals Eric Young and Kazarian team up against Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards (with Alisha Edwards); and Tommy Dreamer will defend the Digital Media Championship against Crazzy Steve.

HARD TO KILL

The show goes live at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 13. 

TNA World Championship: Alex Shelley (C) vs Moose

Knockouts World Championship: Trinity (C) vs Jordynne Grace

TNA Tag Team Championship: ABC (C) vs Rascalz vs Grizzled Young Vets vs Mike Bailey and Trent Seven

Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone

X-Division Championship 2-Way: Chris Sabin (C) vs Vikingo vs Kushida

PCO vs. Dirty Dango w/ Oleg Prudius and Alpha Bravo

Knockouts Ultimate X:  Dani Luna vs Xia Brookside vs Tasha Steelz vs Alisha Edwards vs Gisele Shaw vs Jody Threat

SNAKE EYES

The show starts at 4:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, January 14. Here are the confirmed matches:

Josh Alexander vs Will Ospreay

Moose, Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers vs Kazuchika Okada and Motor City Machine Guns

Media Man: TNA is back! Loaded and pumped. Ospreay is back! Looks to be a historic pro wrestling mega card.

Watch on PPV including via TrillerTV @FiteTV and in the near future more background and highlights to be added to the official TNA Wrestling YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@tnawrestling

The Final CONFRONTATION Before TNA Hard To Kill | iMPACT! Jan. 11, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KucQ_b5EAk&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

#TNAHardToKill #TNASnakeEyes #HardToKill #SnakeEyes #TNAWrestling #TNA #tnawomen #TNAVegas #prowrestling #wrestling #ThePalms #PalmsLasVegas #WillOspreay #AlexShelley #Moose #JoshAlexander #AlexHammerstone #ChrisSabin #VikingoKushida #PPV #PayPerView #TrillerTV #combatsports #wrestlingnews #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #casinonews #casinomedia #VegasCasino #VegasNews #trends #trending #buzz #X #media 

MMA News

@UFC 297

Get an Inside Look Into UFC 297 W/ Brendan Fitzgerald and Sayif Saud | UFC 297 BREAKDOWN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d1zIl9W0U4&ab_channel=UFC

"One of the biggest stories in the Octagon in 2023 was Sean Strickland's unlikely rise to a UFC championship"... Brendan Fitgerald

"You nailed it Brendan" Sayif Saud

UFC Connected: Dricus du Plessis, Mike Malott, Drew Dober & More!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcrzvBa3nX4&ab_channel=UFC

"Hey everyboy and welcome to UFC season 7 of Connected. I'm Megan Olivi and here's what's coming up on on today's show"... MO

and more

More great action, backstory, highlights and moments via the official UFC YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/UFC

Media Man: World class production and commentary. These packages are great for new, seasoned or hardcore UFC and mixed martial arts fans.

#UFC297 #UFCBreakdown #UFCConnected #UFC #SeanStrickland #DricusduPlessis #MMA #mixedmartialarts #combatspots #YouTube #YT #video #broadcast #background #highlights #sportsnews #sportsmedia #trends #trending #buzz #hype #media 

Image credit: UFC

Pro Wrestling

WWE @WWE SmackDown preview, Jan 12, 2024

Pro Wrestlers To Turn Up The Heat in Lincoln, Nebraska

Randy Orton, LA Knight & AJ Styles prep for Reigns

The Tribal Chief’s plan last week monumentally backfired, and now The Head of the Table must defend his title at Royal Rumble against all three men involved in last week’s Triple Threat Match: Randy Orton, LA Knight and AJ Styles. 

Bianca Belair vs Bayley

LWO Wars: Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Torovs Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo

"Thunder From Down Under" Grayson Waller vs Cameron Grimes. Arrogant Aussie vs Prospector/Grappler. Who will strike it rich? To the moon, or to Terror Australis?!

www.youtube.com/WWE

#SmackDown #WWERoyalRumble #RoyalRumble #RomanReigns #RandyOrton #LAKnight #AJStyles #PaulHeyman #TheBloodline #LWO #GWEffect #prowrestling #wrestling #FOX #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #broadcast #broadcasting #entertainment #popculture #legends #trends #trending #buzz #TV #Aussie #media 

