With more than 145,000 in attendance over two days in Philadelphia, WrestleMania 40 is officially the most successful and highest-grossing event in WWE history, TKO announced Tuesday. The 145,298 who came out to Lincoln Financial Field broke the previous record set by WrestleMania 39 by 78%, drawing fans from all over the world. On top of that, viewership for WrestleMania 40 was up 41% compared to last year, while the gate for both Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw were the largest in their respective histories. The WWE event was also a hit on social media, where it became the most socially viewed WrestleMania of all time, with 660 million views consumed. WrestleMania 40 had it all, with appearances from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and even Eagles greats Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce.

NBC Trending Toward New Olympic Sales Record for Paris Games

There is nothing little about the business of the Olympics. NBC is trending toward a new Olympic sales record, having already sold $1.2 billion in advertising for the 2024 Paris Games, the company said Tuesday. Additionally, ad spending among International Olympic Committee (IOC) sponsors is up 18% from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, with renewed interest from some major corporate sponsors. Some of IOC’s sponsors include major brands like Visa, Toyota, and Procter & Gamble. This is a welcome sight for NBCUniversal, which paid $7.65 billion to renew its broadcast rights deal through 2032. Many attribute the rebound in advertising to the fact that all spectators will be allowed at the Paris Olympics for the first time since the pandemic.

WNBA Teams Up with Opill for Multi-year Partnership

The WNBA and Opill, the first-ever daily birth control pill available without a prescription in the US, are teaming up for a multi-year partnership that “focuses on building confidence, strength and health equity,” the companies announced Tuesday. The relationship will begin with Opill being the associate partner of the 2024 WNBA Draft next week in Brooklyn. “At the WNBA, we are committed to addressing issues that matter to the players, and expanding access to reproductive healthcare is one of those key issues,” WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said. “It’s great to be working with a partner whose values align and authentically integrates into the health equity work our players are dedicated to.” The league integrated family planning as a huge part of its ground-breaking CBA, which was ratified in 2020.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Outdraws Men’s March Madness Final

For the first time ever, the women’s national championship between South Carolina and Iowa drew a bigger audience than the men’s title game between UConn and Purdue. According to Nielsen, the Huskies’ repeat championship on TBS and TNT drew 14.82 million viewers, falling well short of the 18.87 million that tuned in to watch Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks complete their undefeated season. However, it was a 4% increase over last year’s final when UConn defeated San Diego State on CBS.

Stephen A. Smith Speaks Out on Mental Health in PSA

ESPN media star Stephen A. Smith opens up about mental health, including his own journey, in a PSA set out to “destigmatize asking for and receiving help.” The PSA is part of the “Love, Your Mind” national campaign from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council. “I am honored to partner with ‘Love, Your Mind’ to help inspire others to be more open about their mental health. I hope this powerful initiative will empower more people to do the same,” Smith said. Since launching in October 2023, the campaign has driven over 222,000 visits to its website for free mental health resources.

Chicago Red Stars to Play Bay FC at Wrigley Field

In an effort to become more accessible to fans, the Chicago Red Stars are moving their game against Bay FC on June 8 to Wrigley Field, the first time the NWSL has played in the Chicago Cubs stadium. “Playing at Wrigley Field will be the event that fans of the Red Stars, Cubs and Chicago sports won’t want to miss,” said Chicago Red Stars President Karen Leetzow. According to Sportico‘s team valuations, the Red Stars are worth roughly $40 million, while Bay FC, the NWSL‘s newest club, recently sold out its inaugural home opener on March 30.

The post WrestleMania 40 Breaks WWE Records in Philadelphia appeared first on Boardroom.

The WWE’s Monday Night Raw will stream exclusively on Netflix starting in January 2025, parent company TKO Group announced Tuesday. Agreeing to a 10-year deal worth a reported $5 billion, this arrangement also marks the end of a longstanding partnership between Raw and NBCUniversal, as the flagship program aired on USA Network from 1993 to 2000 and again from 2005 to present. In October, USA Network will be the new home to WWE‘s SmackDown. TKO Group Holdings — which, on the same day, also added Dwayne Johnson to its Board of Directors as well as gave him full ownership of “The Rock” nickname — the stock was up more than 18% in early Tuesday trading following the WWE to Netflix news.

Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung has more on the big moves made by the WWE on Tuesday.

