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Monday, June 15, 2026
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RACE RESULT
Hamilton lands maiden Ferrari victory in Barcelona
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Grand Prix win for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on June 14, ending Mercedes’ winning run and taking the 106th victory of his career, his first in nearly two years. Ferrari executed a three-stop strategy that paid off when Hamilton gained a free pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car and fitted fresh hard tyres. He crossed the line 19 seconds clear of George Russell, with Lando Norris third after points leader Kimi Antonelli retired late. An emotional Hamilton thanked the team over the radio, telling them they had helped him achieve a long-held dream.
Antonelli retires from podium as Wolff slams Mercedes reliability
Kimi Antonelli lost a likely podium in Barcelona when his Mercedes W17 stopped with five laps remaining, moments after he had passed George Russell for second place. Team Principal Toto Wolff said the team’s reliability was “just not good enough” and that Mercedes “can’t compete for a championship” if its cars keep stopping, calling it “a useless race” despite Russell finishing second. Under the new-for-2026 power unit regulations, reliability has become a recurring concern for Mercedes engines in the works team and customer outfits. The retirement cut Antonelli’s championship lead over Hamilton from 59 points to 41.
Russell and Norris complete all-British Barcelona podium
George Russell took second place for Mercedes in Barcelona and Lando Norris finished third for McLaren, completing what Sky Sports and PlanetF1 reported as the first all-British podium since 1968 behind winner Lewis Hamilton. Norris claimed his second podium of the season after McLaren produced a more competitive showing than in recent rounds, hanging on against the faster Mercedes on a tyre-punishing two-stop strategy. The Race noted Norris was fortunate to inherit the position following Kimi Antonelli’s late retirement, but credited the drive given McLaren has admitted its 2026 car sacrificed some of the tyre management strength of its 2025 title-winning design.
Verstappen recovers to fourth as Red Bull struggles continue
Max Verstappen finished fourth at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, crossing the line 40.497 seconds behind winner Lewis Hamilton, with Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar sixth behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in fifth. Verstappen had warned before the race that the team had “a lot of work to do” and would not challenge for the front row in qualifying, reporting the car was “lacking grip, feeling and balance” across high, medium and low-speed corners during a difficult Friday practice in Spain. The result leaves Verstappen seventh in the drivers’ standings on 55 points after seven rounds of the 2026 season.
Leclerc retires with power steering failure in Barcelona
Charles Leclerc retired from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after losing power steering on his Ferrari, capping another difficult weekend for the Monegasque on the same day team-mate Lewis Hamilton scored Ferrari’s first win of 2026. PlanetF1 reported the failure ended Leclerc’s race and described his season as one in which he has been standing still, with no further progression possible until Ferrari produces a car consistently capable of winning. Leclerc, who had crashed out in Saturday qualifying, sits fourth in the drivers’ championship on 75 points, behind Hamilton, who has now won the in-team qualifying and race battles more often in 2026.
Hamilton takes 25 points out of Antonelli’s title lead
Lewis Hamilton’s Barcelona victory, combined with Kimi Antonelli’s late retirement, swung the 2026 title fight as the Ferrari driver took 25 points back from the Mercedes points leader in a single afternoon. Antonelli remains top of the drivers’ standings on 156 points, but his advantage over second-placed Hamilton is now 41 points after the Italian failed to finish. George Russell holds third on 106 points. In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes lead on 244 points from Ferrari on 165 and McLaren on 118, according to the official Formula 1 standings published after the seventh round of the season in Spain.
De Vries and Kobayashi win Le Mans 24 Hours for Toyota
Ex-Formula 1 drivers Nyck de Vries and Kamui Kobayashi, alongside Mike Conway, won the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours for Toyota, their number 7 GR010 Hybrid finishing 10.9 seconds clear of the number 20 BMW M Hybrid V8. Formula 1 reported it marked Toyota’s first Le Mans victory in four years and a first win in the event for de Vries, the former AlphaTauri driver. For Kobayashi, who took an F1 podium with Sauber at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, it was a second Le Mans win. The sister Toyota of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa completed the podium.
