TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 7 November 2024
Disney ends Canal+ deal; TVNZ cuts jobs; Apple TV+ German debut; BBC elitism; Indo-Italian kids' series; China box slump; microdramas rise; Safe Sets film safety doc; TCL AI films; Nordic indie fund.
Today’s Highlights:
Disney to End Canal+ Exclusivity in France from 2025 - Disney will end its distribution deal with Canal+ starting in 2025, impacting access to Disney films and content in France.
TVNZ Plans to Cut 10% of Workforce Amid Restructuring - New Zealand's TVNZ is cutting 10% of its workforce as part of a cost-saving restructuring plan.
Nikeata Thompson Stars in Apple TV+'s First German Original - Nikeata Thompson makes her acting debut in Where's Wanda?, Apple TV+'s first German original series.
BBC's Elitism Problem - Most of the BBC's top leadership is privately educated, highlighting diversity challenges within the organisation.
Gruppo Alcuni's Indo-Italian Co-Production - The Black Diamond Race, a unique children's series, marks a historic co-production between Italy and India.
China's Box Office Decline—China's film industry will see a 22% revenue drop in 2024, contrasting with 2023's post-COVID recovery.
Can Short-Form Storytelling Capture Hollywood? The growing popularity of micro dramas prompts U.S. media companies to explore short-form content potential.
Safe Sets Documentary on Film Set Injuries - Dr. Paul Heinzelmann's Safe Sets documentary calls for better safety measures on film sets.
TCLTV's AI-Produced Film Debuts - TCLtv+ will premiere five AI-produced short films showcasing AI's capabilities in filmmaking.
IPR. VC's Investment in Indie Film—Finnish fund IPR.VC invests in indie films through partnerships with major production companies like A24.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals and Jobs with Screen Australia, Paramount, ITV, Little Dot, Prime, MTV, NBCUniversal & Netflix.
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NEWS
Disney to End Canal+ Exclusivity in France from 2025
Disney announced it will not renew its distribution deal with Canal+ at the end of 2024, ending Canal+'s access to Disney films, Disney+, and TV channels starting January 1, 2025. The 2019 deal allowed early broadcast of Disney films, but French regulations now require a 17-month wait after theatrical release before streaming on Disney+. Read More
TVNZ Plans to Cut 10% of Workforce Amid Restructuring
TVNZ is restructuring, cutting around 50 jobs—nearly 10% of its workforce—as part of cost-saving efforts. CEO Jodi O’Donnell announced that 90.5 roles would be cut, with 41 new positions created, reducing TVNZ's staff to offset revenue declines. The restructuring is part of a strategic review aiming to save NZ$30 million through headcount reductions and managing content and operational costs. Media union E tū recently engaged with TVNZ to protect jobs and services. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Nikeata Thompson Shifts from Reality TV to Acting in Apple TV+’s First German Original Series Where’s Wanda?
British-born German star Nikeata Thompson discusses her transition from presenting to acting, recently starring in Where’s Wanda?, Apple TV+’s first German original series. Known for judging on Got to Dance and Germany’s Next Top Model, Thompson previously debuted in Lollipop Monster (2011) and embraces the challenge of her new role. Where’s Wanda? follows parents Dedo and Carlotta Klatt, who, desperate to find their missing daughter, uncover hidden secrets within their neighbourhood. Read More
BBC’s Elitism Problem: A Persistent Challenge in Diversity and Inclusion
The Independent Schools Council's 2023 census reveals that 5.9% of UK students attend private schools. Yet, privately educated individuals hold about a third of the BBC’s top-paying roles, including director-general Tim Davie and chief content officer Charlotte Moore. Critics argue this over-representation fosters a lack of diversity in broadcasting leadership. A recent Edinburgh TV Festival highlighted this class imbalance, sparking discussions on whether media organisations should prioritise broader representation in senior roles. Read More
BossaNova Media’s Approach to Changing Viewer Habits and Global Trends
BossaNova Media's strategic approach in acquisitions and sales centres on selectivity, global appeal, and adaptability. Head of Acquisitions Claire Runham emphasises choosing internationally resonant content that aligns with the boutique firm's priorities, while Head of Sales Tatiana Grinkevich highlights responding to buyer demands and leveraging data analytics. Focused on global relevance and future-proofing, BossaNova balances traditional methods with data-driven decisions to deliver diverse, high-quality content across evolving media landscapes. Read More
Gruppo Alcuni Launches Historic Indo-Italian Co-Production
Gruppo Alcuni’s animated series The Black Diamond Race targets children aged seven and up with a unique 9x45-minute format. Co-produced by Italy’s Gruppo Alcuni, India’s Broadvision, Rai Kids, RTVE, and Motion Pictures, the series, debuting on Rai Kids in January, follows 17-year-old Rani as she pursues her racing dreams in 1929 India. Read More
TCLTV to Premiere Five AI-Produced Projects via Film Machine Programme
TCLtv+, the FAST service by TCL, will premiere five AI-produced short films under its Film Machine program in December. Led by TCL’s Haohong Wang, Chris Regina, and Daniel Smith, the program developed films using AI for storyboarding, animating, scoring, and editing. Titles include The Slug, Project Nexus, The Audition, Sun Day, and The Best Day of My Life. The films will debut at TCL Chinese Theater on November 19 before their TCLtv+ launch on December 12. Read More
Banijay's Steve Matthews and Benoit Di Sabatino Discuss Shifts in Scripted Kids' TV
Banijay’s Steve Matthews, content partnerships executive, discusses the global scripted market, emphasising the value of “unfashionable” content and addressing ITV’s pursuit of generative AI leadership. Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO of Banijay Kids & Family, highlights the division’s move into edutainment through Procidis’ acquisition, the enduring popularity of Totally Spies!, and new platform ventures, including Roblox. Read More
Can Shortform Storytelling Capture Hollywood?
