Blog: Under The Watercooler

Blog

Under The Water Cooler. Sydney HQ

Media Man: Under The Water Cooler

Sydney HQ

Up to approx 30 degrees 

Combat sports are red hot right now

WWE  and UFC nder TKO banner as per NYSE 

 

Wrestling Match Of The Decade wheels in motion for WrestleMania: Roman Reigns  vs Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson 

John Cena and Johnson escape fallout from Hollywood writers strike!

MMA: The UFC Sean Strickland era is here. Izzy has been advised by many to rest up, rethink his political allegiance and messaging with China. Will he ever live down the "Dog Day Afternoon" in Sydney, Australia! Pro MMA can be a dog eat dog business and SS's mind games got to "The Last Stylebender". Was the fight already lost for Izzy before the "Let's Fn Go"?

UFC Nucho in Mexico. Grasso vs Shevchenko. Draw says judges! Oops.  Re-match next time on U.S soil?! 

Hot Temp's In Sydney, Australia see pause on bush burn-offs likely for a few days as mini heatwave hits.

Water safety reminder: Beach, rockpools, anywhere around water. 

Work/Biz/Life Balance: If working with screens/computers try 15 mins break from screen for every hour on. Protect eyes, head, well-being. A walk around the block and an extra glass of water can work wonders. Water and coffee in the office (but not too close to keyboards)!

Washington, USA: Political basketcases?! USA set for an authentic leader in office. Many of the most suitable candidates work in private enterprise? Too good for the Oval Office?!  A bit like some in the land down under of Australia, but not quite as obvious.

New South Wales government of Australia scores big praise by Sydney, Australia sports loving fans. About 3 or so more UFC events to hit Sydney within the next 4 years. 

PPV (Pay-Per-View) business models, offerings to get some revamp thanks to TKO (WWE and UFC) deal; What percentage of WWE fans also watch at least some UFC? A higher percentage than the amount of UFC fans who also watch some WWE! Not all exactly or speculative numbers are in the public domain and can we suggest some are hidden - at least in part. Back in the Optus Vision days we used to get our hands on much raw data, thanks to my old bosses and the marketing and PPV department. Many industries have trade secrets, much like the Google Algorithm or KFC's "eleven secret herbs and spices"!

Alt news and niche news finding audiences in Australia, US, Canada, Europe, while many in society has tuned out or largely turned off "TV News" and other "mainstream aka lamestream"; Sky News Australia is an exception to the rule. Sky boasts an interaction with 11.1 million Aussie's each month. Multiplatform strategy works a charm, with quality and authentic journalism - funny about that hey!!! "Happy to help further spread the good and authentic news"..Anon journo type overheard around the watercooler.

24-hour News Cycle vs Always On via The Internet..

Too much news going on all the time? Part of the reason the Media Man Group often updates X (formally Twitter) and blogs such as Media Man Int Blogger and Media Man Blogger quicker than news going live to it's flagship websites.  Evergreen content strategy works a treat as well as unique perspectives and some gonzo journalism type reporting seldom found in mainstream news. The Google Algorithm is friendly to this business model so it's a Win-Win-Win!

Yes, we are still taking on some select PR and advertising campaigns. Email is if you have something you want the world to know about. There's an old expression that goes something like, "If you have the money we have the time"!

Seriously, we love the once great craft of journalism. The decline of the industry is well documented.. Hat's off to the authentic journos who continue to scribe and sniff out a good story. Journos vs AI! That's a big rabbit hole ain't it. 

Remember in this sometimes crazy world, Heath is wealth and time and energy are most valuable resources. 

LinkedIn: For more professional (whatever that is anyway) scribes and media presentation check us out via LinkedIn. Greg Tingle, Founder and Director, Media Man Int and Media Man Australia. LI is a MM multi-time 'Social Media Platform Of The Month' winner and finalist (and so it Twitter, now X, right Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino.

Thanks for stopping by Media Man. Beach to Bush Telegraph via The Internet Superhighway. Wrestling and surfin' the web and beyond. Seagulls and Kangaroos ahead! 

Media Man

Hot Temp's In Sydney, Australia see pause on bush burn-offs likely for a few days as mini heatwave hits.

Water safety reminder: Beach, rockpools, anywhere around water. 

Work/Biz/Life Balance: If working with screens/computers try 15 mins break from screen for every hour on. Protect eyes, head, well-being. A walk around the block and an extra glass of water can work wonders. Water and coffee in the office (but not too close to keyboards)!

Washington, USA: Political basketcases?! USA set for an authentic leader in office. Many of the most suitable candidates work in private enterprise? Too good for the Oval Office?!  A bit like some in the land down under of Australia, but not quite as obvious.

New South Wales government of Australia scores big praise by Sydney, Australia sports loving fans. About 3 or so more UFC events to hit Sydney within the next 4 years. 

PPV (Pay-Per-View) business models, offerings to get some revamp thanks to TKO (WWE and UFC) deal; What percentage of WWE fans also watch at least some UFC? A higher percentage than the amount of UFC fans who also watch some WWE! Not all exactly or speculative numbers are in the public domain and can we suggest some are hidden - at least in part. Back in the Optus Vision days we used to get our hands on much raw data, thanks to my old bosses and the marketing and PPV department. Many industries have trade secrets, much like the Google Algorithm or KFC's "eleven secret herbs and spices"!

Alt news and niche news finding audiences in Australia, US, Canada, Europe, while many in society has tuned out or largely turned off "TV News" and other "mainstream aka lamestream"; Sky News Australia  is an exception to the rule. Sky boasts an interaction with 11.1 million Aussie's each month. Multiplatform strategy works a charm, with quality and authentic journalism - funny about that hey!!! "Happy to help further spread the good and authentic news"..Anon journo type overheard around the watercooler.

24-hour News Cycle vs Always On via The Internet..

Too much news going on all the time? Part of the reason the Media Man Group often updates X 

(formally Twitter) and blogs such as Media Man Int Blogger and Media Man Blogger quicker than news going live to it's flagship websites.  Evergreen content strategy works a treat as well as unique perspectives and some gonzo journalism type reporting seldom found in mainstream news. The Google Algorithm is friendly to this business model so it's a Win-Win-Win!

Yes, we are still taking on some select PR and advertising campaigns. Email is if you have something you want the world to know about. There's an old expression that goes something like, "If you have the money we have the time"!

Seriously, we love the once great craft of journalism. The decline of the industry is well documented.. Hat's off to the authentic journos who continue to scribe and sniff out a good story. Journos vs AI! That's a big rabbit hole ain't it. 

Remember in this sometimes crazy world, Heath is wealth and time and energy are most valuable resources. 

LinkedIn: For more professional (whatever that is anyway) scribes and media presentation check us out via LinkedIn. Greg Tingle, Founder and Director, Media Man Int and Media Man Australia. LI is a MM multi-time 'Social Media Platform Of The Month' winner and finalist (and so it Twitter, now X, right Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino.

Thanks for stopping by Media Man. Beach to Bush Telegraph via The Internet Superhighway. Wrestling and surfin' the web and beyond. Seagulls and Kangaroos ahead! 

#news #newsbiz #PopCulture #combatsports #WWE #UFC #TKO #WrestleMania #gonzo #gonzojournalism #onlinenews #watercooler #watercoolernews #newsroom #sky #skynews #realnews #realviews #nichenews #niche #agent #agency #scribe #blog #blogs #platforms #biz #balance #search #ai #letsgo #forthewin #AndStill #PPV #payperview #streaming #info #intel #scoops #RabbitHole #worldnews #mediabiz #adbiz #buzz #media #mediaman

SEJ Google update Sept 2023

SEJ's Roger on Google. Re if a site loses website traffic, machine learned content, rankings and.more. Google remains king of the search engine in the vast majority of categories despite numerous AI competitors so if your business has anything to do with popularity/rankings on the web it's smart to read up and keep your finger on the pulse. Published via LinkedIn so LI and the Microsoft folks are certainly across updates of this nature also. It's Spy vs Spy as per the iconic section of MAD Magazine. Their Tech Special is quite the collectors item also. Back to the web publishing and online entrepreneurial business activities! 

MMA/Wrestling News : Caged Fury Fighting Championships @CFFCMMA 

Commentary by John Morgan and CM Punk (Phil Brooks) @CMPunk 

"Look who I ran into backstage" - Morgan

"Yeah, I got some time on my hands, for the next two months" - Brooks

"What do you wanna talk about?" - Brooks

#MMA #mmanews #mixedmartialarts #CMPunk #PhilBrooks #JohnMorgan #CagedFury #CFFC #sportsnews #sportsbiz #wrestling #wrestlingnews #mmapromotion #sportspromotion #promotions #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #buzz #trends #broadcast #broadcasting #X #media #mediaman  

All Elite Wrestling

(Image credit: AEW)

Pro Wrestling Dream Match Tipped To Become Reality At All Elite Wrestling @AEW : 'WrestleDream'

FTR vs Aussie Open. 

October 1, 2023. Seattle, Washington

AEW Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

Video

Aussie Open set their sights on the AEW World Tag Team Champions! | 9/16/23, AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxPrZn2GFq0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWWrestleDream #WrestleDream #dreammatch #wrestling #prowrestling #AussieOpen #FTR #aewtag #combatsports #sportsbiz #sportsnews #PPV #payperview #payperviews #FITE #FITETV #streaming #popculture #showbiz #biz #X #media #mediaman 

Pro Wrestling Dream Match: Roman Reigns @WWERomanReigns vs Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson @TheRock finally may become reality in a WWE @WWE ring

WrestleMania Season has come early - sort of! The dream match wrestling fans across the globe have been waiting for may actually happen at the upcoming WrestleMania @WrestleMania 

This past Friday Night SmackDown 'The Rock' finally showed up to largely a very positive responce. He even got a "Welcome home" from long time rival John Cena @JohnCena 

Traditonally with pro wrestling mega matches that are worthy of WrestleMania status, the headliner match or matches get a storyline with usually some confrontations, angles, twists and turns in the lead up.

