2023 Entertainment and Sports

If you’ve ever tried to cancel your cable service, it’s possible you were gobsmacked by junk fees. Fed up trying to respond to all those complaints, the Federal  Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to initiate a proposed rule barring cable providers from charging "early termination fees” that can often exceed $200, like it did Karen of Redondo Beach Calif., when she tried to cancel her Spectrum contract.

If you want to think of this as a shell game, you’re entitled to it. You may cancel your service for any number of reasons – moving, financial hardship, or poor service.

According to Mark Chen at Billsmart, you’re probably going to get charged an early termination fee unless you’re dead or in the military, and even in those cases, you’ll need to provide proof.

A tough battle made tougher

The Biden administration has had some wind at its back on the issue of junk fees up to now, but not in this situation. 

The Commission’s efforts are already facing major headwinds from cable providers and trade groups. Accountable.US spokesperson Liz Zelnick said that despite what consumers want, those groups are dropping tens of millions of dollars lobbying against federal efforts.

“CEOs chasing profits would rather make excuses for junk fees than consider it’s a big reason why so many of their customers are cutting the cord,” she said. 

“Americans should have the power to end services they don’t want without being price-gouged with hundreds of dollars in termination junk fees.”

But do you have that power? Sadly, little or nothing at all. The best thing you can do is ask for some mercy on the fees, be sent to someone in “retention” and ask for a better deal, or just suck it up, pay what they’re asking for, and chalk it up as a bad experience.

Ah, the fine print

You see, these companies have “fine print” on their side – and when you signed up for the service, you agreed to what’s in that fine print as was the case with Michelle from South Milwaukee Wisc., when she tried to cancel her Spectrum service.

Michelle’s understanding was that she would get an “adjusted bill,” but when that adjustment never appeared and she called back, the company’s tune changed a bit.

“I was advised today that there is fine print on the bill that says that it doesn't matter when you cancel your service you will have to pay until the end of the billing cycle," she wrote. 

"At no point during my conversation when I was canceling service, did the agent tell me this, in fact, just the opposite as I already stated above, she said I would get an adjusted bill in the next couple of days."

It's another reason to pay these things with a credit card and let the credit card company do your fighting for you. There’s no guarantee, but as ConsumerAffairs has found out several times over the last year, credit cards do offer more consumer protection than almost anything else. Just sayin’...

“If enough people on social media agree to ‘cancel’ you, then it doesn't matter how big your platform is, your livelihood will be affected.”

So says social media influencer Paige Michael, who has 171,000 Instagram followers on her fitness channel @peanutphysique. She knows the stakes because like anyone whose reputation is made online, she has seen firsthand how quickly and aggressively social media tides can turn a person—especially a celebrity—from massive success to target of boycott and online vitriol. 

What exactly does getting “canceled” look like? “People very much ‘team up’ and hide anonymously behind their phone screens to deteriorate someone's platform,” she told ConsumerAffairs. 

“The algorithms are designed to reward content that triggers strong emotional reactions, where users interact the most by sharing, leaving longer comments, and often immediately reacting to the post,” Cassaundra Kalba, senior publicist at Society22 PR, told us. “This mechanism can contribute to a mob mentality.”

It happens a lot and a ConsumerAffairs review of Internet estimates about canceled celebrities suggests the extraordinary size of the financial damage that can be done to whoever is being held accountable.

Most recently, actor Danny Masterson was roasted on social media after being convicted of rape. Musician R Kelly experienced a similar fate after being convicted of sexual abuse. Both reportedly saw their net worth decline.

Actor Kevin Spacey was recently acquitted of sex abuse charges in the U.K. But already, over the previous six years, the online reaction had cost him his reputation and tens of millions in net worth, according to The Things, an entertainment industry publication.

But some celebrities have been canceled for a lot less than criminal activity. Will and Jada Smith suffered a public relations disaster after Will Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars but it didn’t seem to affect their pocketbook.

