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PROFILE: Ben Sio
New President of CenterState CEO Brings Nearly Two Decades of Experience to Drive CNY Growth By Stefan Yablonski Ben Sio serves as president of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity — or CenterState CEO. The independent Syracuse-based nonprofit is committed to creating inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth in Central New York. “I started in this position in March, so it has been six months. I’m in my 19th year with CenterState,” he said in August. As president, he is responsible for overseeing the organization’s administration and governance, while leading and executing its vision to be an effective advocate, exceptional employer and a force for positive outcomes for the community. He previously served as chief of staff and senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning, overseeing the organization’s long-term strategic planning, consulting, corporate governance, fundraising and development, land-use planning and government relations. In his years with the organization, Sio has led or supported many high-profile strategic initiatives including the creation of the CNY Rising Plan, the launch of the NUAIR Alliance and the region’s UAS strategy, the creation of the Micron-enabled Community Priorities Document and the recently awarded NY Smart I Corridor Tech Hub. “When we decided to split Rob’s [Simpson] role into two positions, he has the CEO title and I got the president title. Rob remains focused on forward looking vision strategy for the organization and I’m more focused on the day-to-day operations,” he explained. “I’m also responsible for building consensus around strategic needs and priorities and managing the change necessary to drive execution. It’s an eventful job. “The experiment that we call CenterState is always evolving and shifting and addressing where we see market demand and market failure. “If we see something in our economy that isn’t going the way we think it should go, then whether it is housing development or workforce development or something else, we are always figuring out how to step into these situations and address those challenges.” “We are the largest ever in terms of staff that we have ever been. We are no longer the 20-person organization we were when we started out many, many years ago,” he said. “There are more day-to-day things to take care of. But also there is just so much happening in the community right now that is pulling CenterState and our expertise in so many directions. I tell people if we were bored and not busy, then I’d be really concerned about what we are doing. But we are not bored. We’ve certainly got our hands full — and that is a good thing.” CenterState has now approximately 63 employees on its staff, according to recent nonprofit database records. It’s involved in myriad programs, ranging from Genius NY, a business accelerator competition for uncrewed systems, IoT and robotics startups, to CenterState Up Start, a collaborative business development program that connects local, service-based businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to the tools and networks that help them thrive. CNY Guy Through and Through A Central New York guy through and through, Sio was born and raised in Skaneateles. “My mom was a teacher, an art teacher. My father worked for many, many years with National Grid. He was there through the transition from Niagara Mohawk to National Grid,” he said. “Neither of my parents were touched by cutbacks and job loss. But I grew up going through that transition and being concerned that there were rounds of layoffs. My childhood connection to the economy here in Central New York … years ago it was on the decline. There were people that lived here that were concerned about losing their job. They were thinking they lived in a place that didn’t show much promise.” That narrative translated to his generation, he added. “The kids that grew up in the ‘90s in Central New York were very much told, directly or indirectly, by their parents, that they had to go somewhere else to find economic opportunity. That is what I grew up thinking,” he said. “I only went a few miles down Route 20 for college — in Geneva, New York; I graduated from Hobart and William Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and political science. “I got real interested in regional economies; because what makes regional economy is what makes the economy successful. And when I graduated, I had an opportunity to move to Washington, DC and work down there at a nonprofit doing this work.” However, he decided to stay in Central New York. “I got hired two weeks after I graduated. I got hired by the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. At the time it was one of two entities doing economic development in Central New York — [the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association] — and it eventually became CenterState CEO,” he said, referring to 2010 merger between the two organizations. During his time at CenterState, Sio has also split time at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., where he supported communities developing export and foreign direct investment (FDI), a long-term cross-border investment where an individual or company from one country buys a lasting stake or control in a business located in another country. The program — known as Global Cities Initiative — was designed to help leaders in major U.S. and international metropolitan areas reorient their local economies toward global markets. “Early on in my tenure at CenterState, we had done a lot of work with the Brookings Institution, just regional planning stuff. We worked with them on developing a regional export plan, to export more products out of Central New York and a larger business