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Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part Three

March 14, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Before unprecedented disruptions during 2020-21, streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon invested heavily in original films, but their investments have since fallen sharply. Likewise, the head of motion pictures departed after Netflix failed to deliver meaningful film releases.

Distributors Retreat to Syndication to Avoid Financial Streaming Iceberg

March 6, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

The prodigious investments required by major media companies to launch new streaming services while simultaneously pulling valuable content from dozens of global distributors have impacted all key players, resulting in substantial declines in market value over the past two years.

Not All Streaming Services Will Survive the Year in Their Current Form

February 25, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Mounting losses at Paramount and NBCUniversal, particularly, have put into doubt the survival of Paramount+ and Peacock in their current iteration. Paramount’s situation reflects the broader challenges of balancing growth, content spending, and subscriber retention with profitability.

The Future of Streaming Will End in Tiers

February 21, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Breaking News: Freevee Will Shutdown After Amazon Adamantly Denies Claims. Recently, on Prime Video, ads started popping up on scripted series and films. Over 167 million existing Amazon Prime members in the U.S. are now required to pay an additional $3 per month to enjoy the same service they signed up for to avoid ads.

Netflix’s Licensing Surge: Resuming Role as Hollywood’s Content Aggregator

February 13, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

With the most significant content distributors reversing their plans to make content exclusive on their in-house platforms and Netflix originals falling flat, Netflix will again lead the way in third-party licensing and once again become Hollywood’s aggregator.

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part Two

January 28, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

As Disney+ charts its course in 2024, the challenges are palpable, mainly finding freshness in a sea of familiar content. And the biggest question is how the Disney+ one-app integration with Hulu, set to exit beta in March, will fortify the service and retain its subscribers.

The Media Conundrum: A Complex Interplay of Consolidation, Mergers, and Streaming Misfortunes

January 23, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Unstoppable declines in linear television subscribers coupled with challenges in achieving profits in freshly minted streaming services have led most media companies on the road to consolidation. Over the next 12 months, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, and NBCUniversal will likely be impacted by consolidation.

Who’s Thriving and Who’s Struggling: Annual Streaming Scorecard Part One

January 4, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Apple TV+ made significant strides in expanding its film offerings in 2023 despite facing challenges such as inflation-driven price increases and the need to refine its user experience. The quest for a marquee series remains a prominent concern as the streaming service enters 2024.

Deciphering Content Licensing in an Evolving Streaming Ecosystem

December 27, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

The world of streaming filmed entertainment is experiencing a significant transformation. This evolution is marked by strategic transitions in content licensing, changes in audience metrics, and the emergence of new alliances among industry heavyweights such as Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros.

Steering Through the Streaming Sea Change: Apple and Paramount Partnership Eminent

December 18, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Apple and Paramount are on the verge of forging a bundling partnership that will include Apple TV+ and Paramount+, marking the next chapter in the streaming story. Evolving industry developments indicate an overall trend toward strategic partnerships to compete with Netflix.

Surging Growth in Third-Party Licensing as Studios Drop Exclusive Deals

December 7, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

The shift away from originals at Netflix is welcome news for distributors that have grown wary of content exclusivity and are again licensing films and shows to their streaming competitors, especially Netflix, which pays top dollar.

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.

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.