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UFC media rights are up for renewal next year, and TKO Group Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro tells me he thinks Netflix could be getting in the ring. "I think absolutely, they'll be at the table on UFC," Shapiro said in an exclusive CNBC Sport interview. Still, even with the WWE deal, Netflix didn't fully embrace its new role as a platform for live sports. "I think absolutely, they'll be at the table on UFC," Shapiro said in an exclusive CNBC Sport interview. Still, even with the WWE deal, Netflix didn't fully embrace its new role as a platform for live sports.

Persons: Alex Sherman, Mark Shapiro, Shapiro, They've, We've, Ted Sarandos, Sarandos, it's, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Netflix hasn't, we're, Tyson, Paul, It's, Vince McMahon, McMahon, He's, he's, –, We're, Dick Clark, Paul Levesque, Dana White, Stan Kasten, Adam Silver, Adam, I'm, That's, Juan Soto, Shohei, Ohtani, Kasten, Jonathan Kraft, Sportico's, Kraft, Babe Ruth, Collect, Ruth, Red Ruth, Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno, Louis Grasse Organizations: CNBC, UFC, Netflix, WWE, Disney, MMA, National Football League, NFL, Dick Clark Productions, Golden Globe, –, Professional Bull Riders, Endeavor, PGA Tour, Comcast, Dodgers, NBA, Major League Baseball, New York Yankees, Nice, CNBC Sport, Ham Fighters, Summer, NBC, Tennis, Consumers, New England Patriots, Boise State, Louis Locations: U.S, Canada, It's, Los Angeles, Ohtani's, Hokkaido Nippon, Oregon, Gila, Glendale , AZ

☆ TKO Group to acquire IMG, Professional Bull Riders and On Location from Endeavor for $3.25 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Alex Sherman | In Alex-Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

TKO Group , the company that owns WWE and UFC, is expanding into sports-adjacent properties by acquiring three businesses for $3.25 billion from its controlling owner, Endeavor Group . The businesses are Professional Bull Riders, On Location, and IMG, the companies announced Thursday. The deal is all stock, and Endeavor's ownership in TKO will increase from 53% to 59%. While the company does acquire a new league in PBR, the world's largest bull riding league, it also is expanding into luxury hospitality with On Location and media rights consultancy through IMG. "At TKO, we're primarily interested in league ownership if that exists and businesses that can power our current sports ecosystem.

Persons: Ari Emanuel, Dwayne, Johnson, Mark Shapiro, we're, Silver Lake, Shapiro, Sean Gleason, TKO Organizations: CNBC, New York Stock Exchange, WWE, UFC, Endeavor Group, Professional Bull Riders, IMG, Endeavor, Silver Lake, Silver, PBR, Ryder, FIFA, NFL, English Premier League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ Goldman Sachs says these stocks are a table-pounding buy ahead of earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Analysts at Goldman Sachs named a slate of stocks to snap up as earnings season gets underway. Those names include LivaNova , Spotify Technology, TKO Group and ServiceNow. TKO Group The sports media company and owner of the UFC is firing on all cylinders ahead of earnings in November. TKO Group shares are up 56% in 2024. LivaNova Analyst David Roman and his team recently initiated coverage of LivaNova with a buy rating.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Eric Sheridan, Sheridan, Christian Luiga, Stephen Laszczyk, Laszczyk, David Roman, Roman, LivaNova Organizations: Goldman, Spotify Technology, Spotify, UFC, TAM, Sports Media

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: GameStop, AMC, Boeing, Nio and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: GameStop , AMC Entertainment — The so-called meme stocks retreated significantly after a two-day rally . GameStop declined about 30%, while AMC dropped 20% as the trading frenzy seemed to fade. The sell-off in AMC shares also came after the company announced a debt-for-equity swap. Before Wednesday, GameStop and AMC were up 179% and 135% this week, respectively. According to the firm, shares could benefit from Chinese government stimulus policy and Nio's latest battery as a service, or BaaS, strategy, which could drive sales, said the bank.

Persons: Max, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Glenn Murphy, Cowen, Yun Li, Pia Singh, Michelle Fox, Alex Harring, Jesse Pound Organizations: GameStop, AMC Entertainment, AMC, Boeing, Justice Department, Dell Technologies, JPMorgan, Tesla, Management, New York Community Bancorp, Petco, Wellness Locations: Nio

