TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Weekend 26-27 October 2024
ITV closes 12 Yard; Disney’s AI push; Australia reviews spectrum; NBC’s Hayu grows; Mipcom pivots to digital; ‘Juror #2’ premieres; ‘Smile 2’ tops box office; WME tackles AI.
Today’s Highlights:
ITV Studios to Close 12 Yard Productions – ITV is shutting down its quiz-show-focused subsidiary as part of a strategic restructuring to streamline operations and focus on profitable, globally appealing formats.
Disney to Launch Major AI Initiative—Disney is planning an AI-driven transformation in post-production and visual effects, involving hundreds of team members to enhance creative processes. This initiative has the potential to extend to parks.
Australia Reviews Broadcast Spectrum – Australia's government launches a comprehensive review of broadcast spectrum allocation to adapt to digital demands and influence future media policy.
NBCUniversal’s Hayu Hosts First-Ever FanFest – Hayu, NBCUniversal’s global reality streaming service, is celebrating with a FanFest in London, marking its growth across 45 markets in nearly a decade.
ITV Faces Backlash on AI Content Role—ITV’s job posting for a Generative AI role to develop AI-driven content received heavy criticism from screenwriters, resulting in the listing’s removal.
Mipcom Shifts from TV to Digital and Influencers—Mipcom saw more excitement around YouTube and influencer content than traditional TV premieres, marking a pivotal shift in content creation and audience engagement.
Clint Eastwood’s 'Juror #2' Premieres at AFI Fest – Eastwood’s potential final film, Juror #2, will close AFI Fest with a limited theatrical release by Warner Bros. despite the awards season debut.
‘Smile 2’ Tops US Box Office – Smile 2, set in NYC, continues the horror success of the original film, captivating audiences and reaching the top of the box office.
Matt Reeves Considered HBO Series for ‘The Batman’ – The Batman director Matt Reeves nearly expanded the story into an HBO series, exploring Batman’s second year as he reworked the film’s script.
WME Tackles AI with Legislative Focus – Distinguishing itself from CAA, WME adopts a partnership and legislative approach to AI, focusing on external collaborations and government advocacy for AI safeguards in entertainment.
Plus: News, Insights, In Development, Deals, Renewals and Jobs with Paramount, Amazon, Banijay, Disney, Hallmark, WBD & Netflix.
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NEWS
ITV Studios to Close 12 Yard Productions
ITV Studios has announced plans to close its subsidiary, 12 Yard Productions, which is known for producing quiz shows like PopMaster and Eggheads. The decision reflects ITV’s strategic restructuring amid financial pressures and changing content demands, focusing on more profitable and globally appealing formats. Read More
Disney to Launch Major AI Initiative Focused on Post-Production and Visual Effects
The Walt Disney Co. is preparing to announce a significant AI initiative to transform its creative output, involving “hundreds” of team members and focusing on post-production and visual effects, sources revealed to TheWrap. While some say it may extend to parks and experiences, a Disney insider suggested the initiative is not as expansive as rumoured, with no confirmed announcement date yet. Read More
Australia Launches Major Review of Broadcast Spectrum
The Australian government has initiated a significant review of its broadcast spectrum allocation to ensure optimal use amid increasing digital demands. This review will assess current allocations and future needs across media, telecommunications, and emergency services. Expected to influence broadcast media rights and digital expansion policy, this review aligns with Australia’s broader digital strategy. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Cross-Cultural Love Story Unfolds in New Series Four Years Later
Four Years Later, a romantic drama created by Mithila Gupta and directed by Mohini Herse, explores the immigrant experience through the story of Sridevi and Yash, a married couple navigating long-distance challenges between Jaipur, India, and Sydney, Australia. The eight-part series, featuring Shahana Goswami and Akshay Ajit Singh, delves into themes of love, duty, and belonging, contrasting Bollywood romance with a grounded exploration of modern relationships. Read More
NBCUniversal’s Hayu Marks Global Growth with First-Ever FanFest
Launched in March 2016, NBCUniversal’s Hayu began as a reality-focused streaming service in the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, quickly expanding globally. Today, Hayu offers exclusive reality content like Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Top Chef across 45 markets, from Europe to Southeast Asia. Now almost nine years old, the service celebrates its evolution with the first Hayu FanFest in London on Oct. 26. Read More
Screenwriters Condemn ITV’s Generative AI Job Role for Content Creation
ITV’s recent job posting for a Head of Generative AI Innovation, tasked with AI-driven content creation, sparked a backlash from screenwriters who view it as "dehumanizing" and "unethical." The role, offering £80,000-£95,000, was to oversee AI-based character and plot development. Writer Jack Rooke criticized ITV for overlooking the real-life human experiences shaping successful shows like Coronation Street. ITV has since removed the listing amid mounting criticism. Read More
