TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Wednesday 8 January 2025
BAFTA Rising Star nominees, Discovery+ price hike, Inuit comedy debut, Sony & Netflix's anime push, France's release law shift, AI risks, Voltage merger, Ruby Franke doc, & Elordi joins Ridley Scott
Today’s Highlights:
BAFTA Announces Five Rising Star 2025 Nominees - Marisa Abela, Mikey Madison, David Jonsson, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Jharrel Jerome are nominated for the 2025 EE Rising Star Award, with winners announced during the BAFTA Film Awards on February 16.
Discovery+ Introduces Price Hike for 2025—Warner Bros. Discovery raises Discovery+ subscription prices, aligning with broader streaming cost increases across the industry.
The groundbreaking Inuit Comedy "North of North" Premieres on CBC. The ambitious Arctic-set series, co-commissioned by CBC, Netflix, and APTN, navigates logistical challenges and extreme filming conditions in Iqaluit.
Sony Highlights AnAnimes as a Core Growth Strategy—At CES 2025, Sony revealed plans for expanding anime, leveraging Crunchyroll and Aniplex’s explosive growth and aligning with the genre's global appeal.
Netflix Leads Global Anime Streaming Revenue in 2023 - Anime generated $5.5 billion in streaming revenue, with Netflix claiming 38% of the total, driven by hits like Blue Eye Samurai.
Canal+ and Disney Reshape France’s Release Window Laws - Disney's exit from its Canal+ deal and subsequent partnership with Orange and Free challenges France’s strict media chronology rules.
Overreliance on AI Risks Influencer Industry Credibility—Freddie Strange of Komodo warns of declining trust in AI-generated influencer personas, emphasising the demand for authentic content.
Voltage Pictures Merges with The Exchange - This acquisition integrates operations to expand global reach and better support filmmakers, with Alexandra Cocean leading sales and distribution.
Jacob Elordi in Talks for Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars - Elordi may replace Paul Mescal in Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller, based on Peter Heller's novel, following Mescal’s scheduling conflicts.
Hulu Unveils Docuseries on Ruby Franke's Downfall - Devil In The Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke explores the YouTuber’s rise and child abuse conviction, premiering February 27.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Netflix, Channel 4, AMC & WBD.
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NEWS
BAFTA Announces Five Rising Star 2025 Nominees
BAFTA has announced the 2025 EE Rising Star Award nominees: Marisa Abela (Back to Black), Mikey Madison (Anora), David Jonsson (Industry, Alien: Romulus), Nabhaan Rizwan (In Camera, Kaos), and Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, Unstoppable). The public-voted award celebrates emerging talent, with winners revealed during the BAFTA Film Awards on February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Read More
Discovery+ Introduces Price Hike for 2025
Warner Bros. Discovery has raised Discovery+ prices by $1, with the ad-supported plan now $5.99 and the ad-free plan $9.99. The hike applies immediately to new subscribers, with existing customers receiving 30 days' notice. Discovery+ offers niche content like 90 Day Fiancé and My 600-lb Life, complementing the broader Max service. This follows price increases by Disney+, Peacock, and Hulu, reflecting rising streaming costs. Read More
INSIGHTS
A Groundbreaking Inuit Comedy Brings Big Challenges to Canada’s Arctic
Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, creators of North of North, discuss making Canada’s most ambitious Arctic-set comedy. Co-commissioned by CBC, Netflix, and APTN, the series follows a young Inuk woman navigating life in the fictional town of Ice Cove. Filming in Iqaluit required transporting sets by air, enduring extreme weather, and overcoming logistical hurdles, with Netflix providing crucial support. The show premieres today on CBC, with a global Netflix release in spring. Read More
"All We Imagine as Light" Earns Acclaim with Cinematic Portrait of Mumbai
Though not India's Oscar submission, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light has garnered US arthouse acclaim, winning Best Film from Film Comment and earning a Golden Globe Best Director nod. The film portrays two Mumbai nurses’ lives through poetic visuals and sound. Inspired by István Szabó’s City Map, Kapadia opens with a documentary-style city symphony, blending authentic voices and cinematic artistry to depict Mumbai’s vibrant pulse. Read More
Entertainment Trends in 2025: Live Events and Big Tech
Entertainment in 2025 is poised for transformation as Big Tech invests heavily in AI and eyes vulnerable traditional studios like Warner Bros. Discovery. Key trends include increased tech influence, streaming dominance in live events like sports, and growing consolidation with Disney’s 70% stake in Fubo. These shifts signal a realignment across streaming, live experiences, and company structures, with ripple effects shaping the industry’s future. Read More
