Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Thursday 17 July 2025
Netflix goes live, creators launch streamers, AI reshapes Bollywood, BBC eyes global deals, Locarno backs Africa, Aster, Eggers & Rivers lead bold new films.
Today’s Highlights:
Netflix expands live event strategy – A major strategic shift in how the world’s largest streamer delivers content, with implications for global entertainment and sports broadcasting.
Creator-led subscription platforms reshape media – Signals a structural transformation of media distribution, empowering creators and challenging legacy platforms like YouTube and traditional broadcasters.
AI transforms Indian filmmaking – Marks a significant technological evolution in one of the world’s largest film industries, impacting cost, scale, and accessibility of storytelling.
BBC Studios pursues global streamer-broadcaster partnerships – Reflects shifting alliances in international television, with potential to reshape content funding and distribution models.
Locarno Open Doors spotlights African cinema – A long-term, structured investment in emerging African film industries with the potential to diversify global cinema.
Ari Aster’s personal fears inspire horror cinema – Reinforces the auteur-driven success of psychological horror, illustrating how deeply personal stories are driving critical and commercial hits.
Netflix ramps up high-profile projects including Stranger Things finale and Alice Kellen adaptation – Confirms Netflix’s continued dominance in global scripted content, despite competitive pressures.
Joan Rivers documentary promises unprecedented access – A culturally significant documentary project revisiting the legacy of a trailblazing comedic icon.
Insight Productions overhauls leadership for international growth – Reflects a key structural move in Canadian production and international co-production strategy.
Robert Eggers' Werwulf casts Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lily-Rose Depp – Notable for genre fans and prestige horror, though narrower in global impact compared to others on the list.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Disney, Hulu, Channel 4 & ITV in Sydney, London, LA & Lisbon.
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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, October Films, Legendary Entertainment, Bad Wolf, Mediapro, Bron, Red Arrow, Searchlight Pictures.
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, Screenforce Finland, BAFTA, IMAX, Condé Nast.
INSIGHTS
Famke Janssen Finds Her Roots in Amsterdam Empire
After 30 years in Hollywood, Dutch actor Famke Janssen returns to her native language for Netflix’s Amsterdam Empire. Known for her roles in GoldenEye and X-Men, she has always prioritised range over fame. “I want to be taken seriously,” she says, reflecting on a career built on diverse roles and personal choice rather than being boxed in by early success. Read More
Netflix Builds Live Future After Taylor-Serrano Success
Since debuting live with a Chris Rock special in 2023, Netflix has expanded into major events like Beyoncé’s NFL halftime show and the SAG Awards. Following the recent Taylor-Serrano fight, which drew 6 million viewers, Netflix’s tech team shared how they’ve built a scalable infrastructure, spending nine months preparing secure, high-quality live streaming via advanced broadcast centres that handle signals, captions, graphics, and ads. Read More
Webtoon Powers Into Anime With Major Studio Deals
Webtoon Entertainment is driving the anime boom with 20 projects and partnerships with giants like Toei and Aniplex, creators of Dragon Ball and Demon Slayer. Known for its mobile-first, vertical-scroll comics, the platform now leads Japan’s app revenue rankings and is expanding into anime production, aiming for a big stake in a market projected to hit $16 billion by 2030. Read More
Oasis Reunion Film Taps Top Cinematographers for Tour Doc
The upcoming Oasis reunion tour film, produced by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, has enlisted acclaimed cinematographers Robbie Ryan (Poor Things, Marriage Story) and Haris Zambarloukos (Belfast, Thor) to shoot segments of the band’s sold-out UK gigs. The project, backed by Magna Studios, remains untitled and shrouded in secrecy, but its high-profile creative team signals a cinematic tribute to Oasis’s long-awaited return. Read More
Disneyland Celebrates 70 Years of Magic
Since opening in 1955, Disneyland has welcomed millions with its timeless charm and iconic plaque inviting visitors into “the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.” Seventy years later, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A. still thrive in Anaheim, with beloved attractions like Space Mountain and Jungle Cruise keeping Walt Disney’s original vision alive. Read More
Naomi Osaka Explores Tokyo in New YouTube Travel Series
Tennis star Naomi Osaka stars in Off Day, a new YouTube series where athletes explore cultural and culinary hotspots on their days off. In the debut episode, Osaka takes viewers on a tour of Tokyo. The show is produced by UltraBoom Media, alongside LeBron James’ Uninterrupted, Osaka’s Hana Kuma, and partners The Infatuation, Chase Travel, and Chase Sapphire. Read More
Natasha Lyonne Dives Into Digital Art With Vintage Joystick
On a chilly day in East L.A., Natasha Lyonne explored surreal digital art using a joystick resembling an old Atari paddle. Guiding shifting visuals on a large screen, including one dubbed “Artpixel Monochromatic Media Shower Fractal 3”, she bantered with two nearby collaborators. At one point, she urged, “Go back to the Rothko,” as an abstract expressionist-inspired image briefly flickered onscreen. Read More
Chemi Peres Backs Izzy to Boost Israeli Content Worldwide
Venture capitalist Chemi Peres has invested in Israeli streamer Izzy to help shift global perceptions of Israel through culture. Since joining the platform in early 2023, his support has fueled its growth and global ambitions. Led by CEO Nati Dinnar, Izzy is now making bold content moves, including securing exclusive international rights to Kugel, the prequel to hit dramedy Shtisel. Read More
AI in Indian Filmmaking: Cutting Costs, Expanding Reach, Keeping the Soul
India’s film industry is embracing AI to streamline production, reduce costs, and expand multilingual reach, without sidelining human creativity. Directors like Shekhar Kapur and Vivek Anchalia are experimenting with AI for scripting and visuals, while tools like Mugafi and Runway ML support everything from storyboarding to dubbing. Despite challenges such as character continuity, most filmmakers view AI as a creative assistant, not a replacement. The result? Faster turnarounds, broader distribution, and new career pathways. Read More
Creator-Led Subscription Platforms Are Redefining Direct-to-Consumer Media
In 2025, creators are increasingly bypassing not just broadcasters but platforms like YouTube, launching independent subscription streamers to own their audience and revenue. Examples include Side+ by the Sidemen, 2nd Try by The Try Guys, and DropOut, CollegeHumor’s comedy service. These ventures offer exclusive content, ad-free viewing, and deeper fan engagement. Platforms like Nebula also fund creator-led series with revenue-sharing models. This shift signals a broader decentralisation of media, where creators build niche ecosystems and challenge legacy gatekeepers. Read More
Ari Aster Turns Personal Dread Into Cinematic Mastery
Ari Aster, known for Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid, reveals how his lifelong anxieties fuel his unsettling storytelling. From childhood hypochondria and social dread to decision paralysis, Aster channels his fears into films that confront discomfort head-on. Producer Lars Knudsen calls Beau Is Afraid “him,” noting Aster’s deep connection to the character’s existential panic. Read More
BBC Studios Eyes More Streamer-Broadcaster Alliances Amid BritBox Growth
BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell expects a rise in collaborations between streamers and broadcasters, citing ITVX’s deal with Disney and TF1’s Netflix partnership as models. With BritBox International up 20% year-on-year, Fussell is doubling down on direct-to-consumer platforms like BBC Select and UKTV’s U, while exploring IP acquisitions and global M&A. He views these moves as crucial to achieving BBCS’s £3.2bn revenue target by 2027/28. Read More
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