Fox Corp. matched Wall Street expectations for its fiscal second quarter, powered by NFL football in the U.S. and football at the World Cup. The company reported total revenue in the quarter ending December 31 of $4.61 billion, up 4% from the year-earlier period, and earnings of 48 cents a share. Affiliate fee revenues rose 1% thanks to 6% growth at the Television unit. Ad revenue climbed 4%, no mean feat in a tough economic climate, mostly due to the World Cup in Qatar and strong NFL results at Fox Sports. Other boosts came from political spending at the company’s local stations and growth for streaming service Tubi. The category of “other revenue” increased 13%, which the company said was primarily due to the December acquisition of Mar Vista Entertainment and higher Fox Nation subscription revenue. Fox has not disclosed subscriber numbers for Fox Nation, which launched in 2018. It is the first quarterly report for Fox since the company and its corporate sibling, … [Read more...] about Fox Corp. Ad Revenue Climbs 4% In A Tough Quarter, Boosted By NFL And World Cup
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Microsoft Activision Deal Could Bring Harm To UK Gaming Community, Rules Regulator
Microsoft ’s proposed $69B acquisition of Activision could bring harm to the UK’s 45M-strong gaming community, the nation’s competition body has ruled. In a provisional finding delivered in the past hour, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that Microsoft “buying one of the world’s most important game publishers would reinforce [its] strong position and substantially reduce the competition that Microsoft would otherwise face in the cloud gaming market in the UK.” Both companies can respond to the ruling, which will conclude in April. Microsoft already accounts for an estimated 60% to 70% of global cloud gaming services, said the ruling, and corners the market in other ways via its ownership of Xbox, Windows and Azure. A small number of Activision’s flagship games such as Call of Duty play an important role in driving competition between consoles, added the CMA, which said Xbox and Playstation’s competition would “weaken competition” and “in turn … [Read more...] about Microsoft Activision Deal Could Bring Harm To UK Gaming Community, Rules Regulator
LeBron James’ H.S. Coach ‘So Proud’ After Breaking Scoring Record
TMZSports.com LeBron James ' childhood basketball coach says he's "honored" to be a part of the superstar's journey to becoming the top scorer in NBA history ... telling TMZ Sports he couldn't be happier for the King. Dru Joyce -- who first noticed LeBron's potential at just 10 years old -- played a huge part in shaping the 4-time NBA champ's career ... coaching James and the "Fab Five" to a state championship at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in 2003. We spoke with Coach Dru about LeBron passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list ... and he couldn't help but reminisce about their earliest memories together. Getty LeBron James Becomes NBA's All-Time Leading Scorer, Passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar "It was an honor to know the little kid who used to be at my house, days on end, and young man I watched him grow into in high school, to now reach this historic moment in professional basketball ... I don't have the words to describe it." … [Read more...] about LeBron James’ H.S. Coach ‘So Proud’ After Breaking Scoring Record
GLAAD Media Awards: Bad Bunny, Christina Aguilera & Jeremy Pope Set For Honors
Recent Grammy winner Bad Bunny , Christina Aguilera and Jeremy Pope will be honored at the 34th annual GLAAD Media Awards next month for advancing and supporting the LGBTQ community. Bad Bunny — Spotify’s most-streamed artist in the world last year — will receive the Vanguard Award for having made “a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.” Five-time Grammy winner Aguilera will receive the Advocate for Change Award for having “changed the game for LGBTQ people around the world.” And Pose alum and two-time Tony nominee Pope will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for having made “a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.” Read bios for all three below. The awards show will be handed during the March 30 ceremony at the Beverly Hilton. RELATED: 2023 Awards Season Calendar – Dates For The Oscars, Guilds & More Bad Bunny’s advocacy and outspoken allyship for the … [Read more...] about GLAAD Media Awards: Bad Bunny, Christina Aguilera & Jeremy Pope Set For Honors
Jake Paul Rips Tommy Fury For Missing Presser, ‘He’s Not A Serious Fighter’
