Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Weekend 19-20 July 2025
YouTube disrupts TV; South Africa sets streamer quotas; Colbert exits Late Show; Superman boosts economy; Netflix revives Captain Planet; Aussie creatives demand bold storytelling.
Today’s Highlights:
YouTube’s Rise Shakes TV Landscape – YouTube’s dominance over legacy broadcasters like NPR and PBS marks a fundamental disruption in the global media ecosystem.
South Africa Introduces Streaming Quotas and Investment Rules – A major precedent-setting move in media regulation that could influence other nations and reshape global streamer strategies.
Neighbours Demise Traced to Policy Gaps by SPA – A high-profile local casualty highlighting Australia’s need for urgent content regulation reform in the streaming era.
Stephen Colbert Announces End of The Late Show – The confirmed end of an iconic U.S. franchise reflects deep generational and format shifts in how late-night television is consumed.
James Gunn’s Superman Generates $100M Local Spend – Demonstrates the economic power of blockbuster filmmaking for regional economies and reinforces the value of production incentives.
Nordic Public Broadcasters Surge in Scripted TV – A rare bright spot in global commissioning trends, showing public broadcasters leading creative output during a downturn.
Marieke Hardy and Australian Creatives Call for Bold Storytelling – Signals a national conversation on creative risk and originality, with top voices urging cultural policy change and support for new talent.
Ashford Scraps $35M Film Studio Project – A failed studio plan pivoting to housing shows the fragility of media infrastructure development and shifting investment priorities.
Joe Eszterhas Lands $4M Deal for Basic Instinct Reboot – One of the year’s biggest spec sales, signalling continued demand for bold, adult-skewing thrillers from proven talent.
Netflix Developing Live-Action Captain Planet – A nostalgia-fuelled adaptation backed by major producers signals the enduring commercial viability of legacy IP.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations & Jobs with BBC, Disney, Prime, NBCUniversal, UTA & Netflix in London, LA & Amsterdam.
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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
How The Wild Ones Was Born: Turning Wildlife Docs on Their Head
The idea for The Wild Ones came from a desire to shake up the often-predictable wildlife genre. Inspired by the audience's love for behind-the-scenes moments, the team asked: What if those segments became the main event? The result is a high-stakes, reality-driven series that focuses on filming the rarest and most elusive creatures on Earth, without a safety net. Blending adventure, urgency, and conservation, the show aims to thrill and make a difference. Read More
YouTube’s Rise Shakes TV Landscape as NPR, PBS, and Culture Critics Fade
Last week, three major media stories emerged: NPR and PBS face possible extinction due to funding cuts; YouTube now commands a dominant share of TV viewership; and The New York Times is replacing four top culture critics. Only YouTube’s surge drew real attention; its growing influence now rivals traditional TV, as even Netflix partners with former amateur creators amid major shifts in advertising driven by AI. Read More
Netflix CFO Downplays Impact of Legacy Media Mergers
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann said the company remains unfazed by the ongoing consolidation of legacy media networks, despite a wave of sales and spin-offs. In a Q&A following Netflix’s quarterly earnings, Neumann emphasised that such moves don’t significantly alter the competitive landscape. “We’ve historically been more builders than buyers,” he said, reaffirming Netflix’s commitment to organic growth over acquisitions. Read More
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Name-Drops 37 Titles in Earnings Call Blitz
Known for his deep recall of titles, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos rattled off 37 upcoming series, films, and events in just three minutes during the company’s Q2 earnings call. The rapid-fire spree came as Netflix released its semi-annual viewership data. Read More
Nordic Public Broadcasters Defy Global Slump in Scripted TV
Nordic public service broadcasters are leading a surge in scripted TV, commissioning 67 new titles in Q1 2025, a 24% year-on-year jump, according to Ampere Analysis. While global scripted commissions fell 15%, Denmark’s DR, Sweden’s SVT, Norway’s NRK, and Finland’s Yle pushed Nordic output to record highs. Drama dominates, with family and crime series in local languages thriving despite global budget pressures. Read More
Marieke Hardy Urges Australian Commissioners to Embrace Risk
Writer Marieke Hardy sees promise in local production but calls for bolder commissioning in Australia. Speaking at Future Vision, she praised Amanda Duthie’s backing of Thou Shalt Not Steal and urged buyers to take creative swings like Baby Reindeer. Hardy continues mentoring emerging writers while reigniting her own projects, advocating for “funny drama” and risk-taking storytelling. Read More
