TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 10 December 2024
Golden Globes lead with Emilia Pérez, DAZN eyes Foxtel, Spike Lee unveils new film, Happy Holidays wins big, streaming revenue soars, and Nicholas Britell joins CAA.
Today’s Highlights:
2025 Golden Globe Nominations Announced - Jacques Audiard's Emilia Pérez leads with 10 nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Director, followed by The Brutalist with 7 nods, highlighting Brady Corbet, Adrien Brody, and Felicity Jones.
DAZN Eyes Acquisition of Foxtel - News Corp is negotiating the sale of Foxtel to DAZN, a move that could resolve Foxtel's $1.2 billion debt and transfer ownership of major Australian sports broadcasting rights.
Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery Settle Lawsuit - The lawsuit over the Harry Potter series co-production rights was dismissed, renewing their distribution agreement and ensuring Harry Potter streams on Sky UK.
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Winners - Sean Baker's Anora won Best Picture, with Mikey Madison and Yura Borisov earning leading and supporting performance awards, respectively, reflecting Oscar prediction trends.
Global Streaming Revenues Soar - A report forecasts global streaming revenue to exceed $190 billion by 2029, driven by ad-tier models and emerging markets like India and Korea, despite slowing subscriber growth.
Spike Lee's New Film with A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice - Spike Lee announced Highest and Lowest, an adaptation of a 1963 Kurosawa movie, featuring Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, and Ice Spice.
Marrakech Film Festival Honors Palestinian Film - Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti won the top prize at Marrakech, building on its accolades from Venice and Thessaloniki for its exploration of cultural dynamics in Haifa.
Michael Mann Expands Ferrari Archive and Prepares Heat Sequel - Michael Mann showcased his comprehensive Ferrari Expanded website and revealed progress on the much-anticipated Heat sequel.
Fuji TV Innovates in Global Formats - Fuji TV adapts its programming with co-productions and reimagined classics like Run for Money and VS School to meet global demand.
Nicholas Britell Signs with CAA - The Emmy-winning composer behind Succession and Moonlight joins Creative Artists Agency, marking a pivotal move in his celebrated career.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, In Development, Deals and Jobs with Documentary Australia, WBD, ProSiebenSat.1 & Channel 4.
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NEWS
2025 Golden Globe Nominations Announced
Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez led the 2025 Golden Globe nominations with ten nods, including Best Motion Picture and Best Director for Audiard. Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Zoe Saldaña earned acting nominations, while the film also received nods for its original songs. The Brutalist followed with 7 nominations, including Best Director and Screenplay for Brady Corbet and acting nods for Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce. Read More
British Streamer DAZN Eyes Foxtel Acquisition
News Corp is nearing a deal to sell its pay TV and streaming group, Foxtel, to DAZN, a sports streaming platform backed by billionaire Len Blavatnik. After unsuccessful negotiations with US private equity firm Platinum, DAZN emerged as the likely buyer. The deal, which could be finalized before Christmas, would see Foxtel, burdened with $1.2 billion in debt, potentially move to foreign ownership. Foxtel currently holds rights to major sports like AFL, NRL, and cricket. Read More
Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery Settle 'Harry Potter' Series Lawsuit
Comcast's Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have settled a lawsuit over alleged breaches of a 2019 agreement regarding co-production opportunities for exclusive shows. Sky claimed WBD failed to present them with at least four co-production opportunities from 2021 to 2023, including the Harry Potter series. The lawsuit was dismissed, with both parties agreeing to bear their own legal costs. Additionally, Comcast and WBD renewed their distribution deal, bringing the Harry Potter series to Sky in the U.K. Read More
Paramount's Channel 5 Reports Financial Loss Despite Strong Programming
Paramount UK's Channel 5 saw an increase in turnover and operating profit for 2023 but reported a £159.5M loss, mainly due to a £273M one-off payment to Viacom Interactive Limited. The loss was linked to the subsidiary's £300M deficit, attributed to global market conditions. Despite this, Channel 5’s operating profit rose by 40% to £112.4M, with turnover up by 7.5%, aided by a one-off £80.9M payment from ad partner Sky. The network’s ratings grew for the fifth consecutive year. Read More
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Announces 2024 Winners
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association named Sean Baker’s Anora Best Picture for 2024, with Mikey Madison and Yura Borisov taking Best Leading and Best Supporting Performance, respectively. Baker also received runner-up awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay. The Brutalist was the runner-up for Best Picture. LAFCA's selections often predict Academy Award winners, with past picks correctly forecasting Oscar nominees and winners, including Parasite and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Streamers Aim for Profitability with 2 Billion Subscribers Worldwide
According to an Ampere Analysis report, subscription streaming revenues are projected to grow nearly three times faster than subscriber numbers over the next five years, with a 30% increase expected by 2029. By then, global streaming revenue will exceed $190B, with Netflix leading. While subscriber growth will continue, it will be slower compared to the rapid growth during the pandemic, with a focus on profitability through ad-tier models and password-sharing measures. APAC will drive subscriber growth, especially in India and Korea. Read More
Global Advertising Revenue to Exceed $1 Trillion Amid Linear TV Decline
