It doesn’t get much better than a Game 7 in sports, and we have one tonight when the Los Angeles Clippers play the Denver Nuggets to see which team advances to the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. While the NBA playoffs are in full swing, I take a look at the NFL playoffs, though they don’t kick off for another three months, in today’s newsletter.
MEDIA: Peacock Sign-Ups
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts today said that the company’s Peacock streaming service now has 15 million sign-ups or 50% more than it reported just six weeks ago.
Roberts made those remarks at the 29th annual Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference, which features presentations from and interviews with many top media companies in the United States. The conference is being held virtually this year.
(Full disclosure: I found the comments from Roberts on Aiera, an event access and data monitoring platform company, where I serve as an advisor.)
Pink's Bottom LinePeacock’s sign-ups growth is yet another sign of the popularity and promise of streaming services in the United States. The streaming trend shows no signs of slowing.
I will also continue to monitor the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference, which runs through Thursday, to find other notable comments from media companies.
MONEY: Holiday Travel
Americans took fewer trips this Labor Day weekend than they did last year, according to statistics from the Bureau of Transportation (BTS).
The number of overall trips during Labor Day weekend 2020 fell 37.8% compared with last year, according to those BTS stats.
Additionally, 26.3% of Americans stayed home over the holiday weekend, compared to 19.3% who didn’t travel in 2019.
Pink's Bottom LineInterestingly, for trips between 100 and 250 miles, travelers actually took 47% more trips in that range this year compared to last year, according to the BTS Stats.
That suggests Americans still will travel even during the uncertain times of the pandemic.
SPORTS: NFL Playoffs
The NFL changed it playoff format this year so now 14, not 12, teams make the post-season. Also, only two teams — one in each conference — now earn first round byes.
That means that only the team with the best record in each conference earns that now elusive first round bye.
I think that sets up an interesting dynamic in the AFC, particularly in that conference’s North Division, home to the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
Pink's Bottom LineBaltimore and Pittsburgh have the two easiest schedules in all of the NFL based on last year’s winning percentage of their opponents, and it’s likely that either the Ravens or Steelers will win the AFC North. (Note: Both teams easily won their season openers.)
As such, look for Baltimore or Pittsburgh to earn that first round bye even though Kansas City might be the best team in the conference. Kansas City’s schedule is tied for the 18th hardest in the NFL, and they could very well end up with a worse regular season record than the Ravens or Steelers.
If Baltimore or Pittsburgh does earn that bye, it gives either team the advantage of playing one fewer playoff game than Kansas City, the likely opponent in the AFC Championship game.
Additionally, if fans are allowed to attend the AFC Championship in person, either the Steelers or the Ravens would also enjoy the traditional benefits of home field advantage.
Jeremy Pink is former CEO of Broadcast Sports International and a former CNBC executive in New York, London and Singapore. He currently serves as an advisor to companies in media, sports and financial tech.
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