SBS Commissioners Share Key Tips for Pitching Diverse, Authentic Stories
At Screenworks’ Regional to Global Conference, SBS’s Joseph Maxwell and Nakul Legha shared insights on successful pitching. Maxwell emphasised that pitches should align with SBS’s core mission of diversity and representation: “Why is this an SBS show?” is a key question. Legha added, “Authenticity comes when both the stories and creative teams reflect our audiences, that’s what drives real connection.” Read More
Catherine Smyth-McMullen Calls for Industry Standards on Writing Timelines
At Future Vision, writer Catherine Smyth-McMullen raised concerns about unrealistic timelines in writers’ rooms, especially for emerging talent. She stressed the need for industry-wide standards, noting that some writers are given just days to break a season or draft a pilot. “If you’re going to take a risk on someone, you have to have processes in place to support them,” she said, warning that current practices risk creative burnout. Read More
Asher Keddie Highlights Value of Creative Trust in Long-Term Collaboration
Speaking at Future Vision in Melbourne, Asher Keddie and producer Imogen Banks reflected on their long-running creative partnership (Offspring, Fake, Party Tricks). Now also a producer, Keddie emphasised the crucial bond with the Director of Photography: “It’s vital for storytelling, we have to understand how the character’s experience is visually built.” She added that trust and open dialogue are key to their enduring collaboration. Read More
Sally Wainwright Champions Soap Writing as Storytelling Bootcamp
Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright credited her time writing soaps as crucial to her development, speaking at Future Vision in Melbourne. Though she began with The Archers, it was Coronation Street that taught her the craft of long-term storytelling. “Characters and dialogue come easier,” she said. “But relentless story creation, that’s hard. Soaps teach you to build stories with legs, not just short arcs like in prime-time dramas.” Read More
Richard Gadd Reveals Cut “Missing Episode” from Baby Reindeer
At Future Vision in Melbourne, Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd shared that the hit series originally included a “missing episode”, offering a brief emotional respite. The cut episode featured his character visiting his father, played by Mark Lewis Jones, whom Gadd praised as “astonishing.” Despite studio notes urging lighter moments, Gadd ultimately fought to remove the episode, believing it disrupted the show’s intensity. Read More
SPA Blames Policy Gaps for Neighbours Demise Amid Calls for Local Streaming Quotas
With no local content quotas yet enforced on streamers and drama sub-quotas removed from free-to-air TV in 2020, Screen Producers Australia suggests Neighbours might have survived under a stronger policy. SPA CEO Matthew Deaner called its cancellation a major loss: “Long-running shows like Neighbours are vital for developing talent and sustaining careers. Many leading Australians got their start on that set.” Read More
Simon Heath Reflects on 35 Years at the Helm of World Productions
Despite recovering from dental surgery, Line of Duty producer Simon Heath remains full of energy as he marks 35 years of World Productions. From early hits like This Life to recent titles including The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and Karen Pirie, Heath has steered the UK powerhouse through decades of acclaimed drama. His award-filled office speaks to a legacy of consistency, ambition, and storytelling success. Read More
Micheal Ward Reflects on Lost Cannes Debut with Lovers Rock
Micheal Ward’s anticipated Cannes moment was set for 2020 with Lovers Rock, his breakout role in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology. But the festival’s cancellation due to COVID-19 dashed those plans. The reggae-infused romance, widely praised by critics, would have marked a major milestone for Ward, who calls the missed debut a significant what-could-have-been in his rising career. Read More
Xilam’s Safaa Benazzouz on Creating Global Hits for Kids and Families
Safaa Benazzouz, EVP of Distribution at Xilam Animation, emphasises the importance of content that unites global families through relatable and entertaining stories. With budgets tight and competition fierce, platforms seek proven IPs with broad appeal. Xilam excels by blending education with comedy, especially in non-dialogue series like Oggy and the Cockroaches and Zig & Sharko, offering universally accessible content that resonates with kids worldwide. Read More
The Stimming Pool Directors Among ICO Bursary Recipients as Fund Expands
Robin Elliott-Knowles and Georgia Kumari Bradburn, co-directors of The Stimming Pool, are among 13 emerging UK filmmakers awarded the third ICO Miles Ketley Memorial Fund bursary. Also recognised are If The Streets Were On Fire director Alice Russell and Sweetheart’s Marley Morrison. The Independent Cinema Office has extended the fund through 2028, with a 40% boost in value to support rising talent further. Read More