James Corden was publicly shamed after he allegedly yelled at the wait staff at a New York City restaurant. Armie Hammer found himself on the defensive in January 2021 after an anonymous Instagram account shared messages allegedly sent by Hammer, detailing conversations with women about sexual fetishes.

Anti-Semitic comments were costly to musician Kanye West in 2022. He has been dropped by everyone from his lawyer and agent to lucrative endorsement partners like Adidas.

Olivia Wilde came under a barrage of online criticism for the way she handled staffing issues during the production of “Don’t Worry Darling.”

Below is a chart of recently canceled celebrities and the estimate published on various websites, from Celebritynetworth to Yahoo, of what it has cost them. 

According to the chart, Elon Musk has seen the largest decline in net worth after he acquired and made changes at Twitter, changing the name to X. Comedian Dave Chappell, meanwhile, actually saw his net worth increase after being called out for including LGBTQ jokes in his routine.

Michael says cancel culture probably wouldn’t exist without social media. Kalba, the Society22 PR professional, agrees.

"The psychology behind social media interactions fuels cancel culture,” Kalba told us. “Users pile on the condemnation without fully understanding the situation at hand because doing so provides a sense of belonging and moral validation in a large, faceless virtual crowd.”

While holding individuals accountable is important, Kalba says, the rush to judgment seen in cancel culture raises important questions about fairness. 

“As we navigate this era, it is crucial to find a balance where mistakes are called and confronted, but there's also space for dialogue, growth and forgiveness by the public," she said.

Spotify is making a play for audiobook fans, adding 150,000 titles to its premium level of service that will be available at no extra charge. The addition is rolling out first in the UK and Australia and will be available in the U.S. before the end of the year.

As a start, Spotify is offering each Premium individual, as well as plan managers for Family and Duo accounts, 15 hours of listening per month. They can listen to as many titles as they want, skipping from one to another, as long as the only listen to 15 hours per month.

At a press event in New York, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek made no secret that the move is a direct challenge to Amazon subsidiary Audible.

“Audiobooks today have one big dominating player,” Ek said. “And just like in music and podcasting, we believe that many more consumers want to consume audiobooks and want to listen to audiobooks.”

Spotify Premium plans start at $10.99 a month. Audible Premium Plus includes a 30-day free trial, then charges $14.95 a month. In addition to audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio features, Audible Premium Plus members can download one audiobook a month to keep.

One-stop listening

“We believe that offering personalized music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a single platform gives you a superior way to connect with your favorite artists, podcasters, creators, and authors—all in one spot,” the company said in its announcement. “Not only can you listen to some of your favorite authors’ works, but you can also tune into podcasts where fans dissect the most minor details of a story and find the hidden meaning in every sentence, without leaving the app. 

Spotify got into the audiobook business in a big way a year ago when it purchased audiobook distributor Findaway. Audiobooks make up only 7% of the total book market but the segment is growing, notching about 20% growth year-over-year.

That $100-off NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL+ deals we told you about recently? Looks like those were just the beginning.

A number of tech sources say the floodgates have opened and now everyone from Apple to YouTubeTV are rolling out their own red carpet deals trying to lock consumers in for the fall when new movies and shows typically pop up like crazy.

“Back in the old days of cable, keeping your TV bill in check required routine calls to customer service, followed by desperate pleas for a lower rate and/or threats to cancel your service,” CordCutterWeekly’s Jared Newman, says.

“With streaming TV, things work a bit differently. While you can’t call up Netflix or HBO to ask for a lower price, you can often snag discounts on streaming services if you know where to look.”

Streaming service deals

Newman’s latest A-Z list of hard-to-beat deals (as of August 25, 2023) includes the following and lists detailed instructions on his site:

Apple TV: Get three months for free from Best Buy or Target, or two months direct from Apple. New subscribers only, but with Apple’s Family Sharing, multiple family members can redeem these offers and share with the rest of the group.

