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There’s a Reason That Netflix’s Ad Business Has Underwhelmed
Somewhat lost in the company’s slew of firings and engagement warnings over the past few weeks was the fact that Netflix is scaling back its ad forecast for 2026 from $3 billion to $2.7 billion. That’s despite the fact that: CTV is growing by 14-15% this year This year saw a monster upfront Netflix is the biggest streamer out there this side of YouTube, and was the platform that for years brands were supposedly dying to be a part of In other words, that’s an alarming pull-back from Netflix. A Wall Street analyst I spoke with last week was blunt, calling Netflix’s ad business “disappointing.” To me, a red flag on the ad front is that Netflix has never revealed how many ad-supported subscribers it has. Because if I know anything about how big companies work, if they have a positive number that makes them look really good - they tend to share it. (How many subs does go90 have right now? We’re not saying just yet. How are ads going on ChatGPT? Oh, a billion run rate - I see). Yes, to date Netflix has shared some fuzzy ad numbers, such as the idea that the company’s ad tier ‘reaches’ 250 million users globally.’ Here’s why that figure gives me pause: a)they lead with global, and b) they don’t explain how they are calculated. (Are they based on average people in each room? Surveys of some kind?). Regardless, some insiders say that Netflix’s ad tier is scaling nicely - others not so much. Either way, one of Netflix’s biggest challenge on the ad front appears to have been its starting point. Remember, when Netflix launched ads in 2022, it had 73 million subs in the US and Canada. That’s 73 million people who were used to Netflix with zero ads. And when the ad product rolled out, the company clearly was going after new users - a limited pool of potential subscribers by default. That focus seems to have changed over time, as Netflix has tried to convert longtime subscribers to the ad tier. Historically Netflix subscribers are very sticky. But is the company’s low churn a problem? Not necessarily, according to Antenna data. Rather, Netflix’s consumer loyalty is a bit of a double-edged sword. “Netflix is the one streamer which actually has seen substantial “trade downs” but has much lower ‘win backs,’ said Antenna founder Jonathan Carson (win-backs being people who were on the ad-free plan, cancelled, then rejoined on the ad plan). “Netflix has lower churn and so has less opportunity to win back old subs with a lower cost plan option.” This all might explain why Netflix has been so slow to roll out all of these table stakes targeting options until just this week. It likely didn’t have enough users to carve up into various targets. etc. However, what really hit Netflix’s ad business was Amazon’s move a few years ago to turn on advertising for Prime Video by default. Suddenly the market was awash in premium inventory, and Netflix was playing catch-up on multiple fronts. Thus, the streaming giant appears to still be figuring out if if wants lead in ‘programmatic TV,’ or premium ‘upfront’ TV sales. “The CTV market now sorts into three businesses, and Netflix is not the leader of any of them,” wrote analyst Jack Myers. Ouch. So how does Netflix ratchet up its ads business? Get the next NFL package You’re gonna have to wait until 2030 unless one of the bigger media companies like Skydance opts out, but the easiest (not cheapest) way for Netflix to become a huge TV ads contender is to get one of the regular NFL packages, ideally Sunday afternoons. That way it can sell ads to its whole U.S. subs base overnight. Go FAST This one is risky, because to program a compelling FAST channel, you’d likely have to take some older Netflix exclusive shows and make them available for free to non-subscribers. But FASTs, for better or worse, are ad-inventory machines. Go full UGC I’m not sure I see this happening. There is something already off about Netflix carrying podcasts and shows for creators. The experience sticks out in what is such a produced, and generally non-communal environment. But Netflix could open up its platform by allowing creators to upload videos without having to be approved by the service. But that opens a whole other can of worms (policing brand safety, copyright infringement, overall quality). Make a huge RMN Deal I was going to suggest something crazy, such as ‘instead of buying Warner Brothers, Netflix should buy Target. But the company doesn’t want to be in the brick and mortar business. Yet for Netflix’s ad business to compete in an Amazon world, it needs to be able to connect ad exposures to shopping. What if, instead of letting Amazon target Netflix viewers with its DSP, Netflix inked a deal with Target, or even took control of Roundel, and created its version of the Amazon full-funnel for brands? Price us out. I hope they don’t do this, but Netflix’s price increases - while significant - haven’t been enough to push long-term customers out of the ad-free tier. But if they made those prices so prohibitive, it could push large swaths of consumers to trade down. Then again, that could also dent engagement - as binging becomes much less appealing once you bring ads into the equation. Or, they could just launch a bunch of hit shows and maybe everyone will quickly forget all this angst. More from Amazon unBoxed A few weeks ago, I recorded two podcasts live at Amazon’s unBoxed event in San Francisco. I was able to go really deep with several brand partners about how Amazon’s various data and ad products work - particularly the under appreciated Amazon Marketing Cloud. First, I talked with Laura Abadias Velilla, of the Amazon specialty agency Amerge, along with Amazon’s own Charlotte Maines, Vice President, Devices Content & Advertising, about how the two partners helped a very specific printer company Epson launch into a brand new category - high end projectors. It’s a great example of how brands connect audience data across platforms to make budget deployment decisions. Next, I chatted with Monks VP Head of Digital Investment for North America Tom Burchill about how the agency actually brought in data from Linkedin to help target B2B customers across various Amazon properties for the brand Quicken. Check it out: Check these out, or just listen:
CBS Sports puts Florida among top national title contenders
CBS Sports placed No. 1 Florida among four legitimate national title favorites in its preseason Final Four tiers.
