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Cambridge United 2-1 Reading: Player Ratings
Something of a thud back to earth, performance-wise, as Reading fail to continue their strong form in the previous two league games at Cambridge.
Huddle Highlights
Here's your final scores as teams battled it out in Week 3 of The Huddle
Mic’d Up: Classical head coach Kris McCall
Go inside the huddle as Classical Purple take on the Woonsocket Villa Novans.
The Huddle Pregame: Russellville vs. Florence
News 19 sports director Josiah Elmore and Carmen Fuentes preview Russellville vs. Florence.
Toss Up: Packers and Vikings open season at U.S. Bank
GREEN BAY, Wis., (WLAX, WEUX) – It’s been seven months since the Green Bay’s season ended with a resounding Wild Card playoff thud at Soldier Field in Chicago as the Packers lost their last five games of the season. Fast forward to Sunday and Matt LaFleur’s team has the opportunity to make a statement at […]
The Outlook
The Outlook is The Huddle's new matchups column. Kevin Tompkins will break down every fantasy-relevant player from each team every week.
How to watch Hudsonville vs Grand Haven high school football
You can watch Hudsonville football all season long with NFHS Network, including this week’s game against Grand Haven.
Just across the Hudson, the Western Hemisphere’s largest planetarium is getting a massive $40M upgrade—adding a 90-foot upside-down balloon, river otters, and a touching 9/11 Memorial Garden
Liberty Science Center's massive $40M expansion brings a 90-foot upside-down balloon, a touching 9/11 Memorial Garden, and epic planetarium upgrades.
To protect science in the AI era, train researchers better
Universities must guide on how distrust is manufactured and how misconduct operates, says Baraa Khuder
Athlete of the Week: Crane junior Hudson Willis
CRANE, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – We’re already through two weeks of the high school football season, and the Crane Golden Cranes are off to a perfect start. After opening the season with a win over Compass, Crane defeated Kermit 40-34, improving to 2-0 on the season, and leading the way was junior quarterback Hudson Willis, our […]
The Outlook
The Outlook is The Huddle's new matchups column. Kevin Tompkins will break down every fantasy-relevant player from each team every week.
Stacy’s Streamers: Four Players to Start in Week 1
Stacy Perez highlights one player at each position who is worth streaming in Week 1.
18 Sports Plays of the Week
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – It’s time for the next edition of the 18 Sports Plays of the Week. (Video Courtesy: Rochester Aquinas and Wellsboro Hornets Hudl, Chris Wilcox) The 18 Sports team showcases the top plays from the past week in the Twin Tiers. Top honors this week include 5 major moments on the high school […]
Current events: Scientists keep close eye on Atlantic Ocean changes
The year is 2060. London shudders through months of Nordic winter freezes. Across northern Europe, oak and beech forests wither under severe frost and drought, while cereal yields collapse from temperatures ...
'The aim is to keep evolving'
Fan writer Paul Sullivan says Charlton Athletic fans should keep their feet on the ground after fast start brought to shuddering halt.
Seminole Roundup: Soccer Draws While Volleyball Hosts SEC Foe
Wrianna Hudson nets a late goal as soccer battles Rice, while volleyball preps for an Auburn clash and golf sensations Shawn Coultoff and Sophia Fullbrook ignite strong starts.
Letters to the Editor: Constitutional amendment, state and local races
One reader discussed the constitutional amendment on the ballot this November. Another wrote in response to a student regarding local elections. And another discussed gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany, who serves as U.S. Rep. for the 7th Congressional District.
The incongruity of caste and science
IIT-Mandi 'shudras' row: The human organism develops as its genes interact with its environment, and caste-based discrimination affects these environments
Sunday No Huddle (9/6/26)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — In the first Sunday No Huddle of the football season, WCIA’s Courtney Layne Brewer and Robert Rosenthal of IlliniBoard.com break down what went right and what went wrong in Illinois’ opening win against UAB.
Mid-Hudson Valley business calendar for the week of Sept. 7, 2026
A listing of business events in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
3 N.C. politicians to speak at GOP midterm convention in Dallas
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and candidates in key U.S. House and Senate races are set to address this coming week’s gathering.
3 N.C. politicians to speak at GOP midterm convention in Dallas
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and candidates in key U.S. House and Senate races are set to address this coming week’s gathering.
