Legal
-
‘The Secret: Dare to Dream’ Tops FandangoNow Chart
Lionsgate’s The Secret: Dare to Dream was the top movie in terms of revenue on FandangoNow for the week ended Aug. 2. FandangoNow is Fandango’s transactional video-on-demand service. The film, released July 31 for premium VOD rental at $19.99 for 48 hours, stars Katie Holmes and Josh Lucas and is based on the best-selling book … Continue reading “‘The Secret: Dare to Dream’ Tops FandangoNow Chart”
-
Doc ‘The Blech Effect’ Coming to VOD and EST Aug. 25 From Virgil
The documentary The Blech Effect: The Rise and Fall of the King of Biotech will come out on VOD and EST Aug. 25 from Virgil Films. The film chronicles the life of David Blech, who would be a multi-billionaire — if only he were in a coma for the last 15 years. In his early … Continue reading “Doc ‘The Blech Effect’ Coming to VOD and EST Aug. 25 From Virgil”
-
‘HBO Now’ Rebrands to ‘HBO’ on Amazon Fire TV; No Deal Yet on HBO Max
HBO Now, the subscription streaming video service launched in 2015, is slowly being absorbed into the HBO brand — and ultimately HBO Max. WarnerMedia July 30 disclosed it has reached a deal with Amazon for continued support of HBO Now for Amazon Prime members. The new deal, which replaces a current agreement set to expire … Continue reading “‘HBO Now’ Rebrands to ‘HBO’ on Amazon Fire TV; No Deal Yet on HBO Max”
-
Quibi Gets Legal Win Amid Ongoing Consumer Indifference
Quibi, the $1.7 billion funded subscription streaming video service from DreamWorks Animation founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and eBay founder Meg Whitman, got a legal break from ongoing concerns about its underwhelming business model. A Los Angeles District Court judge July 13 ruled against tech rival Eko’s claim that Quibi illegally uses its “turnstile” technology enabling users to … Continue reading “Quibi Gets Legal Win Amid Ongoing Consumer Indifference”
-
Theater Group Sues New Jersey to Re-Open Screens
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), including AMC Theatres, Cinemark and Regal Cinemas, has filed a lawsuit against New Jersey Gov. Philip Murphy and Judith Persichilli, acting commissioner of health of New Jersey, for their legal mandates keeping movie theaters shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic. The suit, filed July 6 in U.S. District … Continue reading “Theater Group Sues New Jersey to Re-Open Screens”
-
Revised Tech Encryption Bill Sent to U.S. Senate for Vote
A bill seeking to prohibit the exploitation of minors on the Internet July 2 was sent to the floor of the U.S. Senate for a full vote. While there is no argument against removing images of child abuse from the Web, technology and trade organizations contend the “Eliminating Abuse and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technology” … Continue reading “Revised Tech Encryption Bill Sent to U.S. Senate for Vote”
-
Byron Allen, Comcast Settle Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
Despite a previous setback ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, litigants in the case involving Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios Networks and Comcast June 11 announced they have made nice, entering into a content carriage arrangement that extends and amends terms for The Weather Channel and 14 broadcast television stations. The companies announced that pending litigation … Continue reading “Byron Allen, Comcast Settle Racial Discrimination Lawsuit”
-
1.5 Million New Unemployment Claims Filed Last Week
Above average jobless claims continue with another 1.5 million first-time claims filed through June 6. That compared with more than 1.87 million first-time filers in the previous-week period. More than 44 million people — hundreds of thousands in the entertainment sector — have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic expanded nationwide. The four-week moving … Continue reading “1.5 Million New Unemployment Claims Filed Last Week”
-
Anti-First Amendment Lawsuit Against Fox News Thrown Out of Court
A Washington state judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a left-wing activist group claiming Fox News isn’t entitled to First Amendment protections on coverage with which the group disagrees. A group known as the Washington League for Increased Transparency and Ethics (WASHLITE) filed suit in April claiming Fox News opinion hosts were spreading misinformation … Continue reading “Anti-First Amendment Lawsuit Against Fox News Thrown Out of Court”
-
Parks: COVID-19 Driving Greater TVOD Use, Piracy Threat
As expected, with greater numbers of households spending time indoors due to the coronavirus, use of home entertainment options such as transactional VOD have spiked. In the quarter ended March 31, 14% of U.S. broadband households used a TVOD service over the past 30 days, a five-point increase from the previous year, according to new … Continue reading “Parks: COVID-19 Driving Greater TVOD Use, Piracy Threat”
-
Disney Updates Terms of Use, Including Digital Movie Codes
With more than 90 million over-the-top video subscribers across Disney+, Hulu+ and ESPN+, Disney has begun informing customers about updates to “Disney Terms of Use” in the United States and Canada. The media giant said the updates, which include Disney, ESPN, ABC, Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm (Star Wars), ABC News, FX and other brands, are intended … Continue reading “Disney Updates Terms of Use, Including Digital Movie Codes”
-
Free Speech in a Pandemic: Fox News Fighting Misinformation Lawsuit
During the coronavirus spread there has been no shortage of politics in the media when it comes to reporting the pandemic. President Trump has used his daily COVID-19 press briefings at times as a bully pulpit to advocate his political agenda as much as advocating washing hands and wearing scarves in the absence of face … Continue reading “Free Speech in a Pandemic: Fox News Fighting Misinformation Lawsuit”