plan for the region. They hired me on to help replicate those plans in different parts of the country,”Sio explained. “So, I worked there for three or four years. I worked for CenterState, but I was technically loaned to Brookings for a period of time to help them do this work elsewhere.” Family ties “My wife is Carly. We have been married 14 years. We have two kids, a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old. “With a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old, fun is a relative term these days. We do a lot of hiking. The kids this summer got very interested in waterfalls. We’ve hit every waterfall we could in a short hike — we’ve done Skaneateles and some others.” “I do woodworking and wood turning — it’s a branch of woodworking; you use a wood lathe. My big thing there is making wood bowls. I do that in most of my free time, which is not much,” he quipped. “I like to get into my woodshop and make a bowl and decompress and turn off the rest of the world for a little bit. I usually do it late at night when the house is quiet. It is definitely my escape from the day to day. I make a lot of bowls; all different sizes, all different species of wood. It’s a fun thing to do for me.” He gives away many of his creations. “They are mostly gifts — I don’t really sell them. I really don’t have time to go set up a booth at a fair or craft show. I usually give them away. I donate them to different things. If you are in my periphery, you’ve likely received a salad bowl from me as a gift. I just need to find something to do with all the stuff that I create,” he said. Lifelines Name: Benjamin Sio Position: President, CenterState CEO Birth Date: Not provided Birth place: Syracuse Residence: Westvale Education: Hobart and William Smith Colleges in the Finger Lakes Affiliations: Member of the boards of Skaneateles Festival, Greccio Foundation, Interfaith Works, CNY Community Foundation Personal/family: Married with two kids Hobbies: Woodworking and woodturning
Sam LaPorta expresses disappointment Lions haven't extended him yet; TE prepared to 'get paid somewhere else'
LaPorta remains committed to playing for Detroit, but he conveyed on Barstool's "Pardon My Take" that he's dismayed the franchise hasn't given him a new deal by now.
Dennis Krause Blog: Brewers on verge of pennant
This Brewers team wants it. They will not be denied. They are one win away from the franchise’s first World Series since 1982.
Mitten on the mesa: Whitmer stumps for Haaland in Hull’s hometown
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Rio Rancho got a front-row seat to the governor’s race Sunday when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer campaigned for Democrat Deb Haaland in Republican nominee Gregg Hull’s hometown, just over two weeks before Election Day. The two Democrats talked about cost of living before an invitation-only crowd of about 80 […]
Tales of Eternia Remastered Review
Tales of Eternia Remastered gives an overlooked entry in the franchise a new lease on life with a remarkable and thoughtful remaster.
How Elon Musk Learned to Love Political Spending Again
The SpaceX CEO has spent roughly $366 million in the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle so far, $276 million of it since July.
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
EXCLUSIVE: EA Sports College Football's Future in Jeopardy, Sources Fear
EA Sports College Football faces rising NIL costs and monetization concerns, with sources fearing the franchise's future moving forward.
World Series Preview: Who are the Brewers?
The Tampa Bay Rays — the top team in the American League — has held its own to achieve the third pennant in franchise history, and their second this decade. The Milwaukee Brewers are back in the World Series for the first time since 1982, and they’re doing it as the National League’s best team. […]
Jalen Hurts’ Health Scare Puts NFL’s Relentless Expectations Into Perspective
Six days ago, the conversation surrounding Jalen Hurts was about football. His $255 million contract, Philadelphia's offensive struggles, and whether he was playing well enough to justify the enormous expectations that come with being a franchise quarterback. Those were fair questions. They still are, at least from a football standpoint. But Monday's news that Hurts …
Vikings Draft Scouting: Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker
Will the Vikings find their franchise quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft?
Blue Jays Birthdays: Teoscar Hernandez, Carlos Garcia and Chad Mottola
Today is Teoscar Hernandez’s 34th birthday. When Teoscar arrived from the Astros, few could have predicted he’d develop into such a powerful slugger. During his six seasons with the Jays, he posted a .263/.320/.503 slash line with 129 home runs. He ranks 13th in franchise history for home runs and 24th in RBIs. The trade […]
Head of the class: URI quantum physics students work as teaching assistants for Brookhaven National Laboratory
KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 20, 2026 – As a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island three years ago, Morgan Beck ’26 began diving deep into the world of quantum physics, wanting to learn more about the branch of science that studies matter and energy at the most fundamental level. At that time, Beck—a 2025 […]
‘They Want to Get Into the Taylor Swift Business’ — Media Analyst ‘Rationalizes’ Travis Kelce Possibly Coming in as Troy Aikman’s ESPN Replacement
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce re-signed with the franchise this offseason, and the Chiefs have come flying out of the blocks to a 4-0 record. Once the current season ends, however, there is some speculation about where Kelce may head next, particularly if it comes to a role in the broadcasting booth.