Andre 3000 & His Flute to Tour in New York, Los Angeles & More

Andre 3000 is hitting the road with his flute in tow. On Wednesday, the rapper announced on Instagram he will be visiting several cities in support of his debut solo album, New Blue Sun. A total of 29 intimate shows will be played in New York, L.A., Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco, including a three-night residency at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in Manhattan. The jaunt wraps on March 9 with a five-night run at LA’s The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. Andre 3000 will be joined by collaborators Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time.

Netflix Outperforms Expectations, Reaches New Subscriber Record

Netflix added 13.1 million subscribers in Q4, reaching a new high of 260.8 million total paid subscribers. The streamer far outpaced expectations that forecasted it would attract between 8 and 9 million new members. The strong earnings report rounded out a big Tuesday for the streaming giant, as it led all platforms with 18 Academy Award nominations in addition to the announcing that it will be the new home of WWE Monday Night Raw beginning in January 2025.

Chiefs-Bills Breaks NFL Viewership Record as Most-watched Divisional Playoff Game Ever

Sunday night’s divisional round thriller between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills proved to be a ratings boom for the NFL, averaging 50.3 million viewers on CBS. It is now the most-watched divisional playoff game ever, beating last year’s Sunday night divisional playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, which recorded 45.6 million viewers. Kansas City’s win also became the most-watched program on any network since Super Bowl LVII, in which the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles. Kansas City will face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon in the AFC Championship, followed immediately by the NFC Championship between the Niners and the Detroit Lions.

Led by Bitcoin & Ethereum, Number of Crypto Owners Grew Significantly in 2023

A new report published by Crypto.com found that global ownership of digital assets grew by 34% last year, with the user base growing from 432 million in January to 580 million by year’s end. The crypto research also indicated that Bitcoin (BTC) saw exceptional spikes in April and May, alongside Ethereum‘s (ETH) major network upgrade event in Shanghai, which implemented staking and other features. Bitcoin owners rose 33% to 296 million in 2023, while Ethereum owners grew by 39% to 124 million. Finally, BTC and ETH accounted for 51% and 21% of all crypto owners, respectively.

For all the latest in the crypto space, be sure to subscribe to Boardroom’s Tech Talk newsletter with Michelai Graham. 

Zhang & Thompson to Join McIlroy, Homa in First Co-ed Lineup for ‘The Match’

Capital One’s “The Match” is back, but this time with a twist. For the first time in the event’s young history, two female golfers will join the fun, as LPGA stars Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson will play alongside four-time major champion Rory McIlroy and six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa. The 2024 iteration will be a 12-hole competition held on Monday, Feb. 26, at The Park Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Fla. Each hole on the course will hold a specific dollar amount going to charity, and the golfer that raises the most at the end of the event will be declared the winner. This year’s nonprofit is First Tee, a youth organization that aims to develop children’s social skills through golf. The competition will broadcast live across TNT networks at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The post Netflix, WWE Agree to Exclusive ‘Raw’ Streaming Deal; TKO Adds ‘The Rock’ to Board appeared first on Boardroom.

Dwayne Johnson has played many important and popular roles over his professional career, but perhaps none are more validating than the one he took on this week.

A legendary, groundbreaking WWE career as “The Rock” in the 1990s and early 2000s, “Attitude Era,” made Johnson a household name around the world and led to a massively lucrative career in film, television, and business. On Tuesday, Johnson was not only named to the board of directors at WWE’s parent company, TKO Group, he was given the copyright ownership of “The Rock” name.

“I’m very humbled to have a seat at the table that has decades of history and family legacy for me,” Johnson said in a statement. “A table that my family helped to build. Being on the TKO Board of Directors, and taking full ownership of my name, ‘The Rock’, is not only unprecedented, but incredibly inspiring as my crazy life is coming full circle.”

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The 51-year-old Johnson came from a long line of pro wrestlers, with his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and father, Rocky “Soulman” Johnson, also competing in the squared circle. He was a backup defensive lineman on the 1991 national champion University of Miami football team but ended up with a pro wrestling contract in 1996 after he was cut by the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders. Wrestling led to a movie career whose films have grossed over $10 billion worldwide.

Johnson was able to parlay his on-screen fame, which included an NBC series, Young Rock, based on his life, into a successful career as an investor. Numerous movies The Rock has starred in were made with Seven Bucks Productions, a production studio Johnson founded with his ex-wife Dany Garcia in 2012, including a live-action Moana that will debut in 2025.