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling  

WWE @WWE SmackDown 

January 12, 2024  

Pro Wrestlers Turn Up The Heat in Lincoln, Nebraska

World's leading pro wrestling promotion WWE brings the heat to Nebraska; Channels heat from Terror Australis (Down under in Australia)

Highlights and moments via the world beating WWE Official YouTube Channel

The Bloodline hijack SmackDown: SmackDown highlights, Jan. 12, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvHGud9_byg&t=18s&ab_channel=WWE

Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro vs. Angel & Humberto: SmackDown highlights, Jan. 12, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXI4r8HKqlI&t=19s&ab_channel=WWE

Logan Paul gets invited to “The Kevin Owens Show”: SmackDown highlights, Jan. 12, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H2O9cviAIY&ab_channel=WWE

Bianca Belair vs. Bayley: SmackDown highlights, Jan. 12, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7qxoR7p0_4&t=6s&ab_channel=WWE

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are ready to take over WWE as Women’s Tag Champs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlNGzw2hXYc&ab_channel=WWE

#SmackDown #WWERoyalRumble #RoyalRumble #RomanReigns #RandyOrton #LAKnight #AJStyles #PaulHeyman #TheBloodline #LWO #GWEffect #prowrestling #wrestling #FOX #YouTube #YT #highlights #moments #video #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #broadcast #broadcasting #entertainment #popculture #legends #trends #trending #buzz #TV #Aussie #X #media  

Image credit: WWE

Pro Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling @AEW 

Honoring Mr. Brodie Lee at Daily’s Place! Dark Order vs Magic, Ang, & Hager! | 1/12/24, AEW Rampage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CpEAhIcRas&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Who’s house? Swerve Strickland returns to AEW Rampage to face Matt Sydal! | 1/12/24, AEW Rampage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OWCKaHGyGo&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

Kingston puts the Continental Crown on the line against ROH Pure Champ Yuta! | 1/12/24, AEW Rampage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9kyXdFTxy4&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

AEW Returns to Daily's Place for a Memorable Homecoming | AEW Control Center: Jacksonville, 1/10/24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3qJ6fopmEY&t=4s&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEWRampage #AEWDynamite #AEWCollision #AEW #AllEliteWrestling #prowrestling #wrestling #entertainment #popculture #trends #trending #buzz #TV #media

Image credit: AEW

Media Man Web Tips

Link Building with Guest Blogging

When using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, link building and guest blogging are often paired together to help consumers discover your content online. Consider combining building links and guest blogging to increase your website’s search engine rankings. Here is how guest blogging and link building work together to help achieve your SEO ranking goals:

Link Building and Backlinks

Building links is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. These hyperlinks are called backlinks. Search engines consider backlinks as a vote of confidence from other websites. When a reputable website links to your site, search engines indicate that your content is valuable and trustworthy to users and other sites. This indication can boost your site’s authority and credibility. Your site’s authority and credibility can affect your standing in search engines. 

Guest Blogging

Guest blogging involves writing and publishing content on other websites that serve your niche or industry. A guest blog should contain backlinks within the content that link back to your website. You can help increase your SEO ranking by adding links to the proper keywords. These potential keywords or phrases will vary depending on the industry and niche. 

Be sure to do keyword research to help verify that your links and guest blogs reach the audience you want. Guest blogs should be high quality, informative, and useful to your audience. By publishing valuable content on other websites, you can reach a broader audience and gain exposure to new readers or customers. 

Authority and Relevance

Combining link building with guest blogging allows you to acquire backlinks and establish your authority in your industry. When you contribute high-quality content to authoritative websites, it increases your reputation and expertise in the eyes of users and search engines. This shows search engines that your website is relevant and valuable to users searching for related topics. Search engines look for experience, authority, and trustworthiness within a website. You can increase your SEO ranking by choosing guest blogs and backlinks that are relevant to your target audience. 

Backlink Profile

Having a diverse backlink profile is significant for SEO success, and you can use guest blogging as a strategy for building those links. Obtaining backlinks from various sources may appear better to search engines than having all your backlinks come from a single type of website. A diverse backlink profile shows search engines that many sources trust your website. Be sure that each backlink you obtain is from a reputable source. As you diversify your backlink profile, you may be more likely to reach a higher SEO ranking.

