Collaboration Puts Met Opera in a Theater Near You

Magic Flute flies from radio to podcast when unions agree to revenue sharing rather than large up-front payments.

The arts sections of mainstream newspapers provided extensive coverage of plans of the Metropolitan Opera (EIN 13-1624087 Form 990*) to distribute live opera performances to movie theaters with high definition projection systems, with later presentation on PBS and distribution on DVD and podcast.  The various story angles are a refreshing change from the bland reporting of most nonprofit affairs.

* The Met's Form 990 is unusal for being presented in thousands rather than in dollars.  So its reported revenue of $227,387 really means $227 million.

• The Washington Post emphasizes the collaboration with the unions, who agreed to reduce their performance fees for the new distribution media in return for profit sharing.  The unions are American Guild of Musical Artists (EIN 13-0431720 Form 990) (singers, chorus and ballet); Local 802 of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York (EIN 13-0452820 Form 990); and Local One of the Theatrical Stage Employees Union (EIN 13-1374710 Form 990).
• The strategy of Peter Gelb, the new general manager of the Met, is the focus of the New York Times story.
• The LA Times emphasized the movie theater distribution with reactions from theater operators, and claims the most Variety-like headline ("The Fat Lady Sings in Dolby.") 
  
• While not a mainstream source, the actual Variety headline was "Plexes Add Opera Night."  Quote: "Gelb said he expects the simulcasts to draw opera lovers who don't live in Gotham."
• Likewise, the technology-oriented ZDNet picks up on the Internet distribution aspect.
  
• Newsday picks up the baseball connection.  (""Opera fans are as fanatical about opera as baseball fans are about baseball," said Peter Gelb, the Met's new general manager, in a statement. "We want to make the Met as available electronically to its followers as the Yankees are to theirs.")
• For reference, here's the AP story (from the SF Chronicle), following the usual 5-W conventions.