Aurora Science & Tech vs. DSST: Green Valley Ranch: Colorado High School Boys Soccer, Oct. 19, 2026
Aurora Science & Tech at DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Colorado high school boys soccer, Oct. 19, 2026, 6:00 PM. Records, rankings, rosters and head-to-head.
How Ownership and Politics Might Force the Braves to Trade This Star
The Atlanta Braves might have a much bigger problem on their hands than another disappointing postseason exit. Franchise superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. is suddenly at the center of controversy, and the possibility of Atlanta trading its former MVP is becoming a legitimate offseason talking point. During a recent episode of Acuña’s podcast La Bestia ,…
Business Beat : Areal fall foliage tours available in Branch County
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) MyFlight helicopter tours have officially returned to Coldwater for the autumn season, of...
Back in the Saddle: A Second Edition for The Design Inference
The big obstacle for me came from feeling at odds with my publisher, Cambridge University Press.
Are Bank Lobbies Still Relevant?
Local banking leaders say technology is changing the way customers use their banks — and their lobbies By Deborah Jeanne Post [caption id=attachment_11109 align=alignright width=300] Steve Gorczynski is M&T Bank Central New York regional president.[/caption] When was the last time you entered the lobby of your bank? If it’s been a while, you’re part of a trend of eschewing the lobby in favor of ATMs, drive-thrus, online banking and remote deposit. A 2025 study performed by the American Bankers Association revealed that only 9% of consumers use bank branches as their preferred way to do banking and 76% prefer mobile banking. The trend away from the lobby reflects consumer behavior in other areas of doing business, including online shopping instead of perusing the mall, ordering fast food at a kiosk, not at the counter and selecting curbside pick-up rather than walking into the restaurant. Consumers want convenience and going in the lobby adds another layer to the task. It also places consumers face to face with one or more representatives of the business, something less favorable to people feeling burned out from interpersonal interactions. Nixing or at least minimizing the size of the lobby isn’t necessarily negative for banks. Fewer people passing through their doors reduces overhead for building maintenance, staffing and furnishing. Greater reliance on virtual banking can mean closing brick and mortar locations and hiring fewer staffers to cover roles like teller and lending officer. “Our focus is on meeting customers where they are and giving them flexibility in how they bank,” said Steve Gorczynski, M&T Bank Central New York regional president. “While many everyday transactions can be supported digitally and through ATMs, branches remain important for more complex financial needs, offering face-to-face guidance and a more personal banking experience.” Talking with a commercial lender or working on a home mortgage are two examples where meeting face-to-face is more desirable for many people. They can receive immediate feedback to questions and can possibly reach their goals more quickly. But there’s little need to have a large seating area, long counters and numerous tellers for routine banking that’s quicker to handle virtually. Online banking can also help people on the go more readily complete banking tasks such as depositing checks, transferring funds among accounts and checking balances. [caption id=attachment_11135 align=alignright width=300] Tina M. Stephens is the vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank.[/caption] “The traditional bank lobby is certainly being evaluated by most institutions today, as the typical large, open and cavernous spaces do not necessarily meet the needs of today’s customers,” said Tina M. Stephens, vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank. “Traditional lobbies often bisect traditional teller stations and customer service areas, which adds confusion, especially for the demographic who routinely use online banking and only access the lobby for customer service needs.” Despite the rollback in physical locations across the industry, Fulton Savings Bank began modernizing its six branch offices in Oswego and Onondaga counties about three years ago and have finished four offices so far in Baldwinsville, Fulton, Constantia, and Phoenix. “We made the decision to build a new branch across the street from our current office in Brewerton which will be completed by the end of 2026, and we will begin the retrofit of our Central Square office in early 2027,” Stephens said. “Our efforts specifically address where we think customers will be in the next three to five years and have greater flexibility to make changes out into the future.” The bank may be onto something, as numerous reports state that screen-weary Gen Z young adults crave more in-person interactions than virtual ones. If the pendulum continues to swing in that direction, it’s hard to see all physical bank areas disappear, even if they change somewhat. Fulton Savings Bank has also consolidated its teller and customer service representative areas to larger “universal banker” areas, where the bank