Sam LaPorta Trade Pitch Targets the Lions’ Biggest Hole
A Lions beat writer's trade pitch would send Sam LaPorta to a contender and address Detroit's weakest spot. #OnePride
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats’ political hold
Republican contender Gregg Hull says the state is “primed for a shift.”
In New Mexico governor’s race, Deb Haaland’s historic bid tests Democrats’ political hold
Republican contender Gregg Hull says the state is “primed for a shift.”
Which college football team is the biggest disappointment of 2026?
Some of college football's biggest preseason contenders have stumbled ... hard. From Texas to Texas A&M and beyond, we want fans to name the biggest disappointment of 2026.
Oklahoma Sooners Baseball 2027 Schedule Released
Defending their national title, the Sooners face a brutal gauntlet featuring ten postseason contenders and marquee SEC showdowns against Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee in a high-stakes 2027 campaign
49ers, Jaguars Floated Trade Idea Involving $14.6 Million Player
The San Francisco 49ers appear to be one of the buyers ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline. So far this 2026 NFL season, the Niners have established themselves as a Super Bowl contender. Despite the impressive start to the campaign, San Francisco does have areas of concern such as the wide receiver position. During […] The post 49ers, Jaguars Floated Trade Idea Involving $14.6 Million Player appeared first on HEAVY.
Five mayoral contenders file ballot signatures as incumbent Johnson waits
Mayor Brandon Johnson is struggling in fundraising, but plans to file "far above" the 12,500 signature threshold to make the ballot
Vance struggles to tame GOP struggles in 2026, and may suffer for them in 2028
JD Vance’s 2026 arguments on Iran war, energy prices and immigration are a test of how, as a 2028 presidential contender, he might handle President Donald Trump’s legacy.
Bengals Trade Idea: Should Cincinnati Pursue This Superstar RB?
With Cincinnati’s ground game stalling behind an elite offensive line, acquiring Jonathan Taylor could provide the explosive spark needed to transform the Bengals into legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Vikings Handed Blunt Insider Take Involving Eagles’ Saquon Barkley
The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 and in their bye week, but could general manager Nolan Teasley make a major splash at the trade deadline to put this team over the hump and make it a true contender? Minnesota’s defense is one of, if not the best in the league. However, on offense, there are a […] The post Vikings Handed Blunt Insider Take Involving Eagles’ Saquon Barkley appeared first on HEAVY.
Go, Fishbowl: 12 Denver Film Fest picks beyond the obvious
John Moore's recommendations include Colorado-made ‘Welcome to the Fishbowl,' an animated lark, four Oscars contenders and revealing documentaries
Vikings’ Standout Receives Blunt Update Among Contract Concerns
Everyone is trying to figure out whether or not the 2026 Minnesota Vikings are a contender or a pretender.Offensively, the Vikings have fielded one of the worst offenses in football through five weeks. Thankfully, the unit showed some signs of life during Minnesota’s 23-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday.On the other side […] The post Vikings’ Standout Receives Blunt Update Among Contract Concerns appeared first on HEAVY.