☆ Shares of UFC and WWE parent company are primed to rally 40%, Jefferies says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jefferies thinks investors should buy up TKO Group , calling the company a "knockout combo" of two major entertainment giants. That price target suggests shares could jump more than 39 % from Friday's close. The company is 51% owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, which owns UFC and Hollywood talent agency WME, and 49% owned by WWE shareholders. That price target suggests shares could jump more than 39% from Friday's close. Kronos Worldwide Inc KRO ANALYST CONSENSUS 3 Ratings Hold 0 Strong Buy 0 Strong Buy 1 Buy 1 Buy 0 Hold 0 Hold 2 Underperform 2 Underperform 0 Sell 0 Sell Current Price ( ) 11.00 Highest Price Target Upside (-4.3%) 8.67 Average Price Target 7.00 Lowest Price Target

Persons: Jefferies, Randal Konik, WME, Ari Emanuel, Konik, Dana White, Vince McMahon, Ariel Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, Michelle Farsi, Kronos Organizations: World Wrestling Entertainment, Endeavor Group Holdings, UFC, Hollywood, WWE, Endeavor, New York Stock Exchange, Getty, Inc Locations: Friday's, New York City

☆ Why Netflix just made a $5 billion pro wrestling deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Now it's in "live sports entertainment" via a $5 billion pro wrestling deal with TKO. One big reason the deal could work: Netflix wasn't in the ads business. That's when a new $5 billion, 10-year deal with TKO Group will kick in and bring Raw, the weekly WWE pro wrestling show currently airing on Comcast's USA network, to Netflix in the US and other countries. Now it's here, in what appears to be the biggest licensing deal Netflix has ever made. And this deal is a rights deal, not an outright purchase.

Persons: —, they'll, Comcast's, . Peacock, Chris Rock, That's, it's Organizations: Netflix, Service, WWE, USA, ESPN

“The Rock” is a name is derived from Johnson's father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the first Black champion in WWE history (alongside partner Tony Atlas), according the WWE. “I am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKO’s Board," TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel said in a prepared statement. He has recently appeared on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.'s “Smackdown” and “Raw” television programs, with rumors swirling that he may compete at this year's WrestleMania. "I’ve been there, I’m still there and this is for them.”TKO also announced Tuesday that Brad Keywell will become a board member. The additions of Johnson and Keywell will increase TKO's board from 11 to 13 members.

Persons: Dwayne Johnson, Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, Tony Atlas, “, Dwayne, Ariel Emanuel, ” Johnson, I’ve, I’m, ” TKO, Brad Keywell, Keywell Organizations: WWE, UFC, WWE Hall of Famer, Seven Bucks, Energy, United Football League, TKO’s Board, Holdings Inc, Wrestling Entertainment Inc, Echo Global Logistics

☆ Vince McMahon plans to sell a big chunk of his shares in WWE parent TKO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Mike Calia | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon appears in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vince McMahon plans to sell a substantial chunk of his stake in TKO , the parent company of WWE, the wrestling empire founded by his father, TKO said in a release ThursdayTKO's stock fell 5% after the closing bell Thursday. McMahon intends to sell 8.4 million of his shares, worth about $700 million. He owned more than 28 million shares as of August, according to a regulatory filing. The company said it and several executives are looking to buy shares from McMahon.

Persons: Vince McMahon, TKO, McMahon, honcho, Dwayne, Johnson, John Cena, Ari Emanuel, hasn't Organizations: Entertainment Inc, WWE, Thomas &, Forbes, UFC, Endeavor Group, Endeavor, Endeavor's Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, McMahon, Silver

☆ Formula One gets upgraded by Citi, which says concerns around Las Vegas race are 'overblown'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Citi thinks it's time to to buy shares of Liberty Media Formula One . The investment bank upgraded shares of Formula One Group to buy from neutral, maintaining its $71 price target. It's been a highly volatile year for shares of Formula One, which are overall up 17.7% in that time. "Ultimately, we are not overly concerned by the extra capex, as the Vegas event could help drive U.S. engagement by bolstering media rights revenue." "We view the relative risk-reward associated Apple's prospective interest in F1's global media rights as attractive at prevailing levels."

Persons: It's, Jason Bazinet, Bazinet, TKO's, Michael Bloom Organizations: Citi, Liberty Media, Formula One, Formula, Las Vegas, Apple, Prix, One's

☆ TKO, the newly merged UFC-WWE, aspires to grow beyond fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment executives decided to name their new publicly traded company TKO to honor the companies' expertise in fighting, but they have broader aspirations than just owning combat sports. That includes eventually going to market together for international media rights and bringing together the company's production efforts and back offices, Shapiro said. After that, TKO plans to swing into acquisition mode to grow the company, he said. Endeavor also owns Professional Bull Riders and two tennis tournaments — the Mutua Madrid Open and the Miami Open. In the coming months, TKO executives will also negotiate new media deals for WWE "Raw" and "SmackDown" on traditional pay TV.

