Distribution Archives

How Streamers and Lockdowns Distorted Distribution Prices

February 15, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Even before unprecedented disruptions to the theatrical market, established film buyers and sellers were under tremendous financial pressure after spendthrift streamers elbowed in to populate their sparse film catalogs and vie for Oscar gold.

Sundance Fails to Ignite an Apathetic Independent Film Market

February 8, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

By every measure, the theatrical market for independent films remains on life support after the first in-person Sundance Film Festival since the ‘before times’ in January 2020.

Broken Windows: Inside Hollywood’s Lucrative Film Licensing Deals

January 15, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

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.

AT&T Loses Over $50 Billion on Half-Baked Content Distribution Ambitions

September 27, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

After losing over $50 billion on a series of failed forays into content production and distribution, AT&T was forced to start selling stakes in its recently acquired media assets or risk weakening its monopolistic grip on telecom and internet delivery.

Are Hybrid Content Markets Here to Stay?

March 30, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Opinions are mixed about whether film and television markets should return to their pre-lockdown physical format or retain some online elements and transition to a hybrid model.

Virtual EFM Bolsters Film Market

March 13, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Despite muted expectations by sellers, buyers, and producers heading into the virtual European Film Market on March 1, most reported a successful and busy market.

EFM: Open For Business

March 1, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Theatrical buyers, streaming services, and networks are all taking a fresh look at independent films as they struggle to fill programming gaps and meet the growing demand for filmed entertainment.

The Future of Film Markets

January 17, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Many uncertainties surround the format and nature of film markets in 2021, including the crown jewel – Cannes. All significant markets scheduled in the first quarter will be virtual.

MGM For Sale Again

December 22, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

Metro Goldwyn Mayer, the once legendary Hollywood studio, is again up for sale for the second time in a year.

Exclusive or Traditional Distribution?

September 29, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

The rapid expansion of OTT worldwide has profoundly changed the market, unlike any other innovation since the emergence of cable television.

Lockdowns Reshape Content Distribution

August 10, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

COVID-19 has decimated global content pipelines by halting film production, canceling greenlit projects, and closing cinemas. However, the present disruptions have only accelerated transformations that were well underway.

Starz Sues MGM

May 5, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

The lawsuit accuses MGM of licensing far-and-wide more than 300 films and shows to which Starz thought it held exclusive rights.

UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

January 28, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

After a slow start to the 35th annual Sundance Film Festival, the weekend produced a handful of sizable deals, including from Amazon Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Lionsgate.

Sundance Slumps

January 26, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

Deal activity is muted so far at this year’s festival despite claims that producers and sales agents were withholding their best films at TIFF in September to introduce at Sundance.

What US Independent Distributors Want

January 21, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

Discover in their own words what elements 26 US distributors are searching for when they acquire distribution rights at Sundance.

Will Sundance Boom or Bust?

January 20, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

After a lackluster Sundance in 2018, last year was full of mega-deals, especially by Netflix and Amazon. Buyers spent over $120 million acquiring rights to some 40 films.

Box Office Declines

January 6, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

The box office in North America was down almost 5% from 2018 even after rising ticket prices, and despite a slew of mega-budget franchise films being released.

Monopolizing Europe

November 27, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

The studio cartel system continues to thrive in Europe even after several seemingly disruptive interventions by the European Commission.

How Amazon Releases Films

November 20, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

Amazon Studios has relied on traditional distribution practices to foster greater collaboration with gatekeepers in Hollywood. However, after playing second fiddle to Netflix for the better part of a decade, Amazon is changing its theatrical strategy stateside.