Weekly Recap: Pink’s Bottom Line on Media, Money and Sports

Top items and takeaways from this week’s newsletter plus my NFL pick of the week

Here are my top items and takeaways from this week’s newsletter plus my NFL pick of the week.

MEDIA

• Local ad spending on mobile will be greater than the combined total spent on local television and local radio next year. Here’s what that means.

• The migration of the news consumer to digital platforms is happening at the expense of traditional media like print and radio — and that migration should continue.

• Disney reported earnings this week that appeared to disappoint investors in several areas, including subscriber growth in the company’s streaming services.

MONEY

• The National Retail Federation (NRF) says it expects holiday sales to grow between 8.5% and 10.5% in 2021 compared to 2020, which bodes well for the overall health of the nation’s economy.

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) soared in October, suggesting yet again that inflation at the consumer level remains a real problem, and a not transitory one.

• It appears that Bitcoin — or other cryptocurrencies — could be replacing gold to some extent as a hedge against inflation.

SPORTS

• If the Brooklyn Nets and the Golden State Warriors continue their strong play, there’s a real possibility that Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant and Golden State’s Stephen Curry, former teammates and two of the most iconic players of the last decade, could meet in the NBA Finals.

• In the past few years, the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the top college football player in the country, has been won by a quarterback of one of the top teams in the country. This year will be no different with one notable exception — this year’s favorites are both freshmen, not upperclassmen.

• In college football this weekend, eighth-ranked Oklahoma plays Baylor, ranked 13th, in perhaps the most important Big 12 game of the year — the outcome of the game also will have implications for the College Football Playoff (CFP).

NFL Pick of the Week

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9.5) at Washington Football Team

Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Football Team (WFT) had byes last week, so both teams should be rested and well prepared for the Sunday’s game.

The Bucs suffered a 36-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints before the bye week, which was only Tampa’s second loss of the year.

The WFT is on a four-game losing streak, and it has scored an average of just 11 points in its last three games.

Look for a well-rested Tampa team led by quarterback Tom Brady to rebound from that loss to the Saints, and to put up some big numbers on offense.

The WFT, for its part, will likely struggle on offense and probably won’t be able to keep the game close.

As such, I am picking Tampa Bay to win the game outright, and to cover — easily — the 9.5 point spread.

NFL Pick of the Week Record

Outright: 5-4

Against the Spread: 6-3

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Jeremy Pink is currently an advisor to media and fintech companies around the world. 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)