Showbiz
Coronavirus Could Wipe More Than $5bn in Film Revenue
By Adedapo Adesanya
With the global shipping industry facing a $1.7 billion loss on the heels of coronavirus, the global film industry could face a higher loss – as preventive measures such as avoiding public spaces may restrict releases and prevent people from visiting the cinemas.
Analysts believe COVID-19 could already result in a loss of at least $5 billion from weakened box office revenue and impacted production as scheduled releases are been pushed to a future date.
Reports show that movie theatres have been closed in China, where the disease originated for weeks and with recent spread into major film markets like Japan, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and other countries, they may be a similar reaction.
The $5 billion could grow if movie-going falters in other markets, such as Japan, which is the third biggest film market in the world, where schools are already closing down and in the US, where there have been 100 confirmed cases and more than 10 deaths so far.
According to a report by the Hollywood Reporter, China, which is the world’s second-largest market in terms of cinemas (70,000), remain closed amid the outbreak, and as both Hollywood and local studios have started pushing back releases, the impact are already been felt on the economy.
For instance, it was disclosed that ticket sales in the traditional Chinese New Year holiday period, from January 24 to February 2020, were as low as $4.2 million, compared with $1.76 billion over the same period in 2019.
In China’s Asian neighbour, South Korea, which is the world’s fifth largest movie market and with over 6,000 cases confirmed in a little over a month, revenue was down by 80 percent year-over-year.
It was gathered that revenue went down by 70 percent in February 2020 as ticket sales brought in $52 million from 7.3 million tickets compared to $185 million from 22.3 million tickets in February 2019.
It was revealed that in Italy, almost half of cinemas have been shut down since the virus, with over 3,000 cases and 107 deaths, has led governments to impose restrictions – that also affected its football league – in the northern part of the country.
As a result of this, revenue has fallen 44 percent in the first week of closure with total receipts down by 76 percent according to the country’s media authority.
With cases in Italy, the first in Europe, other countries like France have called for a temporary stop to all indoor events with more than 5,000 people in attendance, and Switzerland has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people until 15 March. This may further contribute to plunge in global film revenue for the year.
Audiences in the Middle East are also reportedly staying away from cinemas following multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 while Africa which hasn’t recorded a lot of cases and has not felt this.
On Wednesday, the BBC reported that the release of the new James Bond film: “No Time to Die” was pushed back by seven months as coronavirus continues to spread. It will now come out in the UK on November 12, and in the US on November 25.
Many other movies may follow as film companies have started cancelling events.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Social, short-form video content platform, TikTok has announced the launch of the second phase of its #SaferTogether digital safety and awareness programme in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN).
The initiative, which began in 2022, aims to enhance digital safety across Nigeria by educating parents, teachers, and guardians on how to help young people navigate TikTok and the broader digital landscape safely.
The first phase of the #SaferTogether campaign successfully educated 537 teachers and 1,037 parents in cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Kano about TikTok’s safety features and promoting positive mental health online.
Now, building on this success, the second phase will include NITDA as a strategic partner, aligning with its mission to foster digital literacy and enhance technology infrastructure.
The company said Phase 2 will extend the programme’s reach to additional regions, including Edo and Kaduna, and will cover critical topics such as misinformation, cyberbullying, sexting, digital citizenship, fake news, child sexual violence, and data protection.
Workshops will engage a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, government representatives, community leaders, parents, teachers, and guardians.
Speaking on this development, Mr Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Government Relations and Public Policy Director for Africa, emphasized the importance of digital literacy.
“Empowering parents, teachers, and guardians with digital literacy skills is crucial for creating a safer digital environment. Our commitment to community safety is unwavering, and through local partnerships, we are extending these educational resources beyond our platform,” he said.
Adding his input, Mr Olubayo Adekanmbi, Founder and CEO of Data Science Nigeria, highlighted the shared responsibility in making the digital world safer, adding that the organisation will continue to advance this goal.
“We are excited to continue with the Safer Together campaign, providing essential insights on digital wellness to parents, teachers, and guardians.”
It’s the weekend. Time to kick back, relax, and catch up on favourite shows, right? Wrong! As a mum with toddlers and a sports-fanatic husband, weekends at my house can also mean the “Battle of the Remote,” with everyone fighting to watch their favourite show, movie, or football game.
When my toddlers are awake, it’s a marathon of kids’ content all day long. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry! I’ve found an affordable way to enjoy my favourite drama series and movies in peace while my husband watches every Premier League match without interruption. Here’s my secret to avoiding living room conflict and enjoying a peaceful weekend where everyone gets their fair share of screen time.
