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Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy hybrid sales are surgingAs of early 2024, EV sales are leveling off and hybrids are making a comeback. Automakers such as Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai and General Motors are all pulling back on EV production or boosting hybrid manufacture, or both. Toyota and Honda are seeing sales jump. The vast majority of hybrids are standard - with an engine and backup battery. Automakers such as GM are reintroducing them to North America.

Organizations: Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai, General Motors, Toyota, Honda Locations: North America

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow ESPN is trying to stay relevant as cable declinesESPN has been the most dominant sports channel for more than 40 years. It holds live sports rights including the NFL's Monday Night Football, the NBA and the WNBA. But as millions of Americans cancel their cable TV subscriptions and big tech companies like Amazon and YouTube bid on live sports, ESPN has had to adjust — or decline along with the pay-TV business. CNBC sat down with former and current executives to talk about the future of the sports juggernaut.

Organizations: ESPN, Football, NBA, Amazon, YouTube, CNBC

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChairman Jimmy Pitaro on ESPN's uncertain futureESPN chairman James Pitaro sat down with CNBC to discuss the company's future as it faces serious cord cutting and competition from tech companies like Amazon and YouTube with deeper pockets than parent company Disney.

Persons: Jimmy Pitaro, James Pitaro Organizations: ESPN, CNBC, Amazon, Disney

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFormer Disney CEO Bob Chapek on ESPN's futureBob Chapek, former Disney CEO, sat down with CNBC's Alex Sherman in his first public interview since leaving Disney to discuss his thoughts on ESPN's future.

Persons: Bob Chapek, CNBC's Alex Sherman Organizations: Former, Disney

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's how Hyundai became the third-largest automakerHyundai Motor Group is the third-largest automaker in the world by volume. In the 90s, it suffered low sales and a poor reputation. Now its three auto brands — Hyundai, Kia and Genesis — are some of the top-selling cars and winning awards for great quality and performance. While Tesla dominates EV sales, Hyundai and Kia are close behind. But the company has faced setbacks: a plague of thefts, millions of vehicles at risk of catching fire, a looming union push and a snub from the U.S. government.

Organizations: Hyundai, Hyundai Motor, Kia, EV, U.S .

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCar ownership is getting more expensive due to rising repair costsAuto repair costs have been rising for years. Experts say it's likely a mix of factors: heavier, faster and more complex vehicles, riskier driving behavior, new technology and labor and supply shortages. Repair shop owners say they can't find enough technicians despite paying six-figure salaries. As technology marches on, and fancy cutting-edge EVs fill roads, consumers hear horror stories about huge repair bills. But insiders say there's reason to be optimistic.

Organizations: Auto

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Amazon is breaking into car sales with HyundaiAmazon is piloting a program to allow dealers to sell cars through Amazon's website. The plan is to ultimately offer Amazon customers the same experience they have buying just about everything else. The program will begin with Hyundai vehicles but will open to other brands before the end of 2024. But selling cars online poses challenges - such as valuing trade-ins and complying with regulations. Among dealers, the project has inspired enthusiasm, skepticism and fear.

Organizations: Hyundai Amazon, Hyundai

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow China became KFC's most important marketKFC is one of the world's largest fast food chains with more than 29,000 restaurants and a new location opening every three and a half hours. But while much of the brand's early success came from the U.S., today the majority of its growth is in China. The first KFC franchise opened in Salt Lake City in 1952 but the chain didn't get its start in China until 1987. A leg up on the competition and an infusion of Chinese characteristics into the menu were key to its early success in China.

Organizations: KFC Locations: China, U.S, Salt Lake City

☆ Canned tuna is a $40 billion industry. But it's facing some existential threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Valued at an estimated $40 billion, the tuna industry is a significant player in the global food sector. The industry is dominated by multinational companies such as Thai Union Group , the owner of Chicken of the Sea, and it faces some challenges. However, Thai Union is now confronting rising costs due to inflation and the war between Russia and Ukraine. What's more, the company faces existential threats to the industry including sustainability, climate change and illegal fishing. Watch the video above to learn more about the $40 billion tuna industry.

