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Indian Premier League Stands Alone at the Top as Asia Pacific Sports Rights Growth Slows, Media Partners Asia Finds
The Indian Premier League remains the only Asia Pacific sports property priced at the top of the global market, according to new research from Media Partners Asia, which expects growth in the region’s sports rights fees to slow to 1%–2% a year through 2030, down from about 10% a year since 2021. The cricket league …
Test cricket's biggest scandals: Your top 10 revealed
See what BBC Sport readers voted as Test cricket's biggest scandals, together with contributions from the TMS team.
'She knew she had something really important on her hands': Rosalind Franklin figured out DNA's helical structure before Watson and Crick, study suggests
Rosalind Franklin knew about DNA's double-helix structure ahead of Watson and Crick, a new study of her photos and notes reveals.
'Captaincy ends': Harmanpreet Kaur’s top five achievements as India captain
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as India’s all-format captain after a landmark leadership stint. Her tenure featured India’s maiden ODI World Cup title in 2025, a record number of T20I wins as captain, four Asia Cup triumphs, the milestone of captaining 150 T20Is and a historic Test victory at Lord’s. She now returns to playing cricket.
India's Harmanpreet steps down as captain
India batter Harmanpreet Kaur leaves her role as national team captain across all three formats of international cricket.
The Canada Super60 turned cricket into a joke. It does the sport no favours
Absurdly short boundaries, a six every other ball - what we saw in Vancouver was just not cricket
Rajasthan Royals star creates history, surpasses Chris Gayle for highest T20 score
Lhuan-dre Pretorius has made T20 cricket history with his phenomenal score of 188 runs off 79 balls while playing for the Titans against the Knights. This feat breaks Chris Gayle's former record of 175 runs, showcasing Pretorius's exceptional talent as he maintained a striking rate of 237.97. His recent century for South Africa further underscores his remarkable consistency and prowess on the field.
Sports quiz of the week: winners, losers, prodigies, heroes, villains and rivals
Have you been watching football, chess, cricket, rugby, motor racing, hockey, boxing, table tennis and horse racing?
Somerset pair Overton & Luff take top PCA awards
Somerset pair Craig Overton and Sophie Luff win the top prizes at the Professional Cricketers’ Association awards.
Kohli has 'unfinished business' at his 'last World Cup' in 2027
"My dream is to play a match-winning, finishing knock in the finals, like chasing a score - that's the ideal scenario," Virat Kohli says about the perfect sign-off | ESPN.com
Rating and TRP for Rohit Sharma's TV show: Family Full House with Rohit Sharma
Family Full House with Rohit Sharma rating: Check the latest IMDb score, TRP rating and official television viewership figure.
The science on trans athletes is inconclusive. Cricket’s prejudice isn’t
Cricket Australia cleared Anaya Bangar to play elite women’s cricket. The ICC’s ban on trans athletes says the science is settled. It isn’t.
Sports quiz of the week: records, hazards, complaints and boring events
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, motor racing, tennis, cycling, golf, athletics and American football?
Hampshire need miracle to avoid relegation
Hampshire cricket head coach Russell Domingo believes his side need "a bit of a miracle" if they are to remain a Division One side in the County Championship.
Sports quiz of the week: Monza drama, US Open heroics and unusual side hustles
Test your knowledge of the big stories in football, tennis, cricket, rugby union, F1 and more
Behind the scenes at Sky Sports Cricket: A team of 130, 17 cameras and a drone operated from a synagogue roof
The Athletic witnessed first-hand the organised chaos of the commentary box on day two of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's
Cricket Australia opens Big Bash to privatisation
Cricket Australia opens the Big Bash to private investment - with some owners of franchises in The Hundred showing interest.
Exclusive: Daryl Mitchell backs ETPL to produce cricket's next superstars
Daryl Mitchell is one of the big names taking part in the inaugural European T20 Premier League this season with the Dublin Guardians, and the New Zealand international is backing the new franchise league to make a huge mark.
Govt crossing line in RCA politics: Ashok Gehlot
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called out the BJP government for its actions, particularly criticising political meddling in the Rajasthan Cricket Association. He pointed out the hal...
Ireland's Kelly retires from international cricket
All-rounder Arlene Kelly announces her retirement from all forms of professional cricket at the conclusion of Ireland's one-day international series with England.
