Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Friday 28 March 2025
YouTube stars disrupt ad space; streaming churn rises; Sundance relocates; Scorsese & Miyazaki projects advance; ITV drama rebounds & axes Dancing on Ice; Halon expands to Glasgow.
Today’s Highlights:
YouTube Creators Headline Spotter’s First Advertising Upfront - Top creators, including MrBeast and Dude Perfect, are positioning themselves as modern media networks at Spotter’s inaugural advertising event, aiming to secure TV-level ad revenue and branded content deals.
Streaming Fatigue Rises Amid Poor UX and Discovery Challenges - Antenna data reveals that streaming churn has doubled in two years, with only 15% retention, driven by frustrating interfaces, weak personalisation, and overwhelming content discovery issues.
Australia's Streaming Quota Legislation Remains Undefined - Despite prior proposals, the federal budget failed to introduce firm timelines for local content quotas, prolonging uncertainty for Australian producers and streaming platforms.
Halon Entertainment to Open $36M Animation Studio in Glasgow - U.S.-based Halon Entertainment, known for The Mandalorian and Avatar: The Way of Water, will launch a $36 million animation and virtual production studio in Glasgow with support from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government, expanding its global production footprint.
Sundance Film Festival Relocates to Boulder in 2027 - After 40+ years in Park City, Sundance will move to Boulder, Colorado, supported by a $34 million tax incentive, marking a new chapter with improved infrastructure and accessibility.
Studio Ghibli’s Legacy Defended Against AI Replication - Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke is spotlighted amid backlash against AI-generated imitations of Ghibli’s style, underscoring Miyazaki’s commitment to handcrafted storytelling.
Martin Scorsese's Hawaii-Set Crime Drama Nears Disney Deal - Scorsese is finalising a deal with 20th Century Studios for a film starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt, based on a real-life 1970s Hawaiian crime figure.
ITV Studios’ Ruth Berry Signals Drama Market Recovery - At Series Mania, ITV’s Ruth Berry notes renewed investment appetite and stronger development pipelines across international scripted markets, with cultural specificity driving future projects.
Silver Lake Invests in Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions - Valued at $400 million, Omaha Productions has secured investment from Silver Lake to expand its sports-driven entertainment slate, including the popular ManningCast.
ITV Cancels Dancing on Ice After 19 Seasons - ITV has pulled the plug on Dancing on Ice ahead of its 20th anniversary, citing the need to refresh its entertainment lineup amid changing viewer habits.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations, Opportunities & Jobs with Paramount, Netflix, WildBrain & Samsung in London & LA.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest TV, Film & Media updates in one bulletin.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL, TVNZ, SRF.
Producers: Fifth Season, Sony Pictures Television, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, Universal Pictures International Australasia, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me, Halcyon Studios, DPG Media, Envision, Rive Gauche, Blue Ant Media, Squareone, Great Southern Studios, Collective Media Group, New Dominion Pictures, RAW TV, Optomen, Magpie Pictures, KOJO, ShinAwiL, WildBrain, Nine Daughters, Amazon/MGM Studios.
Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC, Attraction Distribution, Kaplan Stahler Agency, Passion Distribution, Audible, Screen Queensland, Canada Media Fund, My Smash Media, Artists First, Grey Seal Media.
