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☆ The 2023 Super Bowl Ads Will Feature Booze, Betting and Jesus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Megan Graham | Patrick Coffee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

The Super Bowl ads on Sunday are poised to promote an unusual mix of alcohol brands, gambling and Jesus. The Super Bowl still regularly draws an audience of around 100 million people, making it TV’s biggest event of the year and advertising’s biggest night. Planters’ Super Bowl ad features comedians mocking Mr. Peanut. The ads are likely to strike a lighter tone than the occasionally somber messages of Super Bowl ads in recent, highly politicized years or the early pandemic, said Anjali S. Bal, an associate professor of marketing at Babson College. Many Super Bowl advertisers have again released their ads well before Super Bowl Sunday to increase their chances of being seen.

☆ Nonalcoholic Beer Ad in Super Bowl Spotlights ‘Dry Economy’
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Megan Graham | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Heineken USA plans to run a 30-second Super Bowl ad for its Heineken 0.0 nonalcoholic beer, enlisting actor Paul Rudd as Marvel’s Ant-Man to make the pitch. Sales volume in low- and no-alcohol was $2.5 billion, while the overall U.S. alcohol market totaled $188.3 billion. Ad spending to promote nonalcoholic beer on national television, by comparison, totaled $9.7 million in January, up from $1.4 million in January 2019. Boisson Inc., a retailer of nonalcoholic beer, wine and spirits with 10 stores in New York and California, said it is increasing its marketing spending. SipSteady co-hosted a Dry Vibes event in January in Kansas City that included tastings of nonalcoholic beverages.

☆ Cheers! Spirits like gin, vodka, overtake beer's U.S. market share
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Jessica Dinapoli | Thomson Reuters | New York-Based Reporter Covering U.S. Consumer Products Spanning Paper Towels To Packaged Food | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Spirits like whiskey, cognac and tequila, a celebrity favorite, have surpassed beer's U.S. market share for the first time due to price hikes and high-end cocktail trends, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. U.S. sales for spirits totaled $37.58 billion last year, while beers like Anheuser-Busch inbev SA's (ABI.BR) Bud Lite tallied $37.46 billion, according to data compiled by the Distilled Spirits Council. Spirits' market share was 42.1%, while beer's was 41.9%, according to the data. Tequila and ready-to-drink canned cocktails including Constellation Brands Inc's (STZ.N) Fresca vodka spritz were among the fastest-growing types of spirits, the Distilled Spirits Council said. "The 'premiumization' trend, where people look at distilled spirits as an affordable luxury, is affirmed by these numbers," said Chris Swonger, CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council.

☆ How Budweiser Tackled a Beer-Free World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

In the end, the brewer found a way to navigate the World Cup beer-free and roll with the media attention that the alcohol ban generated. Soccer’s 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar ran from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. World Cup sponsors Kia and Adidas similarly maintained their reputational scores, according to the Morning Consult data. Budweiser doesn’t pay a reported $75 million for the official beer sponsorship of the World Cup just to serve beer at stadiums. But the ban on alcoholic Budweiser undermined the impetus for being at the World Cup, Mr. Marcondes said.

☆ Super Bowl ads lean on stars, humor to grab attention
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Sheila Dang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Musician Ozzy Osbourne takes part in a Super Bowl ad for Workday, in this undated handout photo provided by Workday. Big-name celebrities are not uncommon in Super Bowl ads. A 30-second Super Bowl spot this year sold for a little over $7 million, according to a person familiar with the ad sales. “Advertisers want people talking about their brand, and not just during the 30 to 60 seconds of (Super Bowl) air time,” Rucker said. Some stars will poke fun at themselves or their careers in Super Bowl ads.

☆ Earthquakes Stand to Deepen Turkey’s Economic Struggles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

What’s New for Super Bowl 2023? More Booze Ads Share Spotlight With BudFor the past 33 years, Anheuser-Busch InBev was the only company permitted to advertise alcohol at the Super Bowl. But this year things are different. WSJ advertising editor Suzanne Vranica breaks down what to watch for from both old and new brands. Photo Illustration: Alexander Hotz/WSJ

☆ Watch: Kim Jong Un and Daughter Attend Military Parade in North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Turkey, Syria Quake Survivors Bury Victims as Rescuers Recover Bodies
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Turkey, Syria Quake Survivors Endure Cold, Search for Food
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Buying a Super Bowl can be a big risk because it's a big investment months ahead of the game. Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes said during the company's January earnings call that its brand Crown Royal will run its first Super Bowl ad this year. Anheuser-Busch's move is an indication that the sky-high price of running a Super Bowl ad is getting harder for companies to justify. Bookings typically happen in May, said one ad agency exec who's purchased many Super Bowl ads for clients, including this year. Super Bowl ad slots sold briskly for both Fox this year and NBC last year.

