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L.A. Screenings Canceled Over Coronavirus Fears
13
Mar
Mar
L.A. Screenings Canceled Over Coronavirus Fears
Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony, ViacomCBS and Warner Bros, whose international TV distribution divisions organize the annual LA Screenings, said Thursday they are canceling their annual new-series showcase for overseas buyers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
It becomes the latest entertainment and media event to be disrupted by COVID-19, which has sickened 125,000 worldwide and killed 4,600.
“It is out of an abundance of caution, and with the health and well-being of our clients and employees at the forefront, we have collectively decided to not hold L.A. Screenings events this year and will instead explore alternative options in which to showcase our respective upcoming content,” the companies said in a statement.
They cited “travel bans, travel restrictions and evolving public health concerns of our global client base” for the decision, adding, that “we believe that not having our clients and executives travel into Los Angeles from various locations around the world is the most responsible course of action.”
The LA Screenings at various studios in Los Angeles take place right after the network Upfronts Week in New York in May. All of this year’s planned attendees to the upfronts (outside of Disney/ABC) have pulled out of the presentations to ad buyers, citing the uncertainty over the widening virus.
The LA Screenings’ companies said today each would be individually communicating alternative screening plans to clients soon.