Alonso retires in Barcelona with Honda battery problem
Fernando Alonso retired from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with a problem affecting the battery of his Aston Martin’s Honda power unit, extending a troubled 2026 for the team. Motorsport.com reported Alonso remains 18th in the drivers’ standings, having scored his only point of the season so far at Monaco. Before the race, team principal Mike Krack had warned Barcelona would offer “no place to hide” on a circuit where both power unit and chassis performance are critical, describing it as a reality check for the team’s pace. Aston Martin’s season has been hampered by an underdeveloped Honda engine that has frequently kept its drivers from finishing races.
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 156 pts
2. Lewis Hamilton — 115 pts
3. George Russell — 106 pts
4. Charles Leclerc — 75 pts
5. Lando Norris — 73 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 68 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 55 pts
8. Pierre Gasly — 41 pts
9. Isack Hadjar — 34 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 28 pts
11. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 16 pts
13. Arvid Lindblad — 13 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 6 pts
15. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 3 pts
17. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
18. Fernando Alonso — 1 pts
19. Nico Hulkenberg — 0 pts
20. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
21. Sergio Perez — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 244 pts
2. Ferrari — 165 pts
3. McLaren — 118 pts
4. Red Bull Racing — 72 pts
5. Alpine — 41 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 39 pts
7. Haas F1 Team — 21 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
PLAYOFFS
Hurricanes Capture Second Stanley Cup, Topping Golden Knights in Game 6
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, clinching the franchise’s second championship and its first in 20 years. Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped all 22 shots he faced for his first career playoff shutout. Taylor Hall opened the scoring 3:47 into the game, Jackson Blake added a goal and an assist, and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for Carolina. The Hurricanes took the best-of-seven series 4-2 after splitting the opening four games, with Vegas winning Games 1 and 3 in overtime before Carolina seized control with three straight victories.
Jordan Staal Becomes Oldest Conn Smythe Trophy Winner in NHL History
Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was named winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP on June 14, becoming the oldest player on record to claim the award at age 37. The previous record holder was Tim Thomas, who won the trophy with the Boston Bruins in 2011 at 37 years and 62 days. Staal scored six goals across the Stanley Cup Final to help secure the honor. He also became the first player in NHL history to go 17 years from one Stanley Cup to the next, having previously won a title with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. The Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
Brind’Amour Reprises Iconic Stanley Cup Lift After Second Title
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour reprised his iconic shirtless Stanley Cup celebration after Carolina won its second championship on June 14. In a locker room filled with champagne, Brind’Amour removed his shirt, tossed it into the air and lifted the Stanley Cup overhead, echoing the moment that earned him the nickname “Rod the Bod” during his playing days. The Hurricanes’ official social media account shared the video with the caption “ROD THE BOD.” Brind’Amour, who captained Carolina to its first title as a player in 2006, has now won the Cup as both a captain and a head coach with the same franchise.
Hurricanes Announce Stanley Cup Victory Parade for June 20 in Raleigh
The Carolina Hurricanes announced that a Stanley Cup victory parade will be held Saturday, June 20, beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown Raleigh, following the team’s championship win over the Vegas Golden Knights on June 14. Additional details, including the parade route and parking information, have not yet been announced. The celebration marks Carolina’s second Stanley Cup title and its first in 20 years, capping a six-game Final in which the Hurricanes closed out the series with a 3-0 shutout victory in Game 6. The franchise last paraded the Cup through Raleigh after its championship run in 2006.
Bruins Sign Swiss Forward Attilio Biasca to Two-Year Contract
The Boston Bruins signed forward Attilio Biasca to a two-year contract on June 14, the team announced. The deal carries an annual NHL cap hit of $980,000 and runs through the 2027-28 season. Biasca, 23, spent last season with HC Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss National League, recording 27 points on 15 goals and 12 assists across 45 games. He also appeared at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, posting three points in 10 games while helping Switzerland earn a silver medal. The contract is a two-way deal, with an AHL salary of $85,000 in both seasons, plus signing and performance bonuses adding organizational forward depth for Boston.
