How Does A $9.5-Billion Industry Leave Georgia…
Gradually then all at once.
In the last 24 hours Disney, WarnerMedia and NBCUniversal said if Georgia’s hearbeat bill becomes law the media giants would have to reconsider working here.
Netflix said on Tuesday it would have to “reconsider” it’s Georgia investment too. A group of independent filmmakers earlier pledged to stop producing in Georgia. Oh and all this is to say nothing of the many actors who have said they aren’t interested in working in Georgia now.
NBCUniversal was the most recent company to speak out on Thursday with the following statement:
“We fully expect that the heartbeat bills and similar laws in various states will face serious legal challenges and will not go into effect while the process proceeds in court. If any of these laws are upheld, it would strongly impact our decision-making on where we produce our content in the future.”
Warnermedia, the parent company of among others, Turner said:
“We operate and produce work in many states and within several countries at any given time and while that doesn’t mean we agree with every position by a state or a country and their leaders, we do respect due process. We will watch the situation closely and if the new law holds we will reconsider Georgia as the home to any new productions. As is always the case, we will work closely with our production partners and talent to determine how and where to shoot any given project.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger on Wednesday:
Asked if Disney would keep filming in Georgia, Iger said it would be “very difficult to do so” if the abortion law is implemented.
“I rather doubt we will,” Iger said in an interview ahead of the dedication for a new “Star Wars” section at Disneyland. “I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully.”
One wonders how much Governor Kemp is regretting mocking Hollywood.
About Author
edatlanta
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Gov Kemp has made it clear he does not care about anything but the “base.” He is a trump apostle and he shares his philosophy of governing only for the people who voted for you regardless of the consequences for everyone else or the damage to the state/country. This is the new model for conservative republicans, “We won, f…you!”
The same way they came to Georgia – one company/production at a time.
It’s not just movie/TV production either. I wonder how much trouble the ACVB will have attracting or keeping conventions. And I wonder if that MLB All Star game contract has a clause that would let them out. Will the NCAA still have tournaments here? Will the developers of The Gulch be able to fill their space under this environment?
I mentioned this to you on another post. Hollywood, the media and universities are unique in that they are 95% or more Democrat, liberal or progressive. Every other industry has a sizable % of Republican, conservative or libertarian workers and consumers that they have to manage. You mentioned sports … the NFL had to act to end the Colin Kaepernick-related protests (which despite what the media wants you to believe, only a tiny percentage of players ever participated in) because it was very negatively affecting their bottom line. The failed attempt to boycott the Atlanta Super Bowl halftime show was its last gasp, and when Kaepernick saw that he had no leverage left he settled his grievance for a small fraction of what he initially sought. And that is the NFL, with a significant black fanbase and heavy majority of athletes. MLB’s fanbase is far less diverse and more conservative. Can you imagine what pulling the All Star game over this would do for attendance with a Braves fanbase that is heavily Republican older suburbanites?
So no, the massive industry boycott that you desire over this isn’t going to happen because mass media is the only industry where nearly everyone who works in it shares your political beliefs.
Not that I buy into your made up statistics, but, how does it feel to believe that the media- the most well-informed segment of society- and ‘universities’- the most well educated segment of society,- are 95% liberal?
I work with a lot of conservative people in “below-the-line” tv/film production jobs. It is a diverse industry.
it was very negatively affecting their bottom line.
Um. No.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-nfl-revenue-super-bowl-20190128-story.html
“According to the league, NFL regular-season games, excluding those played in London, averaged 15.8 million viewers. Moreover, 45 of the top 50 telecasts this season were NFL games.”
“For the 2017-2018 season, the NFL divvied up $8.1 billion among its 32 teams, a 5 percent jump from 2016 ‚ despite declining TV ratings and continued criticism from President Donald Trump over players kneeling during the national anthem. The Packers’ total revenue has increased every year since 2003.”
MLB’s fanbase is far less diverse and more conservative
That’s why the NFL is making significantly more money than MLB. The NFL gets $5 billion per year in TV contracts. MLB gets $5 billion over seven years.
It’s also why MLB is desperate to make its product more appealing to millennials and Latinos… those are growth markets that advertisers will pay big money to target. Every single proposed rule change: universal DH, pitch clocks, limits on pitching changes, shortening time between innings, is being contemplated because MLB wants to create a product that’s more appealing to younger and more diverse fans. No one cares about Boomers anymore.
