The Morning Fix: Hot trailers! Sony losses. ‘Client List’ scores.
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After the coffee. Before I figure out how to get Facebook to buy the Morning Fix.
The Skinny: I heard a splash while watching ‘Mad Men.’ I hope it wasn’t a shark jumping. Tuesday’s headlines include a look at how movie trailers have evolved in the digital age, ratings from some new high-profile cable shows including Lifetime’s ‘The Client List’ and Starz’s ‘Magic City,’ and Sony forecasting a big loss.
Daily Dose: Time Warner, which has already made a play for Dutch television production giant Endemol, is not giving up. While Endemol is wrapping up its financial restructuring and has shaken up its executive suite, Time Warner insiders think the money men that will end up in control will want a quick buck and are eager to deal.
Market the marketing. Remember when you only saw movie trailers when you were actually at the movie theater? Those days are long gone. Movie trailers, once an afterthought, are now becoming the most important part of a movie’s promotional push and studios are making the most of digital platforms to hype upcoming releases and judge consumer reaction in ways they never could years ago. That means the bar has been raised when it comes to producing trailers. The Los Angeles Times looks at how movie trailers are evolving.
Tough week. On Monday, word emerged that Sony will cut its staff by as many as 10,000. Now the company also gave warning of a $6.4-billion loss when it releases its annual results next month. More from Reuters.
Belt-tightening time. The National Endowment for the Arts is cutting back on its support of the Public Broadcasting System. According to the New York Times, the NEA will trim its funding of PBS by more than $1 million. PBS programs that will feel in the pinch include ‘Great Performances’ and ‘American Masters.’
Ratings roundup. Several high-profile cable shows premiered in the last few days, including Starz’s new drama ‘Magic City’ and Lifetime’s ‘The Client List.’ While ‘The Client List,’ about a woman who goes to work in a massage parlor to make ends meet, had a decent opening and may get some repeat customers, ‘Magic City’ was a little slower out of the gate. Details from the Hollywood Reporter.
Do I get a free drink if I watch? Airline Virgin America is launching its own entertainment channel and has struck content deals with Funny or Die and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Digital. Details from Variety.
Follow the Internet. We end today’s Morning Fix with this story about legendary journalist Bob Woodard’s interactions with a bunch of Yale students examining how the Watergate scandal would be reported in the digital age. Someone needs to tell those Ivy Leaguers that just googling ‘follow the money’ would not be enough to bring a president down. A scary read from Tech President.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: James Van Der Beek pokes fun at himself in a new ABC sitcom.
-- Joe Flint
Follow me on Twitter. We’ll figure out this world together. Twitter.com/JBFlint