Bally Sports+: Save $5 per month in select markets.

DirecTV Stream: $10 off your first three months.

NFL Sunday Ticket: In addition to the $100-off Fanduel deal ConsumerAffairs already reported, football fans can get the service for $50 off through YouTube, plus four months of Max for YouTube TV subscribers. 

Paramount+: One month free (including Premium) with promo code BILLIONS, BIGBROTHER25, or THECHI. New and returning subscribers only.

Peacock: Save $3.50 per month on Premium (with or without ads) with code NTSEL3HMWTDP54N.

Sling TV: Get half off your first month, or get five months of Orange+Blue+Sports Extra for $274. New subscribers only.

Starz: Get three months of Starz for $3 per month.

YouTube TV: First three months for $65 per month. (Reg. $73 per month.) Frontier and WOW internet customers can save $10 per month for a year. New subscribers only.

Newman suggests that if you can’t take advantage of a “new subscribers only” deal because you signed up with the company earlier, consider using a masked or secondary email address to sign up again.

“You can also set up a limited-use credit card so you don’t get auto-billed at regular price after the promo period,’ he said.

Mashable is also all over the dealscape and particularly excited about Paramount+’s deal because the service is home to all of the favorite classic MTV and Nickelodeon faves, not to mention a load of live sports via CBS Sports. Paramount+ also has the new’ish Scream VI, and recent seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. 

Its “best deals” list – again, as of Aug 22, 2023– includes these:

Disney+: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (with ads) — $12.99/month (save $12.98/month); and Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (no ads) — $19.99/month (save $15.98/month).

Max: The streaming service formerly known as HBO Max is loaded with deals: 

• Max (with ads) — $99.99/year (save $1.66/month).

• Max (no ads) — $149.99/year (save $3.50/month).

• Max Ultimate (no ads) — $199.99/year (save $3.33/month).

• Try it with a seven-day free trial with Amazon Prime.

Netflix: Netflix also has a couple of partnership deals going, such as:

• Verizon customers can get a year of Netflix for free when they buy MasterClass or Duolingo through Verizon play+.

• T-Mobile customers with Go5G and Go5G Plus plans can save between $9.99 and $15.49/month on Netflix Basic or Standard.

No 'deals,' but there are also 'free trials'

The Mashable folks say there are several services that aren’t offering deals, per se, but that they do offer some decent free trials, especially if someone wants to binge on a program they’ve been dying to watch.

Those are:

Amazon Prime Video: No current subscription deals, but try it with a 30-day free trial.

AMC+: No current deals, but try it with a seven-day free trial.

FuboTV: Interested consumers can test out the service with a seven-day free trial or skip the trial to get 20% off. And new subscribers get 30 days free of FuboTV Pro if you're a My Best Buy Plus or Total member (save $74.99).

Philo: No current standalone deals, but try it with a seven-day free trial.

Showtime: No current standalone deals, but try it free for 30 days with Paramount+ using code NEWHOME.

At the beginning of the year, many economists expected the U.S. to be in a recession by now. The fact that we aren’t can probably be attributed to a still strong labor market and growing corporate earnings.

But a 33-year-old singer could have something to do with it as well. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has been crisscrossing the U.S. for months as she has performed in sold-out stadiums. Her legions of dedicated fans sometimes travel great distances to attend her performances, filling hotels and restaurants, sometimes days before and after the concerts.

After Swift performed in Philadelphia, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia acknowledged her impact.

“Despite the slowing recovery in tourism in the region overall, one contact highlighted that May was the strongest month for hotel revenue in Philadelphia since the onset of the pandemic, in large part due to an influx of guests for the Taylor Swift concerts in the city,” the bank noted in the Fed’s “Beige Book” report.

After Swift performed three sold-out concerts in Chicago in June, the tourism marketing organization Choose Chicago reported hotels in the city saw record occupancy and revenue during that period.

