News & Insights

Distribution

Finding Licensing Gold: Why Some Shows Are Worth More Off Their Home Platform

February 18, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Finding Licensing Gold: Why Some Shows Are Worth More Off Their Home Platform

Streaming services are reevaluating their financial playbooks, balancing the high costs of direct-to-consumer services with the steady returns of third-party licensing deals. With studios weighing the financial viability of streaming-first strategies against the profitability of licensing, the industry is at an inflection point where content ownership alone may not be enough to drive sustainable growth.

Distribution

Paramount’s New Slate Financing Deal and the Complexities of Film Investment

February 10, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Paramount’s New Slate Financing Deal and the Complexities of Film Investment

Paramount Pictures has recently entered into a significant slate financing agreement with Domain Capital Group, aiming to bolster its film production capabilities. This partnership reflects a strategic move to mitigate financial risk by diversifying investments across multiple films. However, the intricate nature of such deals has historically led to legal disputes, particularly concerning the transparency of financial practices.

Distribution

Amazon MGM Studios Charts New Course with International Distribution Ambitions

February 8, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Amazon MGM Studios Charts New Course with International Distribution Ambitions

Amazon MGM Studios plans to launch its own international theatrical distribution division as its deal with Warner Bros. expires at the end of 2025. This strategic move aims to enhance control over global film releases, maximizes revenue potential, and demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to theatrical models following its $8.5 billion MGM acquisition.

Production

Is Hollywood Worth Saving? The Harsh Reality Facing L.A. in 2025

January 19, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Is Hollywood Worth Saving? The Harsh Reality Facing L.A. in 2025

Hollywood is facing an existential crisis as production declines, jobs vanish, and competition intensifies from regions offering better incentives. Wildfires have further destabilized the industry, while creative stagnation persists. Tax incentives may not suffice to reclaim prominence. 2025 holds critical potential for reform, or Hollywood may falter irreparably.

Streaming

Beyond Binge Watching: Ads, Sports, and Telecoms Are Steering Streaming Back to Cable’s Playbook

January 11, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Beyond Binge Watching: Ads, Sports, and Telecoms Are Steering Streaming Back to Cable’s Playbook

The U.S. streaming market is saturated, with 96% of households subscribed to services, prompting a shift from acquisition to retention strategies. Ad-supported models are gaining traction as affordability overshadows uninterrupted viewing. Live sports and telecom partnerships are key growth areas, while brand ecosystems are vital for subscriber retention in this maturing landscape.

Streaming

One Platform to Rule Them All: Aggregation Will Alter Streaming Markets in 2025

January 7, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on One Platform to Rule Them All: Aggregation Will Alter Streaming Markets in 2025

Standalone SVOD services are experiencing a shift as consumers grapple with rising costs and subscription stacking. Many are turning to video aggregators, which simplify access but risk escalating prices. The market may soon consist of fewer standalone players alongside aggregators, highlighting the necessity for service bundling to reduce churn and enhance consumer convenience.

Distribution

2024 in Review: Netflix Reigns, Roku Rises, Theaters Falter, and Trends Shaping 2025

January 4, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on 2024 in Review: Netflix Reigns, Roku Rises, Theaters Falter, and Trends Shaping 2025

In 2024, the media industry faced significant challenges, with domestic box office revenues falling sharply due to delays and a lack of original content. Contrarily, free ad-supported streaming platforms like Roku gained traction, indicating a shift towards cost-effective viewing. The industry grapples with evolving strategies amid ongoing mergers and the rise of library content.

Streaming

Europe’s AVOD Boom: How Ad-Tiers Will Reshape Streaming Markets in 2025

December 29, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Europe’s AVOD Boom: How Ad-Tiers Will Reshape Streaming Markets in 2025

Europe’s streaming market is on the verge of transformation, propelled by the rise of ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) platforms. Consumers increasingly favor lower-cost subscription plans featuring ads, benefiting major players like Netflix and local entities such as TF1+. However, platforms face challenges with ad relevance, viewer retention, and stringent EU regulations.

Broadcast & PayTV

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

December 17, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Splitting the Difference: Why Warner Bros. and Comcast Are Carving Up Their Empires

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.