Report: Leeds United Women 3-0 Huddersfield Town Women
FA WNL Cup Group TLeeds United Women 3 (Dean 10’, Woodruff 62’, Smith 82’)Huddersfield Town Women 0Leeds: Simpson (GK), Legge (C), Hughes, Drew Greene (Coley 74’), White (Langstaff 82’), Smi...
Bobby Rush headlines 26th Annual Blues BBQ Festival at Hudson River Park
The Blues BBQ Festival returned to Hudson River Park for its 26th year on Aug. 15 with a very special headlining performance. Grammy-award-winning blues
Business, sport and a cause: WhiteBIT Australia hosts the Huddle Up in Melbourne
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Sept. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WhiteBIT Australia will host an invitation-only business event in Melbourne on Septembe...
Rye football brings fireworks in season-opening win over Cornwall
Rye's football team won its season opener, 39-21, over Cornwall on Sept. 4.
Business, sport and a cause: WhiteBIT Australia hosts the Huddle Up in Melbourne
Super Bowl XXIX Champion and five-time Pro Bowler Ricky Watters will join an invitation-only group of Australian business leaders on September 10 for an evening supporting a proposed flag football program for children in Lviv.MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Sept. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WhiteBIT Australia will host an invitation-only business event in Melbourne on September 10 to raise funds for young athletes in Ukraine. Super Bowl XXIX Champion and five-time Pro Bowler Ricky Watters will join the e
NY health insurance rate hikes approved. How much you will pay in 2027
NY's Department of Financial Services says it rejected higher rate hikes sought by insurers, saving consumers $1.6B via lower approved rate increases.
Holly Mears: It will be a good test
Leeds United Women take to another Yorkshire derby on Sunday, welcoming Huddersfield Town Women to the BD Community Stadium in the FA WNL Cup Group Stage.Ahead of the Group T fixture, goalkeeper and s...
Preview: Leeds United Women vs Huddersfield Town Women
Leeds United Women are back on home turf on Sunday, welcoming Huddersfield Town Women to the BD Community Stadium for a FA WNL Cup Group Stage Clash.The Whites opened their Group T campaign last Thurs...
CMI boosts medical affairs capabilities with new specialty communications unit
CMI Media Group is adding to its spread of media services through a new specialty communications business that introduces a slate of new cutting-edge marketing tools. | The new business unit is centered on four core capabilities, which includes AI-enhanced scientific intelligence, omnichannel "scientific ecosystems," and more.
EKU Sports Weekly: Season 1, Episode 3
EKU Sports Weekly previews the Jacksonville State game, Volleyball's Audrey Hudson is mic'd up, and a feature on linebacker Cam Jessee.
Geaux Automotive Group acquires four former All Star Automotive dealerships
Geaux Automotive Group has expanded its Louisiana footprint by acquiring four former Hudson Automotive dealerships, adding 111 employees and positioning the Baton Rouge-based dealership group for cont… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
USTR's Greer huddles with House Republicans amid Trump trade spats
Trump's plan to lower tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported beef caused an uproar among cattle ranchers.
Oil up nearly 1% as US and Iran trade fresh strikes
Oil prices rose nearly 1% in early trade on Wednesday, extending the previous session's surge, as concerns over supply disruption intensified after the U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes overnight, dimming hopes for a quick easing of tensions in the Middle East.
Review | ‘Les Miz’ takes to the hills at Hudson Valley Shakespeare
For a show so preoccupied with God, death and redemption, there is something fitting about seeing “Les Miz” played against the actual landscape as daylight
Jordon Hudson Is A Very Happy Girlfriend After Week 0
She's a happy woman, that's for sure.
DLSS 5 Patched to Work on RTX 4000 "Ada Lovelace" GPUs Despite No Official Support
The modding community has been hard at work ever since the untimely release of DLSS-NR, a precursor to DLSS 5. Now, modders have gotten NVIDIA's leaked DLSS 5 tool working on RTX 4000 series cards, even though the tool was only built for RTX 5000 Blackwell hardware. The DLL leaked earlier this...
Big Board Explained (Players 121-150)
Steve Hungarter, Harley Schultz, HC Green, Kevin Tompkins and Doug Orth give the rationale for and against the first 150 players on the PPR Big Board.