In addition to his Teremana Tequila, ZOA Energy, and Project Rock businesses, Johnson and Garcia also acquired and re-launched the XFL, which merged with USFL in September to create an eight-team spring league — the United Football League — that will debut at the end of March.

A New Sports & Entertainment Behemoth

The blockbuster UFC-WWE merger means a new $21 billion giant on the block in TKO — here’s everything you need to know about the massive deal.

Check it out!

Last April, Endeavor bought 51% of WWE and merged it with UFC to form TKO in a deal valued at more than $21 billion. It became official five months later. The news comes on the same day as WWE signing a landmark 10-year deal to stream Monday Night Raw on Netflix worth a reported $5 billion.

And “The Rock” gets a seat at the TKO table amid rumors he’ll face Roman Reigns, whose nickname is the “Head of the Table,” for the WWE Universal Championship at Wrestlemania in April.

The additions of Johnson and Groupon co-founder Brad Keywell expand TKO’s board membership from 11 to 13.

“I am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKO’s Board,” Ari Emanuel, TKO’s CEO, said. “Dwayne brings an incredible track record of creating content and building globally recognized consumer brands, and he will play a key role in realizing our ambitions for TKO.”

TKO Group Holdings stock is up more than 18% in early Tuesday trading.

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The post Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Continues to Solidify Investment Foundation appeared first on Boardroom.

October’s Very Own (OVO) is linking up with some of the most popular colleges in the country. After successful collabs with the NBA, NFL, and MLB, the umbrella brand started by Drake, 40, and Oliver El-Khatib is expanding its sports arm to include the  NCAA. On Tuesday, OVO announced limited-edition clothing collections with Texas, Kentucky, Memphis, North Carolina, and Alabama. Consumers can look forward to hats, hoodies, basketball shorts, varsity jackets, and more splashed with distinctive colors and branding from each college and, of course, the OVO owl on each piece. The drop is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Boardroom’s Ian Stonebrook has more details on this forthcoming launch.

MrBeast, KSI, Jake Paul Top Forbes’ 2023 List of Top Creators

Forbes has identified the most powerful influencers online in their annual Top Creators 2023 list. This year, the 50 individuals on the list amassed 2.6 billion followers and totaled an estimated $700 million in earnings, a more than 20% increase compared to 2022’s $570 million total. Topping the list is Jimmy Donaldson, famously known as MrBeast, who hauled $82 million in 2023. Olajide Olatunji, who goes by KSI online, comes in second with $24 million to his name. Vine star-turned-boxer Jake Paul is No. 3 with $34 million in earnings. Comedians Rhett & Link take the fourth spot with $32 million in earnings, and rounding out the top 5 is TikTok sensation Charli D’Amelio with $23 million in earnings.

Endeaver CEO Ari Emanuel Taking Home Sizable Payout Following TKO Listing

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel is a rich(er) man. Following news that the $10 billion merger with WWE became official under Endeavor‘s TKO Group Holdings conglomerate earlier this month, it’s now revealed Emanuel will receive a sizable raise. The exec will reportedly pocket an annual base salary of $3 million, which is subject to increase based on the board’s approval. Bloody Elbow also adds that, for this year, Emanuel qualifies for a guaranteed annual cash bonus of $1.75 million. Perhaps the largest payout comes in the form of a transaction bonus of $20 million, which will be rewarded within 30 days following TKO being registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

CBS Sports Undergoing Major Leadership Change After CEO Retires

After 27 years on the job, CBS Sports announced Tuesday that chairman Sean McManus would be retiring from the company in April 2024. Per the news release, McManus will be succeeded by David Berson — the president of CBS Sports for the last decade — as the president and CEO of CBS Sports. McManus joined CBS Sports in 1996 and was instrumental in helping bring the NFL back to the network in 1998. The Duke graduate was also in charge when CBS signed rights deals with the NCAA, Big Ten, SEC, PGA, PGA Tour, the Masters, and UEFA. After 16 years at ESPN, Berson joined CBS in 2011 and became president of CBS Sports in 2013.

