Summary: There’s no getting around the fact that 2014 was a financially dismal year for the entertainment business. Movie box office, home video revenue and music sales were all down significantly in most territories. The only bright spot might be television ad sales which grew slightly, albeit at lower level than originally forecast.<br> Statistically speaking the numbers don’t look good. Movie attendance plummeted to the lowest levels since 1995. Home video returns decreased nearly 2%, despite a rise in digital downloads. Music sales continued their global decline as more consumers turn to streaming services.<br> Industry-watchers are predicting that, except for box office, 2015 could produce the same mixed results for entertainment companies as digital technologies keep disrupting longstanding business models.<br> Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the most pirated TV shows and movies of 2014, how One Direction became the year’s top concert draw and an update on the Sony Pictures cyber attack.<br> <br> Box Office: 2014 to End Down Sharply Despite Holiday Highs<br><br> <a title="Box Office: 2014 to End Down Sharply Despite Holiday Highs" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-2014-end-down-760445" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-2014-end-down-760445</a><br> Box Office 2014: Moviegoing Hits Two-Decade Low<br><br> <a title="Box Office 2014: Moviegoing Hits Two-Decade Low" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-2014-moviegoing-hits-760766" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-2014-moviegoing-hits-760766</a><br> China’s Box Office Surges 36 Percent in 2014 to $4.76 Billion<br><br> <a title="China's Box Office Surges 36 Percent in 2014 to $4.76 Billion" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-box-office-surges-36-760889" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-box-office-surges-36-760889</a><br> France’s Box Office Rises 8% – But Thanks to France not Hollywood<br><br> <a title="France’s Box Office Rises 8% – But Thanks to France not Hollywood" href="http://variety.com/2015/film/news/frances-box-office-rises-8-but-thanks-to-france-not-hollywood-1201390901/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2015/film/news/frances-box-office-rises-8-but-thanks-to-france-not-hollywood-1201390901/</a><br> What We Can Learn from 2014 Record Box-Office in France<br><br> <a title="What We Can Learn from 2014 Record Box-Office in France" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-we-can-learn-from-2014-record-box-office-france-julien-marcel" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-we-can-learn-from-2014-record-box-office-france-julien-marcel</a><br> Digital Downloads Top $1.5 Billion for First Time for Home Entertainment Industry in 2014<br><br> <a title="Digital Downloads Top $1.5 Billion for First Time for Home Entertainment Industry in 2014" href="http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/digital-downloads-top-1-5-billion-for-first-time-for-home-entertainment-industry-in-2014-1201393613/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/digital-downloads-top-1-5-billion-for-first-time-for-home-entertainment-industry-in-2014-1201393613/</a><br> ‘Godzilla,’ Warner Bros. Lead the Year’s Top TV Ad Spend for Movies<br><br> <a title="‘Godzilla,’ Warner Bros. Lead the Year’s Top TV Ad Spend for Movies" href="http://variety.com/2015/data/news/godzilla-warner-bros-lead-the-years-top-tv-ad-spend-for-movies-1201389114/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2015/data/news/godzilla-warner-bros-lead-the-years-top-tv-ad-spend-for-movies-1201389114/</a><br> Sony Will Stream ‘The Interview’ Through YouTube, Google, Xbox, Sony Site<br><br> <a title="Sony Will Stream ‘The Interview’ Through YouTube, Google, Xbox, Sony Site" href="http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/youtube-sony-in-tentative-deal-to-stream-the-interview-report-1201386859/" target="..."></a>