Talarico rallies as his Texas U.S. Senate race against Paxton enters final weeks
Texas state Rep. James Talarico is seen as a real contender to win the seat against Republican candidate Ken Paxton.
LeBron James Believes the Miami Heat are 'Damn Good'
The NBA's oldest superstar breaks down why the Miami Heat's elite defense and revamped floor spacing, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Erik Spoelstra, make them legitimate Eastern Conference contenders.
The Far-Left Firebrand Who Wants to Upend France’s Politics—and Cancel Its Debt
Jean-Luc Mélenchon has seized on student demonstrations and transformed himself into a real contender for France’s highest office.
Big 12 football bowl projections after Week 6 results
BYU, Utah and Texas Tech are the Big 12's CFP contenders after Week 6, while Colorado and Kansas are left out of bowl projections.
Mayor backs new Vegas NBA arena proposal
New York-based real estate firm Fisher Brothers has joined the list of contenders eyeing the opportunity of an NBA expansion franchise heading to Las Vegas by setting out a proposal for an arena based at the site of its Area15 immersive entertainment complex. Area15, founded by Winston Fisher and opened in 2020, has been put
'Football 301' diagnoses fatal flaws of 6 NFL contenders: What could derail Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks and more?
3 Bold Takes for SEC Basketball in 2026-27
With the 2026-27 college basketball season just under a month away, it's time to take a glimpse of the future and look beyond the standard expectations. SEC Basketball is full of established stars, true contenders, and teams capable of exceeding expectations. 3 Bold Takes for SEC Basketball in 2026-27 The question remains: which teams can …
From the border to the Bible: Takeaways from Talarico interview
The Democratic Senate contender discussed education, immigration, taxes, foreign policy and his faith during an interview with The Dallas Morning News.
2027 Oscars power rankings: Top 10 best picture contenders right now
With the fall festivals in the books, awards columnist Glenn Whipp surveys the landscape and offers his first bold prediction of the 10 best picture nominees.
Bears can solidify contender status by landing 17.0 sack veteran
Chicago could use one last piece.
Bills Week 4 Takeaways: Broken Mess or an Elite Team?
Bills Week 4 Takeaways: Overreactions and reality checks. Are the Bills broken, or are they an elite team? Is Buffalo a top team and a Super Bowl contender?
Can Sean Miller Turn Texas Into an SEC Title Contender?
After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Purdue in the Sweet 16, Sean Miller's challenge at Texas this year will be turning a talented roster into one ready to contend for an SEC championship. The Longhorns' frontcourt size and scoring options give Texas fans reason to be excited. Texas' success will ultimately depend on how these …
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.
Big 12 football bowl projections after Week 5 results
BYU and Utah are the Big 12's CFP contenders after Week 5, while Colorado, TCU and Kansas are left out of bowl projections.
Sleep, appetite, gene-editing experts contend for Nobel chemistry prize
Molecules that regulate sleep and appetite or methods for editing genes are some of the research fields commentators say could be contenders for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry announced Wednesday.This y...
Former Cowboys $3 Million LB Joins NFC Contender
Former Dallas Cowboys veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks signed with the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on Tuesday. The post Former Cowboys $3 Million LB Joins NFC Contender appeared first on HEAVY.
Offseason: Are the Tigers Legitimate Contenders for Skubal?
Fresh off a blockbuster trade, Detroit faces a high-stakes reunion. Discover why internal team philosophies and Scott Boras’s price tag could derail the Tigers’ pursuit of their former ace.
PS5 Metroidvania Game Gets Perfect Reviews, New PlayStation GOTY Contender
An upcoming PS5 Metroidvania game has already won over critics while emerging as a Game of the Year contender.
The 2026 Big Ten College Football Playoff Picture: Week 6
The contenders and fringe contenders are beginning to show themselves in the Big Ten. At the same time, six programs have been eliminated from contention.
Will the Cardinals trade Josh Sweat as departure rumors swirl?
GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals should seriously consider trading Josh Sweat before the NFL trade deadline. If multiple contenders call, general manager Monti Ossenfort can turn a disappointing investment into future draft capital.
