TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 22 October 2024
Sky & Britannia face £6.5M lawsuit; Blade Runner 2049 producer sues Tesla; Kids TV model collapses; Cry Wolf trailer debuts; Abu Dhabi raises film rebate; Netflix orders JonBenét doc.
Today’s Highlights:
Sky and Britannia Executive Producer Faces £6.5M Lawsuit Over Alleged Idea Theft Sky and Britannia's executive producer faces a £6.5M lawsuit from writer Benjamin Crushcov, who claims his script was stolen for the series.
Blade Runner 2049 Producer Sues Tesla Over Unlicensed AI Use Alcon Entertainment sues Tesla for using Blade Runner 2049 images in promotional AI materials without a license.
The Traditional Kids TV Model Is Dying as Streaming Dominates Streaming is causing the collapse of traditional kids' TV, with Nickelodeon and Disney Channel experiencing major viewership drops.
Fifth Season and TV4 Unveil Cry Wolf Trailer Fifth Season and TV4 release the trailer for Cry Wolf ahead of its premiere at the Stockholm Film Festival.
Barb and UK Viewership Trends: A Generational Shift in the Making A new Barb report highlights the generational shift in UK viewership, driven by Millennials and Gen Z, affecting the industry's future.
Amazon's International Originals Lead Bauer on Making English-Language TV Producer Bauer discusses the challenges of creating English-language originals for Amazon, citing industry obstacles.
Stranded on Honeymoon Island Is Set to Dominate at MIPCOM 2024. Combining elements of Married at First Sight and Survivor, it is a new reality format gaining traction.
Abu Dhabi Increases Production Rebate to Attract More Film and TV Projects Starting in 2025, Abu Dhabi will raise its production rebate to 35%, aiming to lure more international film and TV projects.
Netflix Orders Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? Netflix commissions a three-part documentary on the JonBenét Ramsey case, directed by Joe Berlinger.
Sony Pictures Television Launches The Ultimate Hustle at MIPCOM Sony Pictures Television presents The Ultimate Hustle, a new reality business competition format at MIPCOM.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals and Jobs with Climate Spring, BBC, NBCUniversal, ABC, Ofcom, ITV, MUBI, Channel 4, BritBox, Mediatoon & Sky.
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NEWS
Sky and Britannia Exec Producer Face £6.5M Lawsuit Over Alleged Idea Theft
Sky and the executive producer of Britannia are facing a £6.5M ($8.5M) lawsuit from writer Benjamin Crushcov, who claims the series was stolen from his original script. The High Court case accuses Sky, producer James Richardson, and journalist Karen Hyland of misappropriation and conspiracy to cover up the drama’s origins. Britannia aired for three seasons before its 2023 cancellation. Read More
Blade Runner 2049 Producer Sues Tesla Over Unlicensed AI Use in Robotaxi Promotion
Alcon Entertainment, producer of Blade Runner 2049, has filed a lawsuit against Tesla, accusing the company of using images from the film in an AI generator to create unlicensed promotional materials. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, also names Elon Musk and Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging copyright infringement and false endorsement. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Rise of the Raven Brings 15th Century Battle of Belgrade to Life
Rise of the Raven, a 10-part historical epic, recreates the 15th-century Battle of Belgrade and János Hunyadi’s fight against the Ottoman invasion. Costume designer Bea Merkovits and production designer Márton Vörös took on head roles for the first time in this European-spanning series, featuring political intrigue and family conspiracies. Produced by Serendipity Point Films and others, with Beta Film handling international sales, the series is supported by ORF, TV2, and Hungary’s National Film Institute. Read More
The Traditional Kids TV Model Is Dying as Streaming Dominates
For decades, kids’ TV viewing followed strict schedules, creating iconic shows like Sesame Street and SpongeBob Squarepants. However, the linear TV model has collapsed, with ratings for Nickelodeon and Disney Channel plummeting 86% and 90%, respectively, from 2016 to 2023. Children aged 2-17 now account for nearly 30% of YouTube’s viewership, drastically shifting the programming landscape. Read More
Woman of the Hour Writer Aims to Honor Victims of Rodney Alcala’s Murders
While Woman of the Hour takes creative liberties, screenwriter Ian McDonald focused on capturing the “emotional reality” of Rodney Alcala’s murders. At a Netflix film screening, McDonald expressed his responsibility to the victims and survivors, emphasising the need to avoid sensationalism in the true crime genre. He stressed the importance of character depth to evoke genuine fear and empathy for those affected by Alcala’s crimes. Read More
Fifth Season and TV4 Unveil Cry Wolf Trailer Ahead of Stockholm Film Festival
Fifth Season’s Nordic Drama Queens and Swedish channel TV4 have revealed the trailer for Cry Wolf (“Vargasommar”), starring Eliot Sumner, Eva Melander, and Henrik Dorsin. Based on Hans Rosenfeldt’s novel, the thriller follows police investigator Hanna Wester as she uncovers human remains linked to a deadly drug deal in northern Sweden. Cry Wolf will premiere at the Stockholm Film Festival and launch on TV4 Play on Dec. 25. Read More