SAG-AFTRA to Strike Against 10 Major Video Game Companies

The SAG-AFTRA has voted 98.32% in favor of authorizing a strike with the 10 major video game companies as the two sides remain at odds over a new contract, the actors union announced on Monday. The SAG-AFTRA video game actors appear to be dealing with an identical problem as TV and movie writers and their fellow actors, which include demands for pay raises and governance when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence. For context, a strike authorization doesn’t automatically mean voice and performance actors will stop working, but it does allow the union to call a strike if it feels negotiations prove idle. “It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher

Execs From Klutch, Springhill Team Up to Create Beekeeper Coffee

Fara Leff, Paul Rivera, David Creech, and Nate and Andrew Forbes have teamed up to create Beekeeper Coffee, which the release calls “a new ready-to-drink coffee brand bringing a new voice to coffee for the next generation of consumers.” If the group of founders sounds familiar, it’s because they’ve achieved success working at brands such as Nike, Beats By Dre, Lobos 1707, Klutch Sports Group, and the Cleveland Cavaliers together. With this new venture, the hope is to simplify the caffeinated beverages while also connecting with a new generation of coffee enthusiasts. Find the cold brew coffee and lattes in four flavors – double black, vanilla, caramel, and mocha, all with a drop of honey. Beekeeper Coffee is available to purchase directly at beekeepercoffee.com and soon at select retailers.

The post OVO Partners with Texas, Kentucky, Memphis, UNC, & Alabama for College Collab appeared first on Boardroom.

A week after its $10 billion merger with WWE became official under Endeavor‘s TKO Group Holdings conglomerate, the UFC reported strong finances for the first half of 2023.

Total revenues of $611.9 million for the first six months of 2023 was a 16% increase year over year. Media rights covered most of that, with a $50 million YoY increase to $438.5 million. Live event revenue soared 57% to $63.7 million, sponsorship revenue increased 12%, and consumer product licensing revenue went up 9%.

Here’s a breakdown of the key metrics from UFC’s full 2022 fiscal year:

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• UFC reported record revenue of $1.14 billion. This is up from $1.03 billion for 2021, with total operating expenses decreasing by $45 million to $595.7 million.
• Net income increased from $272.3 million to $387.2 million — a 34% increase that will be even higher if UFC’s fiscal trends extend to the second half of the year.
• UFC’s big year in 2022 did have its downsides. Fighter pay was down $32.8 million for the year despite the spike in both revenue and profits. This underscores an industry-wide problem in combat sports and mixed martial arts where revenue isn’t shared equitably.
• LowKickMMA estimated that 2022 revenue sharing decreased from just under 20% to 13-15%. For context, unionized professional leagues like the NBA share revenue with the owners at a 50-50 split.

It was a record 2022 for UFC, with 2023 looking like it could blow those banner numbers out of the water. While its fighters struggle to get a commensurate piece of the pie, UFC’s financial outlook has never been better.

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The post UFC Revenue Spikes Following WWE Merger appeared first on Boardroom.

After months of anticipation, the new Apple iPhone 15 is finally here. The device was unveiled Tuesday at Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, and it comes in four different models – iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Updated features include a new camera system built around a 48MP main camera that promises richer color and improved low-light performance, automatic portrait-need detection, smarter HDR, and more. Another significant change includes a USB-C port instead of its usual Lightning-based charging capabilities, which was long hinted at but now finally confirmed. The company also announced a new line of Apple Watches on Tuesday, as well as the release of iOS17. The software will be available for download on Sept. 18.

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WWE-UFC Merger Complete With Debut of TKO Stock on Wall Street

With Endeavor‘s acquisition of the WWE being formally closed on Tuesday, Dana White and Vince McMahon are officially partners. The alliance creates a new company known as TKO Group Holdings, bringing together the UFC and the WWE under one umbrella. The deal is valued at $21.4 billion, with the UFC valued at $12.1 billion and the WWE at $9.3 billion. Ari Emanuel, who remains CEO of Endeavor, is the CEO of TKO Group Holdings, while Mark Shapiro keeps his roles at Endeavor as President and COO. McMahon, who maintained a reported 18.5% of WWE shares at the time of the UFC merger, will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board.

Boardroom’s Sam Dunn breaks down the key details of the now-official TKO Group Holdings.