representative can address all customer retail needs. A one-stop-shop experience appeals to busy banking customers who want to perform a few different banking tasks in one visit. Stephens also said that Fulton Savings Bank made additional technology and security enhancements and created flex spaces to accommodate bank meetings throughout the two-county branch footprint. At Solvay Bank, Elizabeth Lavier, vice president marketing and communications manager, lauded digital and online services as convenient and flexible for managing finances; however, “technology is not meant to replace what matters most: the relationships behind every account that have always been at the heart of community banking,” she said. “Even in today’s digital-first world, people of all ages still value the opportunity to sit down with a trusted banker for personalized guidance. We understand that some of life’s biggest moments call for more than a screen.” Lavier views digital banking as another way for the organization to serve customers rather than a replacement for branches, tellers and lenders, which tend to serve customers better for transactions like buying a first car, purchasing a home, saving for a child’s education, or planning for retirement. “Those conversations, built on understanding, experience and personal guidance, are what community banking is all about,” Lavier said. “At the end of the day, banking is about more than transactions. It’s about helping our customers achieve their goals and being there for them every step of the way. By combining the convenience of digital banking with the care, commitment, and personal service of a local community bank, Solvay Bank offers customers the best of both worlds.” Are Paper Checks Destined to Disappear? With the ubiquity of debit cards, online payments, virtual checks and peer-to-peer payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle and PayPal, will paper checks become passe? “In my view, paper checks are unlikely to disappear in the near future,” said Tina M. Stephens, vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank. “They continue to serve a practical purpose by providing a clear paper trail and tangible proof of payment.” According to the American Banker, a leading trade publication that covers the banking and financial industry, in 2024, checks accounted for 65% of all payment fraud losses. Paper checks should be phased out, according to the publication. “The phrase, ‘The check’s in the mail’ probably sounds strange to younger people because the era of paper checks is rapidly drawing to a close. Put bluntly, checks are an expensive, insecure legacy that is a drag on the U.S. economy. Rather than wait for them to vanish slowly, the pragmatic choice is to strategically accelerate the transition to paperless payments.”
Matthew Lillard calls Neve Campbell a ‘remarkable final girl’ weeks after sharing regret over “Scream 7” return
Lillard recently said he feels ‘ashamed’ for returning to franchise after the firing of Melissa Barrera.
Maple Leafs’ Kirill Marchenko Makes Unexpected Claim After Sabres Loss
One of the few bright spots for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, October 15, was Kirill Marchenko’s performance.The 26-year-old forward scored his first hat trick with the Toronto franchise, helping the Leafs take a 4-2 lead.However, Jim Hiller’s team let their guard down, and following John Tavares’ […] The post Maple Leafs’ Kirill Marchenko Makes Unexpected Claim After Sabres Loss appeared first on HEAVY.
In 100th Trump lawsuit, California challenges ICE courthouse arrests
California sued the Trump administration for the 100th time, challenging the growing practice of ICE agents arresting people for civil immigration violations at or near courthouses.
Did an NFL Insider Just Reveal Kerby Joseph News?
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler made an intriguing statement about Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch returning to the Detroit Lions. Here's what it means.
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden make Packers history vs. Bears
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden set a new franchise record in the win against Chicago and have the makings of a special wide receiver duo.
How Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’ to Become a Six-Decade Juggernaut Franchise
Roddenberry Entertainment COO Trevor Roth on Wednesday told the MIA Market in Rome how the comedy legend and her Desilu Productions put the quirky sci-fi series into reruns after an NBC cancellation.
"He's going to lead this franchise into the future. …
"He's going to lead this franchise into the future. …
Nintendo Switch Online adds three new GBA games in October 2026 update
Nintendo Switch Online just added three new GBA games as part of a new October 2026 update. The lineup includes Kururin Paradise, Metal Slug Advance, and Monster Rancher. All of these can be found in the Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Classics app right now on Switch 2 and Switch. Note that a membership in the Expansion Pack tier of...
The Baffling Gender Politics of Netflix’s New Stanford Prison Experiment
Netflix's reality-TV restaging of the notoriously unethical study incorporates women—but doesn't know what to do with them.
