TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 8 November 2024
Paramount+ adds new UK/Ireland tiers; ITV hit by strikes; AMC-Netflix boost; Portugal promotes filming; Endeavor grows despite losses; Max streaming gains; Amazon MGM licensing success.
Today’s Highlights:
Paramount+ Expands with Ad-Premium Plans in UK and Ireland – Paramount+ introduces new subscription tiers with Basic (ad-supported) and Premium options in the UK and Ireland, plus a price increase for the Standard plan.
ITV Studios' Q3 Revenue Drops Due to Hollywood Strikes – ITV faces a 20% revenue decline in Q3, with cost-saving measures underway and digital ad revenue rising.
Endeavor's Revenue Growth Despite Increased Losses—Endeavor reports a 66% revenue increase, though net losses soar, driven by challenges in the Events, Experiences, and sports segments.
Warner Bros. Discovery Stock Gains on Max Streaming Growth – Warner Bros. Discovery's stock surges as Max streaming shows 9% revenue growth, driven by earnings despite European Olympic broadcasting losses.
TV Industry Adapts to Creator Economy's Rise – At MIPCOM, experts emphasise digital transformation for traditional media as young audiences shift to platforms like YouTube.
No Other Land Emerges as Award Contender—The documentary garners critical acclaim but struggles to secure distribution.
AMC's Netflix Partnership Boosts Show Popularity – AMC's Netflix deal brings shows like Dark Winds and Fear the Walking Dead to Netflix, capitalising on broader licensing trends.
Olsberg SPI Report on Economic Impact of Production Incentives – Incentives fuel local economies, exemplified by boosts in the Czech Republic, Australia, and Georgia, with screen tourism underscoring benefits.
Portugal Film Commission's International Promotion Efforts – Portugal engages in global markets, strengthening ties and promoting filming opportunities at events in Spain, France, and Brazil.
Amazon MGM Studios Marks Licensing Success in First Year—Celebrating a successful year, Amazon MGM highlights global licensing, extending the content lifecycle, and reaching diverse audiences.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Opportunities and Jobs with Screen Ireland, ITV, ABC, NBCUniversal, Endemol Shine, AMC, Netflix, Prime & Leonine.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest TV, Film & Media updates in one bulletin.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL.
Producers: Fifth Season, Sony Pictures Television, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, Universal Pictures International Australasia, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me, Halcyon Studios, DPG Media, Envision, Rive Gauche, Blue Ant Media, Squareone, Great Southern Studios, Collective Media Group.
Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC, Attraction Distribution, Kaplan Stahler Agency.
NEWS
Paramount+ Introduces Ad-Premium Plan in UK and Ireland
Paramount+ will introduce two new UK and Ireland subscription tiers on November 20. The Basic (with ads) plan costs £4.99/month in the UK and €5.99/month in Ireland, while the Premium plan is £10.99 and €11.99, respectively. The Standard plan price will increase from £6.99 to £7.99 in the UK and from €7.99 to €8.99 in Ireland, aligning with Paramount+’s strategy to offer more pricing choices. Read More
ITV Studios Sees Revenue Decline Amid Hollywood Strikes in Q3 2024
ITV, led by CEO Carolyn McCall, projects a 2.5% rise in full-year ad revenue despite a 6-7% drop in Q4, impacted by the 2023 Rugby World Cup and budget uncertainty. ITV Studios saw a 20% revenue decline due to the U.S. strikes but anticipates record adjusted earnings. ITVX streaming hours rose 14%, and digital ad revenue rose 15%. ITV targets an additional £20 million in cost savings for 2024. Read More
Endeavor Reports 66% Revenue Growth Despite Net Loss Increase
Endeavor Group Holdings reported a third-quarter net loss of $420.4 million, a 262.4% increase from last year, driven by losses in Events, Experiences, and Sports, Data & Technology segments. However, revenue rose by 66% to $2.03 billion, fueled by growth in its Owned Sports and Representation divisions and high consumer demand for live events and content, although slightly below analyst estimates of $2.13 billion. Read More
Warner Bros. Discovery Stock Rises with Increased MAX Streaming Momentum
Warner Bros. Discovery's stock surged over 16% in early trading Thursday, reaching its highest level in nearly nine months, following the company's Q3 earnings report. As of 3:20 p.m., the stock was up 11.6% at $9.35 per share, making it one of the top gainers among media stocks. The rise was driven by progress in its Max streaming business and speculation that a Donald Trump administration could facilitate industry consolidation. The company's direct-to-consumer streaming segment reported a 9% revenue increase to $2.6 billion, with adjusted earnings of $289 million, up $178 million from the same quarter last year, despite a $41 million loss from broadcasting the Olympics in Europe. Read More
Share Further&Better with your network, and if one of your contacts subscribes, you’ll receive a 30-day upgrade to your subscription.