Big Board Explained (Players 91-120)
Steve Hungarter, Harley Schultz, HC Green, Kevin Tompkins and Doug Orth give the rationale for and against the first 150 players on the PPR Big Board.
Kate Hudson is working on a ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ sequel more than 20 years after release of rom-com classic
Kate Hudson is producing a new ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ film, and she and Matthew McConaughey reportedly could reunite onscreen.
Big Board Explained (Players 61-90)
Steve Hungarter, Harley Schultz, HC Green, Kevin Tompkins and Doug Orth give the rationale for and against the first 150 players on the PPR Big Board.
Running Back Pricing In 2026 Auctions
Drew Davenport continues his three-part positional breakdown with multiple ways fantasy managers can attack the RB position in 2026 auction drafts.
From a young mother’s struggle to a beauty business built on strength
After becoming a mother at 16, Liz Fuente overcame hardship, built a beauty business in New City and turned perseverance into her greatest strength.
A new snake species discovered in the jungle has been named after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash; here’s why scientists chose the rock star’s name
A newly described snake from the forests of New Guinea has been given a name familiar to rock fans around the world. Scientists have named the non-venomous species Lielaphis slashi, or Slash’s groundsnake, after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson.
Pennsylvania Entertainment Markets Benefit From New York Legislative Delays
States located next to each other sometimes monitor one another's legislative calendar with great interest, particularly when multi-billion-dollar entertainment
New York Comic Con 2026 confirms movie and TV panels (exclusive)
New York Comic Con 2026 panels confirmed for Marvel TV, ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘Crystal Lake,’ ‘Yaga,’ and more. Get the details.
NJ towns, school districts in debt to 'death spiral' health plans
As rates about to rise, about 50 local entities owe millions of dollars, led by Paterson, Newark and a Hudson County school district
New medical office building at Three Rivers Health to replace 3 others damaged in tornado
WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville, Allendale, Byron Center, Hudsonville, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Sparta, Rockford, Belding, Greenville, Ionia, Cedar Springs and their surrounding areas.
Four alarm fire at Circleville propane business
CIRCLEVILLE - Fire departmentrs from Orange and Sullivan counties are at a four-alarm fire at Blue Flame Propane Company in Cicleville. The fire was reported
Michigan’s health care boom is reshaping its economy — and its skyline
For seven decades, the massive, neoclassical General Motors Building served as the headquarters of what at one time was the world’s largest industrial corporation.
Swope Health serves KC’s neediest. Its CEO faces troubling allegations
Lawsuits accuse CEO Jeron Ravin of reckless spending and retaliation against employees who raised concerns. From David Hudnall:
What happens to the secrets you share with AI
How tech companies use your data to recommend content and target advertising.
Meet & Greet For County’s Economic Development Administrator Max Khudiakov Draws Few Businesses
Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation executive director Lauren McDaniel, far left, chats with Ellyn Felton, Los Alamos County Tourism & Marketing Program Manager, . Anita Barela, C…
Quarterback and Tight End Pricing In 2026 Auctions
Auction expert Drew Davenport makes his debut for The Huddle and breaks down multiple ways fantasy managers can attack the QB and TE positions.
Scenes From LACDC Business Meet & Greet For County Economic Development Administrator Max Khudiakov
From left, Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann, Los Alamos County Economic Development Administrator Max Khudiakov and County Councilor Suzie Havemann mingle during the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation’s (LACDC) business meet & greet Thursday at SALA Event Center. The event welcomed Khudiakov to the community and gave local business owners an […]
Gender-affirming care, Russia sanctions, Kalshi: CT politics news
Plus: A ruling on HUD funding, Connecticut's CEO-worker pay gap, 'Sales-Tax-Free' Week and a storm forces a Ryan Fazio event to relocate.
Irving: Buccaneers QB Mayfield Brings Energy to Every Huddle
Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield is entering a pivotal contract season, but with training camp underway, extension talks have ceased. See what Bucky Irving had to say about his QB and what he brings to the team.
Wiregrass farmers embrace new ag tech as HudsonAlpha program brings science to the field
Grant-funded program tests soil product and integrates drone imaging on four Wiregrass farms.
