FilmTake

Paramount’s Financial Turmoil: Soaring Losses, Layoffs, and Massive Impairment Charge

August 17, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Amid a looming deadline to sell the once-storied studio, Paramount Global reported a staggering net loss of $5.4 billion in Q2 2024, primarily driven by a $5.98 billion impairment charge, a dramatic deterioration from the previous year.

Inside Netflix’s Next Chapter: Ad Tiers, Licensing Strategies, Partnerships, and Audience Engagement

August 7, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

From the rapid adoption of its ad tier to evolving licensing strategies and the challenges of maintaining a high hit rate, Netflix is navigating a complex streaming market with more competition than ever.

Paramount’s Troubled Waters: A Tale of Failed Mergers, Mismanagement, and Dubious Deals

August 4, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Recent weeks have seen Paramount Global navigate turbulent waters, with its shares plunging and its credibility questioned. The highly publicized failed merger and acquisition bid from Apex Capital Trust has placed the company under intense scrutiny.

Netflix Leads All Streamers By Subscribers As Revenue and Profits Soar Despite Declining ARPU

July 29, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

The ARPU landscape is becoming more complex with the advent of hybrid Subscription and Advertising VOD options from Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, which recently introduced cheaper, ad-supported tiers.

Streamers Shift Focus Overseas Spelling Trouble for U.S. Production Output

July 27, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix and Amazon Studios are the powerhouses of the streaming industry, commanding the majority of content production and licensing activity. However, the bulk of their productions are increasingly taking place outside the United States. This international trend raises concerns about the future of Hollywood’s dominant production status.

Content Spending Slumps in the Post-Peak Television Era

July 19, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

After reaching unprecedented heights, the film and television market is now charting a more cautious path in the post-peak television era. Several recent forecasts shed light on the slowdown in television content spending, emphasizing the shift in priorities and austerity for major media companies.

Piecing Together the Future of Streaming: The Rise of Bundling and Aggregation

July 9, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Recent developments in streaming, like Comcast’s StreamSaver bundling Peacock, Apple TV+, and Netflix, indicate a significant shift towards the future of entertainment: streaming bundles. The bundling trend is gaining traction at the top and bottom of the streaming market.

Screens to Streams: The Evolution of Film Release Windows in Europe (Part Two)

July 7, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Europe’s film sector has relied on territoriality and rigid release windows to maximize the economic potential of films. Part Two explores the EU’s capitulation to the major studios, the post-lockdown theatrical landscape, and public support rules to preserve traditional release windows.

Screens to Streams: The Evolution of Film Release Windows in Europe (Part One)

July 1, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Europe’s film sector has long relied on the principles of territoriality and rigid release windows to maximize the economic potential of films. However, the unprecedented lockdowns during 2020 and 2021 have significantly disrupted these traditional models, which were already in flux.

How Europe Outpaced the US in Post-Lockdown Theatrical Recovery

June 30, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

After three challenging years marked by globally coordinated lockdowns and resulting rising cost-of-living shocks, European cinemas entered 2024 with cautious optimism compared to growing glum stateside.

Distributors are Realigning Traditional Pay-1 Window Strategies for Maximum Impact

June 24, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Distributors are realigning the traditional Pay-1 window with new strategies to maximize their reach and impact. However, this strategic realignment on diverse content sources has challenges. The complexities can create significant gaps in streaming libraries.

Netflix Halts Subscriber Reporting: Rapid Growth Era Coming to an End

June 23, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix is once again disrupting the entertainment industry by announcing it will no longer regularly report its subscriber numbers. This move undermines data transparency and attempts to divert investor attention from stagnating subscriber growth to revenue and profit metrics instead.

Reviving Cable Television: How Telecom Companies Will Shape Streaming Bundles

June 19, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Recent announcements of new streaming bundles have highlighted the increasing role of broadband providers in the streaming landscape. Telecom companies are leveraging their vast distribution networks to integrate multiple SVODs in their offerings.

Streaming Giants Unite: Disney and Warner Bros. Announce Cross-Studio Bundle

June 17, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) recently announced a rare cross-studio streaming bundle in a strategic reversal to retain fleeing subscribers. This new offering will merge Disney+ and Hulu with Warner Bros.’ Max with studio content and its premium service, HBO.

Paramount-Skydance Merger Collapses: Inside the Failed Negotiations

June 11, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Skydance’s merger talks with Paramount collapsed in epic fashion on Tuesday after Paramount’s controlling shareholder canceled the deal, ending an attempt to turn around the troubled studio. The deal fell through just as it was about to be finalized.

Hollywood’s Summer Slump: Sequel Saturation and Box Office Blues

June 11, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

So far, 2024 has seen a dramatic decline in theatrical revenue, exacerbated by the absence of major releases due to delays associated with industry strikes. Box office numbers have suffered significantly, with fewer original films to draw audiences back to theaters.

Streaming Services Face Subscriber Exodus Amid Rising Costs and Market Saturation

June 9, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

In recent years, the ambitious hopes studios placed into streaming services in the United States are starting to backfire. As a result, the streaming landscape in the United States is undergoing a period of retraction, just as the theatrical and pay television market is collapsing.

Update: Skydance Media Acquisition of Paramount Diminished After Disjointed Annual Meeting

June 5, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

At their annual meeting on Tuesday, Paramount executives unveiled a plan to reduce costs and seek a partner for their streaming service. As a result, shares dropped nearly 5% as prospects for a merger with Skydance Media diminished.

UK’s New Film Tax Credit Attracts US Producers Igniting Optimism

May 28, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

The UK’s Independent Film Tax Credit (IFTC), starting April 2025, offers a 53% Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit for films under £15 million. While boosting UK interest at Cannes, concerns about financing and costs remain. Rising US streamer influence and production expenses challenge UK independents, demanding global strategies for sustainability.