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Sunderland v Brighton: Our Team Predicts a Tactical Battle
Brighton arrive at the Stadium of Light in excellent form, but can Sunderland build on their recent performances and claim a crucial home win?
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson lauds Devin Vassell's growth as leader
The forward is more vocal entering his seventh season and coming off a strong all-around performance in his first postseason.
Huawei Mate 90 series wallpapers are now up for download
Huawei Mate 90 series has launched with five models and a bunch of new wallpapers, which are now available for download. These images come in QHD+ (Quad High Definition Plus) resolution, offering a stunning vibe to the home screen. Mate 90 series debuted last week as a new performance flagship line. Like every Huawei phone, […]
Scientists create new statewide surface geologic map of Nebraska
A new academic paper by Paul Hanson and Matthew Joeckel of the Conservation and Survey Division in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's School of Natural Resources contains a brief phrase—"new linework"—that ...
Hands-on — Xbox's brand new PC app offers BIG performance improvements
VIDEO: Today, I got a sneak peek at an early version of the Xbox PC app rebuilt experience, and for some it might look quite familiar.
Vance, Rubio brush off questions about claim that Guilfoyle asked donor to pay $100K Amex bill
Allegations by former congressional candidate Eric Deters are the latest controversy to swirl around the U.S. ambassador to Greece.
Aday Mara Stays Perfect Against The Bucks
The Thunder’s lottery pick silenced Summer League skeptics by shooting a perfect 100% through two games, earning immediate trust from veterans with his elite size and conditioning.
Levi Sterling: The Underappreciated Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Breakout
The Pittsburgh Pirates had multiple top prospects break out this year. Seth Hernandez, Murf Gray, and Wyatt Sanford stand out as the best. However, one of the Pirates’ 2024 early-round picks took a noticeable step forward, even if his overall performance didn’t fully reflect it. Right-hander Levi Sterling looks to be one of the Pirates’ …
Health Brief: Surprise billing gets a new House fight
Plus: A new path emerges for peptides
Phantom Blade Zero hands-on preview
Six hours with Phantom Blade Zero gave us a deep look at its combat, weapons, exploration, story, and PC performance ahead of release.
Beth Israel Lahey Health Names Peter Shorett as President and Chief Executive Officer
Following a national search, the Board of Trustees of Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) today announced the appointment of Peter Shorett as the organization’s next President and CEO, effective January 2027. Since joining BILH in 2019, Shorett has served in a number of senior leadership roles, including most recently as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As COO, Shorett has led the performance, growth, and strategy of the health system, during which time he was instrumen
Oct. Scientist in Residence At Work at Science Center
Ries Plescher, third-year doctoral student at University of Oregon in Eugene, is October’s Scientist in Residency Fellow at Sitka Sound Science Center. The SIRF program offers scientists four weeks to focus on their research while connecting with...
WA Sen. Patty Murray launches effort to restore trust in public health
As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murray holds one of the most powerful roles in Congress.
New documentary traces Elon Musk's rise and embrace of right-wing politics
Elon Musk remains one of the more powerful and controversial figures in business, science, tech and politics. He played a central role in the early days of the second Trump administration. Now, a new documentary is chronicling Musk's rise to power and embrace of right-wing politics. William Brangham reports.
Def Leppard, Goo Goo Dolls coming to Wichita next year
“Known for their high-energy performances, rock fans can expect a thrilling ride on this upcoming tour from some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most influential bands.”
Performing Arts Center Pointing to 2027 Opening as Local Entertainment, Business, and Educational Partner
This reporter recently met with Front Royal Performing Arts Center (FRPAC) Board of Directors President Shae Parker and Vice-President Kate Gorecki to get an overview, including photos seen below, of the renovation status of the planned, multi-faceted Performing Arts Center on the 100 block of East Main Street at its intersection with Church Street. With
Speaker Johnson says he doesn’t know what’s next for him if GOP loses House
The remarks prompted speculation the Republican leader might retire from politics if Democrats retake the chamber.
Discover Southern Flames: Fairfield's new restaurant + entertainment destination
🔥FAIRFIELD'S NEW HANGOUT IS OPEN: Southern Flames is serving Saturday brunch, Soul Food Sundays and gameday on the big screen, plus a cigar lounge and a stage for live music and comedy.
Arts and Entertainment lineup for Oct. 9-19
Note: for a complete list of calendar events from around Garfield County and the Roaring Fork Valley, go to http://www.postindependent.com/entertainment/community-calendar/. Embervine: A Night of ’70s, ’80s and ’90s Hits What: Bring your friends and your...
