Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports

Intriguing media deal, Google parent Alphabet's earnings and NFL Draft sleeper picks

In today’s newsletter, I discuss an intriguing media deal, Google parent Alphabet’s earnings and sleeper picks for tomorrow’s NFL Draft.

MEDIA: One Deal, Two Trends

One new deal in the world of sports media highlights two current and powerful trends in the wider media marketplace.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that DraftKings, a sports betting company, struck a licensing deal with Meadowlark Media for the rights to the podcast of Dan Le Batard, who hosts one of the most popular sports podcasts in the country.

Pink's Bottom Line

This deal is important and indicative of overall trends in the media industry for two key reasons.

First, it shows that sports betting companies continue to emphasize the importance of proprietary content and media partnerships for their businesses.

Second, sports betting companies are the latest entrant the wave of spending on podcasting. Big media and big tech have already spent — and will continue to spend — big money on podcasting production companies and podcasting content.

MONEY: Alphabet Earnings

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, reported strong earnings Tuesday as revenues grew 34% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of last year.

Notably, the company saw strong performances from two of its key products and services — YouTube and Google Cloud.

(Click here to read the company’s earnings press release, and click here to read a transcript of the company’s earnings call with investors.)

Pink's Bottom Line

Google’s revenue initially flattened at the beginning of the pandemic, but the company has recovered — and then some.

Additionally, Google’s first quarter performance could very well be a bellwether for the overall performance of the US economy.

If that is indeed the case, then a strong economic recovery is probably already underway.

SPORTS: NFL Draft Sleeper Picks

With the NFL Draft now just a day away, the top ten projected picks have been parsed and analyzed by just about every expert and every media outlet.

So, I found three potential draft picks that are slightly off the radar who just might become breakout NFL stars one day.

Pink's Bottom Line

First, while five quarterbacks likely will get drafted in the first round, Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond could be a great value pick either in the second or third round.

Mond threw 19 touchdown passes with only three interceptions this year in the mighty Southeastern Conference — he has thrown 71 touchdown passes in his college career.

Second, Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman could get drafted in the late first round though he’s not considered one of the top three receivers in this draft. Bateman averaged more than 16 yards per catch in his college career, and he looks like he will become a solid pro, probably emerging as strong second receiver on an NFL team.

Finally, in a draft filled with strong crop of offensive linemen, Stanford offensive tackle Walker Little is a fascinating prospect.

In 2017, he was Pac-12 Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year as a freshman — he was also first team All Pac-12 as a sophomore.

He suffered an injury during his junior year in 2019 and didn’t play at all in in 2020, opting out of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

If he shows the form that earned him those Pac-12 honors as a freshman and sophomore, Little could be the steal of the draft particularly if he is selected in a later round.

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Jeremy Pink is currently COO of Geniecast, a leading virtual content and experience company. He 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. 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)