Dive into the NFL's Week 14 Broadcast Universe
National Broadcasts
On Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers take on the Detroit Lions on Amazon Prime, with the renowned broadcasting team of Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, and Kaylee Hartung bringing the game to viewers. Sunday night sees the Los Angeles Chargers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs on NBC, with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark providing the commentary. And on Monday night, the Cincinnati Bengals battle it out with the Dallas Cowboys on ESPN, with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters at the helm.
This national broadcast lineup ensures that football fans across the country have the opportunity to witness some of the most exciting matchups of the week. The different networks bring their unique styles and expertise to the broadcasts, adding to the overall viewing experience.
CBS
The CBS network has its own set of exciting matchups. The Cleveland Browns face the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson calling the action. The New York Jets take on the Miami Dolphins, with Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, and Melanie Collins providing the play-by-play. The Jacksonville Jaguars go up against the Tennessee Titans, with Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Jason McCourty, and AJ Ross bringing the game to life.
The colors assigned to each game on CBS add a visual element to the broadcasts, making it easy for fans to keep track of the different matchups. Whether it's red for the Browns-Steelers game or green for the Jets-Dolphins game, the color coding enhances the viewing experience.
FOX (Early)
The early FOX games feature the Atlanta Falcons against the Minnesota Vikings, with Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, and Pam Oliver bringing the excitement. The Carolina Panthers take on the Philadelphia Eagles, with Adam Amin, Mark Sanchez, and Kristina Pink providing the commentary. And the New Orleans Saints face the New York Giants, with Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston, and Laura Okmin adding to the action.
The early FOX games offer a diverse range of matchups and broadcasting teams, ensuring that there is something for every football fan. Whether you're a fan of the Falcons, Vikings, Panthers, Eagles, Saints, or Giants, you can find a game to watch on FOX.
FOX (Late)
The late FOX games bring another set of thrilling matchups. The Buffalo Bills take on the Los Angeles Rams, with Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, and Tom Rinaldi providing the play-by-play. The Chicago Bears face the San Francisco 49ers, with Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, and Megan Olivi adding to the excitement.
The late FOX games offer a different flavor to the broadcast schedule, with some of the top teams in the NFL going head-to-head. The broadcasting teams bring their energy and expertise to the games, making for an unforgettable viewing experience.
More Coverage
In addition to the main broadcast networks, there is also more coverage available. Matt Kelley/Getty Images provides additional visual elements to enhance the viewing experience, giving fans a closer look at the action on the field.
This additional coverage adds to the overall excitement of the week, allowing fans to get a more in-depth look at the games and the players. Whether it's through still images or video clips, the more coverage provides a unique perspective on the NFL.
IFTA's Board Expansion: Shaping the Future of Independent Cinema
New Executives Joining IFTA
The newly elected executives include Brian Beckmann from Arclight Films, who is set to contribute his industry knowledge and experience. Caroline Couret-Delègue of Film Seekers Limited brings a unique perspective with her. Michael Dwyer from Resurgence Media Group is a key addition, bringing his skills to the table. Michael Favelle from Odin’s Eye Entertainment is also on board, adding to the diversity of the group. Diane Ferrandez from AGC Studios and George Hamilton from Protagonist Pictures bring their respective expertise to the IFTA board. Alice Laffillé from FilmNation Entertainment and Michael Ryan from Independent complete the lineup of new executives.
This marks the first term on the IFTA Board for Dwyer, Favelle, and Laffille, indicating the fresh energy they will bring to the organization. Their contributions are expected to have a significant impact on the future of the independent film and television industry.
Top Business on the New Board
One of the key tasks facing the new board will likely be determining the location of next year's American Film Market. The event, which has traditionally been held in LA, moved to Las Vegas for the first time last month. This move has sparked some discontent among a key group of sellers and led to a sort of rebellion. The new board will need to carefully consider the implications of this change and make decisions that will benefit the industry as a whole.
As per the results of IFTA's annual elections for the 2024-2025 board, the latest members will join IFTA Chair Clay Epstein, who was first elected in 2021 and is now serving his second term. Alongside Epstein, other board members continuing into their second year of terms include Paul Bales from The Asylum, Scott Bedno from Myriad Pictures, Jason Buckley from Lakeshore Entertainment / UMG, Lisa Gutberlet from Blue Fox Entertainment, Chloé Marquet from StudioCanal, and Nat McCormick from The Exchange. These experienced professionals will work together to support the growth and vitality of the independent film and television industry worldwide.
IFTA's Ongoing Commitment
The org stated that its newly composed Board "reflects IFTA's ongoing commitment to leadership that champions the growth and vitality of the independent film and television industry worldwide." This commitment is evident in the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the new executives and board members. They will work together to address the challenges facing the industry and promote its growth.
IFTA Chair Clay Epstein expressed his welcome to the new group, stating, "I welcome this exceptional group to the IFTA Board. It’s an honor to work alongside seasoned and passionate colleagues who have shaped our work in the past, while also embracing the fresh perspectives brought by our newly elected members. Our industry faces challenging times, and the combined strength, experience, and creativity of this Board will be instrumental to our work supporting our Members and championing Independents worldwide."
Unprecedented Political Movements and Their Impact on French Bonds
Political Drama and Its Ripple Effect on French Markets
French bond futures have been in a state of flux due to the months-long political drama. President Emmanuel Macron's call for snap legislative elections led to a fractious coalition divided over fiscal plans. This division has resulted in increased borrowing costs relative to Germany, reaching above 80 basis points and touching the highest since the euro-area sovereign debt crisis.
The most recent event, the majority of lawmakers in the National Assembly supporting a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Michel Barnier's administration, further added to the uncertainty. This vote came after the close of regular trading and was expected by investors, as both Le Pen's National Rally and the leftist Socialists had indicated their intention to bring down the government.
Investor Sentiment and the Outlook for French Deficit
Investors are expressing pessimism about the outlook for the French deficit. Alex Everett, an investment manager at abrdn, stated that continued malaise, a lack of decision-making, and insufficient progress towards debt sustainability would likely lead to French spreads moving towards 100 basis points over Germany. This sentiment reflects the concerns among investors regarding the nation's fiscal health.
The development also poses challenges to efforts to trim the nation's ballooning deficit. The budget gap is forecast to widen to more than 6% of gross domestic product this year, double the limit set by the European Union's rules. Barnier's government initially presented a bill with €60 billion ($63 billion) of tax increases and spending cuts aimed at reducing the deficit to 5% of economic output in 2025. However, despite making concessions on the budget, the National Rally and the leftist coalition still called for the votes of no confidence.
Macron's Next Move and the Future of the French Government
With the no-confidence vote passing, Macron now has the task of appointing a new prime minister. There is no constitutional deadline for his decision, and he has previously stated that he would not resign until his full term had ended. The next presidential election is set for 2027, and Le Pen remains the frontrunner according to polls.
Reinout De Bock, UBS Group AG's head of European rates strategy, believes that political risks are now well-priced by the markets. The euro remained little changed at $1.05 as of 2:50 p.m. in New York, having weakened more than 6% from a September peak as the market anticipates more monetary easing in the euro-area to offset a weakening economy.
Shaun Osborne, the chief currency strategist at Scotiabank, suggests that the current government is likely to continue in a caretaker form for now. The loss of the no-confidence vote means that further concessions will have to be made to get the budget passed, which could result in some weakening in overall fiscal policy settings.
While the euro "can weather this for now," Osborne added that it may come under pressure later in December given the deadline to pass the budget. The situation remains highly uncertain, and the outcome of these political developments will continue to shape the future of French bonds and the economy.