Another Vikings WR Returns to Practice; Darrisaw Still Missing
The Minnesota Vikings brought some good and bad news to the practice fields at TCO Performance Center on Thursday. Here's the latest on Addison and Darrisaw plus more.
RFK Jr. tasks researchers with studying vaccine injuries
The US Department of Health and Human Services launched a program this week to study and capture the breadth of vaccine injuries, reviving a longtime priority for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and stoking concerns from some public health advocates.
PhoneBot gives old smartphones a new job on two legs
Smartphones combine cameras, motion sensors and powerful processors in devices that fit inside a pocket. These features could also make them useful components for robots, reducing the need to buy and ...
U.S. backtracked on critical mineral, data demands in health deal with Zambia
The administration signed a $1.5 billion agreement with Zambia, but only after being forced to abandon controversial data-sharing and resource-access provisions.
Retail sales rose nationwide just over 4% in September
The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports total retail sales in September of $560.8 billion, up 0.28% month over month and up 4.05% year over year. The monthly report offers a...
Hayden Panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko gets legal status to protect their daughter's inheritance
A California court has granted Wladimir Klitschko legal authority to protect his daughter Kaya’s inheritance following her mother Hayden Panettiere’s death
Darfur: Healthcare needs outstrip resources as Security Council extends Sudan sanctions
More than 700,000 displaced people in Tawila, in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region, face severe shortages of healthcare, food, water and protection, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday as it called for an urgent increase in resources.
RFK Jr. unveils sweeping federal initiative to find evidence of vaccine injuries
[T]he Trump-RFK Jr anti-vax agenda keeps getting more corrupt and dangerous."
Low-cost Android phones ship with residential proxy malware
A malware campaign dubbed 'Midnight Mimosa' has been discovered on low-cost Android smartphones that ship with malicious software embedded in their firmware, allowing attackers to silently install apps, perform ad fraud, and turn devices into residential proxies.
A strange journey indeed: Rocky Horror takes Garfield stage
CHESTERTOWN — Stage rehearsals for the musical thriller “The Rocky Horror Show” are underway at the Garfield Center for the Arts. After months of practice, Monday night marked the cast’s
Holy Cross Health is Only South Florida Hospital to Earn the American Heart Association’s Commitment to Quality Award - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
Holy Cross Health achieved high performance in stroke, heart failure and diabetes from AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® program. October 7, 2026 – For the second consecutive year, Holy Cross Health has received the American […]
Jahsiear Rogers Dismissed From Oklahoma Football Roster
The four-star freshman’s sudden exit leaves a void in the Sooners' developmental ranks, highlighting the program's uncompromising culture despite his promising spring performance and explosive athletic potential
U.S. Lawmakers Launch Sexual Abuse Probe of Youth Sports Giant AAU
Bipartisan leadership of a powerful House committee demanded answers from the Amateur Athletic Union after a ProPublica and Washington Post investigation found that the massive youth sports organization has failed to protect kids from sexual abuse.
Taylor Swift to perform at 2026 Academy Museum Gala
Taylor Swift arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards, Sept. 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
SMCM Adds Research Vessel for Undergraduate Marine Science
A boat that St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s marine science faculty say they wanted from the day the program was proposed finally tied up on campus Wednesday, ending a roughly four-year trip from a federal budget line to the college waterfront. The R/V CY46, a 46-foot research vessel, reached St. Mary’s City just before noon […]
No new attack on Iran before the midterm elections, Trump says
The president has acknowledged sometimes using public statements about negotiations and military planning to keep adversaries off guard.
Packers' Jordan Love Moves Up NFL List Despite Inconsistent Performance
The Green Bay Packers got a huge win this past weekend.
“Big Cat Diaries”: A story about accompaniment and connection
Last week, the Magnuson Theatre hosted their performance of "Big Cat Dairies" inspired by a GU professor's experience in the Amazon rainforest.
Five Things presented by Compass Minerals: Sporting back at home to take on Portland
Sporting Kansas City returns home following a two-game road swing this weekend when the team hosts the Portland Timbers at Sporting Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV, while the game will also be broadcast locally on
Arts and Entertainment Agenda, Oct. 9 to 15
Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival at TACAW, Oct. 9 Branching out on her own, Colorado-based Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at The Arts Campus at Willits, 400 Robinson...