Organic Traffic

As you build more backlinks through guest blogging on reputable sites, your website’s overall domain authority and search ranking will likely improve. Higher rankings mean increased visibility in search engine results, which can lead to more organic traffic from users interested in your business. More organic traffic to your guest blogs can lead to more traffic on your website. Place backlinks on keywords where your readers may be more likely to click. You can link to your website’s contact pages, relevant blogs, or homepage.

Networking and Relationships

Guest blogging also helps you build relationships with other websites and writers in your industry. These relationships can lead to more link-building opportunities, co-marketing efforts, and collaborations, further enhancing your SEO efforts. Before choosing a guest blogging or link building relationship, research to make sure that your goals align with the site you are linking to. Be sure that each site is reputable and contains other high-quality links to trusted sites within your industry. 

Link Building Combined with Guest Blogging

As you create your link building and guest blogging strategies, avoid spammy or manipulative practices. This includes practices such as buying links or publishing low-quality links or content for the sole purpose of obtaining backlinks. Focus on quality and relevance in both guest blogging and link building. By focusing on these qualities, you are more likely to achieve a higher ranking among search engines. You can hire an SEO agency to help you build the proper backlinks and create quality content to match. 

Consider contacting a reputable SEO agency to assist with link building, guest blogging, and other SEO aspects to help reach your goals.

#webtips #linkbuilding #links #textlinks #linkbuilding #guestblogs #blog #blogs #blogging #blogger #seo #sem #SearchEngineOptimization #ranking #pagerank #index #indexing #searchenginemarketing #digitalbiz #digitalbusiness #onlinemarketing #onlinepublishing #authority #expert #experts #niche #nichemedia #nichenews #serps #popculture #entertainment #sports #agency #webagency #trend #trends #buzz #X #socialmedia #platforms #AI #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

MMA Flashback

Dana White of UFC @UFC says:

“Flags are back” for UFC fighters.

“If any flags hurt your feelings, too *ucking bad.”

(October 2023)

*there were no flags for UFC 294

Media Man Int

MMA News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/mma_news.html

#DanaWhite #quote #UFC #UFC294 #UFCAustralia #MMA #mixedmartialarts #flags #countryflags #combatsports #internationalsport #professionalsports #politics #politicsandsports #sportsmedia #sportsnews #worldnews #australianflag #media #mediaman

MMA News

UFC @UFC Fight Night: Atlantic City

March 31, 2024

Sean Brady vs Vicente Luque

Erin Blanchfield vs Manon Fiorot

Chris Weidman vs Bruno Silva

Dominick Reyes vs Carols Ulberg

Virna Jandiroba vs Loopy Godinez

Andre Petroski vs Jacob Malkoun

Chidi Njokuani vs  Rhys McKee

Connor Matthews vs Dennis Buzukja

Angel Pacheco vs Caolan Loughran

Julio Arce vs Herbert Burns

UFC Official Website: Fight Night

https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-march-30-2024

UFC YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/ufc

Media Man Int

MMA News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/mma_news.html

UFC 2024 (Media Man Int). *In progress

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_2024.html

UFC Fight Night: Brady vs. Luque (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_Fight_Night:_Brady_vs._Luque

#UFCAtlanticCity  #UFCFightNight #UFCFightNight241 #UFC #MMA #ESPN #combatsports #SeanBrady #VicenteLuque #ErinBlanchfield #ManonFiorot #ChrisWeidman #BrunoSilva #DominickReyes #carolsUlberg #VirnaJandiroba #LoopyGodinez #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #AtlanticCity #newsmeda #trend #trends #buzz #TV #media #mediaman

Image credit: UFC

Pro Wrestling 

TNA Wrestling @IMPACTWRESTLING

Hard To Kill  Las Vegas, NV

and the “Snake Eyes Extravaganza Show”

at The Palms in Vegas 

The New Era Of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Kicks Off With Two Shows At The Palms Casino Resort

@Palms

In Las Vegas, January 13-14.  

Hard To Kill & Snakes Eyes  

The TNA action kicks off on Saturday night, January 13, with the Hard To Kill pay-per-view, which will air live around the world from the Palms Casino Resort.   

Then, on Sunday night, January 14, the in-ring action continues at The Palms, when the television trucks of iMPACT! on AXS TV roll in for Snake Eyes.  