Rohit Sharma show on Sony: Trailer, start date, show timings and how to watch
With Rohit Sharma's TV show finally about to air on the Sony Network, here's everything you will need to know about the timings and where to watch it.
Sports quiz of the week: transfer deadline day, the US Open and rugby drama
Have you been following the big stories in football, cricket, tennis, boxing, Formula One and cycling?
San Francisco 49ers arrive in Melbourne for historic NFL game against the LA Rams
The San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Melbourne for their season-opening NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sept. 11. It is expected to be the first of many regular-season NFL games in front of its growing Australian fan base. The team’s 200-member traveling party touched down on Friday morning after a 15-hour chartered Qantas flight and will spend a week acclimatizing before facing the Rams in front of an expected sold-out crowd at the MCG.
Loudoun County plans more cricket fields as the sport's popularity surges
In 2008, Vinod Motwani and other AOL employees organized a cricket tournament.
Scientists Reconstruct Sound of Jurassic Insects
Using lasers, computer models and AI, researchers reconstructed the calls of 165-million-year-old relatives of modern crickets and katydids from fossilized wing fragments found in China.
Imran Khan moved to private hospital amid deteriorating health
Former Pakistan prime minister and cricket captain has been serving extended prison sentences | ESPN.com
'Move Imran Khan To Hospital': Pak Top Court Amid Health Concerns For Ex-PM
The 73-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been in jail since August 2023 after being convicted in a string of cases that he says were politically driven following his ouster in 2022.
Bangladesh and India battle to save cricket series after political turmoil
Bangladesh and India white-ball series under threat due to tensions that arose when Bangladeshi PM Hasina toppled.
I'll continue playing, rest is selectors' call: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The 36-year-old, one of Uttar Pradesh’s most experienced cricketers, continues to remain a key figure in Indian domestic cricket. He last played for India in 2022, featuring in both ODI and T20I formats. His last international appearance in Tests came in 2018.
Why Devdutt Padikkal's fluent ton allows India to breathe easy
With Sai Sudharsan all but ruled out of the Sri Lanka series, Devdutt Padikkal seized his chance, scoring a fluent 142 at Colombo’s Nondescript Cricket Club during the warm-up fixture. Displaying assured footwork, confidence against both spin and pace, and solid technique, Padikkal’s performance underscores his readiness for India’s No. 3 spot.
India Is Usurping Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia
India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
Zaheer Khan co-owned Anchor Sports AB acquires Jaffna Kings
The team will now be rebranded as Anchor Jaffna Kings, two weeks after their previous ownership was terminated | ESPN.com
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta, Cricket 26, Date Everything!, and More
Grab your COG tags, we’re jumping into the Early Access Open Beta for Gears of War: E-Day! You can also grab your Dateviators to Date Everything!, and your bat to rule the field in Cricket 26. Lots of accessories in this next round of games coming soon to XBOX Game Pass!
Immersive Entertainment Venue Cosm Detroit Set to Open on Sept. 10
Cosm, the immersive sports and entertainment venue, is set to open in downtown Detroit on Sept. 10 with a Shared Reality viewing of the NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams from Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
Cricket & archery well placed for Commonwealths spot
Cricket, archery and shooting are among the sports well placed to regain their spot at the Commonwealth Games in India in 2030.
Mario Vargas Llosa by Gerald Martin review – the passions and politics of Peru’s Nobel laureate
This stylish biography of the author traces his journey from left to right, and from ‘posh Lima’ to Cricklewood
IPL’s business value rockets to $20bn as India cricket league soars
Indian Premier League cements its place as cricket’s number one T20 competition with an 11% rise in value this year.
IPL’s business value rockets to $20bn as India cricket league soars
Indian Premier League cements its place as cricket's number one T20 competition with an 11% rise in value this year.
Cricket-IPL's business value soars above $20 billion, says report
By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI, July 29 (Reuters) - The business value of the Indian Premier League, the world's richest Twenty20 series, has soared more than 11% to $20.6 billion this year, according
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, creates world record at just 15
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest Player of the Series winner. He achieved this milestone after India's T20I series victory over Zimbabwe. Sooryavanshi was the leading run-scorer with 151 runs across three innings. He scored a match-winning 81 runs in the final T20I match. This award followed a challenging series for the young cricketer in England.