Aaron Rodgers Out for Season with Achilles Injury; Jets Turn to Zach Wilson

The New York Jets confirmed that quarterback Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles in the Monday night matchup against their divisional rival Buffalo Bills. The veteran QB will need surgery and miss the rest of the season. Sans Rodgers, the team pulled out a gutsy overtime win. However, the season was thrown into question with the news. Head Coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Tuesday that Zach Wilson is the team’s quarterback despite reports that they were in discussions with some potential alternatives. The Jets play the Cowboys, who dominated the Giants 40-0 in their opener, on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. 

Breanna Stewart Edges A’ja Wilson By 1 Point for AP WNBA Player of the Year Honors

The WNBA playoffs are tipping off this week, and one player has already been recognized for her stellar performance during the regular season. On Tuesday, New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart became the first player to repeat as the AP WNBA Player of the Year, edging out reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces by one vote from the 12-member group. “It’s quite different after switching teams and coming to New York and having such a positive season going 32-8. It’s been a lot of amazing basketball going on this year and makes you feel good going into the playoffs,” Stewart said of the honor. The Liberty host the Washington Mystics in Round 1 of the playoffs on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Barclays Center.

Notorious B.I.G.’s Estate & Budweiser Bringing Back “Word Up!” Magazine

The estate of The Notorious B.I.G. and Budweiser are linking up to honor hip-hop’s 50th anniversary by relaunching the iconic Word Up! magazine for a limited time. The publication, which was in circulation from 1987 to 2012 and even earned a shoutout in the late rapper’s 1994 hit “Juicy,” was established for kids to learn and enjoy hip-hop’s biggest stars during the period. Expect to find handwritten lyrics and rare photos courtesy of Biggie’s estate, along with a heartfelt letter to the Brooklyn-born emcee by fellow New Yorker, his friend and radio DJ, Angie Martinez. According to Variety, the first of two limited editions of the magazine is scheduled to drop on Sept. 13. Only 5,000 collectible copies will be available in select markets across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Coco Gauff Draws Largest Audience for a Women’s Major Championship with US Open Win

All eyes were on Queens over the weekend. Coco Gauff took home the championship trophy, but the 19-year-old’s match against Aryna Sabalenka drew historic attention, logging 3.4 million viewers for the ESPN broadcast. The numbers mark an astounding 92% year-over-year jump from the 2022 Women’s Championship numbers and became the most-viewed major women’s championship in history. Meanwhile, the men’s final drew 2.3 million viewers, marking a modest 8% leap from the previous year.

The post Apple Debuts iPhone 15; New Watch & iOS17 Also Announced appeared first on Boardroom.

WWE‘s long-rumored sale became official Monday when Endeavor bought 51% of the wrestling giant and merged the pro wrestling organization with its UFC MMA promotion to form a new publicly traded sports and entertainment company valued at more than $21 billion, per a company announcement.

The deal valued WWE at $9.3 billion and UFC at $12.1 billion, now combined under Endeavor and previous WWE shareholders, and will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol TKO. The leading players in both fighting brands will remain in place:

• Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel will hold the same title with the new company
• WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon retains the same position at TKO
• Endeavor President Mark Shapiro will be the new company’s President and COO
• Dana White remains UFC Pesident
• Incumbent WWE CEO Nick Khan will adopt the title of President of the wrestling organization

Additionally, an 11-person Board of Directors is yet to be named — Endeavor will select six members, while WWE will choose five.

“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” Emanuel in an official news release. “For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”

The sale cames a day after WrestleMania, WWE’s signature tentpole event, sold out two nights at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

As Vince McMahon added on the occasion:

“Given the incredible work that Ari and Endeavor have done to grow the UFC brand — nearly doubling its revenue over the past seven years — and the immense success we’ve already had in partnering with their team on a number of ventures, I believe that this is without a doubt the best outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders. The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands.”

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Endeavor and other suitors, including Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund and other Middle East-based consortia, emerged in January and February when McMahon — formerly WWE’s largest shareholder — returned to the company to organize a strategic review and explore a sale. McMahon was reinstated as Executive Chairman in January after retiring in July amid reports that he’d paid more than $12 million over the last 16 years to conceal allegations of allegations of sexual misconduct.

Endeavor said a combined UFC and WWE would save $50-100 million per year in annual cost synergies in part by leveraging Endeavor’s back office and infrastructure.

“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon said. “The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands. I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level.”

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The post Endeavor by TKO: WWE-UFC Merger Means a New 11-figure Sports & Entertainment Behemoth appeared first on Boardroom.