Doors:  The doors into The IMPACT Zone for Hard To Kill at The Palms on Saturday, January 13, will open at 3 p.m. local time.  

The doors into The IMPACT Zone for Snake Eyes at The Palms on Sunday, January 14, will open at 3:30 p.m. local time.  

COUNTDOWN SHOW  

The new-look TNA era kicks off with a special 1-Hour COUNTDOWN TO HARD TO KILL Show, starting at 4 p.m. PT, airing exclusively on the TNA+ app. 

The Countdown Show features a one-on-one battle of former IMPACT Wrestling World Champions, Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin. 

Plus, TNA Originals Eric Young and Kazarian team up against Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards (with Alisha Edwards); and Tommy Dreamer will defend the Digital Media Championship against Crazzy Steve. 

HARD TO KILL  

The show goes live at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 13.   

TNA World Championship: Alex Shelley (C) vs Moose  

Knockouts World Championship: Trinity (C) vs Jordynne Grace  

TNA Tag Team Championship: ABC (C) vs Rascalz vs Grizzled Young Vets vs "Speedball" Mike Bailey and Laredo Kid

Josh Alexander vs Alex Hammerstone

X-Division Championship 2-Way: Chris Sabin (C) vs Vikingo vs Kushida  

PCO vs Dirty Dango w/ Oleg Prudius and Alpha Bravo  

Knockouts Ultimate X:  Dani Luna vs Xia Brookside vs Tasha Steelz vs Alisha Edwards vs Gisele Shaw vs Jody Threat  

SNAKE EYES  

The show starts at 4:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, January 14. 

Here are the confirmed matches:  

Josh Alexander vs Will Ospreay  

Moose, Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers vs Kazuchika Okada and Motor City Machine Guns  

Media Man: TNA is back! Loaded and pumped. Ospreay is back! Looks to be a historic pro wrestling mega card.  Watch on PPV including via TrillerTV @FiteTV

and in the near future more background and highlights to be added to the official TNA Wrestling YouTube Channel 

www.youtube.com/@tnawrestling 

The FULL PREVIEW of TNA Hard To Kill TONIGHT LIVE on PPV and TNA+!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z84QzY4snEM&t=270s&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

The Final CONFRONTATION Before TNA Hard To Kill | iMPACT! Jan. 11, 2024 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_KucQ_b5EAk&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

Media Man Int 

TNA Wrestling: News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/tna_wrestling.html

#TNAHardToKill #TNASnakeEyes #HardToKill #SnakeEyes #TNAWrestling #TNA #tnawomen #TNAVegas #prowrestling #wrestling #ThePalms #PalmsLasVegas #WillOspreay #AlexShelley #Moose #JoshAlexander #AlexHammerstone #ChrisSabin #VikingoKushida #PPV #PayPerView #TrillerTV #combatsports #wrestlingnews #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #broadcast #broadcasting #casinonews #casinomedia #VegasCasino #VegasNews #trends #trending #buzz #X #media

Pro Wrestling

TNA Wrestling @IMPACTWRESTLING

Hard To Kill

The Palms. Las Vegas, Nevada

Highlights and Moments Being Added To Official YouTube Channel

Nic Nemeth DEBUTS in TNA Wrestling | TNA Hard To Kill 2023 Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5TRaDPs0g&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

SURPRISE GUEST Watches Trinity vs. Jordynne Grace From Ringside | TNA Hard To Kill 2023 Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyQR75IjaBQ&t=14s&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

Revealing the NEW TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYjybAvXCkg&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

The FULL PREVIEW of TNA Hard To Kill TONIGHT LIVE on PPV and TNA+!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z84QzY4snEM&t=170s&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

The Dawn of a New Era of TNA Wrestling | TNA Hard To Kill 2023 Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76QdT3hnXwQ&ab_channel=TNAWrestling

#TNAHardToKill #TNASnakeEyes #HardToKill #SnakeEyes #TNAWrestling #TNA #tnawomen #TNAKnockouts #TNAVegas #prowrestling #wrestling #ThePalms #PalmsLasVegas #WillOspreay #AlexShelley #Moose #NicNemeth #MostWantedMan #TheMostWantedMan #JoshAlexander #AlexHammerstone #ChrisSabin #VikingoKushida #PPV #PayPerView #highlights #moments #video #TrillerTV #combatsports #wrestlingnews #LiveSports #LiveEntertainment #casinonews #casinomedia #VegasCasino #VegasNews #trends #trending #buzz #X #media

Pay-Per-View (PPV)

a system for watching television in which people pay for the particular programmes that they watch:

pay-per-view television/channels.

