Broadcast & PayTV

Splitting the Difference: Why Warner Bros. and Comcast Are Carving Up Their Empires

December 17, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast are restructuring to separate their declining linear TV networks from streaming divisions, signaling the end of linear television’s dominance. This strategy, framed as a means to enhance value, highlights the sector’s collapse as advertisers and viewers shift to digital platforms. Mergers or sell-offs are imminent.

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’s Great Media Escape Takes Shape After DirecTV and WarnerMedia Selloffs

September 5, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

AT&T’s decision to acquire a declining DirecTV in 2015 and a bloated WarnerMedia in 2018 were massive miscalculations. Desperate to pay down its debt, in March 2021, AT&T announced it would sell a 30% stake in DirecTV.

The Future Will Have Ads

February 3, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

In a recent survey of over 5,000 active online subscribers in the United States and Canada, 81% of respondents wished that paid streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video offered a free, ad-supported option.

The Lasting Effects

January 12, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

As a result of diminishing content availability precipitated by production delays and cancellations, there will be large programming gaps for traditional television networks and OTT platforms to fill over the next two years.

Too Big To Fail

September 8, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

AT&T is desperate to sell some or all of DirecTV to pay down its $180 billion mountain of debt. According to inside sources, the satellite service is being offered at a $20 billion valuation, marking a $29 billion loss since 2015.

PayTV Subscriber Freefall

February 23, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

Traditional pay television subscribers are in freefall—the rate of subscribers canceling their service accelerated by more than 70% last year.

Cord-Cutting Gains Momentum

February 11, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off

In the fourth quarter, two million US subscribers cut the cord on traditional television packages from AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and Verizon, up from 1.7 million in the third quarter.

Third Time’s A Charm

June 24, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

For the third time in less than four years, CBS Corp. is yet again planning to merge with Viacom.

Monopolies Win Again

March 4, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

AT&T finally won its two-year anti-trust litigation against the United States Justice Department to acquire Time Warner.

Television Ad Sales Go Online

February 20, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

Television advertising sales in the U.S fell 8% to $61 billion in 2017 – the biggest slump in 20 years. Sales at cable networks dropped for the first time in a decade.

Distributors Push Back Against Content Providers

January 16, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

Distributors push back against content providers as price increases and growing content commitments eat into profitability.

Comcast and Verizon Join Disney in Bid for Fox Assets

November 16, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Comcast drops its bid to acquire Twenty-First Century Fox. Disney will likely purchase Fox’s film and television assets before 2017 is over.

Cable Television’s Worst Quarter Ever!

June 22, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

After decades of stifling innovation and blocking new content delivery models, cable companies are paying a hefty price that shows no sign of stopping.

Broadcast & PayTV

Update: MGM is Sole Owner of Epix

April 6, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

After a decade of digital partnerships, studios and distributors are moving towards a wholly-owned strategy.

Broadcast & PayTV

Last Year Canal+ Lost 500,000 Subscribers in France

March 5, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

With increased competition from Netflix and Amazon, Canal+ lost a half of million subscribers in France during 2016.

Television Takes Over the Internet

January 31, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Only days apart, the UK’s largest satellite broadcaster, Sky, and the US’s biggest cable company, Comcast, announced plans to expand their services online.