☆ Twitter's ailing ad business offered a glimmer of hope as it lures big Super Bowl advertisers to platform on gameday weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Super Bowl could be the most lucrative day for Twitter's ad business since Elon Musk's takeover. A handful of Super Bowl advertisers are poised to spend on Twitter on gameday weekend later this month, handing the beleaguered social media giant's ad business a much-needed boost, according to industry sources. A promoted trend costs $700,000 during the Super Bowl, compared to $100,000 on an ordinary day, Ad Age first reported. Upfront Super Bowl bookings on Twitter are still lower than in previous years, according to people familiar with the matter. To be sure, many big Super Bowl advertisers have no plans to appear on Twitter this time around.

☆ Budweiser looks to younger generation in Super Bowl ad
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Sheila Dang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Hip hop record producer Metro Boomin participates in an ad for Budweiser in this undated handout. Budweiser/Handout via REUTERSJan 31 (Reuters) - Budweiser is aiming to appeal to younger beer drinkers with a Super Bowl commercial that features actor Kevin Bacon and hip hop record producer Metro Boomin, and brings back the beer brand's classic tagline, "This Bud's for you." Budweiser resurrected the tagline "This Bud's for you" by showcasing real people who embody qualities such as grit and determination, said Kristina Punwani, head of marketing for Budweiser USA. Metro Boomin, who is from St. Louis, Missouri, where Budweiser parent company Anheuser-Busch (ABI.BR) is based, takes the fourth beer in the ad while in a music studio. Budweiser will utilize hip hop and music throughout the year as it focuses on younger consumers, Punwani said.

☆ For Super Bowl Ad, Coors Light Brewer Taps Into Online Sports-Betting Appetite
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Suzanne Vranica | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An ad from Molson Coors announcing that it is teaming up with online sports-betting company DraftKings. Molson Coors Beverage Co. is seizing on the popularity of online sports betting to generate buzz during Super Bowl LVII, as the maker of Coors Light and Miller Lite returns to the big game after a 33-year hiatus. The Chicago-based company had long been kept out of the Super Bowl because rival Anheuser-Busch InBev NV had exclusive rights to be the sole alcohol brand to be featured during the game, which it gave up last year. In anticipation of its return, Molson recently ran print, online and outdoor ads asking consumers which of its two light beers—Miller Lite or Coors Light—deserves the brewer’s coveted Super Bowl spot.

☆ Tesla plans $3.6 bln Nevada expansion to make Semi truck, battery cells
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The cell plant would be able to make enough batteries for 2 million light-duty vehicles annually, including batteries using the 4680-type cell. The 4680 is key to Tesla meeting a goal of halving battery costs and ramping up battery production nearly 100-fold by 2030. Panasonic currently supplies cells to the gigafactory, and Tesla assembles them into battery packs there. Tesla has struggled to ramp up production of the 4680 at its factories in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas. The EV maker aimed to produce 50,000 Semis in 2024, Musk said on a post-earnings call in October.

☆ Tesla invests $3.6 bln to expand Nevada complex with two factories
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) said on Tuesday it would invest more than $3.6 billion to expand its Nevada manufacturing complex with two new factories, including the first facility to mass produce its long-delayed Semi electric truck. The 18-wheeler truck has a range of 500 miles on a single charge and can carry 81,000 pounds including the cargo. Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm said in November that Tesla might produce 100 Semis in 2022, but the company did not disclose any figure in its fourth-quarter production report. The EV maker aims to produce 50,000 of the trucks in 2024, Musk had said on a post-earnings call in October. Reporting by Akash Sriram and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Natural Light is tapping into nostalgia with its new can design
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Natural Light’s new cans will soon look a lot like their old ones. Drinkers will soon notice a retro-inspired makeover that mirrors the budget beer brand’s 1979 design, featuring a throwback logo, crest and colors. Left is the old design and the right is the "new" design hitting shelves in February. Natural Light sales have held “steady,” Stowe said, but noted “we definitely have room to grow.”For Natural Light to do that, the Anheuser-Busch (BUD)-owned brand is “widening its aperture,” Stowe said. “Natural Light’s decision could be in efforts to go the opposite way, and reach the less competitive audience of older adults,” she said.

☆ Another Tesla Semi was spotted apparently broken down on the side of the road
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Images of another Tesla Semi on the side of the road are making the rounds on Twitter. Since Tesla started delivering its long-awaited Class 8 electric truck to customers last month, several of the vehicles have been spotted on the side of the road, apparently broken down. The sightings have called into question the reliability of Tesla's new electric semi, which started production at the company's Nevada manufacturing facility in October after years of delays. Yet another apparently stranded Tesla Semi was making the rounds on Twitter Thursday. Following Guillen's departure and a series of supply chain issues, Tesla pushed back the start of Semi production to 2022.

