TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Wednesday 21 August 2024
Edgar Bronfman bids $4.3B for Paramount; YouTube tops streaming; Netflix's APAC growth; Streaming churn rises; Joker 2 insights; Almodóvar's English debut; Netflix ad sales surge.
Today’s Highlights:
Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s $4.3 Billion Bid for Paramount Global - A strategic move to prevent Paramount's merger with Skydance.
YouTube Tops Streaming Viewership in July 2024 - YouTube became the first streaming platform to reach a double-digit viewership share.
Netflix's APAC Region Becomes Third-Largest Subscriber Base - Significant growth in Asia Pacific, surpassing Latin America.
Jonathan Nolan on the Fallout Series and Its Emmy Potential—The video game "Fallout" series adaptation became a hit, earning 16 Emmy nominations.
Churn Stymies Subscription Growth as Net Adds Drop 64% in Two Years - US streaming platforms struggle with subscriber retention.
Netflix's 2024 Upfronts Show a 150% Increase in Ad Sales Commitments—Netflix's ad sales commitments increased significantly in 2024.
Mark Cousins on Challenging the Canon with The Story of Documentary Film - A 16-hour documentary series broadening the scope of documentary history.
Windlight Pictures' Moritz Polter on the Future of International TV Production - Insights into the future of high-end German series for a global audience.
Todd Phillips Tells All on Making 'Joker 2' is a behind-the-scenes look at the Joker sequel and its unique development.
'The Room Next Door' Teaser with Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore - Pedro Almodóvar's English-language feature debut, set to premiere at major film festivals.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Cancellations, Opportunities, Events and Jobs with Foxtel, Sony, ITV, Paramount, Sky & Bavaria Film.
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NEWS
'Sex Crossing' Among Six Nordic Council Film Prize Nominees
Dag Johan Haugerud’s Sex and Levan Akin’s Crossing are among six 2024 Nordic Council Film Prize nominees, announced during the Norwegian International Film Festival. Both films debuted at the Berlin Film Festival's Panorama. Other nominees include Baltasar Kormakur’s Touch from Iceland and Aki Kaurismaki’s Golden Globes-nominated Fallen Leaves from Finland.
From: Screen Daily
YouTube Tops Streaming Viewership in July 2024, Says Nielsen
According to Nielsen's Gauge report, YouTube became the first individual streaming platform to reach a double-digit viewership share, hitting 10.4% in July. This marks a 7% increase from June when it had 9.9%. Streaming made up 41.4% of TV viewing, a record high. TV usage rose 2.3% monthly and 3.5% yearly, partly due to the Olympics in Paris.
From: The Wrap
Edgar Bronfman Makes His Move With $4.3 Billion Bid For Paramount Global
Edgar Bronfman Jr. has bid for $4.3 billion to acquire Paramount Global, aiming to prevent its merger with Skydance. The offer includes a $2.4 billion payment to Shari Redstone for her family holding National Amusements, which controls Paramount, $1.5 billion to pay down debt, and a $400 million breakup fee to Skydance. Unlike the Skydance deal, which involves buying out all Class A and some B shares, Bronfman's offer would not take out other Paramount shareholders.
From: Deadline
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INSIGHTS
Box to Box
Warren Brown, once a Thai boxing champion, has become a familiar face on British television thanks to roles in The Responder, The Gathering, and Ten Pound Poms. In January 2022, he starred simultaneously in BBC's The Responder and ITV's Trigger Point. Brown's acting career began with roles in Shameless and Hollyoaks and has since included notable parts in Luther, X Company, and Strike Back.
From: Drama Quarterly
Jonathan Nolan on Fallout Series and Its Emmy Potential
Jonathan Nolan revealed that adapting the video game Fallout into a hit TV show for Prime Video was a "high-wire act" involving careful location choices, casting, and a blend of visual effects with practical sets. The hard work paid off, with the series becoming one of Prime Video’s most-watched titles and earning 16 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.
From: The Wrap
Churn Stymies Subscription Growth as Net Adds Drop 64% in Two Years: Report
New research shows that US streaming platforms are struggling to retain customers, with net subscriber additions in the first quarter of 2024 hitting a two-year low. Samba TV's latest report reveals that 99 million US households streamed content in the first half of 2024. While OTT viewing hours increased by 40% compared to 2023, 44% of viewers only wanted to watch content on one or two platforms.
