Showbiz Sandbox 156: Olympic Telecasts Turn Everyone Into A Sports Expert

July 31, 2012

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The 2012 Summer Olympics got off to an auspicious start last week with coverage of the opening ceremonies earning record ratings. With broadcasters presenting events live on multiple channels, as well as streaming online, it’s never been easier to keep up with the games. We review how broadcasters are covering the Summer Olympics, not to mention explain why there always seem to be empty seats at sold-out events.

Meanwhile, the aftershock of the “Dark Knight Rises” theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado continue to ripple through Hollywood. Box office grosses were down significantly over the past weekend, though it is hard to know if moviegoers are staying away out of fear, or if something else is deterring them from theatres … like coverage of the Olympics.

Maybe cinema patrons are simply staying home to watch Netflix. Despite turning a profit and increasing their subscriber base, the company’s stock price declined. This didn’t stop Netflix from announcing they would soon be launching their movie rental service in Western Europe.

We also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including a third “Hobbit” movie, what caused Warner Bros. to sue Amazon users and why the FCC fined Comcast.

‘Dark Knight Rises’ Commands No. 1 Slot Overseas
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-dark-knight-rises-ice-age-continental-drift-amazing-spider-man-355695

More Moviegoers Return to Multiplex, But Snub ‘The Watch,’ ‘Step Up 4’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-olympics-dark-knight-rises-watch-step-up-revolution-355685

Warner Bros. Moving ‘Gangster Squad’ To Jan. 11
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-gangster-squad-january-11-reshoot-theater-354623

Harvey Weinstein Calls for Filmmaker Summit on Violence in Movies After Colorado Shooting
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/harvey-weinstein-colorado-shooting-dark-knight-rises-354978

NBC Nets Highest Rated Summer Olympics Opener In History
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/london-2012-opening-ceremony-nbc-ratings-355609

London 2012: NBC On Record Ratings Pace
http://www.adweek.com/news/television/london-2012-nbc-record-ratings-pace-142297

London 2012 Olympics ’empty seats’ row: Q&A
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9439247/London-2012-Olympics-empty-seats-row-QandA.html

‘Modern Family’ Cast Reaches Deal To End Salary Standoff
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/modern-family-cast-deal-salary-355527

‘Modern Family’ Kid Actors Now Seeking Salary Raises
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/modern-family-kid-actors-seeking-salary-raises-355614

Spotify Releases U.S. Figures, Sees More Than 13 Billion Streams
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/07/spotify-releases-us-figures-sees-more-than-13-billion-streams-.html

Matisyahu Creates Unique Fan Experience Utilizing Spotify’s New ‘Artist Apps’
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/07/matisyahu-creates-unique-fan-experience-utilizing-spotifys-new-artist-apps.html

Major Labels Admit They’re Not Sharing Any Pirate Bay Award Money With Artists
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/07/major-labels-decide-not-to-share-pirate-bay-award-money-with-artists.html

The RIAA Knew SOPA and PIPA Were Useless, Yet Supported Them Anyway
http://www.itworld.com/it-managementstrategy/287788/riaa-knew-sopa-and-pipa-were-useless-against-piracy-and-supported-them-?page=0,0

Netflix Shares Tumble as Subscriber Additions Underwhelm
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-shares-tumble-subscriber-additions-underwhelm-353646

Netflix Is Already A Huge Threat To Amazon’s Lovefilm
http://paidcontent.org/2012/07/25/netflix-is-already-a-huge-threat-to-amazons-lovefilm/

Netflix To Investors: “We’re Taking Our Profits To Europe!”
http://paidcontent.org/2012/07/24/netflix-to-investors-were-taking-our-profits-to-europe/

CNN Head Jim Walton Out At Year’s End
http://www.adweek.com/news/television/cnn-head-jim-walton-out-years-end-142238

GameStop: We’re Interested in Selling Secondhand Digital Download Video Games
http://hothardware.com/News/GameStop-Were-Interested-in-Selling-Secondhand-Digital-Videogames/

Warner Bros. Files Mass Litigation Against Amazon Resellers
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/warner-bros-files-mass-litigation-amazon-356354

Comedy Central Extends Contracts With Jon Stewart And Stephen Colbert
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comedy-central-extends-contracts-jon-stewart-stephen-colbert-354430

Peter Jackson’s Third ‘Hobbit’ Film: What Hath Warners Wrought?
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-peter-jacksons-third-hobbit-what-has-warner-bros-wrought-20120730,0,5367915.story

FCC Hands Match To Tennis Channel In Dispute With Comcast
http://www.adweek.com/news/television/fcc-hands-match-tennis-channel-dispute-comcast-142164

New York Review Books Does E Only With NYRB Lit
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/53202-new-york-review-books-does-e-only-with-nyrb-lit.html

‘Knight Rider’ Producer Survives Round One In Universal Fraud Lawsuit
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/knight-rider-producer-glen-larson-lawsuit-universal-356300

Nielsen Sued For Billions Over Allegedly Manipulated TV Ratings
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/nielsen-sued-billions-manipulated-ratings-355829

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