Top News:
Jason Gurwin / The Streamable:
Universal Pictures to make digital rentals of some new movies now in theaters available for $20 from March 20, and upcoming Trolls World Tour on its release day — In light of the movie theaters being brought to a standstill, Universal Pictures is changing the game.
RELATED:
Rebecca Rubin / Variety:
North American box office plunged to around $55.3M this weekend, its worst weekend since sales of $54.5M from September 15 to 17 in 2000 — Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, /Film, The Wrap, CNN, MediaPost, Wired, The Guardian, @ecareyo, Vanity Fair, @variety, @ecnalhanid, The Playlist, @ewagmeister, New York Post, KRON4 and IndieWire
New York Times:
As the COVID-19 outbreak discourages moviegoers and theatrical releases get delayed, the ascendancy of streaming services may be accelerating — Cinemas, already contending with streaming services, are now facing the prospect of no audiences and no new films because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, The Week, @davechensky, Hollywood Reporter, @ennisnyt and @rossdawson
The Intercept:
Leaked docs: TikTok told moderators to suppress posts from those deemed “ugly”, poor, or disabled, and censor political speech in livestreams, to attract users — The makers of TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing app with hundreds of millions of users around the world …
Discussion:
@panzer, Gizmodo, PAPER, @caseyjohnston, @josephfcox, @theintercept, @taylorlorenz, @cindygallop, @rose_catb, @mattpostsayshi, The Verge and @slooterman, more at Techmeme »
Rachel Abrams / New York Times:
Inside The Seattle Times' COVID-19 coverage, as nearly all of its 58 reporters cover a pandemic affecting their neighbors and friends while trying to stay safe — “That's what local papers are meant to do”: The journalists at The Seattle Times have been aggressively covering the coronavirus as it affects their neighbors and friends.
YouTube Creator Blog:
YouTube says it will be relying more on automated systems as content moderators stay home, and creators may see fewer strikes against videos but more removals — Today, as the unprecedented COVID-19 situation continues, Google outlined how it's reducing the need for people to come …
Discussion:
Variety, The Keyword, TechCrunch, Marketing Land, The Verge, Engadget, 9to5Google, @ytcreators and @youtubeinsider, more at Techmeme »
Javier C. Hernández / New York Times:
Chinese journalists, usually muzzled, are publicly pushing back against the government's positive coronavirus spin, buoyed by widespread calls for free speech — The Communist Party is trying to fill the airwaves with positive stories about its battle against the virus.
Discussion:
@ajenglish, @hernandezjavier, Fox News, @hernandezjavier, @hernandezjavier, @ewong, @hernandezjavier and @hernandezjavier
Poynter:
A licensed psychotherapist weighs in on how journalists can manage the stress of nonstop COVID-19 coverage — 9 ways journalists can push back against the stress of an always-on story — I have been hearing from journalists who are stressed out by this nonstop COVID-19 coverage.
Discussion:
@junkeranna, @jimmacmillan, @firstdraftnews, @ctardaguila, @marinafang and @n_yang
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
AMC Networks says it is planning to sell ad packages that accompany its shows even when they become available on ad-supported streaming outlets like Pluto TV — AMC Networks wants to sell the ads that accompany “Walking Dead” on its flagship cable outlet and wherever the series' zombies might march.
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, Adweek and Ad Age
Variety:
Sources: Universal Music Group chief Lucian Grainge has been hospitalized after a positive COVID-19 test — Universal Music Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has been hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus, multiple sources exclusively told Variety.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Billboard, AppleInsider, @thebrentsmith, @billboard, Music Ally, @yashar, @mattloverera, @jeff__benjamin, @timlarew, @mattdonnelly, UPROXX, The Wrap, NME, The Loop and Music Business Worldwide
Manori Ravindran / Variety:
Disney Plus has partnered with O2 as its exclusive UK mobile network distributor, a week ahead of its launch — Disney Plus has linked with O2 as its exclusive U.K. mobile network distributor, a week ahead of its highly anticipated launch. — New and upgrading monthly customers to O2 …
Discussion:
The Streamable
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
By lashing out at PBS's Yamiche Alcindor over questions about firing the Pandemic Response Team, Trump keeps trying to duck scrutiny for his own words and deeds — It's bad enough that President Trump has relentlessly minimized the coronavirus threat for nakedly political reasons …
Discussion:
The Independent, @theplumlinegs and @theplumlinegs, more at Techmeme »
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