*I’d also note that NBA players and coaches have been incredibly outspoken in their criticism of Donald Trump. The NBA generated $7.4 billion in revenues in 2018, a 25% growth from 2017.
Can you imagine what pulling the All Star game over this would do for attendance with a Braves fanbase that is heavily Republican older suburbanites
They’re 12th in attendance, which is exactly where they were last year despite having an exciting young team that made the playoffs. I don’t think it would have any impact at all, to be quite honest.
Alright, Georgians, we have to admit defeat here. There is no way we can sustain a good economy if these companies leave. It’s true that a voting majority of Georgians hold abortion to be murder, but we must leave our consciences aside here and look to our interests. It’s true that these Hollywood companies are doing the opposite, viz., putting their moral convictions above their economic interests, but they have us by the throats here and we must bend to their will; we must serve their deeply held convictions and sacrifice our own. We are their slaves; they are our masters.
This has nothing to do with abortion or convictions. The majority of this state favors sensible gun legislation. It will not happen while we have republicans in power because the base doesn’t want it. Delta Airlines, the largest private employer in this state has been punished in two legislative sessions because they expressed an opinion that many in the base don’t like. All republicans who ran in the last election cycle demonized “illegals” and many outright threatened vigilante action against black and brown people. This is not principled stance driven by conscious, its about privilege and power. (See David Ralston, Sonny Perdue, Nathan Deal, Micheal Williams etc.)
This is about control!. The conservative republicans who have run this state for 20 years only care about maintaining power and nothing else.
It’s true that a voting majority of Georgians hold abortion to be murder
Got polling on that, hoss?
I know plenty of Republicans who voted for Kemp on the mistaken belief (a belief spread by Kemp’s friends, mind you) that he didn’t actually believe all that “round up the illegals and ban all abortions” nonsense he was babbling on about in campaign ads.
they have us by the throats here and we must bend to their will
I love it when Republicans whine about the free market.
Republicans opened their legs to “Hollywood,” knowing full well the risks inherent in doing so. Now that they’re been stuck with the unintended consequence of that whoring around, they should be forced to deal with it. Maybe it’ll teach them some personal responsibility.
Aside from pretending to secret knowledge of Kemp’s inner heart, do you have an argument? Let’s just say I’m right about the majority, for the sake of argument, do you have an actual counter argument?
You being “right” requires you knowing the inner heart of 3.9 million folks who cast ballots, in addition to the 43% of Georgia voters who chose not to vote at all.
Me being “right” requires me having had Brian Kemp as my State Senator for 4 years (and his brother-in-law for another 4); having gone to Kemp’s fundraisers and campaign events since my days as a precocious (and misguided) high school Republican; having actually talked to Brian Kemp about these issues way back in my days as a misguided (and less precocious) college Republican; and having enough friends in Georgia Republican politics and, more specifically, Athens/Oconee Republican politics, that I’ve got a pretty good sense of the points where Brian Kemp the person and Brian Kemp the politician diverge.
“For the sake of argument,” I already gave you my counter-argument. I find it funny that an ardent supporter of free markets is on here whining about the free market doing what it does.
Not sure why you think I’m an “ardent supporter of free markets.” Never said I was. That’s telling of the way you argue, all ad hominem, no substance.
It’s fair to assume that the large majority of pro-life representatives in the GA legislature were voted in by a majority of pro-life constituents. That’s something we can both observe. Your pointing to how well you know Kemp is something I can’t observe, so it’s evidence that is not convincing. I too have friends in high places in GA politics, very close to Kemp, but I wouldn’t bother touting that because I would not think you would find it convincing, even if you believed me. I suggest you learn how to argue if you’re going to make claims.
As it stands, I’m not even sure what you’re arguing for other than that everything Kemp says publicly is not really what he believes, and per Occam’s Razor, I have no reason to doubt Kemp and every reason to doubt you.
It’s fair to assume that the large majority of pro-life representatives in the GA legislature were voted in by a majority of pro-life constituents.
No it isn’t.
