As we move into 2025, many developments loom on the horizon. Items below are only a few, but the result could be the same: If They Get It Right, Everything Changes!
STREAMING UP STREAM…NETFLIX & NFL
There were over 60 million viewers streaming Netflix’s November 15 broadcast of the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing ‘event’ – can’t really call that a match – and for most it was a fiasco of video streaming quality, pixelation, and crashes throughout the event.
The big question going forward was how would the NFL Christmas Day double-header fare on Netflix? After all, Super Bowl tier talents Mariah Carey and Beyonce were going to be performing for half-time.
On December 25th, an estimated 65 million viewers tuned in for the Kansas City and Pittsburgh game, followed by Baltimore at Houston – setting records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history. Netflix paid an estimated $150 million for the two games, and the deal will have at least one holiday game each of the next two seasons.
Anxious to see how everything changes in the future for streaming live big events, because no question, Netflix got it right!
NVIDIA SHINES BRIGHT AT CES
Going on right now in Las Vegas is the CES – Consumer Electronics Show. Recognized as the world’s most powerful tech event, leading tech visionaries showcase their latest innovations and breakthroughs in consumer technology
As reported by APnews.com, tech superstar and chip-giant Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in speaking before a packed crowd, revealed “a series of new AI models – dubbed Cosmos – that can generate cost-efficient photo-realistic video that can then be used to train robots and other automated services.”
The automotive side to this? Nvidia has partnered with Toyota, who will build its next-generation vehicles on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin and NVIDIA DriveOS operating system. Huang added, “You’re going to see the pace of AV development increasing tremendously over the next several years.”
Seems like all the right players are getting lined up and ready to change everything.
NADA@NOLA
Looking forward to the annual get-together in New Orleans with a renewed sense of excitement. It will be interesting, from seeing what’s new [from all of the big AI players], to gaining insight from Roger Penske as the keynote speaker at the Automotive News Best Practices event on January 23, to hearing your takes on many of the hot topics in our industry – Honda/Nissan, Stellantis new leadership, the course of the country under President Trump’s team, to list only a few.
I hope you share my enthusiasm for this new year. When we work together to get things right, everything changes…for the better.