Hotels are jumping on the bandwagon

Businesses in cities where Swift is scheduled to appear now eagerly anticipate her arrival, along with the throng of her fans, all eager to spend money. In late July, as Swift headed for Santa Clara, Calif., local hotels took full advantage. 

Some hotels, booked to capacity with “Swifties,” arranged tailgate parties before the concert at Levi Stadium. Tourism officials were ecstatic.

"The Taylor Swift effect, it's even bigger than I anticipated," Christine Lawson, CEO of Discover Santa Clara, told KTVU-TV.

Lawson said that hotel occupancy in Santa Clara was at nearly 100% the week of the concert, at a time when rooms normally go begging. 

Boosting a normally slow period

"July and the weekends, in particular, are slow in Santa Clara,” she said. “They’re not our peak times of the year. So this has a great financial impact for us, from an economic standpoint, just to have the hotels full. Everyone will be going to the restaurants." 

It’s estimated that by the time the Eras tour ends, including its international stops, it will have raked in $1 billion. But the multiplier effect of her fans’ spending is even greater, as not only hotels and restaurants benefit, but also bartenders, hairstylists, and Uber drivers. One tourism official compared the concerts’ effect on cities to hosting a Super Bowl.

In late July the U.S. government reported that the economy grew by 2.4% in the second quarter, a much higher rate than expected. 

Photo (c) J Galione - Getty Images

Streaming video services continue to move closer to – dare we say it – the old days of cable. After seeing its peers test the waters of ad-supported streaming, Amazon is reportedly dipping its toe in that water, too.

And with the proliferation of free ad-supported (FAST) networks, video consumers can find almost anything they want for free, especially “classic” content – such as old movies and TV shows.

But new research shows that many of the streaming services are loaded with old content and fewer non-original shows, and it’s starting to make consumers rethink why they’re spending an average of $48 a month on streaming when it’s not as special as it used to be.

New research from All About Cookies shows that what consumers really want is a 60/40 mix – new (to them) content 60% of the time they use a streaming platform, and rewatching content the other 40% of the time. That data begs the question where can someone find all the new content they crave without wasting money on being fed too much old stuff? 

Well, it’s not Hulu or Disney+, that’s for sure. Among the top 25 titles on each service, Disney+ is the platform with the oldest movies on average (10 years). Hulu has the oldest shows on average (10 years) among its most watched and is also the platform with the fewest original shows (4).

If it’s new content you want, then…

Knowing which type of viewer you are may make a difference in where you choose to spend $10-20/month. Someone who wants to get their fill of The Sopranos or South Park is better off at HBO, but if you’re constantly on the prowl for new, original content, the researchers said that Netflix or Prime are probably the best bets. 

“Some platforms are intentionally pushing out new content like crazy, vs. paying for old content,” Derick Migliacci, leader of the All About Cookies team, told ConsumerAffairs, citing Amazon Prime as a good example with their originals making up the majority of their most-streamed. “With more networks launching their own platforms, this is only going to get more segmented and consumers are going to either need to pay way more or need to pick and choose more carefully – a more well-rounded platform may be a better long-term selection for the price.”

You ask how to find all the new stuff without wading through screen after screen of content the service is pushing. As far as Netflix is concerned, MUO (Making Use Of) says there are five ways to do that: skipping the home page and going directly to the “new” section; using the Netflix mobile and TV app; following Netflix on social media; use the website “What’sOnNetflix”; and track Netflix shows using Reelgood.

All About Cookies also recommended sites like justwatch.com that can tell you where any title is streaming at any given time. Or, to get a sense of what’s on each platform in general, sites like Flixpatrol will tell you the most watched titles across different time periods, including what’s hot right now. 

True sports fans might subscribe to cable TV simply to get ESPN programming. But what if it were available as a streaming option?

