Cowboys and Tiktoking

Good Morning Bro, It's Monday. If you are hesitating on whether or not you should grab that 2nd cup of coffee today, use this as your sign to go and get it. Let's dig in:

In Today's Morning 6 - 9:

• Football = MoneyBall

• Tech Happenings

• Cultural Catchups

• Bro-Tastic Memes

Football = Moneyball - The Cowboys Stay Winning

As the NFL playoffs heat up, fans of the Dallas Cowboys may be feeling a mix of emotions after last night's game. But despite any on-field setbacks, one thing is for certain - the Cowboys are a winning franchise in more ways than one. With an estimated valuation of $8 billion, the Cowboys hold the title of the most valuable sports team in the world.

This achievement is thanks to their impressive business savvy, as they were the first team to generate over $1 billion in annual revenue through massive sponsorship deals, including an estimated $220 million in stadium advertising and sponsorship revenue.

What makes this even more impressive is that NFL teams actually share just over 70% of football-related revenue. However, the Cowboys have been the most successful at capitalizing on stadium and branding opportunities, allowing them to boost their external revenues. As Forbes points out, the Cowboys truly are a team that always comes out on top.

The value of a sports team is determined by a combination of factors, including market size, recent success, historical performance, and sports economics. Teams located in large markets like New York and Los Angeles are able to generate high valuations due to a large number of fans and potential revenue from sponsors and media rights.

Recent success, like the Patriots' seven Super Bowl appearances since 2000, can boost a team's value, while recent failures, like the Redskins' lack of playoff wins since 2005, can hurt it. Additionally, historical success, like San Franciso 49er's past championships, has a great impact on the team's overall fiscal success.

Tech Headlines

Nvidia has added an "Eye Contact" feature to its streaming software, which uses AI to make it appear as if the user is making eye contact with the camera, even if they are looking elsewhere. The feature is intended for use by content creators to record themselves while reading notes or scripts without having to look directly at the camera. However, the feature is in beta stage and the company is soliciting feedback from users to improve it.

TikTok employees use a secret “heating” button to artificially boost certain videos to the For You page and ensure they achieve a certain number of views, according to six sources and documents reviewed by Forbes. The practice, known internally as “heating,” is intended to court influencers and brands by inflating their view count, potentially benefitting those with whom TikTok has sought business relationships over those with whom it has not. The company has never publicly disclosed its use of heating, and it is not always labeled as such, making it difficult to tell which videos are organic and which have been artificially promoted. However, I actually had a very close friend that worked at TikTok and actually "Heated" one of my first TikTok videos of me cracking a coconut against a rock back in 2019 - it got 400k views within 2 hours. Rumor Confirmed. Shameless Tiktok Plug

Twitter plans to launch a higher-priced Blue subscription that will not have any ads, according to Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in October 2022 in a deal worth $44 billion. The cost and launch date of the new tier has not yet been announced. But you can bet that the TheMorningBro team will be paying for it with minimal resistance.

Cultural Catch Ups

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is planning his return to major social media platforms as he prepares for his 2024 presidential campaign. He is preparing to end his social media exclusivity agreement with his company, Truth Social, despite an 18-month term that expires in June, right as the Republican primary is expected to begin heating up. The move would grant Trump greater freedom in campaigning for his upcoming 2024 run, as his agreement with the company exempts posts as long as the content specifically relates to political messaging, political fundraising, or get-out-the-vote efforts.

A group of scientists are working on a revolutionary project, known as "De-Extinction," to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction by 2027. Utilizing CRISPR gene-editing technology, the team plans to take DNA from frozen woolly mammoths that once roamed the earth 10,000 years ago and use it to genetically modify Indian elephants. The goal is to create a hybrid elephant with the physical characteristics of the woolly mammoth, allowing them to thrive in the Arctic tundra once again. The startup company, Colossal, has already raised $15 million in funding for this ambitious project, with the ultimate goal of creating a herd of 100 woolly mammoths in a park located in northern Russia. A park full of dangerous extinct animals, what's the worst that can happen?

A new study has shown that gardening can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and improve mental health. The study, which is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the benefits of gardening and community gardening, found that people who worked in community gardens consumed more fiber, got more exercise, and felt more connected and less anxious as a result of their community gardening experience. If anyone reading this has had a garden, I am sure you can agree!

Bro-Tastic Memes

Thank you for reading, but more importantly, thank you for being you. We hope you found this edition informative and enjoyable. Be sure to follow us on social media for even more Culture, Tech, and Business insights and updates @TheMorningBro