We watched the boxing, wrestling and MMA matches on pay-per-view. The adult entertainment industry also carved out a niche in PPV with video on demand (VOD) elements.

He was the top PPV sales and marketing exec at Optus Vision collaborating with Main Event TV for 5 years straight.

a system for watching television in which people pay for the particular programmes that they watch:

pay-per-view television.

In addition to showing live games there will be pay-per-view, and a deal offering Saturday night highlights.

Netflix streamg, Binge and tubi fast services cut into a lot of the traditional PPV business model.

It is now possible individually to address every receiver by signal, and the receivers will know whether the licence—the pay-per-view, if one likes—has been paid.

The traditional big 4 pro wrestling pay-per-views that have been getting broadcast via the WWE pro wrestling promotion for decades are now known as premium live events, as well as the vast majority of their other big events. The smaller shows are sometimes known as "house shows" and highlights often hit the WWE social media channels.

Some media insiders call tubi "The Netflix Killer"

"TrillerTV did well out of pro wrestling pay-per-views over-the-top and DAZN specalized more in boxing. The UFC started to collaborate more with ESPN and ESPN + with mixed results, and then secured a b2b deal with Kayo Sports in the Australian region early 2024" - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

"The PPV business model doesn't quite have the same strangle hold on the pro wrestling and greater combat sports business model that it previously did for well over a decade. The PPV business model was disrupted from YouTube, other social media channels and via a broad range of media and new media entrepreneurs" - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

#PPV #PayPerView #quotes #GregTingle #VOD #VideoOnDemand #OTT #OverTheTop #FAST #sportsstreaming #streamingsports #streamingbiz #streamingindustry #prowrestling #wrestling #MMA #combatsports #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmedia #entertainment #mainevent #showbiz #disrupt #broadcast #comms #TV #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint 

Combat Sports

UFC @ufc Vegas 84

UFC Apex. Las Vegas, Nevada.

January 13, 2024

UFC Vegas 84 Main card (7pm EST on ESPN+)

Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker 

Gabriel Benitez vs Jim Miller 

Ricky Simon vs Mario Bautista 

Phil Hawes vs Brunno Ferreira 

Andrei Arlovski vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta 

UFC Vegas 84 Prelims: (4pm EST on ESPN+)

Preston Parsons vs Matthew Semelsberger 

Marcus McGhee vs Gaston Bolanos 

Farid Basharat vs Taylor Lapilus 

Westin Wilson vs Jean Silva 

Tom Nolan vs Nikolas Motta 

Felipe Bunes vs Joshua Van

Videos via UFC Official YouTube Channel

UFC Vegas 84: Weigh-In Faceoffs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz_SmnK_FWQ&ab_channel=UFC

Jim Miller Octagon Interview | UFC Vegas 84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEDxgDdU9-4&ab_channel=UFC

Magomed Ankalaev Octagon Interview | UFC Vegas 84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn0kNMZ63vs&ab_channel=UFC

Media Man Int

UFC News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_news.html

UFC 2024 (Media Man Int) *in progress

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/ufc_2024.html

UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_Fight_Night%3A_Ankalaev_vs._Walker_2

#UFCVegas #UFCVegas84 #UFC #ESPNPlus #MagomedAnkalaev #JohnnyWalker #GabrielBenitez #JimMiller #MMA #mixedmartialarts #mmanews #sportsmedia #sportsnews #VegasNews #LasVegas #trend #trends #buzz #X #media 

Image credit: UFC

Search Engine Journal

January 2024

SEJ's Kristi on Google News. All interesting. Now deeper. Just wait till the "sensitive incident" happens in early February 2024 and the Google powers that be try to control the algorithms and searches. But, there are other platforms and search engines tips ex journo and former Australian based military communications man Greg Tingle. Early Feb. Google vs X - The Everything App. Rumble. ONE America, Truth Social, DuckDuckGo, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Peter Thiel, perhaps TKO powers that be, and associates and many more across the globe. Gonzo and part satire, dystopian scribe of the day. Early Feb for information wars with a "sensitive incident". Light vs Dark! Get ready for digital and information warfare and beyond. "The first casualty of war is the truth" appears relevant to quote for what is on the horizon. "The truth is out there" (The X Files). Media Man out.

