Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports
Top apps, exchange traded funds and the College Football Playoff
In today’s newsletter, I discuss top apps, exchange traded fund inflows and the College Football Playoff.
MEDIA: Top Rated Apps
TikTok, the video sharing app, had the most positive ratings among the top ten most downloaded apps in Apple’s US App Store this year, according to an analysis from Sensor Tower, an app research company.
According to Sensor Tower analysis, 88% of reviewers of TikTok gave the app either a four-star or five-star rating in Apple’s US App store.
Among Us, a mobile game, had strong reviews from users with 67% giving it a four or five star rating, and Disney+, a video streaming service, garnered 58% four or five-star reviews, according to Sensor Tower.
Pink's Bottom Line
Users weren’t as kind to Facebook-owned apps.
The Facebook app itself had 7% of users rate it as four or five-star this year, Instagram had 35% and Messenger earned 13% four or five-star reviews, according to Sensor Tower.
While all of these Apps — TikTok, Among Us, Disney+, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger — are popular as they are among the ten most downloaded apps in the US Apple App Store this year, they are resonating very differently with users, which suggests potential issues in the future for Facebook owned apps.
MONEY: ETFs Hit Record Inflows
Investors are snapping up exchange traded funds (ETFs), according to data from ETF.com.
Investors have poured a net $509 billion in to ETFs so far this year, hitting a record annual level of inflows for the first time since 2017, according to ETF.com. (Note: This year’s data is through December 17.)
At the same point in time last year, net inflows stood at $342 billion, which means that net inflows in 2020 have grown nearly 49% compared to 2019 over that time period.
(Note: ETFs are similar to mutual funds except you can buy and sell an ETF like a stock on an exchange while you can only purchase or sell a mutual fund at one price on a given day.)
Pink's Bottom Line
While the US economy struggles and unemployment remains stubbornly high, investors nonetheless are still steadily investing via ETFs this year.
Additionally, equities remain the favored asset class among ETF investors, according to ETF.com.
That suggests that investors still have an appetite for risk despite the uncertain US economic backdrop.
SPORTS: College Football Playoff
Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame earned the four selections for this year’s College Football Playoff, which kicks off on New Year’s Day.
Top-seed Alabama will play fourth-seed Notre Dame in one semi-final while second-seed Clemson will play third-seed Ohio State in the other semi-final.
(Note: Alabama is the clear favorite at -160 to win the national title with Clemson second at +270, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.)
Pink's Bottom Line
Since the College Football Playoff began in 2014, there have been a total of 28 teams selected to play for the national title over the years.
Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State — the top three seeds this year — have claimed 16 of 28 or 57% of those spots.
If you include Oklahoma, which isn’t in the Playoff this year, fully 20 of 28 or 71% of those spots have been claimed by only four teams over the first seven years of the College Football Playoff.
That suggests that college football’s power programs have truly separated themselves from the rest of the sport, and that doesn’t look to change any time soon.
(Note: For those unfamiliar with sports betting, Alabama at -160 means that if a bettor wagers $160 on Alabama to win the national title and the Crimson Tide does win it, that bettor would win $100.)
Jeremy Pink is COO of Geniecast, a leading virtual content and experience company, and he is also currently an advisor to companies in the media and financial tech sectors. Jeremy is the 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, and he 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)