TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 3 September 2024
Disney-DirecTV dispute; Netflix leads in Australia; Warner Bros. shifts in Canada; Kenyan TV expands; Korean cinema struggles; African content rises; Kapadia’s 2073; Clooney on streamers.
Today’s Highlights:
Disney Channels Pulled from DirecTV in Major Carriage Dispute—Disney and DirecTV are in a significant carriage dispute, which has led to a blackout of popular channels like ABC and ESPN for millions of viewers.
AI's Growing Role in Entertainment - Writers discuss AI's potential in the entertainment industry, acknowledging its capabilities while expressing scepticism about its impact on scriptwriting and audience engagement.
Netflix Leads Australian Streaming Market - Netflix maintains its lead in Australian streaming subscriptions, while BritBox shows the fastest growth amid cost-of-living pressures and increasing ad-supported services.
Warner Bros. Discovery Rights Shift in Canada - Warner Bros. Discovery's changing rights strategy may significantly impact the Canadian unscripted television market, affecting content distribution and production partnerships.
Kenyan Channel Akili Kids Expands Linear TV—Akili Kids is capitalising on the expansion of linear TV in Kenya, offering educational and entertaining content to young audiences.
Diversity in African Programming by Cote Ouest - Cote Ouest, a leading African content distributor, is broadening its programming slate to embrace diversity and reflect the continent's cultural richness.
Korean Cinema's Global Performance Post-Pandemic - Despite global recognition, the Korean film industry faces challenges, with box office figures still recovering and a polarised market emerging post-pandemic.
African Content's Global Breakthrough - MultiChoice's CEO emphasises the global impact of African TV series and films, predicting a significant international presence for African storytelling.
Asif Kapadia's '2073' Documentary - Asif Kapadia's new project "2073" explores a dystopian future through narrative and documentary styles, addressing current global threats.
George Clooney on Hollywood and Streaming - George Clooney discusses the evolving relationship between Hollywood and streaming services, highlighting the industry's ongoing adjustments and future opportunities for actors.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals and Jobs with Verve, Perth Film Studios, UKTV, A+E, Warners, Leonine, Amazon & Netflix.
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NEWS
Disney Channels, Including ABC and ESPN, Pulled From DirecTV in Major Carriage Dispute
Disney is embroiled in another significant TV carriage dispute, this time with satellite TV provider DirecTV. The dispute has resulted in Disney channels like ABC and ESPN going dark for millions of DirecTV customers. The blackout occurred just before the LSU-USC college football game and during the U.S. Open tennis tournament, with the NFL season set to start soon.
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INSIGHTS
The future of storytelling
Writers Justin Haythe, Danielle Ward, Iain Morris, and Ben Schiffer share their thoughts on AI's growing role in the entertainment industry, acknowledging its potential to assist with research, create episodic outlines, and even produce complete scripts. Despite the technology's rapid advancement, they remain sceptical about its credibility in scriptwriting and doubt its ability to resonate with audiences. While AI can streamline specific tasks, most writers hesitate to incorporate it into their creative process, questioning whether viewers would engage with AI-generated content. Read More
Netflix retains lead in Australian streaming as BritBox grows fastest: Telsyte
Netflix continues to lead streaming subscriptions in Australia with 6.2 million subscribers, followed by Amazon Prime Video at 4.8 million and Disney+ at 3.1 million, according to Telsyte's Australian Subscription Entertainment Study 2024. Britbox saw the fastest growth, while Crunchyroll and Hayu also gained subscribers. Despite cost-of-living pressures, entertainment subscriptions are considered vital, driving a 15% revenue increase to A$3.5bn in 2024. Ad-supported SVoD subscriptions grew to 2.5 million, comprising 11% of total services. Read More
What will the WBD rights shift mean for Canadian unscripted?
As Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shifts its rights strategy, there are significant implications for the Canadian unscripted television market. This analysis delves into how the changes could affect content distribution, production partnerships, and the overall landscape of unscripted programming in Canada. Read More
Akili rides Kenya’s linear expansion
Akili Kids, a Kenyan children's channel, is capitalising on eTVanding linear TV in the region. The channel is gaining traction by offering educational and entertaining content tailored to young audiences in Kenya. Akili Kids is leveraging the growing demand for local content and the opportunities presented by the increasing availability of linear television in the country. Read More
A Cote Ouest of Many Colours: Thought leadership
Cote Ouest, a leading distributor of African content, is embracing diversity in its programming slate. The company is broadening its appeal by offering a wide range of genres and stories that reflect the cultural richness of Africa. Read More
How Korean films are performing in the global market
The global recognition of Korean cinema, bolstered by the success of Bong Joon Ho's Parasite and the widespread popularity of K-pop and K-dramas, might inspire envy from other film industries. However, those within Korea's film sector aren't feeling the same golden era. Despite Parasite's Oscar triumph, the pandemic stifled any momentum, and box office figures in Korea have yet to recover fully, with 2023's total reaching only $964 million—45% below pre-pandemic levels. While some hits like 12.12: The Day and The Roundup: Punishment performed well, many local films have significantly underperformed, creating a polarised market. Read More
Jordan Peele’s Newly Published ‘Us’ Screenplay Provides an Expanded Understanding of the Film — Without Giving Away Its Secrets
Jordan Peele's 2019 horror film "Us" has captivated audiences with its open-ended narrative and rich network of allusions, sparking intense fan theories and repeat viewings. The film's underground world and rebellion raise many unanswered questions, delighting those who embrace its ambiguities while frustrating more literal-minded viewers. The opening minutes alone, featuring references to 1980s cultural events like "Hands Across America" and VHS titles like "C.H.U.D." and "The Right Stuff," have inspired countless analyses exploring their significance in Peele's complex story. Read More
‘Merchant Ivory’ Takes a Deep Dive Into One of Cinema’s Most Significant and Enduring Partnerships
From their 1963 debut, "The Householder", to their final collaboration ", The White Countess", in 2005, James Ivory and Ismail Merchant formed cinema's most consistent director-producer duo, creating a streak of highly acclaimed films known for their visual detail, literate screenplays, and impeccable casting. Despite box office successes like "A Room with a View" and "Howard’s End," many of their other works, such as "Slaves of New York" and "A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries," were underappreciated, leaving Merchant Ivory enthusiasts frustrated by the lack of broader recognition. Read More
African Content Is Ready for Its “Global Moment,” MultiChoice Executive Tells MIP Africa
"Africa's film industry is poised for a global breakthrough," said Nomsa Philiso, CEO of general entertainment at MultiChoice Group, during MIP Africa. She highlighted the increasing international presence of African TV series and films, citing hits like Wyfie, Reyka, and Shaka iLembe. With African films gaining recognition at major festivals and international sales through partnerships with distributors like Fremantle and StudioCanal, Philiso emphasised the growing global impact of African storytelling. Read More
‘2073’ Trailer: A Genre-Bending Documentary Warns of the Horrors Our Future Has in Store
Known for films like "The Warrior" and documentaries "Senna" and "Amy," Asif Kapadia's latest project, "2073," blends narrative and documentary styles to explore a dystopian future. Featuring actors Samantha Morton, Naomi Ackie, and Hector Hewer alongside interviews with real-world figures like Maria Ressa and Carole Cadwalladr, the film serves as a "true sci-fi" warning. Set in a 2073 controlled by dictators and tech moguls, it reflects on current threats like democratic decline, neo-fascism, climate disaster, and surveillance. Read More
George Clooney on Hollywood's Relationship With Streamers and Why He's Hopeful for Actors
Calling it a "revolution in our industry," George Clooney weighs in on why Hollywood needs streamers, why streamers need distributors and how "we haven't got it all figured out yet." Clooney also says he thinks actors will have more opportunities for work. He commented while promoting his new film, "Wolfs," at the 81st Annual Venice Film Festival.
Peter Lord on Aardman, Morph, Wallace and Gromit and stop-motion animation | BFI in Conversation
Peter Lord is a legendary figure in the UK animation industry renowned for his work in stop-motion animation. As co-founder and Creative Director of Bristol-based Aardman Studios, Lord has been a creative force behind iconic projects like Chicken Run, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, and Adam. He also created the beloved character Morph. With a decades-long career, Lord remains pivotal in animation, continually inspiring new generations of animators.
FESTIVALS & MARKETS
Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh to Close San Sebastian Film Festival With John Crowley’s ‘We Live in Time’
John Crowley's romantic drama "We Live in Time," starring Andrew Garfield and
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