Don’t forget to check out our The Friday Fivecast, the audio version of our weekly Friday Five blog. Listen in your car, at your desk, and anywhere you take your podcasts. Find it here, then click on our Spotify profile to subscribe.
Sports
For the Win: Women’s Sports TV Ratings Records and New Deals
Despite historical struggles, recent breakthroughs in women's sports, such as major TV rights deals for soccer and increased interest in women’s basketball, have disrupted the norm. Record-breaking viewership for events like the Iowa-LSU women’s college basketball game indicates a pivotal moment. Broadcasters, advertisers, and media buyers are now prioritizing investments in women’s sports.
Advertising
Going for the Gold: Ad Sales Reach New Heights Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics
NBCUniversal is poised for success with ad sales for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, having already secured $1.2 billion in commitments, including $350 million from new advertisers. Their goal is to achieve the highest advertising revenue in Olympic history. Almost 95% of opening and closing ceremony inventory has been sold across linear and digital platforms, with plans for innovative ad options like shoppable food delivery and programmatic offerings.
Broadway
Tony Season Ahead: Broadway Anticipates Bustling April
As Tony Award nominations approach on April 30, 14 new Broadway productions this month suggest a potential return to normalcy for live theater. Despite ongoing post-pandemic challenges, innovative marketing strategies and the upcoming Tony Awards broadcast on June 16 provide opportunities for productions to regain momentum and reconnect with audiences, demonstrating Broadway's resilience and adaptability.
Awards
Ready for 2025: The Academy Announces Next Oscar Date
The 97th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, continuing the recent trend of March ceremonies and avoiding overlap with SXSW. Key dates include preliminary voting starting on December 9, 2024, nomination announcements on January 17, and final voting between February 11 and February 18.
Movie Theaters
Theater Owners Remain Optimistic: Updates From CinemaCon
At CinemaCon, AMC CEO Adam Aron refuted bankruptcy rumors, emphasizing their detrimental effects on shareholders, employees, and communities. He maintains optimism about the box office's future, foreseeing a return to pre-pandemic levels by 2025 or 2026, despite fewer major studio releases and ongoing changes in movie distribution.
High five! Another Friday Five is going live next week—same time, same place. We know what caught our eyes, but we’re all ears. Tell us what you’d like to learn more about in our upcoming editions by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Be sure to tag #FridayFive in your comments.
Want an even more convenient way to stay in the know? Get Friday Five sent right to your inbox each week by signing up for our direct newsletter below.
See you next Friday at 10 a.m. (PT).