Sarasota’s colorful cottages are staying. A new business village is next
A canceled land sale spares downtown Sarasota’s colorful cottages, but plans for a new shopping and dining village continue.
Farmington football forfeits 4 games for using ineligible players
Farmington football had to forfeit the first four games of its MHSAA season after two ineligible players suited up for the Falcons this season.
New DOE Early Career project uses magnetic vortices to uncover hidden sources of loss in superconducting quantum devices
Daniel Bafia will develop a new measurement approach that uses magnetic vortices to investigate defects and interfaces that can limit the performance of superconducting quantum devices. The project could provide researchers with a new way to understand and ultimately reduce sources of energy loss in quantum materials.
Early NBA preseason surprises, standout rookie performances + KOC Show mailbag
Natura’s $99 smart ring puts AI agents on your finger
Natura’s $99 Interface smart ring lets you summon AI agents with the press of a finger to complete tasks, capture thoughts, and control devices — while doubling as a health tracker.
Cyborg Politics 3.0: AI and the Algorithms of Unpeace
How AI is transforming politics, warfare, and peacemaking, creating a new era of cyborg power and algorithmic "unpeace."
Clive Davis' legacy will live on with his Pre-Grammy Gala
The show will go on, even without its colorful maestro.
NASA Advances LISA Mission Contributions With New Test Telescope
NASA has taken the next step in the process of developing a new all-glass telescope for the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, a space
US, Zambia sign $2.49B health financing pact after removing data and specimen-sharing terms
The U.S. and Zambia have signed a $2.49 billion health financing deal after removing clauses on specimen-sharing and patient data
Red River Rivalry: Who are OU's backup quarterbacks?
OU starting quarterback John Mateer will be coming off a miserable performance, heading into the Red River Rivalry game against Texas.
Google is launching a one-stop Gemini agent for your work tasks
The enterprise-focused Gemini agent handles work from a single interface.
Retired Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet Talks Marine Science, Leadership At St. Mary’s College
LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — The Patuxent Partnership and the Steny H. Hoyer Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland hosted an evening with Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN (Ret.), on Sept. 30, at the College’s Dodge Performing Arts Center. The recital hall was full, with SMCM college students, alums, […]
Witcher 3 Remastered patch rolls out on PC and console, with separate Switch 2 patch earmarked to address blurry visuals
CD Projekt Red continues fixing The Witcher 3 Remastered, this time addressing bugs while improving console performance and adding lighting options like Bloom.
Wedbush Cuts Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:FLUT) Price Target to $110.00
Wedbush cut their price target on Flutter Entertainment from $126.00 to $110.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday.
Princess Diana’s brother trashes Kristen Stewart’s ‘Spencer’ movie: ‘Terrible’
Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, trashed Kristen Stewart’s ‘Spencer’ movie as ‘terrible,’ though he praised the Oscar-nominated actress’ performance for ‘capturing Diana’ in spirit.
Amazon overhauls aging devices lineup with higher priced Alexa tablet, dumping the budget Fire
The company said the Alexa tablet's improved speed and performance, artificial intelligence features and upgraded design warrant a higher price tag.
Hundreds of new pro sports team ETFs lead world of retail investing to the edge of gambling
Sports teams are big businesses, but new exchange-traded funds that allow investors to bet on MLB and NHL team performance look more like gambling, experts say.