Sports quiz of the week: Rodri, Kevin Keegan, Women’s Afcon and Tyson Fury
Have you been following the big news in football, cricket, rugby union, golf, boxing and athletics?
Cricket gets a political makeover in Modi’s India
The sport that long helped unite the region is now governed by the politics of the day.
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
‘Science felt like a level playing field’: in situ with Anthony ...
The materials chemist on being a scientific contrarian, his love of cricket, and what AI might mean for materials science
Thank you and goodbye to Knight's game-changing legacy
Heather Knight leaves behind a legacy to English cricket that goes far beyond the numbers on the field, writes Ffion Wynne.
Dustin Hoffman and 'cricket royalty' Sachin Tendulkar among celebrities at Wimbledon
American actor Dustin Hoffman and cricket great Sachin Tendulkar were among the celebrities at Wimbledon on Friday to watch defending champion Jannik Sinner play Novak Djokovic on Centre Court. British
Sports quiz of the week: England v Norway, Wimbledon and Alexia Putellas
Have you followed the big stories in football, tennis, rugby union, cricket, cycling, rugby league and swimming?
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, Ben Stokes, Wimbledon and LeBron James
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, tennis, rugby union, basketball, cycling and Formula One?
Oakland sports standings: Roots playoff push, ultimate frisbee dominance
Plus the Ballers' home run leader, the Unicorns’ promising cricket season and the rise of some local youth weightlifting champions.
'Staying away from the middle will be hardest': Sachin Tendulkar's emotional message to Ben Stokes after retirement
Sachin Tendulkar led heartfelt tributes to Ben Stokes following his retirement from international cricket. Tendulkar lauded Stokes' fearless approach, match-winning ability, and inspirational leadership, calling him one of England's finest all-rounders and captains. Stokes, who bowed out after a Test series loss, expressed contentment with his decision, citing years of physical and mental demands as the primary reason for stepping away.
Cricket club suffers 'vandalism' for seventh time
A cricket club says it has been forced to pull out of its league after its pitch is ploughed up.
Ben Stokes announces retirement
Ben Stokes, the England captain, has stunned the cricket world by announcing his retirement in the middle of one final epic spell of bowling.
Sports quiz of the week: heat, animals, money and a big week at the World Cup
Have you followed the news in football, cricket, tennis, rugby, golf, athletics and cycling?
19 fours, 6 sixes! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's younger brother Ashirvad Sooryavanshi hits blistering century
Young cricketer Ashirvad Sooryavanshi, just 10 years old, is making waves with his exceptional batting. He recently smashed a stunning 168 off 119 balls in a practice match, following a debut century. Despite only six months of playing, his aggressive style and big scores are drawing attention, even from his brother Vaibhav, who is currently with the Indian team.
Historical cricket club celebrates bicentenary
The club is the oldest in its county and has a history spanning 200 years.
Ruben Ostlund reveals further plot details of ‘The Entertainment ...
Cricket, Australian masculinity, Andrey Zvyagintsev and Adam Sandler all play their part.
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, US Open, Wimbledon and Royal Ascot
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, golf, tennis, athletics, rugby union, horse racing and MMA?
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, Knicks, T20, Giro and Serena Williams
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, cycling, tennis, motor sport, basketball and athletics?
Reform, politics and Bangladesh cricket: The many challenges awaiting Tamim's BCB
His measured start has already earned praise, with many within Bangladesh cricket believing he could steer the board in a different direction in the years ahead | ESPN.com
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, French Open, Lord’s, Giro and NBA
Have you followed the big stories in football, rugby, cricket, cycling, basketball, horse racing, tennis and hockey?
Fluorescent spider and armored cricket among incredible discoveries in Angola
Dozens of species unknown to science have been recorded by a survey of the Lisima plateau in Angola’s highlands.
Where to watch IPL 2026 final free live stream, TV channel, start time for Gujarat Titans vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Gujarat Titans vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru live stream: How to watch the IPL final and start time of the showpiece cricket event.
