Showbiz Sandbox 377: Disney Breaks Up With Netflix To Launch Solo Streaming Service
Summary: After years of licensing their movies to Netflix, Disney announced last week that it will be launching their own streaming service when their current deal expires. Then in a true reordering of the media landscape, Disney also revealed it will be creating a standalone subscription streaming service for ESPN. Realistically though Disney might be one of the few entertainment companies that could successfully pull off direct-to-consumer strategy on such a grand scale.<br> Perhaps Disney felt threatened by content distributors like Netflix and felt compelled to make a move. After all, just days after making their announcement Netflix said it had lured producer Shonda Rhimes away from Disney’s ABC Studios to make original programming for its own service. Netflix also stole hitmaker Chuck Lorre away from CBS and cut a deal with the Coen Brothers to make one of their next projects.<br> Meanwhile, there’s lots of drama on Broadway, literally and figuratively. Everyone is talking about the collapse of the musical “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,” which has charges of racism, unprofessionalism and bad management swirling around it. Now the show is closing long before its $12 million budget was recouped.<br> Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how Warner Music Group posted big revenue gains thanks to streaming, Bruce Springsteen heads to Broadway and the emergence of a new Chinese media magnate.<br> <br> comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of August 13, 2017<br><br> <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-august-13-2017-300503553.html" target="_blank">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-august-13-2017-300503553.html</a><br> ‘Wolf Warriors II’ Takes All-Time China Box Office Record<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/wolf-warriors-takes-all-time-china-box-office-record-1202518683/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/wolf-warriors-takes-all-time-china-box-office-record-1202518683/</a><br> Time to Panic: Inside the Movie Business’ Summer of Hell<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/summer-movie-business-1202519863/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/summer-movie-business-1202519863/</a><br> ‘Spotlight’ Studio Open Road To take ‘Bigger Swings’ After Sale to Tang Media<br><br> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-open-road-sale-20170807-story.html" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-open-road-sale-20170807-story.html</a><br> Former Lionsgate Film Executive Rob Friedman Joins Tang Media<br><br> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-rob-friedman-tang-20170808-story.html" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-rob-friedman-tang-20170808-story.html</a><br> The Education of a Coroner by John Bateson – BookFilter<br><br> <a href="http://bookfilter.com/2016/11/02/the-education-of-a-coroner/" target="_blank">http://bookfilter.com/2016/11/02/the-education-of-a-coroner/</a><br> Spectacular ‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812’ Crashes In Wake Of Casting Contretemps<br><br> <a href="http://deadline.com/2017/08/natasha-pierre-the-great-comet-of-1812-sets-closing-1202145024/" target="_blank">http://deadline.com/2017/08/natasha-pierre-the-great-comet-of-1812-sets-closing-1202145024/</a><br> It’s Official: ‘Great Comet’ Will Close Sept. 3<br><br> <a href="http://nypost.com/2017/08/08/its-official-great-comet-will-close-sept-3/" target="_blank">http://nypost.com/2017/08/08/its-official-great-comet-will-close-sept-3/</a><br> ‘Hamilton’ Juggernaut Lands In L.A. With Record Sales, $600 Tix<br><br> <a href="http://deadline.com/2017/08/hamilton-tickets-los-angeles-hollywood-pantages-lin-manuel-miranda-m..."></a>
