Pink's Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports

Spotify and video, Southwest Airlines and the Kansas City Chiefs

In today’s newsletter, I discuss Spotify and video, Southwest Airlines and the Kansas City Chiefs.

MEDIA: Spotify and Video

Spotify, the popular audio streaming service, said today that it will began expanding video podcasts on its platform.

Video podcasts often simply provide video of an existing podcast production — it might show, for example, a podcast host in a studio with a microphone as they host their shows.

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Spotify already has some video podcasts, but the company today said that it would open up video podcasts as an option eventually for all of its podcast creators.

Spotify, which now competes in podcasting against a host of major media and tech companies, apparently is looking for a way to differentiate its content offerings including video.

Look for competitors of Spotify to follow suit quickly and begin to offer video with their podcasts as well.

MONEY: Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines, which reported its quarterly earnings earlier today, said in its earnings statement that it will cut the number of flights it offers in the fourth quarter.

The airline said it would cut capacity by 8% in the fourth quarter compared to 2019 levels, down from its earlier estimate of a 5% decline in capacity.

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Earlier this month, Southwest already canceled more than 2000 flights due to both inclement weather and to a staffing shortage.

Southwest said it plans to hire as many as 5,000 employees by the end of the year, but it appears that for now, like many businesses in the United States, the airline is suffering from a lack of available workers, which is likely the most significant reason for its decline in capacity for the fourth quarter.

SPORTS: Kansas City Chiefs

In the AFC West division, the two teams with the best point differentials — the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs — are the two teams with the worst records.

Both Denver and Kansas City are 3-3, and they trail division co-leaders, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers, by a game for first place.

Denver looks like it will struggle for the next few weeks as its starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, is coping with an injury.

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Kansas City, meanwhile, simply hasn’t played very well this year but I think the team is poised to go on a multiple game winning streak — its offense is essentially unstoppable and its defense is beginning to play better.

The Chiefs beat the Washington Football Team last week, and they visit the Tennessee Titans this week — after that, Kansas City plays the New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Look for the Chiefs to deliver statement victories over the Titans and Packers in the next few weeks — as well as a big big victory over the Giants between those two games — and enter the Las Vegas game at 6-3 and on a four-game winning streak.

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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)