2016 – FilmTake

Global Streaming Showdown Between Netflix and Amazon

December 20, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Amazon’s Prime service is now available in over 200 nations. Earlier in 2016 Netflix became available in every country sans China, Crimea, N. Korea & Syria.

France’s Vivendi Denies Merger Talks with Orange

December 15, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Orange CEO Stephane Richard, said the company would consider bidding for Canal Plus if it came up for sale, but denied merger talks with Vivendi.

Will the European Commission Destroy Film Markets?

December 8, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Is the European Commission’s Digital Single Market strategy destroying Europe’s independent film business in favor US-based technology firms?

Lionsgate Inks Long-Term Digital Licensing with iQiyi

December 5, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Lionsgate entered into a long-term content licensing agreement with iQiyi in November 2016 for upcoming features and select library films.

China’s iQiyi and Sony Sign Coproduction Agreement

December 5, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

iQiyi, a Chinese online video site owned by Baidu, announced in December that the company is coproducing a three-part local-language series with Sony.

Update: Cable Companies Quash Set-Top Box Rental Reforms

November 29, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Minutes before a planned vote to allow third parties to develop apps or devices for cable set-top boxes, the FCC removed the vote indefinitely.

Mobile Streaming Market Heats Up

November 21, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

When AT&T acquired DirecTV for $48.5 billion, they had big plans for mobile streaming. The FCC thinks DirecTV Now service “may obstruct competition and…”

Amazon Prime Global Expansion: Netflix Killer?

November 21, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Amazon takes aim at Netflix, the market leader in streaming video. Amazon is following Netflix’s lead by expanding their Prime service globally in 2017.

Unofficially Relaxing Film Quotas in China

November 18, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

The unofficial expansion of the Chinese film quota system is taking place right now. So far in 2016 over 40 revenue-sharing films have screened.

Buying Spree Continues with Voltage Pictures

November 14, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Xinke New Materials is acquiring an 80% stake in Nicolas Chartier’s Voltage Pictures. The acquisition amount will range between $345 and $518M.

Netflix Nears Historic Rollout with Comcast

November 10, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Comcast, the largest cable company in the United States, will begin streaming Netflix on the company’s X1 set-top device starting this week.

China’s Rampant Box Office Fraud

November 10, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

On Monday, China passed its first law addressing unbridled box office fraud. For years, theatrical corruption has been accepted as a part of doing business.

How is the Election Like the Cable Market?

November 8, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Like the presidential election, Americans will only have two choices for cable providers, Comcast or Time Warner / Charter / Spectrum / AT&T.

Netflix Hefty Content Costs

November 3, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

For every $8 per month, Netflix receives from its nearly 84 million global subscribers, over $6 is spent on content. 2017 content costs will hit $16 billion.

Hulu Takes Aim at Netflix

November 1, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix captured 80 million subscribers using studio content as a gateway to building customers. Did Netflix’s 50% originals initiative cross the line?

Update: Relativity Media Lawsuit Against Netflix

October 31, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

The lawsuit never mentions the figure $1.5 billion that was widely ceased upon, and instead, opts for – “amount to be proven at trial.”

Update: Relativity Media Lobs Litigation at Netflix

October 20, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Relativity filed a $1.5B lawsuit against Netflix claiming breach of contract and trade libel, which a Netflix’s spokesperson called “baseless and ironic.”

Hollywood Welcomes Wanda Group’s CEO Wang Jianlin

October 18, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Wanda’s CEO Jianlin is in Hollywood to purchase more media properties. The acquisition of Legendary for $3.5 billion was the biggest Hollywood-China tie-up.

Inside Netflix’s Shocking Subscriber Data