Organizations: National Oceanic, Administration, Thai Union Group, Thai Union Locations: U.S, Thai Union, Russia, Ukraine

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInside the $40 billion tuna industryOnce a staple in American homes, canned tuna consumption dropped 45.7% between 2000 and 2021. That is mainly due to changing consumer preferences, sustainability concerns, market consolidation and a major price-fixing scandal between Bumble Bee and StarKist that lasted nearly a decade. Despite this, in 2020, the U.S. remained the top importer. The industry, largely controlled by conglomerates such as Thai Union Group, saw a pandemic-driven demand spike in 2020, but that has since declined.

Persons: Bumble Organizations: U.S ., Thai Union Group Locations: U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's why Tesla is at the center of the UAW strikesThousands of workers are striking the big three Detroit auto manufacturers Ford, GM and Stellantis. The strikes are unlike any other in recent American auto history. Even United Auto Workers' president Shawn Fain calls the demands audacious. Legacy carmakers already struggle to compete with Tesla's manufacturing costs and selling price. So are Elon Musk and Tesla the strikes' big winners?

Persons: Tesla, Shawn Fain, carmakers, Elon Organizations: UAW, Detroit, Ford, GM, United Auto Workers

☆ How Outback's success in Brazil is keeping the Australian-style barbecue chain alive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Outback Steakhouse, renowned for its American twist on Australian-style barbecue, has found unexpected success in Brazil as its U.S. business stalls. The South American segment is responsible for an astonishing 83% of Bloomin' Brands' total international sales. In 2020, reports circulated that Bloomin' Brands might divest its Brazil assets, valued at $472 million, to streamline operations and bolster margins. In 2021, the Brazil segment rebounded, as sales jumped 26% year over year to $259 million. Bloomin' Brands has seen a notable share price recovery, rising from pandemic lows to $28.18 a share as of Aug. 31.

Persons: São Paulo, Bloomin, Papa John's Organizations: Outback's U.S, Brazilian, Harvard, Darden Locations: Brazil, Tampa , Florida, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, America

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's how Outback Steakhouse in Brazil is keeping the brand afloatOutback Steakhouse has found unexpected success in Brazil. The South-American nation is responsible for an astonishing 83% of Bloomin' Brands' total international sales. In the first half of 2023 alone, sales skyrocketed by 61%, foot traffic surged by 42% and the average check jumped by 19.2% compared to the same period in 2022. Those numbers are in stark contrast to Outback's operations in the U.S. So, what is the secret behind this Australian-inspired steakhouse's takeover in Brazil?

Locations: Brazil, The, U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy airplane boarding is inefficient — and likely to remain soWe all know airplane boarding isn't the most exciting part of a trip. But have you ever questioned why the process isn't faster? There are different boarding methods: front-to-back; back-to-front; random; unassigned seating; and window, middle, aisle (WILMA). CNBC got a behind-the-scenes look in Atlanta where Southwest Airlines is prototyping new solutions to speed up the process. Will we soon see a faster boarding method?

Persons: WILMA Organizations: CNBC, Southwest Airlines Locations: Atlanta

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's why the U.S. is having so few roundaboutsResearch shows roundabouts reduce crashes, clear up congestion and can save cities money. But America has a fraction of the roundabouts that far smaller countries like France, Spain and the United Kingdom have. Some states are adopting them, and the small town of Carmel, Indiana, now leads European cities. So why haven't more U.S. cities done this? Are they are all they are cracked up to be?

Locations: America, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Carmel , Indiana

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow EVs Are Disrupting Small Car Parts SuppliersCompanies that make parts for internal combustion engines are facing a harsh future. The switch to EVs means companies need different parts, and EV powertrains have thousands fewer components than ICE cars. Automakers are finding more efficient ways to build cars, and are making a greater share of parts in-house. Many suppliers are small, family owned firms that have been around for decades. But even the large publicly traded suppliers such as Bosch, Denso, American Axle, Magna and ZF are affected.

Organizations: Suppliers Companies, EV powertrains, Bosch

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow the EPA determines electric vehicle rangeSince the Environmental Protection Agency was founded in 1970, one of its primary tasks has been testing gas burning vehicles - both to see how much they pollute and to tell consumers how many miles per gallon they are liable to get in a car. But since electric vehicles came to market in significant numbers after 2010, the agency has begun shifting toward testing EV range. The trouble is that EV technology is changing…fast. The agency has had decades to refine standards for gas burning cars, and just a few years for EVs. CNBC went inside the EPA's testing lab to find out how they test for EV range.

Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, EVs, CNBC

☆ Here's how Burger King is planning its $400 million comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Amelia Lucas | Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's how Burger King is planning its $400 million comebackIn September 2022, Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International announced the chain's $400 million Reclaim the Flame plan. Now the No. 3 burger chain behind McDonald's and Wendy's, Burger King is pouring $150 million into advertising and digital investments to "Fuel the Flame" and $250 million toward a "Royal Reset" involving restaurant technology, equipment and remodels and relocations. It remains to be seen if the overhaul will be enough to help the chain make a comeback.

Persons: Burger Organizations: Burger King, Restaurant Brands Locations: Burger

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThreats to the billion dollar parking industryWhile historically family-owned, the parking industry is today largely dominated by two players: SP Plus (SP+) and ABM. But the industry is facing some challenges. Aside from the rise of e-commerce and ride-hailing, a post pandemic world where workers are rarely driving into urban areas is forcing the industry to pivot and expand its services, as well as heavily invest in technology. It remains to be seen if those strategic decisions will pay off.

☆ How HBO survived mergers and strategy shifts to dominate prestige TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow HBO survived mergers and strategy shifts to dominate prestige TVStarting with uncut movies, live boxing matches, concerts and comedy specials to critically acclaimed shows such as the "The Sopranos," "Sex and the City," "Game of Thrones" and "Succession," HBO has continuously offered viewers some of the most prestigious television in its over 50 years in existence. Despite the reputation of being the gold standard of storytelling on TV, HBO has never had it easy on the business side, undergoing merger after merger.

☆ How HBO survived merger after merger and changed television forever
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The network has survived merger after merger with one of the mergers, AOL Time Warner, considered the worst deal in modern American corporate history. The birth of HBO coincided with the modernization of television across the United States with the emergence of cable in the 1960s and 70s. HBO debuted on November 8, 1972, and it was one of the first paid television networks with 344 total subscribers in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. We're going to have to do original series," Bewkes told CNBC. The Time Warner era ushered in a multiplex model for HBO to reduce churn and debuted original programming "Dream On" and "The Larry Sanders Show."

☆ Former Time Warner Chief Jeff Bewkes: How HBO revolutionized television
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFormer Time Warner Chief Jeff Bewkes: How HBO revolutionized televisionHBO has often been credited for having revolutionized television. Since its early days, the value proposition was clear by offering viewers what they couldn't find anywhere else: uncensored movies, comedy, boxing matches and music concerts. But original content came from a necessity: to compete with Blockbuster. CNBC's Alexander Sherman spoke with Jeff Bewkes, former CEO of HBO and later Time Warner.

☆ How Sam's Club plans to take on its rival Costco
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Sam's Club plans to take on its rival CostcoThe U.S. warehouse club industry, which includes Costco, Sam's Club and B.J. 's Wholesale is valued at more than $320 billion, according to an estimate by ResearchAndMarkets.com. In return, they get access to low-priced goods and services in a warehouse setting. With over 65 million paying members, Costco controls the lion's share of the market. But Walmart-owned Sam's Club is tweaking the formula, betting that investments in robotics and technology can help them better engage with budget-conscious shoppers and take on its competitors.

☆ Dick's Sporting Goods made a big bet on e-commerce. Here's how it's paying off
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDick's Sporting Goods made a big bet on e-commerce. Here's how it's paying offDick's Sporting Goods controls an estimated 14.2% of the $76.2 billion sporting goods market in the United States. In 2021, the company posted a record annual revenue, hitting $12.3 billion, and its net income tripled thanks to its timely pivot during the pandemic toward e-commerce sales and curbside pickup. But in 2018, Dick's was a different story. That year, after the Parkland, Florida, mass shooting, the company overhauled its gun sales policies and reported a loss of $250 million.

☆ Why Dick's Sporting Goods succeeded where Sports Authority failed
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The most significant player in the space, Dick's Sporting Goods, controls an estimated 14.2% of the market, the most by a single company. Dick's Sporting Goods was founded in 1948 by 18-year-old Dick Stack who had just $300 in his pocket when he opened his first store. In the 1990s, the company expanded its offerings to include more sports, outdoor equipment, apparel and footwear, and by 1996, there were 50 Dick's Sporting Goods stores. While Dick's Sporting Goods was expanding, its archrival Sports Authority was on the verge of collapse. Dick's Sporting Goods' momentum continued well into 2021 as the company set new records.

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