Red Wings Captain Dylan Larkin Requests Trade From Detroit
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported. Larkin holds a full no-trade clause this season, giving him control over any potential destination. He carries an $8.7 million annual salary on a contract that runs through the 2030-31 season. According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, friction between Larkin and Detroit management dates back to his last contract negotiation, which was not completed until shortly before the 2023 trade deadline. The reported tension, combined with a lack of playoff success, has reached this point as the Red Wings evaluate their options ahead of the offseason.
Stifling Defense and Bussi Shutout Carry Carolina to Cup-Clinching Win
Brandon Bussi recorded his first career playoff shutout, stopping all 22 shots in the Hurricanes’ 3-0 Game 6 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on June 14. Bussi, whose entrance late in Game 3 helped turn the series, anchored a Carolina defense that smothered Vegas throughout the clinching game. Jack Eichel hit the crossbar on a late power play, one of the Golden Knights’ best chances in a frustrating night. Taylor Hall scored early and Jackson Blake added a one-timer off a Logan Stankoven pass to build the lead. The shutout was Carolina’s answer in the only Final game decided by more than one goal.
INJURY
Guardians place Jose Ramirez on IL with fractured hamate bone
The Cleveland Guardians placed third baseman Jose Ramirez on the 10-day injured list after he fractured the hamate bone in his left hand while leading off the fifth inning of Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Ramirez said he heard a pop after finishing his swing and felt pain immediately. He is expected to miss roughly five to seven weeks, likely sidelining him through the All-Star break. The Guardians activated infielder Gabriel Arias from the 60-day injured list, with Arias set to start at third base. Cleveland sits atop the American League Central, tied with the Chicago White Sox.
Chourio and Perkins homer as Brewers shut out Phillies 4-0
Jackson Chourio led off the first inning with a 412-foot home run off Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, and Blake Perkins added a two-out, three-run shot in the fourth as the Milwaukee Brewers shut out Philadelphia 4-0 on Sunday to complete a home series win. The leadoff drive was Chourio’s fifth homer in five games, his ninth of the season and his major-league-leading seventh in June. Perkins, who entered batting .113, hit his first homer of the year. Kyle Harrison pitched three-hit ball over six innings for Milwaukee, which sits second in the National League Central behind the Chicago Cubs.
Rockies pound Athletics 23-9 behind six-run fifth inning
The Colorado Rockies erupted for 23 runs in a 23-9 rout of the Athletics on Sunday, breaking the game open with a six-run fifth inning that turned a tight contest into a 14-6 lead. The outburst began with a home run by Hunter Goodman and ended with Tyler Freeman’s run-scoring triple. The 23 runs marked a season high for Colorado, which has scored often this season but entered the day with the worst record in the National League West. The Athletics, who allowed nine runs over the middle innings, fell to 35-36 and dropped into a tie for second place in the American League West.
Ben Rice’s ninth-inning homer lifts Yankees past Blue Jays 8-3
Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning and Jose Caballero followed with a three-run blast as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Sunday for their sixth win in seven games. Paul Goldschmidt opened the ninth with an infield single off Braydon Fisher and advanced on a throwing error before Rice drilled a 381-foot drive, his 19th homer. After two walks, Caballero connected off Tommy Nance for his sixth. Camilo Doval earned the win with two strikeouts in the eighth. New York leads the American League East at 43-27, one game ahead of Tampa Bay.
A.J. Ewing falls a triple shy of cycle as Mets rout Braves 8-1
Rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing finished a triple shy of the cycle as the last-place New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 8-1 on Sunday, handing the majors’ top team its second consecutive series loss. Ewing had an RBI double during a four-run first inning against Bryce Elder, singled in the third and homered in the fifth. He and Marcus Semien homered on consecutive pitches to open the fifth, and Juan Soto added a two-run single in the eighth. The Mets took two of three from Atlanta, which still leads the National League East at 46-25 entering the week.
