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 It was a historic night for the Internet, Peacock and the National Football League (NFL). In the fourth-coldest National Football League (NFL) game ever, two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium in front of more than 71,000 spirited fans. It was the NFL’s first-ever exclusively live streamed playoff game…the Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card Game. Viewers flocked to Peacock, setting records for the most-streamed live event in U.S. history and driving the Internet to its largest U.S. usage ever on a single day and the largest Internet event ever, consuming 30 percent of Internet traffic during the game. Among the milestones and metrics: - The Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card reached 27.6 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. - Dolphins-Chiefs peaked at an average of 24.6 million viewers in the second quarter from 9:15-9:30 p.m. ET, according to Nielsen custom fast national data (includes out-of-home viewership). - The Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card ranks as the most-streamed event ever in the U.S. with an average audience (AMA) of approximately 23.0 million viewers across Peacock, NBC News stations in Miami and Kansas City, and on mobile with NFL+, according to Nielsen custom fast national data. V In addition, according to a combination of preliminary first party and Nielsen data across every platform, the Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card averaged 3 million viewers across Peacock, NBC stations in Miami and Kansas City, and NFL+. With blockbuster programming across sports and entertainment, Peacock delivered its largest single day ever in audience usage, engagement and time spent, with a record 16.3 million concurrent devices. #peacock #livestreaming #football #internet #tech https://lnkd.in/gQ7GyD_U

Morning Consult has been tracking consumer behavior around the Super Bowl for years now, but according to our latest data featured in my new memo, 2024’s big game is standing out in a big way. Nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults (73%) said they plan to tune in on Sunday, bringing this metric to its highest level since our tracking began. What’s more — the outsized enthusiasm for Super Bowl LVIII appears to be universal: Almost every major demographic saw bumps in expected viewership over 2023. The potential presence of now 14-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift is undoubtedly the X-factor at play here. But even so, our data shows that the Super Bowl’s popularity has been steadily climbing for years, especially among Gen Z and women audiences, signaling that the National Football League (NFL)'s recent marketing offensive — aimed at broadening its cultural relevance — is paying off. We’ve also got data on interest in Super Bowl commercials, and while ads are not the ultimate reason why people are tuning in, the Super Bowl remains the highest-visibility moment in American advertising. This is truer than ever this year as Swift’s NFL association has firmly embedded the league in broader popular discourse. Check out the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/e2Ws9nEE #SuperBowlLVII #sportsmarketing #taylorswift #nfl

𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐍𝐁𝐀: 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞 – 𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 On ESPN's #FirstTake, the air crackled with tension as Stephen A. Smith and Monica McNutt clashed over the media's portrayal of Caitlin Clark's rocky start in the WNBA. The crux of their debate?  Whether the media's fascination with Clark overshadows the league's other talents or if it's a strategic move to boost viewership. Both points have merit, but let's dive deeper into the business and media implications of Clark's burgeoning career. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 #1: 𝑉𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 Clark's entry into the league has been nothing short of a viewership bonanza. Her debut and subsequent games have consistently drawn over a million viewers, with one game reaching a staggering 2.12 million on ESPN2—a testament to her drawing power. 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 #2: 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 Clark's Midwestern roots and engaging play style make her a magnet for advertisers and a boon for Nike, which signed her to a lucrative shoe deal. And let's be honest, her being a white woman in a Black league helps, as proven by the fact that only white WNBA players have their own signature shoes. 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 #3: 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 Clark's proactive engagement w/ media, something not all players lean into, has not only increased league visibility but also played a role in securing better amenities for players, such as private air travel—a significant win for player welfare. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 #1: 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎 The current media landscape has fixated on Clark to the extent that her coverage eclipses that of entire teams like the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning champs and a burgeoning dynast. Such an imbalance can skew public perception of the league's talent distribution and depth. 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 #2: 𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑐 Highlighting Clark's earnings and endorsements might give the impression that all WNBA players enjoy similar financial benefits, which is far from the truth. This misconception could hinder efforts to address pay equity within the league. 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 #3: 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 The sports world is riddled with tales of hyped athletes who couldn't shoulder the burden of expectation—remember soccer prodigy Freddy Adu? Such scenarios serve as cautionary tales. Overloading Clark with expectations could backfire, potentially stifling wider interest in the WNBA if she fails to meet the hype, similar to the setbacks in U.S. soccer post-Adu. #InConclusion Clark's impact on the WNBA is undeniable—she attracts viewers and enhances the league's profile. However, the media must navigate this narrative with care to avoid placing undue pressure on one star, which could jeopardize the league's collective growth and economic stability

Super Bowl 2024: A Record-Breaking Event Amidst a Changing Landscape. The Super Bowl once again proved its cultural relevance, with 123 million US households tuning in, making it the second most-watched US television broadcast in history. This is despite the ongoing shift away from traditional TV towards streaming services. Let's analyze the key takeaways: Enduring Power of Live Sports: Even as cord-cutting increases, live sports hold strong. American football continues to dominate viewership, showcasing its unique ability to capture attention and create shared experiences. Taylor Swift Effect: Her connection to a star player and presence at games are credited with attracting new demographics, particularly young women, to the NFL. This highlights the influence of celebrities and their potential to expand sports audiences. Industry Impact: Beyond entertainment, the Super Bowl is a major platform for advertising, generating massive revenue for broadcasters, brands, and even the music industry through halftime shows. Financial Boon for NFL: The league's record-breaking rights deal highlights the enduring value of its content, despite broader challenges in the TV industry. Challenges Ahead: Paramount, one of the broadcasters, faces internal struggles despite Super Bowl success. The broader TV industry grapples with cord-cutting and fierce competition from streaming giants. The Super Bowl once again demonstrated the power of live events, celebrity influence, and professional sports content. However, the traditional TV industry faces ongoing disruption. It will be fascinating to see how broadcasters adapt as consumer viewing habits evolve. I welcome your perspectives on the key takeaways! #SuperBowl2024 #SuperBowl #NFL #Football #LiveSports #TV #StreamingWars #CordCutting #TaylorSwift #HalftimeShow #Advertising #BigGame #SportsBusiness #Media #Entertainment #SportsMarketing #linkedincommunity #LinkedIn #viral

