Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports

Top Google Play apps, home prices and NFL rookie quarterbacks

In today’s newsletter, I discuss top apps in the Google Play store, home prices and NFL rookie quarterbacks.

MEDIA: Parler and Newsmax

I noticed earlier today that two of the top three most downloaded free apps in the Google Play store were Parler and Newsmax.

Parler is similar to Twitter — it’s a social media app used by many who lean conservative in their political views.

Newsmax is a conservative news media company that has a website and a cable television network.

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I found it striking that both the Parler and Newsmax apps had risen to the top list in the Google Play store though it’s unclear whether there’s long-term significance to that rise.

However, for the short term, it could indicate a shift in media consumption from established conservative media outlets to emerging ones like Parler and Newsmax.

MONEY: Home Prices

Home prices in the United States continue their upward march, according to a report today from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Home prices in metro areas in the US rose across the board with the price of a home increasing the most in the West, where prices rose 13.7% last quarter compared to the same quarter in 2019, according to the NAR report.

Prices rose 13.3% in the Northeast, 11.4% in the South and 11.1% in the Midwest in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019, according to that report.

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This latest report follows a string of other mostly positive reports on the housing market, which is encouraging news not just for the housing market itself but for the economy as a whole.

If the US economy can generate a sustained economic recovery in the coming months, it will likely need a strong performance from the housing market — and it seems like we have that right now.

SPORTS: NFL Climate

If you’re a fan of the NFL, there’s a very interesting game to watch this Sunday when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Miami Dolphins.

That game will feature two of the league’s top rookie quarterbacks — Justin Herbert of the Chargers and Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins.

Both look like franchise quarterbacks for their respective teams, and it’s probably the first of many match-ups between these two over the next decade or so.

Meanwhile, another rookie quarterback, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, has also exploded on the scene this year.

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Burrow, Herbert and Tagovailoa, as I have written about in a previous newsletter, look like they will become one of the best quarterback classes in many years.

While I suspect all three will be great players, I expect Herbert and Tagovailoa to post better — or at least more consistent — statistics over their careers for one simple reason: Herbert and Tagovailoa will play in warm, mild climates while Burrow will have to play in the harsher climes of the Midwest.

So, as we undoubtedly will compare these three signal callers throughout their careers, it’s worth remembering that Burrow’s stats might not look as good simply because of where he plays.

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Jeremy Pink currently serves as an advisor to companies in media and financial tech. He is former CEO of private-equity backed Broadcast Sports International where he helped lead the company to a successful sale and exit during his tenure there. Jeremy is also a former CNBC television executive in New York, London and Singapore.

The information contained in this communication is strictly for general informational and entertainment purposes and is not meant to be construed as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. This communication is not a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. I am not a financial advisor or offering professional advice of any kind. Users should not act upon the content or information found within this communication without first seeking professional advice appropriate for their individual situation. Decisions based on information contained in this communication are the sole responsibility of the user, and use of this communication and its contents constitutes an explicit understanding and acceptance of the foregoing disclaimers.

(Newsletter Editor: Karina Pink)