Multiple employees hospitalized after incident at Hudson industrial businesses
Several employees at an industrial business in Hudson were brought to area hospitals with various symptoms Thursday morning, prompting a hazardous materials response.
Hazmat incident at Hudson business sends 16 people to hospitals
Sixteen people were hospitalized at an industrial business in Hudson, Massachusetts, on Thursday, fire officials said. A chemical process is believed to have contributed to what happened, according to the Hudson Fire Department, which called in a Hazardous Materials team to help respond to the incident, reported about 8:47 a.m. on Parmenter Road. Employees at the business reported serious illnesses,…
'Chemical process' at Hudson MA business hospitalizes 16 people
Hudson firefighters responded to what they are calling a "mass casualty incident" on Parmenter Road.
Yankees news: Giancarlo Stanton runs bases as rehab continues
Stanton getting close; Yanks get $2.6 billion investment; Gil at Hudson Valley; veteran reliever released at Triple-A
ATG Entertainment, Owner of 7 Broadway Theatres, Acquired by MARI
The group will control a global fleet of theatres including Broadway's Lyric, Hudson, Al Hirschfeld, and more.
Phil LeVota’s indictment tells us a lot about Jackson County politics
The most nauseating thing is how the county executive talks when the rest of us aren’t listening. From David Hudnall:
Mid-Hudson Valley business calendar for the week of Aug. 10, 2026
A listing of upcoming business events in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Massachusetts man accused of stealing, altering check mailed by Hudson business
A Massachusetts man is accused of stealing and altering a check that was put in the mail by a New Hampshire business.
West Nile-positive mosquitos found in Westchester. What to know
Here's what to know about the first crop of West Nile virus-positive mosquitos found in Westchester this summer, and some tips to prevent disease.
Sanofi suspends chronic lung disease phase 2 study, tied to ‘strategic business reasons’
Sanofi halted a phase 2 trial testing a monoclonal antibody, SAR445399, in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, Fierce Biotech has learned. The trial, which began only back in April, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to measure the reduction in mucus plug score following treatment with SAR445399 compared with placebo in adults aged 18 to 80 years with NCFB, a chronic lung disease. The trial was officially reported as halted on July 29, the day before Sanofi’s second-quarter earnings call. The decision to pause the trial was made “as part of a company-wide portfolio review for strategic business reasons,” and not due to safety concerns, a Sanofi spokesperson told Fierce. The move to pause the NCFB trial comes during a trying time for Sanofi following a year filled with a series of trial fails. In February, the French pharma ousted CEO Paul Hudson and appointed Merck KGaA leader Belén Garijo, M.D., Ph.D., to steer the ship. Since then, Garijo has been doing a deep dive on correcting the company’s strewn R&D and clinical strategies. On July 24, Sanofi scrapped amlitelimab for atopic dermatitis, despite its lore as being a potential $5 billion blockbuster. During its second-quarter report, the company abandoned two more assets, balinatunfib and itepekimab, following failed trial results in psoriasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respectively. SAR445399, only first revealed by Sanofi in 2023, is an anti-interleukin-1 receptor 3 monoclonal antibody developed to block the interleukin 1, 33, and 36 cytokine pathways. These pathways can be important in chronic immune-related dermatologic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa, as well as respiratory conditions, such as NCFB. Related Sanofi’s new CEO ‘looking deeply’ at late-stage pipeline as clinical clearout continues NCFB affects roughly half a million people in the U.S., with a global incidence of greater than one million cases. In August 2025, Insmed received FDA approval for Brinsupri, a DPP1 inhibitor targeting neutrophil activation, for treatment of NCFB in adults and kids ages 12 and older. The British biotech Infex Therapeutics showed promising NCFB phase 2a data using their monoclonal antibody, INFEX702, which acts by disabling Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria known to be a major pathogen of NCFB. Sanofi is currently running a separate phase 2 study testing SAR445399 as a potential treatment for the inflammatory skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa.
House Democrats targeting 12 new GOP-held districts, including Lauren Boebert and NRCC Chair Richard Hudson's seats
Mid-Hudson Valley business calendar for the week of Aug. 3, 2026
A listing of upcoming business events in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
He was homeless at 16. Now, he sits on the board of David Beckham’s wellness company and his business is about to hit $1 billion in revenue
Hudson Leogrande, the founder of popular hoodie brand Comfrt, bounced between car sales and chimney telemarketing before hitting his stride as an entrepreneur.
