Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports
Christmas mobile app and game sales, US unemployment and the College Football Championship
In today’s newsletter, I discuss the top mobile apps and games from Christmas Day, the US unemployment report that’s due out this Friday and a key player to watch in the College Football Championship game a week from Monday.
MEDIA: Christmas Mobile App and Game Sales
Global consumers spent 34.5% more money on mobile apps and games this Christmas Day compared to last year, according to data from SensorTower, an app research and analytics firm.
Sales totaled $407.6 million on Christmas Day this year with the bulk of that on mobile games — $295.6 million — and about $112 million on apps other than games, according to SensorTower data.
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In the United States alone, mobile app and game spending also soared, up 38.7% Christmas Day this year compared to last year — that’s a total of $129.9 million spent, according to SensorTower.
Interestingly, consumers spent more on Disney+ on Christmas Day than any other app that wasn’t a game, according to SensorTower, highlighting once again the enduring popularity and importance of video streaming services.
MONEY: US Unemployment Report
While much of the country will — rightfully so — focus on the Georgia senatorial elections Tuesday and on the Electoral College vote certification Wednesday, Friday’s release of the US unemployment report for December currently is receiving scant attention.
I expect that job creation slowed last month compared to November, and that the increase in new jobs in December will fall well below the 245,000 created in November.
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As the coronavirus pandemic surged in December and shows few signs of slowing down in January, it is undoubtedly creating headwinds for the US economy and, as a result, the US job market.
If Friday’s unemployment report is worse than expected, e.g., a contraction in jobs in December, look for immediate, renewed calls for further fiscal stimulus from both the Republicans and the Democrats.
I suspect that the two parties will at least agree on that, even against the backdrop of what will be a very politically contentious week.
SPORTS: College Football Championship
Top ranked Alabama will play third seed Ohio State in the College Football Championship game a week from Monday following resounding victories in the national semifinal games by both the Crimson Tide and the Buckeyes on Friday.
Alabama is currently a consensus 7.5 point favorite over Ohio State, and the Crimson Tide’s offense looks unstoppable especially considering that three of the top five Heisman vote recipients in the country play on that Alabama offense — quarterback Mac Jones, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris.
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While Alabama’s offense certainly should be potent in the championship game, I expect one key player on Ohio State’s offense — running back Trey Sermon — to emerge as the key factor in the contest.
Sermon has burst on the scene recently, running for an Ohio State two-game record of 524 yards in the past two games, including a pounding 193 yard effort in Ohio State’s 49-28 destruction of Clemson Friday in the College Football Semifinal game.
If Sermon and Ohio State’s offensive line can deliver an effective running game against Alabama, that will keep the Crimson Tide’s offense off of the field, which just might be the only way to stop them.
It also might lead to an improbable Ohio State victory in the national title game, though as a long-suffering Ohio State fan and alum, superstition won’t let me actually predict that outcome.
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)