TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Wednesday 4 September 2024
Jessica Tuckwell on writers' rooms; Apple TV+ struggles; French TV exports drop; SABC, TVNZ grow; Scanbox expands; Tell Me Lies returns; Italy boosts tax credit; YouTube leads.
Today’s Highlights:
Jessica Tuckwell on Writers' Room Dynamics: Australian screenwriter Jessica Tuckwell discusses her experience working on series like Fake and Bump, offering insights into creating and contributing to projects she didn't originate.
Apple TV+ Struggles in Streaming Wars: Despite producing high-quality content, Apple TV+ holds only 0.3% of U.S. TV viewing. The service plans to expand its content library to appeal to a broader audience.
French TV Exports Decline: French audiovisual exports dropped by 5% in 2023, though coproduction investments increased, offsetting drama and animation sales declines.
South Africa's SABC Enters Streaming Originals: National broadcaster SABC is launching its first slate of original streaming content, focusing on resonating with both local and international audiences.
TVNZ Boosts Audience Share: New Zealand's TVNZ has increased its audience by investing heavily in local content despite challenging market conditions.
Scanbox Entertainment Expands into Original Content: Scandinavian distributor Scanbox Entertainment is expanding into original film production and seeking high-end and mainstream content pitches.
Meaghan Oppenheimer on Tell Me Lies Season 2: Hulu's Tell Me Lies returns for its second season, exploring complex relationships and emotional narratives based on Carola Lovering's novel.
Italy's Revised Tax Credit to Attract International Projects: Italy updates its tax credit system to make the country more competitive in attracting international film and TV productions.
YouTube Claims Top Spot in U.S. TV Distribution: In July, YouTube became the first streaming service to surpass 10% of U.S. TV usage, overtaking Disney in TV distribution.
Netflix Expands Chinese-Language Content: Netflix announces the release of Born for the Spotlight, a Chinese-language drama series, highlighting its growing focus on Chinese content, particularly in Taiwan.
Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Renewals and Jobs with Sony, BAFTA, Fremantle, ITV, Warners & Paramount.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest updates in one place.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL.
Producers: Fifth Season, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Paramount Television International, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me.
Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC.
INSIGHTS
Working the room
Australian screenwriter and director Jessica Tuckwell, known for her work on series like Fake and Bump, offers insights into the dynamics of working in a writers' room for shows she didn’t create. Tuckwell, who specialises in drama, comedy-drama, and adaptations, has both created her own series and contributed to others. She served as script producer and writer for Bump, a Stan original series about an ambitious teenage girl facing the challenges of unexpected motherhood. Tuckwell also co-created the spin-off miniseries Year Of and recently worked on Paramount+ Australia & New Zealand’s Fake, starring Asher Keddie. Read More
Apple TV+ and the ongoing streaming wars: A deep dive
The streaming industry is evolving, with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video leading globally, but competitors like Disney+, Hulu, and Apple TV+ are vying for market share. Apple TV+ ranks third in U.S. audience demand for streaming originals but struggles with broader appeal, holding just 0.3% of U.S. TV screen viewing. Despite its high-quality content, its limited volume and focus on premium storytelling may restrict its mass-market reach. Apple TV+ is looking to expand its content library to address this issue, aiming to balance high-concept shows with more traditional, broadly appealing fare. Read More
French TV exports slip 5% amid global market challenges
French audiovisual exports in 2023 reached €203.4 million ($224.5 million), a 5.3% decline from 2022 but still above the €200 million threshold, driven by reduced acquisition budgets and decreased streamer demand, particularly in the U.S. Drama sales fell by 7.7% to €74.5 million. Animation saw the biggest drop, down 11.2% to €51.2 million. Western Europe remained the largest market, while North America accounted for 10.9% of global revenues. Despite the dip in sales, coproduction investments surged by nearly 35%, offsetting declines in presales. Read More
SABC mulls business models as it plans first move into streaming originals