Dante Moore passes football and gas during games, teammate reveals
Jamari Johnson spoke about how the wind blows in Oregon's huddle.
2 key Patriots struggling early during 2026 NFL training camp
James Hudson III and Kobe Prentice face mounting pressure after difficult starts to Patriots 2026 training camp.
Home Entertainment Guide July 2026: Obsession, The Drama, Is God Is, More
The latest on Blu-ray includes The Christophers, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and Criterion editions of The Crying Game and Hud.
OB/GYN practice returns to Garnet Health Catskills (VIDEO)
HARRIS - Garnet Health Doctors has reestablished OB/GYN care at the Garnet Health Medical Center Catskills campus in Harris, led by Medical Director Dr. Irvelyn
Behind Closed Doors, Trump Huddles With Netanyahu and Zelensky
The visits by the leaders of Israel and Ukraine underscored just how deeply President Trump was enmeshed in conflicts he had promised — and failed — to end quickly.
See Winter 2025-26 Section 1 high school sports champions
These are state and Section 1 sports champions from the Winter 2025-26 season.
The biohacking sauna blanket Gwyneth Paltrow calls a '10 out of 10' is $140 off at Nordstrom
Fans of the infrared heat therapy also include Kate Hudson and Miranda Kerr.
Giants end 12-match losing run with win at York
Huddersfield Giants end a run of 12 successive Super League defeats with a spirited victory at York Knights.
Former Patriots O-lineman Jordan Devey dead at 38
Devey spent eight years in the NFL, including two seasons with the Patriots.
Feds kick off youth sports initiative in Indy
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner spoke to some of Warren Central High School’s girls flag football team at the Tuesday announcement.
‘Yaga’ exclusive first look reveals Carrie-Anne Moss, Hudson Williams, and more in witchy thriller
‘Yaga’ exclusive first look reveals Carrie-Anne Moss, Hudson Williams, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star Noah Reid, and Clark Backo in the witchy TV thriller.
When do Section 1 Fall 2026 sports practices and competition begin?
High school sports kick off in Section 1 with practices starting in about a month. See when practice starts and the first competition of the season
Two added to DFA leadership team
Jim Hudson, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), announced Tuesday (July 21) two additions to DFA’s leadership team. Jessica Moore was named as State Budget Director....
IDP Prospects Flying Under The Radar
Steve Hungarter makes his debut with The Huddle and discusses five of his favorite undervalued IDP prospects.
Mid-Hudson Valley business calendar for the week of July 20, 2026
July 21 and 28: Women’s Enterprise Development Center free course, Bookkeeping & QuickBooks: Know Your Numbers, Grow Your Business (two-part series), 6-8 p.m., 3 Neptune Road, Poughkeepsie. The course includes two sessions: Bookkeeping…
Sharks, sutures & science
From learning how to do surgical sutures on a silicone mat to exploring the anatomy of sharks, frogs and other animals, students are diving into hands-on wildlife science this summer during the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife's Conservation Summer Camp. With various camps designed for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, CROW's annual camp combines wildlife conservation, veterinary medicine and outdoor discovery through
Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, and More to Headline World Cup Closing Ceremony
Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jennifer Hudson will headline FIFA's star-studded closing ceremony before the 2026 World Cup final at New York New Jerse...
The scores are in. Who received low, high scores in health inspections?
Health inspection shows Springfield Huddle House received a score of 64, observed mold-like substance.
The Most Overvalued Players In 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts
Kevin Tompkins discusses some of the players who may be receiving too much love from fantasy managers as training camps are about to start.
Rooney, Hart and Richards row down Hudson River
Wayne Rooney rows down the Hudson River with fellow BBC pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards.
She Retired From Engineering at 58 and Turned Her Creative Hobby Into a Business. It’s Made Tens of Thousands of Dollars: ‘No Regrets.’
Anna Hudick's engineering experience serves her well as an entrepreneur.