Empowering Broadcasters and Streamers with Global Audience Insights
Digital i, founded in 2003, has evolved from UK linear viewing analytics to tracking global streaming data for platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Max across 20 countries. AI tools enhancing data processing provide broadcasters, streamers, and rights holders with timely insights on trends, demographics, and content performance. As programming spending rebounds in 2025, Digital I aims to support smarter commissioning, acquisitions, and renewals worldwide. Read More
Quickplay Launches AI-Powered Shorts Tool to Help Streamers Compete with Gen Z's Short-Form Obsession
Toronto-based Quickplay unveiled "Shorts," an AI-powered tool that enables streamers to create and syndicate vertical short-form video content from live and VOD assets. The platform aims to engage Gen Z audiences, identifies key moments for bite-sized clips and integrates a social-style infinite scroll experience. With 81% of Gen Z consuming vertical video weekly, Quickplay's tool offers streamers a competitive edge in retaining younger audiences and boosting app engagement. Read More
'Hard Truths': Read Mike Leigh’s Screenplay
Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, continues its awards-season momentum. After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, the film received a New York qualifying run in December and hits theatres nationwide Friday via Bleecker Street. Garnering Gotham and Independent Spirit nominations, Jean-Baptiste has also won Best Actress awards from LA and NY film critics and a Critics Choice nomination. Read More
MTV Documentary Explores Redemption and Justice in "I Am Ready, Warden"
Smriti Mundhra’s I Am Ready, Warden, an MTV Documentary Films short, recounts the story of John Henry Ramirez, executed for the 2008 murder of Pablo Castro. The film explores themes of remorse, redemption, and justice through interviews with Ramirez, his son, his victim’s family, and his godmother. The poignant documentary follows Mundhra’s Oscar-nominated St. Louis Superman and delves into the complexities surrounding the death penalty. Read More
Canal+ and Disney Shake Up France’s Windows Chronology
Disney's exit from its Canal+ deal in France could reshape the country’s strict media release windows. Previously, Canal+ broadcast Disney films six months post-theatrical release, but with the deal ending in 2025, Disney faces a 17-month wait to stream films on Disney+. To address this, Disney has partnered with Orange and Free for distribution. These moves may pressure France to shorten its rigid chronology laws, impacting the balance between theatres and streaming platforms. Read More
Netflix Dominates Global Anime Streaming Revenue
Japanese anime set a record in 2023, generating $5.5 billion in global streaming revenue. Thanks to hits like Blue Eye Samurai, Netflix claimed 38% of that total. Parrot Analytics highlights animes as a model for international content export success, demonstrating its growing global appeal and profitability. As anime continues to captivate audiences worldwide, it remains a lucrative genre for major streaming platforms. Read More
Over-Reliance on AI Threatens Influencer Industry’s Credibility, Says Komodo's Freddie Strange
Komodo co-founder Freddie Strange warns that AI-generated personas risk eroding trust in influencer marketing, which relies on authentic human connections. Meta's removal of AI-generated accounts underscores challenges with credibility, as bots often stray off-message. Strange predicts genuine creators with real relationships will gain value in an AI-saturated space. With up to 30% of social media content expected to be AI-generated by 2025, the demand for authentic, verifiable content will rise. Read More
Sister’s Jane Featherstone Advocates for Enhanced UK TV Tax Credit
Jane Featherstone, co-founder of Chernobyl producer Sister, has called for a TV tax credit akin to the UK’s Independent Film Tax Credit. Speaking to the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Featherstone highlighted that production costs have surged by 40-60% since Netflix’s 2013 UK arrival, compounded by COVID and 2023’s Hollywood strikes. She stressed the need for stronger financial incentives to support public service broadcasters like the BBC. Read More
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Sony Highlights Anime as Key Growth Strategy at CES 2025
Sony Group unveiled its intensified focus on anAnimet CES 2025, marking the genre as a core growth area alongside its gaming, film, and music businesses. Sony’s anime units Crunchyroll and Aniplex have seen explosive growth, with Crunchyroll surpassing 15 million subscribers. Plans include the global release of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle following the record-breaking Mugen Train. Analysts highlight Anime’s booming global market, now valued at $22 billion. Read More
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