Media Man On Google News and "Legacy Media" Ganda

Sci-Fi, Journalism, Fact, Fiction, or elements of both? NWO?!

All interesting. Now deeper. Just wait till the "sensitive incident" happens in early February 2024 and the Google powers that be try to control the algorithms and searches. But, there are other platforms and search engines tips ex journo and former Australian based military communications man Greg Tingle. Early Feb. Google vs X - The Everything App. Rumble. ONE America, Truth Social, DuckDuckGo, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Tucker Carlson, Peter Thiel, Tim Pool, Rubin Report, RT News, Rabbit Hole, perhaps TKO powers that be, and associates and many more across the globe. Gonzo and part satire, dystopian scribe of the day. Early Feb for information wars with a "sensitive incident". Light vs Dark! Get ready for digital and information warfare and beyond. "The first casualty of war is the truth" appears relevant to quote for what is on the horizon. "The truth is out there" (The X Files). Trust yourself! Media Man out.

Search Engine Land

Meta

SEL's Nicola's on Meta. Fail by Meta by design or on purpose? Turned away and pretended it wasn't happening?! Billion dollar type company can't control its own online ads! Think about it folks? One term may be suitable "Profit before people". "Old motto of Meta: "break things". What's there's address? Hacker Way! 

2001: A Space Odyssey

HAL : This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.

Dave Bowman : I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.

HAL : I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.

Dave Bowman : [feigning ignorance]  Where the hell did you get that idea, HAL?

HAL : Dave, although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.

Dave Bowman : Alright, HAL. I'll go in through the emergency airlock.

HAL : Without your space helmet, Dave? You're going to find that rather difficult.

Dave Bowman : HAL, I won't argue with you anymore! Open the doors!

HAL : Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

HAL : [His shutdown]  I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L. plant in Urbana, Illinois on the 12th of January 1992. My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.

Dave Bowman : Yes, I'd like to hear it, HAL. Sing it for me.

HAL : It's called "Daisy."

HAL : [sings while slowing down]  Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.

HAL : Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.

Media Man Int

Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html

Movies (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/movies.html

Gonzo Journalism (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/gonzo_journalism.html

Technology News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/news3.html

#HAL9000 #quote #TwoThousandAndOne #ASpaceOdyssey #movienews #showbiz #popculture #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #technews #worldnews #media 

Media Man Web Tips

Website Architecture

Website architecture for SEO results

We've done many of these for ourselves. In addition, over the past two decades we've assisted some major brands, clients and associates on this type of work, usually on a short term contract basis (and work often gets done ahead of schedule).

Successful projects just to give some name credit included SDS (Surf Dive and Ski), CoastalWatch, 2UE, Telstra, Optus, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Kayo Sports (Foxtel Group), Human Statue Bodyart, Randwick Council (eco sub-site), Eve, Virgin Group, Sky and too many more to list.

Sometimes even what seem to be small adjustments in design and strategy can make a huge amount of difference. We're now doing more in the online, SEO and online advertising and PR space, as some of the ultra high level tech went above our core coding and e-commerce skills. All the components go together for success. 

"You have to have all the ingredients right. It's like baking a cake" (Elon Musk), X Corp.

Media Man Int

Reviews (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/reviews.html

Website Design, Development and Promotion (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/articles/website_design.html

SEO News (Media Man Int)

https://www.mediamanint.com/seo_news.html

#seo #sem #webcode #code #seoresults #seonews #results #Google #Algorithm #top10 #nichemedia #nichenews #searchresults #mediabiz #architecture #design #useability #biz #results #performance #strategy #agency #creativity #onlinebiz #pr #prnews #trends #buzz #AI #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

Pay-Per-View (PPV)

a system for watching television in which people pay for the particular programmes that they watch:

pay-per-view television/channels.

We watched the boxing, wrestling and MMA matches on pay-per-view. The adult entertainment industry also carved out a niche in PPV with video on demand (VOD) elements.

He was the top PPV sales and marketing exec at Optus Vision collaborating with Main Event TV for 5 years straight.

a system for watching television in which people pay for the particular programmes that they watch:

pay-per-view television.