INSIGHTS
AMC Titles Surge in Popularity with Netflix Partnership
AMC Networks' recent Netflix deal brings 13 ad-free titles, including Dark Winds and Fear the Walking Dead, to all Netflix tiers from August 2024. Ampere Analysis reports rising popularity for 11 of these shows, which AMC hopes will boost viewership for new seasons on its platforms. The January 2025 Netflix debut of Walking Dead spinoffs aims to prime audiences for Dead City: Season 2 in spring. Netflix's licensing strategy, which includes shows like Band of Brothers and Suits, reflects an industry shift towards monetisation over exclusivity. Read More
TV Industry Faces Transformation Amid Rise of Creator Economy and YouTube
The television industry faces a profound shift as younger viewers gravitate toward YouTube, fueling the 'creator economy.' At MIPCOM in Cannes, experts like media cartographer Evan Shapiro, ProSiebenSat.1’s Henrik Pabst and World of Wonder’s Fenton Bailey discussed strategies for survival. Shapiro urged rapid adaptation, while Pabst and Bailey highlighted the importance of digital transformation and embracing new content creation to keep traditional media relevant in this evolving landscape. Read More
No Other Land Emerges as an Awards Season Contender Despite a Lack of Distribution
The acclaimed documentary No Other Land captivated audiences at major film festivals, earning top reviews, but it is still searching for a distributor. The film bravely chronicles the plight of rural Palestinian communities in the West Bank facing military demolitions, forcing residents to decide between fleeing or rebuilding. Co-directed by Basel Adra, who hails from Masafer Yatta, the film captures a life-long struggle for survival and home amidst ongoing conflict. Read More
Anton CEO Talks Film Opportunities in Europe
Anton CEO Sébastien Raybaud observes that while demand for English-language action, thriller, and genre projects remains strong, the number of suppliers has decreased. He notes that Europe's regulatory environment allows for more efficient and cost-effective production of such projects, creating a significant opportunity for companies like Anton. Read More
Exploring the Global Impact of Production Incentives
A report by Olsberg SPI reveals that film and TV production incentives boost local economies through job creation, infrastructure investment, and tourism. For example, international productions in the Czech Republic contributed $401.5 million in 2023, while Australia's Producer Offset yielded an ROI of 5.89. In Georgia, incentives led to a rise in soundstages, supporting long-term growth. Screen tourism from shows like Yellowstone and Bridgerton further underscores the economic benefits. Read More
Amazon MGM Studios Distribution Marks First Year with Global Licensing Success
Amazon MGM Studios Distribution celebrates its first year, balancing in-house content for Amazon platforms and global licensing. Head of Worldwide Distribution Chris Ottinger highlights the division’s mission to extend the content lifecycle and support production through licensing fees. Successes include globally licensed shows like Clarkson's Farm and The Grand Tour. Ottinger envisions licensing, shaping content greenlighting, and enhancing Amazon MGM's appeal to creators seeking longevity for their projects. Read More
Portugal Film Commission Promotes Filming Opportunities at Key Global Events
The Portugal Film Commission engaged international markets in Q4 2024, starting with Spain’s Shooting Locations Marketplace in Valladolid on October 15-16. At MIPCOM Cannes (October 21-24), it co-hosted the “Tune in to Portugal” event, strengthening ties with global partners. October ended in São Paulo at the IV Audiovisual Ideas Meeting, where the Commission’s Ana Marques connected with Brazilian industry professionals, enhancing Portugal’s profile as a premier filming destination. Read More
Fire and Ice Production Slate Announced by Brillante Mendoza and Samuel Jamier
Philippines-based Fire and Ice Media, led by Liza Diño-Seguerra, announced its 2025 lineup, featuring Brillante Mendoza’s Cocoon, inspired by his relationship with his daughter, and Samuel Jamier’s directorial debut. Co-produced with French producer Raphael Gindre, Cocoon follows a Filipino-American veterinarian and her fiancé exploring family and cultural identity. Fire and Ice also holds stakes in Last Shadow at First Light and Blue Imagine, enhancing its global footprint. Read More
