Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Monday 24 March 2025
UK drama funding crisis; mass media layoffs; Netflix flop; Apple’s prestige push; Endeavor shake-up; YouTube’s rise; Norway formats boom; fantasy reboot; VA’s US move; Australia tourism series.
Today’s Highlights:
UK Drama Industry at Risk, Says Wolf Hall Director – Peter Kosminsky warns that budget cuts threaten the future of British high-end TV drama and calls for a 5% streamer levy to support local content.
Global Media Faces Ongoing Job Cuts from 2023 to 2025 – Major media and tech companies have slashed thousands of jobs due to mergers, ad slowdowns, and strategic shifts.
Netflix’s The Electric State Underperforms Despite Massive Budget – The $275M sci-fi film failed to attract strong viewership or critical acclaim, though Netflix remains unfazed due to its portfolio strategy.
Apple TV+ Bets Big on Prestige Strategy Post-Severance – Apple is doubling down on a high-quality, low-volume content model similar to HBO following the success of Severance.
Endeavor Overhaul: Patrick Whitesell Exits, Ari Emanuel Steps Back – Endeavor goes private as Whitesell launches a $250M fund and Emanuel plans to step down as CEO while remaining on the board.
YouTube Reinvents Itself as Dominant Living Room Platform – YouTube is focusing on TV-based viewing with new features optimised for big screens, reinforcing its dominance in home entertainment.
Norway Emerges as Global Leader in TV Format Innovation – Innovative unscripted formats like The Box and Dumbest Celebrity have positioned Norway as a rising force in the global TV market.
War of the Kingdoms TV Series Aims to Redeem Flopped Fantasy Film – Constantin Film hopes its new six-part series will succeed where its $50M fantasy feature failed at the box office.
VA Media Expands to U.S. with New LA Office – VA Media opens a Los Angeles office to support its global growth in digital content distribution and AVOD monetisation.
Australia Showcased in New Global TV Series Experience Australia – Tourism Australia’s new series, narrated by Rachel Griffiths, highlights the country's diverse landscapes to attract international visitors.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development & Deals.
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INSIGHTS
UK TV Drama Faces Crisis, Warns Wolf Hall Director
Peter Kosminsky, director of the award-winning Wolf Hall, claims budget pressures are crippling UK TV drama production. To complete the second series, costly exterior scenes were cut, focusing instead on indoor settings. Kosminsky argues broadcasters like the BBC and ITV cannot afford high-end dramas anymore and advocates for a 5% levy on streaming revenues to support UK cultural content. He warns such beloved dramas may soon disappear entirely. Read More
Netflix's $275M Sci-Fi Film ‘The Electric State’ Falls Short Without Drama
Netflix's costly sci-fi film The Electric State, starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, failed to impress critics and gained fewer views than prior high-budget features. Despite lacklustre reviews, Netflix remains unconcerned, highlighting its "portfolio approach" to content. The film, representing just 1.5% of its annual $18 billion budget, underscores the streaming giant's ability to absorb risks without traditional studio pressures or significant financial impact. Read More
‘The Alto Knights’: Old-School Drama with Modern Touches
Warner Bros.’ The Alto Knights, starring Robert De Niro in dual roles, blends cutting-edge effects with classic storytelling. Directed by Barry Levinson and written by Nicholas Pileggi, it evokes pre-superhero-era cinema. Despite its nostalgic appeal, the film faces tough box office competition against Disney’s Snow White. De Niro embraced the challenge of portraying two distinct characters, showcasing his legendary talent in a drama rooted in true events. Read More
Samuel L. Jackson Reflects on Bruce Willis’ Advice and His Iconic Nick Fury Role
Samuel L. Jackson shared that Bruce Willis advised him in 1994 to find a beloved character to anchor his career. Jackson later found this in Nick Fury, debuting in Iron Man (2008) and starring in 12 Marvel films, grossing $12.8 billion collectively. Reflecting on Willis’ wisdom, Jackson credited Fury’s enduring appeal as his career cornerstone, akin to Willis’ John McClane and others’ iconic roles. Read More
Norway Emerges as TV Format Hotspot with The Box and Dumbest Celebrity
Norway is gaining attention as a rising hub for international TV formats, with breakout unscripted hits like The Box—a psychological reality series—and Dumbest Celebrity, where stars are quizzed on absurd topics. Global buyers at London Screenings praised the country’s innovation, with formats being shopped by ITV Studios Norway and others. Norwegian shows are proving adaptable and appealing to global audiences. Read More
