Distribution – Page 4

Universal’s Unique Deal Bifurcates Pay-One Rights Between Multiple Streamers

July 31, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Universal Pictures bifurcates the 18-month Pay-One Film Licensing Window for its streaming service Peacock and Amazon. After four initial months on Peacock, Universal’s live-action films will stream exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video for ten months before returning to Peacock for the final four months.

Lionsgate Faces Substantial Financial Risks and Capital Requirements

July 26, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

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.

The Never-Ending Story: Lionsgate’s Financial Maneuvers and the Fate of Starz

June 28, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

The much-delayed spinoff of Starz was initially sold to investors as a way to unlock value by selling all or most of Starz but has now morphed into a way to separate and sell Lionsgate. The details remain murky after nearly two years of delays.

The Great Reset: Ever-Increasing Content Spending Leads to Financing Exodus

June 8, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

After years of runaway content spending by leading streaming services, the industry is experiencing significant disruptions as it braces for more downsizing.

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 Breaches Exclusivity By Sub-licensing Over 300 Films to Amazon

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.