Happy hump day, fam. We’re not sure about you, but our inner fat kid is kind of beaming today. That's because Coca-Cola and Oreo have teamed up for a new promotion that celebrates the best of both worlds. Dubbed “Besties,” the limited-edition partnership will feature two epic products: Oreo-inspired Coke and Coke-flavored Oreos that, yes, actually fizz. TBH, we’re not 100% sure how we feel about the drop, but it can’t be worse than Oreo’s previous collab with Sour Patch Kids. Like pizza and pineapple, citric acid and sandwich cookies just do not mix.

In other news… Tubi has its moment, theme parks lose their crowds, and Starbucks gets a new CEO.

Want to discover even more newsletters? Here are some of our favorites

• YouTube – “Diet Pepsi” - Addison Rae

• X (Twitter) – Janet Jackson

• Google – Dune

• Reddit – Dr. Dre

• TikTok – “Pretty Hurts” - Beyoncé

• Spotify – “FLY” - Quavo, Lenny Kravitz

.ENTERTAINMENT.

Tubi’s breakthrough moment

The Future. Tubi, a free streaming service acquired by Fox Corporation in 2020, has recently surged into the spotlight, beating well-known competitors like Peacock and Paramount+ in total viewing time, according to Nielsen. As more consumers grapple with subscription fatigue, platforms offering diverse content without a paywall may become increasingly popular, potentially leading to a new wave of ad-supported, free-to-use services.

From underdog to overachiever
Initially met with skepticism due to its free model, Tubi is now capitalizing on its eclectic library of older content and low-budget productions.

• It generated $900 million in revenue over the last year compared to $775 million from the year before.

• Its audience, which skews older (a little more than half is over the age of 50) and includes a considerable number of Black viewers (46% as of June), tune in for “random old things that they wouldn’t have normally thought to watch,” says Tim Nollan, an analyst at Macquarie, in The NYT.

• Despite not yet being profitable, Tubi’s ad-supported model is gaining traction as consumers become weary of rising subscription costs across the streaming industry.

No cash, no problem
Tubi’s unexpected rise illustrates how embracing perceived weaknesses — older titles, lack of stars, and lower-budget productions — can be a strategic advantage in a crowded marketplace, reshaping the landscape of the streaming business.

Oh, and people love free.

69.2% of you voted No in yesterday’s poll: Did you play sports in college?

“Spent four years in the active military before college. My body was worn down by then…”

“Pole vaulted at University of Dayton.”

“Yes, if you count marching band.”

.A WORD FROM ROOTS.

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• And enjoy the fact that renters get invested in the fund, too, for being good neighbors and taking care of the property!

Pretty sweet, huh?

Invest in just five minutes.

Media, Music, & Entertainment

• The 2024 Paris Olympics delivered a media triumph for NBC, cleaning up a daily average of 30.6 million US viewers — an 82% increase from the Tokyo Olympics. [Read More]

• Netflix is reviving the Ghostbusters franchise via a new animated series aligned with the tone of recent films — featuring writers and producers from Ghostbusters: Afterlife. [Read More]

• DoorDash and Warner Bros. Discovery are teaming up to offer DashPass annual plan customers a Max subscription, blending food delivery with streaming perks for an all-in-one entertainment experience. [Read More]

Fashion & E-Commerce

• Locked-up merch at retailers like CVS and Walmart is causing delivery drivers to avoid stores with excessive security measures, slowing down service and cutting into earnings. [Read More]

• Swimwear brand Left On Friday, co-founded by former Lululemon execs, recently stood out on the world stage with its stylish, one-shoulder Olympic uniforms for Canada’s beach volleyball team. [Read More]

• Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan is exiting just six months into the job, being replaced by Chipotle’s Brian Niccol. [Read More]

Tech, Web3, & AI

• New York-based SEO firm Profound is helping brands navigate the current online search landscape with tools to track and optimize their presence in AI-generated search results. [Read More]

• AI is reshaping the dining experience as robots quietly make their way into restaurants. [Read More]

• Twitch is introducing 60-second video stories, which will let users share content directly on the platform in the hopes of keeping viewers engaged even when streamers are off their main setup. [Read More]

Creator Economy

• Athletes at the Paris Olympics turned social media into a personal backstage pass, offering fans a candid look and transforming how the world engages with the Games. [Read More]

• TikTok is becoming the go-to platform for discovering new travel hotspots, sparking trends like “destination dupes,” where people opt for lesser-known locales over popular tourist hubs. [Read More]

• SoundCloud has launched a merch marketplace where artists can submit and sell their designs, with the streamer handling production/promotion and giving artists 100% of the profits. [Read More]

.TRAVEL.

Theme parks are no longer a summer hotspot

The Future. Once a post-pandemic travel favorite, American theme parks are now experiencing a slowdown as inflation and wanderlust draw visitors away. If major players like Disney, Universal, and Six Flags hope to recapture the interest of price-conscious consumers, they may need to offer more discounts and innovative attractions before the year’s end.

Roller coaster recession
Disney, Universal, and Six Flags have all reported weaker theme-park attendance and declining profits in recent quarters as Americans opt for new adventures.

• High ticket prices and additional costs at domestic parks have pushed vacationers to seek more affordable and enriching experiences abroad, where they feel like they get better value for their money.

• Record-breaking heat in states like Florida has also driven people to reevaluate when and if they should plan park visits at all.

From rides to flights
As more Americans prioritize global travel over expensive and often repetitive park trips, the industry is struggling to catch up.

Upcoming attractions like Universal’s Epic Universe, which will feature rides connected to such franchises as Harry Potter, Donkey Kong, and How to Train Your Dragon, might provide the spark necessary to rekindle theme-park enthusiasm among discerning consumers.

.A WORD FROM OUR FRIENDS AT HEAR.COM.

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Don’t just hear — thrive without skipping a beat.

• Watch: Rebecca Barkin, CEO of Lamina 1, joins “First Mover” at Consensus 2024 to discuss how the platform leverages blockchain to increase creator earnings and more.

• Read: Oliver Darcy’s newsletter Status delivers nightly briefings on the critical shifts in media, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley as they navigate the challenging landscape of shrinking newsrooms, streaming upheavals, and the AI revolution.

• Use: The SPACIES Desk Pad is a versatile neuroaesthetic tool that doubles as a notepad, oracle deck, and synchronicity machine — ideal for quick notes, doodles, thought mapping, and weekly planning.

LATEST PODCAST EPISODE

Today, on an extra special bonus episode of Future Forecast, our hosts Boye and Chris sit down with Andrew Kenward, the President and COO of Almost Friday Media. Andrew was an agent at WME in the digital media department at WME before being brought into the Almost Friday universe in 2021. We chat with him about his career, his goals for the brand moving forward, and what it's like working in media today.