TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Wednesday 7 August 2024
SpongeBob tops Netflix; NZ On Air launches kids' YouTube; B&C goes digital; Disney+ raises prices; Fox Q4 profit slips; Mattel wins lawsuit; BBC exceeds investment; WBD may sell assets.
Today’s Highlights:
SpongeBob Movie Starring Sandy Cheeks Tops Netflix Viewership—The new SpongeBob SquarePants movie starring Sandy Cheeks became a top-viewed title on Netflix, highlighting the franchise's successful transition to streaming platforms.
NZ On Air to Create YouTube Channels for New Zealand Kids' Content - NZ On Air will launch YouTube channels to aggregate New Zealand-made children's content, aiming to make local content more accessible.
Broadcasting & Cable to Cease Print Edition, Focus on Digital—Broadcasting & Cable will cease its print edition and newsletter publication and shift entirely to digital to adapt to changing reader preferences.
Disney Plus Announces Price Increase, New Playlist Feature - Disney Plus is set to increase subscription prices and introduce a new playlist feature to enhance user experience.
Fox Reports Q4 Profit Slip Despite Revenue Boost—Fox Corporation's fourth-quarter net income declined due to investment challenges and advertising despite increased distribution revenue.
Mattel Prevails in $46 Million Suit Over Reality Show Concept - Mattel wins a lawsuit against producer Norton Herrick, avoiding $46.2 million in damages over a reality show concept dispute.
BBC Exceeds Target Investment in North East England - The BBC is on track to exceed its £25m investment target in the North East of England, creating local jobs and boosting the production sector.
Warner Bros. Discovery Explores Asset Sales to Streamline Operations—Warner Bros. Discovery is considering smaller asset sales to address operational challenges and the decline in stock price.
Decline in Reality TV Production in Los Angeles - Reality TV production in Greater Los Angeles drops significantly, reflecting industry-wide cutbacks and budget reductions.
Hollywood's Growing Divide on Artificial Intelligence - A report from the U.S. Copyright Office highlights the need for laws regulating deepfakes, indicating a growing divide between Hollywood's unions and tech giants over AI.
Plus: News, Festivals, Insights, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Renewals and Jobs with ABC, ITV, Little Dot, Paramount, Sony, Warners, MrBeast, MGM/Amazon & SVT.
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NEWS
'SpongeBob' movie starring Sandy Cheeks tops Netflix viewership
The new "SpongeBob SquarePants" movie, focused on Sandy Cheeks, has become a top-viewed title on Netflix. The film’s popularity highlights the enduring appeal of the "SpongeBob" franchise and its successful transition to streaming platforms.
From: The Wrap
NZ On Air to create YouTube channels to support New Zealand kids' content
NZ On Air will launch two YouTube channels to aggregate New Zealand-made children’s content. The initiative, managed by an external operator, aims to showcase locally funded content for preschool and primary school children. With an annual investment of up to NZ$150,000, the channels intend to make local content more accessible as domestic broadcasters commission less kids' programming.
From: C21
Broadcasting & Cable to cease print edition, focus on digital
Broadcasting & Cable will stop its print edition and newsletter publication, shifting entirely to digital. This move reflects the broader trend in media towards digital platforms as print readership declines. The publication aims to continue delivering industry news and analysis through its online presence, adapting to changing reader preferences.
From: The Wrap
Disney Plus announces price increase, new playlist feature
Disney Plus is set to increase its subscription prices and introduce a new playlist feature. The price hike comes as the platform invests in expanding its content library and enhancing user experience. The playlist feature will allow subscribers to create and share custom lists of their favourite shows and movies.
From: The Wrap
Fox Sees Q4 Profit Slip Despite Boost in Revenue
Fox Corporation reported a decline in fourth-quarter net income due to a change in the value of its investment in the online gambling company Flutter and challenges in advertising, despite an increase in distribution revenue. Sports were key drivers, mainly Fox’s broadcasts of the UEFA European Championship and CONMEBOL Copa América. Earnings fell to $319 million (68 cents per share) from $375 million (74 cents per share) a year earlier. Revenue rose 2% to $3.09 billion, driven by a 5% increase in affiliate fees, though ad revenue remained flat.
From: Variety
In Win for Studios, Mattel Prevails in $46 Million Suit Filed by Producer Over Allegation of Stolen Reality Show
After a high-stakes trial, a jury found that Mattel did not steal a reality show concept from producer Norton Herrick, marking a significant victory for the toy giant and avoiding $46.2 million in damages. The verdict follows a 2½-month civil trial in Santa Monica, rejecting Herrick's claims of breach of an implied contract, breach of confidence, fraud-misrepresentation, fraud-concealment, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Herrick sued Mattel in 2018, claiming they stole his idea for the reality show “The Toy Box,” which aired on ABC in 2017.
From: Variety
FESTIVALS
Toronto International Film Festival adds 43 international movies from 41 countries
A drama about an Iranian human rights activist and a documentary about the hacking of queer indie pop duo Tegan and Sara are among the films added to the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival lineup, unveiled in its Centrepiece section. The 43 films, from 41 countries, include 18 world premieres, such as “Seven Days” by Ali Samadi Ahadi, “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” by Laura Piani, “The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos” by the Agbajowo Collective, and Erin Lee Carr’s “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara.”
From: The Wrap
Locarno 2024 line-up guide: Piazza Grande and International Competition titles
The Locarno Film Festival 2024 features a diverse lineup with Piazza Grande and International Competition titles. Highlights include "Last Night" by Christophe Honoré, "The Invincible" by Philippe Garrel, and "Electric Child" by Noémie Lvovsky. The festival will also showcase emerging talents and established filmmakers.