In an exclusive report, the Wall Street Journal says that’s about to happen. Quoting people “familiar with the matter,” the Journal reports the Disney-owned channel is laying the groundwork to offer its “flagship” channel to viewers as a streaming subscription. 

The network also owns other sports channels, including ESPN 2. It’s not immediately clear if any of those other channels would be included.

If you are a current cable TV subscriber it doesn’t mean ESPN would disappear from your package. The Journal says the company would continue to offer ESPN to cable companies that want to continue carrying it.

What it means for sports fans, however, is that they would not be required to pay for cable TV if all they wanted was sports programming provided by ESPN. The content would be available through any smart TV with a subscription.

According to the Journal, there is no timeline for implementing this change. But the sources cited by the Journal said the move from an exclusive cable-TV platform to the internet was “inevitable.”

ESPN’s current subscription offering is limited to ESPN+, which debuted in 2018. It’s a streaming service with some live programming that includes some golf, Major League Baseball, hockey and scripted and unscripted programming.

HBO Max is trimming off its old branding deadwood and relaunching as just plain ‘ol “Max.” Starting May 23, the streaming service will roll out an updated app alongside its updated name, and one that includes a sizable bonus – the full Discovery+ catalog.

HBO has a strong resume when it comes to delivering unique and critically acclaimed content. However, Dan Goman, CEO & founder of Ateliere, told ConsumerAffairs that its 30-year history also comes with some negative perceptions.

For some viewers, HBO is nearly synonymous with adult-themed shows/programming – “which can be a problem if you are trying to reach a very broad audience that cuts across age groups, demographics, etc.” The Discovery library, he says, addresses that.

Will the price go up, too?

Good news: HBO’s change does not affect prices. Base prices will remain steady at $10 a month with ads and $16 without ads. However, if you’re a 4K HDR aficionado, you’ll have to pay $20 a month for the “Ultimate” plan which also includes four simultaneous streams. Existing subscribers are lucky because they’ll get six months of Ultimate for free.

Max’s new plan for new subscribers breaks down like this: 

• Max Ad-Lite: $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year (16% savings); is ad-supported; and subscribers can stream in full HD on two devices at the same time.

• Max Ad Free: $15.99 a month or $149.99 a year (over 20% savings); comes with no ads;  and subscribers can stream in full HD on two devices simultaneously plus do as many as 30 offline downloads.

• Max Ultimate Ad Free: $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year (over 16% savings); no ads; and users can stream in 4K UHD on four devices simultaneously, plus download up to 100 shows offline. 

Goman thinks Max’s pricing is right in the pocket.

“I don’t believe the product will be an issue for consumers,” he said, adding that he really likes the fact that consumers are getting several options on prices and are not forced to take-or-leave-it pricing.

“I believe they’re thinking about pricing in the right way - in that they are offering multiple options, including an ‘Ad Lite’ version that’s $9.99 per month, which is certainly in the range in terms of the consumer's perceived value, which a recent study indicated is somewhere in the $7.50 per month."

As far as what subscribers will get, ConsumerAffairs found a lot of worthwhile stuff in the come-hither content of the “Ultimate” tier. On top of the 4K quality, there’ll be full libraries of “Harry Potter,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Last of Us,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Dark Knight Trilogy” and more. Also included are 4K UHD versions of all Warner Bros. movies released this year and in the future.

Max won’t just be a TV-only thing, either. Subscribers can access it online at Max.com, on phones, tablets, streaming players, and game consoles. 

Google has announced that it’s jumping in with both feet on “Free Ad-supported Streaming” (FAST). Effective immediately, it’s layered in 800-plus channels on its GoogleTV service,  a smart TV operating system that runs on television sets, digital media players, soundbars, and set-top boxes.

Until now, its content depended on aggregating an estimated 50 better-known brands such as A&E, Comedy Channel, FoxNow, Disney+, and Peacock.