Pakistan names three uncapped players for ODI series against Australia
Pakistan on Friday named three uncapped players in a squad of 16 for the three-match one-day cricket international home series against Australia starting next week. Wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir, fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal and all-rounder Arafat Minhas have played handful of T20 internationals but have been selected for the 50-over format for the first time. Nazir and Ghazi Ghori are the two wicketkeepers in the side.
Prep talk: Carson High's Tatum brothers are rising cricket players
Johnny and Johnathon Tatum will leave on trip to England this summer for international cricket tournament.
Whoa! Netflix is Sending Narnia Heading to Theaters...What This Means for the Future of Film
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Here’s a funny thing about the debate over whether streamers should release their movies in theaters first: Both sides think the other side represents the “conventional wisdom”. If you’ve been reading me for any amount of time, or even just scanned my front page, you know I think movies make more money by having a robust theatrical window compared to going straight-to-streaming. I’ve published thousands of words on this topic. And for years, I felt like I was standing up to a wave of opposition. See, while the “put your films in theaters to make money” take was obvious at any point before 2019, post-streaming revolution, most of the trendy thinkers took the opposite point of view. Big names argued that Netflix putting their film straight-to-streaming (“S-to-S” from here on out) actually made more money. Netflix was “disrupting” theaters, just as they disrupted Blockbuster Video, and since innovation is always good, this too was a great idea. This thinking then leaked into the mainstream business outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. I read many articles whose take boiled down to “Netflix makes tons of money from S-to-S releases” and “theaters were in structural decline” anyways. Covid-19 shutting down theaters and the 2023 strikes shutting down film production seemingly justified this point of view, as the box office struggled to return to 2017-2019 heights. Yet I’ve also read folks arguing the opposite point: the conventional wisdom says to put films in theaters! From some writers’ points of view, “everyone” actually agrees/agreed with my “send your films to theaters” take—especially the stodgy traditional studios—and folks still didn’t understand Netflix’s genius. I feel like, for the last two years, many people have argued this point as if it’s conventional wisdom. You know what? I may have been wrong. At this point, the “S-to-S strategy makes money” might be the minority viewpoint. Especially with the news this month that Netflix will put at least one film—Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film The Magician’s Nephew—in theaters in 2027 for a full 49-day run is big news. So that’s the story of the week, but I’ll also explain why they’re making this move now and why Netflix may not completely embrace theaters, along with other topics, like how I don’t buy Disney’s “super app” strategy, the latest good news out of the unions, my take on the latest attacks against free speech, and a whole lot more. Let’s get started. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Netflix Goes to Theaters! Listen, I promise not to victory lap too hard today. As I just wrote, I’ve argued against sending films straight-to-streaming for—checks calendar—eight years now. Since 2018. Yikes. That’s a long time. And for years, others painted my thinking as “conventional” in that I was standing up for the status quo against trendy, cool disruption. And that’s not cool! But math is math, and I never could make the S-to-S numbers work. The only thing that ever enabled that model was Wall Street’s brief exuberance for it. It seems like the heads of Netflix now agree with me. (There were always rumors that former head of film for Netflix Scott Stuber argued internally for theatrical releases as well.) As they announced: “The Magician’s Nephew_—the first film in a Narnia series of films—will open on 12-Feb-2027, with a 49 day theatrical exclusive run.”_ I’m a little surprised at how little coverage this big change actually got. Credit to Bloomberg for leading with it and Matt Belloni’s The Town for highlighting it with the provocatively titled podcast “Hell Hath Frozen Over”. But after that? Instead of getting as much coverage as, say, the FCC’s latest egregious crackdown on free speech, this news story got crickets. But it’s massively more important for the future business of entertainment. So let’s start with the obvious question… Why Put Your Movies in Theaters? So…why should Netflix put (some!) of their movies in theaters? Well, I’ve already written that in a very, very, very long article from 2022: [ ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) [ The Data Is In: Theatrical Films Massively Outperform Straight-To-Streaming Films ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) Entertainment Strategy Guy · April 5, 2023 [ Read full story ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) To summarize, theatrical runs make much more money, especially blockbusters, because they earn more money per viewing,1 and that helps boost