One of the biggest reasons we pivoted this year to an attempt to use statistics as a way to revisit 2025 was because what we attempted over the last ten days of 2024 went over like a lead balloon. That effort, which we whimsically dubbed “Predictions and Wishes”, was generally ignored by all but the most hardcore of y’all. That said, they do provide receipts of some sort. And hence, all the more reason to scrap what we tried this year at the last possible moment to actually see if we were even close to being the Nostradumbass we alleged we could be.
So let’s go back in time and check:
10. THE NIELSEN/PARAMOUNT SPAT.
At the time, Nielsen and Paramount were in the midst of a hissyfit that led their head of sales John Halley to embrace Videoamp as the company’s proof of performance and it had escalated to a level where the company was confusing the hell out of those who attempted to cover them with apples-to-oranges comparisons using a yet-to-be accredited source that consistently reflected inflated numbers. We wished that they would kiss and make up. On February 3rd, they indeed did just that. Less than ten months later, Halley was being shown the door. And we all know what’s been happening to Paramount of late. I’d objectively say my wish was about the most favorable result we got from all of this.
9. RUPERT CASHING OUT BEFORE G-D CASHES HIM IN(?)
We took issue with those who were predicting that a perfect storm of a 40-year anniversary since morphing into television as well as actuarial tables might have meant that Mr. Murdoch was going to make a grand exit, at bare minimum professionally if not from this mortal coil itself. Well, as of this writing Rupes is still alive and kicking–heck, he got to celebrate an anniversary with his molecular biologist bride. And he’s also finally bringing his true love to the Century City lot just in time to fill the space being vacated by FX and National Geographic as they at long last are joining their Disney brethren over the hill–only took them six years-plus to makle that move. I’m calling this one a win as well.
8. YOUTUBE WILL BECOME A FIRST WINDOW HOME FOR “PREMIUM” SCRIPTED CONTENT WITH GLOBAL APPEAL
The data was pointing most favorably toward YouTube being the dominant destination for what people consider to be television in 2024, and that only accelerated in 2025. So much so that the smug elitists at THE ANKLER fully embraced the addition of yet another tribute to overeducation, Natalie Jarvey, and introduced her LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE brand to their array, with a hefty $129 a year price tag attached to her weekly updates on why my assumption that somehow they’d be”corrupted” by those who might otherwise go to Netflix with their ideas might find a path to YT. Well, as she eloquently pointed out in her own year-end recap, boy was I wrong. Indeed, Netflix is doing their darndest to poach a number of those authentic voices to go after at least a fraction of that outsized share by scooping up rights to a few dozen top podcasters from Spotify and Barstool Sports and are indeed banking on more unscripted themselves. Advantage: Jarvey.
7. I RESOLVE TO SPEND LESS TIME LOOKING BACK ON BAD TIMES
I once again revisited the fact that the last Christmas of the previous decade was one that was nearly my last. I once again reminded myself and those still paying attention that things have improved. You’ll note that this Christmas I didn’t repost my recap as I had done for the previous three years. Well, that embargo lasted only a week. Things are very much still in flux for moi and the stagnation in making significant enough change to see my bestie is still dominating my frequently sleepless nights. Put an X next to this one.
6. THE CW WILL CONSIDERABLY CLOSE THE GAP IN BOTH RATINGS AND SELLABILITY WITH FOX
We were quite bullish on the seeming progress that the number five broadcast network was making in 2024. We thought that additional NASCAR events would move their needle alomg with LIV Golf and that they’d buoy the balance of the network that was evolving into a broader base than they had previously targeted. Well, their series continued to decline and most barely reached a very rounded 0.1 demo, and LIV’s losing quite a bit of steam and talent themselves. So another X here.
5. NETFLIX WILL EXPAND ITS NFL RELATIONSHIP ON AN INEXORABLE PATH TO BECOMING THE GLOBAL SPORTS STREAMING DESTINATION
We were so giddy about how Netflix set all-time streaming records with their 2024 Christmas Day doubleheader that we boldly predicted it would lead to further expansion. The fact we’re still waiting for the 2025 numbers at a time when positive news gets accelerated should tell you that said momentum likely has stalled. But that rush to purge YouTube of many of their sports-centric talent is to me a much more significant event that should begin to pay dividends as soon as two Sundays from now when Bill Simmons’ Sunday night feed debuts on Teddy’s platform–live-streamed, no less. I’ll confirm I’ll be watching assuming I’m awake. Call this a “not yet”.
4. COMCAST. WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY. PARAMOUNT GLOBAL. AT LEAST ONE OF THESE WON’T EXIST AS WE KNOW IT TODAY A YEAR FROM NOW.
Uhhh…yep. Next?
3. WITHIN 12 MONTHS, THE TRUMP/MUSK “ALLIANCE” WILL BE NO MORE–AND WILL END BADLY
Uhhh…ditto. And with seven months to spare.
2. A FEDERAL MASK BAN–WITH SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR EXCEPTIONS–SHOULD BE IMPOSED. DAY ONE, IF POSSIBLE.
I
concede this one’s my personal quirk, and I’ve been quite clear as to why I so passionately believe in this approach. Well, I currently work in a big box store, and I’m still seeing plenty of those thingies, and I don’t just mean on the employees and customers. That said, there appears to be some movement ahead on that front come the morrow. So grudgingly I call this one a loss, but check in with me later in the week.
1. A YEAR FROM NOW, MOI AND ANYONE ELSE READING THIS SEEKING SUCH WILL BE MORE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED
Yeah, I just told you where I’m working, so there’s a huge asterisk attached to the qualifier of “gainfully”.
Frankly, I’m damn grateful, considering barely a month into the new year the job I described last New Year’s Eve was no longer mine. For the moment, my new employer seems to be treating me well, and heck, I even received a commission from a recent sale that for a change is keeping me financially solvent at a time of the month when more often than not my net worth has had a minus sign preceding it.
But I think most of you know where my heart and my talent tends to lean. A year ago I mused passionately about the hopeful yet firm approach I took about a recently posted position that I felt I was ideal for. I was willing to cut the posters a few days of slack into the new year as the holiday season wound down.
I didn’t count on 365 elapsing without even a response. And I know I’m not alone in being treated that way. Especially as the list of un and underemployed grows.
The fact that I whiffed on this particular prediction/wish pretty much makes the others I was successful with downright moot. So I’m afraid I’m being pushed to the point of the “or else” that I referenced in that post.
As to what that might be–well, just like I’ve been forced to, you’ll have to wait until the calendar changes to find out. I suppose that’s a silver lining of sorts given the other options on the table. Forgive me if I’m not popping corks tonight over that reality.
See you on the other side, peeps.
Until next time…