Above The Fold: Blog #16

Entertainment Industry Headlines, Forward-Thinking Media Trends, PR Case Study, Leadership Quote of the Week and Recommended Reads/Views

Quote of the Day

“You can’t just look at the back section of the newspaper or the sports section by itself. You need to understand everything that’s going on.” — Mike Tirico

Mike Tirico (Source: Syracuse University News)

Media Headlines, Industry News and PR Trends

• The Guardian: Corporation for Public Broadcasting to close after funding cut, ending nearly 60 years of federal commitment to public broadcasting that ensured educational and cultural programming including PBS and NPR remained accessible to all Americans

[embed]Corporation for Public Broadcasting to close after US funding cut Closure of public broadcasting group follows House Republicans' decision to strip $1.1bn in funding over two yearswww.theguardian.com

• Reuters: NFL agrees to place many NFL media holdings with ESPN in exchange for equity in ESPN — NFL expected to grant network access to RedZone, NFL Network, seven more regular-season games and NFL’s fantasy football business

[embed]NFL deals Red Zone, NFL Media assets to ESPN in billion-dollar agreement, the Athletic reports The NFL and Disney’s ESPN have reached a deal, potentially worth billions, placing many of the league’s media holdings…www.reuters.com

• ESPN: Boston’s TD Garden hosts sold-out WNBA game for second year in a row as Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever defeat Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun 85–77

Source: Fever, Sun, abuzz over packed house at Boston’s TD Garden

• The Athletic: Wrigley Field to host MLB All-Star Game in 2027, first at venue in 37 years

[embed]Cubs to host 2027 MLB All-Star Game, first time at Wrigley Field since 1990 The Cubs' persistent lobbying efforts to land the All-Star Game lined up with the $1 billion Wrigleyville project.www.nytimes.com

[embed]Source: The Chicago Tribune Cubs beat writer Meghan Montemurro on Bluesky

• Littleleague.org: ESPN Unveils “Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024” Premiere Date & Trailer

[embed]ESPN Unveils "Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024" Premiere Date & Trailer ESPN has released the official trailer for "Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024." The ESPN film debuts Aug. 12…www.littleleague.org

[embed]ESPN on YouTube

• CNN Travel: The world’s most walkable cities revealed (and they aren’t in the US)

[embed]The world's most walkable cities revealed (and they aren't in the US) | CNN The bigger and richer the city, the less likely it is to be an easily walkable destination, a new study has found…www.cnn.com

Recommended Articles/Podcasts/Videos:

• The Athletic: Padres, Mets, Phillies, Giants and Mariners **earn ‘A’ grades in Jim Bowden’s team-by-team review of 2025 Trade Deadline**

[embed]MLB trade deadline grades for all 30 teams: 5 A’s, 15 B’s, 7 C’s and 3 D’s After another trade deadline featuring plenty of twists and turns, it’s time to hand out grades. How did your team…www.nytimes.com

• Boston.com: Why doesn’t Boston have a WNBA team?

[embed]Why doesn't Boston have a WNBA team? Boston is undoubtedly a sports town, but despite the city's passionate fans, there has never been a WNBA team in the…www.boston.com

• theSkimm’, Podcast: **Dawn Staley on Why the Journey Matters More than the Win**

[embed]Dawn Staley on Why the Journey Matters More than the Win "Representation does matter. Like the only thing I had to go on was grow up and be the, the next point guard for the 76…www.theskimm.com

• theSkimm’, Podcast: Cathy Engelbert on Asking for (and Getting) What You Want at Work

[embed]Cathy Engelbert on Asking for (and Getting) What You Want at Work "I did walk in and resigned to the partner I had worked for...because I was five months pregnant with my daughter. I…www.theskimm.com

About Above the Fold

Created by Matthew Edwards, Above The Fold outlines the week’s most significant PR and entertainment news. Each blog captures a Quote of the Day, relevant and timely entertainment news, forward-thinking media trends, a PR case study, and recommended reads/views across traditional and digital media channels.