Reigns remains 'Head Of The Table' and the Tribal Chief of 'The Bloodline'. The trials and tribulations of Reigns and his stable of Samoans are well documented and the numerous crime scenes over the past 3 years have the fingerprints of puppet master and self appointed "Evil Genius" Paul Heyman @HeymanHustle written all over them.

WWE announcers such as Michael Cole @MichaelCole , Corey Graves @WWEGraves and Kevin Patrick @kev_egan sometimes speak of "recruitment drives" as WWE factions look for further strength in numbers. This can strengthen the position much like a Hollywood or MMA agent with numerous world class talents on the books.

Wrestling politics can play in the success of a pro wrestlers (and managers) career, not to mention the always potential threat of talent leaving for a rival faction or promoter!, with or without a Hollywood Writers Strike! 

Johnson's return to the WWE appears very timely, and this news fresh off the official launch of TKO @TKOGrp which is akin to a parent of both the WWE and UFC @UFC. Back in 2009 Johnson put the UFC's BMF title around the waist of MMA legend Jorge Masvidal @GamebredFighter 

WWE Universal Champion Reigns and cousin, Johnson, can both be described as BMF'er. Johnson is no stranger to colourful language, this week giving the hint to the WWE live audience to chant A hole at Austin Theory @_Theory1 The WWE lockeroom is getting "the rub" from Johnson, but upstart and gold contender Grayson Waller @GraysonWWE may say otherwise. The Aussie Dynamite has been blowing up things and people in the WWE and may have something to say about the potential possibility of others stealing his spotlight, and so may "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes @CodyRhodes for that matter. Rhodes may look to cash in on a fatigued Johnson, Rhodes and/or Rolllins @WWERollins come WrestleMania, Day 1 or Day 2! 

Hollywood's loss (for now) appears to be the WWE Unviverses' gain. The match of the decade continues to near to reality by the day. 

WWE, TKO, Reigns, Rock, BFK'ers abound. A perfect storm is brewing. WWE bean-counters, fans and WWE co-workers win.  The Samoan American connection is alive and well. Chiefs, elders and fans, brace yourself for a wrestling war of electrifiying consequences. It's just about pick 'em time.

#WWESmackDown #WWE #WrestleMania #WrestleMania40 #RomanReigns #TribalChief #DwayneJohnson #TheRock #CodyRhodes #WWEUniverse #TKO #BMF #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #sportsbiz #sportsnews #PLE #PPV #payperview #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture @showbiz #trend #trends #buzz #X #media 

‘Wrestlers’ Is Here to Rip Your Freakin’ Head Off

The new doc series from the creator of Last Chance U and Cheer is an underdog story pulsing with adrenaline.

From the right corner of the ring, an oiled-up baby face enters with a stone-cold glare and a juicy flex. From the left, a sneering heel climbs through the ropes under floodlights, only to be met with jeers and hisses from the darkness of the stands. What happens next isn’t just a fight; it’s a story. It’s Shakespearean drama. It’s bloody theater that also happens to be more true to life than you’d think. 

Wrestlers, the new doc series from director Greg Whiteley (Last Chance U, Cheer) and BBC Studios Los Angeles takes you right to the center of the fight. It doesn’t only depict the brawls between ambitious athletes managing their stressful lives off the ring (though watching a rage-fueled fighter and a hardened vet go head-to-head in a violent, hair-pulling tussle is thrilling –– especially when you consider they’re mother and daughter). The fight at the center of the story is even more intense: Legendary wrestler Al Snow is attempting to keep professional wrestling league Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) afloat, navigating the brutal waters of mounting debt and the power struggles of new ownership. 

The seven-episode series is intimate, emotional, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional wrestling, revealing the hardship and sacrifice that goes into creating this highly complex feat of performance art and athleticism. 

What is Ohio Valley Wrestling?

OVW is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and once served as a premiere training ground for aspiring pro wrestlers like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Dave Bautista, The Miz, and Randy Orton. In recent years, OVW has struggled to keep its doors open, prompting Snow to sell a majority stake to a group of local businesses — one of whom is Matt Jones, one of the most popular radio personalities in the state of Kentucky. 

Who Are the Wrestlers at Ohio Valley Wrestling? 

The cast of Wrestlers is comprised of OVW legends like Ca$h Flo, Mr. PEC-tacular, Mahabali Shera, Hollyhood Haley J, and more. To learn more about the babyfaces, heels and bosses at OVW — including their signature moves — check out our Wrestlers cast guide. 

Wait, what’s a babyface? 

In wrestling, a babyface (also known as a “face”) is a heroic “good guy” or fan favorite. Typically, they’ll play it fair in the ring and avoid cheating or dirty manuevers. The babyfaces in Wrestlers include Ca$h Flo and the Amazing Maria James. The babyfaces perform relative to the heels in any given match, and sometimes wrestlers shift between the two identities, depending on their narrative arc. 

So what’s a heel?

Simply put, a heel is a villain — a bad boy, a nasty girl, or anyone who fights dirty in the ring. The heels in Wrestlers include Hollyhood Haley J and Freya the Slaya. 

“In wrestling, you’re going to do the same things you do when you tell any story and have a protagonist and an antagonist,” Al Snow told Tudum. “We've got to explain to the audience what the context of the story is, [and help them] understand the challenge that's facing our protagonist, and what the antagonists are trying to prevent.”

In other words: If nothing else, wrestling is a story of good versus evil — and who prevails depends on the day. 

Watch Wrestlers on Netflix now. 

Video

Wrestlers | Official Trailer | Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY9CISx70Oo&ab_channel=Netflix

Websites

Netflix: Wrestlers

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81592264

Ohio Valley Wrestling

https://ovwrestling.com

(Credit: Netflix/OVW)

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC Noche Results:

Alexa Grasso (48-47) and Valentina Shevchenko (48-47) fight to a split draw (47-47)

Jack Della Maddalena (29-28, 29-28) defeats Kevin Holland (29-28) by split decision

Raul Rosas Jr defeats Terrance Mitchell by TKO, Round 1, :54

Daniel Zellhuber defeats Christos Giagos by submission, anaconda choke, Round 2, 3:26

Kyle Nelson (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) defeats Fernando Padilla by unanimous decision

Loopy Godinez defeats Elise Reed by submission, rear naked choke, Round 2, 3:38

Roman Kopylov defeats Josh Fremd by TKO (body shot) at 4:44 of Round 2

Edgar Chairez versus Daniel Lacerda declared a no decision at 3:47 of Round 1

Tracy Cortez (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) defeats Jasmine Jasudavicius by unanimous decision

Charlie Campbell defeats Alex Reyes by TKO (right hand) at 3:38 of Round 1

Josefine Knutsson (30-24, 30-25, 30-27) defeats Marnic Mann by unanimous decision

Videos

UFC YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ufc

Noche UFC: Post-Fight Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJrM6yp2r-M&ab_channel=UFC

Alexa Grasso: 'I Hope Every September 16th We Can Have a Card Like This' | Noche UFC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqYOHs7tvfQ&ab_channel=UFC

Alexa Grasso Octagon Interview | Noche UFC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCN6z-gM3W0&ab_channel=UFC

Noche UFC: Pre-Fight Panel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuSXblxM1IQ&t=85s&ab_channel=UFC

#UFCNoche #NocheUFC #UFCResults #ufcwomen #MMA #mixedmartialarts #AlexaGrasso 

#ValentinaShevchenko #sportsnews #sportsmedia #popculture #PPV #payperview #trend #trending #buzz #X #media 

Black Superman - 'Muhammad Ali', By Johnny Wakelin

Lyrics

This here's the story of Cassius Clay

Who changed his name to Muhammad Ali

He knows how to talk and he knows how to fight

And all the contenders were beat out of sight

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee

Mohammed, the black superman

Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

Now all you fight fans, you've got to agree

There ain't no flies on Muhammad Ali

He fills the arena wherever he goes

And everyone gets what they paid for

Muhammad, was known to have said

You watch me shuffle and I'll jab off your head

He moves like the black superman

And calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

He says I'm the greatest the worlds ever seen

The heavyweight champion who came back again

My face is so pretty you don't see a scar

Which proves I'm the king of the ring by far

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee

Mohammed, the black superman

Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee

Muhammad, the black superman

Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

I'm Ali catch me if you can

Audio

https://music.apple.com/us/album/black-superman-muhammad-ali/286163209

#BlackSuperman #MuhammadAli #Ali 

#JohnnyWakelin #boxer #boxing #legend #popculture #media 

"I'm more into MMA than any other sport. I watch a lot of the UFC @UFC fights. I have since it first came onto the scene" - Jason Statham #JasonStatham #quote #MMA #UFC #combatsports #sportsnews #sportsmedia #popculture #media 

"Video is growing very quickly on Facebook. A lot of people compare that to YouTube. I think that kind of makes sense. YouTube isn't the only video service, but I think it's the biggest, and it probably makes more sense to compare Facebook video to YouTube rather than Netflix because that's a completely different kind of content" - Mark Zuckerberg #MarkZuckerberg #quote #Facebook #Meta #YouTube #video #videoservice #Netflix #content #socialmedia #socialmedianews #socialmediatrends #socialmediawars #socialmediaplatforms #platforms #innovation #bigtech #tech #innovation #popculture #internet #media 

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC Noche

Women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso defended her championship vs Valentina Shevchenko.

The bout went the distance with both competitors coping a bruising in the five-round affair.

Many MMA insiders and hardcore fans are asking questions about the judges scorecards.

A split draw! (48-47, 47-48, 47-47). You could see a look in the eyes of Shevchenko.

One judge giving Grasso the final round 10-8 despite Shevchenko dominating the majority of the round.

Shevchenko spoke with UFC/MMA living legend Daniel "DC" Cormier.

“I think it really was 3-2 on my side, but I think judges felt a little bit of pressure because it was Mexican Independence Day”.

“In a fair fight, in a fair competition, victory would be mine.”

They used to say in the fight game, "That's boxing", but now they may also say, "That's MMA in a foreign land", or something to that effect. We're all heard of the expression "hometown advantage", be it football, or other. A re-match appears on the cards, this time perhaps on U.S soil, or some other place. MMA will survive. Stay hungry!

