Showbiz Sandbox 244: Hollywood Faces An Epic Struggle Over the Future of Entertainment Distribution

Whether it’s movies streaming online before they premiere in theaters, the never-ending retransmission dispute between television networks and cable companies or the dwindling number of book retailers, how media companies are distributing their content has never been more in flux.

The Weinstein Company released their critically acclaimed release “Snowpiercer” on VOD just two weeks after the film opened in cinemas. Then they agreed to let “One Chance”, a biopic of talent show winner Paul Potts, stream free on Yahoo! ten days before the movie opens in the United States.

Meanwhile, rather than sell you books, Amazon is hoping you’ll be willing to pay a monthly fee for their new e-book subscription service. The only problem is the service’s limited selection (not to mention the company’s inability to make a profit), making us wonder whether such a business model is viable.

Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including how Weird Al Yankovic’s album wound up at the top of the sales charts, the Emmy’s snub broadcast networks and Garth Brooks comes out of retirement.

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‘Snowpiercer,’ VOD and the Future of Film Distribution
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-snowpiercer-vod-and-the-future-of-film-distribution-20140710-story.html

The Weinstein Co. to Debut ‘One Chance’ on Yahoo Before It Hits Theaters
http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/weinstein-one-chance-yahoo-1201265626/

NATO Responds to Weinstein’s Yahoo Preem: ‘A Strong Window Serves Both Ends of the Market’
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/nato-responds-to-weinsteins-yahoo-preem-a-strong-window-serves-both-ends-of-the-market-1201266880/

Box-Office Slump: Hollywood Facing Worst Summer in Eight Years
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-slump-hollywood-facing-720420

Why ‘Apes’ Won’t Be Enough to Turn Around the Summer Box Office
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/summer-box-office-lull-1201262818/

Europe, Latin America Look for Box-Office Rebound After World Cup (Analysis)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/world-cup-box-office-rebound-719619

Marvel Studios Dates Five Untitled Movies Through 2019
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/marvel-studios-dates-five-untitled-movies-through-2019-1201264988/

‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2′ Release Set for July 28, 2017
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-2-release-date-1201269715/

Marvel Snaps Up Old ‘Spider-Man 4’ Date, Likely for ‘Avengers 3’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marvel-snaps-up-old-spider-720776

‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5’ Set for Summer 2017
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pirates-caribbean-5-set-summer-720582

Comic-Con: Quentin Tarantino Confirms He’s Making ‘The Hateful Eight’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comic-con-quentin-tarantino-confirms-721597

A Ridiculous Rule Is Allowing ‘True Detective’ To Go Up Against ‘Breaking Bad’ At The Emmys
http://www.businessinsider.com/true-detective-emmy-nomination-2014-7

Tim Goodman on Emmy Nominations: Academy Needs to Adapt After Atrocious Snubs
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bastard-machine/tim-goodman-emmy-nominations-academy-717730

Emmy Nominations: The Complete List
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emmy-nominations-complete-list-717664

Emmys Make History With First Transgender Acting Nominee
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/emmys-make-history-first-transgender-717724

Netflix Passes 50 Million Subscribers
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-passes-50-million-subscribers-720038

FX Tweaks Ratings Model by Delaying ‘The Strain’ Numbers
http://variety.com/2014/data/news/fx-sets-precedent-by-delaying-release-of-ratings-for-hot-new-drama-the-strain-1201264817/

TV Ad Sales Fall Short of Target
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-television-advertising-20140724-story.html

Mid-Year Music Update: Streaming Is King as Downloads Fade Away
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mid-year-music-update-streaming-is-king-as-downloads-fade-away-20140707

Amazon’s Ambitious Bets Pile Up, and Its Losses Swell
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/25/technology/revenue-swells-at-amazon-but-losses-do-too.html

Amazon Defies France With 1 Centime Deliveries
http://www.thelocal.fr/20140711/amazon-france-free-deliveries

Amazon Makes Kindle Unlimited Official
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/63345-amazon-makes-kindle-unlimited-official.html

Kindle Unlimited’s Two-Tier System Makes Some Authors Second-Class Citizens
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2014/kindle-unlimiteds-two-tier-system-makes-some-authors-second-class-citizens/

HarperCollins Pivots to Sell Print and Ebooks Directly to Readers Through Main Website
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2014/harpercollins-pivots-to-sell-print-and-ebooks-directly-to-readers-through-main-website

Weird Al Yankovic Scores With ‘Mandatory Fun’
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/arts/music/weird-al-yankovic-scores-with-mandatory-fun.html

Rosie O’Donnell Returning as ‘View’ Co-Host
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rosie-o-donnell-returning-as-717742

London Return of Cats Will Get Rap Update
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/193200-London-Return-of-Cats-Will-Get-Rap-Update

‘L.A. Plays Itself’ Is Finally Coming to Home Video. Here’s How.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-on-film-copyright-protection-movies-20140727-story.html

Garth Brooks Confirms New Album, World Tour
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/garth-brooks-confirms-new-album-world-tour-20140710

Are Mariah’s, J.Lo’s Albums Dead In The Water?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/07/09/are-mariah-carey-jennifer-lopez-albums-dead-in-the-water/11926903/

CBS Inks Rich Netflix Deal for James Patterson Drama ‘Zoo’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-inks-rich-netflix-deal-717356

Sony’s Adam Sandler Candy Land Film Threatened In Lawsuit
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/sonys-adam-sandler-candy-land-719285

Golden Globes Players Settle Long-Running Legal War
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/golden-globes-players-settle-long-716353

Murdoch Puts Time Warner on His Wish List
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/16/rupert-murdoch-said-to-have-made-offer-for-time-warner/

Time Warner Adopts Provision That Makes Hostile Takeover Tougher
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-time-warner-board-provision-20140721-story.html

How the FCC Could Weigh In On a 21st Century Fox-Time Warner Deal
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fcc-21st-century-fox-time-warner-20140718-story.html

To Help Mount Giant Time Warner Bid, Murdoch Calls On European Outposts
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/to-help-mount-giant-time-warner-bid-murdoch-calls-on-european-outposts/

Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB to Merge with German and Italian Sister Companies to Create Pay-TV Giant
http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/rupert-murdochs-bskyb-to-merge-with-german-and-italian-sister-companies-to-create-pay-tv-giant-1201268844/

Broadway Legend Elaine Stritch Dies at 89
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/elaine-stritch-dead-broadway-legend-719301

Nadine Gordimer, Novelist Who Took On Apartheid, Is Dead at 90
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/books/nadine-gordimer-novelist-and-apartheid-foe-dies-at-90.html

James Shigeta, Top Asian-American Actor of Early ’60s and ‘Die Hard’ Co-Star, Dies at 81
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-shigeta-dead-die-hard-721851

Tom Rolf, Oscar-Winning Editor of ‘The Right Stuff,’ Dies at 82
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/tom-rolf-dead-oscar-winning-719158

‘Rockford Files’ Star James Garner Dies at 86
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-garner-rockford-files-maverick-dies-442238

Charlie Haden, Legendary Jazz Bassist, Dies at 76
http://variety.com/2014/music/news/charlie-haden-legendary-jazz-bassist-dies-at-77-1201261391/