TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 8 October 2024
Amazon fights Prime lawsuit; Blossoms Shanghai wins big; Greece delays tax rebate; Japan lures films; Netflix shifts focus; Sky sues WBD; Reality TV decline; MPA names new EMEA Head.
Today’s Highlights:
Amazon Prime Video Moves to Dismiss Class Action Lawsuit - Amazon is defending itself against a lawsuit over new fees for ad-free streaming, arguing that its terms allowed changes to Prime benefits.
Wong Kar-wai’s Blossoms Shanghai Wins Two Awards at Asia Contents Awards - The Chinese drama won the Best Creative Award and Best Lead Actor at the Asia Contents Awards in Busan.
Greece Delays 40% Tax Rebate Reopening for International Productions - The Greek government postponed reopening its tax rebate program until January 2025 due to funding shortages.
Streaming’s Subscriber Acquisition and Retention Battle - Streaming platforms invest in high-budget shows to retain subscribers as churn rates rise, especially in the US.
Japan Attracting International Film Productions with New Incentives—A new 50% cash rebate program, supported by a weak yen, draws more international film productions to Japan.
Netflix Focuses on APAC Region for Scripted Content—As US productions slow down, APAC will account for 33% of Netflix’s new scripted series in 2024, surpassing Western Europe.
Sky’s Lawsuit Against Warner Brothers Discovery Over Harry Potter Content—Sky accuses WBD of breaching a contract by withholding Harry Potter to boost its Max platform, which impacted Sky’s HBO content.
Reality TV Production Decline Post-Pandemic - Reality programming has seen a sharp downturn, with sound supervisors reporting major project cancellations in recent years.
Former CBeebies Executive Producer Vanessa Amberleigh Retires - Vanessa Amberleigh retires after over 30 years in UK children’s television, contributing to iconic shows like CBeebies Bedtime Stories.
MPA Appoints Emilie Anthonis as President for the EMEA Region - The Motion Picture Association announces Emilie Anthonis as the new President of the EMEA region, effective January 2025.
Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, and Jobs with SBS, Studio Lambert, NBCUniversal, Sony, Disney, Amazon, M6, Red Bull, WBD, and ProSiebenSat.1, Endemol Shine & Mediawan.
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NEWS
Amazon Prime Video Moves to Dismiss Class Action Lawsuit
Amazon is fighting a lawsuit accusing it of misleading Prime subscribers by charging an additional fee to stream ad-free content. The company argues that it disclosed Prime benefits could change and never guaranteed Prime Video would remain ad-free. The lawsuit, filed by users claiming breach of contract, followed Amazon's introduction of a $2.99 monthly fee for ad-free viewing. Amazon cites its terms, stating it can modify benefits at its discretion. Read More
Wong Kar-wai’s Blossoms Shanghai Wins Two Awards at Asia Contents Awards
Chinese drama series Blossoms Shanghai won two top prizes at the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards in Busan on October 6. Directed by Wong Kar-wai in his TV debut, the series took the Best Creative Award for "the most outstanding work", and Hu Ge won Best Lead Actor as a self-made millionaire in 1990s Shanghai. Read More
Greece Further Delays Reopening of 40% Tax Rebate Due to Lack of Funds
The Greek government has postponed reopening its 40% tax rebate for international film and TV productions until January 2025, aiming to clear a funding backlog and secure a new budget. The rebate has been closed since May 1 and was initially set to reopen on October 1 under the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre - Creative Greece. However, CEO Leonidas Christopoulos has reassured productions that they can still access the rebate. Read More
Fandango Launches New Movie Membership FanClub
Fandango has launched a new monthly membership program, “Fandango FanClub,” offering savings on movie tickets and more. For $9.99 monthly, members receive one $10 movie ticket promo code, waived convenience fees on all ticket purchases, and additional perks like early access to special offers. At launch, members will also get two free movie tickets after a 7-day free trial when joining. Read More
INSIGHTS
History Repeating
French thriller Brocéliande follows biologist Fanny Legoff as she returns to her university to investigate her friend’s disappearance after another student goes missing under similar circumstances. Starring Nolwenn Leroy in her first lead role, the six-part series drew over five million viewers in France. Produced by Shine Fiction for TF1, the show blends mystery and tension, using a real forest to enhance its ethereal atmosphere. Read More
Hollywood’s Digital Demolition: Films and TV Shows Are Being Wiped
Last June, Comedy Central, home to shows like The Daily Show and South Park, removed its vast video archive dating back to the late 1990s from its website. Iconic episodes from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report disappeared, with links now redirecting to Paramount+. This move reflects a growing trend where media corporations prioritise profit over preserving cultural history, leaving fans and scholars with limited access to past content. Read More
Streaming’s Subscriber Acquisition and Retention Battle
Streaming platforms classify subscribers based on monthly viewing hours, with low-viewing, high-risk subscribers more likely to cancel. To retain them, platforms invest heavily in broad-appeal, high-budget shows to attract new viewers and re-engage infrequent ones. This strategy becomes less sustainable as market saturation hits, especially in the U.S. Churn rates, particularly for services like Apple TV+ and Paramount+, remain high, increasing acquisition costs, while retention-focused content becomes crucial to maintaining financial stability. Read More
Japan Attracting International Film Productions Despite Challenges
According to the Japan Film Commission, a new film incentive and the weak yen are drawing more international productions to Japan. Launched in 2023, the incentive offers a 50% cash rebate for selected productions with direct production costs in Japan exceeding $3.3m or total costs over $6.7m, with an upper subsidy limit of $6.7m. This follows a successful pilot program that supported projects like HBO's Tokyo Vice. Read More
Does the Harry Potter Row Hint at a New Era at Sky?