#UFC #UFCNoche #ufcwomen #NocheUFC #AlexaGrasso #ValentinaShevchenko #sportsnews #sportsbiz #ufcnews #ufcmedia #fighting #sportsmedia #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #showbiz #PPV #payperview #payperviews #Mexico #trend #trending #X #media 

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC Noche

Women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso defended her championship vs Valentina Shevchenko.

The bout went the distance with both competitors coping a bruising in the five-round affair.

Many MMA insiders and hardcore fans are asking questions about the judges scorecards.

A split draw! (48-47, 47-48, 47-47). You could see a look in the eyes of Shevchenko.

One judge giving Grasso the final round 10-8 despite Shevchenko dominating the majority of the round.

Shevchenko spoke with UFC/MMA living legend Daniel "DC" Cormier.

“I think it really was 3-2 on my side, but I think judges felt a little bit of pressure because it was Mexican Independence Day”.

“In a fair fight, in a fair competition, victory would be mine.”

They used to say in the fight game, "That's boxing", but now they may also say, "That's MMA in a foreign land", or something to that effect. We're all heard of the expression "hometown advantage", be it football, or other. A re-match appears on the cards, this time perhaps on U.S soil, or some other place. MMA will survive. Stay hungry!

#UFC #UFCNoche #ufcwomen #NocheUFC #AlexaGrasso #ValentinaShevchenko #sportsnews #sportsbiz #ufcnews #ufcmedia #fighting #sportsmedia #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #showbiz #PPV #payperview #payperviews #Mexico #trend #trending #X #media 

"Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives" Tony Robbins #TonyRobbins #quote #beliefs #power #experience #lives #life #create #mindset #attitude #mbs #biz #world #media 

"Back when the UFC @UFC first started, I wanted to see what MMA was all about; at the time, I was training with Tank Abbott, and so I went to see him fight. While at the fight, I saw this guy fighting that I just crushed in high school wrestling, and I thought, 'Hey, I'm a street fighter, and I have a wrestling background,' so I gave it a shot" -Tito Ortiz #TitoOrtiz #quote #UFC #MMA #martialarts #wrestling #fighting #sports #sportsbiz #combatsports #media

"The problem is that with blogging, the model is publish first, maybe fact-check later. In newspapers, the model is you fact check first and then publish. But those models are merging" - Craig Newmark @craignewmark #CraigNewmark #Craigslist #quote #blogging #blogs #blogger #publish #factcheck #publish #models #businessmodels #businessmodel #newspapers #newsmedia #onlinepublishing #onlinenews #media

"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart" - Marcus Aurelius #MarcusAurelius #quote #stoic #philosopher #stoicism #Roman #RomanEmpire #Rome #Italy #fate #life #heart #mindset #widsom #mbs #media 

"We have a very wide range of content, but the brand-newest movies, what's happening with those is a $30 pay-per-view option - not from Netflix but from DirecTV and others - of movies that are in the theater" - Reed Hastings #ReedHastings #quote #netflix #content #movies #payperview #PPV #directtv #entertainment #homeentertainment #popculture #streaming #showbiz #biz #media 

"You always think as an organization, obviously if you're in sports, you want to be with ESPN. ESPN is it. But you don't really realize how good ESPN is and how big their platform really is until you're in it: Dana White, UFC @UFC #DanaWhite #quote #UFC #ESPN #MMA #combatsports #platform #sports #network #sportsnews #sportsbiz #media 

Media Man: Under The Water Cooler

Sydney HQ.

Up to approx 30 degrees 

Combat sports are red hot right now

WWE 

@WWE

 and UFC 

@UFC

 under TKO 

@TKOGrp

 banner as per NYSE 

@NYSE

 

Wrestling Match Of The Decade wheels in motion for WrestleMania: Roman Reigns 

@WWERomanReigns

 vs Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson 

@TheRock

 

John Cena 

@JohnCena

 and Johnson escape fallout from Hollywood writers strike!

MMA: The UFC Sean Strickland @SStricklandMMA era is here. Izzy has been advised by many to rest up, rethink his political allegiance and messaging with China. Will he ever live down the "Dog Day Afternoon" in Sydney, Australia! Pro MMA can be a dog eat dog business and SS's mind games got to "The Last Stylebender". Was the fight already lost for Izzy before the "Let's Fn Go"?

UFC Nucho in Mexico. Grasso vs Shevchenko. Draw says judges! Oops.  Re-match next time on U.S soil?! 

Hot Temp's In Sydney, Australia see pause on bush burn-offs likely for a few days as mini heatwave hits.

Water safety reminder: Beach, rockpools, anywhere around water. 

Work/Biz/Life Balance: If working with screens/computers try 15 mins break from screen for every hour on. Protect eyes, head, well-being. A walk around the block and an extra glass of water can work wonders. Water and coffee in the office (but not too close to keyboards)!

Washington, USA: Political basketcases?! USA set for an authentic leader in office. Many of the most suitable candidates work in private enterprise? Too good for the Oval Office?!  A bit like some in the land down under of Australia, but not quite as obvious.

New South Wales government of Australia scores big praise by Sydney, Australia sports loving fans. About 3 or so more UFC events to hit Sydney within the next 4 years. 

PPV (Pay-Per-View) business models, offerings to get some revamp thanks to TKO (WWE and UFC) deal; What percentage of WWE fans also watch at least some UFC? A higher percentage than the amount of UFC fans who also watch some WWE! Not all exactly or speculative numbers are in the public domain and can we suggest some are hidden - at least in part. Back in the Optus Vision days we used to get our hands on much raw data, thanks to my old bosses and the marketing and PPV department. Many industries have trade secrets, much like the Google Algorithm or KFC's "eleven secret herbs and spices"!

Alt news and niche news finding audiences in Australia, US, Canada, Europe, while many in society has tuned out or largely turned off "TV News" and other "mainstream aka lamestream"; Sky News Australia 

@SkyNewsAust

 is an exception to the rule. Sky boasts an interaction with 11.1 million Aussie's each month. Multiplatform strategy works a charm, with quality and authentic journalism - funny about that hey!!! "Happy to help further spread the good and authentic news"..Anon journo type overheard around the watercooler.

24-hour News Cycle vs Always On via The Internet..

Too much news going on all the time? Part of the reason the Media Man Group often updates X 

@X

 (formally Twitter) and blogs such as Media Man Int Blogger and Media Man Blogger quicker than news going live to it's flagship websites.  Evergreen content strategy works a treat as well as unique perspectives and some gonzo journalism type reporting seldom found in mainstream news. The Google Algorithm is friendly to this business model so it's a Win-Win-Win!

Yes, we are still taking on some select PR and advertising campaigns. Email is if you have something you want the world to know about. There's an old expression that goes something like, "If you have the money we have the time"!

Seriously, we love the once great craft of journalism. The decline of the industry is well documented.. Hat's off to the authentic journos who continue to scribe and sniff out a good story. Journos vs AI! That's a big rabbit hole ain't it. 

Remember in this sometimes crazy world, Heath is wealth and time and energy are most valuable resources. 

LinkedIn: For more professional (whatever that is anyway) scribes and media presentation check us out via LinkedIn. Greg Tingle, Founder and Director, Media Man Int and Media Man Australia. LI is a MM multi-time 'Social Media Platform Of The Month' winner and finalist (and so it Twitter, now X, right Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino.

Thanks for stopping by Media Man. Beach to Bush Telegraph via The Internet Superhighway. Wrestling and surfin' the web and beyond. Seagulls and Kangaroos ahead! 

#news #newsbiz #PopCulture #combatsports #WWE #UFC #TKO #WrestleMania #gonzo #gonzojournalism #onlinenews #watercooler #watercoolernews #newsroom #sky #skynews #realnews #realviews #nichenews #niche #agent #agency #scribe #blog #blogs #platforms #biz #balance #search #ai #letsgo #forthewin #AndStill #PPV #payperview #streaming #info #intel #scoops #RabbitHole #worldnews #mediabiz #adbiz #buzz #media #mediaman

SEO and online news developments on the horizon

Google to remove "How to (get) rich" results

Google working on another AI search engine

X (X Corp) working on "The Everything App"; Will have a fintech/online banking type functionality

Bloggers want X to have a full blown blogging solution

Will X also start selling website design and development packages ala Google Domains sale to Squarespace

More "alternative media" news websites and alt social media platforms rising up as much of society further moves away from "mainstream media" aka "legacy media"

Become the "go-to* on your line of business.

Build it and they will come (with the right SEO, SEM, meta-tags, webcode and patience)!

Have fun in biz or at work or it's just not worth it.

The winning mindset. Mindset is much of "The Secret"

Plug into trends and hot topics. Become part of the pop culture discussion!

Disrupt the market, unique selling points and solutions,.and seize the day!

Box Office News

Not exactly a record setting week for the movie/theatre biz but the show must go on!

'Nun II' maintains top spot in North American box office for another weekend.

The Nun II is the top movie in North America for a second weekend, earning an extra $14.7 million in receipts, Box Office Mojo has announced.

A Haunting in Venice - $14.5 million #AHauntingInVenice 

The Equalizer 3 - $7.2 million #TheEqualizer3 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding - $4.7 million #MyBigFatGreekWedding3 

Barbie - $4 million #BarbieTheMovie 

Jawan - $2.49 million #Jawan 

Blue Beetle - $2.48 million #BlueBeetle 

Gran Turismo - $2.4 million #GranTurismoMovie 

Oppenheimer - $2.1 million #Oppenheimer 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem - $2 million #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles 

#TheNun2 #popculture #movienews #boxoffice #movieboxoffice #entertainment #entertainmentnews #showbiz #biz #media

SEL YouTube September 2023

SEL's Nicola on YouTube AI. Alphabet/YouTube is on a roll..More great AI developments.. YouTube Shorts are working a charm for us. Brand logos/images rule.. Improved AI for content, movie and streaming show subtitles and more.. YouTube is now in contention for our 'Social Media Platform Of The Month' awards based on pure merit. YouTube getting on the front foot before X Corp goes ballistic with X and "The Everything App"..Will Amazon Prime Video, Dailymotion and/or Rumble have a counter hold and strike back at this? Stay tuned for the ongoing "social media wars" as we call them. The customer (and YouTube wins). 

