Cineworld Nears Bankruptcy
As the coronavirus threatens to close movie theaters in the US and beyond, Cineworld has warned that there is “significant doubt about the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.”
News, Insights, and Exclusive Intelligence
The Paradox of Choice
The major studios sabotaged the dream of a la carte programming and are now attempting to transform streaming into cable television via an ethernet connection instead of coaxial.
Yet Another AT&T Video Service
AT&T released its answer to subscriber losses with an all-new set-top service called AT&T TV, not to be confused with a plethora of other options. The basic package includes 100 channels.
AVOD Market Heats Up
Several media companies are holding discussions to acquire advertising-supported video streaming services. Fox Corp is in talks with Tubi, and NBCUniversal is considering Vudu.
PayTV Subscriber Freefall
Traditional pay television subscribers are in freefall—the rate of subscribers canceling their service accelerated by more than 70% last year.
AVOD Streaming Gains Ground
AVOD is gaining ground on SVOD in the United States. The proportion of television viewership that is through streaming services has almost doubled since 2018.
Netflix Wins Over France
Streaming giant Netflix officially opened its latest non-US office in Paris last month, signaling a deeper commitment to Europe. Netflix now has four offices in Europe.
Cord-Cutting Gains Momentum
In the fourth quarter, two million US subscribers cut the cord on traditional television packages from AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and Verizon, up from 1.7 million in the third quarter.
Disney Aims At Netflix
Disney+ nearly triples its subscriber base since launching in November. Through January, the streaming service has 28.6 million subscribers, up from 10 million weeks after it debuted.
UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up
After a slow start to the 35th annual Sundance Film Festival, the weekend produced a handful of sizable deals, including from Amazon Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Lionsgate.