Who Won the Week makes its 2024 debut with a review of all the latest news at the intersection of sports media and TV #advertising — including Pop-Tarts’ big bowl week and the NFL’s massive Christmas ratings. On this week’s show, EDO Media Analyst Matt Ulrich and veteran journalist Michael Shields (Next in Media) break down why Kellanova Pop-Tarts’ sponsorship of a college football bowl game was a success — even before the brand’s viral, post-game activation. Plus, the #NFL took a bite out of the #NBA’s Christmas Day ratings, and online retailer Temu had a successful outing in its first TV ad airing since February 2023. All that and more, on this week’s Who Won the Week! This week’s insights with time stamps: (-7:20) - NBA’s Xmas Day ratings fall 30% YoY, NFL’s grow 30% (-5:14) - Pop-Tarts airs 6 of its 10 most effective 2023 ads during Pop-Tarts Bowl (-1:35) - Online retailer Temu scores big in first TV ads since Feb. 2023

As Frank Sinatra famously sang of New York: If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Executives at ESPN and PENN Entertainment, Inc hope that's true of #ESPNBet, which will debut in the Big Apple any day now. ESPN sees sports betting as a major growth area as it hedges against the steady decline of the pay-TV bundle. The company hopes its massive audience will choose ESPN Bet over its rivals in a cutthroat market. However, industry analysts say ESPN Bet faces long odds. It's probably too late to truly challenge leading services like FanDuel and DraftKings Inc., and even landing a bronze medal will be difficult. "There are both entrenched operators like BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino who aren't going to let Penn pass them by without a fight," industry veteran Chris Grove told me recently. "And then there are also emerging and ascendant brands who arguably are as well positioned — if not better positioned — than Penn to claim that third-place prize." Read my latest reporting for Business Insider here: https://lnkd.in/gf5JKi4e

7-30-LVIII The national spotlight will be firmly on Nevada this weekend, as the Chiefs and the 49ers are set to do battle at one of the biggest sporting—and television—events of the year. But while the athletes have been working hard in the gym, memorizing plays, and getting their mental game in the right place, marketers have been just as busy. Indeed, in an increasingly fragmented modern media landscape, the Super Bowl remains a rare unifier, drawing hundreds of millions of eyeballs simultaneously to a single event. And, getting in front of those eyeballs remains prohibitively expensive — despite TV viewership slipping from its peak a decade ago. This year, brands are shelling out $7 million for 30 seconds of airtime, more than 165x the $42,000 that the same slot would have set you back at the first Super Bowl in 1967. Even once you adjust for inflation—which would turn that $42k from 1967 into a $383k expense in 2023—it's easy to see that Super Bowl ads have become a cultural spectacle in and of themselves, with a massive 25% of viewers planning to focus more on the ads than the actual game. Attention, please Interestingly, Kantar estimates that the investment is worth it, with every $1 spent on a Super Bowl ad reportedly yielding a return of $4.60—music to the ears of the producers behind the 70 high-budget commercials that will be airing on game day. With an expected surge in female viewership this year, likely due to Taylor Swift's influence, brands such as Dove, L'Oréal, and e.l.f. are gearing up for their moment in the limelight during the breaks. Source: Chartr #superbowl #superbowlsunday #superbowlads #advertising #advertisement #taylorswift #dove #loreal #finance #money

We're excited to reveal the incredible impact of Taylor Swift during Super Bowl LVIII! 🎤🏈 Our client, AdVenture Media, partnered with Keyhole for a live social listening campaign to track Taylor Swift's influence on the NFL during the highly-anticipated sporting event. And the results are eye-opening! Here's a summary of our findings: 📈 Total Earned Media Value for the NFL: $2,398,483 💬 Total Number of Posts: 755,965 🔍 Impressions: 7,551,705,523 👥 Total Engagements: 6,014,961 But why is this important? These statistics not only highlight the significant impact of Swift's presence but also demonstrate the real effects of social media on brand perception and revenue generation. As reported by Front Office Sports and Apex Marketing Group, Swift's influence resulted in a remarkable $330 million increase in brand value for the NFL and the Chiefs! If you're interested in learning more about our findings, feel free to message us or comment below. Let's keep the conversation going. #TaylorSwift #NFL #SuperBowlLVIII #DataAnalytics #Keyhole #Results #ImpactAnalysis

Excellent industry news roundup for this week! It highlights how: - Content creators are evolving their roles. - Live sports remain a powerful acquisition tool for streaming services. - Women's sports are capturing a wider audience. These trends offer valuable insights for marketers and content creators alike. #Advertising #Marketing #BrandAwareness