South Africa’s SABC is exploring new business models as it prepares to launch its first slate of streaming originals. The national broadcaster is looking to diversify its content offerings and compete in the digital space, focusing on creating original programming that resonates with local and international audiences. Read More
TVNZ ups audience share by investing in local content despite tough market
TVNZ has increased its audience share by doubling down on investments in local content, even as the media market faces economic challenges. The New Zealand broadcaster's commitment to producing high-quality local programming has paid off, helping it maintain a strong connection with viewers. Read More
Scanbox ready for original pitches as appetite for scripted content grows
Scandinavian distributor Scanbox Entertainment, now part of the pan-European Vuelta Group, is expanding its focus to producing original content aimed at European markets. Chief Operating Officer Merete Martensen Christensen revealed that the company plans to produce one or two films annually, starting in Denmark to expand. Scanbox is targeting both high-end arthouse and mainstream films for international audiences. They actively seek pitches and collaborate with undisclosed production companies, indicating a strong push towards original content creation. Read More
'Tell Me Lies' creator Meaghan Oppenheimer on adapting the hit novel
Hulu’s drama series "Tell Me Lies," based on Carola Lovering's novel, returns on September 4 for its second season, with the first two episodes premiering simultaneously. The new season follows Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco as they navigate their strained relationship after a tumultuous summer breakup. As their friend group deals with the consequences of uncovering past secrets and a tragic car accident, creator and showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer discusses how the season explores deeper emotional narratives, expands on fringe characters, and how her vision for the show has evolved. Read More
Italian minister outlines why attracting international projects is a top priority under revised tax credit
According to the country's Minister of Culture, Italy’s revised tax credit system is designed to attract more international film and television projects. The updated incentives aim to make Italy a more competitive destination for global productions, focusing on boosting the local industry and showcasing Italy’s unique locations and talent. Read More
Share our publication with your network, and if one of your contacts subscribes, you’ll receive a 30-day upgrade to your subscription.
How Ian Holm’s Return in ‘Alien: Romulus’ Brings SAG-AFTRA’s Digital Replicas Work Into Focus
The late Ian Holm, known for his role as the android Ash in 1979's Alien, has drawn significant attention with his digital return in Disney and 20th Century's Alien: Romulus, grossing $91 million domestically and $283.5 million worldwide. Holm's appearance as a new android named Rook was made possible by obtaining consent from his estate, as SAG-AFTRA's collective bargaining agreement required. The filmmakers used a combination of traditional and cutting-edge visual effects to bring Holm's likeness to life, focusing on a partially malfunctioning android rather than a fully human character. Read More
YouTube Claims No. 1 Spot Among TV Distributors in July
According to Nielsen, YouTube made history in July by becoming the first streaming service to account for more than 10 per cent of all TV usage in the U.S. With a 10.4 per cent share, YouTube also became the top distributor of TV programming, surpassing Disney's 9.9 per cent share. The increase was primarily driven by kids and teenagers on summer break, with those 17 and under making up 30 per cent of YouTube's TV viewing and 13 per cent of total TV use across all platforms. Read More
First Look: Nike-Backed Doc ‘Crois Pas Qu’on Dort’ Follows Underdog Path to Paris Olympic Games
The upcoming documentary "Crois Pas Qu’on Dort" (Don’t Think We’re Sleeping) captures the journey of three working-class athletes as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Directed by Nick Walters and Lou Marillier, the film spans five years, focusing on Charles-Antoine, a runner with an intellectual disability who won Gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, and twin sisters Leyna and Maysane, who are continuing their Laotian-Algerian family’s taekwondo legacy. Read More
Why Ben Stiller Returned to Acting for ‘Nutcrackers’: Farm Animals, Untrained Child Actors and David Gordon Green
Ben Stiller had to adapt quickly to his unusual co-stars in the indie comedy Nutcrackers, where he plays a workaholic real estate developer turned guardian for his unruly nephews after their parents die. Shot on a rural Ohio farm filled with animals like chickens, goats, and hogs, the low-budget film features the Janson brothers, aged 5 to 13, who had never been on a film set. Stiller found himself far from Hollywood perks, embracing the unpredictable farm environment and mimicking the sounds of the scene-stealing hogs. Read More
