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Studios Revamp Licensing Strategy: Exclusive Distribution Era Ends

November 28, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Warner Bros. Discovery has lost 2.5 million subscribers in its direct-to-consumer (DTC) division, encompassing HBO cable subscriptions and the Max and Discovery+ streaming services. The company also experienced a massive loss in advertising revenue for linear television, which still keeps the lights on at many studios.

Netflix Reverses Course to Reembrace Third-Party Content Licensing

November 20, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

After years of focusing on producing original content, Netflix reversed course to prioritize third-party content licensing again. Luckily, the most prominent content distributors have grown wary of hoarding content exclusively for their direct-to-consumer streaming services.

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.

Film Markets in Flux: Navigating Strikes, Weak Sales, and New Distribution Models

November 7, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Hopes were high at the beginning of last week that a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) representing the streamers and the studios and SAG-AFTRA would be reached during AFM, but as the weekend approached, hopes faded.

45 Top Titles on Offer at AFM

November 1, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

A roundup of 45 independent films receiving the most significant attention at AFM. As evidenced by the list below, AFM remains a robust market for genre films, and many producers and distributors are reporting strong demand for horror, action, and science fiction titles heading into the market.

Ripples in the Reel: How Strikes are Shaping the Future of Film

October 30, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

AFM approaches amidst unprecedented industry turbulence. While there was hope for a post-Covid recovery, this year’s AFM finds itself under the cloud of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, a dispute reshaping not just this year’s film market but the very fabric of the film and television world.

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.

Declining Distributor Minimum Guarantees Threaten Viability of Independent Films

October 3, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

In recent years, the state of independent films has been marked by a troubling trend: the decline of minimum guarantees paid by all-rights distributors.

Unraveling the Netflix Effect: A Deep Dive into the Latest Film Festival Deals

September 25, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

The TIFF marketplace, and indeed the entirety of 2023, has seen a surplus of promising films and a scarcity of willing buyers. This trend indicates a broader shift in the indie film market, characterized by a more cautious approach from buyers.

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.

Starz Lost Access to Pay-One Rights for Major Studio Films

September 5, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Starz’s access to third-party content was severely diminished when it lost Pay-One rights to films released by Sony Pictures after Netflix swopped in last year. Starz only has Pay-One rights to films released by its sibling company, Lionsgate, which HBO and FX previously held.

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.

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.

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

Time will tell if the never-ending story Lionsgate has been spinning about Starz and the acquisition of eOne will come to fruition or if they’re merely maneuvering to manipulate its share price.

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.

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.

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.