Oct 7, 2017
Amazon struggling to break through in Hollywood
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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Photo: Reed Saxon / AP
"Hollywood Glory Eludes Amazon," the Wall Street Journal's Ben Fritz and Joe Flint write on the front page:
- What's new: "Amazon Studios has been stumbling when it comes to producing content that attracts audiences and buzz. The Hollywood arm of the online giant is pivoting away from dramas for adults but is struggling to define a new strategy."
- What happened: "It has alienated high-profile content creators, who say executives have proven incapable — or unwilling — to smooth out conflicts that inevitably crop up during the shooting of a television show."
- What's next: "Amazon Studios is taking steps to get back on track, such as developing shows intended to be more globally popular, cutting back children's programming and considering new leadership in its film unit."
P.S. "Wal-Mart Gets Back on the Growth Track: E-commerce is helping the retailing giant jump-start stalled revenue and profit growth," by Barron's Jack Hough:
- "[T]here have been a string of ... acquisitions, experiments, and musings that are out of character for Wal-Mart ... Some seem out there, like having store employees deliver packages on their way home."
- "Groceries are more than half of U.S. revenue, making Wal-Mart the country's largest grocer. ... The company ... has stores within 10 minutes of 90% of the U.S. population."
- Why it matters: "None of this would matter if business at Wal-Mart's stores was deteriorating. But same-store sales have increased for 12 straight quarters."
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