These are trying times. COVID-19 has shaken everything up. Often times when the world may seem too crazy people retreat to reality TV, seeking comfort by means of reality TV. When days are hard it can really help to curl up with your favorite reality TV show. Sadly it is not just TV that is suffering, movies are too.
Since the first big outbreak of COVID-19 in China near the beginning of December many reality TV shows have since been canceled; Judge Judy, LIVE PD, The Bachelorette, and WWE have all drastically changed. One reality TV program, Big Brother in Canada, had to break the news to the contestants about how severe COVID-19 is. This video captured their reaction:
Regarding the WWE, Cali Streif, a 21-year-old college student at Viterbo University in Wisconsin, commented on how it seems silly for these wrestlers to be trash-talking and wrestling in-front of nothing. “Maybe they should just make a movie or something,” Streif said.
Below is her full interview on how her viewing experience has been hindered due to COVID-19.
Reality TV’s ratings might be failing and upsetting, but not all ratings are falling, News stations, especially local news stations are doing well, according to a Media Post commentary published late last month.
“The first two weeks of March witnessed 52% and 84% higher 18-34 impressions for all Monday to Friday local TV news in the top 25 markets — to 4.22 million for Nielsen”
MEdia POST commentary, “Younger Viewers Watch More Local TV, Given COVID-19 News”
This data indicated impressions are estimated to continue to climb steadily until the aftermath of this pandemic comes to a close. All the while, news stations have been challenged to adapt.
TV is not the only thing that is changing since the outburst, movies and movie premiers have changed. Since many movie theaters have shut down last month people are wondering what is going on with the new movies there were promised. The answer: online streaming. Online streaming is on the rise now more than ever this has helped many movies still be able to be premiered and make some money.
Disney+ released its newest movie two weeks early to help “boost morale” and give some positive light during these bleak times. When this happened so many people were impressed with how Disney+ was doing this and other streaming services quickly followed suit.
Although some movies were able to premier and get in front of the audience before the outbreak, not all movies were as lucky. Some movies were postponed or even canceled, and many celebrities are taking time away from the big screen to bring smiles to fans.
- 74th Annual Tony’s Awards are postponed
- “The Batman” by WarnersBro has been postponed
- The 2020 MIDEM conference in Cannes has been canceled
The full list of cancelations and postponed new dates can be found here.