Open science is compatible with research security, says Canada’s chief science advisor
Open science is “not incompatible” with research security and science leaders and policymakers should “demystify” the false dichotomy between the two, according to Mona Nemer, Canada’s chief science advisor. More than a decade ago, EU policymakers were promoting open science, open innovation and open collaboration across the world. It was a political movement that aimed to make scientific research, data, software, publications and methodologies transparent, accessible and reusable for everyone.But that rhetoric has changed over the past few years. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Donald Trump came back to power in 2025, international partnerships have become more pragmatic. Countries are trying to implement protectionist policies and governments are increasingly worried about technology espionage. According to Nemer, science can remain open if the sector can come up with improved security protocols that would protect research data from undue manipulation by foreign actors. “If anybody can fiddle with the with the data, then [open science] is actually quite dangerous and quite useless,” she told Science|Business. Universities and research institutions are increasingly vulnerable to attempted espionage and other types of foreign interference. In September, the UK’s domestic counter-intelligence service MI5 issued a security warning against collaborations with the China General Technology Research Institute. And earlier this year, Germany’s Helmholtz Center for Information Security was criticised by federal research minister Dorothee Bär, who told a parliamentary hearing that “existing rules and systems” at the institute “were not suitable” for preventing leaks to China. According to Nemer, universities and research institutions should perhaps follow the example of the private sector, as companies have been able to safeguard their research while still publishing results. “I think that there is a level of research security hygiene that researchers and institutions need to just adopt,” she said. “You don't have to tell Sanofi or IBM how to safeguard their research, which they end up publishing anyway.”While certain areas of research will not be open for collaboration with certain partners, in other areas cooperation is necessary even with researchers based in adversarial countries. “I stress this because politics change,” she said. “Science and politics don't make for good fellows, and whether we like it or not, politics will influence certain things.”Researchers will play an important role in “protecting the integrity of science,” said Nemer. “I think that it's time that there's a commitment to a certain scientific compact, so that citizens don't think that science is actually an open door for espionage and for anti-nationalism.”New partnershipsNemer spoke with Science|Business on the margins of the Hamburg Science Summit on September 17, the day when Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for increased cooperation with the EU, including in science and technology. Canada is looking to strengthen ties with partners in other corners of the world, after the Trump administration threatened to put tariffs on Canadian goods and services and even openly suggested Canada could become the 51st state. In parallel, the US government has indicated it wants to retreat from international science projects, including US collaboration with Europe’s CERN particle accelerator and other big science labs.Related articlesThe stats we need to better understand R&DCanada looks to deepen research and education links with the EUCan researchers trust that AI models won’t leak their ideas?Nemer said the US is still a science “powerhouse,” but Canada and Europe will have to work closely together on global challenges. “It’s important for both [sides], but I think it's also important for the rest of the world, because the cut in funding for development, in health, in regions like Africa and other places, have dramatic effects.” The Trump administration is also planning a review of the Nelson memo, a Biden-era document that mandated that results of federally funded research would be openly available. With that idea being called into question, Nemer said it could be “very disruptive” to scientific collaborations and could jeopardise research on climate change, the Arctic and global health. “When your collaborator suddenly tells you I'm not going to share the data with you as a researcher, if this happens, I think it's very worrisome,” she said. “I'm certainly hoping that a lot of the Canadian institutions, funders, researchers, have started looking at joining forces on databases and using more European research infrastructures,” Nemer added.
NASA is searching for hidden caves to build its first Moon base
NASA is preparing for humanity’s first Moon base with three investigations that will hunt for underground shelters, uncover hidden ice, and track dangerous conditions on the lunar surface. The findings could reveal how astronauts can survive and thrive on the Moon while laying the groundwork for future journeys to Mars.
From storefronts to startups: Student entrepreneurs grow their businesses at Mizzou
A new cohort of Tigers is turning ideas into businesses through hands-on experiences in the Mizzou Student Center — while returning entrepreneurs are taking their ventures to the next level.
Ohio health officials warn of dangerous drug resurfacing
Cyclorphine could be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, and overdoses could require many doses of naloxone.
CVS Health (CVS) Stock May Trade Below Fair Value On Integrated Care Push
CVS Health has delivered a 37.5% share price gain over the past three years, which puts fresh attention on a simple question. Is the current US$87.95 price tag adequately explained by the earnings power investors are paying for today? The 37.5% return over three years means anyone buying now needs to judge whether that past performance has already reflected what the business is earning. Recent developments, from extended distribution agreements with Cardinal Health and McKesson to regulatory...
Obama endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race
The former president told voters he is “proud to be on board” the Democrats’ campaign to oust Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Resilience and regeneration are reshaping Asia-Pacific real estate value
Land value and expected returns remain central to real estate investment, but across Asia-Pacific, sustainability, climate resilience, and long-term asset performance are increasingly influencing where capital goes.
Most Americans think artificial intelligence is developing too fast, a new AP-NORC poll finds
A new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans think artificial intelligence is developing too fast
AI tool plays matchmaker between Mass. businesses and contracts
A Cambridge-based lab developed a tool to connect Black-owned businesses to beds.
Bartunkova beats Muchova to reach China Open semifinals
BEIJING (AP) — Nikola Bartunkova reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal after beating fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 at the China Open on Thursday.Bartunkova stamped her authority on the quarterfinal by racing to a 5-0 lead against her seventh-seeded opponent.
Independent Bank relocates its headquarters to downtown Grand Rapids
Independent Bank relocated its headquarters to the Founders Building in downtown Grand Rapids, bringing more than 60 employees to the site.
