Netflix: What Economic Issues?

The streaming company said that it has been “largely unscathed by recent concerns about the health of the economy.”

April 21, 2025

Netflix Reports Record Q1 With $10.5B Revenue
Netflix has reported a “record profit in the first quarter and beat its forecasts for core metrics including revenue and operating margin.” The streaming company said that it has been “largely unscathed by recent concerns about the health of the economy” in light of the Trump administration’s trade policies. The company reported $10.5B in revenue in the first quarter, up 12.5% year-on-year. Net income rose about 24% to $2.9B, beating its forecast of $2.44B. Netflix expects stronger revenue growth in the second quarter from recent price increases, continued membership growth and fresh advertising revenue.
^{Wall Street Journal via Sports Business Journal}

Post-PASPA U.S. Handle Passed Half-Trillion Milestone During March Surge
SBJ’s Bill King writes, “The amount wagered legally on sports in the U.S. since the Supreme Court cleared the way seven years ago eclipsed a half trillion dollars late last month. We don’t know the who, when or where of the wager that eclipsed the $500 billion mark. But based on totals reported thus far by regulators in 14 states, U.S. handle for March is sitting at $6.38 billion and tracking toward $14.5 billion, which would bring the total since states beyond Nevada started taking bets to $502 billion.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Miller Family Buys Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals at $600M Valuation
The family of late Jazz owner Larry Miller is returning to top-flight professional sports ownership in their hometown of Salt Lake City through the purchase of a controlling interest in MLS’ Real Salt Lake and the NWSL’s Utah Royals. Sources with knowledge of the deal terms said the transaction values the entire enterprise, which in addition to the teams includes America First Field and Zions Bank Training Center, at $600M.
^{Sports Business Journal}

NBA Playoffs 2025: Sideline Reporter Dennis Scott Tags in For Emergency Cavs-Heat Play-by-Play During TNT Technical Difficulties
Yahoo Sports’ Jason Owens writes, “After a break in the first quarter action, the broadcast cut from commercial to Scott conducting a sideline report on the Cavaliers' preparation for the postseason. When Scott's report was done, the audio didn't cut back to play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes and color analyst Candace Parker.

“It wasn't the cleanest of calls. And it resembled a radio broadcast more than one for TV. But it was accurate play-by-play instead of dead air, and for that, Scott deserves a round of applause.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

National Priority: NBA Moving First-Round Games Off Local TV
SBJ’s Alex Silverman and Tom Friend write, “For decades, the NBA and NHL have allowed playoff teams’ local broadcast partners to air first-round playoff games that were also being shown by the leagues’ national media partners. That practice is set to end in the NBA next season when the league’s new national media rights deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon kick in, ensuring those partners get all domestic viewership of the first round while stripping regional sports networks and local stations of their most lucrative inventory.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

The Historically Great Thunder Are in It for the Long Run
Sportico’s Lev Akabas writes, “Looking at NBA Finals odds on FanDuel, you wouldn’t know that the Oklahoma City Thunder just finished one of the greatest regular seasons in NBA history. The Thunder’s odds to win the championship are +175, indicating that their odds of winning the title are around 35%, and just barely ahead of the Boston Celtics at +180.

This is despite Oklahoma City having just finished with a 68-14 record. The only three teams with more wins in the past 50 years featured Michael Jordan or Stephen Curry.
^Sportico

What Happens In Vegas … : The Athletics’ Striking Stadium Design Responds Directly to Natural and Man-Made Environments
SBJ’s Bret McCormick writes, “The glass window that will greet most A’s fans when they arrive at the team’s ballpark in Las Vegas, scheduled to open in 2028, will be larger than a football field, 412 feet wide and 96 feet tall. Each of the 636 panels making up the window that will span the stadium’s outfield measures 8 feet high by 8 feet wide.

“The glass expanse serves two main purposes for the $1.75 billion stadium: It’s part of a larger system of emitting natural light into what had to be a fixed-roof venue due to summer heat; and, second, it gives fans a framed view of the Las Vegas Strip, firmly placing the stadium and its crowd in Sin City. The window helps the A’s stadium fit in Las Vegas’ unique environments, both the natural and man-made ones.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

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Former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava Will Transfer to UCLA
FOS’ Amanda Christovich reports: “A member of his camp told Front Office Sports that Iamaleava hadn’t asked the team for more money, and that he had decided to transfer before the April 11 practice, which was why he skipped it. His decision was based on unfulfilled requests related to improvements to the team’s offensive line and arsenal of wide receivers.

“Another source familiar with Iamaleava’s NIL contract, however, said he had asked for a raise at the end of the winter transfer portal window and that his representatives have been increasingly unresponsive, leading to confusion and uncertainty at Tennessee.

“The messy split from Tennessee has led to questions over who’s really at fault. And it illustrates how uncredentialed representation can potentially undermine a player’s reputation and lead them to the wrong decision, sources have said.”
^{Front Office Sports}

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