Election Coverage in All Shapes and Sizes

Special televised coverage of U.S. election returns tonight will include an election-themed programming block on Comedy Central from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET (including live episodes of The Daily Show and @Midnight); a live The View on Lifetime starting at 9 p.m.; and a live Stephen Colbert special on Showtime at 11 p.m. Other outlets jumping on board include MTV, Velocity (which will air its Cars & Stripes election special), and the usual network-news and 24-hour news channel suspects. Finally, Sling TV Is offering a free cord-crutter trial of its services, which include CNN.  [Variety]

New Chinese Film Law Protects National Dignity, Penalizes Box-Office Fraud

The National People's Congress yesterday passed the Film Industry Promotion Law, taking effect March 1. The law introduces new penalities for ticket fraud and piracy, and restricts collaboration with non-Chinese companies — such as Hollywood studios — that are thought to damage Chinese dignity or go against its national interests or social stability. [Global Times]

Shift to Digital Distribution/VOD Hits Comedies, Musicals the Hardest

Film business analysts Stephen Follows and Bruce Nash took a detailed look at the available data on VOD viewing habits to get a sense of what types of films are doing the best in the new digital landscape, and which ones are struggling. Among their findings: "spectacular" movies, including action-adventures are still doing relatively well while other genres suffer. [Stephen Follows]

YouTube Adds HDR Support

HDR simulation

Simulation of SDR vs. HDR by YouTube

YouTube has taken another forward leap in picture quality with the addition of HDR video support. The current worfklow requires creators to use DaVinci Resolve 12.5.2 or newer to export HDR metadata — choose DaVinci Resolve YRGB Color Managed as the Color Science under Master Project Settings, and then select ST.2084 1000 or HLG-2020 as the Output Color Space in Color Management. If you have HDR video that was not exported from Resolve, you can try using the YouTubeHDR tool to add the required metadata to your content. Supported playback devices include the Chromecast Ultra connected to an HDR TV and 2016 Samsung SUHD and UHD TVs. If you have the correct hardweare, check out YouTube's HDR playlist. [YouTube Official Blog]

Director David O. Russell Heads to Amazon with Crime Drama Series Starring Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore

In a reported two-season, 16-episode $160 million deal, writer-director David O. Russell is bringing a crime series starring Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore to Amazon via The Weinstein Company. Amazon and the Weinsteins are also committed to co-financing a new eight-episode series from Mad Men showrunner Matthew Weiner. [Deadline]