1) It assumes representation is proportional, it isn’t. Republicans make up 62.5% of the GA Senate. Republicans only won 54.4% of the statewide vote in Senate races. Republicans make up 57.2% of the GA House. Republicans won 54.2% of the statewide vote in House races.
2) It assumes that “pro-life representatives” were specifically voted in because they were pro-life. Over half of House Republicans were unopposed in 2018, meaning a lack of voter choice was a more important factor than whether or not the candidate was anti-choice. Of the ones that did have actual contests, your assumption ignores candidates like Houston Gaines, who didn’t run on the abortion issue at all, that still wound up voting for the bill and blindly assumes that the 1.8 million Georgians who voted for Republicans in state House races did so specifically because of abortion.
I suggest you learn how to argue if you’re going to make claims
I’m trying to help you here, hoss. You said “a voting majority of Georgians hold abortion to be murder.” When you couldn’t produce data that supported that point, you shifted to “well the state legislature passed the bill.” That argument, however, rests on the very faulty assumptions mentioned above.
Benevelous went out and found the polling I asked for. It says you’re wrong.
Sure thing, hoss. A constitutional majority is the only majority that matters, and that is represented by majorities in the legislature (as you laid out so well with the percentage majorities). Ergo, the fact that this law was passed by both houses and the governor is sufficient evidence to me that the people of GA support this legislation. We’ll see in the next election if that holds true.
See my comment below to Benevolus about polls. Y’all can keep your polls. I’ll take actual election results.
Ahem:
“Seven of 10 Georgia voters say they oppose overturning the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that guaranteed the right to an abortion, according to a new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll.
https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/ajc-poll-strong-support-for-roe-opinion-closer-heartbeat-bill/jWr5L1S5kooo7akOCkfzGM/
Ahem? I’m not interested in playing “I’ll put up stats that support my point, and then you put up some that support yours so we can both feel smart.” I’ll just look at the recent legislation passed by a majority of Georgia representatives, and then I’ll look at the next election. If you’re right, Democrats will take back both houses… I’m not holding my breath.
I don’t even know what point you are trying to make anymore.
Hollywood doesn’t rule Ga and neither does Edatlana with his hate for whites. To embrace Hollywood would lose not gain money. Drugs . sex slaves and child sex in Atlanta is not hid its being sorted out to shut it all down. In the end Hollywood will be a bad memory.
Republican politicians are finally doing what they’ve been promising for decades and people are “shocked.”
Abortion has been freed from the shackles of a necessary and ongoing fundraising mechanism because Individual 1 has given us a new perpetual threat- invasion at the southern border!
We can only hope that they leave.
But so far they are all talk. They are virtue signaling to the left. ( and what does it say about the left that killing babies is a virtue?)
Ok Hollywood leftists. Put your money where your mouths are. Quite talking and start walking. I say you are all talk and no walk. Prove me wrong.
Does your love of money outweigh your principles? I say it does. You are on the clock.
Back at you. Stop watching movies. Turn off your TV. Stop streaming. Don’t listen to music. Avoid Disney and Universal parks.
Your clock is ticking too.
I’d love for governor Kemp to publicly challenged Netflix and Disney to be consistent. After all, if they pull out of Georgia, then Netflix should get out of Egypt as well because abortion is largely illegal there. China on the other hand forces some women to have abortions, including late term abortions. That’s hardly “choice” or “reproductive rights.” China also puts Muslims (Uyghurs) in camps. If Disney is so concerned about its “values,” it should shut down its big resort in Shanghai.
Of course, I don’t expect this would change how Netflix or Disney act. But they should be publicly called out for their hypocrisy.
So it takes about 15 hours for something to get posted to Fox/Daily Caller/Breitbart and trickle its way down here. That’s gotta be a new record.
I think the clearest explanation is that Netflix or Disney – American companies – is better positioned to express its opinions on policy issues here in the US. There’s a lot more to consider when an American company tries to tell foreign cultures and people what they should be doing.
This is the free market at work. Quit complaining. If you don’t like it, stop watching Netflix, stop going to to Disney World, don’t go see the new Star Wars, don’t go see the new Marvel movie.
