Category: media

With demand for its content soaring as people are self-isolating due to COVID, the streaming giant’s total market value on Wall Street has risen to $196 billion. Meanwhile, with demand for its product collapsing as people avoid going anywhere, the oil giant — the most valuable company in the world in 2013, is watching its stock price slump. – The Guardian

“[WBUR in Boston] had planned to return to a full eight-day campaign in 2020, after doing a marathon-themed 26.2-hour version for the past few years. … Months of planning for the original drive, however, went out the window when the coronavirus [hit].” Here’s what CEO Margaret Low (who had been in the job for less than three months) and the WBUR staff did instead. – Nieman Lab

“We have to write off 2020. It’s already the year that didn’t happen,” says one top agent at one of the town’s powerhouse firms who, like everyone reached by Vulture for this story, requested anonymity due to sensitivities surrounding ongoing business endeavors. “We’re not going to make any money because there are no revenues with TV and movies not getting made. – New York Magazine

Much of what was going to happen in any case will now happen suddenly: publishing history is suddenly accelerated. The shift from print to digital at virtually all publications will be radically sped up. A lot of publishers are simply going to run out of cash. One regional publisher has being ringing up contractors asking if it can delay payments by three months at least. – BBC

Valence Media, which includes digital media brands like The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and Vibe, is laying off 30% of its employees within its editorial division. – Axios

“Nothing will happen until jurisdictions relax regulations that currently don’t allow gatherings of 20 or more people. Anticipating that will happen in a month or two, here are some of the key issues that are being figured out right now in film and TV production,” including health testing, tool use, clothing on set, craft services, doors, and crucially, insurance. – Deadline

Social media influencers have had increasing… er… influence in recent years for their ability to get advertising messages out to their followers. But the COVID lockdown has crashed the market. And there’s even been backlashes to influencers who seem to be flaunting their enviable circumstances while the rest of us are stuck inside our apartments. – Wired

The manufacturer of Humvees, AM General, sued the game developer, alleging that the appearance of the trucks in Call of Duty “deceived [players] into believing that AM General licenses the games.” A New York State District Judge rejected the suit, writing that “if realism is an artistic goal, then the presence in modern warfare games of vehicles employed by actual militaries undoubtedly furthers that goal” and that the developer is thus protected under the First Amendment. – The Art Newspaper

“But, in typical Cannes style, the festival did not close the door entirely. Instead of canceling outright, organizers said they are exploring contingencies to make ‘Cannes 2020 real, in a way or another’ and have begun discussions with members of the industry in France and abroad to do so.” (The Cannes Film Market, however, has made the decision to go virtual in June.) – The Hollywood Reporter

The decision, outlined in an April 9 memo from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office, could open the door for other sports to resume in the state. – ESPN