TAKE3 comes to Lebanon as LCCCA continues 93-year tradition of live entertainment
The Lebanon County Community Concert Association will welcome TAKE3 to Lebanon on Sunday, Oct. 11, for the second performance of its 2026–27 concert season.
Manchester City charges: Premier League clubs fear political interference in appeal after Andy Burnham comments
Premier League clubs are "concerned" about political interference in Manchester City's appeal after Prime Minister Andy Burnham's comments.
At 81, he’s the most-cited nutrition expert. Here’s what he eats in a day.
Walter Willett’s research has changed the way Americans eat, revealing how diet and other lifestyle choices can shape your risk of chronic illnesses.
'Behemoth!' review: Pedro Pascal's cellist drama is (mostly) music to our ears
Pedro Pascal and Tony Gilroy team up for a musical drama that could use a tad more fine-tuning.
'Below' review: Josh Hartnett's sea monster series is perfect for 'Widow's Bay' fans
Creatures of the deep await in this fun 'Jaws' riff, including sea hags.
Commercial muralist builds brand identity, value
Riveting Paint & Pearl owner Desire McGinn approaches murals less like commissioned fine art and more like a skilled trade, working directly with business owners, contractors, and design firms to turn walls and other surfaces into extensions of a client's brand.
Premier League Gameweek 5 Review: Biggest Talking Points and Takeaways
Gameweek 5 of the English Premier League season delivered another weekend full of talking points, with several results catching the attention of fans across the country. There were big wins, surprise results and some disappointing performances as teams continued to find their rhythm early in the season. Arsenal suffered a heavy defeat away to Brighton […]
GA-ASI Recognizes Three Small Business Suppliers for Quality Performance
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has launched a new annual Supplier Quality Recognition program intended to recognize small businesses...
Bollywood actor Nana Patekar dies at 75
MUMBAI, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Nana Patekar, a veteran Indian actor known for his fiery performances in Bollywood films and theatre, died on Thursday aged 75, local media reported.
MSFT Stock On 4-Day Winning Streak: Microsoft Takes On Apple's Macs With Nvidia-Powered Surface Ultra, More On-Device AI
Microsoft is pushing Windows deeper into the local-AI era with Nvidia-powered Surface, on-device models and hybrid Copilot features.
Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire Switch Port Rumours Resurface Following Pokémon HOME's Latest Update
Two GBA games were made compatible this week
With the internet’s rise, politics carry more meme than meaning
Our columnist argues Americans must take political communication more seriously, rather than reducing nuanced issues to surface-level content.
Microsoft Launches $2,599 Surface Laptop Ultra to Take on MacBook Pro
Microsoft today announced launch timing and pricing for the Surface Laptop Ultra that it unveiled earlier this year. The 15-inch Surface Laptop Ultra is priced starting at $2,599, undercutting Apple's $2,999 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it targets the same creator and developer market. Microsoft says it is built for "demanding creative, software development, AI, engineering, and 3D workloads".
Several Tigers Prospects Looking for Bounce-Back Seasons
Detroit Tigers fans are likely familiar with the top positional player prospects. If not, we’ll see more of guys like Zyhir Hope and Bryce Rainer play in the Arizona Fall League. We’ll analyze these two top prospects and their performances after the league ends. The prospects highlighted include a few former top 100 prospects and …
Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal Retirement: Georgina Rodriguez's Admission on Future Resurfaces
Award-winning Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh detained by US immigration authorities
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - An award-winning filmmaker whose work has explored conflict in his native Kashmir has been detained by US immigration officials after legally coming
Gears of War: E-Day Launches to Modest Reviews and 31,500 Peak Steam Players
Gears of War: E-Day, the origin story of the long-running Gears of War franchise, launched on Steam, Xbox, and Game Pass, and, although Microsoft has been building hype for the new Gears game for several months leading up to launch day, the game's launch performance on Steam is less than stellar....
A public health-minded senator asks: What comes after Trump and Kennedy?
Sen. Patty Murray, a former chair of the Senate health committee, is forming a group of experts to examine how to insulate the C.D.C. from political interference.
RFK Jr. Plans Vaccine Injury Initiative, Drawing Wary Eye From Experts
Vaccine safety experts say more research into the side effects would be welcome yet question whether the health secretary’s effort will be grounded in science.
International experience gives business leaders an edge, study finds
Business leaders with international experience play a significant role in shaping the success of their organizations and are often associated with stronger organizational performance, including higher ...
Who Won August and September: Original Films or Franchises?
