Showbiz Sandbox 329: Television Gets Turned Off By Apple

Rumors about how Apple plans to conquer television have circulated for years. Initially it was thought the company intended to manufacture a television set. This led to speculation that it was putting together an over-the-top alternative to cable. Now reports have emerged that numerous deals between Apple and the TV industry have collapsed over the company’s aggressive negotiating tactics. Did Apple blow it by trying to tackle too much at once, or did television networks simply feel threatened?

We’ll also spend some time catching up on international movie box office. As much as Hollywood has discovered the benefits of doing business around the globe, so to have its movie stars and filmmakers. In addition, we discuss the flurry of mergers and acquisitions activity taking place among some of the world’s leading cinema chains.

In the publishing world it turns out that 2015 was a pretty good year with over $28 billion in sales just in North America. As well, it appears the release windows between formats like hardcover, paperback and e-books are collapsing or becoming non-existent.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the official end of the VCR, Netflix nabs the new “Star Trek” series and why the final installment of the “Divergent” franchise is headed straight to television.

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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of July 31, 2016
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-july-31-2016-300306659.html

Movie Ticket Prices Hit Record High
https://variety.com/2016/film/news/movie-ticket-prices-1201816485/

New Movie Screen Slows for Glasses-Free 3-D at a Larger Scale
http://news.mit.edu/2016/glasses-free-3d-larger-scale-0725

Box Office Meltdown: Hollywood Races to Win Back Summer Crowds
https://variety.com/2016/film/features/box-office-decline-summer-blockbusters-the-bfg-1201822322/

Everything You Need to Know About the AMC Acquisition of Odeon & UCI
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2016/07/13/analysis-amc-got-odeon-cheap-will-make-pay/

AMC Increases Carmike Acquisition Offer to $1.2 Billion Ahead of Shareholder Vote
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2016/07/26/amc-increases-carmike-acquisition-offer-1-2-billion-ahead-shareholder-vote/

Wanda Poised to Spend $30 Billion in Year of Deals
https://variety.com/2016/biz/asia/wanda-30-billion-of-deals-1201814189/

Warner Bros. to Expand Korean Film Production
https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/warner-bros-to-expand-korean-film-production-1201824127/

Emmy Nominations 2016: Full List of Nominees
https://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/2016-emmys-nominees-list-drama-comedy-acting-nomination-1201814021/

Emmy Nomination Snubs and Surprises: Stephen Colbert to ‘The Americans’
https://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/emmys-2016-snubs-stephen-colbert-orange-is-the-new-black-the-americans-1201814292/

AAP: U.S. Publishing Made $28 Billion in 2015
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2016/aap-publishing-made-28-billion-2015/

With No Buyer, Bankrupt Hastings Will Close All Stores
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/70982-hastings-will-close-all-stores.html

Review Roundup: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Review-Roundup-HARRY-POTTER-AND-THE-CURSED-CHILD-20160725

Like Magic, Muggles Make New Harry Potter Play Disappear From Bookstores
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/01/nyregion/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-disappears-from-stores.html

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Producers Consider a Broadway Run
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/01/theater/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-producers-consider-a-broadway-run.html

Some ‘Divergent’ Stars Expected to Opt Out as Finale Shifts to TV
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/divergent-moves-tv-final-film-912973

‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Scandal Casts Wide Net of Suspicion
http://variety.com/2016/film/news/wolf-of-wall-street-scandal-1201823766/

Last Known VCR Maker Stops Production, 40 Years After VHS Format Launch
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/07/vcr-vhs-production-ends/

Netflix to Be Exclusive International Home to New ‘Star Trek’ Series
https://variety.com/2016/digital/global/netflix-exclusive-international-new-star-trek-series-1201816219/

Comic-Con: ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ Revival Set at Netflix With Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comic-con-mystery-science-theater-913930

‘Carpool Karaoke’ Series Coming Exclusively to Apple Music
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/carpool-karaoke-series-coming-exclusively-914692

Netflix Only Added 1.7 Million Subscribers In Q2, Far Fewer Than Expected
https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-adds-far-fewer-subscribers-than-expected-in-q2-1201816499/

Feds Seize KickassTorrents Domains, Arrest Alleged Owner
https://torrentfreak.com/feds-seize-kickasstorrents-domains-charge-owner-160720/

Movie Studios ‘Take Down’ Popular KAT Mirror
https://torrentfreak.com/movie-studios-go-popular-kat-mirror-160729/

‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7 Episode Count, Premiere Date Revealed
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-season-7-episode-910200

TV Ratings: ‘Game of Thrones’ Now Averaging 25.1 Million Viewers
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-game-thrones-averaging-912053

Amazon in Talks to Fully Finance Next Woody Allen Film for $25M (Exclusive)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amazon-talks-finance-next-woody-912091

Google Deletes Artist’s Blog and a Decade of His Work Along With It
http://fusion.net/story/325231/google-deletes-dennis-cooper-blog/

Google Takeout
https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout

The Blog That Disappeared
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/30/opinion/sunday/the-blog-that-disappeared.html

Can Viacom Really Stop Stephen Colbert From Playing “Stephen Colbert”?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/can-viacom-stop-stephen-colbert-915340

Photos! First Look at the Return of Motown The Musical
http://www.playbill.com/article/photos-first-look-at-the-return-of-motown-the-musical

‘Motown: The Musical’ to Close for Second Time on Broadway
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/theater/motown-the-musical-to-close-for-second-time-on-broadway.html

Sesame Street Lays Off Longtime Cast Members
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/07/sesame-street-lays-off-longtime-cast-members

Pokemon Live-Action Movie a Go at Legendary
https://variety.com/2016/film/news/pokemon-movie-live-action-legendary-1201818838/

Roger Ailes Said To Be Out at Fox News Amid Sexual-Harassment Allegations
https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/roger-ailes-fox-news-out-1201817638/

Internal Inquiry Sealed the Fate of Roger Ailes at Fox
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/business/media/as-an-internal-inquiry-sinks-ailes-questions-about-fox-newss-fate.html

Roger Ailes Resigns as Fox News Chief After Sexual Harassment Accusations
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/roger-ailes-resigns-as-fox-913206

What’s Next at Fox News, With Ailes Out and Murdoch In?
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/01/business/media/whats-next-at-fox-news-with-ailes-out-and-murdoch-in.html

Apple’s Hard-Charging Tactics Hurt TV Expansion
http://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-hard-charging-tactics-hurt-tv-expansion-1469721330

Marni Nixon, the Singing Voice Behind the Screen, Dies at 86
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/26/arts/music/marni-nixon-singer-soprano-dies-86.html?_r=1

Garry Marshall, ‘Pretty Woman’ Director and Creator of ‘Happy Days,’ Dies at 81
https://variety.com/2016/film/news/garry-marshall-dead-dies-pretty-woman-happy-days-1201817964/

James M. Nederlander, Legend of American Theater, Dies at 94
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-m-nederlander-dead-theater-914674

Gary S. Paxton, Whose Mixed Bag of a Life Was Filled With Music, Dies at 77
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/arts/music/gary-paxton-dead.html