home entertainment sales. Theatrical films also perform as well or better than the streaming-only films. Now, partially this is driven by increased marketing for said films, but said marketing ultimately boosts the awareness of the movies and drives improved streaming and library performance as well. Again, I’ve made this case after reviewing the economic models and streaming data for years. Just last week, Emily Horgan also made the case for kids films! Yes, it is probably conventional wisdom, but that’s also because it’s true! I’d also argue we’ve seen a lot of data in the various studios’ behavior. As I’ve noted before, the more a studio needs to make money, the likelier they are to put films in theaters. As such, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Paramount and Sony all send their major films to theaters. Even if they once made a big S-to-S push (*cough* Disney *cough*), they’ve since relented and returned to theaters. The tech companies don’t need to make money, per se, so it took them years to embrace theaters. Apple doesn’t need to make money because it doesn’t disclose their (likely) Quibi-sized losses each year. (They fear bad press more than losing money.) Amazon announced two years ago that they planned to make Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video profitable on its own, and guess what? Now they’re putting films in theaters. That leaves Netflix. They’re in between the “no need to make money at all” and the “desperately need to make money to offset linear TV declines”, so they had less pressure to put some films in theaters. Plus, for years, they were the sexy disruptor, and Wall Street rewarded them for that. (Honestly, they still do.) Yet, even Netflix likely saw the money they were leaving on the table (I’ve estimated it at an easy billion dollars before) so they changed their course. I heard one pundit argue that, because Netflix already makes so much money, they don’t need to make more money, which sort of goes against everything I’ve ever learned about business and economics. Again, to be super-nuanced, sending “films to theaters” does not mean EVERY film. TV movies have been a thing for decades. Lifetime films, Hallmark holiday films, Disney Channel Original Movies, and so on, don’t need theatrical runs. But films above a certain budget level (say $25 to 50 million) almost certainly need theaters to maximize their revenue. The Scenarios (with a Dose of Skepticism) Now time for some skepticism: it won’t surprise me at all if Netflix re-changes course. Specifically, Netflix announced that their Narnia film will go to theaters. And I’d bet anything we see KPop Demon Hunters 2: The Huntering2 also goes to theaters, cause it’s the surest hit outside of a Disney animated sequel right now. But how much does Netflix truly commit to theaters? They’ve already tried to emphasize that this is a one-off move. I see three broad scenarios:
Nine-year-old becomes face of cricket campaign
Edie, 9, is the new face of an ECB campaign celebrating grassroots cricket, which has gone viral.
Don’t reach for the bug spray: crickets stroke a sore antenna, as cues suggest insects feel pain
The behavioural cue of ‘flexible self-protection’ is a way to establish whether an animal feels pain, scientists say
IBL isn’t chasing cricket, it's eyeing 'sporting entertainment' for next generation of fans
More sports News: New Delhi: Indian sport has seen this script before. A new league arrives with ambition, big money, overseas faces, big promises, a multi-city approac.
Ex-goalkeeper Martyn savours England cricket call
Former football goalkeeper Nigel Martyn is eyeing the chance to join a pantheon of Englishmen to become 'dual internationals'.
Hitman on TV! Rohit Sharma gears up for exciting television debut
Cricket star Rohit Sharma is venturing into television. A teaser for his new show has been released. Details about the show's format and title will be announced soon. Sharma is currently playing in IP...
From cricket’s capital to Olympic ambitions, India’s next play on the world sports stage
India is expanding its influence in international sports, with the 2030 Commonwealth Games set for Ahmedabad and a bid for the 2036 Olympics in the same city
LA28 Olympics: What are the new sports and events at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles?
Lacrosse and cricket return after more than a century, flag football and squash make their Olympic debuts, and new events arrive in swimming, track, gymnastics and more.
LA 2028 Olympic cricket stadium in IPL proposal
The Olympic cricket stadium for LA 2028 could host Indian Premier League teams as part of their global expansion plans, says Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore.
New Zealand great Bates to retire from internationals
New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates will retire from international cricket after this year's Women's T20 World Cup, ending an illustrious 20-year career.
New cricket stadium in California heralds sport's Olympic return after 128 years
Construction is underway for a new world-class cricket venue in Southern California, which will be used for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Sports quiz of the week: I Am Maximus, Marie-Louise Eta and Rory McIlroy
Did you follow the big stories in football, rugby, golf, baseball, basketball, boxing, snooker, cricket and racing?