Microdramas—short, fast-paced scripted videos typically one to two minutes long—have surged in popularity on platforms like China’s Kuaishou and Douyin, featuring themes of romance, revenge, and rags-to-riches stories. In 2023, the microdrama market in China was valued at approximately $5.3 billion, with projections indicating it could nearly triple by 2027. This rapid growth contrasts with the swift decline of Quibi in 2020, prompting Western media companies to reassess the potential of short-form content. Read More
China's Box Office Decline: A Closer Look
China’s film industry is experiencing a significant downturn, with box office revenue in 2024 decreasing by 22% compared to the previous year. This decline follows a robust post-COVID recovery in 2023, where revenues surged by 83% to $7.73 billion. The year began promisingly, with the Lunar New Year holiday week generating over $1.1 billion, led by local blockbusters Yolo and Pegasus 2. However, a prolonged slump, particularly during the summer, has raised concerns within Beijing’s film industry about potential lasting shifts in the market. Analysts attribute the decline to several factors, including a lack of compelling releases and increased competition from other entertainment forms, but the exact causes remain uncertain. Read More
Sharp Shooter: A New Drama Unveiled
Filmed in Budapest, The Day of the Jackal, Sky and Peacock’s modern thriller stars Eddie Redmayne as a ruthless assassin. Filmed primarily in a former poultry factory repurposed by Carnival Films, the show features a reimagined MI6 office and an LED stage where Redmayne’s character navigates high-stakes missions. Returning to TV after a decade, Redmayne embraces the role’s intensity, showcasing his character’s lethal precision and complex modern persona. Read More
'Safe Sets': A Documentary on Film Set Injuries
Dr Paul Heinzelmann’s documentary Safe Sets explores Hollywood's ongoing battle for enhanced production safety measures. Initially captivated by the film industry’s allure when he began working as an on-set physician in Massachusetts in 2006, Heinzelmann soon observed the physical and mental toll on crew members. His film highlights the industry’s systemic issues, advocating for reforms to protect those behind the scenes. Read More
TiVo U.K. Study Highlights Viewers' 'Choice Paralysis'
According to TiVo’s 2024 Video Trends Report: U.K., only 16% of viewers know what they want to watch when browsing, leaving 84% scrolling aimlessly through available options. The average number of services used by U.K. viewers rose from six in Q2 2023 to 6.5 in Q2 2024. Over 60% of viewers switch between multiple apps during a typical session, up from 55% last year. Nearly 20% struggle to find content without specific choices, and 18% frequently start and stop selections during viewing. Read More
How a European Fund is Investing Nordic Private Equity in the Indie Film Sector
IPR.Finnish investment fund manager VC has allocated over half its raised capital to film and television projects across Europe and the U.S. The firm has raised over €150 million across three funds since its inception in 2014, focusing on high-quality content with enduring value. Notable partnerships include A24, XYZ Films, and mk2 Films, supporting productions like Civil War and BlackBerry. Read More
Longlegs: Neon's Marketing Magic for Indie Success
A guerrilla campaign featuring cipher codes and a creepy hotline but no TV ads drew horror fans to Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs. While the campaign excluded Nicolas Cage from its marketing, early footage of Cage’s performance intrigued distributor Neon. Neon’s Tom Quinn and marketing head Christian Parkes praised Cage’s unique style, with Quinn noting Cage’s performance as “absolutely batshit crazy,” driving Neon’s commitment to the film. Read More
Stranger Things Season 5 Teaser Reveals Episode Titles
Netflix has released a teaser for Stranger Things's fifth and final season, hinting at a return to the series’ origins. Set in 1987, Season 5 features episodes titled: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing Of…,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape from Camazotz,” “The Bridge,” and the series finale, “The Rightside Up.” Notably, the second episode’s title mirrors the first episode, “The Vanishing of Will Byers,” suggesting a thematic full circle. Read More
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