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) I just heard someone say that if you’re reading a pundit or data analyst, and they don’t tell you that they got anything wrong, they’re not a pundit but an “influencer”. I agree with that. You have to tell your audience when you get things wrong, or they won’t (or shouldn’t) trust you as much. Today, we’ve got another edition of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. In general, I’m patting myself on the back (and patting very hard) about a few things like IP at the box office, LIV golf, horror films, crowdfunding movies, superheroes, and old people going to the theaters. That said, I also made a couple of data mistakes on the streaming bubble popping and HBO’s datecdotes, so I’m not perfect. But first, I need your feedback... Subscribe Follow-Ups: What Should We Call Mid-Budget Movies Which Aren’t Cinematic Enough for Theaters But Are Too Expensive to Make Money on Streaming? After I asked for feedback on what we should call straight-to-streaming films that are too big to pencil out on streaming but not really big enough to resonate in theaters, I got some great suggestions from you all, including... “Moldilocks” from John Aboud “Little Big Indie” from Travis Frick1 “Midflicks” from Jonathan Funke. “Extra-Medium” from Jona Nwuke. (Read the explanation in the footnote.) Between these and Brandon Katz—who suggested “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”—we’ve got some excellent suggestions. And they’re better than my suggestion, the “Streaming Budget Dead Zone”, so let’s take a poll! The winning entry becomes the new term. Loading... RIGHT: LIV Golf is Fully Bankrupt…Is Anyone Else Next? A few years ago, I was always a bit perplexed at all the articles I’d read praising LIV Golf and their strategy to disrupt the PGA. LIV Golf, a brand new professional golf league, offered PGA stars ten times what they made on the PGA Tour to join their new league. And folks praised this strategy for its initial “success” in that a lot of big names did indeed leave the PGA. Yeah, of course the players came over. LIV Golf paid them so, so, so much more! But LIV Golf hadn’t discovered a way to increase potential revenue. So think about this in basic business terms… They paid much more in costs… …but had no real way to increase revenue. That’s not a strategy! That’s deficit financing. It won’t work unless you bankrupt the competition (and then turn around and pay those same golfers much, much less). It’s not a sustainable strategy and only lasts as long as the company/person/nation backing it decides they’re cool with losing money. For LIV Golf, that meant Middle East oil wealth, in particular Saudi Arabian money. Clearly, the current Iran War has hurt Middle East finances, so they need to trim their more exorbitant spending. And LIV Golf was part of that trimming. This should be a major warning for others. TGL’s parent company, TMRW Sports, just got a $1 billion valuation, despite TGL’s (the indoor golf league) horrible TV viewership of less than half a million viewers per match. Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league, just secured a $650 valuation, despite its horrible TV viewership and a new rival (Project B) entering the scene next year. To relate this to streaming, Hollywood should ask which streamers may have wealthy patrons funding their losses. (Let’s be clear: Google, Amazon and Apple.) Could those patrons lose their appetite? For Amazon, probably not. But Apple has a new boss, so maybe! WRONG: My Analysis of the Streaming Bubble Was Missing a Week I’m going to be congratulating myself a lot today, but I make mistakes too, like this data goof. When I last compiled the data on the decline in TV shows, I was missing one week at the end of June. If you look at the first image, you can see that one week was mislabelled as “July”. Mainly, this image got updated to show a 27% decline, not 29%: This change doesn’t really impact the overall analysis, but it is two percent better. By the way, through the third quarter, the decline increased and it’s now a 30% decrease since 2022. (I’ll write/visualize this in an upcoming article.) But I want you to trust me and my data. Especially these days, when many people are using LLMs that I know are inserting faulty data into their charts, I want to keep earning my audience’s faith. So that’s the accurate data. RIGHT: IP Remains Very, Very Popular In July, I wrote a giant (and I mean giant) article on Backrooms, Obsession, and the box office, going over what we know, what we don’t know about what works in theaters, looking at YouTubers, IP, the horror genre, comic book movies, and a whole lot more. The month of August really tested a lot of my theses and, being honest, mostly supported my arguments. Let’s start with IP. Looking at 8-Aug (the weekend after Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out) to 18-Sep (the weekend that Resident Evil came out, which I think provides a nice bookend to this time period), there were seven films based on pre-existing IP: Resident Evil (2026) ($126 million) Practical Magic 2 ($65 million) _Insidious: Out of the Furthe_r ($65 million) Coyote Vs. Acme ($59 million) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie ($53 million) Tony ($15 million) Super Troopers 3 ($7 million) Compare those to the notable original films