White Sox top Dodgers 6-4 to stay atop AL Central
The Chicago White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Sunday, a result that keeps Chicago tied atop the American League Central by winning percentage. The victory came against a Dodgers club that holds the National League West lead at 45-27 and one of the best records in the majors. Chicago, at 38-32, has emerged as one of the season’s surprises after recent rebuilding years. The loss snapped a stretch of strong play for Los Angeles, which had activated left-hander Jack Dreyer off the injured list earlier in the day. The Dodgers remain seven games clear of San Diego in the division.
Wetherholt drives in runs as Twins edge Cardinals 5-4
The Minnesota Twins held off the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Sunday, with Wetherholt hitting a two-run homer and adding an RBI single to lead the offense. Alec Burleson opened the scoring with his 13th home run of the season and has now homered in five of his past six games. The narrow win did little to change the standings picture for either club: the Twins sit fourth in the American League Central at 33-40, while the Cardinals remain second in the National League Central at 38-31, five games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Both teams entered the day chasing wild-card position in their respective leagues.
Giants beat Cubs 5-1 to slow Chicago’s NL Central charge
The San Francisco Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Sunday, handing the National League Central leaders a setback as they try to pull away in the division. The Cubs entered the day atop the NL Central, holding a lead over the Milwaukee Brewers, but the loss kept the race tight. San Francisco, which had struggled through much of the season and sits near the bottom of the National League West, used the win to break a recent skid. The Giants entered Sunday at 29-43, well behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The result was one of several upsets across the league on a busy Sunday slate.
Diamondbacks hold off Reds 5-3 in interleague-heavy slate
The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Sunday, edging out a Cincinnati club that has remained in the thick of the National League Central race. The Reds sit fifth in the division at 33-37 but only a handful of games back of the leaders in a tightly bunched group. Arizona, at 36-35, holds third place in the National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. The win was part of a Sunday slate that featured several close finishes and lopsided scores around the league. Both clubs entered the day positioned on the fringe of the wild-card chase in the National League.
American League
1. Yankees — 43–27, –
2. Rays — 41–27, 1.0
3. Blue Jays — 34–38, 10.0
4. Orioles — 34–39, 10.5
5. Red Sox — 29–40, 13.5
1. White Sox — 38–32, –
2. Guardians — 39–33, –
3. Twins — 33–40, 6.5
4. Tigers — 29–42, 9.5
5. Royals — 29–43, 10.0
1. Mariners — 37–36, –
2. Athletics — 35–36, 1.0
3. Rangers — 35–36, 1.0
4. Astros — 33–40, 4.0
5. Angels — 29–43, 7.5
National League
1. Braves — 46–25, –
2. Phillies — 38–33, 8.0
3. Nationals — 37–35, 9.5
4. Marlins — 36–36, 10.5
5. Mets — 32–39, 14.0
1. Brewers — 43–26, –
2. Cardinals — 38–31, 5.0
3. Cubs — 37–35, 7.5
4. Pirates — 36–36, 8.5
5. Reds — 33–37, 10.5
1. Dodgers — 45–27, –
2. Padres — 37–33, 7.0
3. Diamondbacks — 36–35, 8.5
4. Giants — 29–43, 16.0
5. Rockies — 27–45, 18.0
HARDWARE
Open-Source Modos Flow Pushes E-Ink To A 60 Hz Refresh Rate
Hardware developer Wenting Zhang has built an E-ink display that refreshes at 60 Hz, fast enough to serve as a usable computer monitor. According to Zhang, E-ink’s notorious sluggishness is not inherent to the technology but a limitation of the controllers designed for low-power e-readers. By building a custom controller, Zhang reached refresh rates suitable for everyday desktop work. The effort, first shown in a Hackaday Supercon 2024 talk, has culminated in the Modos Flow, a fully open-source, user-repairable 13.3-inch portable E-ink monitor. Monochrome and color versions are now offered through Crowd Supply, where the project is raising funds.