Persons: WME, Mark Shapiro, Shapiro Organizations: Wrestling Entertainment, New York Stock Exchange, Endeavor Group Holdings, UFC, Hollywood, WWE, CNBC, Endeavor, Professional Bull Riders, Madrid, Miami, WME, Fox

The Canadian pension funds have benchmarked their investments to that level, according to the presentation. Australian pension funds have invested about 50% of their total assets in domestic equities, according to the presentation. China Investment Corp is Teck's single-biggest institutional investor with a 10.3% stake, and Norway's wealth fund, Norges Bank, owns 1.52%, while Canadian pensions together hold 0.78% stake, according to Refinitiv data. All other pension funds did not respond to Reuters request for comments. Canadian pension funds represent 30% of the total financial savings of Canadians.

☆ Exclusive: Cybersecurity firm Rapid7 explores sale -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Milana Vinn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Twitter Inc.'s former security chief Peiter "Mudge" Zatko testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 13, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File PhotoFeb 1 (Reuters) - Rapid7 Inc (RPD.O), the cybersecurity firm that hired Twitter Inc whistleblower Peiter Zatko last month, is exploring options that include a possible sale after attracting acquisition interest, according to people familiar with the matter. The Boston-based company is working with investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) as it considers approaches from parties that include private equity firms, the sources said. Rapid7 specializes in so-called vulnerability management, providing software tools and services that help businesses assess and monitor security risks. Rapid7 said last month it had hired Zatko, a former hacker who served as Twitter's head of security until his firing in January 2022, as a part-time consultant.

☆ Elon Musk claims whistleblower burned 10 notebooks as part of a Twitter order to destroy sensitive information about the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A whistleblower said he destroyed notebooks and computer files at Twitter's request, per a court filing. Elon Musk requested sanctions against Twitter on October 3, alleging it destroyed evidence. The filing was made public on Monday, but filed the day before Musk made a U-turn on the purchase. Zatko's notes included details from meetings with executives, as well as communications with Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal regarding his concerns over Twitter's security practices, per the court filing. After Zatko's whistleblower complaint became widely reported in August, Musk amended his countersuit against Twitter to include the former security chief's allegations.

☆ Elon Musk's own data scientists couldn't find many bots on Twitter, and he hid that crucial information, the company says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Grace Kay | Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The firm Cyabra told Musk it estimated Twitter to possibly have 11% bots or fake accounts. That's very different from Musk's estimates. "None of these analyses remotely supported what Mr. Musk told the Twitter parties and told the world in the termination letter he served up on July 8." Musk claims this amounts to fraud and allows him to walk away from the acquisition cost-free. Legal experts are unconvinced that any of Musk's claims are strong enough to win this case.

☆ Elon Musk will be forced to acquire Twitter for $44 billion, says a top M&A legal expert who warns that the billionaire is 'in trouble' as he heads to court
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Elon Musk has spent the past few months trying to get out of his agreement to acquire Twitter. Musk needs only to convince Judge Kathaleen McCormick of one of his claims, while Twitter needs to convince her of all of its claims. Musk can appeal the ruling, and likely will, but he will almost certainly still be forced to buy Twitter, Miller said. Musk knew Twitter has some "bots" and even stated in the press release announcing the deal that he would "defeat" them. "Musk could probably go to Mars and try do this under Martian law and have a better chance than going to Texas law," Miller said.

☆ Twitter hunts for documents showing possible connection between Elon Musk and former executive turned whistleblower Peiter 'Mudge' Zatko
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Zatko accused Twitter of lax security and other missteps during his time as a top executive. He also sided with Elon Musk in claiming "bots" are improperly quantified on the platform. Twitter now wants to know if Zatko has had prior dealings with Musk or those on his side of the deal. He also openly sided with Musk and his claims that Twitter hosts more "bots" or fake accounts that it publicly discloses. A section of Zatko's disclosure is titled "Lying about Bots to Elon Musk" and accuses Twitter of misrepresenting how it counts and combats spam accounts, saying "Elon Musk is correct."

☆ Tech leaders dish on how asinine it is to try to describe their companies, products, and worth to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Hanna Kang | Kayla Gallagher | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +24 min

Tech companies are worried an aging Congress can't meet or even understand their demands. Younger members of Congress are beginning to take the lead in conversations on tech issues. Hawley said younger members are generally more critical of big tech. However, he added, new technologies are more widely used by younger people, and users tend to understand technology better. Meanwhile, major tech companies continue to ramp up their federal lobbying spending, together spending more in 2021 than in any other year in history.