Streaming

SVOD Trends in 2025: International Variability, Advertising, and Pricing Adjustments

December 15, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on SVOD Trends in 2025: International Variability, Advertising, and Pricing Adjustments

Content and pricing strategies are shifting as platforms focus on retaining subscribers with live sports and bundled services. Sports rights, such as those for the Champions League and NFL, have driven substantial growth for Paramount+ and Peacock—Prime Video benefits from integrating most major streaming services into one platform.

Streaming

Retention Over Acquisition: How UK and US Streamers Adapt to Market Saturation

December 10, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Retention Over Acquisition: How UK and US Streamers Adapt to Market Saturation

As global streaming markets mature, platforms are shifting focus from acquisition to retention amid near-saturation in regions like the U.S. Strategies include ad-supported tiers and content diversification. While platforms strive to meet changing demands, competition is intensifying, particularly in the ad-supported landscape, emphasizing the need for innovation and strategic partnerships for sustained growth.

Streaming

Super-Bundles and Churn Reduction: Disney’s Vision for Streaming Dominance

December 8, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Super-Bundles and Churn Reduction: Disney’s Vision for Streaming Dominance

Disney’s super-bundling of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ forms a key part of its streaming strategy amidst rising subscription costs that echo traditional cable models. The $30 mega-bundle with Max aims to reduce churn and simplify streaming but raises concerns over overwhelming choices and competitive pricing, challenging Disney to attract new subscribers effectively.

Streaming

Challenging Amazon: Walmart’s Vision for the Future of Subscription Streaming

December 1, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Challenging Amazon: Walmart’s Vision for the Future of Subscription Streaming

Walmart is enhancing its streaming presence through the $2.3 billion acquisition of Vizio, aiming to compete with Amazon. By integrating Vizio’s technology into its retail ecosystem and leveraging its advertising capabilities, Walmart seeks to grow its streaming subscriptions and capitalize on the decline of traditional TV, creating a comprehensive media platform.

Distribution

Slow-Motion Collapse: How Nostalgia, Streaming, and Short-Sightedness Undermined Hollywood’s Future

November 26, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Slow-Motion Collapse: How Nostalgia, Streaming, and Short-Sightedness Undermined Hollywood’s Future


Hollywood’s golden age of innovation and artistry is fading, replaced by an industry stumbling through a self-imposed crisis. The rise of streaming, an overreliance on recycled intellectual property, and dwindling opportunities or audience support for new talent have left the film and television world on precarious ground.

Streaming

Subscriptions to Free Streaming: The Platforms and Formats Redefining Entertainment

November 24, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Subscriptions to Free Streaming: The Platforms and Formats Redefining Entertainment

Streaming platforms are evolving amid changing viewer preferences and competition. YouTube leads with creator-driven content, while Netflix shifts back to licensed shows to maintain its subscriber base. Growth of ad-supported services like Tubi offers budget-friendly options. The industry’s future relies on innovation, collaboration, and understanding audience needs.

Production

Production is Fleeing Los Angeles: How Poor Policies Push Producers Away

November 19, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Production is Fleeing Los Angeles: How Poor Policies Push Producers Away

Long hailed as the beating heart of the entertainment industry, Los Angeles is losing its grip on film and TV production. Once the undisputed leader of Hollywood magic, Southern California faces a dismal reality: plummeting production levels, industry layoffs, creative drain, and a mass exodus of viable projects to rival jurisdictions.

Exhibition

From Capes to Clicks: The Fall of Superheroes and the Streaming Shakedown

November 16, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on From Capes to Clicks: The Fall of Superheroes and the Streaming Shakedown

The superhero genre, once its crown jewel, is fading under the weight of oversaturation and audience fatigue, devolving into a rebellion by the fandom. Yet, in this chaos lies an opportunity. As audiences reject formulaic content and mediocrity, a new wave of creativity can emerge, reshaping the film industry.

Distribution

The FAST Frontier: How Free Ad-Supported Platforms Are Transforming Streaming and Cable Television

November 13, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on The FAST Frontier: How Free Ad-Supported Platforms Are Transforming Streaming and Cable Television

As streaming fatigue sets in, consumers increasingly opt for FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television), with traditional cable providers feeling the pinch. Once considered fringe players, FAST platforms capture significant market share with their ad-supported, cost-free models, while SVOD giants drive premium content strategies and global expansion.