FilmTake

European Film Market: Netflix and Amazon Propel Competition

February 12, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Love them or hate them, Netflix and Amazon are shaking loose cobwebs from the film market. The momentum from Sundance has sellers optimistic.

Distribution

Leaderless Sony Pictures $1 Billion Writedown

February 5, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

After $1 billion writedown Sony Corp. announced that it does not plan to sell Sony Pictures. The company is under pressure to sell after mounting losses.

Can Lionsgate Challenge the Studios Once Again?

February 4, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

After a string of massive hits, Lionsgate traveled full circle in 2016 when its top-grossing domestic film was Boo! A Medea Halloween.

Television Takes Over the Internet

January 31, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Only days apart, the UK’s largest satellite broadcaster, Sky, and the US’s biggest cable company, Comcast, announced plans to expand their services online.

Hollywood’s Growing Dependency on Chinese Capital

January 29, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

The media industry’s increasing dependence on Chinese capital sets up a crisis once the chickens of China’s property market come home to roost.

Streaming

A New Record for Netflix

January 22, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix added 19 million subscribers in 2016, a new record for the digital distributor. Although, the company has quadrupled its long-term debt since 2014.

China’s Deserted Movie Theaters

January 15, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

China doubled the number of movie screens from 20,000 in 2013 to 41,000 by 2016. Conversely, 2016 was the worst year in a decade at China’s box office.

Streaming

Netflix Doesn’t Want Your Movie

January 10, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Movies are no longer a priority at Netflix. Adding more movies to its library doesn’t increase the amount subscribers watch.

Broadcast & PayTV

Sky’s Sellout to Fox is Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

January 9, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

The UK government’s strategy to encourage investment during a downmarket is allowing firms to acquire valuable assets at deep discounts.

OTT Services in the UK Stay Home

January 8, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

German market researcher GfK found that 90% of OTT users in the UK have access to smartphones, but only 4% of those use it to stream OTT content.

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.