TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 29 October 2024

Sundance & Gold House boost underrepresented filmmakers; Corus extends debt; Gen Z satire debuts; Amazon, Netflix welcome pitches; Samsung TV+ leads FAST growth.

Today’s Highlights:

• One House Filmmakers Fund Recipients Announced – Sundance Institute and Gold House awarded the One House Filmmakers Fund to 10 underrepresented filmmakers, providing funding, educational support, and visibility.

• Corus Entertainment Extends Debt Repayment – Corus Entertainment extends its debt repayment deadline to March 2025, amid C$1bn debt and declining revenue, while rebranding HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada to positive reception.

• Ben Wheatley's Generational Satire in 'Generation Z'—Director Ben Wheatley explores generational satire in his horror-comedy series Generation Z, set around a zombie-like generational clash on Channel 4.

• Amazon Studios and Netflix Remain Open to Pitches – Despite industry slowdowns, Amazon Studios and Netflix are still receptive to new pitches, setting them apart from other streaming and broadcast platforms.

• MrBeast's Food Ventures Face Legal Challenges—YouTuber MrBeast encounters legal and quality issues in his food ventures, particularly MrBeast Burger, which affects his brand reputation.

• Fremantle's "Flying Producers" Fuel TV Format SuccessFremantle's "—Flying Producers," led by Chris O'Dell, provides critical support for adapting TV formats like Got Talent globally, ensuring consistency across markets.

• Samsung TV Plus Hits 88M Monthly Users—Samsung TV Plus has reached 88 million monthly active users, solidifying its position in the streaming market and competing with major FAST services.

• Netflix Introduces Moments for Sharing Scenes – Netflix launches Moments. This feature lets users save and share scenes from shows and movies on social platforms with a promotional campaign featuring major stars.

• Asteria's Ethical AI Approach in Animation – Asteria, led by Bryn Mooser, aims to empower indie filmmakers with an ethical AI-driven animation studio model while incorporating artists to build trust.

• Magnolia Network Adapts to Streaming Trends – Magnolia Network president Allison Page emphasizes adapting to streaming audiences, acknowledging industry evolution and the challenges for linear TV in a digital age.

Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, In Development, Events and Jobs with ITV, Channel 4, BBC, NBCUniversal, Prime & Mayfair.

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NEWS

Sundance and Gold House Announce One House Filmmakers Fund Recipients

Sundance Institute and Gold House have awarded the One House Filmmakers Fund to 10 filmmakers from underrepresented communities, providing financing, educational support, and visibility. The recipients include Pierre Coleman (Ricky), Colette Ghunim (Traces of Home), Naomi Ko (Marry Korean), and more. The announcement at a special event on Oct. 26 also featured a pitch session, allowing the filmmakers to present their projects to industry financiers and distributors. Read More

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Corus Entertainment Extends Debt-Repayment Terms Amid Uncertain Future

Corus Entertainment has extended debt-repayment terms to March 2025, securing temporary relief while facing mounting challenges, including over C$1bn debt, declining ad revenue, and subscriber losses. Amid cost-cutting measures, co-CEOs John Gossling and Troy Reeb report positive feedback on rebranding HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada as Home Network and Flavour Network, with improved ratings on Slice and Global. However, Corus’s long-term sustainability remains uncertain as Quebecor suggests a potential debt write-off for a takeover. Read More

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INSIGHTS

Ben Wheatley Explores Generational Satire in Channel 4’s 'Generation Z'

Director Ben Wheatley discusses Generation Z, his first original TV series, blending social satire and horror-comedy as baby boomers turn into flesh-hungry zombies. Set in Dambury, a chemical leak drives elderly care home residents to attack the young, creating a darkly comic generational clash. Initially pitched by producer George Faber in 2019, COVID-19 delayed the six-part series, but it finally debuted on Channel 4. Read More

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Amazon Studios and Netflix Remain Open to New Pitches Amid Production Slump

With production slowdowns persisting, major distributors show reduced interest in greenlighting new projects. Linear broadcast networks face limited scheduling space, and streaming platforms are more cautious. However, since the strikes concluded last year, Amazon Studios, led by Jen Salke, and Netflix stand out as two studios receptive to pitches. Read More

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MrBeast Faces Challenges in Food Ventures as Legal Issues Mount

YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, pursued independence from video sponsorships by launching food brands, but his ventures have faced setbacks. His virtual restaurant, MrBeast Burger, resulted in a lawsuit over quality complaints, while his newer snack brand, Feastables, initially thrived yet now faces user complaints over quality issues in collaboration with Lunchly. Donaldson’s path to product success remains uncertain, with costly legal battles and brand reputation challenges. Read More

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Inside Fremantle’s “Flying Producers” Role in Global TV Format Success

Fremantle’s Flying Producers ensure international consistency and adaptability for major TV formats like Got Talent and Family Feud. Led by Chris O'Dell, Head of Global Entertainment Production, this elite team provides on-the-ground support in casting, scheduling, and technical guidance across diverse markets. Read More

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Samsung TV Plus Hits 88M Monthly Active Users, Cementing Role in Streaming

Samsung TV Plus, Samsung's free ad-supported streaming service, has reached 88 million monthly active users, making it the top app on Samsung TVs in the U.S. As the best-selling TV brand in the country, Samsung aims to solidify its position in the streaming market, rivalling major FAST platforms like Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto, all of which have similar user bases. Read More

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Netflix Launches 'Moments' Feature for Saving and Sharing Favorite Scenes

Netflix has introduced Moments, a mobile feature on its iOS app (Android coming soon) that allows users to bookmark, rewatch, and share favourite scenes from Netflix shows and movies. Scenes saved via Moments are accessible in the My Netflix tab, and users can share them on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. To promote Moments, Netflix is launching the "It’s So Good" campaign featuring stars like Giancarlo Esposito and Simone Biles. Read More

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Asteria Aims to Revolutionise Animation with an Ethical AI Approach

Asteria, founded by Bryn Mooser of XTR, positions itself as a film studio, not a tech company, using AI to enhance indie filmmaking. Mooser envisions AI as a tool for filmmakers to gain control, likening its potential disruption to YouTube’s impact on distribution. Emphasizing ethics, Asteria employs artists on every frame to build trust in AI-assisted workflows while hiring talent from companies like Pixar. Read More

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Magnolia Network’s Allison Page Adapts to Streaming-Centric Audience Shift

Amid an industry slowdown, Magnolia Network president Allison Page is focused on reaching an evolving streaming audience. Page describes the shift as an industry "evolution" rather than just contraction, noting that old TV models are outdated in the streaming era. Reflecting on past successes at HGTV, she acknowledges the challenges of building linear TV series today as more viewers move to digital platforms. Read More

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