Saudi's rise, Crypto 4 Cars, and new realty for Real?
??? The big stories this week:
DAZN MENA
Another big move in the world of sports broadcast, as PIF's SURJ Sports Investment acquires a minority stake in DAZN , creating DAZN MENA in the process. Covered broadly across sports and tech media, the story is one of an ever evolving sports media landscape and the growing influence and place on the world stage for Saudi Arabia’s sports sector: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590575/business-economy
Cypto Cars
Matthew Williams shines a light on an F1-first. Brand deals paid for with Crypto. Ahead of the 2025 season, Aston Martin’s new sponsorship deal with Coinbase will be paid entirely in cryptocurrency. No doubt, more to come: https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/f1-first-as-coinbase-pays-aston-martin-in-crypto/
50,000 Metas
Meta , the parent company of Facebook has announced a canny plan to deliver better coverage to its billions of monthly users. More satelites? No way, these guys are going old school, with plans as detailed in TechCrunch for a 50,000km underwater cable! It will, when complete, be the longest undersea cable project connecting five continents, with landing points in the United States, Brazil, India, South Africa, and other key regions: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/14/meta-confirms-project-waterworth-a-global-subsea-cable-project-spanning-50000km/
Saints vs Sinners
A new rivalry has emerged in world tennis. That of almost every professional player on the circuit and Jannik Sinner. In the latest twist in the doping 'scandal' ... it would appear Sinner has got away with it "lightly?". The equivalent, some commentators are suggesting, is like a soccer player being banned for the summer... Pretty ideal: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis/article/novak-djokovic-jannik-sinner-doping-ban-rhkbcsrcc
"Another La Liga Please"
The cynic will say, they don't like it up' em. Well 1) that's not very nice, and 2) be careful what you wish for. This week, world football giants, Real Madrid threatened to leave La Liga altogether, following a disputed red card. Seems like a strong reaction... but as Forbes ' Tom Sanderson uncovers, there is more to the story: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2025/02/17/real-madrid-considers-seeking-asylum-in-a-foreign-league-reports-sport/
Space & Travel
Space and Travel news... kind of. After a week of air traffic incidents this week The Verge look at how Air Traffic Control Command Center is bringing in the team at SpaceX to help overhaul the system. The news come following the firing of hundreds of probationary employees who maintain critical air traffic control infrastructure : https://www.theverge.com/news/614078/faa-air-traffic-control-spacex-elon-musk-layoff-staff-shortage
Phew, TikTok's back
After the the immensely popular viral vid platform was banned from the US, its back, and as ADWEEK explore, both Apple and Google were 'encouraged' to restore its position in the app stores. Check this out, from David Cohen: https://www.adweek.com/media/apple-google-restore-tiktok-to-app-stores/
?? Now for some inspiration
Time to believe people... If you can see it, and have the guts to speak it... anything's possible. Take it away Connor!
?? Something to make you look clever
Here's a couple of links to stories a little more random, but which will equally make you the most clever in the room... If not, you're probably in the right room.
Vision setters
One from us now... as we look at the increasingly pivotal roles of vision-setting. Sounds like something you should do right? Sounds like something you've probably even already had a crack at... but for you and your business to matter to others, have you clearly articulated what your company will say, to whom, at a given time, and for what purpose? Really? We take a look at that need for a strong sense of identity and vision: https://www.trippant.com/story-board/setting-the-terms-for-your-new-vision/
Keep it real
Getting stuck in your phone? Worried about others may or may not be thinking? Has tech become the be all end all? Are all of your mates surnames "GPT". Check out this in 纽约时报 as they discuss, "How to remain a reality based human": https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/opinion/trump-ai-social-media-humor.html
Saudi Arabia's rise and rise
Whilst this is very much a political story, its relevance is, we think, much more telling for the rise of Saudi Arabia on all fronts. Markets, media, sport, travel. There is not mistaking or ignoring the growing role the Arab nation now has internationally. And as the site for peace talks between two of the world's largest superpowers, it doesn't get bigger than this. Trust, influence, authority. The KSA is here, this via BBC News : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9x97yvjp4o