Camille Cottin Takes on Iconic Villain Role in New Les Misérables Adaptation
Call My Agent! star Camille Cottin will play the infamous Madame Thénardier in Fred Cavayé’s upcoming adaptation of Les Misérables. Starring alongside Benjamin Lavernhe and Noémie Merlant, Cottin describes the role as “mythological” and daunting: “She and her husband are the real monsters of literature. It’s been done brilliantly before, so I’m stressed, but also, why not?” The period drama promises a faithful take on Victor Hugo’s classic. Read More
Mark Jenkin Premieres Surreal Short at KVIFF, Teases Next Feature Rose of Nevada
Known for his Cornish-rooted cinema, filmmaker Mark Jenkin debuted his 17-minute short I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Made with Super eight footage and voice-over musings, the film blends travel diary, film theory, and possible fantasy. Jenkin, whose past works include Enys Men and Bait, also revealed details about his next feature, Rose of Nevada, starring George MacKay and Callum Turner. Read More
James Gunn’s Superman Brings $100M Boost to Georgia and Ohio
Before soaring onto screens, James Gunn’s Superman delivered a major economic lift on the ground. According to the Motion Picture Association, the DC reboot generated over $100 million in direct spending across Georgia and Ohio. With 68 shoot days in Atlanta alone, it supported 1,233 jobs and partnered with 441 local businesses. Cleveland also saw a $17.5 million boost from 21 filming days and nearly 3,000 local hires. Read More
Ashford Scraps $35M Film Studio Project, Will Build Affordable Housing Instead
A once-promising film studio development in Ashford, UK, touted as a potential Netflix hub, has officially been scrapped. Despite obtaining planning approval and making significant investments, officials were unable to secure a studio operator. The $35 million project will now pivot to constructing 200 affordable homes. “We’ve exhausted every avenue,” said Ashford Borough Council leader Noel Ovenden. “It’s time for a realistic plan B.” Read More
Why Smoke Dropped Two Episodes at Once: A Twist That Changes Everything
Apple TV+ launched Smoke with a two-episode premiere for one key reason: the game-changing twist at the end of Episode 2. Up to that point, Taron Egerton’s Dave Gudsen appears to be a model hero: arson investigator, family man, weekend teacher, and fiction writer. But the narrative shift in Episode 2 redefines everything, making the double drop a deliberate storytelling move, not just a release strategy. Read More
Is Theatrical Comedy Making a Comeback?
After years in decline, theatrical comedy may be regaining its spark. With recent hits like One of Them Days and upcoming releases including The Naked Gun reboot and a Kendrick Lamar–South Park mashup, studios are betting on laughs again. Once box office staples in the 2000s and 2010s (The Hangover, Bridesmaids), comedies have struggled post-pandemic, but a revival could be just around the corner. Read More
South Africa Introduces Content and Investment Rules for Global Streamers
South Africa’s new media policy requires platforms like Netflix to meet local content quotas or pay into a national fund, while raising the foreign ownership cap in media companies to 49%. Aiming to modernise regulation and boost local investment, the plan could reshape the country's creative economy, but may also risk pushing platforms away. Full rollout is expected by 2027. Read More
Polly Steele Reflects on ‘Four Letters of Love’ and Its Serendipitous Irish Shoot
Director Polly Steele describes the filming of Four Letters of Love as “magical,” with unseasonably perfect weather in Donegal and Antrim, and a cast deeply connected to the source novel. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Pierce Brosnan, Gabriel Byrne, Ann Skelly, and Fionn O’Shea, the film explores love, fate, and family across haunting Irish landscapes. Read More
James Gunn’s Superman Scene Blends Romance, Politics, and Classic Banter
In Superman, James Gunn crafts a standout scene where Lois Lane interviews Clark Kent, posing as Superman, in her apartment. The moment explores their relationship, moral beliefs, and Superman’s geopolitical impact, all while channelling the snappy charm of His Girl Friday. Gunn aimed to keep the scene “grounded but fast paced,” revealing new emotional layers to both characters.
Lena Dunham Recalls Wanting a Fire Drill to Ease First-Day Nerves on ‘Girls’
In a BAFTA interview, Too Much creator Lena Dunham shares that she was so anxious on her first day filming Girls that she secretly hoped for a fire drill to interrupt the shoot. She also reflects on early inspirations, such as A League of Their Own and a worn-out VHS of Peter Pan, highlighting how childhood obsessions shaped her storytelling instincts.
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