Grindelwald,
As I’ve said before on this site, I don’t watch much in the way of t.v. or movies. I hold Hollywood in low regard. The nineteenth century view of actors, namely that they are one step above petty thieves and prostitutes, strikes me as basically correct. Our politics would be better off if Hollywood folks just kept their mouths shut or if people didn’t put much stock in what they say in the first place as all they are really qualified to talk about is acting. Incidentally, if we as a society didn’t take the opinions of celebrities so seriously, Donald Trump would have never been elected president. I think the vast majority of what Hollywood produces is vacuous or boring. I’d much rather read a book or go for a run or hike. I’m also not a big fan of theme parks. Unless Disney gets control of national and state parks and Netflix gets control of libraries and bookstores in Georgia, a boycott on my part wouldn’t amount to much.
As for Netflix and Disney, they may discover that there’s a lot more to consider when telling people from a different cultural background in another state what to do as well. If it turns out that the tax credits that the state of Georgia gives Hollywood amount to corporate welfare, don’t be surprised if the state legislature yanks them next session due to Hollywood’s recent antics. And it’s staring to look like they may well be corporate welfare after all:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanberr/2019/05/30/are-georgia-taxpayers-getting-screwed-by-the-states-embrace-of-hollywood/#5859c91d1c72
If Meeks’ study shows that the state of Georgia’s tax credit is a net revenue loss to the state of Georgia, I’m definitely contacting my representatives to encourage them to vote to remove film industry tax credits. I may well do it anyway.
Our politics would be better off if Hollywood folks just kept their mouths shut
If we’re telling “Hollywood folks” to keep their mouths shut, let’s do the same for everyone without an advanced degree in law, economics or public policy. Politics would be better off if folks stopped putting a lot of credence into the words of clowns like Hannity and Limbaugh (two college dropouts and former radio DJs) who aren’t qualified to talk about much of anything.
I have no interest in being ruled by graduate school educated public policy “experts,” talk-show “experts,” or Hollywood culture “experts.” The fact is that politics involves claims about morality, a subject on which everyone is free to disagree and no one is qualified to be counted an expert, no matter their advanced degree. For that reason, we all agree to be submit to the will of the majority, confined by the Constitution and frequent elections.
If the people’s officers strike down the heartbeat law as unconstitutional or if the people elect representatives in 2020 who will reverse the legislation, the people’s will legitimately prevails, but if the heartbeat law is upheld by those things, any who still call foul have a problem with our fundamental principles, not the heartbeat bill.
As Ben has already pointed out, the majority of Georgians oppose overturning Roe
And polls are always accurate, right? Just ask the pollsters that gave us Sen. Nunn and Gov. Carter in 2014! And let us not forget the single biggest polling failure in election history in 2016: Nate Silver!
Or all those “skewed” polls that showed Obama cleaning Mitt Romney’s clock?
Most 2016 polling correctly pegged the popular vote margin. The AJC’s poll on the Roe question showed nearly 70% of Georgians oppose overturning Roe. Even accounting for polling error, it’s a mistake to say a majority of Georgians view abortion as murder.
So we can agree that anti-choice politicians have been criticizing Roe v. Wade for decades, right? Since that law has been upheld many times, you are saying that all those politicians have a problem with our fundamental principles?
Grindelwald,
I agree with you about Hannity and Limbaugh. I don’t listen to talk radio, nor do I have cable and thus don’t watch Foxnews or MSNBC. I don’t care for “news” shows that amount to propaganda, angry people yelling at each other or both.
Since I hold a Ph.D., it would be self-serving of me to advocate that we should only take the views of people with advanced degrees seriously. I am certainly biased towards experts. Still, it is worth pointing out that there were plenty of people with advanced degrees from prestigious schools that played key roles in pushing the nation into the Iraq War in 2002-2003. Obviously, it was a complete disaster. Likewise, many of the financial gurus (“the masters of the universe” as they were once dubbed) on Wall Street whose actions contributed to the 2008 crash held advanced degrees from prestigious schools. In many ways, the populist backlash our nation has experienced in recent years, including the rise of a buffoon such as Trump to the presidency, was caused by these “experts.” While I dislike Trump, it is hard to blame many ordinary people for distrusting the “experts” who complain the loudest about him as they were often the same people that drove our nation into a ditch prior to the rise of Trump.
So how do you explain that? What is it that would make Disney threaten Georgia over this but continue doing business in China?