FT and Standard Chartered Book of the Year Award 2026
Contenders include titles on weight-loss drugs, AI weaponry and forecasting
FT and Standard Chartered Book of the Year Award 2026
Contenders include titles on weight-loss drugs, AI weaponry and forecasting
Florida running back apologizes to coach after disappointing game
Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh entered Saturday’s game against the Missouri Tigers as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. Unfortunately for him and the Gators, he didn’t exactly perform that way on Saturday. Now, he’s apologizing directly to his coach. Just a week after a lopsided win over Ole Miss thrust the Gators into the…
Can Washington Nationals Bounce Back Into Playoff Team in 2027?
Can the Washington Nationals flip the script to become a playoff contender in 2027?
'I Play Rocky' review: Can this crowd-pleaser be an Oscar contender?
"Green Book" director Peter Farrelly offers Oscar bait. But can it topple "The Odyssey"?
Scientists Discover Two New Contenders for World’s Loudest Bird
Two birds have just chimed in to an unusually noisy competition: the race to be considered the loudest bird in the world. The bare-throated bellbird and red-legged seriema can both produce calls that ...
Hawks' Continuity Could Be Their Biggest Eastern Conference Advantage
The Atlanta Hawks largely stood pat while Eastern Conference contenders reshuffled, giving them a continuity edge entering 2026-27.
Tigers called ‘True Contender’ to sign Skubal
The Detroit Tigers are being called a “true contender” to sign Tarik Skubal in free agency after trading their ace to the Dodgers.
4 Running Backs Who Could Be Traded Soon
With the NFL trade deadline not too far off, several crowded backfields could create opportunities for deals. Injuries around the league could also push contenders to search for proven depth. Several running backs who could be traded already find themselves fighting for touches. Here are four situations that are worth watching.
Two Most Important Things for New Blazers Coach Micah Nori
Armed with elite playmaking and a stingy defense, Portland’s new leader must balance offensive star power with rotation flexibility to transform the Blazers into Western Conference contenders.
Nico Paz: The likely heir to Messi’s no. 10
Nico Paz is emerging as the favourite to inherit the legendary no. 10 shirt from Lionel Messi. The 22-year-old underlined his credentials as a contender for the 'throne', in Argentina's thrashing of B...
Former Philadelphia Eagles rookie, Pa. native signs with NFC contender
Former Eagles defensive tackle and West Chester standout David Blay has signed with the Green Bay Packers' practice squad.
Rays Built an October Contender Without Sacrificing Their Future
The Tampa Bay Rays won 98 games, captured the AL East and earned the American League's No. 1 seed without mortgaging their future. From Junior Caminero and Drew Rasmussen to trade additions Freddy Peralta and Liam Hicks, Tampa Bay built a complete MLB playoff contender.
Scientists identify two of the world’s noisiest birds – and they’re as loud as a jackhammer
There are two new contenders for the world’s loudest bird – and scientists are not being quiet about it.
Biggest Questions For Every MLB Wild-Card Series
The 2026 MLB postseason is here , and the path to the World Series is loaded with familiar contenders, unexpected arrivals, and a few teams carrying serious momentum into October. From the White Sox completing a remarkable turnaround to the Brewers chasing the first championship in franchise history, there is no shortage of intrigue .…
Rams’ Super Bowl hopes might already be in jeopardy
Three games in and LA has yet to play like the contender they were expected to be
Are Broncos Pretenders Or Contenders In AFC?
The Denver Broncos were embarrassed in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but turned the season around with two come-from-behind wins in the following two weeks.
‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Starts Strong, Eyes ‘American Fiction’-Style Rollout
Bassam Tariq’s Mahershala Ali-starring TIFF favorite Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother had a strong limited opening as distributor Amazon MGM launched the awards contender into a platform release he...
Have Linfield been overlooked as possible title contenders?
BBC Sport NI explores if people had ruled out Linfield's title credentials too early in the season.
Where Dodgers' Pitching Staff Ranks Among Rival Contenders
The Los Angeles Dodgers' arms are among the best, and they need to be the best for this team to win a third-straight World Series title.
Cleveland Cavaliers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
The Cleveland Cavaliers re-signed Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, while adding Peyton Watson. Is it enough to make them NBA title contenders?
CBS Sports believes Florida has entered SEC contender conversation
CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli believes Florida has closed the gap on several SEC contenders following the Gators' 3-0 start under Jon Sumrall.