Bambuddy Offers Cloud-Free, Self-Hosted Control For Bambu Lab Printers
An open-source project called Bambuddy gives Bambu Lab 3D printer owners a self-hosted alternative to the company’s cloud services, letting them slice, print, and monitor with full local control. Users put printers into LAN-only mode, enable Developer Mode for machine-API access, then add the printers to Bambuddy. The tool acts as a control panel for anywhere from one to forty printers and runs on Linux, macOS, or Windows, with a Raspberry Pi a common install target. It includes an integrated slicer and a proxy mode for remote access. The project site offers a live sandbox demo with simulated printers for first-time users.
New Firmware Gives The Hackaday Communicator Badge A Second Life
Developer Giovi321 has released new firmware for the Hackaday Communicator badge, the handheld gadget distributed at the recent Hackaday Europe event in Lecco, Italy. The badge pairs a QWERTY keyboard, a LoRa radio, and an ESP32, and originally shipped with a simple MicroPython messaging app. The replacement firmware adds proper Meshtastic support and longer battery life for the GPS module, and runs on FreeRTOS under the hood. Installation requires the ESP-IDF toolchain, with detailed instructions provided by the developer. The work extends the badge’s usefulness beyond the event, addressing the common problem of conference badges becoming e-waste once the show ends.
GentleOS Brings A Tiny, Clean Kernel Shell To 16- And 32-Bit PCs
Developer Luke8086 has released GentleOS, a compact operating system, or more precisely a kernel shell into which applications are compiled, aimed at older 16- and 32-bit x86 computers with very low hardware requirements. Hackaday’s Jenny List reports that the tiny disk image boots almost instantly in a virtual machine on modern multi-core hardware, and offers a basic but clean graphical interface along with a small selection of applications and games. It is not intended for productivity work, but its simplicity is the appeal: the codebase is small enough to read and understand. The project is hosted on GitHub as gentleos32.
PZSDR P047 Packs An AMD RFSoC Into A High-End SDR Board
CNX Software has detailed the PZSDR P047, a high-end software-defined radio board built around AMD’s Zynq UltraScale+ ZU47DR RFSoC. The board combines RF analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion on a single device, integrating the FPGA fabric and RF data converters that high-performance SDR applications demand. The P047 is being offered as a crowdfunding project. RFSoC parts like the ZU47DR fold wideband data converters directly into the programmable-logic die, reducing board complexity for makers and researchers building radar, communications, and instrumentation systems. CNX Software covers the board’s specifications and availability as part of its ongoing single-board-computer and embedded-hardware reporting.
Adding Heft To 3D Prints Cleanly With Plaster Of Paris
Maker Joe Fedewa has shared a tidy method for adding mass to 3D-printed objects using plaster of Paris. Rather than printing solid, which wastes filament and time, the technique calls for designing a hollow cavity into the base of a print and filling it with plaster after printing. The approach keeps the added weight contained and the rest of the part clean, useful for items such as bases, knobs, and props that benefit from feeling substantial. Hackaday highlighted the tip as a practical alternative to filling prints with loose materials, noting the cavity design lets makers control exactly how much weight ends up where.
Researchers Propose An Ultrasound Patch As An Alternative To Implanted Pacemakers
A new paper covered in IEEE Spectrum describes an experimental pacemaker that pairs an external chest patch with gene therapy, potentially avoiding the surgery that conventional implanted pacemakers require for battery changes. The patch uses ultrasound to pace the heart, while an injected gene therapy sensitizes heart cells to high-frequency sound waves by introducing RNA that makes the cells produce a sound-sensitive protein in their ion channels. Stimulation then admits calcium, triggering a beat. Rats, pigs, and human heart-cell samples have responded to the system. Patients would also carry a pocket-sized data and power module. The work remains early-stage laboratory research.
Open-Source MiniBot Turns Each Chess Piece Into Its Own Robot
Maker 3DprintedLife has built a self-playing chess set in which every piece is an independent robot rather than being pushed by a hidden electromagnet or external arm. The open-hardware MiniBots are built around a custom PCB carrying an ESP32-C3 module, two PMO8-2 miniature stepper motors with drivers, a magnetometer, and a 170 mAh LiPo battery. A central hub, also ESP32-C3-based, communicates with each piece over ESP-NOW on a dedicated channel, while a Raspberry Pi runs the Python software. Pieces locate themselves by reading electromagnets embedded in the board. A prototype works, though the single-core MCU required firmware changes still to come.