SEJ Googles Search Relations September 2023

SEJ's Matt on domain names. Lots of considerations. All part of the branding experience and strategy. Many more elements to consider.. For example, we have a strong portfolio of names and websites and none of the names get old or out of date. The names from Media Man fit in with a wide array of matters, but it's obvious there's a strong news media perspective. Business and world conditions do change but news and media remains a staple of society and the web. Domain names and now websites remain very affordable so business entrepreneurs can take more risks without having to bet the ranch. Google Domains recently sold to Squarespace if you didn't hear already. That news broke approx 2 months ago. Keep spreading the risk, start spitfires and seize the day. Did we say be Google - Alphabet friendly? Yes, with the right amount of AI, X Corp, social media and so on. Trust the gut and use your head in the sometimes crazy world. Another winning number by Search Engine Journal. 

SEL Prepare For Season September 2023

SEL's Jonathan on peak season (for many, but not all) business, goods, services and other sectors. The vast majority of businesses have high and low sectors. We work in and around sports, combat sports, ads/pr, pop culture and related. An advantage of not having a shopfront, warehouse etc etc is the cost saving as well as risk minimization..In addition online news and information based outfits can plug into and generate what is widely know as "evergreen content"..For eg, this rich history of boxing, pro wrestling and martial arts never gets old or out of date. Sports business, sports memorabilia, sports content streaming and such remain popular all year round. This type of content can help drive online based sales of boxing and MMA gloves, mouthguards, home gyms, sports DVDs, ring attire and even broadcasting equipment such as podcast kits, Google Cast and you get the picture. Having previously owned a restaurant I'm all too aware of the challenges faced by many more traditional type businesses. SEO continues to be of benefit to most sectors. We're even helping out many agencies and their clients and associates with this as folks know the importance of it all year round. Spread the risk with paid, organic and other. Win-Win-Win!

Blog: UFC, WWE and Pop Culture

Media Man Blog

MMA/Pro Wrestling News

UFC  And WWE  To Close Merger Next Week, Make New York Stock Exchange Debut As TKO Group

UFC  And WWE  To Close Merger Next Week, Make New York Stock Exchange Debut As TKO Group

UFC remains world's number one combat sports promotion in almost all metrics

WWE remains world's number one pro wrestling promotion in all metrics

Endeavor Group management enjoyed strong relationship and mutual respect for WWE's Vince McMahon many years ago; Led to official talks...

UFC parent Endeavor Group and WWE advised they expect to close the planned merger of UFC and WWE on September 12th. That’s ahead of schedule as Endeavor stated in August it expected the deal to close in mid-to-late September. This can be viewed as a positive sign.

Endeavor and WWE announced a deal last spring for the Ari Emanuel-led firm to take control of WWE and merge it into a new, stand-alone entity with UFC. The pro wrestling and mixed martial arts powerhouse will be called TKO Group Holdings and trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Valued at $21 billion, TKO will be a subsidiary of Endeavor, with 51% control. WWE (Raw, SmackDown) will control 49%.

Emanuel will be CEO. Dana White will continue as president of UFC.

Vince McMahon, WWE’s longtime leader, executive chairman and major shareholder, who masterminded the deal with Endeavor, was set as executive chair of the new company’s board. In early August, WWE announced federal law enforcement agents had executed a search warrant and served a federal grand jury subpoena on McMahon although no charges had been brought. WWE CEO Nick Khan also advised then that McMahon was on a medical leave of absence until further notice following spinal surgery.

WWE launched an internal probe of McMahon in 2022 to investigate allegations of payments to women, which it found had totaled close to $20 million and that caused it to revise several quarterly financial statements. The probe concluded last November and McMahon paid the company $17.4 million for costs incurred.

“As previously disclosed on June 17, 2022, a Special Committee of the Board of Directors was formed on June 15, 2022 to investigate allegations of misconduct by Vince McMahon. As previously disclosed, the Special Committee investigation was completed during the fourth quarter of 2022. However, related government investigations remain ongoing,” the company said in SEC filing August 2.

The vast majority of pro wrestling fans and media are excited about the merger. Some staff in the WWE are understood to have some mixed feelings with the deal as in the history of company mergers it's not uncommon for some jobs to be lost for cost efficiencies. The higher one performers, in the ring, and/or in the office and corporate environment, the safer their job would likely be. 

Staff, management and wrestlers continue to step up to impress the powers that be. At this stage nobody wants to hear the famous words heard from time to time, "We wish you well with your future endeavours".

Buzz remains strong for the WWE coming off record breaking numbers for a string of its recent premium live events (formally known as Pay-Per-Views), and the UFC  is currently presenting a very solid card in Australia - UFC 293, coming off Fight Week down under. UFC media and media related events have been packed and have achieved worldwide and strong industry news coverage. You can bet the UFC (and WWE) powers that be are watching closely - we already know they follow the news, online news and social media buzz. 

Little wonder wrestlers and legends to be such as John Cena, Grayson Waller and Logan Paul fit so well into the WWE marketing and media machine. Pub, sports bar, watercooler and cafe talk includes potential dream matches with the UFC's 'Bam Bam' (into The Bloodline), Volk vs Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Sean Strickland has the "killer heel or mega babyface" persona, just as long as WWE PR can control the beast. Everything is a risk, especially in the world of MMA meets UFC, but TKO and the brains trust has managed things beautifully over the course of this history making deal says Media Man.

Pro Wrestling and USA Wrestling News Update

Gable Steveson GableSteveson  Steps Back from 2023 World Championships

USA Wrestling has revealed that 2020 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson will not be participating in the upcoming 2023 Senior World Championships set for September 16-24 in Belgrade, Serbia. Steveson, a Minneapolis native, had previously signaled his return to freestyle wrestling with a victory at the 2023 U.S. Open in Las Vegas and a subsequent win at Final X in Newark, N.J.

Steveson has appeared on the NXT @WWENXT pro wrestling broadcast a handful of time over the past year.  He's done some promos, one or two match interference and had officially one match. The sports legend has a love and passion for pro wrestling and the NXT contract has enabled more financial stability.

Steveson's absence from the tournament clears the way for Mason Parris to step in as his replacement in the 125 kg men's freestyle category. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Parris holds number 2 position on the 2023-24 U.S. Senior Men’s Freestyle National Team. This event marks his inaugural appearance at a Senior World Championships representing Team USA.

2020 Olympic champion Gable Steveson (Minneapolis, Minn./Gopher WC RTC) has notified USA Wrestling that he will not be competing in the 2023 Senior World Championships at 125 kg in Belgrade, Serbia in September.

Replacing Steveson in the 125 kg position in men’s freestyle at the World Championships is Final X runner-up Mason Parris (Ann Arbor, Mich./Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC). Parris, who is No. 2 on the 2023-24 U.S. Senior Men’s Freestyle National Team, will be competing in his first Senior World Championships for Team USA.

Steveson returned to freestyle wrestling for the first time since the Olympic Games in Tokyo when he won the 2023 U.S. Open in Las Vegas in April, then secured his position on the 2023 U.S. Senior World Team with his victory at Final X in Newark, N.J. in June.

Parris will compete at the Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, September 16 and 17.

Parris was a 2019 Junior World champion in men’s freestyle at 125 kg, competing in Tallin, Estonia. Other freestyle achievements include a 2022 U.S. Senior Open title, runner-up in 2023 Final X, second place at the 2023 U.S. Open, runner-up at the 2021 World Team Trials and a third-place finish at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Parris most recently won a gold medal at the United World Wrestling Ranking Tournament in Hungary.

He has a 2023 NCAA champion for Michigan at 285 pounds. Parris won the 2023 Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top college wrestler, going undefeated for the Wolverines with a 33-0 record, with 21 bonus point wins.

Parris was a 2021 NCAA runner-up. He was also fifth in the 2022 NCAA Championships. In 2020, when the NCAA Championships were cancelled, Parris was named NWCA First-Team All-American.

A native of Lawrenceburg, Ind., Parris won three Indiana state high school titles for Lawrenceburg High School.

News

Streaming vs Cable Channel news; Writers Strike shines more light; Streaming entertainment disruption to business models afoot

Most U.S and global streaming services continue to be unprofitable, with Neflix being the exception, with most studios still shooting for 2025 to break even. The subscriber televison business continues to decline in quality most people believe, but not all will admit. Sports and news media channels continue to seek out other options and business models. 

On Friday morning, Charter Communications held a conference call with Wall Street analysts where it said it was prepared to abandon its video business if it couldn’t come to a “transformative” deal with The Walt Disney Co. to try and salvage the pay TV bundle. The company is one of the top pay TV providers domestically, with 14.7 million subscribers — just short of leader Comcast’s 14.9 million but above satellite rivals DirecTV (12.3 million) and Dish (6.9 million). Charter, like those other pay TV firms, has also lost video subs, about 200,000, in its latest quarter, per a Leichtman Research tally.

“We’re on the edge of a precipice. We’re either moving forward with a new collaborative video model, or we’re moving on,” Charter CEO Chris Winfrey said on the call. “This is not a typical carriage dispute. It’s significant for Charter, and we think it’s even more significant for programmers and the broader video ecosystem.”

Charter, in a Powerpoint presentation that accompanied the call, wrote that “programmers are caught in a self-imposed dilemma as they have moved content to their DTC products for short-term profit maximization and their management teams are not incentivized to drive business for the long-term,” arguing that studios like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery chose to wreck their pay TV business (by moving most original shows to subscription video on-demand services, and pushing for higher and higher fees for sports channels) to pursue the streaming riches that Netflix promised.

“As an industry we failed to come together quickly to create that consumer friendly product,” Winfrey said. “Programmers then made high value content available for anyone to access on websites, and soon thereafter through emerging streaming applications such as Hulu, which was initially free. At the same time programmers believed that their content libraries could create so called incremental streaming service revenues by selling this content to Netflix.”

Media Man Wrap-Up

Something is going to give. It's a perfect storm approaching. This comes are most streaming TV viewers globally are turning off the paid services in favor of other freed channels such as Tubi @Tubi , YouTube @YouTube /YouTube Movies, and seeking out other TV streaming channels with more legacy content such as Australia's SBS On Demand @SBSOnDemand   Some people are even focussing more on making more of their own content, or just spending more time in nature, at the beach and in non- tech endeavors.