from the past month—I actually could have included more movies, but here are just thirteen, bringing us to an even twenty films—including.... The End of Oak Street ($54 million) Buddy ($26 million) Mutiny ($15 million) By Any Means ($15 million) The Dog Stars ($14 million) Runner ($14 million) One Night Only ($11 million) Hope ($8 million) Spa Weekend ($7 million) The Uprising ($6 million) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($6 million) Onslaught ($3 million) Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man ($2.8 million) Here’s that in chart form: Five of the top six films in this time period were all based on IP. I made a big chart of films that grossed over $200 million at the box office before Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey hit theaters. Let’s update that chart! By the way, if you want to see how I categorized each film—so another bar chart—here it is: I know that many of my fellow critics/pundits/analysts dislike films based on IP and how Hollywood is making so many of them. And I’m sympathetic to this point of view. As I’ve written many, many times before, you need a balance between existing franchises, new IP, and original films. And Hollywood clearly needs to make more films like Resident Evil (a well-made film from a visionary director) and fewer Practical Magic 2’s (which didn’t get critical or customer buzz). But at some point, critics and pundits need to contend with what audiences are telling them: Movie-goers aren’t showing up to original films. Audiences are speaking with their dollars, telling you they want more IP and franchises. You can try to convince studio heads to make fewer IP-based films and franchises, but the data and numbers aren’t there. Instead, critics need to work harder to convince audiences to show up for original films. Aim your ire/concern at the average person, not studio heads.2 Because they’re just making the films that audiences are telling them to make. WRONG: Original Horror Films Didn’t Break Out I’ll be honest, even though I wrote an article casting some skepticism on the horror genre in July, if you asked me to make a prediction, I would have predicted that, in August, a new, original horror film would have blown up. No, seriously, I just assumed that Obsession and Backrooms presaged a change in audience behavior. But none of the buzzy new original horror films from August—Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Onslaught (not an action film in spite of the ads), The End of Oak Street, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, or _Buddy—_broke out. To be clear, exactly one of those films (Buddy) had good “ROI”, but again—I try to be specific in my language—none were “popular” in any broad sense of the word. None of them will be “saving” movies theaters like Backrooms or _Obsession_helped save the summer. The new Insidious film and Resident Evil, both based on IP, were far and away the biggest horror films since July. (We’ll see if this changes in October/Halloween season.) RIGHT: Stay Skeptical about Crowdfunding... I’ve long been skeptical about crowd-investing platforms as one of Hollywood’s saviors, mainly because there’s so much hype/buzz. People need to stay more skeptical about more things, explaining both the potential upside but also the downsides. In particular, the media often hypes crowdfunding at the start and never checks in on the actual results after they’ve come in later. And August gave us our first update! _Ice Cream Man—_directed by Eli Roth—grossed $6 million off of a $5.5 million budget. This is a production of The Horror Section, which was one of the first “crowd investing” studios with 2,400 investors, which means that 2,400 investors probably lost money. They certainly aren’t getting as great of returns as if they had just invested their dollars in the stock market. Hopefully Stiletto (Tagline: “Someone’s Going to Make it Rain Blood!”) does better next month. WRONG: Another Data Goof Here’s another data error. When the first episode of House of the Dragon came out, HBO put out that it had 21.5 million viewers in the first three days, and I read that to mean in the US…but no, it was global. So my US-only datecdotes charts shouldn’t have included it. We never got US-only numbers for the first episode, but for the final episode, HBO put out that it had 11 million US viewers. (And that global dropped to 21 million viewers.) Here’s the updated chart (which I’ve since used in the Streaming Ratings Report): Still, this show is absolutely huge. RIGHT: Superhero Films Remain Very, Very Popular After Supergirl flopped, I read a few takes that “comic book movies are going the way of the Western”. Post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that take didn’t age well. To be fair, I have a very nuanced take on the superhero genre right now; it’s down right now, for a lot of reasons. But it’s not “dead”. Maybe _Spider-_Man is just a really popular character? I saw that take, and it’s a fair counter-argument. (But pundits arguing that superhero movies were dead should have mentioned this $1.5 billion counter-argument…) But is it just Spider-Man? The next Avengers film already has $50 million in pre-sales (and I was skeptical that that film would do well) and the Avengers: End Game re-release topped the box office two weekends ago (over three original films). And