The Daily Valet. - 8/16/23, Wednesday
✔️ What Are You Watching?
Wednesday, August 16th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I don't know what's worse: those annoying local commericals on regular TV, or the derivative nature of the YouTube algorithm.
Today’s Big Story
Who’s Watching Regular TV?
New reports from multiple sources highlight how quickly traditional TV is losing the fight to streaming, TikTok and YouTube
I think, for me, it only happens in hotel rooms. TV watching, I mean. And whenever I check in, I hope they have a connected display where I can simply log into my Netflix or YouTube account and watch what I want, when I want, instead of flipping through local channels in search of a Seinfeld re-running somewhere. And I'm not alone. Cable and broadcast usage fell below 50% in terms of total share among U.S. viewers, according to Nielsen's latest report.This shouldn't really surprise anyone. Between YouTube, TikTok, and streaming channels, people have so many (some would say better) ways to occupy their video-viewing time. And though it feels like it's been the case for some time now, July 2023 was actually the first month in history that so-called linear-television viewership accounted for the minority of TV watching.According to the Hollywood Reporter, streaming has grown from about a 26% share of viewing in June 2021 to 38.7% in July—a 48% jump. July was also the third straight month that streaming's share of TV use hit a high this year. Among individual streamers, YouTube (not including its YouTube TV service) led the way as usual with 9.2% of all TV use, followed by Netflix at 8.5%. Fox's VOD service Tubi had its best month to date with 1.4% of all use, tied with Max.Previously, cord-cutters pointed to streaming services' ease of use, wide variety of programming and low prices as the reason for dropping their cable TV packages. However, that last one may no longer be the case. The Financial Times recently published data that showed the top U.S. platforms will likely cost you around $87 per month in total this fall. And we spoke last week about how many streamers are routinely raising prices.Then again, cost-conscious viewers have a myriad of options. TechCrunch says that plenty of users are turning to free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) services to get their entertainment fix. In fact, one in three U.S. users subscribes to FAST services such as Freevee, Pluto TV, Tubi, the Roku Channel and Crackle.
FYI:
Streaming TV costs are now officially higher than cable packages, says a new analysis. It follows warnings that a “crash” was on the way.
The Death Toll From Maui Fire Rises Again
As families face an agonizing wait for word on missing loved ones, SOme are suing Hawaii's primary energy provider
The death toll from the Maui wildfires surpassed 100 on Tuesday as local and state officials warned that the number would rise while also acknowledging public frustration from residents. Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said that the perimeter of the Lahaina fire is cool and hasn't expanded. However some fires, like the Upcountry/Kula fire, have proven more difficult to put out because of inaccessible terrain. Now, the work begins on identifying victims and searching for more who remain missing. As they wait, many residents are staying put near their burned-out homes and away from official relief centers set up on the other side of the island. Fearful of outsiders' swooping in to take their ancestral homes, they were organizing their own relief efforts to get food and supplies to people who are unwilling or unable to venture far from their destroyed properties.The damage is already estimated at $7 billion and while there is still no concrete information about what sparked the fires, the state's primary energy provider has faced scrutiny in recent days about why they chose not to shut off the power when the island was facing strong winds. In fact, Hawaiian Electric faces at least three lawsuits, two of which seek class action status—not unlike those filed against Pacific Gas and Electric in California after 2018's Camp Fire, which killed 85 people and cost the company billions of dollars in settlements.
FYI:
The wildfire has become the latest fodder for conspiracy theorists, with some blaming the destruction on a secret “energy weapon”.
Fans, who see the Brooklyn library cards as instantly classic pieces of hip-hop memorabilia, are tracking them down with the sort of fervor usually reserved for vinyl records or concert tees.”
Fall Can’t Come Fast Enough
The Pacific Northwest is the latest spot to bake from dangerous, scorching temperatures
Can extreme heat become ... routine? On the same day that climate agencies in the United States confirmed that July was the planet's hottest month on record, historic August heat was occurring around the Northern Hemisphere. From the United States to Asia and the Middle East, Monday saw a continuation of extreme heat that has lasted for weeks and even months in many places.Now, it's the Pacific Northwest's turn to see scorchingly high temperatures as a heat dome builds across the region over the next several days. Meanwhile, extreme heat will continue to languish across the Gulf Coast states. But heat waves are especially dangerous in areas like the Pacific Northwest, where air conditioning isn't widespread, because it was never necessary before. But multiple studies show that human-caused climate change is making these heat waves longer, hotter and more common.Heat is now testing the limits of human survival in Earth's hottest spots. We're talking about a month over 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Arizona, 126 in China and a mind-melting 152 in the Persian Gulf—levels thought to be the most intense the human body can withstand. According to the Washington Post, such conditions are more than enough to overwhelm the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature. Which explains how extreme heat is the top weather-related killer each year in the United States. Stay hydrated everyone.
Fisker’s First All-Electric Sports Car
It's a limited-edition Convertible That Gets 600 Miles of Range
Fisker, the Finnish electric automaker that's attempting a comeback after the original company went under, has its eyes on more than just the safe SUV market. They just unveiled a pretty impressive battery-powered sports car that will rival anything on the market.Fisker's only current model, the Ocean, may look like just another generic crossover, but this new Rōnin model should have little problem standing out, says Robb Report. The “super GT convertible has a low-slung body with subtle curves that call to mind the brand's first car—the Karma hybrid—and the perpetually delayed, second-generation Tesla Roadster.”The front doors open in a butterfly fashion, like in many modern McLaren models, while the back doors are rear-hinged to facilitate the task of hopping in the back seats. And according to Autoblog, the model will come standard with a power-operated hard top. Even more impressive though, is the fact that the company plans to deliver this convertible with over 1,000 horsepower and approximately 600 miles of driving range. Now for the bad news: pricing starts at $385,000—a figure that puts it squarely in supercar territory.
Meanwhile:
Fisker is the latest automaker to adopt Tesla’s connector and will get Supercharger access as early as 2025.
In Other News
State-run media said he “expressed willingness to seek refugee in the DPRK.”
Have you heard about ...
The Ultimate Skincare Game Plan
Don't just slap on your grooming products. The order that you apply them matters, according to Dermatologists
Men are using more skin care products than ever before. By next year, the men's personal care industry is predicted to hit $166 billion, according to Allied Market Research. But the boost in guys caring for their skin has come with some confusion. You've now got eye cream to combat fine lines and maybe a serum to hydrate skin, along with a spot treatment for blemishes and a daily SPF moisturizer. Perhaps you're experimenting with retinols or face oils. The question now is, “Can I just slap them on or is there a specific order to applying my lotions and potions?” The answer, dermatologists told us, is that the order matters. If you don't layer your products in the right way, you might render them ineffective or, worse, irritate your skin. You don't have to do all the steps below, but you do want to follow the general order to get the most out of your products.
Get Started:
This is the correct order for your grooming products, from toner and serums to eye creams and moisturizer.
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A reponsibili-tee
Patagonia is a trailblazer with sustainability in fashion, and this T-shirt proves it. The tee is made of recycled bottles and is one of the brand's lowest carbon footprint products.
Get It:
Fitz roy reponsibili-tee, $45 / $26.99 by Patagonia
Morning Motto
It’s all just part of the dance.
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