Streaming

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Netflix’s New Advertising Tier is Off to a Shaky Start

January 25, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix’s ad-based tier aims to reduce the high churn the company faced in 2022, attract new subscribers, and lure back those who canceled. However, by all measures, the rushed experiment is failing. Netflix’s AVOD tier accounts for just 12% of its subscriber base.

Streaming Services Revert to Advertising to Drive Subscriber Growth

January 12, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Last year was the first year in the previous four years that didn’t welcome a new subscription streaming service from Hollywood’s major players. The lack of a new streaming service did not stop the existing services from offering new ways to watch content through paid and free ad-supported options.

Premium Streamers Scramble for Fresh Strategies to Retain Fickle Subscribers

December 19, 2022 FilmTake Comments Off

Streaming services are scrambling for new strategies to keep their existing subscribers in a highly crowded domestic market. The level of churn among premium streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+ has accelerated.

An Inside Look at Netflix’s Latest Film Licensing Deal

November 10, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix emerged as the winner in a nearly two-year auction process for the exclusive U.S. rights to stream Sony’s theatrical releases in the lucrative first PayTV window starting with the studio’s 2022 slate.

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.

Comcast Looks to Europe to Bolster Weak Stateside Streaming Demand

September 15, 2021 FilmTake Comments Off

Comcast’s Sky will assist ViacomCBS with the launch of Paramount+ in the UK, Germany, and Italy to leverage distribution networks and content libraries to compete against the big four––Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and the contemplated WarnerMedia and Discovery combined company.