Titans Win May Have Inadvertently Helped Colts
Tennessee's dramatic comeback win triggered a long-overdue housecleaning in Indianapolis, finally forcing the franchise to fire General Manager Chris Ballard following years of mediocre quarterback carousels.
Hormel makes $1 billion bet on chicken
Hormel Foods is branching into a new — and wildly popular — meat category with a deal to acquire a chicken company for more than $1 billion.
Grand Theft Auto's Iconic Cover Design Only Exists Because Of 9/11 And Was Created At The Last Minute
The franchise's famous cover layout was apparently designed in about 48 hours
Pickleball facility franchisor files for bankruptcy as founder acknowledges business mistake: 'I own it'
The Picklr's Chapter 11 filing stems from costly lease guarantees on about 40 franchise locations as an investor group commits millions for restructuring.
Bank of America (BAC): Is Its Wealth Business More Valuable Than the Headline Bank Suggests?
Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) has a wealth franchise that deserves attention beyond lending spreads. Second-quarter 2026 Global Wealth and Investment Management net income reached $1.41 billion, roughly 16% of group earnings. That contribution matters when comparing bank stocks favored by billionaires: advisory fees diversify revenue, although rising markets still influence their value. Bank of […]
Money in politics puts residents on the backburner
Endless outside spending in L.A. elections disenfranchises voters.
Bills and Pills: How Congress and Science Could Make the Future Less Lonely
A Bill for Loneliness? Proposed legislation would fund more research and social support—and create an office to advise the President A decade ago, official Washington wasn’t thinking about America’s loneliness epidemic. “Congress was paying zero attention to this issue, the executive branch was paying zero attention to this issue,” says Andrew MacPherson, chair of the
Calgary Flames set wrong kind of franchise history
What terrible franchise record did the Calgary Flames set?
Title revealed for “The Mummy” sequel featuring the onscreen reunion of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz
The franchise’s fourth installment is a direct sequel to 1999’s “The Mummy” and 2001 sequel, “The Mummy Returns.”
Caleb Williams Injury Update: Bears QB’s Week 6 Status Revealed
Caleb Williams missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, but the Chicago Bears franchise quarterback will make his return to the field in Week 6. Originally selected with the first-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the USC product was widely believed to be a generational prospect coming out of college. While he …
AREA15 developer pitches NBA arena as part of massive Las Vegas entertainment district
The developers behind AREA15 want to bring a future NBA franchise to their Las Vegas property, proposing an arena surrounded by a year-round sports and entertainment district.
Why being from California is no longer a presidential asset
California was a springboard for the White House ambitions of Nixon and Reagan. Now it's an anchor on the aspirations of Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and others.
Red hot: Heat’s business growth supports rising valuation
The Miami Heat added $2.02B to their valuation over the past 12 months, per Sportico’s October 2026 NBA valuations, making them the fastest growing franchise in the NBA.
Here Are 7 Key Governor Races to Watch in the Midterms
Ohio, Alaska, and Texas could elect their first Democratic governors in decades. Republicans also have a shot at flipping a state's top executive.
Xbox CEO reportedly warns firm will "not survive" if it only relies on existing franchises
Platform needs to "find new ways, and courage, to have invention on new IP that reach new sets of audiences"
Microsoft is considering making Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and even Minecraft Xbox console exclusive
Microsoft is actively asking Xbox users with multiple consoles how they'd react if big franchises went fully console exclusive. Is this a hint at things to come?
Warriors Could Trade For Draymond Green’s Longtime Rival
The Golden State Warriors will be looking for ways to improve via the trade market, and Rudy Gobert could emerge as an option. A new report claims that the Minnesota Timberwolves will look to trade Gobert due to his contract ending soon. Paying big money to an aging NBA player can hurt the franchise, especially […] The post Warriors Could Trade For Draymond Green’s Longtime Rival appeared first on HEAVY.
Trump Wants to Let Ranchers Shoot Wolves. Science Suggests That’s the Wrong Fix.
The move was meant to appeal to ranchers but the industry’s response was muted.
Health Care Costs Are Becoming Unsustainable
As the cost of health insurance continues to rise, more people are dropping coverage.
Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia: "Building a sports empire" doesn't always work
Private equity firms are pouring billions into professional sports as franchise valuations soar.