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Names 3 Contenders to Replace Mike Onwenu
The New England Patriots aren’t automatically handing one veteran the right guard job after losing Mike Onwenu.Head coach Mike Vrabel said Greg Van Roten, Walter Rouse and Ben Brown are among the players who will work at guard this week, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reported on X on Sept. 23. Patriots HC Mike […] The post Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Names 3 Contenders to Replace Mike Onwenu appeared first on HEAVY.
'The Debut' review: Julianne Moore becomes an Oscar contender with Jesse Eisenberg's outrageous theater farce
If you love "Only Murders in the Building," you'll adore "The Debut."
Ex-Bills WR Brandin Cooks Signs With Super Bowl Contender
Former Buffalo Bills WR & 1st-round pick Brandin Cooks signs with Super Bowl contender. The post Ex-Bills WR Brandin Cooks Signs With Super Bowl Contender appeared first on HEAVY.
The Boox Picco Is a Contender for My New Favorite Tiny E-Reader
I went hands-on with the Boox Picco, the latest in a new wave of pocket-sized e-readers, and it is a strong answer to the Xteink X4 Pro.
Micah Nori’s First Real Trail Blazers Test Is Already Here
With a star-studded backcourt vying for possession, Portland’s new head coach must master a delicate balancing act to turn redundant offensive talent into a cohesive championship contender.
Indiana Pacers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
The Indiana Pacers are poised to be NBA Finals contenders after a one-year hiatus following the Achilles injury suffered by star Tyrese Haliburton.
Jordan Hall Shines in Return From Injury
After overcoming an elbow injury, the relentless linebacker racked up 12 tackles against Notre Dame, cementing his status as a Butkus Award contender and Michigan State’s defensive heart.
The next wave of VCs judging Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2026
The next wave of VCs judging the Startup Battlefield 200 contenders on the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register by Sept 25 to save up to $200.
Houston Rockets season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
The Houston Rockets can be contenders again with Fred VanVleet back from injury to help make year two of the Kevin Durant era a smoother ride.
Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following Big UFC 331 Win
UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan issued a statement following his big win at UFC 331 over Mauricio Ruffy.In the co-main event of UFC 331, Tsarukyan knocked out Ruffy with a standing elbow and punches with just four seconds left in the first round.The fight was scheduled for five rounds, but Tsarukyan didn’t even need a […] The post Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following Big UFC 331 Win appeared first on HEAVY.
Will Seahawks run table in next four-game stretch?
The Seahawks have two favorable matchups followed by two games against Super Bowl contenders in the next four weeks, but their outlook is bright.
‘La Bola Negra’ wins TIFF’s People Choice Award, putting it on Oscar path
“La Bola Negra,” the Spanish queer epic about the intertwined lives of three gay men, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, confirming its status as a major Oscar contender.
'La Bola Negra' wins TIFF's People Choice Award, putting it on Oscar path
“La Bola Negra,” the Spanish queer epic about the intertwined lives of three gay men, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, confirming its status as a major Oscar contender | Talk 1370
'La Bola Negra' wins TIFF's People Choice Award, putting it on Oscar path
“La Bola Negra,” the Spanish queer epic about the intertwined lives of three gay men, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, confirming its status as a major Oscar contender.
Reds’ Emilio Pagan Could Decline $10 Million Option for Contender
Dominating since his return from injury, the veteran closer may swap Cincinnati’s rebuild for a title chase as his elite late-inning production commands attention from the league's elite.
Rockets’ First Round Draft Pick Signs With Western Conference Rival
After leaving Houston and bouncing around the league, Cam Whitmore finds himself signing a two-way contract for a potential contender.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom inks AI oversight executive order to improve safety ‘before it’s too late’
Newsom is the latest Democrat and potential White House contender to call for regulation of AI amid concerns over the rapidly advancing technology.
California governor signs order pushing for an AI ‘kill switch’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential contender, said he had to act because the federal government hasn’t done enough to regulate AI.
Opponent Defensive Preview: Eastern Washington Eagles
Wrapping up our non-conference schedule, the Huskies host the Eastern Washington Eagles on Montlake this weekend. Despite having a couple of memorable games over the years, this is just the fourth match up between these two in-state programs. The Eagles, a periodic contender at the FCS level, have played the Huskies close in the first […]
Lions Defense Gets Exposed in Embarrassing Loss to Bills
The Lions just got exposed. Detroit’s defense allowed 41 points, couldn’t stop Josh Allen or James Cook, and looked completely overmatched against a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Cavs Must Make Another Move to Become Title Contender
The Cleveland Cavaliers need to make another move if they want to become a true title contender in the 2026-27 season.