Australian Children’s Content Generates $1.53M in Global Sales, ACTF Faces Industry Challenges
The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) generated AU$2.3M ($1.53M) in international sales, distributing content across 60+ territories. Despite investing AU$5.4M in projects like Kangaroo Beach 3 and Windcatcher, ACTF warns that traditional broadcasting’s decline hampers production. A government funding boost provides temporary relief, but ACTF chair Helen Silver highlights ongoing obstacles in creating quality children’s programming, even with secured funding for the next four years. Read More
Paramount’s Dan Cohen on International Expansion and Content Strategy
At MIPCOM Cannes, Paramount's Chief Content Licensing Officer, Dan Cohen, discussed evolving licensing models with World Screen's Anna Carugati. He emphasised adapting to new distribution strategies to maximise content reach and revenue. Cohen was joined by NCIS stars Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, highlighting the franchise's global appeal. Paramount also showcased Watson, featuring Morris Chestnut, and celebrated the 25th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants with voice actors Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke. Read More
Joachim Rønning Directs Young Woman and the Sea, Inspired by Trudy Ederle’s Historic English Channel Swim
Norwegian director Joachim Rønning, known for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Kon-Tiki, brings his lifelong love for the sea to Young Woman and the Sea, a film about Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. Starring Daisy Ridley, the adaptation by Jeff Nathanson is based on Glenn Stout’s book. Rønning praises it as “one of the best scripts” he's encountered. Read More
The Apprentice Producer James Shani on Film Distribution and the AFM
Producer James Shani, formerly of Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media, invested heavily in Ali Abbasi’s Trump biopic The Apprentice through his new company, Rich Spirit. Transitioning from a minority investor to a full co-distributor, Shani acquired the film amid a dispute with original backer Kinematics. While it opened below projections in North America, international success has driven its worldwide total past $14 million, making it an Oscars contender, particularly for cast members Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova. Read More
Sam Riley Takes on Transformative Role as Ballet Visionary John Cranko in New Biopic
When Sam Riley received the script for John Cranko, he initially mistook it for an action film. Instead, he discovered it was about John Cranko, a “chain-smoking gay choreographer” who revolutionised ballet. Riley, unfamiliar with ballet, was encouraged by his wife, actress Alexandra Maria Lara, to take the role. Known for Control and Brighton Rock, Riley relished playing a complex, emotionally layered character, a rare opportunity compared to his role as Ian Curtis in Control. Read More
The Magic Faraway Tree Director Ben Gregor on Star-Studded Cast: “It Was Like a Religious Conversion”
Before production began on The Magic Faraway Tree, director Ben Gregor worried he might have unsettled star Andrew Garfield by sending him an early song from the film. To his relief, Garfield embraced it, setting a tone of trust and magic on set. Gregor describes this environment as “true-heartedness,” capturing the essence of Enid Blyton’s beloved story and fostering creativity among the cast. Read More
Unlock exclusive insights with a paid subscription:
Executive Moves: Major industry shifts across top studios, including new leadership and strategic hires.
Festivals & Markets: Discover the latest award winners and record-breaking festival highlights shaping this season.
In Development: Get the scoop on high-profile projects and star-studded new collaborations underway.
Casting News: You won't miss big names joining new roles and iconic reunions.
Jobs: Top opportunities from industry giants – be the first to know!
Upgrade now for full access to these stories!
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Further&Better to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.