HBO TO DONATE USD 1 MILLION TO COVID-19 RELIEF FUND IN LOS ANGELES

Premium cable network, HBO will donate funds allocated for the company’s Emmy party and For Your Consideration (FYC) events to make a USD 1 million donation to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Los Angeles Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund. The fund was created to provide critical needs identified within the city to families and small businesses, including relief for healthcare workers, critical healthcare equipment and services for the city’s homeless population in response to the pandemic. “On behalf of Bob Greenblatt and myself, we are proud to make this contribution from HBO instead of using it for our traditional Emmy party and FYC events,” said Casey Bloys, President of HBO Programming. “I am tremendously proud of all of our shows in Emmy contention this year, and I am hopeful they will receive the recognition I believe is richly deserved for all of our talented collaborators, in front of and behind the camera. We look forward to being able to get back to the work we love.”

The AT&T-owned company announced the decision after a rep for the network confirmed that an Emmy part will not be thrown this year. Since then, networks and studios have found other ways to campaign, and many of those alternatives have included a COVID-19 relief component. The Academy announced a series of changes to be implemented for the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards on 27th March. The updates included a suspension of FYC industry events, along with a revised voting calendar and modification of the hanging episode rule for series and limited series. This year’s actual Emmy award ceremony is scheduled for 20 September on ABC. 

 Other entertainment companies donated money to support communities that have been affected the most by the virus. WarnerMedia created a USD100 million relief fund in March to support its crew members that form part of the movie and show productions. The company was obligated to pause production during the pandemic. Netflix set up a USD 150 million hardship fund for the out-of-work production community and launched a marketing campaign that highlighted the needs of the workers.

Amazon also converted its "For Your Consideration" billboard plans into a "For Your Community" campaign aimed at promoting COVID-related nonprofit organizations. ViacomCBS, for its part, created a USD 100 relief fund given to the Motion Picture & Television Fund and The Actors Fund, charitable organizations already supporting impacted industry workers.