Business Beat : Branch Area Rescue Coalition annual Spay-ghetti Dinner set for November 14th
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - The Branch Area Rescue Coalition (BARC) has announced its 11th Annual Spay-ghetti Dinne...
MAHA Leader Calley Means Steps Down from Trump Administration Health Advisory Role
Calley Means, one of the key figures in the Make America Healthy Again movement, championed food policies in his role in the Administration.
Climate Change Is Accelerating Faster Than We Can Respond, Scientists Warn
“Earth’s climate system is moving deeper into uncharted territory,” scientists warn.
Predicting Suns' Team Awards for 2026–27 Season
Devin Booker cements his legacy as a franchise icon while rookie sensation Khaman Maluach transforms the frontcourt in this visionary look at the Valley’s future hardware.
The 400 greatest Detroit Tigers are ranked
EAST TAWAS – The Detroit Tigers have had a rich and storied history since their founding in 1901 as one of the core franchises in the newly-established American League. The
An interview with Oscar Brown: Voter enfranchisement, mobilization and facilitating political change
What happens when a young voter base is disenfranchised? How can facilitate the political change we want to see? This week I sat down with Oscar Brown, a second-year Economics major and recent Co-Founder of Future Grinnellians in Government (FGG), a month ahead of midterms to discuss his perspectives on voting, mobilization, enfranchisement and the...
Why Samantha From Cobra Kai Looks Familiar
Cobra Kai has captured the nostalgia of a multi-generational franchise. But the characters are the only things viewers find familiar.
Andy Cohen Reveals the Two ‘Real Housewives’ Franchises That Hold a Special Place in His Heart
Andy Cohen says two Real Housewives cities hold a place in his heart: New York and Atlanta. However, he stops short of naming one cast member as his favorite. “I will say New York and Atlanta have alw...
Griffin Gaming Partners and Entertainment 360 launch new company to support video game adaptations for film and TV
HITpoint Entertainment will "combine Griffin's relationships with devs and publishers with Entertainment 360's producing track record on IP-driven franchises"
Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden and Christian Watson made franchise history in 23-13 win over Dallas Cowboys
The Green Bay Packers continued their long undefeated streak against the Dallas Cowboys with their 23-13 victory on Sunday Night Football. While Green Bay and Dallas played a game that ended in a tie in 2025, the last time the Cowboys defeated the Packers was a decade ago in 2016. Indeed, Green Bay’s defense kept [...]
Jameis Winston is Turning the Giants' Franchise Around
Who would have thought Jameis Winston would be the answer for the New York Giants/
Asha Sharma reportedly tells rattled Xbox employees: "We have to find new ways, and courage, to have invention on new IP"
There's still apparently an appetite at Xbox to create new gaming franchises. But where, in this bruised company, does it come from?
Launch Family Entertainment Names John Palumbo VP of Franchise Development
Launch Family Entertainment (Launch), a premier indoor family entertainment concept, has named John Palumbo Vice President of Franchise Development as the brand strengthens its leadership team and advances its national growth strategy. Palumbo brings nearly two decades of franchise development experience and an early-career foundation in sports and recreation operations. He began his career in athletic administration […]
Why Los Angeles Chargers Could Trade Star Linebacker
The Los Angeles Chargers could consider trading veteran linebacker Khalil Mack before the NFL trade deadline as the team evaluates its direction for the remainder of the 2026 season. With potential changes to the roster under discussion, moving an established defensive player could provide draft capital while allowing the franchise to reassess its long-term priorities. […] The post Why Los Angeles Chargers Could Trade Star Linebacker appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
LOVB Miami names Pri Shumate president, builds out business leadership
LOVB Miami has named former Dolphins CMO Pri Shumate president of business operations and former FIFA exec Meg Patten VP/fan experience & marketing, with sports management company Jett Sports serving as its commercial arm ahead of the expansion franchise’s inaugural 2026-27 season.
Comings & Goings
Here’s a look at recent changes in the business landscape in the Sioux Falls area.
The Wizards are considering a rebrand after fan feedback
The Washington Wizards are about to begin a new era led by forward AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Capital One Arena, their home venue, is also nearly done with a major renovation. And fans want a rebrand of the franchise. When teams are not particularly great on the court, field, ice, etc., I […]
Jalen Hurts’ Health Scare Puts NFL’s Relentless Expectations Into Perspective
Six days ago, the conversation surrounding Jalen Hurts was about football. His $255 million contract, Philadelphia's offensive struggles, and whether he was playing well enough to justify the enormous expectations that come with being a franchise quarterback. Those were fair questions. They still are, at least from a football standpoint. But Monday's news that Hurts …
Phillies reached out to beloved franchise legend for manager job
This would've been a very fun and interesting hire for the Phillies manager role.