INSIGHTS
First Trailer Drops for April, a Tense Georgian Thriller by Dea Kulumbegashvili
The trailer for April, directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili (Beginning), teases a minimalist psychological thriller about a young woman whose life is disrupted by a controlling relationship. Set in a remote Georgian village, the film explores isolation and surveillance with a haunting visual style. April will premiere at Cannes and marks Kulumbegashvili’s return to international arthouse cinema. Read More
YouTube Creators Join Forces for Spotter’s First Advertising Upfront
Top YouTube creators like MrBeast, Dude Perfect, and Kinigra Deon will present their programming at Spotter’s advertising showcase in New York, aiming to attract TV ad budgets. Spotter, founded in 2019, licenses creators' video catalogs and advocates for their inclusion in the entertainment industry. This groundbreaking event highlights creators as modern networks, offering advertisers opportunities for branded integrations and media partnerships. Read More
Poor UX Drives Streaming Fatigue and High Churn
Antenna data shows SVOD churn doubling in two years, with retention dropping to 15% due to clunky interfaces and discovery challenges. The average consumer spends 110 hours yearly searching for content, leading to frustration and abandonment. Platforms must address poor personalisation, excessive ads, and interoperability failures. Innovation stagnation risks eroding media consumption overall, as audiences cut back across formats by 6% daily. Read More
Australia’s Streaming Quotas Remain Unclear After Budget Sidesteps Legislation
The Australian government has delayed key decisions on local content quotas for streaming platforms, leaving the industry in limbo. Despite earlier proposals by global streamers to mandate investment in Australian stories, the federal budget offered no concrete timelines. Industry leaders express concern about uncertainty stalling production planning and local storytelling initiatives. Read More
Premium Format Cinemas Thrive in the Post-Pandemic Era
Premium cinema formats, including IMAX and Dolby Cinema, drive post-pandemic growth, with global premium screens reaching 7,830 in 2023. These formats, offering superior visuals and sound, accounted for 15.6% of the 2024 North American box office. IMAX leads globally, while Dolby boasts the highest per-screen revenue. As audiences seek enhanced experiences, exhibitors rely on premium formats to maximise box office returns and attract viewers back to theatres. Read More
Apple TV+ Premieres 'Fight for Glory' on the 2024 World Series
Apple TV+ unveils Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series, a three-part documentary directed by R.J. Cutler and produced by Imagine Entertainment. Chronicling the Dodgers' victory over the Yankees, it explores themes like family and resilience. The series, featuring interviews with players, including Derek Jeter as executive producer, highlights baseball’s human and poetic nature, blending cinematic storytelling with Major League Baseball’s rich legacy. Read More
Palestinian Doc No Other Land Sees Box Office Success Amid Controversy
The Palestinian documentary No Other Land has grossed over $1 million globally, becoming a surprise indie hit despite facing censorship and bans in several countries. A Palestinian-Israeli team directs the film and chronicles life in the occupied West Bank. Its festival wins and international distribution have helped propel it to global attention as audiences respond to its political urgency. Read More
Callie Hernandez Stars in Courtney Stephens' Invention
Courtney Stephens's Invention blends fiction and autobiography, exploring grief through Callie Hernandez's portrayal of a daughter inheriting her late father's experimental healing device. Using archival footage, the film reflects on America's cultural nostalgia. Hernandez won Best Performance at Locarno 2024, and the film premieres in the U.S. on April 4. Read More
Studio Ghibli’s Irreplicable Artistry in ‘Princess Mononoke’
Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke exemplifies Studio Ghibli’s unparalleled depth, exploring humanity’s fraught relationship with nature. Recent AI-generated imitations of Ghibli’s iconic style have sparked criticism, highlighting generative AI's environmental impact and Miyazaki's vocal opposition. Such replicas reduce animation to hollow aesthetics, contrasting with Ghibli’s commitment to storytelling as a true art form. Miyazaki’s enduring philosophy champions original creativity over algorithmic imitation. Read More
Is BBC Two Still Relevant? UK Industry Weighs in on Its Future
BBC Two's future is uncertain as audience habits evolve and flagship content shifts to iPlayer or BBC One. Industry insiders debate whether the channel should be rebranded, scrapped, or revitalised with a clearer programming identity. As public service media adapts to digital-first strategies, BBC Two’s role is increasingly in question. Read More
France Adapts to Global Streamers with Regulatory Integration
France is integrating streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ into its creative ecosystem via the SMAD decree, mandating a 20% revenue investment in domestic and European content. Disney+ recently secured a 9-month theatrical release window in exchange for a 25% revenue commitment. With €75m invested in theatrical movies in 2023, France sets an example of balancing local culture and global streaming, fostering partnerships and regulatory evolution. Read More
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Further&Better to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.