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Mark J. Burns

@markjburns88.bsky.social
243 followers 139 following 65 posts

I cover sports business, media, and entertainment for Sport & State Mark.j.burns2@gmail.com

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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Everyone said #RIPTwitter. But, football’s virtual bar on social remains open for biz. I take stock of Twitter and where it fits into the football convo in the Musk era. “X is still the king of college football and, frankly, live sports.” - @redditcfb.com sportandstate.com/2026/09/12/e...
sportandstate.com
Everyone Said #RIPTwitter, But Football's Virtual Bar On Social Media Remains Open - Sport & State
Despite new rivals like Bluesky, fans, media, and insiders prove why X remains the undisputed digital stadium for live football conversation.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Sports podcasters have your attention. Now they want your money. On Sport & State. sportandstate.com/2026/09/02/s...
sportandstate.com
Sports Podcasters Have Your Attention, Now They Want Your Money - Sport & State
Inside the phenomenon of podcasters turning fan loyalty into major revenue through live events, from arena-sized block parties to high-dollar meet-and-greets.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Inside sports TV viewers’ nerdiest obsession: tracking scorebugs. sportandstate.com/2026/08/28/d...
sportandstate.com
Don't Swat The Seriousness Of The Scorebug: Inside Sports TV Viewers' Nerdiest Obsession - Sport & State
Some fans watch the game. Others watch the tiny graphic in the corner. Meet the scorebug nerds — and learn why they care so much.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
1st full week. I joined Sport & State, a new media venture and digital podcast network founded by Clay Travis. I'll be covering sports business, media, and entertainment. Fired up to be back in the thick of reporting and writing online FT. Email is in bio. Check out sportandstate.com.
sportandstate.com
Home - Sport & State
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
On @forbes.com: Dave Portnoy discusses Barstool future, Call Her Daddy drama, PMT, and more. www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
Dave Portnoy Dishes On Barstool Sports Future, Internet Drama, Memoir
The media founder spoke about the biggest viral story at Barstool in the past 20-plus years, a failed ESPN TV pact, and what's next for him as he approaches 50.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
New on @forbes.com: NBA team sponsorship revenue hits $1.6 billion during 2024-25 season. www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
NBA Team Sponsorship Revenue Hits $1.6 Billion In 2024-2025 Season
Nearly a dozen new jersey patch deals contributed, in large part, to an 8% year-over-year uptick in team revenue, according to intelligence and data firm SponsorUnited.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup (Montreal, 1993), here’s what DID NOT exist: -Amazon -Wikipedia -Google -Jeeves -Yahoo -Ebay -MySpace -Gmail -Facebook -Netflix -YouTube -X -Instagram -Snapchat -TikTok -Twitch -WhatsApp -Reddit -iPhone -Uber -Lyft -Airbnb -DoorDash
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
How many times have you heard the NBA taking a page from the NHL playbook? 2026 NBA All-Star will ft. USA vs. the World. "I'm not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did (w/ 4 Nations), which was a huge success." - NBA's Adam Silver
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
America’s Top 5 Most Popular Sports Teams: 1️⃣ Eagles 2️⃣ Yankees 3️⃣ Packers 4️⃣ Chiefs 5️⃣ Steelers (via new Morning Consult data)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
McNeese State Student Manager Amir Khan Cashes In On NIL Deals
The Lake Charles, La. native has secured marketing deals, worth six figures, with Buffalo Wild Wings, Topps, TickPick, Insomnia Cookies and Formula Bot, among others.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
On @forbes.com: What are sports investors, bankers and advisors bullish/bearish on in 2025? t.co/OQ5vOpTGFd
t.co
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjburns/2025/03/19/what-are-sports-investors-bullish-and-bearish-on-in-2025/
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
On @forbes.com: Dallas Mavericks minority owner @mcuban.bsky.social made the case to me for Bluesky over X. www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
Dallas Mavericks’ Mark Cuban Makes The Case For Bluesky Over X
The NBA officially joined Bluesky during All-Star Weekend, but the league still hasn't posted to the microblogging platform.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
On @forbes.com: Dallas Mavericks minority owner @mcuban.bsky.social made the case to me for Bluesky over X. www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
Dallas Mavericks’ Mark Cuban Makes The Case For Bluesky Over X
The NBA officially joined Bluesky during All-Star Weekend, but the league still hasn't posted to the microblogging platform.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
The @NHL.com has launched an account on Bluesky. The league joins the NBA and MLB as the other major U.S. men's professional sports leagues on the platform.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
NBA (@nba.com) has officially joined Bluesky.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Give me the 4 Nations Cup every year excluding Olympic years. How much more obvious is it that this needs to become permanent on the NHL calendar?
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
t.co/A4wL4mNSus
t.co
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/02/super-bowl-ad-breakdown-celebrities-comedy-nike-tubi/
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Fox Sports projects 126 MILLION viewers for Super Bowl LIX, a record for the big game.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
“New Heights” podcast, co-hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, deleted a congratulatory Eagles post on Twitter after being bullied by the Taylor Swift army. This can’t be real life.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Kansas City Chiefs are 19-4 with Taylor Swift in attendance over the last two years.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
President Donald Trump is more popular among Chiefs fans than Eagles fans. (Source: Morning Consult survey data, ht Ellyn Briggs)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
The Taylor Swift fit for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans: Blazer: TSL ($4,600) Bag: Givenchy ($990) (Source: Swiftly Styled / X)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Taylor Swift has arrived at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
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Awful Announcing @awfulannouncing.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