Across Farm Country, Economic Discontent Strains Republican Coalition
Farmers and ranchers have supported President Trump for a decade. But the war in Iran, tariffs and other administration policies have soured some on the G.O.P.
Nintendo Expands Switch Online's GBA Library With Three More Titles
Monster Rancher, Metal Slug & Kururin
Is 99% Screening Adherence Altering The Investment Case For Guardant Health (GH)?
Guardant Health reported new data from its Shield blood-based colorectal cancer screening test, including modeling and rural clinic results, indicating very high real world adherence and meaningful impact on screening pathways for average risk adults. The 99% completion rate for Shield in two rural South Carolina clinics highlights how a simple blood draw can address screening gaps in medically underserved communities and reshape demand across Guardant Health's screening franchise. This...
The next Call of Duty will introduce a new sub-series to the franchise
It's been five years since Vanguard - the most recent Call of Duty sub-franchise - but Activision is finally ready to develop a new one.
Will Titans Bench Cam Ward After Embarrassing Texans Loss?
Following a historically bad 0-5 start, Robert Saleh addresses the growing pressure to sideline his struggling quarterback while the franchise spirals toward a potential lost season.
‘NCIS’ stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly to reunite in prequel
NEW YORK — Original “NCIS” cast members Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly will reunite onscreen for the first time in 10 years in the franchise’s “NCIS: Origins” prequel. By now,
Opinion: Abbott’s family tree is growing. Will its newest branch thrive like AbbVie?
The classroom lesson of addition by subtraction is about to be tested again.
Paul George Makes Celtics History With Record Breaking Debut
Paul George wasted little time making history with the Boston Celtics, delivering a spectacular performance in his first game with the franchise. Despite Boston suffering a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, George gave Celtics fans plenty of reasons to be excited about what he could bring to the team this season.…
IP Saves the Day On Streaming
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get started, I wanted to highlight a new idea I saw from Real Good AI, proposing a ratings system for AI use. (H/T to Anthony Kaufman’s article highlighting this.) It would look something like this: In general, I think that this is a solid, middle-ground solution that should appease both the pro-AI camp (who love AI) and the anti-AI camp (who wants to know if what they’re watching didn’t come from humans). Regardless of your feelings on AI/LLMs—I’ll never use it for my writing—transparency is often the best solution to many problems. In general, I think way more media outlets need to be using way more AI disclosures. My quick “Yes and...” to this idea: what about ads? In particular, I hate it when I see or hear ads that are obviously AI-generated, but a person or voice says, “I used this product”. AI doesn’t use products! Just today, I watched a YouTube ad where a “person” said they use some sort of rain wind chime...but that’s not a real person! They didn’t use this product. (Especially since the video of the wind chime itself also appeared to be AI-generated...) I believe most traditional advertising already has standards like this anyway.1 Okay, on to this week’s issue. We’re covering the week of 14-Sep, and then next issue, I’ll be fully caught up with Nielsen’s new release schedule. In the future, I plan to put out Streaming Ratings Reports each Monday after Nielsen’s Thursday releases. Overall, we had some big new shows this week, like Prime Video’s Reacher spinoff_, Neagley_, which is off to a big, big start, and Netflix’s latest in its Monster anthology, which is their largest opening since June and the second-largest since One Piece came out in March. All that, plus Slow Horses returns, the trio of returning shows (Lioness, Reacher and Ted Lasso) continue to dominate the top tens, Paramount+’s latest crime drama, a big whiff for a Netflix original film and a precipitous drop for Netflix film charts, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 14th to September 20th 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - IP For the TV Win Can I use the dirty word of entertainment journalism right now? IP. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone I said it. But IP works at the box office, and we’ve seen some evidence it works in TV too. Not as well, and not all the time—no absolutes here!