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(Just yesterday, new NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shellannouncedhes battling COVID-19.
As ever: Stay safe and healthy, everyone.
Peacocks Olympics-Free Strategy
The Olympics are off, but Peacock is still on.
This is not to say the COVID-19 crisis wont pose some challenges as Peacock attempts to take flight.
(Spain recently saw an overall streaming surge of 42 percent within just two days.)
We are now seeing more specific examples of a pandemic effect.
(People usually stay outside longer when the sun sets later; these days, not so much.)
HBO classicThe Wirehastripledits recent audience, whileThe SopranosandSex and the Cityare doing twice the business compared to recent weeks.
Cable-news ratings are exploding.
And its Monday-Friday primetime viewership jumped 124 percent, averaging 2.2 over the past week or so.
Broadcast ratings are also seeing a noticeable uptick, though not for every show.
Familiar faves such asNCISandThis Is Usare drawing their biggest numbers of the season.
Newer programs like NBCsCouncil of Dadsand ABCsFor Life, however, are seeing little or no same-day ratings bump.
Many outlets are now stepping up in a big way.
Oprah Winfrey returned to her daytime roots by launchingOprah Talks COVID-19on Apple TV+.
Shes in her living room, while guests beam in via what I assume is FaceTime or Skype.
(The Apple TV app is free to download.)
Disney putFrozen 2onDisney+months ahead of time and will do the same withPixarsOnwardnext week.
COVID-19 PSAs are popping up all over TV networks, including ad-supported streamers such asHulu.
Elton JohnandJames Cordenboth announced star-studded music specials/fundraisers set to air Sunday and Monday on Fox and CBS, respectively.
It airs April 5.
This week, Bilge Ebiri will be watchingMad Max: Fury Road, starting at 7 p.m. web link newscasts have also seen theirratings soar, and local news numbers aresimilarly spiking.
American TV programmers shouldnt just concede the audience looking for new kinds of programming to new media platforms.
Seth Meyers,tweeting outthe first home-produced installment of hisA Closer Looksegment.
