July 26, 2023FilmTakeComments Off on Lionsgate Faces Substantial Financial Risks and Capital Requirements
Lionsgate has failed to deliver on long-touted plans for cash injection by spinning off Starz. Despite ongoing delays and several missed deadlines, Lionsgate is reportedly one of three final suitors vying for Canada’s eOne.
January 15, 2023FilmTakeComments Off on Broken Windows: Inside Hollywood’s Lucrative Film Licensing Deals
The battle over film licensing exclusivity transpired as expected once Netflix transitioned from a content aggregator to a content creator. One-by-one the major studios built direct-to-consumer streaming services to compete with Netflix.
Netflix emerged as the winner in a nearly two-year auction process for the exclusive U.S. rights to stream Sony’s theatrical releases in the lucrative first PayTV window starting with the studio’s 2022 slate.
At the start of 2020, consumers in the United States subscribed to an average of three paid streaming services, but after months of government-mandated lockdowns, the number has increased to five.
Since the COVID lockdown began, nearly five million UK households have signed up for a streaming service. Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ have been the primary beneficiaries of this boom.
As multiple streaming services prepare for an intensifying battle over European subscribers, British-made content continues to surge. This content bonanza and bidding wars between buyers are driving up prices for shows.
There is even more bad news for pay television providers. Unlike 2017, subscribers signing up for cheaper online television bundles are starting to contract.
The European Commission’s Digital Single Market strategy will destroy Europe’s independent film and television market in favor of global technology companies.
More and more consumers are piecing together entertainment content from multiple services rather than relying on a traditional cable television package.
After decades of stifling innovation and blocking new content delivery models, cable companies are paying a hefty price that shows no sign of stopping.
In Q4 2016, 77% of respondents would only like to pay for the channels they watch, up 3% y-o-y. Pricing expectations are in contrast to what they are paying.
“Disney, which is very good in China, had their movie service shutdown. Apple had their movie service closed down. It doesn’t look good.” – Netflix CEO