☀️ Where's NETFLIX's Q3 Growth & Why It Matters
PAR sets Brolin for remake / NETFLIX sets announcers for NFL / DISNEY enlists 'Wonka' director
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect here on LINKED-IN if ya like) and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY, October 18, 2024.
Where I’d love to be in Austin, TX this weekend . . . if only to see what happens when a massive conclave of F1 fans and and a massive conclave of Georgia & Texas 🏈 fans converge in the bars of one town — hey FOCUS 🙋♂️, can I get a few 💰 for the use of “conclave” there? (in theaters Oct. 25)
Yes, the big F1 U.S. Grand Prix and GEORGIA vs. UT football game (first meeting since 1958) are both happening in the Texas capital this weekend, and given that Austin hotel rooms are averaging $500 a night — ya know, maybe I’ll be very happy watching those things back in reasonable NYC with an $11 beer.
THEN: The WNBA finals ticked up yet again to 1.4M for game 3 on ESPN Wednesday night, the most-watched Finals game since 2001.
Game 4 is tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN, and since NYC teams can’t seem to win a game lately (tough night METS and YANKEES), LIBERTY — show 'em how it’s done.
#Funfact: The WNBA had just one full-time marketing person in-house in 2019. It now has 25 according to this new WSJ look inside the marketing of the league.
PLUS: Hollywood isn’t the only one taking the small scalpel approach to a corporate environment these days — META just made some more small job cuts across INSTA, WHATSAPP and its Reality Labs division. Always room to be more efficient, people.
AND: AMAZON is getting into the news game, confirming an Election Night Live with Brian Williams special on, uh, Election night. #goodcall Oscars producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner are producing here, and it’ll be free to everyone.
ALSO: APPLE TV+ is making It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown free for all to stream today and tomorrow (link here).
PLUS: Morgan Wallen is creating his own Sand in My Boots music festival in May 2025 in Gulf Shores, AL, in partnership with AEG.
WAKEUP POLL RESULTS
Lotta Smile bulls out there! Count me in with the $21M+ crowd.
NEW ANKLER PODCAST EPISODE
Lachlan Cartwright joins Richard and I to discuss the paydays at CNN and what the future may hold . . . plus Richard talks sports 😱, as we dive into the “who’s asking for all of this?” nature of that business that’s starting to emerge (remember the 600 shows thing, Hollywood?)
On Apple Podcasts, subscribe and listen here
💻 THE MEDIA BIZ
NETFLIX keeps making more money — but remember where it’s coming from
Despite the 5, 6, 7 “breaking news” email news alerts from a certain trade publication yesterday, there really wasn’t much “breaking” out of NETFLIX in its Q3 earnings call that we haven’t heard before (maybe do the next one from the Stranger Things set at least?)
HOWEVER: There are some important insights if you dig into the numbers in the Q3 report that I think very well could portend some key things to come, especially as NETFLIX shifts to hiding its subscriber numbers starting in 2025 —
Plus, see where NETFLIX’s 💰 is coming from vs. its growth otherwise, some back of the napkin ✍️ best guesstimating on the Q3 ad tier growth and more. Let’s dive in.