TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 26 September 2024
Disney+ cracks down on sharing, layoffs hit Disney, Warner expands Max, Bacardi legal dispute, local Saudi content rises, OpenAI VFX impact, Peaky Blinders movie adds Tim Roth.
Today’s Highlights:
Disney+ Password Sharing Crackdown – Disney launches a "paid sharing program" worldwide, allowing users to add an Extra Member outside their household for a fee.
Disney Corporate Layoffs—Disney is restructuring and laying off 300 U.S. employees across corporate divisions, such as legal and HR.
SPA Reveals 2024 Ones to Watch Cohort—Screen Producers Australia selected 12 rising producers for mentoring and development through the Ones to Watch program.
Warner Bros. Discovery Max Asia-Pacific Rollout – Warner Bros. Discovery plans to launch its Max streaming service in Southeast Asia by late 2024 and Australia by mid-2025.
Monika Bacardi and Andrea Iervolino Legal Dispute—Former partners Bacardi and Iervolino are engaged in a legal conflict over rights to ILBE projects like the Maserati biopic.
Local Content Dominates Saudi Arabia's Streaming Market – Saudi streaming preferences shifted toward local content, with platforms like Shahid surpassing Netflix.
Economic Benefits of Film Production – Film and TV production brings economic growth through local spending and long-term film tourism.
OpenAI's Impact on the VFX Industry – OpenAI's video tool Sora raises concerns within the VFX industry, sparking uncertainty about its impact.
Peaky Blinders Movie Adds Tim Roth—Tim Roth joins the cast of Netflix's highly anticipated Peaky Blinders movie, which will continue the BAFTA-winning series.
Paramount's Thai Expansion with Monomax – Paramount+ partners with Thai streamer Monomax to bring Paramount content to Thailand.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals and Jobs with Australia Council, IL&M, Paramount, BBC, ITV, Disney, Netflix, Amazon & Sky.
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NEWS
Disney+ Begins Crackdown on Password Sharing
Disney has launched its "paid sharing program" to crack down on password and account sharing in the U.S. and worldwide. The program allows users to add an "Extra Member" outside their household for $6.99 per month for Disney+ Basic or $9.99 for Disney+ Premium, with a limit of one Extra Member per account. Users can also transfer their profiles to new accounts to retain their watch history and settings. Read More
Disney Corporate Layoffs Hit Key Divisions Amid Restructuring
Disney is conducting a new round of layoffs affecting around 300 U.S.-based employees across corporate operations, including legal, HR, finance, and communications. The cuts began yesterday and are expected to continue through tomorrow, possibly longer. According to sources, the parks, ESPN, and Disney Entertainment divisions are not impacted by these layoffs, which are part of a cost-saving initiative. Read More
SPA Unveils Ones to Watch Cohort for 2024
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has revealed the 12 producers selected for the 2024 Ones To Watch initiative, including Rita Artmann (ArtSpear Entertainment), Navid Bahadori (Broken Yellow), and others from various states. They will receive one-on-one mentoring to develop their creative and business skills ahead of Screen Forever 39. Participants will also join a tailored program and can apply for the $20,000 Ones To Watch Screen Placement, supported by Screen Australia, for global production company experience. Read More
WBD Confirms Asia Pacific Rollout Timetable for Max
Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming service will launch in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in late 2024 and Australia by mid-2025. Combining HBO and Discovery content, the platform will employ diverse business models, including direct-to-consumer and partnerships with telcos and streamers. Max launches in Japan this week via local streamer U-Next at no extra cost to users. It will replace HBO Go in Southeast Asia, offering an upgraded streaming experience. Read More
Monika Bacardi and Andrea Iervolino Engage in Public Dispute
Producers Monika Bacardi and Andrea Iervolino, former partners at ILBE, are engaged in a legal dispute following Iervolino's departure to form The Andrea Iervolino Company (TAIC). Bacardi claims Iervolino does not own the rights to projects like the Maserati biopic, which he announced as part of TAIC's slate. Iervolino denies these claims, stating that TAIC's productions are independent of any projects he developed at ILBE. Before his resignation, Bacardi had requested ILBE's board investigate grounds for Iervolino's dismissal. Read More
NEM Zagreb Announces Jury for Second NEM Awards
NEM Zagreb 2024 organisers have announced the jury for the second edition of the NEM Awards, featuring industry leaders such as Aleš Pavlin (PERFO d.o.o.), Anna Rohde (Beta Film), and Danna Stern (Global Content Executive). Applications are open until October and are free for CEE region applicants. The jury includes content officers, acquisition managers, producers, and screenwriters who will evaluate submissions across various categories. Notable members include Larry Bass (Shin Awil Productions), Marina Williams (Asacha Media Group), and Nigel McCrery (Screenwriter). Read More
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INSIGHTS
A Lesson in Suspense
Rachel Gesua, senior executive producer at Clapperboard, discusses the second season of The Teacher for Channel 5. Unlike the first season, this instalment is an anthology with a fresh story. Directed again by Dominic Leclerc for visual continuity, the new season centres on a missing boy during a school trip, putting the supervising teacher under scrutiny. Writers Michael Crompton and Rebecca Wojciechowski crafted a thought-provoking plot that mirrors the intensity of the first season’s premise. Read More
Economic Benefits of Film Production
The film and TV production industry entertains and drives significant economic growth. Productions bring immediate local spending on services like accommodation, food, and transportation, benefiting businesses. They also create jobs for locals, including tradesmen and caterers, often leading to skills development. In the long term, film tourism boosts local economies as iconic locations attract visitors. Examples include New Zealand’s surge in tourism from The Lord of the Rings and Yorkshire’s draw from shows like Emmerdale and Happy Valley. Read More