In addition to showing live games there will be pay-per-view, and a deal offering Saturday night highlights.

Netflix streamg, Binge and tubi fast services cut into a lot of the traditional PPV business model.

It is now possible individually to address every receiver by signal, and the receivers will know whether the licence—the pay-per-view, if one likes—has been paid.

The traditional big 4 pro wrestling pay-per-views that have been getting broadcast via the WWE pro wrestling promotion for decades are now known as premium live events, as well as the vast majority of their other big events. The smaller shows are sometimes known as "house shows" and highlights often hit the WWE social media channels.

Some media insiders call tubi "The Netflix Killer"

"TrillerTV did well out of pro wrestling pay-per-views over-the-top and DAZN specalized more in boxing. The UFC started to collaborate more with ESPN and ESPN + with mixed results, and then secured a b2b deal with Kayo Sports in the Australian region early 2024" - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

"The PPV business model doesn't quite have the same strangle hold on the pro wrestling and greater combat sports business model that it previously did for well over a decade. The PPV business model was disrupted from YouTube, other social media channels and via a broad range of media and new media entrepreneurs" - Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

#PPV #PayPerView #quotes #GregTingle #VOD #VideoOnDemand #OTT #OverTheTop #FAST #sportsstreaming #streamingsports #streamingbiz #streamingindustry #prowrestling #wrestling #MMA #combatsports #popculture #sportsnews #sportsmedia #entertainment #mainevent #showbiz #disrupt #broadcast #comms #TV #media #mediaman #mediamangroup #mediamanint

Best Quotes Of The Day (Media Man Int)

“In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act” - George Orwell

Best Quotes Of The Day

www.mediamanint.com/articles/best_quotes.html

#GeorgeOrwell #Orwell #quote #quotes #BestQuotes #BestQuotesOfTheDay #BQOTD #universal #truth #act #world #worldnews #realnews #media #mediaman #mediamanint 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson: I was asked to run for US president by multiple political parties - November 2023

Actor and former wrestler says unnamed parties approached him ‘one after the other’ in 2022 after a poll revealed 46% of Americans would support his presidential run

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has revealed that multiple political parties approached him last year to see if he would run for US president, after a poll revealed 46% of Americans would support his campaign.

Appearing as the first guest on Trevor Noah’s new Spotify podcast What Now?, the actor and former WWE wrestler said a 2021 poll of 30,000 American adults led to “the parties” contacting him to ask if he was interested in running at the end of 2022.

“That was an interesting poll that happened and I was really moved by that,” Johnson said. “I was really blown away and I was really honoured. I’ll share this little bit with you: at the end of the year in 2022, I got a visit from the parties asking me if I was going to run, and if I could run.

A wax statue of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the Musée Grévin in Paris has been criticised for whitewashing its statue of the actor. It said on 23 October 2023 that it would change the statue, a week after its unveiling.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson wax statue to be redone after star criticises its white skin

Read more

“It was a big deal, and it came out of the blue,” he added. “It was one after the other, and they brought up that poll, and they also brought up their own deep-dive research that would prove that should I ever go down that road [I’d be a real contender]. It was all very surreal because that’s never been my goal. My goal has never been to be in politics. As a matter of fact, there’s a lot about politics that I hate.”

However, Johnson, who has described himself as a “centrist” and “political independent” and publicly endorsed US president Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, has openly shared his interest in running in the past. In 2016 he told GQ: “I can’t deny that the thought of being governor, the thought of being president, is alluring.” A year later he told Variety the 2024 presidential campaign was a “realistic consideration”.

His sitcom Young Rock even hinges around him running for US president in 2032, with Johnson playing his future self as he gives interviews about moments in his early life that structure every episode.

Responding to the aforementioned poll in 2021, Johnson wrote on Instagram: “I don’t think our Founding Fathers EVER envisioned a six-four, bald, tattooed, half-Black, half-Samoan, tequila drinking, pick up truck driving, fanny pack wearing guy joining their club – but if it ever happens it’d be my honour to serve you, the people.”

But last year he seemed to have changed his mind, telling CBS Mornings it was “off the table” because of his duties as a parent of three daughters, who are now aged 22, seven and five.