Jake Paul is fed up with Tommy Fury -- calling out his opponent for missing another pre-fight event this week ... saying TNT is being straight-up disrespectful to the fight game at this point. Fury was not slated to attend Wednesday's press conference in Saudi Arabia ... claiming the event could wait until he made it to town on Feb. 16. Paul was asked about Tommy's absence minutes ago ... and he unleashed on the guy. "I'm used to his behavior at this point," the Problem Child said. "He's unprofessional, he's a flake, he's not a serious businessman, and he's not a serious fighter." Tommy Fury Says He Was Denied Entry Into U.S., Fight With Jake Paul In Jeopardy "He's gonna have to pay for all the times he pulled out," he continued. "All the business people he screwed over. It's disrespectful. There are some of the biggest names in boxing, some of the biggest promoters in the world, some of the most influential people in the world, … [Read more...] about Jake Paul Rips Tommy Fury For Missing Presser, ‘He’s Not A Serious Fighter’
Damar Hamlin Wins Prestigious Award At Super Bowl Event, Gives Speech
NFLPA Damar Hamlin just received an incredible honor from the NFL Players Association ... and in his speech accepting the award, he told a throng of reporters that he was thankful to God "for being here." The NFLPA presented Hamlin with the Alan Page Community Award at a ceremony at a Super Bowl event Wednesday afternoon ... recognizing him as a player who went above and beyond to perform community service in his team city and/or hometown. Hamlin hopped on the mic after taking the trophy -- and spoke publicly for one of the first times since he went into cardiac arrest during a game last month. Damar Hamlin wins Alan Page Community Award— and accepts it in person. pic.twitter.com/PvvZN7X9kY — Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) February 8, 2023 @LATimesfarmer "First, I just want to say, 'Thank you,'" Hamlin said. "Just thank God for being here and thank the other guys who were nominated for the award as well who did the work in their communities … [Read more...] about Damar Hamlin Wins Prestigious Award At Super Bowl Event, Gives Speech
‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ & ‘Titanic’ Reissue Having Super Bowl Dance-Off At Box Office – Preview
In both a noble gesture toward exhibition after the studio’s Project Popcorn, and in a means to monetize downstream revenues, Warner Bros is taking what was a HBO Max movie, Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike’s Last Dance , and putting into 1,500 theatrical locations this weekend. That’s with a thrifty marketing spend. It’s the second movie after New Line’s House Party ($8.8M) for which Warners has reverse-engineered a streaming release for the big screen. Meanwhile, Paramount is building off the heat of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water with a 25th anniversary 3D reissue of the filmmaker’s Oscar-winning 1997 smash Titanic . There are arguments to be made that either could notch No. 1: Titanic apparently is tracking better than the fall re-issue of Avatar ($10.5M opening) with a shot at double-digit millions in 2,400 theaters and the Channing Tatum-Salma Hayek Pinault threequel also having a potential $10M debut with the chance for more heading into … [Read more...] about ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ & ‘Titanic’ Reissue Having Super Bowl Dance-Off At Box Office – Preview
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Explains Lack Of Relationship With LeBron James
Getty Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is opening up on his relationship -- or lack, thereof -- with LeBron James ... admitting he didn't make much of an effort to be a mentor for the Lakers superstar due to their age difference. 75-year-old KAJ released a Substack essay to explain where he stands with the guy who dethroned him at the top of the all-time scoring list ... and aside from a "couple minor jabs" over his COVID-19 vaccine stance, the Captain says he has had high praise for the King over the course of his career. But when it comes to being buddies with 38-year-old Bron, Abdul-Jabbar says James was right in saying they had "no relationship" back in October ... and he's taking responsibility. "LeBron said we don’t have a relationship," KAJ said. "He’s right -- and for that I blame myself. Not for anything I did, but perhaps for not making more of an effort to reach out to him." "I think the main reason that I never formed a bond with LeBron (again, entirely my … [Read more...] about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Explains Lack Of Relationship With LeBron James