OpenAI's Impact on the VFX Industry
The arrival of Sora, OpenAI's AI-generated video tool, has sparked unease similar to when Big Tech entered media. While studios are worried about Apple TV+ and Amazon's dominance, OpenAI's entry feels seismic, especially with Microsoft as its backer. Their combined power could potentially outspend and overshadow Hollywood. However, after seven months of silence since Sora's preview, its future is unclear. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, now focuses on "The Intelligence Age," leaving questions about Sora’s impact on Hollywood still lingering. Read More
Local Titles Dominate Saudi Arabia's Streaming Market
Streaming preferences in Saudi Arabia are shifting towards locally produced content, with 71% of consumers watching such content in early 2024, according to BB Media. This trend has boosted local platforms like Shahid, which is now the top service, surpassing Netflix. Shahid’s catalogue includes nearly half local content, while Netflix's offerings are 96% foreign. In response, Netflix plans to expand its Arabic-language content in 2024 with shows like Al Rawabi School for Girls and Dubai Bling, aiming to compete with local favourites. Read More
Banijay’s Delphine Dumont on Roblox’s Potential for Kids’ IP
Delphine Dumont, chief commercial officer at Banijay Kids & Family, discusses the growing influence of social gaming platforms like Roblox and their potential to generate the next big children’s IP hit. Banijay, known for titles like Totally Spies! and Mr Bean, is present at Cartoon Forum, where challenges in French animation and the impact of AI are key topics. Dumont emphasises how social gaming platforms may now eclipse traditional TV as a popular children's content source. Read More
Making Brand Co-Productions Work
Brands and media agencies seek to collaborate with premium content, allowing producers to finance big-budget projects. Initially sidelined by the rise of subscription streaming and original programming, this conversation has returned as the industry's landscape shifts. With global streamers realizing that subscriptions alone aren’t enough, producers are now exploring alternative funding options to meet the growing demand for higher-quality content from increasingly discerning viewers. Read More
MTV Documentary Films Releases Trailer for Black Box Diaries
In Black Box Diaries, Japanese journalist Shiori Ito confronts her own traumatic experience of sexual assault. The nonfiction feature from MTV Documentary Films, a likely Oscar contender, opens on October 25 at New York’s Film Forum before expanding to theatres in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. Streaming on Paramount+ in January, the film chronicles Ito's 2015 assault by TV journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi and the subsequent legal battle, highlighting Japan's outdated sexual assault laws, which were revised after mass protests. Read More
The Rings of Power Showrunners Discuss Season 2's UK Shift
The Rings of Power showrunners open up about the challenges and opportunities brought by the show's relocation from New Zealand to the UK for season two. The move allowed the production to utilise the UK’s diverse landscapes and world-class studios but also came with logistical hurdles. The creators emphasise how this change influenced the storytelling and scale of production, aiming to elevate the fantasy epic’s visual grandeur for the upcoming season. Read More
Independent Studios Struggle to Develop Original Films
Producer David Beaubaire, formerly of Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Paramount, and Sony, analysed 505 major studio films released or set for release between 2022 and 2026. His study found that only 10% of these films were championed by a studio executive throughout development, reflecting a shift away from original studio projects. While some films like The Lost City and Cocaine Bear became modest hits, most others were sequels, IP-based, or acquired with talent already attached, signalling a decline in original in-house development. Read More
California Faces Film and TV Exodus Amid Tax Incentive Concerns
Of the 12 TV shows that won Primetime Emmys this year, only two—Hacks (Max) and The Morning Show (Apple TV+)—were filmed in California. This highlights the decline of California's dominance in entertainment production as other states and countries offer attractive incentives to lure projects away. California state Rep. Laura Friedman expressed concern, noting that many in the industry are panicking over the erosion of the state's entertainment leadership. Read More
Nobody Wants This Creator Discusses Netflix Series' Unique Appeal
Erin Foster’s Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This was inspired by her religious conversion when she fell in love with her Jewish husband. Originally pitched as a docuseries about her experience, the concept shifted to a scripted show called Shiksas. Initially, Foster planned to star in it, but the lack of conflict led to a pivotal change: making the love interest a rabbi. This twist sparked new ideas, helping the project take shape. Read More
How Netflix Transformed Scandinavian TV: From Lilyhammer to Billionaire Island
Twelve years ago, Netflix launched its original series business with Lilyhammer, a Norwegian fish-out-of-water show featuring Steven Van Zandt. This sparked a Scandinavian TV boom, with platforms like HBO Max and Viaplay investing in Nordic originals. However, HBO Max exited the region in 2022, and Viaplay, facing financial struggles, drastically cut its content budget. Despite the challenges, Netflix continues to invest in the Nordics, producing shows like The Rain, Snabba Cash, and Troll. Read More
How Australia’s Most Expensive TV Show Nearly Failed
A year after Disney scrapped the $300 million submarine series Nautilus, it is set to premiere on Australian streamer Stan. The 10-part adventure drama, based on Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, was shot on the Gold Coast, making it Australia's most expensive TV series. Originally commissioned by Disney+, the project was cancelled as part of CEO Bob Iger's cost-cutting measures. Read More
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Federation Stories UK Hires BBC Drama Executive Beth Warin
The UK arm of the French Producer Federation has appointed BBC's Beth Warin as head of development. Warin, formerly a drama commissioning executive at the BBC,
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