☆ Bud Light and Budweiser are getting a makeovers at this year’s Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The latter, he said, “broke through” during the Super Bowl, but “needs time and commitment” to grow. In recent years, customers have been increasingly choosing premium or Mexican lagers, putting Bud Light out of favor with some beer drinkers. Garbe said the beer is the company’s “number 1 growth engine” and is soon set to overtake Bud Light in sales. Fox, which will broadcast Super Bowl LVII, is reportedly charging $7 million for a 30-second spot during the February 12 game in Glendale, Arizona. Liquor giant Diageo (DEO) is making its Super Bowl debut this year with an ad for Crown Royal whisky.

☆ The company Walgreens uses to target shoppers with ads on digital cooler doors is expanding its screens to more in-store locations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cooler Screens, which provides in-store ad screens on cooler doors, has detailed expansion plans. Cooler Screens, the company that provides "smart" digital advertising screens on refrigerator doors in Kroger, Walgreens, and Circle K locations, said Tuesday that plans are underway to extend its network to more screens at different areas inside stores. Cooler Screens currently offers a digital merchandising platform that brightly displays the products that sit inside a retailer's cooler units and additional advertising space. A slide from a Cooler Screens ad sales pitch deck, showcasing its plans for additional in-store billboards. Cooler Screens has raised more than $100 million in funding from investors including Verizon Ventures, Microsoft's M12 venture fund, and GreatPoint Ventures.

SAO PAULO/MEXICO CITY, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) said on Wednesday its chief executive and chief financial officer resigned after the discovery of around 20 billion reais ($3.88 billion) in accounting "inconsistencies." Lojas Americanas CEO Sergio Rial departed less than two weeks after taking the job, when he replaced Miguel Gutierrez. Joao Guerra, a long-time Americanas executive not involved with accounting or financial management, will take over as CEO on an interim basis. The amount of accounting inconsistencies is larger than the company´s net equity, 15 billion reais, said Fabrício Gonçalvez, CEO at Box Asset Management. The amount is also almost twice Americanas' 10.7 billion reais market capitalization, according to Refinitiv data.

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Meta, Apple, Tesla, Netflix, Roku, Disney, Exxon & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Here are the Thursday's biggest calls Wall Street: Credit Suisse upgrades AECOM to outperform from neutral Credit Suisse said the company is a key beneficiary of infrastructure stimulus. UBS reiterates Apple as buy UBS said it's sticking with its buy rating on the stock but is concerned about App Store revenue declines. Credit Suisse upgrades Boeing to neutral from underperform Credit Suisse said in its upgrade of Boeing that it sees "stronger aircraft deliveries." RBC names Meta a top 2023 pick RBC said it sees "multiple expansion" on the horizon for Meta shares. " Rosenblatt reiterates Disney as buy Rosenblatt said activist investor Nelson Peltz's push for a Disney board seat could help shares.

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☆ UBS downgrades Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell as drinkers continue to pick spirits over beer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Covid-19 trend of drinkers flocking to spirits instead of beer is continuing to pressure brewers, making now a good time to sell shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev , according to UBS. The firm on Thursday downgraded shares of the beverage company to sell from neutral and slashed its price target to €53 from €57. "Our analysis suggests the beer category is unlikely to benefit from deceleration in premium and above spirits," said Oliver. Overall, UBS expects that Anheuser-Busch InBev will struggle to grow in 2023 and 2024 and face an additional currency exchange headwind in the latter year. Deutsche Bank on Thursday also downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev to hold from buy, saying that the company is still well-placed but is not "broadly fairly valued."

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Disney, American Airlines, Bed Bath & Beyond, Logitech and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bed Bath & Beyond — The retailer advanced 16% premarket, continuing to rally after a handful of meme stocks surged Wednesday. American Airlines — The airline gained 5% after lifting its fourth quarter guidance, citing strong demand and high fares. Logitech — The maker of mice and keyboards plummeted 16% after it missed earnings expectations for the recent quarter and slashed its sales outlook. KB Home — Shares dipped 3.4% after the homebuilder missed estimates for the recent quarter on the top and bottom lines. Cinemark – Shares gained 1.9% following an upgrade by analysts at JPMorgan to an overweight rating.

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the market Thursday: CPI matches, Peltz Disney fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

To be sure, though, the CPI print is good news, ending 2022 down 0.1% month over month and up 6.5% year over year. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

☆ Pickleball popularity explodes, with more than 36 million playing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The latest numbers unveiled in the 2023 APP Pickleball Participation report, via a study conducted by YouGov, shows that 14% of Americans played pickleball at least once in that 12-month period. The real dillAcross the country, tennis courts and being replaced, and pickleball courts are moving in as other investors are shoring up big money. Since 2022, Life Time has constructed indoor and outdoor pickleball courts at a rate of five new permanent courts each week. "Pickleball participation [at Life Time] in a given month has risen from about 16,000 people to like 160,000. Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association took notice and they have partnered with Life Time to host multiple tournaments across the country this year.

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