Global advertising revenue is set to top $1 trillion in 2024, marking a 9.5% growth from the previous year, according to GroupM's forecast. While total advertising revenue is expected to continue growing, linear TV will experience a decline, with a 3.4% drop in 2025. In contrast, streaming TV ad revenue will see a 19.3% increase, overtaking linear TV by 2029. Digital giants Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, and Alibaba are predicted to account for over half of global ad revenue. Read More
Director David Stubbs Talks Filming Challenges and Animatronic Seals in Red Rocks
David Stubbs, director and producer of Red Rocks, shares insights into filming the family adventure series, which involved challenges like shooting outdoors in Wellington’s winter and incorporating animals, children, and animatronic seals. Inspired by the Celtic myth of Selkies, the story follows 12-year-old Jake protecting his family after discovering a sealskin. Special effects by Wētā Workshop added to the magic, with a climactic scene shot indoors, featuring fog and a submerging animatronic seal, creating a thrilling yet challenging experience. Read More
Michael Mann Expands 'Ferrari' Online Archive
Michael Mann presented his “Ferrari Expanded” website at the Red Sea International Film Festival, offering an in-depth look into the making of his film with over 200 videos and 3,400 documents. He also discussed the progress of his long-awaited sequel to Heat, revealing that the script “has to be finished soon” and would be completed on his flight back to Los Angeles. Mann also shared his ongoing passion for a project on the Battle of Huế. Read More
Hollywood Dealmakers of 2024 Recognised
Hollywood's 2024 top dealmakers include executives, reps, and lawyers behind the year's most impactful mergers and acquisitions. Paramount Global's sale, theme park mergers, Lionsgate's AI deal, and Netflix's acquisition of WWE's Raw highlight the industry's reshaping. The NBA's multibillion-dollar rights deals will secure the league's future. Industry moguls anticipate even more M&A activity. Read More
Fuji TV Discusses Adapting to Market Needs
Fuji TV is adapting to market pressures with diverse formats, from classic titles to innovative new concepts. Head of unscripted format sales, Ryuji Komiya, highlights the company’s flexibility, with successful formats like Run for Money and VS School—The Ultimate Hide and Seek gaining traction in Asia and Europe. Additionally, Fuji TV is optimizing classic formats for younger audiences and exploring co-productions with international partners to meet global demand. Read More
Leos Carax Reflects on Career and Creative Process
Leos Carax discusses his 40-minute retrospective project "It's Not Me" in an in-depth interview, reflecting on his career and image-making philosophy. The project combines footage from his past films, historical figures, and new material with collaborators like Denis Lavant and Baby Annette. Carax shares his thoughts on reclaiming David Bowie's "Modern Love" and his bold artistic vision, admitting a desire to "dictate" images while exploring his unique filmmaking approach. Read More
When Reboots and Derivatives Stifle Innovation in TV Formats
The frustration of developing original TV formats is real when faced with the rise of reboots and derivative ideas. The process involves years of effort to create something new, only to see similar concepts emerge in the market. While creating an "evergreen" format that generates long-term revenue is rewarding, it’s frustrating when others copy or tweak existing formats to exploit a popular genre, stifling originality and relying on safe, predictable programming. Read More
Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain Script is Now Available
The screenplay for A Real Pain, written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, is now accessible online. The film explores themes of identity and loss, offering an intimate look at its narrative structure and character development. Read More
Colleen Camp Reflects on Oscar Campaigns and Career Highlights
Colleen Camp, a 71-year-old actress turned influential Hollywood insider, has become a key figure in awards season. Known for her intimate screenings and high-profile gatherings, she’s been instrumental in Oscar campaigns, including for Parasite, The Joker, and Marriage Story. Described as a “kingmaker,” Camp’s deep connections and impeccable taste have made her a sought-after force behind the scenes, helping shape the careers of many Hollywood stars. Read More
Andrew Garfield & Ryan Reynolds | Actors on Actors
Andrew Garfield ("We Live in Time") can't tell whether or not he should take Ryan Reynolds ("Deadpool & Wolverine") seriously. The two bond over playing superheroes, reminisce about their kiss at the Golden Globes and get deep as they ponder the meaning of grief, loss and career opportunities.
The Women of Lionsgate: Generating Gen Z Buzz | Power Women Summit
As Gen Z and younger audience behaviour continue to evolve, Lionsgate’s top female executives across divisions discuss the opportunities presented by these changes in an exclusive Power Women Summit 2024 panel presented by Lionsgate. Panellists Jenefer Brown (EVP and Head, Global Products & Experiences, Lionsgate), Nasim Cambron (EVP, Worldwide Publicity, Motion Picture Group, Lionsgate), Amanda Kozlowski (Chief of Staff, Motion Picture Group, Lionsgate), Courtney Mock (SVP, Scripted Television Development, Lionsgate) and Jocelyn Sabo (SVP, Scripted Television Development, Lionsgate) delve into the factors that influence their content creation and marketing and distribution decisions for this demo.
Her Platform, Her Rules: Execs Leading the Creator Revolution | Power Women Summit
This Power Women Summit 2024 panel presented by Whalar features top executives from leading media companies in a passionate conversation that delves into how creators have disrupted and democratized the creation and distribution of quality content and what it means for the future of the media and entertainment industry. Speakers are Kim Larson (Global Managing Director & Head of Creators, YouTube) and Michelle Khare (YouTube Creator & Host of "Challenge Accepted"). Whalar NA president Jo Cronk moderates.
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