—but often enough. And glancing at the Nielsen top ten…it worked this week! Take Prime Video, who has a monster hit in the crime drama Reacher. Would a spinoff work for that show? Yep! They binge-released Neagley, about a detective from the original Reacher series, and its eight episodes debuted to 29.6 million hours. Here’s how it stacks up to Reacher, one of Prime Video’s biggest shows: That’s great. Nearly as strong as Reacher’s opening! (Both shows started with eight, binge-released episodes, so this comparison is apples-to-apples.) Notably, Prime Video scheduled the debut of Neagley to overlap with Reacher’s most recent season, to help drive tune-in. Obviously, I love smart release strategies like that. And even though I wrote “obviously”, it’s not really that obvious, since streamers don’t often take advantage of natural overlaps like this_._2 Other data backs how well Neagley performed. It opened at second place on Samba TV for two weeks and got 51.7 million hours on Luminate. That’s the eleventh biggest opening on Luminate since May of 2024 and tied with Bridgerton’s third season opening. That’s a huge opening! Its IMDb is solid too, a 7.7 on 24K reviews. Netflix’s latest edition in the “Monster” series—which started with Jeffrey Dahmer and comes from Ryan Murphy—did well too, opening to 24.7 million hours. That’s the biggest opening for Netflix since I Will Find You in June, and second biggest since March. Unlike the Reacher series, this franchise is trending downward, though. The first Monster show—Dahmer - Monster—was giant. More than anything, I think this reflects that Netflix running out of extremely popular—if that’s the right word?—serial killers to feature. Still, the data says this is a very good opening. It made it to third place on Samba TV for two weeks. It also opened to 40.0 million hours on Luminate. That’s not quite as elite as Neagley, but still very, very strong. I’ll be honest: my priors coming into any given week are that IP works to help drive buzz for new shows, but TV shows need to stand on their own even more than movies, so they will succeed or fail based on their quality. But these two spinoffs definitely worked. Quick Notes on TV The top show, film or special this week? Football, again. Specifically, Prime Video’s season opener of Thursday Night Football. The games run long (three hours) but mainly a lot of people watch each game. That adds up to a lot of viewership. Paramount released the second season of MobLand on an unusual day for that service, a Friday! Often, they put their new shows out on a Sunday, as they did last year with a run of shows (Lioness, Tulsa King and Landman). MobLand didn’t make Nielsen in its first week, but on Samba TV it got to eighth and seventh place. Luminate had a smaller opening too, only 5.3 million hours. MobLand missed the Nielsen charts for its first eight weeks, so this season is off to a stronger start. (Bonus note: the first season streams on both Prime Video and The Roku Channel, but I only have it as Paramount+ on those charts.) I’ve mentioned a few times that foreign-language originals do lower numbers than English-language originals on Netflix most of the time. But I don’t usually emphasize what country those originals come from, and observationally, they tend to be from Western or Northern European countries, in general. So credit to Not a Stranger, a Turkish Netflix original, for breaking through on Luminate, getting to 7.9 million hours in its first full week on those charts. As I mentioned last issue, Crew Girl ended up making the Nielsen charts in its second week. That’s still a soft performance compared to many shows, but again this, one looks affordable. And if you’re curious, here’s how it stacks up to some other sports romance shows: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… …about a new data source and how it drives streaming viewership… ...what reality show is struggling in its latest season…. ...what Netflix film bombed…. ...How Reacher, Ted Lasso, and Lioness are doing on the charts… ...what obscure sport put up great viewership numbers… …how far streaming films are falling… …all the flops, bombs and misses for the last week… …and more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Next week, we’ve got a double issue, then we’ll be all caught up with Nielsen’s data. Yes! The goal is to have my report out on the Monday after I get Nielsen’s data. So next issue, I’m looking at East of Eden, The Great British Baking Show, a Willy Wonka game show (that people are upset uses AI, but viewers might not care), and a Cosby show spinoff reboot on Netflix, and Brothers on Apple TV (starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey). That’s about it for TV, but who’s going to win the streaming week, The Breadwinner or Backrooms on streaming? Answer: Toy Story 5. Plus Netflix has a Unabomber film and a new Tyler Perry film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma tries to repeat The Substance’s run on MUBI, and Paramount+ has Jackass: Best and Last. Long term, Netflix is remaking Lonesome Dove. I love this choice, but man, there are a lot of westerns on TV right now. And they’re making Sega TV shows, including a Crazy Taxi TV show and Sonic show with an “edge”.
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