Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports

Communacopia Conference, consumer spending habits and NFL rookie quarterbacks

In today’s newsletter, I discuss the Communacopia Conference, consumer spending habits and NFL rookie quarterbacks.

MEDIA: Communacopia Conference

Goldman Sachs later this week holds its 30th Annual Communacopia Conference, a widely watched event where many top leaders of media and media related companies speak or present.

The conference often generates headlines, and it often underscores key themes across the the broader media industry.

Pink's Bottom Line

For this week’s conference, look for insight on three key themes that are impacting just about every media or media related company.

First, look for the latest on the future, momentum and pricing power of video streaming.

Second, look for company presentations that indicate future mergers and acquisitions activity.

Finally, look for comments from top media business leaders to shed some light on how much the pandemic has changed the trajectories of their businesses.

MONEY: Consumer Spending Habits

Consumers are spending more per shopping visit due largely to the impact of the pandemic, according to the NPD Group, a retail research firm.

According to NPD, the amount that the typical consumer spends per shopping occasion — that can be in-person or online — hovered around the same level in July as it has since March 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.

Pink's Bottom Line

The average amount spent per visit increased sharply at the onset of the pandemic — spending per visit compared to 2019 levels has been notably higher.

That suggests that the typical consumer’s spending habits have changed fundamentally.

It also indicates that consumers are buying more online, and limiting the number of trips that they are making in person.

SPORTS: NFL Rookie Quarterbacks

With two weeks of the NFL’s regular season almost complete, the best performing rookie quarterback so far happens to be the last quarterback selected in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.

The best performer so far? It is New England quarterback Mac Jones, the 15th overall selection from Alabama, who just led the Patriots to a convincing victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Pink's Bottom Line

Jones boasts a 73.9% completion percentage in his first two games, and he has yet to throw an interception.

Contrast his performance, for example, to Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in the draft by the New York Jets, who threw four interceptions in yesterday’s game alone.

Jones benefits from the terrific coaching staff of the New England Patriots, and from a strong team on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football.

As such, Jones should only get better the rest of this season, and he should be able to lead the Patriots deep in the postseason.

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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)