Now joining the lineup will be free live-linear channels such as Tubi, Plex, three channels devoted to nothing but “CSI,” classic movie channels, a “90201” channel, Hindi/Spanish/Japanese channels, Hallmark movies, and various national and local news channels among the 800 additional choices. 

“From breaking news to blockbuster movies and everything in between, there's something for everyone. And with no subscriptions or fees, it's never been easier to jump in and start watching,” Google’s Nick Staubach said.

Everything will be available via the new “Live” tab and scrolling down a cable line-up. Plus, to make it as hassle-free as possible, there are no downloads or app installations necessary. The Live tab can be found on any TV that has Chromecast pre-loaded, which includes Google TV devices and ones that it powers like TCL, Phillips, TCL, and Sony.

What this could mean to Roku

In its announcement, Google said it now has "more free TV channels in one place than any other smart TV platform." That's a shot across the bow of Roku for sure, and since Google is the proverbial elephant in a lot of rooms, not to mention having had a spat with Roku before, this could put Roku in a tough spot.

Maybe we should’ve said a “tougher spot.” A recent report by S&P Market Intelligence found that Google's Android TV, and its offspring, Google TV, are tightening up any gap with Roku's dominance in the U.S.

This high noon showdown could be interesting, but what it could really do is elevate the consumer’s choices and availability of content. As they say, stay tuned…

Ticketing for the summer concert season is starting to turn up the volume.

With 1980s acts like Madonna and Duran Duran returning to the stage, Beyonce cashing in on her Grammy haul, and Guns ‘n Roses trying to wrap up a three-year tour, music fans are biting at the bit to be part of the scene.

Problem is, ticket prices have never been higher. When ConsumerAffairs looked at StubHub, Ticketmaster, and other ticket platforms, people were asking as much as $134 for nosebleed tickets to see Beyonce, and anyone who wants to be down front to see Springsteen is looking at a price tag of more than $450 a seat.

And that’s now – in March. As summer dates get closer, it’s a toss-up as to prices.

Artists whose tours aren’t the money machine they thought they’d be might be cutting prices and artists who are hot could see third-party sellers jacking their ticket prices way up.

There’s also the problem of trust. After Ticketmaster was called in before Congress for botching ticketing for Taylor Swift’s tour, music lovers have a right to be skeptical and concerned, especially about the new wave of “dynamic pricing.”

Until this mess gets corrected, consumers have to take care of themselves

For the moment, ticket prices aren’t coming down and those exorbitant fees aren’t walking off the stage, either. But when the main concert promoter or venue’s tickets are sold out and the only way to buy one is the secondary market, ticket buyers need to protect themselves.

ConsumerAffairs went straight to several secondary ticketing companies to get their best suggestions for a positive experience and here’s what we found. 

Don’t pay cash and never, ever buy tickets on social media!  VividSeats’ Julia Young said that doing business that way leaves a ticket buyer without any protection. “More importantly, check for Third Party Confirmation and make sure the site is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB),” she said.

If a site says you have to enter your credit card information to see the price of a ticket, get out of there! “If a site doesn’t want to show you either an all-in price from the start inclusive of service and other fees, or at least have a toggle to allow you to view the ticket price with estimated fees included, that’s a sign that they don’t want you to be able to comparison shop with competing marketplaces,” Sean Burns at TicketNetwork advises. “That strategy signifies they are betting on the fact that you are committed to purchasing from them by the time you see the final price, even if it’s higher than the same tickets elsewhere.”

There is no “ideal” time to buy. Brett Goldberg, co-founder and co-CEO of 11-year-old TickPick, told ConsumerAffairs that like everything else, there’s an algorithm at play in the event ticket world and there are several factors that go into the "best time" to buy. For instance, the number of tickets available, the matchup, day of week, etc. all play a factor in the price.

“If you are comfortable with the price point, then we encourage you to purchase the tickets. If you wait until the last minute then it is encouraged that you are in a location with good internet connection to ensure you receive your tickets asap if the event is quickly approaching,” he said.