In September, Sky filed a lawsuit accusing Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) of breaching an agreement by withholding the Harry Potter series to boost its Max platform in Europe. As WBD plans to launch Max in the UK in 2025, Sky may lose access to HBO content, crucial for its programming. Both companies fiercely defend their positions, with WBD stating the lawsuit is a leverage tactic in their negotiations, while Sky argues WBD is not honouring their contract. Read More
The APAC Region Leads Among Netflix’s New Scripted Commissions
Netflix is increasingly shifting its focus to the APAC region for new scripted content, with 33% of all new first-run scripted series in 2024 coming from this market, surpassing Western Europe at 29%. This reflects a 9% rise from 2022. As Netflix cuts back on U.S. scripted productions, it continues to invest in exportable content from the UK, Spain, and APAC, with particular growth in Sci-Fi & Fantasy titles from emerging markets like Thailand and Taiwan. Read More
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Ruth Bradley on 'Slow Horses' and Working with Gary Oldman
Ruth Bradley recalls her audition for Slow Horses, where the top-secret script instantly impressed her. Unaware of the show's identity at first, she emailed her agent to praise the writing, only to learn it was for Slow Horses, based on Mick Herron’s novels. Bradley plays Emma Flyte, a former police detective now head of internal security under MI5’s Diana Taverner. Read More
S4C's Gwenllian Gravelle on Capturing ‘The One That Got Away’ and Welsh Drama’s Boom
S4C’s head of scripted, Gwenllian Gravelle, discusses the upcoming drama The One That Got Away, set in Pembroke Dock, West Wales. The six-part series, blending crime and romance, premieres on October 13 and stars Elen Rhys, Rhian Blythe, and Richard Harrington. Gravelle highlighted the success of Welsh dramas in the domestic market and expressed optimism for the global reach of local-language series despite challenges elsewhere in the industry. Read More
Senior Executives Reject the Idea of Nordic Ads on Netflix Anytime Soon
Senior executives from the Nordic region have dismissed the possibility of ads being introduced on Netflix in their markets anytime soon. Michael Poulsen from TV 2 Denmark, Filippa Wallestam of Viaplay Group, and Claus Bülow Christensen of FutureTV discussed the regional streaming services' complexities and the distinct challenges of implementing ad-supported tiers. They emphasised that the Nordic market is unique due to its high subscription fees and competition between local and international players. Read More
Trailer Drops for Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The Seed of the Sacred Fig, written and directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, was filmed in secret after Rasoulof fled Iran, where he had been sentenced to prison for protesting political injustices. The thriller, which premiered at Cannes, follows Iman, a judge in Tehran, as political unrest grows, leaving him paranoid and distrustful of his family. Starring Misagh Zare and Soheila Golestani, Rasoulof developed the script while imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison. Read More
Ella Purnell & Kirstie Swain Discuss Embracing Imperfection and British Satire in 'Sweetpea'
Written by Pure’s Kirstie Swain and produced by Patrick Walters for See-Saw Films’ label Fanboy, Sweetpea follows Rhiannon as her Kill List turns dangerously real. The Sky-Starz series is a prequel to the first Sweetpea novel, exploring what led this quiet young woman to a killing spree. Swain, drawn to portraying a female sociopath, aimed to create a show for anyone who has felt overlooked, blending genres and placing flawed, ordinary people in extraordinary situations without relying on voiceover, inspired by shows like Barry and Fargo. Read More
Saoirse Ronan Reflects on The Outrun and Working with Jack Lowden
Saoirse Ronan, known for her emotionally honest performances across a range of roles, discussed her process of finding emotional truth in characters. Reflecting on her early introduction to acting and spending time alone as an only child, Ronan explained that her emotions have been her companions, fine-tuned from a young age. While her approach is now instinctive, Ronan says acting wakes something inside her, allowing her to connect deeply with emotions. Her latest role in The Outrun also marks her debut as a producer. Read More
Reality TV Production Decline Analysed