The Hit-to-Flop Ratio Explores Metrics of TV Success
How do producers gauge the potential for shows to resonate or fail with audiences? What strategies in development, marketing, and network decisions can tilt the odds of a show’s performance? Often, networks strike a delicate balance between calculated risks and audience appeal. Read More
Mipcom Market Shifts Focus from TV to YouTube and Influencers
At this year’s Mipcom market, YouTube content like Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date episode with Andrew Garfield garnered more buzz than traditional TV premieres, highlighting a shift in audience engagement. Executives like Jamie Hall of Vice Studios and Caryn Mandabach acknowledge the need for a more entrepreneurial approach in a climate where brand-funded and digital-first strategies are gaining traction over traditional development, marking a pivotal shift for producers and distributors. Read More
'Smile 2' Scares Up Success with New Setting and Star
Writer/director Parker Finn’s Smile 2 elevates the 2022 horror hit by expanding its premise: set in New York City, it follows pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) as she becomes ensnared in a terrifying, demonic curse. The sequel amplifies the original's suspense and is now the No. 1 film at the U.S. box office, proving that building on a strong concept can pay off in horror. Read More
'Snakes on a Plane' Writer John Connery Heffernan III: Rise and Fall of a Cult Figure
John Connery Heffernan III, the unconventional screenwriter behind 2006's Snakes on a Plane, left behind a privileged life for Hollywood’s creative chaos, finding his calling but ultimately facing a downfall. A long-lost friend uncovers how Hollywood transformed his life and led to his unravelling, shedding light on the man who made a cult classic and paid a personal price for his pursuit of creativity. Read More
Clint Eastwood’s 'Juror #2' Set to Premiere at AFI Fest, Limited Theatrical Release to Follow
AFI Fest will close its 38th edition with the world premiere of Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2, featuring Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Zoey Deutch. This courtroom drama marks Eastwood’s 40th directorial feature and potentially his last. Despite the Hollywood debut, Warner Bros. opts for a limited release of fewer than 50 theatres nationwide, an unusually modest rollout for a major studio film compared to typical awards season releases. Read More
Matt Reeves ‘The Batman’ Almost Became an HBO Series Due to Too Much Story
During the development of The Batman, director Matt Reeves realized he had too much story for a single film and pitched an HBO miniseries focused on “Batman: Year Two.” Though Warner Bros. initially declined, citing no connection to HBO, Reeves revisited the idea as he wrapped the script, suggesting an HBO series to delve deeper into Batman’s universe. Read More
Mipcom Signals Shift as Social Video and Streaming Dominate Viewing Among Young Audiences
Amid enduring banners for classics like The Weakest Link and Survivor, this year’s Mipcom in Cannes highlighted the industry’s rapid evolution. Former Pivot CEO Evan Shapiro revealed data showing that social video and streaming now account for over 80% of watch time for UK viewers aged 16-34, signalling a stark decline in traditional broadcast TV engagement. Sony Pictures’ Tony Vinciquerra forecasts up to two more years of industry disruption, including potential mergers and bankruptcies, as companies pivot to meet shifting viewer preferences. Read More
WME Takes Legislative and Partnership Approach to AI, Distinguishing Itself from CAA's Digital Vault Strategy
As Hollywood faces AI exploitation concerns, WME diverges from rival CAA by focusing on partnerships and legislative advocacy rather than building a digital asset vault. Unlike CAA, which stores client likenesses and voice samples through AI company Veritone, WME relies on external AI partners and a three-pronged strategy: collaborations for AI protections, audits of business deals, and government advocacy led by ex-Meta exec Matthew Kaplan. Read More
Subscribe to unlock more exclusive insights and updates for entertainment industry insiders:
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Shackleton's Legacy: Explorer Mensun Bound and Dan Snow delve into the history and new documentary Endurance, capturing Shackleton’s remarkable Arctic journey.
Industry Shifts: Updates on ViX CEO Pierluigi Gazzolo’s departure, Cloud Nine’s leadership change, Steven Knight’s exit from Star Wars, and more executive moves.
In Development: From Lego Masters spin-offs to new crime dramas and a Blue Streak sequel – discover the following big productions in film and TV.
Deals and Renewals: Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis secures a European rights deal, and So You Think You Can Dance returns to Poland after nearly a decade.
Jobs: with Paramount, Amazon, Banijay, Disney, Hallmark, WBD & Netflix.
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