Streaming Archives

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.

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.

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.

Netflix Innovates Theatrical Releasing with a Novel “Sneak Preview” Model

December 1, 2022 FilmTake Comments Off

In a move that its streaming competitors are likely to emulate, Netflix recently released Glass Onion, the sequel to Lionsgate’s Knives Out, in nearly 700 theaters on the traditionally strong Thanksgiving weekend, essentially as a sneak preview before becoming exclusive on Netflix.

India’s PayTV and Streaming Market is the Final Frontier for Huge Subscriber Growth

October 19, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

An announced merger between Sony Pictures Networks India and Zee Entertainment will challenge Disney’s dominance and Amazon’s ambitions in India’s unwieldy media landscape. If finalized, the entity to emerge will be India’s media industry leader.

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.

Netflix’s First Half Subscriber Growth Falls Significantly From Last Year

September 21, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix’s subscribers have slowed sharply in the first half of this year compared to 2020 because of the popularity of Disney+ among families, the loss of popular licensed content, and other streaming competition from the major studios.

Movie Theater Attendance Roars Back to Life Despite Ongoing Restrictions

September 12, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Embracing this day-and-date strategy follows seismic industry shifts last year that led WarnerMedia to release all its films on HBO Max when theaters were more or less closed due to lockdowns.

The SVOD Market in Europe Has Ample Room to Expand

September 6, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

After a slow start compared to North America, Europe embraces its streaming future. Revenues in the 28-country bloc reached €12 billion in 2020, with SVOD alone accounting for €10 billion.

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.

The Current State of Film

February 15, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Film distribution and production disruptions caused by government lockdowns have accelerated many changes that were well underway in the market for years. Large programming gaps for films are emerging for traditional television networks and OTT platforms to fill.