(Sources: Wires, AP, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Charter Communications, The Wall Street Journal and X @X (formally Twitter buzz)

Bitcoin/Cryptocurrent News

Elon Musk Revealed To Be ‘Quietly’ Funding Crypto Rival To Bitcoin Amid Price Crash

Elon Musk, the TeslaTSLA @Tesla billionaire who embarked on a mission to transform Twitter into the X "everything app" last year, has been eyeing a major "PayPal update" that could cause bitcoin and crypto price chaos.

The bitcoin price rally this year has stalled in recent weeks—though crypto traders are braced for a "crazy" September—dragging down crypto prices and Elon Musk's "fav" bitcoin rival dogecoin, a meme-based fork of bitcoin created as a "joke."

Now, Musk has been revealed to have been "quietly" funding dogecoin development—even as the dogecoin price has collapsed 90% from its all-time high, crashing along with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Before snatching Twitter (now X @X ) last year for a staggering $44 billion, Musk considered creating "a new social-media platform based on the blockchain" that "could have a payment system using dogecoin, the semi-serious cryptocurrency whose development he had been quietly funding," Musk biographer Walter Isaacson wrote in an excerpt of his new book, titled simply Elon Musk, published in the Wall Street Journal.

The level of Musk's funding or investment in dogecoin isn't clear but he has previously said he wants to "upgrade" dogecoin to "beat bitcoin hands down" and "become the currency of Earth."

In July, Musk, who has said he personally owns the cryptocurrencies bitcoin, ethereum and dogecoin, quietly added the dogecoin Ð symbol to his X account amid a flurry of interactions with dogecoin fan accounts—with bitcoin and crypto market watchers predicting Musk's plans for X could be an "absolute game-changer."

Dogecoin which blasted into the crypto top ten in 2021 alongside a meme and influencer-fueled rally, crashed back along with the bitcoin price and other major cryptocurrencies through 2022 but has held onto some of its gains, making the combined dogecoin network worth around $9 billion.

In recent months, Musk has reportedly been plotting with Wall Street executives to turn X (Twitter) into an "updated version of PayPal" and has recently been on a state money transmitting license acquiring spree.

So customers, are you ready for "The Everything App" with crypto plus on the side and much more from X Corp! 

Quotes in the spirit of UFC Fight Week down under in Sydney, Australia

The Art Of War, by Sun Tzu

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”

“If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles"

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter" - George Washington

"War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will" - George Washington

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC 293. Sunday, 10th September, 2023 Sydney, Australia  

Israel Adesanya aka "The Cringe Lord" per SS quote, or aka "The Stylebender" vs Sean Strickland @SStricklandMMA aka "Tarzan" for The Middleweight Title  

The vast majority of Aussie fight fans have really taken a liking to Tarzan er Strickland, whose verbal punches sting almost as hard as his hits in the Octagon (or on the street or anywhere else).

USA/Australian Alliance vs China for the main event says some segments of fans and news media; Not much mention of New Zealand. Monster vs Nails and 'The Puppy King'.  Cheers to a hell of a tough fight for the (current) champ and challenger.

Tai "Bam Bam" Tuivasa @bambamtuivasa vs Alexander Volkov @AlexDragoVolkov

Combat Sports News

UFC  293. Sunday, 10th September, 2023

Sydney, Australia

Israel Adesanya @stylebender  vs Sean Strickland @SStricklandMMA for The Middleweight Title

Tai Tuivasa @bambamtuivasa vs Alexander Volkov @AlexDragoVolkov  

Manel Kape vs Felipe dos Santos

Justin Tafa vs Austen Lane

Tyson Pedro sv Anton Turkalj

Undercard:

Carlos Ulberg vs Jung Da-Un

Jack Jenkins vs Chepe Mariscal

Jamie Mullarkey vs John Makdessi

Nasrat Haqparast vs Landon Quinones

Mike Mathetha vs Charlie Radtke

Shane Young vs Gabriel Miranda

Kevin Jousset vs Kiefer Crosbie

Wrestling and Surfing Connection!

Hulk Hogan on Joe Rogan

Hogan: Wanted to be Laird Hamilton

"Wishes He Was Laird Hamilton". "I wanted to be him."

"That's the surfer guy right?" Hogan asks.

"Yeah, he's a freak, like a real physical freak. The guy's a maniac about training and recovery and nutrition," Rogan answers.

"This is really gonna sound weird to say because I've never admitted this in front of anybody, but I wanted to be him."

Rogan : "You wanted to be Laird Hamilton?"

"When I saw him ride those big waves bro. That big, tall, blond guy that was built like crazy. I said, man, I could have been him instead of me". Hogan.

"That's crazy, 'cause you're Hulk Hogan," Rogan says.

"Could you imagine riding one of those waves, bro? The rush?"

"I have several friends who are big wave surfers and I am in awe" Rogan.

"On a short board. I mean that's insane. Bro, you fall off, you might not come out of that thing". Hogan.

"Do you surf?" Rogan's co-host.

Hogan says his former lawyer, who was president of the Malibu Surf Club, taught him to surf on "little baby two to three-foot breakers."

He'd also rent boards and surf Diamond Head when he'd visit Hawaii.

Video/Audio via Spotify

Media Man Bloggers Blog: Pop Culture

Media Man Bloggers Blog

Pop Culture and Wrestling News

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan appears on Joe Rogan  podcast; Covers pay and back story on Sly Stallone's Rocky III and much more

Hulk Hogan appeared on the world acclaimed Joe Rogen Experience podcast and discussed Vince McMahon Sr. firing him over Hogan’s decision to appear in Rocky III, and also disclosed how much he was paid to appear in the movie. Highlights of his comments are below.

On finding out Sylvester Stallone wanted him in Rocky III: “I got this crazy call to come out and do this Stallone movie. First I was in the dressing room and Gorilla Monsoon gave me the note and I was like, yeah right, and I threw the note away because Stallone was like the 150 feet tall in the public’s eye and I saw Rocky I and Rocky II and I was like, oh my God, so I was like, another wrestling joke like pooping in my bag or putting locks on my stuff, ya know? So I split to Japan for like eight weeks and when I came back again to TV in Allentown, they hand me a Western Union letter this time from Stallone so I flew out and talked to him and got in the ring with him and did a couple of things.”

Video

Pro Wrestling Legend Terry Funk Passes Away

Pro Wrestling News

Broadcasting legend Jim Ross on wrestling legend Terry Funk

Ross aka JR on Terry Funk

“I loved him like family. Terry was a brilliant mind. Absolutely amazing ring psychology. He was physically and mentally as tough as a $2 steak… Terry Funk is irreplaceable. There will never be another.”

On Funk’s I Quit match vs Ric Flair. Clash Of Champions. 1989: 

“That match still stands the test of time. One of my all-time favorites in my near 50 years in pro wrestling. Terry was special. And he was brave enough to reinvent himself multiple times.”

Sources: Sports Illustrated, Google News

Pro Wrestlers and Wrestling Business Pays Tribute To All Time Great Pro Wrestler and Sports Entertainer, Terry Funk. (June 30, 1944 – August 23, 2023)

Ric Flair @RicFlairNatrBoy 

“In My Entire Life, I’ve Never Met A Guy Who Worked Harder. Terry Funk Was A Great Wrestler, Entertainer, Unbelievably Fearless, And A Great Friend! Rest In Peace My Friend Terry Funk Knowing That No One Will Ever Replace You In The World Of Professional Wrestling!”

Bully Ray Dudley @bullyray5150 

“There are no words. God Bless Terry Funk.”

Triple H @TripleH 

“Every night in cities all over the world, Terry Funk left it all in the ring for our business and for the fans. An icon of our industry. My thoughts are with Terry’s family, friends and fans.”

Matt Hardy @MATTHARDYBRAND 

#RIP Terry Funk  Not only were you the most amazing pro wrestler ever, you were the most incredible human being. Godspeed, Funker My thoughts are with your family, friends & fans. You’ll be greatly missed.

WWE @WWE

“WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk has passed away at the age of 79. WWE extends its condolences to Funk’s family, friends and fans."

AI News

Search Engine Land: AI

SEL's @sengineland Nicola with an insightful and helpful feature article on the changes and continued evolution of the SEO business sector in relation to AI (artificial intelligence). Only about a year into this and clients, associates and selves have already experienced some significant changes. We've so caused a few disruptions ourselves. SEO remains only a modest part of our online based news, publicity and advertising based business model, with a focus on pop culture, sports and lifestyle, with the odd spot of sports betting and gaming. Talk about an ultra competitive business sector. Our two decades plus head start in the online publishing space continues to serve our clients, associates and selves well. The battle of the AI's re ChatGPT vs Bing vs Elon Musk's xAI. Focussing on particular niches and applying scribes from lived experiences on sectors such entertainment/red carpet, pro wrestling, MMA, surfing, cafes or big tech for example can help give one an edge with the search engines and guardians of the internet algorithm. Keep in mind that a Musk AI search question with answers may give a different answer and result than a Gates or Mr Google result. Spread the risk while the industry continues to iron out issues. Human plus AI for the win!

Wrestling Legend Terry Funk Passes Away: 1944 - 2023

Oh no. Terry Funk was absolutely one of the greatest professional wrestlers and sports entertainers of all time. A hell of a good actor also ('Roadhouse') etc..Former NWA champion, drew huge money in the U.S (Hulk Hogan etc), added more credibility to the WCW (with a great Ric Flair rivalry), legendary appearances and business in Japan, kept ECW going it's early days and was a stand out performer in wrestling for over four decades I understand. It may be closer to fifty years including on what one includes. Wrestled just about everyone, everywhere..Has always be neck and neck with Harley Race for our GOAT. A hell of a great bloke we understand to boot. Words grapple to express the loss to the world of wrestling and larger sports and entertainment world. Thanks for the memories, enjoyment and action you gave the world. RIP legend.

