ADWEEK

⚾️ The March issue of ADWEEK is here. ⚾️ Major League Baseball enters its 2025 season with the winds of change firmly at its back after two straight years of increased attendance, TV viewership, and media visibility. More than 71.3 million fans went to MLB games in 2024, an 11% increase over 2022. Viewership at home is way up as well: Fox’s 2024 World Series broadcast averaged 15.8 million viewers, the highest since 2017. The 2025 season will start with a two-game Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19. It will be the biggest standalone international event the league has ever put on, and mark MLB’s return to Japan after six years with several home-grown superstars on both teams. And if you really want proof that it’s a new era in baseball, New York Yankees players are finally allowed to have facial hair again for the 2025 season after a 49-year ban. Read more — https://adweek.it/43zaC07

To be clear, Liquid Death is not suggesting that pregnant women go on benders. It just looks that way, purposely so, as the self-styled punk-rock water brand partners with Kylie Kelce for a campaign called “Kegs for Pregs. Rad more — https://adweek.it/4ieBQxI 😭

Publishers have been less upfront with their announcements, but TV upfront week is finally taking shape—with NBCUniversal, Fox, and Netflix all setting dates. https://adweek.it/3DQaaAo

Omnicom Group’s impending takeover of rival Interpublic Group (IPG) reached an important milestone today (March 18) when shareholders of both companies voted to approve the deal. https://adweek.it/4iDyeoV

To be clear, Liquid Death is not suggesting that pregnant women go on benders. It just looks that way, purposely so, as the self-styled punk-rock water brand partners with Kylie Kelce for a campaign called “Kegs for Pregs.” https://adweek.it/4ieBQxI

For brands and publishers, data is a critical asset—but unlocking its full potential requires the right approach, whether it is leveraging first-party data or expanding customer intelligence. Join ADWEEK chief content officer Zoe Ruderman and Kevin Dunn, SVP of Brands and Agencies at LiveRamp, as they explore five actionable ways to turn data into a growth engine. 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/egw2CTbb

The most effective leaders today share key traits: emotional intelligence, adaptability, and a commitment to lifting others up. SiriusXM Media’s senior director, B2B content and digital marketing Jocelyn Hudak shares insights from top women in media, highlighting a leadership style that fosters collaboration and results. #sponsored https://adweek.it/3FN2XkV

Benjamin Hall's own story is forever connected to Ukraine. That gives him a distinct perspective on President Zelenskyy's visit to the Oval Office last month, as well as the war-torn country's future. For ADWEEK, I had an expansive conversation with Fox News' senior correspondent ahead of the release of his new book, Resolute. https://lnkd.in/e7Xgddhx

If Pedro Pascal is sad, the whole world is sad. And dreary, and frigid, and hopeless.But the beloved internet daddy doesn’t stay blue for long, according to a new Apple ad. The visually stunning, cinematic long-form ad reunites Apple with Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Jonze, who directed the brand’s lauded “Welcome Home” in 2018 with FKA Twigs. Like its predecessor, the new work—called “Someday”—leans heavily on inventive choreography, catchy music, and lavish sets. https://adweek.it/3DKp5vV

Cross-platform distribution led to another record-breaking viewership event in February. This year’s Super Bowl Sunday, which culminated in the Philadelphia Eagles winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy, saw Fox Sports earn 127.7 million viewers, with some watching Super Bowl LIX on Fox’s free ad-supported streaming service, Tubi. https://adweek.it/3DPQegO