Goldberg also suggests trying to look on both a ticket seller’s website and its app because sometimes the percentage of service fees can differ on the same marketplace depending on which one you’re on.

Read reviews. Not all ticket buyers have the same experiences with ticket sellers. At ConsumerAffairs, some sellers get 5-star reviews, some get 1-star. If you’re considering using a certain company, it would be smart to see what other consumers think of them. If there’s a consistent problem with customer service, then you may be better off somewhere else. 

Photo (c) Phaungphet Kweanthong Eye/Em - Getty Images

Publishers of romance novels no doubt saw rising sales as Valentine’s day approached. The genre is growing in popularity as a new generation of readers and audiobook listeners has embraced the stories of passion and romance.

NPR recently reported that members of the Book $!u+z Romance Book Club in Baltimore drew more than 20 enthusiastic members to its first in-person meeting since the pandemic. At the first meeting in 2019, only two people showed up.

Andi Arndt, an award-winning audiobook narrator, has brought to life more than 600 books over her career – approximately 400 of them romance novels. She is a top-selling narrator of contemporary romance as well as popular non-fiction and fiction books, such as Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, and The Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates.

“Romance readers and listeners are not just reading by themselves, they’re participants in a very vibrant community that covers historical romance, things like paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and many other subgenres,” Arndt told ConsumerAffairs. Subgenres can cover lots of bases, from motorcycle club romance to military romance. 

Currently, romance books account for about 23% of book publishing activity in the U.S. Arndt says the fan base is highly committed, with many of her listeners telling her they read or listen to a book a day.

An escape

So, what’s the appeal? Maybe, with all the fear and uncertainty that seems to grip modern life, a good romance novel is a much-appreciated escape.

“Romance listeners say over and over they like knowing that everything is going to turn out okay, you’re going to get the happily ever after,” Arndt said. “Technically, a book cannot be a romance if it doesn’t have a happily ever after or a happy for now at the end. You know, whatever may be going on in people’s lives, if they have a lot of stress and a lot of worries, they know that when they dive into a romance, in the book at least, everything’s going to be okay.”

When Arndt attends public events she gets lots of feedback from her listeners who tell her they love the stories and the characters in their favorite books.

“With audiobooks, they feel like they know you, which is interesting because they’ve spent so much time with you in their ear,” she said.

Audiobooks have grown in popularity because “readers” can consume them while doing other things, such as driving or taking a walk. According to Audible, the current top-selling romance novel is “It Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover and read by Olivia Song.

Football fans will have more bells and whistles thrown at them for the upcoming Super Bowl than they’ve ever had before – if they’re NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers and if they spend a good amount of their Super Bowl LVII viewing on YouTube TV.

Until now, NFL Sunday Ticket has been living on DirecTV, but starting this Fall Google-owned YouTubeTV will take over and the streaming services think it’s a perfect time to promote the digital enhancements fans will get when the shift takes place.

“We think there are a lot of great opportunities to differentiate the user and creator experience with our unique capabilities,” Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler told market analysts during a recent earnings call. “Every YouTube viewer who’s interested in the NFL can now have one-click access to the full offering of Sunday Ticket. This will be the first time that Sunday Ticket is available à la carte for fans.”

Google seems determined to make sure its $2 billion annual investment will pay off, too. Schindler hinted that viewers will get a host of features like chatting, commenting, and picture-in-picture functionality.

It’s not free, but the “free trial” angle could work for you

Mind you, all these bells and whistles aren’t a free thing. YouTube TV costs $65 per month – but if you want to play the “free trial offer” angle, you can watch for free, then decide if you want to stick with the plan that offers the first three months for only $55 per.

If you do sign up, you’ll be able to watch YouTube TV’s Super Bowl anywhere – on your desktop or laptop computer’s web browser or phone or tablet apps as well as apps on Apple TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, Google Chromecast, and gaming consoles for Xbox and PS4/PS5.