X News

SEJ's Kristi on X @X removing headlines and descriptions. Elaborate publicity stunt, practical step to further boost X's brand and loyality by hardcores who may have been on the fence, elements of both, or a mixed bag from the man who keeps the world guessing?! Remember, Musk stated that X is to become "the everything app". This appears to be just another part of the staged approach and Team Musk often flips the old bird to legacy media and the old guard, as the great awakening in the digital age and society at large continues. Pop Culture reference for educational and entertainment purposes: "I can only show you the door. You have to walk through it" (The Matrix). Musk would likely be "The One"/"Neo" right? Linda Y to be Trinity and perhaps SEJ is part of "the program". SEJ remains fair and balanced to Elon Musk, X Corp, brands and socieity and a whole. We remain on a learning curve as to how better monetize content and X is certainly campaigning for our attention and time spent on the web. X marks the spot. Project X continues. Musk keeps providing fodder for tech news and writers the world over. Musk set to win round 7 of the social media wars vs Zuck, when Zuck re-enters the virtual Octagon once again. EM and X for the win.

UFC /MMA News

UFC @UFC /MMA Pound For Pound Rankings

1. Jon Jones

2. Alexander Volkanovski

3. Islam Makhachev

4. Leon Edwards

5. Israel Adesanya

6. Charles Oliveira +1

7. Kamaru Usman +1

8. Sean O’Malley *NR

9. Aljamain Sterling -3

10. Alexandre Pantoja -1

11. Alex Pereira -1

12. Jiri Prochazka -2

13. Max Holloway -1

14. Justin Gaethje -1

15. Jamahal Hill -1

Mixed Martial Arts News

PFL (Professional Fighters League) @PFLMMA CEO Peter Murray on his promotion and the business

“The PFL has some of the best fighters on the planet”  “We’re proving we can develop stars and recruit stars.”

“Francis is the biggest signing in PFL history”...“He’s the number-one MMA heavyweight in the world, and he opted to come to the PFL. He’s also a partner as chairman of PFL Africa. That’s part of his legacy. Francis wants to pave the way for athletes in Africa to give them the opportunity to compete against top competition. And he has a voice in our PFL Global Athlete Advisory board. Plus, he now has the flexibility to take on the sport of boxing.”

“Jake is another strategic partner. He’s an advocate for athletes, and he’s very passionate about that. And we’re excited for him to make his MMA debut with us. He had an incredible performance in boxing against Nate Diaz, and he’ll now turn his attention to MMA. There is an offer on the table against Nate Diaz. We’d like to see that fight in 2024, and we hope there is more to share soon.” Sources: SI, ESPN, Google News, PFL, X (formally Twitter), wires..

Wrestling News

WWE NXT Heatwave

Carmelo Hayes def Wes Lee

Ilja Dragunov def Trick Williams

Von Wagner vs Baron Corbin - no content

Ivy Nile def Ava

Noam Dar def Nathan Frazier

Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria def Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley

MMA/Wrestling News

UFC, martial arts legend Ronda Rousey has finished of her contact in the WWE taking the loss to rival and fellow badass Shayna Baszler

Rousey, now 36 and also in motherhood, has been fueling the fire and speculation that she will return to the UFC Octagon for at least one more match.

UFC prez Dana White is clear in his communication that it will not be happening:

"There’s no shot" "She’s accomplished everything she set out to do.”

Rousey has not had a match in the UFC or any other MMA promotion since December of 2016 when she was defeated by Amanda Nunes. UFC 300 has been getting speculated on by numerous parties close and not to close to the situation.

"Her dream was to win a UFC championship, then win a WWE championship, and she’s done it”. “Now she’s starting a family. Ronda has made so much money, and she’s still making a lot of money in sponsorships.”

“It’s what makes the sport so exciting” “It’s the unexpected *hit you don’t see coming that makes the sport so fun.” - Dana White

Both WWE women and UFC women have been doing a great job filling the void that was left my Rousey. Her place in sports history is secure and its time for others to shine in both the realms of pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. The fans win with fresh faces, new blood and more fantasy dream matches come to life. See you at the matches.

Triller's Unveiling is anAI-Powered Innovation, Influential Shareholders, And A New Era In Entertainment

August 2023

In the dynamic world of finance, few events draw as much attention as a company's decision to go public. It's not just about financial gain; it's about revealing the inner workings, strategies, and the compelling narrative that underpins a company's journey. Triller, a trailblazer at the intersection of AI, combat sports, and influencer marketing, is on the brink of a significant public offering. This move promises to illuminate the factors driving its remarkable valuation and market presence.

Delving deep into the dynamics that propel Triller's value proposition reveals a unique approach that converges diverse industries and harnesses the potential of AI. By masterfully blending entertainment, technology, and investment, Triller has carved out a multidimensional ecosystem that defies conventional business models.

A Fusion of Industries

Triller's strength lies in its ability to seamlessly meld elements from the realms of AI, entertainment, and sports. Strategic acquisitions, such as Fight Club and BKFC, exemplify the company's prescient approach to capitalizing on the thriving combat sports market. The meteoric rise of BKFC, surpassing viewership of industry titans like UFC and Bellator, showcases Triller's knack for identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends.

However, Triller's influence extends far beyond the realm of combat sports. Its acquisition of Fite.TV, a premier combat sports streaming platform, signifies the company's ambitions in the live sports streaming market. With DAZN, Fite.TV's closest rival, valued at approximately $3 billion, Triller's strategic placement positions it to tap into the surging demand for live sports content, indicating valuation potential beyond traditional financial metrics.

Streaming Disruption: FITE.TV vs. DAZN

Triller's strategic acquisition of Fite.TV has caused ripples in the ever-evolving world of live sports streaming. Fite.TV, renowned for its cutting-edge platform dedicated to streaming combat sports, has become a linchpin in Triller's plan to expand its influence across the streaming landscape. While DAZN already commands a dominant position, with a staggering valuation of around $3 billion, Triller's calculated entry into this arena signifies its intent to revolutionize our engagement with live sports.

Fite.TV distinguishes itself through its vast reach, captivating over 6.5 million households in the United States and hosting more than 2,000 riveting events annually. This impressive track record solidifies Triller's position as an emerging heavyweight in the live sports streaming sector. As excitement builds for Triller's upcoming public debut, it's clear that the company's value proposition extends beyond tangible assets, delving deep into the realm of AI-driven innovation.

As technology shapes the landscape of live sports streaming, Triller's presence promises groundbreaking developments and opportunities for global sports enthusiasts. With Fite.TV and its expansive audience base, Triller is poised to redefine how we experience live sports content, revolutionizing the entertainment industry's status quo.

AI: The Cornerstone of Triller's Value

Yet, it's Triller's AI capabilities that anchor its valuation narrative. Powered by Amplify.Ai, Triller's AI seamlessly integrates across a spectrum of social media platforms, generating a staggering 750 million interactions each quarter among its 50 million user base. The AI's remarkable ability to facilitate connections between brands, influencers, and users, resulting in a remarkable 70% engagement rate, surpasses industry benchmarks.

This AI prowess has attracted the attention of global brands, positioning Triller as a bridge between corporations and consumers. Fortune 500 entities like Meta, Verizon, Nike, Disney, and Pepsi have leveraged Triller's AI to amplify user engagement and solidify their digital presence. The implications of such high engagement are profound, hinting at Triller's potential to reshape how brands interact with their audiences.

With a historic public offering imminent, Triller's multidimensional ecosystem, strategic acquisitions, and AI capabilities position the company for ongoing growth and success. As anticipation builds for the unveiling of Triller's inner workings, its valuation potential and innovative approach continue to captivate investors and industry enthusiasts alike.

The Power of Shareholders: A Star-Studded Lineup

Triller's allure extends beyond technology and entertainment, encompassing an exceptional roster of shareholders who not only hold significant financial stakes but also wield influence within the entertainment realm. Names like Swizz Beatz, Ashanti, Snoop Dogg, The Weeknd, and Alicia Keys populate this constellation of investors. Their enthusiastic involvement underscores their belief in Triller's immense potential, reflecting the seamless integration of creativity and investment within the company's thriving ecosystem.

Additionally, Triller's strategic ownership of Verzuz, a subsidiary responsible for orchestrating eight of the top ten Instagram Live events ever, stands as a testament to the company's unparalleled ability to unite technology and culture in perfect harmony. This strategic move has propelled Triller into event-driven entertainment, solidifying its reputation as a true industry innovator.

Reshaping the Investment Landscape

As Triller, a pioneering AI-powered entertainment and sports platform, prepares for its eagerly awaited public offering on the NYSE, investors are drawn to its unique value proposition in the digital age. Positioned at the crossroads of AI, entertainment, and sports, Triller has adeptly tapped into multiple industries, unlocking transformative potential across the board.

Triller's valuation transcends traditional metrics, serving as a testament to its ability to redefine user engagement and revolutionize brand-consumer interactions. By harnessing cutting-edge technology and innovative strategies, Triller has cultivated a dynamic platform that captivates audiences and delivers immersive experiences like never before.

In an era characterized by market volatility and uncertainty, Triller emerges as a beacon of innovation and resilience. Fueled by cross-pollination and a relentless pursuit of boundary-pushing, Triller is redefining norms and reshaping industries. With its impending public offering, Triller invites investors to join its extraordinary journey and participate in a company that's reimagining the entertainment landscape.

Investors attuned to Triller's disruptive potential are positioned to reap rewards from its visionary approach, as it continues to redefine the investment landscape and transform the future of entertainment.

Navigating the Path Ahead

As Triller's public offering nears, the financial world is on the brink of witnessing the rise of a unique entity that seamlessly blends entertainment, technology, and investment. The convergence of AI capabilities, strategic acquisitions, and an influential shareholder base presents an opportunity to engage with a company that's not just shaping industries, but also redefining the way audiences engage with entertainment and brands.

As the curtain rises on Triller's public offering, we stand at the threshold of a company that thrives on the frontiers of industry boundaries, offering a glimpse of a future where innovation reshapes entire sectors. The implications of Triller's journey stretch beyond its numerical valuation, speaking volumes about the transformative power of innovation that can reshape industries and redefine the norms of business engagement in the digital era.

