Showbiz Sandbox 435: Netflix By The Numbers

Despite having cultivated a reputation for keeping its viewership statistics under tight wraps, Netflix has made a complete about face and is now boasting about how many subscribers are tuning in to its original content. The company says nearly 45 million accounts watched its hit movie “Bird Box” and nearly as many watched its latest series “Sex Education”. In the midst of all this success, Netflix has decided to raise it’s monthly subscription fee by $2 in certain territories, including North America.

Unlike the Netflix subscription price, a number not on the rise is the theatrical box office in Germany. After edging up slightly in 2017, grosses in the 8th biggest movie-going market in the world were down 16% last year. Hollywood titles grabbed 75% of the $965 million box office as attendance also dipped 15.5%.

Meanwhile, award season continues with no clear frontrunner emerging as this year’s Oscar nominations are about to be revealed. We take a glance at the makeup, costume and directors guilds awards, not to mention the BAFTAS and nods from one group that really matters; the Producers Guild.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why RCA Records is dropping R. Kelley from its label, the Emmys are dumping DVD screeners and sportscaster Bob Costas is leaving NBC.

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Olivia de Havilland Denied Hearing by Supreme Court
https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-olivia-de-havilland-decision-20190107-story.html

Actors’ Equity Calls for Strike Against Developmental Labs
http://www.playbill.com/article/actors-equity-calls-for-strike-against-developmental-labs

Comscore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of January 20, 2019
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-january-20-2019-300781274.html

German Box Office Plunges 16% in 2018
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/german-box-office-plunges-2018-1203103372/

Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Annual Pay Rises 80 Percent to $65.6 Million
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-igers-annual-pay-rises-80-percent-656-million-1171080

Bafta 2019 nominations – LIVE: A Star is Born and Roma vie for best film, Bohemian Rhapsody loses out
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/bafta-2019-nominations-live-updates-full-list-time-date-when-favourites-predictions-a8718481.html

DGA Awards Unveils Nominations in Feature Film Categories
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/dga-awards-2019-nominations-list-full-1172544

Costume Designers Guild Awards: ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ Among Nominees
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/costume-designers-guild-awards-mary-poppins-returns-marvelous-mrs-maisel-nominees-1172408

Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards: ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘Vice’ Among Film Nominees
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-makeup-artists-hair-stylists-guild-award-nominations-1172409

‘Green Book’ Writer Apologizes for Anti-Muslim Tweet
‘Green Book’ Writer Apologizes for Anti-Muslim Tweet

Producers Guild Awards: ‘Green Book’ Named Outstanding Motion Picture
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/producers-guild-awards-2019-winners-list-full-1173285/item/sports-program-1172468

Alicia Keys to Host 2019 Grammy Awards
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alicia-keys-host-2019-grammy-awards-779163/

Oscars Team Scrambling to Reunite ‘Avengers’ on Telecast (Exclusive)
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscars-producers-plan-reunite-avengers-telecast-1174867

Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi to Perform at Super Bowl
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/super-bowl-maroon-5-travis-scott-big-boi-1203105343/

Gladys Knight Comments on Colin Kaepernick and Super Bowl: ‘I Am Here to Give the Anthem Back Its Voice’
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/gladys-knight-comments-on-colin-kaepernick-and-super-bowl-i-am-here-to-give-the-anthem-back-its-voice-1203111528/

John Lasseter to Head Animation for Skydance
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-lasseter-lead-animation-skydance-1174878

Time’s Up, Women and Hollywood Blast Skydance for Hiring John Lasseter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/times-up-women-hollywood-blast-skydance-hiring-john-lasseter-1174908

R. Kelly Dropped by RCA Records After Documentary Furor
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/18/arts/music/r-kelly-rca-sony.html

Universal Music Publishing Group Dropped R. Kelly Last Spring: Exclusive
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8494152/r-kelly-dropped-by-universal-music-publishing-group

Why the TV Academy Finally Ended Emmys DVD Madness, and Who Might Benefit the Most
https://variety.com/2019/tv/awards/emmy-award-screeners-television-academy-analysis-1203112174/

Irving Azoff, Hollywood A-Listers Team to Save Legendary Deli Nate ‘n Al
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/irving-azoff-hollywood-a-listers-team-save-legendary-deli-nate-n-al-1175624

How Much Money Did Fortnite Make Last Year
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/how-much-money-did-fortnite-make-last-year/

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Friends Purchase Drama Book Shop
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/theater/lin-manuel-miranda-hamilton-drama-book-shop.html

Bob Costas Officially Parts Ways with NBC ‘Quietly and Happily’ After 40 Years
https://people.com/tv/bob-costas-parts-ways-with-nbc/

Why Fake Beyoncé Music on Spotify and Apple Music Highlights Streaming’s Wider Licensing Troubles
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/why-fake-beyonce-music-on-spotify-and-apple-music-highlights-streamings-wider-licensing-troubles/

Netflix Hikes Price of U.S. Streaming Service: Standard Plan Jumps to $13 per Month
https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/netflix-us-streaming-price-increases-2019-1203108254/

Sandra Bullock’s ‘Bird Box’ Gets Nearly 26M Viewers in First Week, Nielsen Says
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sandra-bullocks-bird-box-gets-26-million-viewers-first-week-nielsen-says-1174493

Hulu Hits 25 Million Subscribers
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hulu-hits-25-million-subscribers-1174494

Mark Urman, Veteran Indie Film Executive, Dies at 66
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-urman-dead-veteran-indie-film-executive-dies-at-66-1175743

Andy Vajna, Producer of ‘Rambo’ Films, Dies at 74
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/andy-vajna-dead-producer-rambo-films-was-74-1177614

Carol Channing Dies at 97; a Larger-Than-Life Broadway Star
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/obituaries/carol-channing-dead.html

Dan Striepeke, Oscar-Nominated Makeup Artist on ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ Dies at 88
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dan-striepeke-dead-oscar-nominated-makeup-artist-forrest-gump-saving-private-ryan-was-88-1177554

Gregg Rudloff, Three-Time Oscar-Winning Sound Mixer, Dies at 63
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/gregg-rudloff-dead-three-time-oscar-winning-sound-man-was-63-1174647