☆ A judge might force Elon Musk to buy Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Alex Kantrowitz | Big Technology | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The trial between Twitter and Elon Musk will begin on October 17 at the Delaware Chancery Court. The Delaware judge hearing Twitter's case vs. Elon Musk listened incredulously as Musk's lawyers asked her to postpone the trial. The DecoPac deal, like many acquisitions, had a clause called "specific performance," which allows the courts to force the deal to close. It didn't take long for McCormick's life at the Chancery Court to get interestingElon Musk agreed to buy Twitter in April 2022. And Twitter then sued Musk for specific performance in Delaware Chancery Court later that month.

☆ Why deleting something from the internet is 'almost impossible'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

In his testimony and whistleblower disclosure, Zatko alleged Twitter does not reliably delete users' data, in some cases because it has lost track of the information. Twitter has broadly defended itself against Zatko's allegations, saying his disclosure paints a "false narrative" of the company. In response to questions from CNN, Twitter has previously said it has workflows in place to "begin a deletion process" but has not said whether it typically completes that process. Photo by Sarah Silbiger for CNNWhile Zatko's allegations are stunning, it also served as just another reminder to Sandra Matz of "how oftentimes mindless we are" in sharing our data online. "Retracting something from the internet, hitting the reset button — is almost impossible."

☆ The whistleblower hearing was more of a win for Twitter than Elon Musk in their $44 billion court battle, some experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Experts told Insider the Twitter whistleblower's hearing did little to aid Elon Musk's legal case. Musk's legal team has amended its countersuit against Twitter to include Zatko's claims. Another avenue for Musk's team could be if the FTC imposes a fine or revisits its 2011 settlement with Twitter. But, Zatko appeared to have no firsthand knowledge of FTC compliance issues in his testimony, experts said. Zatko has been subpoenaed for the $44 billion court battle between Musk and Twitter.

☆ Twitter whistleblower alleges at least one Chinese spy is at the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter whistleblower Peiter Zatko claims Twitter has at least one Chinese spy at the company. Twitter has said Zatko's complaint is "riddled with inaccuracies." Zatko alleged that the FBI warned Twitter that the company employed a Chinese foreign agent. "Today's hearing only confirms that Mr. Zatko's allegations are riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies," a Twitter spokesperson told Insider. "While it was disturbing to hear, I and many others had recognized the state of the environment at Twitter," Zatko said.

☆ Twitter slams Elon Musk's third attempt to get out of the deal as 'illegal.' Next up, more Musk texts could be made public and the whistleblower will testify.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-12 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Musk's team argued an alleged $7.75 million severance to the Twitter whistleblower breached the deal. In the letter, Musk's lawyers argued that a recently reported $7.75 million severance payment given to Twitter whistleblower and ex-security chief Peiter Zatko breached the deal. Last week, one of Musk's text messages appeared to cast doubt on the billionaire's reasons for ditching the deal. Twitter's legal team used the tweet to support its argument that Musk is walking away from the deal due to economic concerns. More of Musk's text are expected to be released publicly as soon as Monday.

☆ Elon Musk takes another loss in Twitter battle as his request to delay trial is denied — but judge says he can add whistleblower allegations to his suit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-07 | by ( Grace Kay | Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Twitter has already seen negative effects on its business during the case so far, the judge said. Musk's team cannot do any kind of extensive additional discovery that will delay the case, with the judge only allowing "incremental" and "targeted" requests for more document production from Twitter. She rejected the billionaire's request to delay the trial, his second attempt to do so, reiterating that any further delay poses an outsized risk to Twitter as a business. "I am convinced that even four weeks' delay would risk further harm to Twitter too great to justify." While Zatko's whistleblower claims mainly revolve around security issues at Twitter, Musk seized on them to prove his allegations of fraud.

☆ The 5 key takeaways from the Twitter whistleblower
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-24 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Here's more on some of the top takeaways from Zatko's disclosure. And it has created internal workflows to ensure users know that when they cancel their accounts, Twitter will deactivate the accounts and start a deletion process, Twitter said. Partly due to its cybersecurity issues, Zatko's disclosure says, Twitter's data centers are constantly at risk of going down. Twitter also knowingly misled the FTC and French regulators on its intellectual property rights violations, the disclosure claims. The FTC settlement was supposed to force Twitter to shape up after hackers in 2009 gained access to internal Twitter systems.

The complaints, obtained by CNBC, were filed by nonprofit law firm Whistleblower Aid, which is representing Twitter's former head of security, Peiter "Mudge" Zatko. Whistleblower Aid, which also represented Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, verified the authenticity of the documents with CNBC. A Twitter whistleblower is alleging "extreme, egregious deficiencies by Twitter" related to privacy, security and content moderation, according to complaints filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice. If government regulators were to find Twitter misled consumers about its security protocols, that may be considered a violation of its 2011 agreement with the FTC. At the time, Twitter was barred for 20 years from misleading consumers about how it protects their security and private information.

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