I wouldn’t bet against Batman or Superman. So maybe it’s just Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and the Avengers. Oh, and Deadpool, of course. And Black Panther. And Wolverine. And probably the X-Men. Plus a well-made Wonder Woman or the Hulk film could break out. But that’s it! It’s just those ten characters/teams. Oh, what’s that? Lanterns is also doing well on HBO? (See previous section…) To be fair, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to the argument that more popular characters—like Spider-Man and Batman—anchor more popular films. In fact, I made that exact argument three years ago when I first wrote about the “Marvel-cession”. In many ways, you can blame The Guardians of the Galaxy for fooling Marvel Studios (and the rest of us) into believing that any character could pop. It turns out, the list of iconic characters is probably smaller than most people think. But it’s probably too early to say that superhero films and comic book movies are dead unless “death” means a slight decline over a longtime. RIGHT: Who Killed Theaters? Old People I get frustrated whenever I see headlines or analysis about how young people are “returning” to theaters. As I’ve detailed(for years), young people have always powered the US box office, despite narratives about “kids these days” and their “phones”. Really, what’s changed post-2020/pandemic is that old people aren’t going to the movies nearly as much. This summer, I saw a movie (from an older director) in a theater near a retirement community, and multiple older people at the theater were talking about how this was their first time seeing a movie in years. I dislike personal anecdotes, so YouGov can fill in the data, best summarized by this headline: “Who killed movie theaters? Not the youths”. According to them, 64% of people aged 18-29 have seen a movie in the last year, but only 30% of 65-and-older. 20% of 18-29 have seen a movie in theaters in the last week and 42% in the last month. Here’s the polling data: Most concerning? Many Americans (17%) think theaters are a worse or much worse experience than watching films at home. Slight WRONG: Hadestown Opens Big A live theater capture of the Broadway musical, Hadestown, made $20 million at the US box office, which begs the question: was I wrong to be skeptical about musicals a few years ago? Yes and no. On the one hand, $20 million is a far cry from being “popular”, so yeah, the genre isn’t that popular overall and Hadestown is one of the more popular musicals from recent years (i.e. the “Taylor Swift Data Fallacy” in action). On the other, I doubt filming this cost all that much, and I don’t think that they spent much on marketing, so this is a good source of ancillary revenue. Smaller Updates WRONG: As I mentioned in a Streaming Ratings Report, I underestimated the budget for Enola Holmes 3. It probably cost more like $50 million, if not more. But... I’m not sure that it really matters? At sub-10 million hours, prices have to come down to make this work. WRONG: Netflix is giving Ink a 27-day in theaters! To quote the kids/YouTubers these days, let’s go! Now I might actually have a chance to see Danny Boyle’s latest in theaters. I’d complained about this in a “Coming Soon” section, but I was heartened to read that Netflix is giving multiple films longer theatrical windows this year. RIGHT: Netflix is sending 4-5 films per year to theaters. Netflix is slowly but surely sending more and more films to theaters, as I cautiously predicted earlier this year. For now, it’s just three big films and a number of awards contenders, but still, this is great news. And they’ll be releasing box office grosses! Just this week, Ted Sarandos confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters 2 will come to theaters (and my guess is it performs in the box office top ten at a minimum). WRONG: Angel has 3 million subscribers! How do I know this? Well, they told Deadline, who reported it. I marked this as “wrong”, since they’ve doubled their subscribers in one year but, you know, they don’t really have a hit film to speak of and they’re still losing money. WRONG: Furious was only renewed for one more season. I accidentally wrote “two more seasons” in my latest “Renewals, Cancellations, Un-Orders and Removals Update”. RIGHT: House of David is ending with its third season. In July, Prime Video renewed House of David for a third season, as I just wrote in my latest “Renewals and Cancellations” report. Well, now it’s ending after that third season. Why? As I’ve been writing, its viewership wasn’t great. I got feedback that this show didn’t cost very much, but it cost enough that its limited viewership didn’t save it. WRONG: Adults was a Hulu original! So I missed Adults when it first came out last year; I saw that it aired on FX and just assumed that it was a linear-first program. Turns out, it aired three episodes on FX, but binge-released the rest of its episodes the next day on Hulu. Huh. So I should have covered it last year! But I just wrote about it. 1 “When I was a kid in the 90s, if you wore a t-shirt to school that wasn’t too big and also wasn’t too small, but somehow didn’t quite fit, we’d say you were wearing an “extra-medium” shirt.” 2 As always, a huge exception is Disney, which barely makes anything original anymore.
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