Showbiz Sandbox 302: The Long Slow Death of Overnight Television Ratings
November 30, 2015
Taking a cue from cable networks like AMC and USA, Fox recently became the first major network to abandon the practice of touting overnight television ratings numbers. The move simply confirms the growing realization within the industry of a sea change in viewing habits that is having a massive impact on when shows are watched, what shows are produced and how they get promoted.
The publishing industry is undergoing its own set of struggles. New reports on book sales paint a dire picture for the ebook format and mid-size publishers. We’ll go over the numbers and explain what they actually mean.
Speaking of numbers, Adele’s new album “25” broke sales records selling 3.38 million copies in its first week, accounting for 67% of all record sales in Billboard’s Top 200. While you can hear songs from the album on the radio or purchase it via digital download and even on compact disc, Adele is not allowing you to stream it on services such as Spotify or Apple Music
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how French television series were big winners at the International Emmy Awards, why only one of this season’s new TV shows have been cancelled and Sony’s decision to stop manufacturing Betamax tapes.
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Activision Claims ‘Biggest Entertainment Launch’ of 2015 with $550 Million for ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops III’
https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/activision-claims-biggest-entertainment-launch-of-2015-with-550-million-for-call-of-duty-black-ops-iii-1201638343/
‘Star Wars: Force Awakens’ Racks Up $50M-Plus in Advance Ticket Sales
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-force-awakens-racks-842279
Soft E-book Sales Underscore Down HBG Results
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/68630-soft-e-book-sales-contribute-to-down-hbg-usa-quarter.html
U.S. book Publishing Industry Stats From Nielsen
http://jwikert.typepad.com/the_average_joe/2015/11/us-book-publishing-industry-stats-from-nielsen.html?et_mid=797336&rid=240996315
September Bookstore Sales Up 6.7%
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/68702-september-bookstore-sales-up-6-7.html
Broadway Box Office: ‘Hamilton’ Dethrones ‘Lion King’ As Highest Grossing Show
http://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2015/11/10/broadway-box-office-hamilton-dethrones-lion-king-as-highest-grossing-show/
‘Bones’ Producer Sues Fox for “Accounting Chicanery,” Claims Top Execs “Threatened” Him
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/bones-producer-sues-fox-accounting-843854
Anne Frank’s Diary Gains ‘Co-Author’ in Copyright Move
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/books/anne-frank-has-a-co-as-diary-gains-co-author-in-legal-move.html
ESPN Digital Nets Record Ratings In October
http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2015112540803/espn-digital-nets-record-ratings-in-october.html
Disney’s Cable Channels See Steep Subscriber Losses
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-cable-channels-see-steep-844007
Weinstein Co. Planning Layoffs
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/weinstein-hit-layoffs-840415
France Leads International Emmy Awards as Winners Honor ‘Victims of Despair and Hate’
https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/paris-terror-attacks-international-emmy-awards-france-wins-1201647043/
Gawker to Reboot as Political News Website, Announces Layoffs
https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/gawker-to-reboot-as-political-news-website-lay-off-10-staffers-1201642693/
Gawker to Retool as Politics Site
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/business/media/gawker-politics-media.html?_r=3
Stephen Colbert to Follow 2016 Super Bowl
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/12/business/media/stephen-colbert-to-follow-2016-super-bowl.html
Betamax Is Dead, Long Live VHS
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/10/betamax-dead-long-live-vhs-sony-end-prodution
Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year Is Not a Word
http://www.newsweek.com/oxford-dictionaries-word-year-not-word-395015
Fall TV’s Slow Death March: How “Trimmed” Became the New “Canceled”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fall-tvs-slow-death-march-836722
Adele Is Said to Reject Streaming for ‘25’
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/20/business/media/adele-music-album-25.html?smid=tw-nytmedia&smtyp=cur
Adele’s ’25’ Sells 2.3M in First Three Days in U.S.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/adeles-25-sells-23m-first-843274
Adele’s ‘25’ Sells Record-Shattering 3.38 Million Copies
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/arts/music/adeles-25-sells-record-shattering-3-38-million-copies.html
Why Adele Is Selling Records Like It’s 1999
http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/11/29/why-adele-is-selling-records-like-its-1999/
Adele Plots U.S. Tour With Indie Promoters Snubbing Live Nation, AEG
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/11/adele-plots-ou-tour-with-indie-promoters-snubbing-live-nation-aeg.html
Rdio Was Losing $2 Million Each Month Before Bankruptcy
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/rdio-was-losing-2-million-840977
Fox Becomes First Broadcast Network to Drop Same-Day Ratings Releases
https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/fox-same-day-ratings-releases-1201645716/
Fox Abandons Same-Day Ratings
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-abandons-same-day-ratings-842498
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