'The Man in the Arena', By Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Search Engine Journal: Threads

SEJ's Roger on Meta's - Instagram's Threads..All very interesting and insightful. I remain luke-warm on Threads for a number of reasons. I still have mixed reactions to big tech period, partly due to my journalism background and seeing and experiencing the best and the worst that tech has to offer. For me, Meta's FB silencing journalists and the public at large in the Cvd era about three yew ago was the end Meta (then Facebook) goodwill. The ghosted news media who reported on a balanced capacity on the Canadian and Canberra peaceful trucker protests. That was it. They also silenced many medical professionals and a range of folks who questioned government related "authorities", who in some cases were not truthful. Politics and big tech are known for twisting facts, so is the news media business for that matter. I remain a fan of disrupters, be it X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, Rumble, The Why Files and you get the idea. Fortunately Search Engine Journal remains balanced and pro freedom of speech and pro flow of information. Firms who value integrity and human rights will continue to enjoy our support and be prepared suppliers, be it for news, Intel, product etc. And, we put our money where our mouth is. SEJ and X for the win! 

Movie Box Office

'Blue Beetle' bites and crawls into North American box office with $25.4 million

Superhero themed movie Blue Beetle is the No. 1 movie in North America, earning $25.4 million in receipts this weekend, Box Office Mojo has announced.

Barbie is now in 2 with $21.5 million, followed by Oppenheimer at No 3 with $10.6 million, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem at No 4 with $8.4 million and Strays in fifth with $8.3 million.

Then its Meg 2: The Trench at 6 with $6.7 million, Talk to Me at 7 with $3.2 million, Haunted Mansion at 8 with $3 million, Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning Part One at 9 with $2.7 million and The Last Voyage of the Demeter in the number 10 spot with $2.5 million. Quite different to last month when the likes of Sound Of Freedom was all the rage and Mission Impossible dominated.

Search Engine Journal August 2023

Funnell Keywords

SEJ's Devesh on bottom.on funnel keywords. We still much prefer organic results on.on website. So, with sports, combat, pop culture, online media, ads promotions, coastal lifestyle management being some of our main areas I've put together this list in case SEJ and/or readership can offer a yeah or nay:

Online News, online advertising, MMA news, MMA streaming, watch mma, MMA collectables.

Wrestling news, WWE news, WWE wrestlers, WWE tickets, wrestling scoops, wrestler interviews, PPV, wrestling promotions, promoters.

Pop culture news, pop culture collectables, box office ratings, box office news, movie star quotes, entertainment interviews.

Streaming business, streaming rankings, Netflix, Paramount, Tubi, streamed content, what's new, internet TV, OTT, over the top, streaming providers 

Advertising executive, publicist, online ads, disruptor, media disruptor, media agent, media analyst, sports analyst, SEO ads, MMA ads, advertising directory, PR.

Coastal lifestyle, coastal living, coastal News Media, surf sports, beach lifestyle, yachting, boating, surfing, surf culture, beach culture, sunrise, Eastern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, Bondi Beach, coastal walkway, coastal directory, lifestyle agent.

So, how did we do? Bottoms up!

Combat Sports News: Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg

'The Fight Of The Century' and 'Battle Of The Billionaires' blasted Media Man, TMZ Sports and plenty of others followed, and the world was hyped for it - week after week, after week, media and fans created content to fuel the fire, MMA and sports news websites got behind it, and then the buzz got weaker - what happened?!

UFC Prez Dana White has gone public with some of the chain of events including a he-said, she-said dive and probe into Elon "The Cyborg" Musk vs Mark "The Lizard" Zuckerberg. *handles are affectionate stage name/gimmicks, just to try to keep you entertained on the story that never seems to have an end! The pain, oh the pain. 

According to Zuckerberg, Musk is no longer taking the match-up seriously. Ouch! 

Musk has been semi-active via X (formally Twitter), just in case you blinked and missed it.

“The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC). Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.”

“Everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy. And all proceeds go to veterans.”

Dana White, mega promoter and head of the world's most succesful and cashed up MMA promotion, the UFC, was keen on the two tsars squaring off mano a mano in the Octagon, has reflected on what’s gone pear shaped via TMZ Sports.

“So (Zuckerberg) and I talk multiple times a week. We (had) dinner last Monday. He’s very serious about competing…What he was saying in response to Elon was, ‘There are tons of professional organizations out there, and this is the way that this should be done.’ Not in some backyard or whatever he was saying. Elon’s hilarious.”

“Think about this; you’ve got two of the richest, most powerful men in the world and they say they wanna fight. It has to be sanctioned by an athletic commission, the proper medical testing has to be done, the proper drug testing has to be done, and that’s what Zuckerberg was saying. Zuckerberg is saying, ‘There are plenty of professional organizations out there, we should be fighting in the UFC.’”

To add extra balance and perspective, Mark Zuckerberg had also mentioned ONE Championship as being a potential host to promote the fight. CEO of ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, even took to X to present his thoughts on the potential MMA match, the competitors, respect and the like.

Dana White conceeded he did speak with the Italian government just as Musk stated he did re the Roman Colosseum.

“I did talk with the people from the Ministry of Culture, and they were interested in doing the fight. That is absolutely true.”

The initial buzz and hype machine on the potential fight has slowed, but if it starts looking like much more than just 'Fantasy Booking', as Media Man and others have got to be known for, speaking to fighters, promoters and such - then the fans and news media will get behind this again. 

"The world still wants to see Musk vs Zuck. At present it's been more the Social Media Wars, with Musk winning the majority of the 6 or so rounds thus far, but our scorecard has Zuck on points for the 6th. Musk has not submitted, but did take a couple of bruises, since Dana White checked in on the fighters and has acted somewhat as commisioner, ref and perhaps Zuck corner-man. The online battle has still offered some entertainment value", and at least there was no PPV charge for this one. Almost like a dark match or prelim match. Millions want the fight to happen and it would generate millions for charity. Comon' fellas, lets make history" - Media Man under the watercooler.

Twitter and Facebook

TMZ Sports on a great update on Jake Paul taking it to the haters. Sure TMZ Sports and S.I have their haters also. Wins our 'Boxer Of The Month' award for in-ring and out of the ring success. Gotta rap about something! 

News Corp tabloids struggle to hit ambitious subscriptions targets

Subscriber growth at News Corporation’s local tabloids has stalled as the publisher grapples with how to reach an ambitious goal to increase the number of readers who pay for news.

The internal figures, contained in filings in New York overnight, show the total number of subscribers at The Daily Telegraph in Sydney, the Herald Sun in Melbourne, the Courier Mail in Brisbane and the Adelaide Advertiser was at 547,411 as of June 30. That is down almost 2 per cent in a year.

The figures include subscribers to the newspaper and the publications online. They show a fall of more than 10,300 across the mastheads.

The one bright spot for News Corp was the performance of The Australian, the company’s national masthead. The figures show the number of subscribers has grown 15 per cent to 318,417 in the past 12 months.

News Corp Australia’s executive chairman Michael Miller said the company had 1.1 million subscribers across all of its publications – across The Australian and the tabloid newspapers that number stands at 865,828 – and the publisher had set itself a target of two million subscribers.

The new figures, however, show the difficulty of that task. News Corp tabloid newspapers, once with significant reach, were the source of the company’s influence in state and federal politics. Much of that audience has since drifted to other publications, including the company’s free news.com.au.

The Telegraph has 152,457 print and digital subscribers, the numbers show, up just 4641 in 12 months. The Herald Sun gained 4861 subscribers to hit 150,887, while the Courier Mail lost 6575 subscribers. It now has 140,532 online and print subscribers. The Advertiser lost 5807 subscribers, or some 7 per cent, to fall to just over 103,500 by June 30.

As first reported by The Australian Financial Review in June, News Corp is relying on deeper cost cuts and higher print advertising sales to make up for lower-than-expected digital advertising and subscription revenues.

Figures contained in a presentation given to staff by Mr Miller that month showed digital advertising was expected to add 19 per cent less than forecast as a proportion of its budget bottom line in the year to June 30. The proportion from subscriptions was 12 per cent below forecasts.

But those declines were offset by other areas such as print advertising, which grew its share of revenue by 12 per cent on company forecasts, and cuts to expenses, which added an extra 2 per cent in savings.

News Corp has cut more than $US160 million ($245 million) in costs over the past six months, and last week delivered above-expected earnings despite a sharp 75 per cent fall in net profits. The company also owns publications including The Times of London, the Wall Street Journal, as well as Foxtel and stakes in REA Group and Move, a North American real estate platform.

Analysts and brokers, however, are bullish on the company’s prospects. At the time, Macquarie’s Darren Leung said more costs had been removed than expected, and earnings were 10 per cent ahead of forecasts for the last quarter.

Aitken Mount Capital Partners’ Angus Aitken hailed the results as “very strong”. “We think [News] is mispriced and can double, and that isn’t even an aggressive call,” he wrote in a note to his clients.

News Corp shares fell 2.3 per cent, or 78¢, during trade on the ASX on Wednesday to $33.11. They are up 20 per cent over the last six months.

Paramount LinkedIn post reply August 2023

THR's Georg with a dive into the upcoming shows on Paramount Plus. It's taking on a 'World Movies' and SBS 'On Demand' (Australian) kind of feel. Some of the upcoming shows appear a little too dark for my liking. 'Gold' may be the pick of the bunch. We're based in Australia so that may fit out culture norms better, whereas Koreans may have a different experience. On the Latin America front we would like to see some Lucha Libre themes following in the realm of 'Against The Ropes'or even old Santos and Blue Demon flicks. Some WWE and/or AEW wouldn't go astray if Paramount can come to terms with them. For WWE it's under Endeavor Group these days, as is the UFC (mixed martial arts leader). Amazon Prime is carrying ONE Championship in some markets for your intel. The late entertainer/comedian Andy Kaufman one said, "There's no drama like wrestling", while Frank Sinatra said and sang "There's no business like show business'. And legendary and controversial promoter and showman P.T. Barnum emphasizes the "business" in show business - something Paramount Plus is demonstrating to its global audience quite well. 

Streaming Entertainment News

Morgan Freeman joins 'Special Ops: Lioness' cast Sunday

Paramount Plus @paramountplus released the first images of Morgan Freeman's appearance on Special Ops: Lioness on Thursday. Freeman joins the cast in Sunday's episode.