The States Try to Topple WarnerMount…Thus Begins the Local Antitrust Era
(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.) Well, it looks like it’s time for another strategy column. Can I finally avoid writing about M&A? No, it seems I cannot. Admittedly, I’m a week early with this column, since I usually put it out every other week. But this news couldn’t wait. This will make three “Most Important Stories” in a row with a merger or acquisition as its centerpiece. First, Roku-Fox (an acquisition), then Comcast-NBCUniversal (a divestment!), and now the State AGs and the WGA’s lawsuits against Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (antitrust). M&A is usually the “most important” topic any given week, simply because a giant company merging or breaking up (or preventing those outcomes) can have the biggest impact on the streaming board. If you think about these companies as players in a game, changing the number of players is one of the biggest changes you can make. I shouldn’t really complain, either, since this lawsuit is very good news for customers and suppliers (econ speak for talent, workers and indie studios in Hollywood). So let me answer some questions about this potential trial, along with (shudder) making some heavily caveated predictions. I’ll also look at whether Hollywood must consolidate, whether or not the states can win, trouble at X-Box, Netflix’s YouTube binge, and more. Plus, I have five images that visualize this merger and the harm, including three brand new data looks you’ve never seen before. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Can The States and the WGA Stop Hollywood’s Consolidation (Crisis)? If every other newsletter and news outlet is writing about the same story, I try to avoid writing about it as well, but I can’t ignore a story this consequential. The story of the last year was the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this development potentially extends that saga into 2027. As I tried to figure out my angle, I realized, like my last column, I’m again faced with a series of questions. These questions, though, are much more forward-looking. Will the states win? Will the WGA win? If so, what happens to Warner Bros. Discovery? Either way, will this chill the market for future mergers? So you know what that means: predictions. About the future, no less, the hardest thing to predict.1 Just remember: nothing here comes with a guarantee. And the more confident someone is in their predictions, the less you should trust them. This situation is incredibly fluid, nuanced, uncertain and tenuous. So let’s try to explain what may happen. Question: Why File this Lawsuit? I’ll admit, a few months back, I was fairly pessimistic about the fate of this lawsuit. Rumors had started bubbling up that the state Attorneys General (in particular California) wanted to settle with either some minor divestments (usually CNN) or behavioral remedies. And that tracked for me: the states usually settle lawsuits, like the recent John Deere right-to-repair suit. Yet, they plan to fight this. (As they did the LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopolization trial and the Nexstar-Tegna merger.) Honestly, that also makes a ton of sense. Frankly, this move is just good politics for these State AGs. Most are still running for higher and higher office in blue states—some folks have emphasized that only Democratic AGs joined this suit, but given the Ellison/Trump ties, and fears of retribution, that tracks—and a high profile case like this will help them move up the electoral ladder, especially since Paramount and its leadership (the Ellisons, father and heir) have sided with the other side of the political aisle. That makes them unsympathetic to Democratic voters and Hollywood workers in particular. Why did this lawsuit happen? In addition to the very real concerns about industry consolidation, this is why. That said, I don’t think we would have seen this lawsuit for Netflix and Warner Bros., simply because they’re more sympathetic and aligned with Democrats. But those consolidation concerns are real. The “town”—meaning Hollywood and such—really is seeing the damage of mergers on this industry. That’s why the WGA also filed its own lawsuit in defense of workers as well. (Wildcard: What about Europe? Will they try to stop the deal, too? There have been some rumors out of the UK they may try to fight the deal, and UK enforcers just stopped a Getty Images-Shutterstock tie up, so there is precedence. This argument could go either way, though. On one hand, the EU doesn’t need to step in, cause they states are handling it. On the other hand, this could make the EU’s case easier. Just imagine if both sides coordinated. I’ll simply say, “We’ll see!”) Question: Will The State AGs or the WGA Win? Can the state AGs play David to Paramount-Skydance’s Goliath here? That’s really the whole thing, isn’t it? If you know this result, you could make a lot of money. When things are uncertain, it’s tempting to shrug and say, “Eh” meaning it’s a 50/50 proposition. I wouldn’t, though. When in doubt, you should expect that the merging parties succeed. AT&T did successfully buy Warner Bros., after