First, make sure you have an internet device. You can check here for a list of devices that are compatible.
Next, sign up for Showmax and subscribe to Showmax Premier League Mobile and Showmax Entertainment All devices plan for just 5,400 naira monthly. This plan allows us to watch Premier League matches live and stream Showmax’s entertainment content on multiple mobile devices. For those with smaller budgets, Showmax has plans as low as ₦1,600 for Entertainment mobile-only. Click here for more details.
To sign up for Showmax, visit the Showmax website, select “Sign up,” choose your plan, and create an account using your email address, mobile number, and password. After verifying your mobile number and entering your payment details, you’re all set to enjoy amazing content without any living room conflict.
Speaking of shows, here are my favourite shows streaming on Showmax this November.
FIGHT NIGHT: THE MILLION DOLLAR HEIST | New Episodes Every Wednesday
Emmy nominee Kevin Hart leads an all-star cast as “Chicken Man,” a smooth-talking hustler who hosts Atlanta’s most exclusive event—until it spirals into chaos. When millions vanish, Chicken Man becomes suspect number one for Detective JD Hudson, one of the city’s first Black detectives.
This series stars the Peacock Original’s stellar cast and also includes Oscar nominees Samuel L Jackson, Taraji P Henson, and Terrence Howard.
With a 96% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and holding the #21 spot on their list of the best Watch the trailer here.
THE GOOD DOCTOR S7 | Binge All Episodes Now on Showmax
Dr. Shaun Murphy, a surgeon with autism and Savant syndrome, as he navigates personal and professional challenges. In its farewell season, Shaun and Lea (Paige Spara) adjust to parenthood while Shaun faces a crucial case involving two babies needing the same heart.
Created by Emmy-winning David Shore (House MD), the series has earned an 8/10 IMDb rating and multiple award nominations for Freddie Highmore, including Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods.
The series ends on a high note, with its final episode achieving a 9.4/10 rating on IMDb
Watch the trailer here
LAW & ORDER: ORGANISED CRIME S4 | Binge from Monday, 18 November
In Season 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime, Emmy nominee Christopher Meloni returns as Elliot Stabler, reprising his iconic role from Special Victims Unit. Now back at the NYPD after a personal loss, Stabler tackles a complex criminal underworld.
This season features guest stars such as Oscar winners Ellen Burstyn and Keith Carradine, BAFTA winner Jennifer Ehle, and Dean Norris from Breaking Bad as Stabler’s brother, Randall. Special SVU cast members Tamara Tunie, Peter Scanavino, and Dann Florek appear in several crossover episodes.
Organized Crime has already been renewed for a fifth season. Watch the trailer here
Showmax has unveiled a list of top international series available to customers on the platform this November.
Top on the list is the much anticipated HBO series Dune: Prophecy. Inspired by the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune, the series stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and Travis Fimmels. This series is set for global premiere on 18 November and Showmax customers can stream the first episode the same day.
Also scheduled for Showmax this November is season two of the intriguing series, Found, available for streaming from Tuesday, 26 November. Peacock Original’s stellar cast series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist is now available for streaming on Showmax and customers can catch new episodes on Wednesdays. The cast includes Oscar nominees Samuel L Jackson, Taraji P Henson, and Terrence Howard.
The November lineup includes an array of foreign series perfect for binge-watching. Devil’s Peak season 1, and The Good Doctor season 7 both available for streaming; Taktiek season 1, and Chicago PD season 11 are also available for streaming; Law and Order: Organised Crime season 4, available from November 18; and Billy the Kid season 2, available from November 25.
For lovers of top-quality international movies, Showmax collection for the month includes The Fall Guy coming to Showmax on November 18; Civil War by Oscar-nominated writer, Alex Garland set for Showmax on November 25; Kung Fu Panda 4 available for streaming from November 29; Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom streaming now; The End We Start From, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, and Gina McKee, available from November 21.
Other international movies to look out for on Showmax in the month are Pet Sematary: Bloodlines available for streaming now; Heist 88 featuring Emmy’s award winner, Courtney B Vance, available from November 25; Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths part one, and all seven blockbusters of Mission Impossible to be available for binge-watch from November 25.
Customers can access all series and movies on Showmax by subscribing to the Showmax Entertainment mobile plan for N1,600. Visit www.showmax.com to sign up
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