December 20, 2021

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Michigan generated more than $500 million in combined retail and online sports bets during the month of November — becoming the fifth state to eclipse the mark in a single month. New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, and Pennsylvania did it first.

YouTube TV Reaches Deal to Restore Disney Networks

YouTube TV/Design: Alex Brooks

Google’s live TV streaming service, YouTube TV, was the talk of the internet over the weekend after it pulled Disney networks following the expiration of its deal with The Mouse on Friday.

The standoff didn’t last for long. By Sunday, the companies announced that they had reached a new agreement to bring Disney’s channels — including ESPN — back to the service.

“We appreciate Google’s collaboration to reach fair terms that are consistent with the market,” Disney said in a statement. ABC, The Disney Channel, and FX are among other networks being restored.

Also returning is YouTube TV’s standard $65-per-month subscription price. The service had said it would lower its monthly fee to $50 in the absence of Disney’s portfolio.

NBCU and Roku Disputes

A couple other entertainment giants have found themselves at odds with YouTube TV, but those issues have been mostly been put to bed.

In October, the service agreed to a “short” extension with NBCUniversal to retain NBC channels, including regional sports networks.Earlier this month, Google landed a “multiyear extension” with Roku to keep YouTube TV on the platform.

Google said it will still honor a $15 credit for all YouTube TV members who were impacted by the brief programming shakeup with Disney.

CAA Parent Company Files for IPO

CAA/Design: Alex Brooks

Private equity firm TPG, the majority owner of talent agency Creative Artists Agency, has filed for an initial public offering with plans to raise $100 million.

TPG has $109 billion in assets under management with a diverse portfolio that includes Spotify and Vice Media, but the firm has established a footprint in sports through CAA.

An IPO would make CAA the second Hollywood agency to go public after UFC parent company Endeavor hit the New York Stock Exchange in April — also through an IPO.

Over the past year, TPG has steadily increased its position in sports.

In August, its Footballco property bought [[link removed]] into Italian soccer media site CalcioMercato.com in a deal valued at $10 million.Last month, the firm participated in an $840 million funding round for sports technology firm Dream Sports. Perfect Timing

CAA — which claims to be the first major talent agency to build a sports business — reached an agreement in September to acquire ICM Partners. If approved, it would be the largest agency deal since William Morris and Endeavor merged in 2009.

TPG generated $3.9 billion in revenue in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2021, up from $564 million for the same period last year.

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Record 8 Mobile Games Surpass $1B in Consumer Spending

PUBG/Design: Alex Brooks

A record eight mobile games have generated more than $1 billion in consumer spending in 2021, according to [[link removed]] Sensor Tower. Only five titles reached that mark in 2020, and three in 2019.

Mobile is the fastest-growing gaming category, making up more than half of the $175 billion global games business, per Newzoo. The following publishers put up the strongest numbers this year:

Tencent: “PUBG Mobile” and “Honor of Kings” ($2.8 billion each)MiHoYo: “Genshin Impact” ($1.8 billion)Roblox: “Roblox” ($1.3 billion)Moon Active: “Coin Master” ($1.3 billion)Niantic: “Pokémon Go” ($1.2 billion)King: “Candy Crush Saga” ($1.2 billion)Garena: “Garena Free Fire” ($1.1 billion) Following The Trend

Other video game developers and publishers are looking to take advantage of a mobile gaming market projected [[link removed]] to reach $272 billion by 2030.

Electronic Arts, known for its sports franchises, has made a series [[link removed]] of acquisitions in the space. App developer Nifty Games closed [[link removed]] $38 million in new funding in August to bring its mobile sports games to a broader audience.

Total consumer spending for mobile titles reached [[link removed]] nearly $90 billion in 2021, a 12.6% uptick year-over-year.

Formula E Sets New Financial Cap

FIA Formula E/Design: Alex Brooks

Formula E, a single-seater motorsport championship that only uses electric cars, will impose new financial regulations approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

The regulations enhance the long-term financial sustainability of Formula E by monitoring and controlling the spending levels of teams and their manufacturers.

Formula E believes the regulations will help attract new investors, commercial partners, and retain current participants. They’ll go into effect Oct. 1, 2022 for Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

The spending level for teams in Season 9 and 10 will be $14.6 million per season.Manufacturers have a limit of $28.1 million over two seasons starting with Season 9.Starting with Season 11, team spending will increase to $16.8 million. Substantial Growth

Formula E’s new regulations follow a strong few years for the motorsport championship, which turned a profit for the first time in 2019 with $220.5 million in revenue.

In its seventh season, which took place between February and August of 2021, Formula E’s live race viewership grew by 125% in key overseas markets, per [[link removed]] SportsPro. The series saw 25% year-over-year audience growth [[link removed]] in the U.S. with its New York E-Prix and other races on CBS.

Total viewership reached 316 million across 15 races in Season 7, a 32% uptick year-over-year.

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Conversation Starters The PGA Tour extended [[link removed]] its relationship with BetMGM. The betting company will remain the golf tour’s exclusive provider of betting odds and gain access to the TourCast digital platform through 2024. Adidas is launching [[link removed]] an NFT collection called “Into the Metaverse.” Purchasing from the collection will also provide buyers access to a fan club with access to certain products and privileges. Previously, the apparel brand announced a partnership with NFT collection Bored Ape Yacht Club. Team USA and OL Reign soccer star Megan Rapinoe unveiled [[link removed]] a new line of clothing and products, “Megan x Nike,” with The Swoosh. The UEFA Nations League will add [[link removed]] Argentina and Brazil to reach 10 South American countries, starting in 2024. The move, made in coordination with South America’s CONMEBOL, is viewed as further pushback against FIFA’s biennial World Cup plan. Today's Action

NHL

08:38 PM

Wild (-110) at Stars (-110)

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NCAA

02:30 PM

Dominion (+250) at Tulsa (-320)

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NBA

08:10 PM

Thunder (+300) at Grizzlies (-400)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See [[link removed]] for details.

Question Of The Day

Are you subscribed to YouTube TV?

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Friday’s Answer

35% of respondents have been bowling in the past year.

Written by Ernest Baker [[link removed]], Justin Byers [[link removed]]

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