UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up
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.
Apple
Funding Golden Age
Against the backdrop of new streaming competition, Netflix is significantly increasing the amount it invests in producing, licensing, and acquiring films and shows.
Netflix Needs Content
Although Netflix remains committed to producing original content, it is preparing to license more content from independent producers and distributors.
Netflix Banned
Disney will ban all advertisements from Netflix across all of Disney’s entertainment platforms, including its television networks.
Netflix at the Movies
After a decade of primarily focusing on episodic content, Netflix wants to break the theatrical glass ceiling, especially since they are funding more original films.
Apple Goes Theatrical
Apple wants to carve out exclusive theatrical windows for exhibitors to screen some of its forthcoming feature films before streaming on Apple TV+.
Apple Triples Content Spending
Apple raised its commitment from $2 billion to $6 billion this year to fund original shows and films for its new subscription video service, Apple TV+.
Apple Of Discord
Apple TV+ subscription service will launch on November 1st for $4.99 a month. However, with only a handful of shows available, it will not frustrate the launch of Disney+ or challenge Netflix in a meaningful way.
Netflix Market Report: Part One
Part One: Netflix Subscribers and Exclusivity. Netflix lost subscribers in the United States for the first time in nearly a decade. The next battleground in streaming will take place over content exclusivity.
Disney Takes Aim At Netflix
Disney will bundle its three streaming services, Disney+, ESPN+ and the ad-supported Hulu starting in November.