From: Screen Daily
New York Film Festival 2024 lineup includes films by Sean Baker, Mike Leigh
The New York Film Festival's 2024 lineup features 33 films, including works by David Cronenberg, Sean Baker, and Mike Leigh. The festival runs from September 27 to October 14 and aims to reflect the state of cinema and the world. Notable films include Sean Baker's Palme d'Or-winning "Anora" and David Cronenberg's "The Shrouds."
From: The Wrap
INSIGHTS
Into the Whoniverse
"Into the Whoniverse" details the creation of dramatic stunts and otherworldly creatures for recent Doctor Who specials. VFX creatives Will Cohen and Seb Barker discuss the challenges of visual effects, particularly the 60th-anniversary episodes and Ncuti Gatwa's debut as the 15th Doctor. They highlight practical effects, CGI, and the innovative bi-generation sequence introducing Gatwa's Doctor, emphasising the show's elevated production values and cinematic ambitions.
From: Drama Quarterly
Spider-Man vs the Justice League in the battle for Formatland
In the current market, an indie production company can acquire a format from about six to eight good distributors. With fewer new launches, indies must create from scratch, buy a back catalogue title, or compete with larger companies for new titles. With large budgets, indies can compete on option fees and offer better terms like sharing producer fees or higher guarantees. This situation makes it challenging for indies to increase their value by generating their IP, making survival challenging in today's climate.
From: C21
What’s in your kit? Callan Green ACS NZCS
Cinematographer Callan Green ACS NZCS shares his essential film production gear, including modern and classic cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment. Green emphasises the importance of versatility and reliability in his kit, which allows him to adapt to various shooting conditions and creative demands.
From: IF
BBC set to exceed target investment of £25m in the North East of England
According to the broadcaster, the BBC in the UK is on track to exceed its target investment of £25m (US$32m) in the North East of England by 2026. Three years into the BBC’s five-year agreement with the North East Screen Partnership, it has created 293 local jobs, contributed £18.6m to the region, and aims to create a £50m a year production sector by 2027. Production spend has increased by around 89%, and filming days have risen by 78%.
From: C21
Eccho Rights’ Handan Özkubat Talks Turkish Dramas
While Eccho Rights features dramas worldwide—from Australia to Mexico, Spain to South Korea, the U.K. to the Nordics—Turkish series have been particularly successful in sales. The company recently secured several deals for the Turkish drama My Home My Destiny, including a U.S. agreement. Eccho Rights also licenses Turkish scripted series as formats for international adaptations, such as Ezel, which was remade in India for Disney+ Hotstar.
From: TV Drama
Warner Bros. Discovery explores asset sales to streamline operations
After considering a possible break-up, Warner Bros. Discovery executives are now looking at smaller asset sales instead. The media giant, led by David Zaslav, has been exploring options due to a 67% stock price decline since the April 2022 merger. Senior management decided that splitting its linear networks and some or all of its $39 billion debt from its streaming and studio businesses would create significant operational challenges and could trigger lawsuits from debt investors. Sources described the split as a potential "nuclear option."
From: The Wrap
The Hollywood production collapse’s latest victim: Why the reality TV bubble finally burst
According to FilmLA, from April through June, reality TV production in Greater Los Angeles dropped by 57% compared to last year and 50% compared to the five-year average. This decline reflects an industry-wide contraction that persisted before last year’s strikes. Reality TV, which previously rebounded quickly post-COVID due to easier production protocols, is now facing significant cutbacks. Studios are reducing production budgets amid the streaming wars, with many projects moving abroad to save costs.
From: Los Angeles Times
Emma Myers Learned to Do a British Accent in Two Weeks For ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’: ‘I Haven’t Done a Character Like Pip Before’
Emma Myers, known for her role as Enid in "Wednesday," stars as teenage super sleuth Pip Fitz-Amobi in "A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder," showcasing her British accent, which she mastered in just two weeks. Before the show's Netflix debut, Myers discussed on-set injuries, differences between the book and the show, and how Pip is more similar to her than any character she has played before.
From: Variety
Gianluca Jodice on Locarno Opener ‘The Flood,’ His Fascination With “the End” and Films as Icebergs
The 77th Locarno Film Festival will open with the world premiere of "The Flood," an arthouse film by Italian director Gianluca Jodice. Set in 1792, it stars Mélanie Laurent and Guillaume Canet as Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI and focuses on their imprisonment in a Paris chateau.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Love is Blind U.K.’ Hosts Matt and Emma Willis Tease ‘Divisive’ Cast Members and Why Brits’ ‘Love Language’ Will Surprise International Viewers: ‘I Laughed, I Cried, I Screamed’
Matt and Emma Willis, the U.K.'s answer to Nick and Vanessa Lachey, are the new hosts of Netflix's dating show "Love is Blind." Ahead of the first British version's debut, the couple discussed how the U.K. series would differ from the original, the reasons behind the format's success, and which cast member might be the most controversial with viewers.
From: Variety
Hollywood’s Divide on Artificial Intelligence Is Only Growing
The fight over AI has unfolded in the U.S. Copyright Office, examining the intersection of intellectual property and AI. On Wednesday, it issued a report highlighting the "urgent need" for laws regulating deepfakes. The agency has been in talks with representatives from the Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, and MPA. These discussions indicate a collision course between Hollywood's unions and tech giants developing AI tools, some of whom are in the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Key clashes involve new legislation to address the unauthorised use of copyrighted material for AI training and the mass generation of potentially infringing works.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
'Griselda' Cinematographer Breaks Down the Cocaine-Bonfire Pool Scene
Armando Salas, ASC, cinematographer of Netflix's 'Griselda' breaks down defining the show's looks in the 70's and 80's off Polaroids and using the Red Raptor on set.
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