Cinemark Isn’t Sold on AMC-Universal Early VOD Deal

Red Hot Chili Peppers, has died, the band confirmed on Instagram on Friday. He was 64.

Following the release of his memoir Chasing the Light, Oliver Stone appeared virtually on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday to discuss his career in the film industry and some of the obstacles he's encountered with financing and controversial subject matters over the years. At the top of the show, Maher, who read the book — released in July — "in one big gulp," emphasized that making movies is a difficult business.

Chris Willman Music WriterJack Sherman, the guitarist who joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers for their debut album and contributed to much of the followup, has died at age 64.“We of the RHCP family would like to wish Jack Sherman smooth sailing into the worlds beyond, for he has passed,” the group said on its Instagram page  “Jack played on our debut album as well as our first tour of the USA. He was a unique dude and we thank him for all times good, bad and in between.

Will Thorne Staff WriterThe Democratic National Convention came to a close last night, with Democratic candidate Joe Biden finally taking to the stage to deliver his key address.Looking at the early numbers, night 4 could be on course for a similar total audience as night 3.

Drew Barrymore is taking on the heat – and revealing some facts about Scream!

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterCBS took the top spot in primetime Wednesday, with Big Brother leading the way delivering a 1.0 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic and 3.93 million viewers. The reality series dipped a tenth from last week, as did its lead-out Tough As Nails (0.4, 2.63M).

Will Thorne Staff WriterThe second night of the Democratic National Convention could be on course for a bigger audience than the first.Last night’s proceedings were up around 7% in total viewership across the broadcast networks, according to early Nielsen numbers.After leading the three broadcast networks on night 1, ABC dropped to third place on the second night, drawing 1.8 million total viewers, which is roughly a 14% dip.

Will Thorne Staff WriterOn the first night of the Democratic National Convetion (DNC), which saw Michelle Obama deliver a rousing speech to steal the show, ABC drew the largest total audience, at least according to early estimates.The Disney-owned network drew 2.1 million total viewers to its 10 p.m. coverage of the convention, and scored a 0.3 rating among adults 18-49.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaNo, AMC Theatres is not going to ignore its own social distancing guidelines and force strangers to sit next to each other when the cinema chain reopens this week.That was a mistaken assumption that gained traction on social media when it was revealed that AMC was allowing patrons to buy tickets next to seats that had already been reserved. There’s a reason for that apparent disregard of the six-feet apart rule.

The cast and crew of Global’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” are getting rolling.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaLeonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions has signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, reuniting the actor with the studio behind his recent hit “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Appian Way previously produced “The Revenant, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and “Shutter Island.” It is co-run by Jennifer Davisson.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAMC Theatres has just endured one of the most traumatic periods in its hundred-year history. As the theater chain looks to reopen 100 of its locations on Aug.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaMost cinemas in the U.S. are closed, major summer films have been pushed back indefinitely, and studios keep selling their movies to Netflix.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAMC Entertainment lost $561.2 million during a quarter where the world’s largest exhibitor’s cinemas were closed to moviegoers and virtually its entire staff was laid off or furloughed. Revenues at the company topped out at $18.9 million, a 98% plunge from the year-ago period.

CBS All Access rebrand in the United States, though both are expected to begin in 2021.CBS All Access originals, including “Guilty Party” and “The Harper House,” will also premiere exclusively on the new streaming service, ViacomCBS said.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorViacomCBS has pulled the curtain back on plans to launch a premium international streaming service, which will premiere new Showtime and CBS All Access originals, and will go live across three big territories in early 2021.The yet-to-be-named streamer — first mooted in May — was discussed on the ViacomCBS second-quarter earnings call on Thursday, with the company drawing up plans to go live in Australia, Latin America (including Argentina, Brazil and Mexico)

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorShares of Disney were up more than 6% in premarket trading Wednesday, as investors rallied around the media conglomerate’s fast-growing streaming footprint and aggressive expansion strategy.Disney on Tuesday reported that its direct-to-consumer streaming services collectively surpassed 100 million paid subscribers worldwide.

Last week, a landmark deal between AMC Theatres and NBCUniversal rocked the film industry, as the two agreed to shorten the exclusive theatrical windows for films from nearly three months to merely 17 days, allowing for the film studio to release features on Premium VOD less than three weeks after they debut on the big screen.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: International cinema giant Vue has weighed in on the controversial Universal-AMC window crunch, announced earlier this week.Universal and AMC put aside bad blood to sign a multi-year deal that will allow the studio’s films to premiere on premium video on-demand within three weeks of their theatrical debuts.Like Cineworld, before it, the move has bemused Vue, which accounts for 2,000 screens in 10 major international markets, including UK, Germany,

AMC Theatres and Universal Pictures’ deal to dramatically shorten the amount of time that movies play exclusively on the big screen is resounding like a thunderclap across the film business.The alliance, once considered improbable, is challenging long-held prejudices, while leaving executives and creative talent to navigate a new topography.