During a conference call with Wall Street analysts while AT&T is reporting their Q1 2020 revenue, an executive for the communications and media giant indicated the shutdown of movie theaters around the globe and the response to it may have lasting repurcussions.
According to Variety, AT&T chief operating officer John Stankey referenced Hollywood studios like its own Warner Bros. shifting films produced for theatrical release to on-demand debuts. Tuesday Warner’s own animated family film Scoob was taken off its May 15 theatrical release and will instead debut as an on-demand purchase and rental on the same date before eventually being added to WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service HBO Max.
“This will change many things including consumer behaviors and expectations,” Stankey said according to the trade.
“We’re rethinking our theatrical model. We’re accelerating efforts consistent with the rapid changes in consumer behavior from the pandemic. We’re focused on finding and leveraging the new normal across all of our operations.”