Global Breakouts: French Animated Series ‘Samuel’ About Growing Pains Of 10-Year-Old Boy Is Poised For Int’l Push Having Delivered Viral Hit For Arte
Samuel, a deceptively simple black-and-white animated series about a boy on the cusp of adolescence, has garnered 35 million views on French-German broadcaster Arte and its social channels since its launch last March. It has also been a hit on Spain's RTVE and Catalan channel TV3. Now, Paris-based Folivari International has acquired the world sales rights, positioning the show for a wider global release. The series is the creation of emerging French animation director Émilie Tronche, who initially developed the character as a personal project in 2020. Read More
Inside Demi Moore’s Glorious Return: How She Conquered Her Fears for a Career-Best Performance in ‘The Substance’
In Death Becomes Her, inspired by Robert Zemeckis’ The Fly and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, French writer-director Coralie Fargeat presents Julianne Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, an Oscar-winning actress turned daytime-TV fitness guru. Devastated after her show is cancelled, Sparkle takes a back-alley drug that uses her DNA to create a younger, "perfect" version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley. Moore delivers an electrifying performance as a faded star confronting her self-loathing and its destructive potential. Fargeat chose Moore for the role, recognising the actress’s confrontation with the fears and violence the character experiences. Read More
Netflix Sets Long-Term Regional Goals for Chinese-Language Content, Unveils Teaser for Busan-Bound ‘Born for the Spotlight’
After years of a relatively quiet presence in Chinese-language content, Netflix is making a significant impact, particularly in Taiwan. Among its highlights is the 12-part series Born for the Spotlight, which delves into the unravelling friendship between two top actresses and an ambitious newcomer in show business. Directed by Yen Yi-wen and produced by Olive Ting, the series stars Hsieh Hsieh and Cheryl Yang. It will premiere at the Busan International Film Festival and be released on Netflix on Nov. 7, 2024. Read More
‘Pedro Páramo’ Teaser: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto Makes His Directorial Debut with a Literary Classic
Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto is making his directorial debut with an adaptation of Juan Rulfo's 1955 literary classic, Pedro Páramo. The screenplay, penned by Mateo Gil, brings to life the story of Juan Preciado (played by Tenoch Huerta) as he travels to the eerie town of Comala to fulfil his mother’s dying wish to find his father, Pedro Páramo (Manuel García-Rulfo). As Juan delves deeper into Comala, he encounters a surreal world where the lines between the living and the dead blur, uncovering his father's legacy as a ruthless tyrant. Read More
As Carriage Fight With Disney Continues, DirecTV CFO Calls For Pay-TV Bundle A Fraction Of The Size Of Today’s “Bloated” Packages
DirecTV CFO Ray Carpenter suggested that the traditional pay-TV bundle should be streamlined to include just 10 to 50 of the "most engaging" channels, a significant reduction from the "bloated" packages currently available. During a conference call with Wall Street analysts, Carpenter argued that smaller bundles would better reflect viewer habits. His comments come amid a major blackout of 16 Disney networks, including ABC and ESPN, affecting DirecTV's 11 million-plus subscribers and highlighting ongoing challenges in the pay-TV industry as cord-cutting rates continue to rise. Read More
Robert Morgan on Stopmotion | BFI Q&A
Director Robert Morgan discusses Stopmotion, a chilling tale of murder and madness set on the production of a stop-motion animated film. The plot follows Ella, who takes over her mother Suzanne’s final film after Suzanne, a famed filmmaker, is hospitalised. As Ella pushes the film in a new direction, the pressures of filmmaking drive her to hysteria, blurring fantasy and reality, leading to terrifying and grisly events.
Back From the Brink: Reimagining The Future of Television | Edinburgh TV Festival
The 2024 Edinburgh TV Festival started with a powerful session led by the BBC's Ros Atkins, focusing on the turmoil within the UK television industry. Atkins delivered an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by the industry, which is renowned for its
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Further&Better to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.