all, and Disney bought Fox without any challenges. Many judges are extremely sympathetic to mergers, and I’d bet the state AGs get a judge who will allow the merger. (Even Obama-appointed judges often allow mergers.) As I understand it, we’ll see two main attacks. First, theatrical films. The AGs are arguing that, when it comes to share of box office and the number of both “wide releases” and blockbuster (or “tentpole”) films, the merging parties will have over 27% market share. Now, the Supreme Court once ruled from on high that any merger that exceeds 30% is presumptively illegal, but that’s guidance, not an ironclad bar. Still, the states will have to argue that this is close to having too much power, and with that power, this will likely further worsen the theater/studio splits in particular. Indeed, as Matthew Stoller pointed out, “just five studios are responsible for 95% of all blockbusters; if this merger goes through, then Paramount and Disney will control 60% of that.” So yes, movie studios will be very concentrated after this merger. Want me to visualize some of that? Well, here’s the share of films that grossed over $200 million at the domestic box office since 2022. (Note: this isn’t all films released in over 3,000 screens, but it is a good look at market power.) First, here are the 43 films by studio: Notice all the blue (Disney), orange (Universal), and purple (Warner Bros)? Yeah, those studios are powerful, and this combines Paramount with one of them. Here’s the look by studio and share of the films that grossed over $200 million: Now, if you look at that and also think, “Huh, should we break up Disney?” I’m with you. I’ve seen some folks poo-poo this idea that this is a real category, but it is! For an upcoming article, I’ve been pulling data on the share of top 100 films at the box office as a share of total box office, and it’s massive. Here’s the chart: (This analysis looks at The-Number’s top 100 films and total domestic box office each year.) To be clear, tentpoles make up 80.7% of the box office each year, so I do think it’s a genuine market. (To be clear, films grossing over $50 million make up 80% of the domestic box office, and films grossing over $100 million make up 64.1%.) I mean, the top 100 films at the box office make up 95% of each year’s grosses. Worse, the combined studios will likely cut output to flex that market power. Everyone can just look at what happened to Disney and Fox to see the precedent. (With fewer films, the remaining theaters have to give more for those few films that remain.) Here’s an image I’ve used a lot, the share of wide-release films from Disney and Fox over time: The AGs will also argue that this consolidation will also impact the cable industry. In this case, the consolidation is actually worse, but that environment is…complicated. Paramount will argue that the cable industry is shrinking. That said, predictions that cable will “go to zero” also don’t look very well supported by the data, as the declines are shrinking, meaning “cable” or “vMVPDs” will likely stabilize at some point. Can the state Attorneys General win on those two main arguments? I honestly don’t know. Again, I’d bet no, since history in general supports that, but it depends on the judge/jury and how they interpret the arguments. Notably, Paramount won’t face accusations about monopoly power in other areas, like streaming, news, sports rights, or vertical integration. I tend to disagree with leaving out sports rights, but I also see the appeal for a simpler case. The states also aren’t really pushing novel theories about labor harm either, which should help. (By the way, Sean McNulty at The Ankler wrote a great run through of potential options, and Capitol Forum also wrote a great paper on theatrical consolidation. Both these pieces predated the lawsuit. Matthew Stoller is also out with his analysis of the pros and cons of the case too.) In some ways, the WGA’s case is even stronger. Quoting Sean McNulty’s summary: “The WGA is citing WARNAMOUNT as crossing a 30% market share in multiple sectors, a number that the Supreme Court has precedent for deeming “presumptively anticompetitive” in a market. According to the WGA numbers, WARNAMOUNT would have represented: - 35% of film writing jobs between 2021 and 2024 - 36% of TV writing projects between 2022 and 2025 - 38% of overall deals between 2021 and 2024” Notably, antitrust enforcers did win recently in the Penguin-Simon & Schuster merger by focusing on labor impact, so don’t count this thinking out. (Wildcard: Will the states try to get a jury trial? Most likely no, they’ll let a judge handle it. If I’m them, though, I’d try to put this in front of a jury. Juries tend to understand monopoly power in a more realistic way than judges faced with legions of economists.) Question: What if They Win? What if They Lose?
Labor, business groups warn NY data center ban endangers jobs, economy
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Tuesday, July 14, banning the construction of large data centers in New York for one year.
Hudson Williams confronts autograph seekers after Paris encounter
Hudson Williams had a confrontation with autograph seekers in Paris.