From: Screen Daily
Mark Cousins on Challenging the Canon with The Story of Documentary Film
Mark Cousins discusses his 16-hour documentary series, The Story of Documentary Film, aiming to broaden the scope of documentary history by including overlooked films and voices. Cousins emphasizes the importance of challenging the traditional canon and giving a platform to diverse perspectives in the documentary genre.
From: Screen Daily
APAC Region Becomes Netflix’s Third-Largest Subscriber Base
Netflix's Q2 2024 report reveals that its Asia Pacific (APAC) subscriber base has grown to 50.3 million, surpassing Latin America's 49.3 million and becoming Netflix's third-largest region. Since its 2016 APAC launch, Netflix has seen consistent growth, in contrast to slower expansion in North America and Western Europe. Netflix's success in APAC is driven by early-stage market penetration, strategic localization, and strong regional content, particularly in Japan, South Korea, and India. Ampere Analysis predicts APAC subscriptions could reach 70 million by 2029, contributing significantly to Netflix's global growth.
From: Señal News
Windlight Pictures’ Moritz Polter on the Future of International TV Production
Moritz Polter, former Bavaria Fiction and Tandem Productions executive, founded Windlight Pictures in 2021 with ITV Studios' backing to create a high-end German series for a global audience. The company delivered its first production, Night in Paradise (Nachts im Paradies), at the end of 2023 and is working on upcoming projects like The Grimrose Girls and Hundertdreizehn. Polter discusses the company's launch, ITV's support, and future projects.
From: TV Drama
Elizabeth Debicki Reflects on Playing Princess Diana in The Crown
Elizabeth Debicki often recalls creator Peter Morgan's remark that if she hadn’t played Princess Diana in Netflix’s The Crown, the character would have had significantly less screen time. Debicki finds this surprising and marvels at Morgan’s confidence in portraying such a pivotal role. His intuition proved accurate, as Debicki's portrayal captured his envisioned royal essence.
From: The Wrap
Mother Mara Director Mirjana Karanović Explains Why She Makes Films About Women Who Defy Expectations
Mirjana Karanović, director of Mother Mara, discusses her focus on creating films that highlight strong, complex women who challenge societal norms. Karanović emphasizes the importance of telling stories that reflect the realities and struggles of women, particularly in the Balkans, where her films are set.
From: Screen Daily
Netflix’s 2024 Upfronts Show 150% Increase in Ad Sales Commitments
Netflix announced a more than 150% year-over-year increase in ad sales commitments as it concluded its 2024 Upfront negotiations with major holding companies and independent agencies. The investments, aligning with expectations, spanned categories like consumer packaged goods, tech, entertainment, auto, and retail. Partnerships were secured for upcoming titles like Squid Game, Wednesday, Outer Banks, and live events like WWE Raw and Christmas Day NFL games.
From: The Wrap
Netflix Unveils Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Teaser and Premiere Date
Two years after Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan return to Netflix with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, premiering globally on September 19. The first teaser sticks to the chilling facts, showing the brothers entering their parents' Beverly Hills mansion with shotguns on August 20, 1989. As they prepare their weapons, the haunting silence sets the tone for this harrowing saga.
From: The Wrap
BBC Children’s & Education: Why Do We Care?
BBC Children’s & Education explores the importance of creating content that entertains and educates young audiences. The department emphasises the role of public service broadcasting in shaping the minds of the next generation and the challenges of balancing educational goals with engaging storytelling.
From: C21Media
The Anonymous EP Stephen Yemoh Discusses the Power of Storytelling
After the success of The Traitors Season 2, Studio Lambert has launched The Anonymous, a new reality series that gamifies social media. Executive Producer Stephen Yemoh explained that the show taps into viewers' current appetite for strategy-based entertainment. Debuting on USA Network, The Anonymous features 12 contestants who must manipulate and mislead each other to win up to $100,000.
From: The Wrap
Paramount Bid Backed by Investors Brock Pierce, Nurali Aliyev
Cryptocurrency mogul Brock Pierce, Kazakh investor Nurali Aliyev, and Hollywood producer Steven Paul are among the 19 investors backing Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s bid to prevent the merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global. The investor group, including Fortress Investments, aims to disrupt the merger plan with a last-minute proposal submitted to Paramount’s Special Committee. Pierce, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency space, co-founded Blockchain Capital in 2013.