Layoffs Tracker: Media and Entertainment Job Cuts in 2023–2025
A running list compiled by Deadline details major layoffs across the entertainment and media sectors since 2023, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, and tech-adjacent firms like Spotify and Netflix. Thousands of jobs have been cut due to mergers, shifting content strategies, ad slowdowns, and industry strikes. The tracker provides a timeline of layoffs, severance packages, and restructuring across leading companies. Read More
2025 TV Premiere Calendar: Dates for New and Returning Shows
Deadline has released its updated guide to 2025 TV premiere dates, covering broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. The comprehensive list includes high-profile debuts like House of the Dragon Season 2, new series like The Agency, and network reality formats. The calendar is regularly updated to include announcements from platforms like Netflix, Disney+, HBO, NBC, and FX. Read More
Inside Spain's Glamorous ‘Call My Agent’ Remake: ‘La Agencia’
Set in Madrid, La Agencia adapts the French hit Call My Agent! for Spanish audiences, blending humour and drama within Rebecca Talent’s agency. It captures the industry's charm and complexities by starring Javier Gutiérrez, Manuela Velasco, Carlos Bardem, and Fiorella Faltoyano. Produced by Good Mood and directed by Daniel Écija, the series underwent meticulous adaptation, balancing cultural authenticity with the original’s wit and allure. Read More
Severance Filming Locations and Architecture Explored in New Feature
Fast Company explores the real-world filming locations and architectural inspirations behind Apple TV+’s Severance, filmed mainly in New Jersey and New York. Locations like the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex and the Nyack College campus help create Lumon’s eerie, sterile aesthetic. Production designer Jeremy Hindle and location manager Dan Wilkins discuss how architecture reinforced the show’s surveillance, control, and disconnection themes. Read More
Apple TV+ Tests Its HBO-Inspired Strategy with ‘Severance’ Success
With Severance season 2 drawing massive attention, Apple TV+ is testing its strategy of fewer high-quality shows akin to HBO’s model. Betting on one prestige show at a time, Apple prepared extensively for Severance’s breakout, aligning follow-ups like Dope Thief, Your Friends & Neighbors, and Murderbot. Its post-Severance lineup highlights Apple's reliance on consistent excellence over volume to retain subscribers, a bold move in today’s streaming wars. Read More
‘Secret Mall Apartment’ Explores Art, Rebellion, and Collaboration
Secret Mall Apartment chronicles a Rhode Island artist collective’s covert construction of a hidden domestic space inside Providence Place Mall in 2003. Directors Jeremy Workman and Paul Murphy worked independently across continents, capturing the artists’ rebellious spirit through varied stylistic choices. Combining humour, grit, and poignant reflections, the documentary delves into the project’s bold defiance of consumerism while celebrating art’s power to transform spaces and foster human connection. Read More
YouTube Adapts Creators for TV, Solidifying Its Living Room Dominance
YouTube is transforming creators into TV producers, optimising content for physical TVs, now the platform’s primary viewing source. With streaming 1 billion daily TV hours, features like “seasons,” AI dubbing tools, and QR codes enable binge-watching and interactivity. High-definition uploads and revenue from TV screens have surged. Smaller creators benefit from a “hype” feature, while YouTube, generating $50 billion in 2024, cements its role as the “new Hollywood.”Read More
Nikki Toscano on Writing Addiction and Sisterhood in Long Bright River
Showrunner Nikki Toscano discusses adapting Liz Moore’s novel Long Bright River for Peacock, a crime drama starring Amanda Seyfried as a cop searching for her missing sister amid an opioid crisis. Toscano explains how her personal family history shaped the narrative and why she avoided glamorising addiction. The series balances mystery with emotional depth, drawing on Toscano’s background in The Offer and Hunters. Read More
Bill Skarsgård Details Intense Solo Role in Thriller Locked
Bill Skarsgård stars in Locked, a survival thriller in which he plays a man trapped alone in a car without remembering how he got there. Directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by 21 Laps, the film was shot chronologically in a single car to enhance realism. Skarsgård described the experience as psychologically demanding and physically intense, relying entirely on solo performance. Read More
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