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, Masters and County Championship
Have you been following the big stories in football, cricket, rugby league, boxing, golf, F1, athletics, rowing and chess?
Royal Challengers Cricket Buy to Be Blackstone's First Sports Deal
Cricket team Royal Challengers is sold to investor group that includes Blackstone, Bolt Ventures, Aditya Birla Group and The Times of India Group
Bangladesh sports minister to consult ICC on future of BCB
Sports minister Aminul Haque said on Tuesday that once the five-member committee submits its report within 15 working days, he will discuss the matter with the ICC | ESPN.com
Sports quiz of the week: world records, wrong turns and wild scenes
Have you followed the big stories in football, winter sports, cricket, rugby, horse racing, athletics, basketball and F1?
Plans for sports facilities in Mountsorrel set to take step forward
Work on the cricket pitch - which forms part of the project - is set to be completed in 2027.
An Oakland sports fan’s guide to the 2026 season
Everything you ever wanted to know about Oakland’s soccer, baseball, basketball, tackle football, cricket, ice hockey, ultimate frisbee and roller derby teams.
Sanju Samson leads India to win over New Zealand in T20 Cricket World Cup final
Sanju Sampson and India posted a dominant run score to defeat New Zealand in the T20 Cricket World Cup final on Sunday, March 8.
India scores record-breaking run total in T20 World Cup cricket final
India, the defending T20 World Cup champions in cricket, broke the record for run total in a final against New Zealand.
Dallas business tycoon Anurag Jain weighs in on the World Cup (No, not that one).
There's a push, along with other several notable South Asian immigrant business leaders, to grow cricket’s U.S. presence and transform Texas into the sport’s...
Sports quiz of the week: F1, Paralympics, Six Nations and Premier League
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby union, golf, winter sports, F1, cricket, baseball and boxing?
Jammu and Kashmir's long road to India cricketing glory
The cricket team of the disputed region has won their first Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic cricket championship.
J&K keep tryst with destiny, lift maiden Ranji Trophy title
Jammu and Kashmir etched their name in cricketing history, clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy title on February 28, 2026. First-time finalists, they defeated eight-time champions Karnataka by a significant margin. Centuries from Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra on the final day sealed the emphatic victory, marking a triumph built on years of persistence and belief.
Parvez Rasool: 'Auqib Nabi has given J&K a new sporting identity'
Irfan Pathan, Samiullah Beigh and coach Ajay Sharma all hail J&K's first-ever Ranji win | ESPN.com
Cricket in the Crossfire of Politics
As the 2026 World Cricket Cup unfolds under diplomatic strain, rising tensions between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh show that the sport is no longer just a game but a stage where politics, nationalism, and media capital collide.
Sports quiz of the week: Olympic heroes, world champions and Norwegian stars
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby, ice hockey, skiing, boxing, cricket and motor racing?
Sports quiz of the week: FA Cup, Winter Olympics and Hollywood legends
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby union, MMA, rugby league, skiing, skeleton and cricket?
Bangladesh's new sports minister wants to 'resolve issue' with India quickly
"We want to maintain friendly relations with all our neighboring countries," new sports minister Aminul Haque says | ESPN.com
Bangladesh's new sports minister wants to 'resolve issue' with India quickly
"We want to maintain friendly relations with all our neighboring countries," new sports minister Aminul Haque says | ESPN.com
Cricket legends join outcry over Imran Khan’s health in prison
Anger grows in Pakistan and elsewhere over fate of former prime minister and sporting captain
New Bangladesh sports minister wants to fast track cases against Shakib and Mortaza
"We will remain tolerant and flexible on them," Bangladesh sports minister Aminul Haque says | ESPN.com
Imran Khan to be moved to hospital amid rising health concerns
Reports have emerged that the former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister has lost most of the vision in his right eye | ESPN.com
Sanjay Krishnamurthy’s journey: Juggling between Computer Science degree and cricket to playing T20 World Cup for USA | Cricket News - The Times of India
Cricket News: TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: The first memory Satya Krishnamurthi returns to is not of a net session, a trophy, or a highlight-reel clip. It is a day .
It's just not cricket: Is willow on the way out?
A Banbury willow tree grower is welcoming changes to the laws of cricket to allow laminated bats.