Showbiz Sandbox 482: Entertainment Industry Facing Coronavirus Challenge
February 24, 2020
For the past four weeks the Chinese government has mandated that all of its cinemas remain closed in hopes of preventing further spread of the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Not that anyone would actually show up even if movie theaters were open since a majority of China’s population are avoiding public venues and gatherings. Having the second largest movie market in the world out of business for so long will surely affect the global box office, not to mention release dates.
As the Coronavirus reaches other countries and turns into a full-blown pandemic, cinemas in Northern Italy are shutting their doors in the wake of infestations and the popular Korean boy band BTS moved a press conference for its upcoming album to an online only event, rather than meet journalists in-person.
In the United States, the popular indie-cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse launched its own long-awaited subscription plan. We debate the merits of Alamo’s new program and what theater operators need to consider when adopting such a scheme.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including soaring occupancy rates for Broadway productions, the United Kingdom embraces streaming in earnest and HBO Max will launch with a reunion of “Friends.”
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‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Holds on to #1; ‘Call of the Wild’ Overperforms into Second
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3681551364/
‘Sonic’ Still Top Hog With $203M WW; ‘Call Of The Wild’ Paws At $15M Overseas Bow
https://deadline.com/2020/02/sonic-the-hedgehog-call-of-the-wild-birds-of-prey-coronavirus-korea-global-international-box-office-1202866323/
Polish Erotic Crime Thriller Tops Box Office
https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/poland-news/item/119572-polish-erotic-crime-thriller-tops-box-office
Alamo Drafthouse Introduces Season Pass Subscription Program In All Locations
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/alamo-drafthouse-introduces-season-pass-subscription-program-in-all-locations/
WGA & Big 3 Talent Agencies Agree To Mediation, But Don’t Hold Your Breath
https://deadline.com/2020/02/wga-talent-agencies-agree-to-mediation-caa-wme-uta-1202864861/
Broadway Box Office Soars; ‘Six’ Reigns Supreme; ‘West Side’ Rumbles
https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2020/02/18/broadway-box-office-soars-six-reigns-supreme-west-side-rumbles/
‘Six’ Is Worth $1 Million On Broadway; Industry Box Office Sinks
https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2020/02/24/six-is-worth-1-million-on-broadway-industry-box-office-sinks/
The NBA’s Trouble with China, Four Months On
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/24/china-nba-hong-kong-protests-financial-costs-update
‘Friends’ Cast to Reunite for Exclusive HBO Max Special
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/friends-cast-reunion-hbo-max-1203510743/
Harvey Weinstein Is Found Guilty of Sex Crimes in #MeToo Watershed
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/nyregion/harvey-weinstein-trial-rape-verdict.html
Amazon Scores With Premier League as Majority of UK Homes Take SVOD
https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2020022058105/amazon-scores-with-premier-league-as-majority-of-uk-homes-take-svod.html
Coronavirus Fears Prompt BTS Press Conference in Seoul to Go Digital-Only
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-02-23/bts-press-conference-youtube-livestream-coronavirus
Everything You Need to Know About the Coronavirus
https://qz.com/1791867/the-coronavirus-outbreak-is-crippling-chinas-film-industry/
Will China’s Movie Industry Recover From Coronavirus?
https://variety.com/2020/film/features/china-coronavirus-movie-industry-box-office-1203501046/
‘Good Times’ Star Ja’net DuBois Dies; Emmy-Winning Actress & ‘Movin’ On Up’ Singer Was 74
https://deadline.com/2020/02/janet-dubois-dead-good-times-actress-movin-on-up-singer-emmy-pjs-jefferons-norman-lear-1202862711/
Charles Portis, Elusive Author of ‘True Grit,’ Dies at 86
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/17/obituaries/charles-portis-dead.html
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