John Rave Sends Warning to Contenders After Royals Beat Astros
Kansas City was eliminated from the race a day earlier, and it answered by dropping Houston into a first-place tie with 10 games to go.
Tom Brady names the best NFL team after Week 1
Tom Brady reveals his top NFL teams after Week 1, with the Seattle Seahawks leading a list that features several Super Bowl contenders.
'Ten-plus years of work' - Darby on earning UFC contract
Dublin mixed martial artist Adam Darby says more than a decade of hard work came "to fruition" after becoming the first Irish fighter to earn a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series.
How Good can the Orlando Magic be Next Season?
The Orlando Magic have a chance to prove themselves as contenders, but it will not be easy.
From family van to Democratic U.S. Senate contender: Angie Nixon’s unlikely rise
“I told myself, ‘I don’t like bullies, and I will always stand up and push back and fight against bullies,’” Nixon said on Monday’s episode of the State Affairs podcast “Between the Lines With Dara Kam.”
Veteran Linked To Miami Heat Joins Eastern Conference Contender
After John Konchar snubbed the Miami Heat for the reigning champion New York Knicks, the team must pivot to remaining free agents to finalize their star-studded, championship-caliber rotation for next season.
High draft pick cut by Cardinals reportedly joining playoff contender
Arizona Cardinals' 2023 NFL Draft second-round selection BJ Ojulari was cut by the team in August, but was reportedly signed by the Jaguars.
Elite 2028 DL Prince Che trims list of top schools
Contenders are coming into focus for Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central four-star defensive lineman Prince Che, one of the nation’s best in the 2028 cycle. The elite junior is now down to seven schools. Che tells Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett that he’s down to seven schools, six of which are in the SEC. Texas A&M, LSU, […]
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Week 2
The Bison and Broncos emerge as contenders in their respected conferences
Packers Will Not Be Contenders When Micah Parsons Returns
The Green Bay Packers will not be contenders in the NFC even once Micah Parsons is back on the field.
Lane Kiffin Is Already Downplaying His Oxford Return
Lane Kiffin is going back to Oxford this week. You already know this isn’t going to feel like a normal football game. Kiffin will lead LSU against Ole Miss , returning to the place where he spent years building the Rebels into a national contender before leaving for Baton Rouge. But Kiffin is already trying…
AL executive reveals why Phillies are serious World Series contenders
This executive has a strong belief in the Phillies for five key reasons.
NFL fatigue rankings reveal major hidden disadvantage for Texans, 49ers
A new NFL Fatigue Index reveals the massive travel, rest and body-clock disadvantages facing the Texans, 49ers and other contenders in 2026.
Have the Timberwolves Built a Championship Contender for Anthony Edwards?
Can Anthony Edwards compete with this Minnesota Timberwolves roster?
NFL Sunday Was Absolute Chaos From Start to Finish
The NFL is back. And after one Sunday, we already have plenty to talk about. The opening Sunday of the 2026 season delivered blowouts, comebacks, quarterback drama and absolute chaos. Some contenders looked exactly like contenders. Others immediately raised questions. Then, of course, there were the games nobody saw coming. Caleb Williams and the Bears…
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott Suffer Brutal Gateway Playoff Blows
Gateway was already chaotic. Then it became a nightmare for Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott. Both drivers entered Sunday’s race with legitimate championship hopes. Both left World Wide Technology Raceway with major playoff problems. And neither driver could blame another competitor. Blaney’s Day Ends With No Brakes Ryan Blaney looked like a contender for much…
Is Michigan Ranked? Latest AP Top 25 Poll Revealed
The Michigan Wolverines dropped out of the Top 25 last week following a controversial win over Western Michigan. That had the college football world locked in on Saturday’s matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma.Michigan pulled off the upset, 17-10, and once again appear to be a legitimate contender. So how would improving to 2-0 be reflected […] The post Is Michigan Ranked? Latest AP Top 25 Poll Revealed appeared first on HEAVY.