From: The Wrap
Why Do So Many Netflix Shows Look Alike?
Netflix shows have a noticeable visual sameness, making everything from Wednesday to Cobra Kai resemble a Hallmark Christmas movie produced by The CW. This bizarre visual language features characters in overly bright rooms, questionable CGI, and an assault of kaleidoscopic colours. Whether it's One Piece looking like Bridgerton with superpowers or Love Is Blind seemingly sharing sets with Squid Game, Netflix's unique aesthetic choices have created a recognisable, if somewhat puzzling, brand identity.
From: Esquire
Netflix UK Content Boss Anne Mensah on Creating Blockbuster British Shows, Steady Commissioning and Genre Expansion
Anne Mensah, Netflix’s UK VP of content, oversees all aspects of the streamer’s UK slate, including scripted, unscripted, film, and acquisitions. Despite her senior role, Mensah quickly credits her colleagues and the creatives she collaborates with. Enthusiastic about Netflix's UK projects, Mensah is particularly excited about the renewal of The Gentlemen for a second season and the upcoming launch of Love Is Blind U.K., promising it "only gets better and better."
From: Variety
Todd Phillips Tells All on Making ‘Joker 2’: Musical Numbers, Method Acting and Joaquin Phoenix’s Broadway Dream That Started It All
It all began with a dream Joaquin Phoenix had during the final days of shooting Joker. Phoenix confided in director Todd Phillips that he wasn’t ready to part ways with the character of Arthur Fleck. One night, Phoenix dreamed of Fleck—Batman’s nemesis—on stage, telling jokes and singing. This vision inspired Fleck's story to continue, eventually leading to the development of the Joker sequel.
From: Variety
‘The Room Next Door’ Teaser: Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore Are Writers Reuniting in Pedro Almodóvar’s English Feature Debut
Tilda Swinton is set to star in Pedro Almodóvar's English-language feature debut, The Room Next Door. Swinton, who previously collaborated with Almodóvar on The Human Voice, will play a dying journalist who reconnects with her old friend, portrayed by Julianne Moore. The film, adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through, explores the lives of two women who reunite after years apart. The cast includes John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola, and Juan Diego Botto. The Room Next Door will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, with subsequent screenings at TIFF and NYFF.
From: IndieWire
As ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Finally Debuts on Streaming, the Show Remains Astonishing Television
While HBO's Sex and the City and The Sopranos are often credited with launching the era of prestige television in the late 1990s, the true roots of this movement can be traced back to NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street. Based on David Simon’s 1991 book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, the show debuted in 1993 and offered an intense, hyper-realistic look at the Baltimore Police Department’s homicide division. Now, more than three decades later, all seven seasons and the bookend TV film are available for streaming on Peacock. Created by Paul Attanasio, with contributions from showrunner Tom Fontana and Simon, Homicide stands out for its unique approach to the police procedural genre, favouring complex storytelling over formulaic case resolutions.
From: Variety
DOC NYC Unveils 40 Under 40 List of Filmmakers to Watch
The official 2024 DOC NYC 40 Under 40 list honours young filmmakers who have significantly contributed to documentary filmmaking. The seventh annual list celebrates emerging talent from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, including documentarians, editors, and sound designers. The 2024 honorees will be celebrated at a private cocktail reception during the 15th edition of DOC NYC, which runs from November 13 to 21 in New York and online.
From: IndieWire
Netflix Drops ‘Squid Game’ Video Game Trailer: ‘We’re All Here to Have Fun’
Netflix released the trailer for its new multiplayer video game Squid Game: Unleashed during the Gamescom convention on Tuesday. The game, described as a fast-paced battle royale, challenges players to outlast opponents in deadly contests inspired by the hit series Squid Game and new games based on classic childhood activities. Squid Game: Unleashed will be available via the Netflix app on iPhone and Google Play, launching alongside Squid Game Season 2 on December 26, though the game's exact release date has yet to be announced.
From: Variety
How Thomas Newman Composed the Main Title for 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' | Behind the Song
Legendary composer Thomas Newman explains how he created the Main Title for 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' and how he used live strings to elevate the piece.
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