"You're gonna want to see this back in Philly. They have greased the poles on Bourbon Street. They're taking a cue from Philadelphia..."
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Prediction: 124.2 million viewers for Super Bowl LIX, a record. 🏈 Crazed Philly fans. 🏈 Swifites. 🏈 Chiefs are TV draw. 🏈 Chance of 3-peat. 🏈 Mahomes' greatness. 🏈 Biggest annual TV spectacle in U.S. Narrative of Chiefs fatigue is overblown. We're also quick to forget AFC title numbers.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Field view of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (via Sports Logos Net, Gridiron Uniform)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
NFL fans’ favorite brands in tech, entertainment, social and retail are Google, Netflix, YouTube and Amazon. The NFL is in business with all of them. (ht Ellyn Briggs / Morning Consult)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
ESPN+ subs since launch: Sept 18: 1M Feb 19: 2M Nov 19: 3.5M Feb 20: 7.6M Nov 20: 10.3M Feb 21: 12.1M Nov 21: 17.1M Feb 22: 21.3M Aug 22: 22.8M Nov 22: 24.3M Feb 23: 24.9M May 23: 25.3M Aug 23: 25.2M Nov 23: 26M Feb 24: 25.2M May 24: 24.8M Aug 24: 24.9M Nov 24: 25.6M Feb 25: 24.9M
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
A Tayvoodoo billboard surfaced on I95 in South Philly. Apparently Tayvoodoo is a term made up by Taylor Swift supporters that is tied to her supposed “magic powers.” Texas-based Tasty Clean and Boston-based marketing exec. and self-proclaimed Swiftie Jake Duhaime are behind the stunt.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
On @forbes.com. Chiefs Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce are among America’s top 5 favorite active male athletes. www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce Among America’s Top 5 Favorite Active Male Athletes
The three-time Super Bowl champions were both among the NFL’s 10 highest-paid players in 2024 when including their contract, endorsements and other endeavors.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first broke the Luka-AD trade news on X. He sent out a post on Threads 5 minutes later. Shams doesn’t have an account on Bluesky.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark is America’s favorite active athlete, male or female, per Morning Consult’s Ellyn Briggs. (Source: Morning Consult survey data, open-ended written responses from 2,202 U.S. adults)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Breakdown of Super Bowl LIX face value ticket prices: (ht Darren Rovell/X)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Bluesky COO Rose Wang tells me the company has spoken to the NBA about creating a feed around the upcoming All Star Game next month. TBD if it comes to fruition. Wang tells me that Bluesky has also received inquiries from other pro sports leagues including MLB and the NFL.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
The WNBA is more popular than MLS among U.S. adults, per recent survey data: (via Ellyn Briggs/Morning Consult)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
~ $6,300: current get-in price (with fees) on SeatGeek for Super Bowl LIX.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
On @forbes.com: Pop-Tarts brand turns bowl game traditions upside down. www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
Pop-Tarts Brand Turns Bowl Game Traditions Upside Down
The Kellanova-owned brand received an estimated $26.1 million in media value around last month's college football bowl game in Orlando.
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The Athletic @theathletic.com · 27/01/2025
Teams to win 3+ championships in a row in the last 50 years: ◽️ 1976-79 Canadiens (NHL) ◽️ 1980-83 Islanders (NHL) ◽️ 1991-93 Bulls (NBA) ◽️ 1996-98 Bulls (NBA) ◽️ 1997-2000 Comets (WNBA) ◽️ 1998-2000 Yankees (MLB) ◽️ 2000-02 Lakers (NBA) The Chiefs are one win away from joining that list.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Kansas City Chiefs are 19-3 with Taylor Swift in attendance over the last two years.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Surprised this hasn’t received more pub: new book about Barstool Sports hit shelves. Barstool’s Dave Portnoy didn’t participate in the book. Author Charlie Stanton posted on Reddit “there will be a public announcement in the coming months about a TV series based on the book.”
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is the most popular player in the NFL, per YouGov recent survey data. (📸 @levakabas.bsky.social)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
CBS has been consistently buffering on YouTube TV throughout the entire first half of Chiefs-Bills.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Taylor Swift dressed in Louis Vuitton for the AFC Championship game in Kansas City. Her beanie alone sells for $830. (via Swiftly Styled/X)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Top major pro sports leagues on TikTok, via @sportico.bsky.social:
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Reposted by Mark J. Burns
Ben Portnoy @bportnoy15.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
ESPN announces the CFP title game between Notre Dame and Ohio State drew 22.1 million viewers. The game peaked at 26.1 million viewers between 8:30 and 8:45 PM and is the most-watched non-NFL sporting event the past year.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Stat of the Day: Netflix had 650,000+ signups in a 3 day window around the NFL Christmas Day games in 2024, per Antenna. (via The Verge)
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Fred Kirsch, VP of Content at the Patriots, said the NFL team had an account on Bluesky but was asked by the league to take it down. Bluesky isn't an approved social media platform yet for NFL teams, per Kirsch. t.co/VQXkr07vAC
t.co
https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/new-england-patriots-bluesky-shut-down-account.html
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
www.forbes.com/sites/markjb...
forbes.com
What Donald Trump’s Election Means For The Sports Industry
Transgender rights in college sports, M&A and consolidation in media are some of the key sports-related areas to watch under the new Trump administration.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Advanced Stats: Kansas City Chiefs are 18-3 with Taylor Swift in attendance over the last two years.
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Mark J. Burns @markjburns88.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Dave Portnoy confirms on his weekly podcast that Bussin’ With the Boys, podcast hosted by Taylor Lewan/Will Compton, is leaving Barstool Sports. DP: “It’s a compliment to Barstool. These people just pillage us. They can’t build people up. They can’t make the stars. … We make stars.”
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