The state of the Industry

Yes, the Netflix continuation of AD truly sucked. But I've seen the original seasons 3 or so times (not recently)
 
Speaking of the Netflix again -

The updated Netflix Culture memo also includes a new section called “Artistic Expression,” explaining that the streamer will not “censor specific artists or voices” even if employees consider the content “harmful,” and bluntly states, “If you’d find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you.”

The Artistic Expression portion of the Netflix Culture document appears in large part a response to the controversy over Dave Chappelle’s “The Closer” that embroiled Netflix last fall over what critics said were his transphobic and homophobic comments in the stand-up special. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos defended the company’s decision to keep the Chappelle special on the service, triggering a large employee walkout in protest.
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Netflix Culture Memo Update: New Anti-Censorship, Spending Sections - Variety
 
ESPN eventually won't be limited to just cable subscribers, according to Disney (DIS) CEO Bob Chapek.

All ESPN-related sports broadcasts will ultimately be available on streaming through ESPN+, he hinted during the company's most recent earnings call.
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https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/...-wont-need-cable-in-the-future-180334253.html

The question becomes the content. On cable, the ESPN has had a built-in advantage over its rivals such as Fox Sports and the recently defunct NBC SN. As a streaming platform, it is one among many.
 
The logical future-thinking is everything offered by a company will be available on a streaming service if they are on one. Streaming should replace cable, which will likely, eventually, only be for people who live in areas without decent access to data through the air, and for certain channels.

So in my mind; yes, of course all those broadcasts should be on the service...that is a major incentive for subscribing.

It's the only reason I'll be getting Prime this year for the first time ever (and first streaming service ever besides Netflix for a few months like 12 years ago) just for the NFL games.
 
Exactly. And this places every sport contract up for bids and rebids by the "major players". With a lot of money. And with Disney's stock closing Friday at 107.20, which is way off its 52 week high of $187.88, and its $46 billion in debt, it may have to let go of some of its most popular properties (or share them).

PS. I long thought Apple should jump into the sports streaming racket ... I mean, business. It's all current, requires no inventory or major long term talent acquisition - is Vin Scully up for it? - and, as of the moment, Apple has money to burn.
 
The problem for me is I’m not hungry anymore. At least not recently. Lost the passion to hustle. That attitude + freelance/small business video in todays market don’t seem to get along very well.

Hustling freelance video makes one feel like Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill in better call Saul. Not worth it.

This industry was most fun about 15 years ago, when there was higher demand and lower supply. Now, where’s the next high demand low supply industry to slide into and make a buck?

Oh, who am I kidding. Starting over sounds even more exhausting. I’m going into 2nd half of life now with 20+ years experience and a kit full of gear. What else am I going to do?
 
There are so many people who have quit this business, I actually think how you feel is the standard.

Those who are still freelancing into their 40s, 50s are rare humans (and if that's exactly what they would like to be doing then they are blessed).
 
In a major executive shake-up, Peter Rice, chairman of Disney’s entertainment and programming, is exiting the company, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

Sources say embattled Disney CEO Bob Chapek summoned Rice to his office Monday and relieved the former Fox exec of his duties. The CEO, who took over for Bob Iger last year, is said to have felt that Rice was no longer a fit.
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https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/disney-peter-rice-ousted-major-151916398.html

IMO, this is only a start. Many more heads will roll during the recession and the corresponding adjustment to the streaming revenues.
 
Why is the NBA down? That surprises me.

Tesla is also letting go of 3.5% of its workforce. Welcome to the recession?
 
ahalpert said:
Why is the NBA down? ...
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There's a great answer stolen from the late great William Goldman, "nobody knows anything". And I mean it.

As to the general US economics, the BLS shaves off several percentage points off a "real" CPI (pre Boskin Commission), so it's been in the negative territory since 1Q 2022. Looking at the Fed's money supply data, down to 7.6% - from 38% from 2020 - and that will produce more than a recession.
 
As far as the NBA, I watched the Finals (and watching NHL too) as most sports fans do, but I wasn't very much into it (more into the outcome of the Stanley Cup, especially if TB comes back tonight).

IMO, the format of the series for these sports will be tested into the future with people changing. The one-and-done model (like in the NFL) is the most exciting to me, naturally because it's also my favorite sport, and I always wondered how other sports would do following it although I know that they aren't like football and it's best if they have more.

Also, if there was another team facing the Warriors like with LeBron or some other bigger stars, I think the ratings would have been better but the Celtics are kind of boring and people are also tired of the Warriors (even though it was a pretty great comeback for their overall state as a team).
 
In soccer (aka football), the most dominant global sport (aside of the Saudi golf ... heyoooo), there are two basic formats - one that in the US pro leagues would be called "regular season" and the unrelated Cup competition/s which is closer to the NCAA March Madness.

The regular seasons are true round-robins, where each team plays each of their league competitors twice a year. There are no divisions, conferences or the 5th place schedules. And the team with the most points is anointed champion. Sometimes it leads to neck-in-neck races; often it's a runaway. Bayern Munich won something like the last ten German titles in a row. In France, Paris Saint Germain slipped once in a decade. In Italy, Juventus won close to ten in a row before slipping a couple of years back. In Spain, it's one out of three - Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

There are no playoffs in Top 5 leagues but there are different systems in smaller competitions across Europe. Those make some sense because the rewards are different for the champion - major European competition - than for the contenders - minor European competition- so there is no slacking off as may be toward the end of the US pro seasons. The formats are different - mostly it's the top 4-8 teams on a round-robin schedule but with an "augmented" point total off the regular schedule. Usually, the previous results against weaklings are tossed out.

Likewise, there are battles to avoid relegation, where 2-3 teams are annually demoted to the lower tier league while the same number is promoted from the same. That is arguably the most punishing of the events because most of the money is in top leagues. There have been many cases, where a "huge club" with huge following was relegated - Leeds, Schalke, Werder, Hamburg - and had a really difficult time climbing back up. Once again, this is based on total points from the regular season.

The Cups are usually the no-qualification single game elimination tournaments with the major powers entering at the latter stages. And it does happen now and again where Sisters of the Poor knock out a major power, who usually don't start their best roster for a particular contest.

Then there's the world most prestigious club competition - the UEFA Champions League. The format has settled into the qualifications + group stage + a home&away knock out. At the early stages various smaller league - say, Albania and Azerbaijan - play home&away in order to advance. At some point, they strive to get a spot at the group stage with real global heavyweights. The group stage is a four-team round-robin, with the top two advancing to the knockouts decided by Total Goals. In other words, unlike the US/Canada pro leagues where each game is a discreet event, the UEFA knockouts are really one 180 minute match - 90 at each team's - with the winner needing to outscore its opponent over two matches/games.

Then there's the World Cup, which has a long round-robin qualification schedule of 6-8 team groups, with the winners, the consolation candidates and the eliminated rest. The World Cup itself is pretty similar to the Champions League, except with fewer matches - its 4-team group stage only has three matches per national side and the knockout is single game with the extra time/overtime if needed, then going to the penalty kicks if still tied.

And here's the most famous semifinal match with the overtime and the penalty kicks - 1982 World Cup between France and West Germany.

 
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