Barb and UK Viewership Trends: A Generational Shift in the Making
Barb’s comprehensive analysis across four screens (TV, mobile, tablet, and PC) provides the first report offering an apples-to-apples view of what UK audiences watch. With Millennials and Gen Z gradually becoming household decision-makers, the report highlights a generational shift in viewing and purchasing trends that will impact the industry over the next decade. Read More
Why TV Is Turning to Books
Sally Rooney shocked the entertainment world by revealing that adapting her novel Normal People for TV made her feel like television was “not a world where I belonged.” As a result, Rooney has rejected offers to option her third book, Beautiful World, Where Are You, and her latest, Intermezzo. This comes as demand for book IP in TV rises sharply, with networks favouring adaptations over original ideas to minimise risk. Read More
Amazon’s International Originals Lead Bauer on making English language TV
Veteran producer Bauer, known for The Pillars of the Earth and Crossing Lines, has been building Amazon’s English-language originals since 2022. Upcoming projects include the heist thriller Haven starring Sophie Turner, the family drama The Girlfriend with Robin Wright, and Harlan Coben’s thriller Lazarus featuring Sam Claflin. Bauer, named one of THR’s 2024 Most Powerful Women in International TV, expressed concern over the industry’s focus on safe projects and ongoing social obstacles within the business. Read More
‘Slow Horses’ and ‘Sweetpea’ Producer’s Joint Managing Director, Aims to Bring Fun Back to the Small Screen
Since joining See-Saw Films in 2021, Helen Gregory has helped grow its TV division with hits like Slow Horses and Heartstopper. Gregory’s upcoming projects include Sweetpea, a dark comedy starring Ella Purnell, and a reboot of The Neverending Story in partnership with Michael Ende Productions. Named one of THR’s 2024 Most Powerful Women in International TV, Gregory advocates for women to speak up and support each other in the male-dominated industry. Read More
Stranded on Honeymoon Island Set to Dominate at MIPCOM 2024
Combining the drama of Married at First Sight with the survival intensity of Survivor, Stranded on Honeymoon Island is the brainchild of Danish formats expert Rasmus Steentoft and Snowman Productions. In the show, six couples are matched by experts and immediately abandoned in isolation after their wedding ceremony, testing their relationships as they fend for themselves. The format has recently secured its biggest deal with the BBC. Read More
What Disney's TV Buyers Are Seeking
ABC and Hulu have consolidated their scripted comedy and drama teams, merging ABC Signature into 20th Television. Familiar executives like Hulu’s Jordan Helman and Simran Sethi now oversee the merged teams, but around 30 staff members were cut, including ABC comedy head Erin Wehrenberg. The restructuring follows the long-anticipated Disney-Fox merger, though Disney remains an active buyer across its platforms, including ABC, FX, Hulu, and Disney+. Read More
Abu Dhabi Increases Production Rebate to Attract More Film and TV Projects
Abu Dhabi, a key Middle East hub for Hollywood and Bollywood productions, is raising its rebate on film and TV projects from 30% to over 35% of qualified below-the-line spend starting January 2025. This move, announced by Mohamed Dobay, acting director general of Abu Dhabi’s Creative Media Authority, aims to enhance the capital’s appeal to the global entertainment industry as part of broader efforts to strengthen its creative sectors. Read More
Reunion Brings Bilingual Thriller to BBC with Groundbreaking Inclusivity
William "Billy" Mager’s Reunion, a four-episode thriller for BBC One and iPlayer, blends the style of a ’70s American thriller with a modern touch. Set in Sheffield, the bilingual series features British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken English, with Matthew Gurney as the first leading BSL actor in a high-end British drama. The production prioritises inclusivity, with many deaf cast and crew members and innovative on-set communication tools to bridge gaps between deaf and hearing teams. Read More
Southeast Asia's Content Industry Faces Challenges Amid Global Streaming Cuts
Southeast Asia content makers are feeling the pressure as streaming giants like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video scale back investments following global budget cuts. While demand for Japanese and Korean content surges and India becomes a streaming hotspot, Southeast Asia struggles with tightening production budgets and declining TV ad revenue as spending shifts to social media. Mark Francis, Chief Content and Strategy Officer at Indonesia's Vidio noted that the high budgets for local productions are now mostly viable for Netflix, with other global players retreating for now. Read More
Guns n Roses legend Slash discusses his new TV project, The Crow Girl
Paramount+’s The Crow Girl, produced by Buccaneer and distributed by ITV Studios, is a psychological thriller based on the bestselling Scandinavian noir novel. Buccaneer's CEOs Richard Tulk-Hart and Tony Wood lead the adaptation, with rock legend Slash serving as executive producer and musical contributor.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
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