Marketing of subscription video-on-demand for Netflix and HBO Max was rocked in the past week. The high-flying stock price of Netflix cracked, and also subscription prices were raised and lowered, in an apparent contradiction. Netflix raised its subscription price Jan. 14, and then days later competitor HBO Max instituted a limited-time price cut. Netflix increased its … [Read more...] about Marketing Turmoil Engulfs Netflix, S-VOD
economics
Studios Squeeze Cinemas on Blockbusters
A little-understood aspect of cinema booking contracts is that a larger percentage of boxoffice revenue is allocated to the Hollywood major studios as a blockbuster film climbs into the stratosphere. The result is that the financial benefits of outsized hits disproportionately go into the pockets of major-studio distributors, and less so to theaters. Hey all you “meme” small … [Read more...] about Studios Squeeze Cinemas on Blockbusters
Cinemas Show Comeback Grit
Though battered, the domestic movie theater industry showed surprising confidence at annual industry gathering CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Aug 23-26. Pundits can scoff, but I spent three days at the cinema trade show with nearly 2,000 executives who rolled up their sleeves to do business. Reflecting the devastation of the Covid pandemic, that headcount is down from 3,000-3,500 … [Read more...] about Cinemas Show Comeback Grit
Indies Battle Cinema Marketing Costs
There’s an unfolding tug-of-war over independent films, defined as titles not distributed by Hollywood’s five major studios. Cinemas want to keep them on their silver screens while video streamers, which enjoy more-favorable economics, are siphoning them away. Distributors of indie movies generally want theatrical release, but cinema marketing costs are a perennial obstacle. … [Read more...] about Indies Battle Cinema Marketing Costs
Streamers Exalt Original Movies
If movies are supposedly “dead,” then why are video streamers producing them by the truck load? In just the past week, it was learned that NBCUniversal will spend $400 million to make a new “Exorcist” movie trilogy for to-be-determined play on its Peacock video streamer as well as cinema for October 2023. Elsewhere, the parent of streamer HBO Max announced plans to make 10 … [Read more...] about Streamers Exalt Original Movies
College Debate: Artsy vs. Practical
Advanced arts degrees even from the top Ivy League don’t pay off after graduation because of meager job-earnings later, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. The result is many arts/film school graduates are saddled with a lifetime of burdensome student loans that they can’t cover from their career earnings, and this reignites the debate over arty versus practical in … [Read more...] about College Debate: Artsy vs. Practical
‘Apes’ Love AMC Stock … So Far
Small investors bid up the share price of largest U.S. movie theater circuit AMC Entertainment to heights that baffled Wall Street professionals. These investors embraced the nickname of “apes” because they are unsophisticated in investing but group movement made them strong like gorillas. What comes next is that high-flying AMC will have to deliver profits that justify its … [Read more...] about ‘Apes’ Love AMC Stock … So Far
Movie Malaise Rattles Oscars
As Hollywood looks to the Oscar telecast on April 25, the movie industry remains battered but has cause to be optimistic about better days ahead. On that bad news, the pandemic closed theaters, interrupted production and triggered large audience viewership declines for glitzy awards shows like the Oscars. Further, Hollywood is engulfed in painful self-evaluation about … [Read more...] about Movie Malaise Rattles Oscars
Analysts Map Cinema’s Future
Business analysts looking beyond the current Covid-19 pandemic disruption see a comeback picture for the silver screen. That's the case even though the customary 120-to-90-day window shrinks between theatrical and TV (such as video streamers like Netflix) and Hollywood trying different combinations of cinema/streaming sequencing for individual movies or batches of … [Read more...] about Analysts Map Cinema’s Future
Hollywood’s ♥️ Affair: Still ‘Dating’ Cinema
Hollywood still shows its love for cinema, despite the naysayers. Lost in the current theatrical release depression is that movie distributors continue to aggressively schedule cinema premieres months and even years ahead, when the Covid-19 is expected to be gone. Such film release scheduling is known as “dating” in Hollywood parlance. And, yes, such dating can be undone. … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s ♥️ Affair: Still ‘Dating’ Cinema