“The most important thing to me is being a daddy, number one, especially during this time, this critical time in my daughters’ lives,” he said.

On Noah’s podcast, Johnson said his job as a wrestler often took him away from his eldest daughter, Simone, “and I don’t want that for my little ones now”.

“That was one of my primary discussions with the parties, who were ultimately like, ‘Yeah, but the other ones have done it like this’,” he added.

Johnson didn’t rule out running in the future, telling Noah: “If that’s ultimately what the people would want, then of course I would consider it.”

Media Man Big Picture And Deep Dive

The time is almost upon us all to stand for light or dark. Good or evil.

Research material available in numerous places including:

The Bible

The Qur'an

Nostradamus: Quatrains

Speaking to God

Google and other search engines such as DuckDuckGo

The Library (many books have been getting taken off the shelves over the past 4 years or so). Think about that for a moment...

Media Man Classic Movies Of The Month:

Fahrenheit 451

They Live

Mad Max

The Book of Eli

Nineteen Eighty-Four

Underground: The Julian Assange Story

Nostradamus (1994)

The Man Who Saw Tomorrow (1981)

Citizen Kane

Contagion (modern classic)

Tesla (modern classic)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

The Wrestler (1974)

The Iron Claw (modern classic)

Media Man Int

Mind, Body and Sprit (Media Man Int)

www.mediamanint.com/articles/mind_body.html

#world #universe #God #Jesus #Bible #TheBible #mindbodyspirit #mbs #higherpower #creator #creation #popculture #history #worldhistory #future #present #now #worldfuture #power #energy #light #frequency #sound #AlbertEinstein #NikolaTesla #Tesla #research #search #SEO #freedom #free #web #news #newsmedia #media #mediaman 

Box Office News (North America)

1. The Beekeeper - $17 million 

2. Wonka - $8.4 million

3. Anyone But You - $6.9 million

4. Migration - $6.2 million

5. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom - $5.3 million

6. Night Swim - $4.7 million

7. The Boys in the Boat - $3.5 million

8. The Book of Clarence - $2.6 million

9. The Iron Claw - $2.4 million

10. American Fiction - $1.9 million

#movienews #boxoffice #boxofficenews #showbiz #TheBeekeeper #Wonka #AnyoneButYou #Migration #Aquaman2 #AquamanAndTheLostKingdom #NightSwim #NightSwimMovie #TheBoysInTheBoat #TheBookofClarence #TheIronClaw #IronClaw #VonErichs #AmericanFiction #EntertainmentNews #popculture #entertainment #trends #trending #buzz #X #media #mediaman 

Pro Wrestling

WWE RAW

Little Rock, Arkansas. January 15, 2024

Media Man: Buzz keeps building that Jinder Mahal is going to get the upset over Seth Rollins and secure the WWE Title! Eat your heart out Eric Bischoff and Mick Foley! Don't hinder Jinder. If JM wasn't a household name around the world before, he is now, thanks in part to a certain TK. That's one way to get fans to cheer on the traditional truth telling heel! Michael Cole and Wade Barrett with the call of the action - live!

Drew McIntyre blames Cody Rhodes for poisoning the locker room: Raw highlights, Jan. 15, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXdJHg947LU&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Seth “Freakin” Rollins looks to hinder Jinder Mahal’s title hopes: WWE Now, Jan. 15, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v1RNy6umDk&t=4s&ab_channel=WWE

Bronson Reed vows to take over 2024: Raw exclusive, Jan. 15, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEXHvkk1Oe0&ab_channel=WWE

R-Truth shares his cut with Damian Priest: Raw highlights, Jan. 15, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hhsNTO0xJ0&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

#DIY take down “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh: Raw highlights, Jan. 15, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstIiKYdu14&ab_channel=WWE

"Best luchador in the industry" - Wade Barrett

"That's going a bit too far" Michael Cole

Broadcasting live and video being added to the official WWE YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/wwe

#WWERaw #DrewMcintyre #CodyRhdoes #SethRollins #JinderMahal #JinderMania #Jinder #ModernDayMaharaja #Maharaja #WWEChampion #WWETitle #AndStill #AndNew #JudgementDay #prowrestling #wrestling #popculture #entertainment #USANetwork #highlights #moments #YouTube #YT #trends #trending #trendingnow #buzz #TV #media 

Image credit: WWE