BOX OFFICE
Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ Opens to $44 Million at Domestic Box Office
Universal and Amblin’s Disclosure Day , directed by Steven Spielberg , opened to No. 1 with $44 million from 3,824 domestic theaters and added $48.9 million from 73 international markets for a $92.9 million global debut. It is Spielberg’s and Amblin’s biggest opening for an original title not based on prior intellectual property. The sci-fi adventure carries a $115 million production budget plus $80 million in marketing, meaning it needs to gross roughly $300 million worldwide to turn a profit. Holdovers filled out the chart, with Focus Features’ Obsession taking second place on $19 million in its fifth weekend.
Universal Built ‘Disclosure Day’ Marketing Around Spielberg’s Name and Gen Z Reach
Because Disclosure Day is an original story rather than a franchise entry, Universal ’s campaign leaned heavily on Steven Spielberg ’s name to set the film apart from the sequels and low-budget horror titles crowding multiplexes. Spielberg promoted the film at CinemaCon and SXSW, appeared on podcasts including Michelle Obama’s “IMO” and “The Rewatchables,” and held an event at TikTok’s headquarters with creator Reece Feldman to court younger moviegoers. The studio also kept footage from the film’s third act out of trailers, with Spielberg noting at CinemaCon that audiences have grown adept at spotting marketing material. The push delivered a $44 million domestic opening.
‘Obsession’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Film Ever Acquired at a Festival
Focus Features and Blumhouse’s Obsession has become the highest-grossing movie ever picked up at a film festival after a post-premiere auction, surpassing The Blair Witch Project ’s reported $248.6 million global total, according to Deadline. Focus acquired the horror title out of the Toronto International Film Festival for north of $15 million covering North America and most foreign territories. Directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker , the film was made for about $1 million , ranking it among the most profitable releases in recent memory. It added $19 million in its fifth domestic weekend, holding second place behind Disclosure Day and continuing an unusually durable theatrical run.
Summer 2026 Box Office Reaches $1.55 Billion, Best Showing Since 2019
The domestic summer box office stands at $1.55 billion , the strongest post-pandemic total and the best since 2019, up 11.6% from the same point last year. The weekend ending June 14 took in roughly $183.2 million, the second-best post-Covid result for the calendar’s 23rd weekend and a 61% jump over the comparable frame a year earlier. The surge has been powered by an unusual mix of titles, including the breakout horror successes Obsession and Backrooms alongside Spielberg’s Disclosure Day . The results reinforce a season in which original and mid-budget films have outperformed expectations against a thinner studio tentpole slate.
Disney Opens Emmy FYC Season With Star-Studded ‘Toast to TV’ Event
Disney launched its Emmy For Your Consideration push with an inaugural Toast to TV event hosted by Dana Walden , the company’s president and chief creative officer, at Soho House in West Hollywood. The gathering celebrated programming across Hulu, Disney+, FX and ABC and drew stars, creators and executives from titles ranging from “Dancing with the Stars” to the FX series “Love Story.” In her opening remarks, Walden said attendees had “told stories that break through an incredible amount of clutter,” and noted that Seth MacFarlane had teased the event’s title. The kickoff comes as roughly 20,000 Television Academy members face a flood of FYC events and screening invitations.
Streamers Roll Out Premium Ad Positions to Court Marketers
Streaming platforms are packaging premium ad placements to attract marketers heading into the upfront. AMC Networks introduced a “first streamer” product that lets advertisers buy the opening slot in the first ad pod of a viewer’s first stream, while Paramount is pitching a “streaming fixed unit” that hands sponsors a consistent position, such as the first ad in a break, for the first seven days after a new episode debuts. Netflix , whose ad business now works with more than 4,000 advertisers, up 70% year over year, is adding products that help buyers measure the incremental impact of their spending. The moves reflect intensifying competition for streaming ad dollars.
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