culture

7/9/25

Apple, feeling itself on its “F1” hit, puts in a bid for US Formula 1 rights

Apple’s leaning in to the success of its Brad Pitt-led racing flick. “F1: The Movie” has become Apple’s top box office performer, and apparently has inspired Apple to throw in a bid for the US broadcasting rights to Formula 1.

Those rights are currently held by Disney’s ESPN, but the contract is set to expire next year.

ESPN currently pays $85 million annually for US rights to the races. Before Apple’s film took off in theaters, analysts forecast the new deal could rise to more than $120 million per year.

With the success of the film, along with Netflix’s popular “Drive to Survive” docuseries, the bidding war has a chance to take off further. ESPN Formula 1 viewership doubled from 2018 to last year, when races averaged 1.1 million viewers.

Apple bids for Formula 1 rights in US after success of Brad Pitt film

Apple bids for Formula 1 rights in US after success of Brad Pitt film

ESPN currently pays $85 million annually for US rights to the races. Before Apple’s film took off in theaters, analysts forecast the new deal could rise to more than $120 million per year.

With the success of the film, along with Netflix’s popular “Drive to Survive” docuseries, the bidding war has a chance to take off further. ESPN Formula 1 viewership doubled from 2018 to last year, when races averaged 1.1 million viewers.

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Fine line, small, and simple: the latest tattoo trend

The rising popularity of “tiny tattoos” could mark a new status symbol, per Business Insider.

Tattoo mater tattooing dove of peace on woman's hand

US Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.7 Billion

Your upcoming Powerball loss is DraftKings’ gain

As the Powerball jackpot has stretched to $1.8 billion, users are flooding into DraftKing’s Jackpocket lottery app.

Max Knoblauch9/5/25

Americans that live in colder states are more likely to sleep longer

But most US adults still aren’t getting enough shut-eye.

American flag design pillow. USA Flag Throw Pillow. Patriotic concept

culture

9/2/25

Paramount and Microsoft’s Activision agree to partner on a “Call of Duty” movie

Less than a month after forming, Paramount Skydance has landed another major piece of intellectual property. The studio said it’s signed a deal with Microsoft’s Activision to create a live-action “Call of Duty” film.

The competitive shooter is one of the most popular gaming franchises in the world and has been the US’s bestselling series for the past 16 years. The next title in the 22-year-old franchise, “Black Ops 7,” will debut in November.

Paramount, which closed its merger with Skydance in August, has had a summer of big deals. It acquired UFC broadcast rights in a $7.7 billion deal with TKO last month, following a $1.5 billion deal for “South Park” rights in July. The company also lured “Stranger Things” creators away from Netflix last month for a four-year film and TV development deal.

Paramount & Activision Team For ‘Call Of Duty’ Movie

Paramount & Activision Team For ‘Call Of Duty’ Movie

The competitive shooter is one of the most popular gaming franchises in the world and has been the US’s bestselling series for the past 16 years. The next title in the 22-year-old franchise, “Black Ops 7,” will debut in November.

Paramount, which closed its merger with Skydance in August, has had a summer of big deals. It acquired UFC broadcast rights in a $7.7 billion deal with TKO last month, following a $1.5 billion deal for “South Park” rights in July. The company also lured “Stranger Things” creators away from Netflix last month for a four-year film and TV development deal.

culture

9/1/25

“Blinding Lights” just officially hit 5 billion streams on Spotify

Over the weekend, The Weeknd’s biggest hit crossed over the impressive threshold, with Spotify marking the feat with an Instagram post that the artist shared to his story.

According to Spotify data collated by Kworb, the song now has a staggering 5,000,010,581 streams on the platform, and is racking up nearly 1.5 million streams each day at the time of writing.

Blinding Lights crosses 5 billion chart — Sherwood News

While Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” released about two years before “Blinding Lights,” looks like it’ll be the next song to hit the 5 billion boundary, “Starboy,” another song from The Weeknd, might not be too far behind.

Besides those two megahits, The Weeknd has 26 other songs that have been streamed more than 1 billion times on Spotify — more than any other artist on the platform.

The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” is about to hit 5 billion streams on Spotify

The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” is about to hit 5 billion streams on Spotify

Blinding Lights crosses 5 billion chart — Sherwood News

While Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” released about two years before “Blinding Lights,” looks like it’ll be the next song to hit the 5 billion boundary, “Starboy,” another song from The Weeknd, might not be too far behind.

Besides those two megahits, The Weeknd has 26 other songs that have been streamed more than 1 billion times on Spotify — more than any other artist on the platform.

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