Streaming Archives

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part Five

April 24, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

It’s difficult to overstate the disastrous few years Warner Bros. has experienced under inept leadership. Boosting one of the most desirable film and television catalogs, the company has stumbled over every vital decision since 2020. WBD’s financials reflect the industry’s broader issues.

Navigating the Siren Song of Streaming as Studios Get Caught in the Undertow

April 21, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Hollywood’s approach to thriving in streaming has taken a sharply negative turn in the past few years. Initially, the strategy involved pouring resources into content to lure subscribers and ending profitable licensing agreements with aggregators like Netflix, banking on eventual profitability.

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part Four

April 17, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Paramount Global and Comcast have engaged in discussions to explore collaborating, including potentially merging their respective streaming services – Paramount+ and Peacock. However, it’s becoming clear that Paramount Global and its disastrous leadership team want to cash out.

Unveiling Netflix’s New Content Strategy: Opening Doors to External Licensing

April 12, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix has shifted its focus from prioritizing the production of original content to third-party content licensing once more. As an exclusive platform, Netflix’s management currently opposes licensing content externally, but the writing is on the wall for embracing external licensing.

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part Three

March 14, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Before unprecedented disruptions during 2020-21, streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon invested heavily in original films, but their investments have since fallen sharply. Likewise, the head of motion pictures departed after Netflix failed to deliver meaningful film releases.

Not All Streaming Services Will Survive the Year in Their Current Form

February 25, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Mounting losses at Paramount and NBCUniversal, particularly, have put into doubt the survival of Paramount+ and Peacock in their current iteration. Paramount’s situation reflects the broader challenges of balancing growth, content spending, and subscriber retention with profitability.

The Future of Streaming Will End in Tiers

February 21, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Breaking News: Freevee Will Shutdown After Amazon Adamantly Denies Claims. Recently, on Prime Video, ads started popping up on scripted series and films. Over 167 million existing Amazon Prime members in the U.S. are now required to pay an additional $3 per month to enjoy the same service they signed up for to avoid ads.

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part Two

January 28, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

As Disney+ charts its course in 2024, the challenges are palpable, mainly finding freshness in a sea of familiar content. And the biggest question is how the Disney+ one-app integration with Hulu, set to exit beta in March, will fortify the service and retain its subscribers.

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part One

January 4, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Apple TV+ made significant strides in expanding its film offerings in 2023 despite facing challenges such as inflation-driven price increases and the need to refine its user experience. The quest for a marquee series remains a prominent concern as the streaming service enters 2024.

Steering Through the Streaming Sea Change: Apple and Paramount Partnership Eminent

December 18, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Apple and Paramount are on the verge of forging a bundling partnership that will include Apple TV+ and Paramount+, marking the next chapter in the streaming story. Evolving industry developments indicate an overall trend toward strategic partnerships to compete with Netflix.

The Reel Revolution: Film & TV Industry at a Crossroads Post SAG Strike

November 14, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

After an arduous 118-day standoff, the SAG-AFTRA has finally brokered a provisional three-year contract with major studios, potentially concluding the extensive actors’ strike of 2023. The recent end to both the writer’s and actor’s strikes marks a pivotal moment in the industry.

Streaming Content Strategy: Global Ambitions Meet Economic Realities

October 25, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Top premium streaming platforms, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Max, are on target to spend $42 billion for original and acquired film and TV by the end of the year. Crime, romance, and dramas lead the pack in acquired content spending.

Netflix Delivers Soaring Financials, But It Wants More from Subscribers

October 23, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

After posting impressive financial results, Netflix still wants more from its subscribers in several key markets. The streaming giant will hike prices for certain subscription tiers in the US, UK, and France. While its new ad and Standard plans remain unchanged, its Basic and Premium plans will increase.

FAST and Beyond: Opportunities and Challenges in the Streaming Universe

October 17, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Once a cornerstone of the subscription streaming industry, the allure of ad-free viewing is fading into the background as streaming platforms seek innovative ways to captivate audiences and minimize subscriber churn while subscribers navigate a complex landscape.

Europe Battles US Streaming Giants with a Labyrinth of Regulatory Actions

October 10, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Market preeminence by US streamers in Europe has raised the ire of several European governments, the EU Commission, industry regulators, and industry organizations. Thus far, 17 EU countries have imposed financial obligations on streamers to force more significant investment in Europe.

Peak Streaming: Navigating the Changing Tides of Streaming Feature Films

October 5, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

In the ever-evolving landscape of streaming content, one thing has become increasingly clear to film professionals: the era of unabated growth in streaming, both feature films and series content, is ending. Before 2020, like Netflix and Amazon invested heavily in original films.

The Evolution of FAST: A Game-Changer for the Film and Television Industry

September 14, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

In a world where change is the only constant, the film and television industry has been undergoing a seismic shift over the past decade. The rise of streaming services has transformed how we consume content, challenging the traditional cable and broadcast models.

Amazon’s MGM+ Could Emerge as a Formidable Streaming Service After Acquiring Lionsgate

July 28, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

By absorbing Lionsgate and Starz into MGM+, which is available and promoted worldwide to hundreds of millions of Amazon subscribers, MGM+ could emerge as a leading streaming service. Besides Amazon, Paramount Global is said to be considering Starz.

Streamers Swiftly Shift Strategies from Content Exclusivity Back to Partnerships

March 9, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Less than a year ago, the largest content rights holders, including Warner Bros, were hoarding vast libraries of content from third-party licensees for use on their respective direct-to-consumer streaming services, reversing standard practices since time immemorial.