Ted Lasso and a Kardashian walk into a bar: NL #103

This one’s for dear old dad.

In case you missed it, today is Father’s Day. Might want to shoot a text to dad before it’s over. Seems harsh, but dad’s day is easily overlooked in comparison to its female counterpart. And it doesn’t help that the dad default is often a grunt, followed by “don’t get me anything.” But even if the father in your life is an unwilling participant, we’re still here for the festivities. And allll the dad jokes.

Surprisingly enough, the holiday’s consumer spending is expected to top $20 billion, not too far from last year’s record-setting figure of $20.1 billion. Looks like inflation isn’t stopping anyone from celebrating the old man in their life. Average spending is expected to reach around $170. Dang. I hope my kids are reading this. While greeting cards remain the top choice, shoppers are mostly gravitating toward gift cards and special outings.

Like all good holiday campaigns, the marketing surrounding Father’s Day is specifically unique to the day’s hero, with the expected nostalgia and well-timed humor. Enjoy a few of our favorite spots so far.

🏀 Dick’s Sporting Goods
NBA legend Charles Barkley takes a spin around the retail store in a golf cart, claiming he needs to fill the rig with items for Father’s Day. And it’s Charles Barkley, so you know it’s a good time. A basketball icon, some terrible dad jokes, and a sporting goods superstore? Prime Father’s Day material.

🐟 Bass Pro Shops
The promised land for outdoorsmen celebrates its fiftieth anniversary alongside dad’s favorite holiday this year. Sepia toned footage and old school photographs create a sweet sense of nostalgia for times with dear ol’ dad.

👕 Whirlpool
An especially clever spot from Whirlpool highlights its Load & Go Dispenser, a feature that allows certain washers for use from “Mother’s Day to Father’s Day” without having to refill the detergent. This one feels like a mic drop moment. And also, I want this washer.

⚾ MLB TV
Not a catchy commercial or cheeky slogan, but rather a well-timed discount from MLB TV. The platform is offering 50% off its yearly streaming subscription in honor of Father’s Day.

💙 Prostate Cancer- UK
Fair warning. This one will make you cry. The nonprofit’s campaign was created to remind people “what they’d miss in a world without dads, and to encourage the public to donate to lifesaving research.” Well done.

Top Stories

Sports streaming is a hot commodity.

Netflix recently entered into the bidding for broadcast rights to Formula-1 series auto racing. ESPN/Disney’s TV rights end next season, and as of right now, Amazon and Comcast/NBCU are also in the ring for a rights package. The Netflix sports docu series Formula 1: Drive to Survive is credited for fueling Americans’ interest in the team-based auto racing event. Morning Consult stated that Americans who identify as fans of the sport have increased by 33% over the past two years. (Sort of like when we all became chess players after watching The Queen’s Gambit.) While no price tag has been confirmed, speculation places the rights package to be worth more than $100 million annually.

Apple Inc. is also looking to take part in the sports streaming fun, and just signed a deal with Major League Soccer to broadcast games on the tech giant’s streaming service. The 10-year agreement is worth a whopping $2.5 billion, and would make the Apple TV app the official home of all MLS matches. Games will be available to fans throughout a variety of programming options. Does this mean hope for more Ted Lasso seasons? Our fingers are crossed.

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Federal Reserve makes the biggest interest hike in almost 30 years.

The Fed raised its benchmark interest rate three-quarters of a percentage point in its most aggressive hike since 1994. The move, which makes borrowing money more expensive, is expected to cool demand and slow economic activity. In theory, this will ease price pressures and slow down inflation. The central bank plans to enact further interest rate hikes throughout the year, aiming to reach roughly 3.4% before 2023.

What does this mean for most Americans? Glad you asked. As the Federal Reserve raises its benchmark interest rate, everything else in the economy that involves interest rates of some kind is affected. Think credit cards, student loans, home and car loans, banking, savings accounts, the everyday operations of businesses… just to name a few. So, basically, don’t plan on buying a home anytime soon. Or going back to school. Or blowing through your credit card limit. Or kicking off that new business venture. Or smiling.

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Best of the Week

Brands to Love

Morning Consult’s roundup of the Most Trusted Brands of 2022. No surprise here, Band-Aid, Lysol and Clorox are the top three. Great. The average consumer is a hypochondriac with a bleach fetish.

Listen Up

People are turning to travel-themed podcasts this summer, and marketers are taking notice. An interesting look at advertiser interest in travel pods.

Winner Winner

We won big at the AMA DFW Marketer of the Year Awards last week! We took home Best in Mobile Marketing for our work on the Safe Harbor Marinas Water App. Join the party in our newsroom!

Weekly Tunes

In honor of dad’s day, we compiled a list of our favorite dad tunes. Head bangers, easy listeners and the oldies you hate to love. But you love ’em anyway… because dad knows best. Volume up, kids.

More News from the Week.

• Hard Mountain Dew’s first campaign, ‘Freak Out Responsibly.’ If one margarita makes you loopy, maybe pass on the spiked Dew.
• A reality version of Squid Game is coming to the US. Our very own, Kelsey, will be entering the competition. And yes, she will win.
• Way cool. Prime Air prepares for air deliveries.
• Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s dress, and everyone is really mad about it. This is a real story.
• A fun NYT piece on how Nike culture has dominated the last 50 years. Just read it. (I’ve never been more proud of a closer. HFD to me.)