Showbiz Sandbox 495: Coming Up With A Popular Method To Calculate Streaming Residuals
May 26, 2020
With audiences spending countless hours streaming video during the coronavirus pandemic, and with some movies once bound for cinemas bypassing theaters and going directly to video-on-demand, the issue over residual payments to those that make all the content has once again become a hot button issue. This especially true since global streaming subscription revenue doubled in four years to $37 billion in 2019 and is expected to hit $62 billion by 2024.
Rather than being based on box office, ratings or profits, when it comes to streaming, residuals turned into a low fixed annual payment, no matter how big a hit your series or movie was. Now the Writers Guild of America has proposed a tiered system based on viewership to make sure residual payments reflect the new streaming reality when it comes to the likes of Disney+, HBO Max and Netflix.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why “Batwoman” lost its star, People magazine heads to television and Joe Rogan’s podcast payday.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Showbiz Sandbox 494: Broadway Productions Remain In The Dark About Reopening
May 19, 2020
Broadway theaters and their equivalent in the West End and local communities around the world face a much huge hurdle in reopening after being closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Productions now face challenges such as paying rent for theaters which aren’t holding performances, houses that don’t accommodate social distancing, an aging audience, a lack of tourists, canceled shows and more.
The list of delayed productions is too long to cover, but even shows on hold, shows that were touring or playing on Broadway are calling it quits. Last week, the Donna Summer touring musical shut down for good along with Disney’s “Frozen.” The musical was suffering from falling grosses, but even so, the move sent shivers through the Broadway community.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why the Hollywood Bowl is going dark for the first time in 98 years, bull riding competitions get the green light and which North American network topped the rating last season.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Showbiz Sandbox 493: Rebooting Film and TV Production Won’t Be Easy
May 12, 2020
When most of the global entertainment industry shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t just movie theaters, concert halls and amusement parks that were affected. The sudden lockdown forced film and television productions of all kinds to be suspended, no matter what stage they were in. What has yet to be determined is how to start filming new shows and movies while keeping cast and crew safe.
Questions remain over everything from how to shoot love scenes moving forward, whether cast and crew should sequester themselves during production to how often everyone on set should be tested to how meal breaks should be handled. There are concerns over every aspect of a production, including craft services.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including an increase in cord-cutting among cable subscribers, why a major Hollywood talent agency is struggling to survive the industry’s lockdown and how the Fox network is making their upcoming television season coronavirus-proof.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Showbiz Sandbox 492: Hollywood Players Battling Pandemic… And Each Other
May 5, 2020
Even when times are good and profits are up, some of Hollywood’s biggest stakeholders don’t always get along. For over a year now the Writers Guild of America has been duking it out over television packaging fees with the Association of Talent Agencies, suing three of its largest members; United Talent Agency, William Morris Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency. Entertainment attorney and Hollywood Reporter contributing editor Jonathan Handel fills us in on the latest court rulings in the dispute and why things aren’t looking good for the WGA.
Meanwhile, cinema operators were already upset with Universal Pictures for releasing “Trolls World Tour” via premium video on demand, skipping a theatrical release due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now the studio announced plans to release its future movies on PVOD at the same time as they hit theaters, causing a few chains to boycott Universal’s titles. Film distribution veteran Jim Amos of Scout 53 breaks down the argument for us and tells us how he thinks it will be resolved.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including new rules for the Oscars, global music industry revenue continues to grow (for now) and without sports to broadcast should ESPN still be charging cable subscribers?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