For Mike Hurst, a New York-based sound supervisor, the pandemic marked a sharp decline in production work. After a five-week shutdown on TLC’s Darcey and Stacey, he saw 86% of his client roster vanish within three years. This included shows like Man vs. Food, Life Under Renovation, and First Time Flippers. Once a cost-effective solution for cable and streaming, reality programming is now experiencing a significant downturn. Read More
Laura Burrell Discusses Paramount Global Content Distribution Strategy
In January, Hollywood Squares returns to U.S. screens on CBS with Drew Barrymore in the centre square. Paramount Global Content Distribution offers the format internationally, highlighting its strategy of revitalising beloved franchises. Laura Burrell, VP of international formats, explained that Paramount is leaning into its established IP to navigate tight budgets and a crowded market. Popular formats like Next Top Model, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy! have been successfully expanded into new territories and renewed in others over the past year. Read More
Salary Confession: Producer in Her 40s Faces No Retirement Savings
A 43-year-old development producer reflects on the uncertainties of life after taking a voluntary buyout from a major entertainment company. Now working as a freelance consultant alongside their spouse, they describe the constant hustle for work, with no breaks or vacations. While enjoying the freedom of being their own boss, they struggle with the lack of stability, steady income, and retirement savings, feeling the weight of the industry’s instability as they navigate life on a financial knife’s edge. Read More
Does Yellowstone Drives Subscriber Growth for Peacock?
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone offers a unique case in the streaming landscape. Despite being a Paramount Network original, it streams exclusively on Peacock in the U.S., while its prequels, 1883 and 1923, are on Paramount+. Initially, this licensing deal made sense when CBS and Viacom were less focused on streaming. However, as Yellowstone remains highly popular, driving significant viewership to Peacock, the long-term benefit of the deal for Paramount is now in question. Read More
FX’s Adaptation of Say Nothing Set to Premiere
Anthony Boyle, who plays Brendan Hughes in FX’s upcoming Say Nothing, based on Patrick Radden Keefe's bestseller about The Troubles in Ireland, faced personal pressure when showing the series to his parents. During a recent NYC panel, Boyle shared his nervousness as the story mirrored his parents' experience. His mother became emotional during a scene resembling one of her childhood memories. Boyle was relieved they loved the show and hoped the people of Belfast would feel the same. Read More
Filming on Location in Vietnam: The Challenges and Opportunities
At the Destination Vietnam event held at the Directors Guild of America on Sept. 25, director Phillip Noyce praised Vietnam for its reliability while filming his 2002 film The Quiet American. Noyce highlighted the country’s commitment and creativity, noting its tenacity and evolving cinema industry. The event showcased Vietnam as a prime location for American productions, featuring traditional music, puppetry, and presentations on its attractions, including the world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong, which was featured in Planet Earth III and Kong: Skull Island. Read More
Monkeypaw President Win Rosenfeld Discusses Scare Tactics and Horror Genre Evolution
A revival of Scare Tactics may seem surprising for Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw, known for hits like Nope and Monkey Man. However, the USA Network project fits Monkeypaw's genre-bending style. Created by Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey, Scare Tactics debuted on Syfy in 2003, pranking unsuspecting "victims" by placing them in terrifying, Hollywood-crafted scenarios with trained actors, blending horror and comedy—genres Peele is known for mastering. Read More
Last Days of the Space Age interview with actors Radha Mitchell, Linh-Dan Pham and Jesse Spencer
The Psychology Behind TV Production with Dr. Howard Fine
In this episode of TellyCast, host Justin Crosby interviews clinical psychologist Dr. Howard Fine, an expert in supporting TV production teams and talent in high-stress, emotionally charged environments. Dr. Fine shares his experiences managing the psychological challenges behind true crime series, undercover reporting, and other intense TV formats. They discuss the rising complexities of media production and the importance of mental health within the industry, highlighting Dr. Fine’s trauma response expertise.
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