Freeman will play Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. The show stars Zoe Saldana as the leader of an elite program to train female agents. Nicole Kidman plays her overseer.

Freeman was featured in the show's trailer in July and announced as part of the show's cast. Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur and Hannah Love Lanier also star.

Taylor Sheridan created Special Ops: Lioness, inspired by a real military program. Lioness premiered July 23. Sunday will be its sixth episode.

Wrestling, Energy Drink Connection: Logan Paul could be the next Hulk Hogan says Media Man

Energy Drink News

Can Prime, the drink driving kids crazy, be more than a fad? - 2nd June 2023

The sports drinks promoted by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI are a lesson in scarcity marketing in the social media age, but can the epic hype turn into lasting sales?

When the stark white Meta Moon bottle of Prime Hydration dropped into the Australian market, the “Limited edition” sports drink – which tastes like bubble gum and fairy floss – quickly became the most sought after item in schools around the country, which meant the marketing machine was working exactly as planned.

As playground fads go it’s one of the stranger ones: buying and selling sports drinks. The beverage in question is marketed and part-owned by two social media stars who have tens of millions of followers, particularly tween and teenage boys.

In February, ahead of the product’s launch in Australia, thousands of fans blocked a street in North Sydney next to Nine’s office – which owns The Australian Financial Review – hoping to catch a glimpse of the drink’s co-owners, boxer and WWE wrestling star Logan Paul and his business partner KSI (Olajide Olayinka Williams), a rapper and boxer, who were appearing on the Today show.

Planned meet and greet events at Woolworths stores in Perth were cancelled over safety fears when it was realised how many people were likely to turn up. Then, when the drink went on sale in March, shoppers scrambled to get their hands on the bottles.

Paul and KSI were once boxing rivals but joined forces to leverage their fan bases: Paul has more than 48 million followers across YouTube and Instagram combined; KSI has nearly 37 million followers.

Prime is now considered the capital of cool by kids on the playground – if they can get a bottle that is. Prime Hydration sells at Woolworths for $4.50 each, but you will find bottles on Amazon at $25 and even in some corner shops it can cost $15 a pop.

Prime has now been banned from some schools – even the empty bottles – with kids selling them to each other at inflated prices. Some youth sports clubs also banned all sports drinks following the hype. To help consumers track down supplies, Twitter handle Prime Tracker publishes details of stock in multiple countries including UK and Australia.

But it’s not all sunshine. Carbonated Prime Energy has been criticised for the amount of caffeine it contains: 56mg per 100ml. In comparison, energy drinks Red Bull and V Energy contain 32mg per 100ml. Some youth sports clubs have banned to beverage, which is considered dangerous for people who weigh less than 40kg.

The controversy is welcome and has helped make the product even more desirable among the younger demographics.

But are algorithms, exotic flavours and 5G connectivity really enough to build a lasting business? Or will Prime end up another fad, like the Pokémon cards, Slinky’s and Cabbage Patch kids of the past.

Paul and KSI are certainly adept at creating demand: in April they handed out a “limited edition” Prime Lemonade of just 10,000 bottles to consumers on Venice Beach, California; one bright yellow bottle, adorned with a picture of Paul and KSI, was for sale on Amazon.com.au for $999.

In May, Prime Lemonade became widely available in the US. The YouTubers are gradually going global and will launch the product in Denmark and Norway on June 7.

Both men have woven Prime into their media work: when Paul appeared in an episode of the popular Netflix series King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch, Prime could be seen in the background as he and Ken Goldin did a live box-break looking for rare Pokémon cards to sell to collectors.

Paul’s and KSI’s social media posts also include the brightly coloured bottles of Prime. It’s an object lesson in how influencers can leverage their fame to launch and market products, especially ones aimed at the youth demographic and live online.

In a radio interview with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O, Paul and KSI said Prime had generated $US250 million ($383 million) in retail sales globally in its first year; $US45 million in January alone.

They’re not alone, the global influencer market has more than doubled since 2019, according to Statista. This year, globally, it has an estimated value of $US21.1 billion.

Woolworths sells a million bottles

It’s not just the influencers who benefitted from the Prime launch. It was one of the biggest product debuts for Woolworths, the nation’s largest grocery chain, with more than a million bottles sold in the first few weeks. Hundreds of buyers were calling stores every week trying to find out when the drink would be back on the shelf. To ensure fairness, the retailer instigated a five bottle limit per customer.

Last year the drink sparked chaotic scenes in stores around the UK, when it was delivered to Sainsbury’s and Asda chains and sold out in just minutes. Both retailers also set limits on sales.

Woolworths launches a few thousand products every year but Prime is something special. On rough calculations, if Prime’s early success were annualised, it could make up about 1 per cent to 2 per cent of Woolworths’ drink category sales, one analyst says.

“The anticipation, excitement and demand for this was unprecedented, and we’re continuing to work closely with the manufacturer to ensure we have stock arriving each week as it’s now part of the sports drinks range in our stores,” a Woolworths spokesperson says.

Cultural obsession

QUT Professor Gary Mortimer, who researches food retailing, retail marketing and consumer behaviour, says Prime is an example of influencer marketing at its best.

“I’ve heard stories of people simply refilling the bottle with water or Gatorade, but having it in the Prime container to provide this social connection, that validates themselves with others,” he says.

Gina Lednyak, chief executive of content and social media firm L&A Social (a Tag company), says pre-teens and teenagers are more prone to excess and peer pressure. They look for things that provide social status and make them feel part of a community.

“The fact it is hard to get, the scarcity, leads to more of a cultural obsession.” she says.

Over the years there have been various crazes with products that catch momentum with youth, then they sell out, and the scarcity is what builds up the hype. Think sour/sweet Warhead candy, girl band Spice Girl lollipops, Pokémon cards, and more recently fidget spinners.

“Prime is the perfect storm of people catching an age demographic that is thirsty for community and belonging and absolutely digitally native, thus exposed to a lot of online content from influencers and peers,” Lednyak says.

Bring on the money

American Paul is one of the highest-paid YouTube stars with a net wealth of about $US18 million in 2022, according to Forbes. He even held an exhibition match with former world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2021.

There are other media reports that estimate Paul’s worth at a staggering $US250 million. Brit KSI is also highly successful and co-founded restaurant chain Sides and Vodka brand XIX, and has an estimated net worth of about $US25 million.

Paul and KSI each own about 20 per cent of Prime with manufacturer Congo Brands owning the balance. Congo also produces Alani Nutrition, a women’s sports nutrition product range and 3D Energy drinks.

Congo Brands is owned by Trey Steiger and Max Clemons. The Louisville, Kentucky natives set up Congo in 2014, according its website.

Outsiders hoping for a piece of the action are out of luck, as Congo’s website says each of their brands “chooses not to take on debt or outside investment so that growth is controlled from within.”

Will mania last?

There have been hugely successful businesses started by influencers, including Australian fitness stars and young Rich Listers Kayla Itsines and Tammy Hembrow, but in the fast moving consumer goods industry longevity is harder to achieve.

Former US president Donald Trump’s Trump Steaks lasted just two months in 2007. However, pre-influencer Paul Newman’s sauces have outlived the man who created the line and the company is celebrating its 35 anniversary this year.

But the mania for Prime will be fleeting, says Mortimer. In any hyped up market limited supply creates FOMO (fear of missing out) and the need for social validation drives demand among younger consumers.

But then comes the fall, especially when it comes to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who are always on the hunt for the next big thing.

“They get a bottle for $10, then it gets on-sold in school yards for $15 or $20 a bottle, and then suddenly the novelty wears off and everybody’s got it, everybody’s tried it, and we start to see discounting. It was only recently someone had Tweeted an image of Walmart selling a pallet of Prime for $1.99,” he says.

“Trends tend to be a very sharp curve. So, a really short period introduction, significant high growth, not a lot of time in maturity, and then a very steep decline.”

Mortimer says the sports drink market is saturated with the likes of Powerade and Gatorade the top players. While the YouTube stars will seek to extend the life and hype of Prime with the introduction of “Limited Editon”, this too is not new. Big global brands do it: Coke moved into diet and less sugar versions and printed names on the cans, while Cadbury offers limited-editon chocolate options.

“Prime is a bit quirky because it’s been driven and promoted by influencers who have got a very strong following from a smaller cohort,” Mortimer says.

Regardless, he thinks the drink will disappear pretty quickly.

“I walked through a Woollies store today, and Prime was sitting on the shelf next to the Gatorade,” he says. “In the recent past, you couldn’t get it. I’m already seeing a slowdown in demand.”

Blog: Matildas

Blog

Australian Sports and Politics Don't Mix finds Aussie PM, despite news media and sports media tip-off warnings

A tribute to the Matildas “incredible” World Cup run has been met with calls for a major injection of funding into the women’s game.

Aussie Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was one of the 75,000 fans who packed out to Sydney’s Olympic Park on Wednesday night to watch The Matilda's go down 3-1 in the semi-final.

Despite a number attempts on goal from captain Sam Kerr, including the moment of greatness in the 63rd minute that briefly tied the match, the Aussies couldn’t get over the line to put it mildly.

Post game Albanese was quick to run onto social media to lead the praise of the Matildas stars.

“You’ve given us all moments and memories that will last a lifetime,” he penned via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.. you know, the bird is gone and its all about X!

“Every single Matilda has brought us joy throughout this @FIFAWWC. And I have no doubt that the next generation of Matildas were watching. We'll all be cheering for you on Saturday (in the play off for third).”

But some fans weren’t too pleased with Mr Albanese’s tribute, calling for him to put his money where his mouth is! 

Flip the bird and grab the ball and run with it. The balls in your court. So, you wanna mix politics and sports. Oil and water. You're in the oil river now. Sink deeper or swim.

#Matildas #soccer #politics #sports #sportsbiz #politicsandsport #politicsandsports #PM #Aussie #australia #sportsbusiness #sportsmarketing #womenssport #womenssports #sportsnews #politicsnews #politicalnews #socialmedia #x #sportsmedia #newsmedia #media