*By Madison Alworth*
People around the world will spend more time online than watching television next year as global internet usage climbs in countries where smartphones have become more readily available than TV, according to new data from Zenith [cited by Recode](https://www.recode.net/2018/6/8/17441288/internet-time-spent-tv-zenith-data-media).
Advertisers' dollars are set to follow: Globally, they're expected to spend $60 billion more on Internet ads in 2019 than TV advertising.
However in the United States, the largest media consumption market in the world, television is still king.
"Americans still spend far more time watching television than on the internet," said Sara Fischer, a media reporter for Axios. Though many Americans seem to spend more time on their phones, Fischer said, is not necessarily engaged time.
"If you were to take a look at it from a minute-by-minute basis, more often than not, people spend more media consumption time on television than they do with some of their mobile properties," Fischer said in an interview with Cheddar. "Even though they might check them up to 100 times a day, it's not like they're sitting there, spending a ton of time."
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/internet-consumption-outpacing-television).
Virtual reality startup Sandbox VR recently announced it raised $37 million Series B funding round. It is a location-based VR company, a space that was hit hard during the pandemic. Sandbox was eventually forced to file for bankruptcy; however, the company is emerging from the pandemic with a fresh round of funding and plans to open new retail locations around the world. Sandbox VR CEO Steve Zhao joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Jill and Carlo cover the latest with the infrastructure bill, the growing state rebellion over boosters, Trump's dereliction of duty on the pandemic, Taylor Swift's reign of cultural domination and more.
2021 has been the year of many things, and one of them is the NFT or non-fungible token. We've seen NFTs come about for so many different things.
Digital artists have used them to sell their artwork in a more traditional art transaction than the internet had previously allowed. We've seen specific NFT campaigns like the pudgy penguins amass large followings. And now we're seeing them expand into horror films just in time for spooky season.
The iconic horror movie franchise "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has launched its debut NFT line entitled "Leatherfaces." the illustrations are designed by Skinner in partnership with Ultra Rare to reveal a total of over 10,000 Leatherface avatars. The collection gives fans, NFT fiends and blockchain fanatics access to a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre metaverse unlike any that has been seen before.
Richie Hobson, co-founder of Ultra Rare, joins None of the Above to discuss.
The USO is hosting a 72 hour streamathon on Twitch called #OperationPlayItForward, and is tapping into Gen Z superstars and gamers to raise money for the organization through the power of the esports community. The goal here is to help support both the new generation of troops and their families. Director of Global Gaming Operations at USO Callum Fletcher and Former UFC Lightweight Champ and Twitch Partner Jens Pulver, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
