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Broadcast & PayTV

Too Big To Fail

September 8, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Too Big To Fail

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.

Streaming

Streaming in Scandinavia

September 6, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Streaming in Scandinavia

The growth of SVOD services in Scandinavia shows no signs of slowing down. Despite heavy competition from local services Netflix has gained four million subscribers.

Streaming

Streaming in the UK

August 30, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Streaming in the UK

Since the COVID lockdown began, nearly five million UK households have signed up for a streaming service. Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ have been the primary beneficiaries of this boom.

Distribution

Lockdowns Reshape Content Distribution

August 10, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Lockdowns Reshape Content Distribution

COVID-19 has decimated global content pipelines by halting film production, canceling greenlit projects, and closing cinemas. However, the present disruptions have only accelerated transformations that were well underway.

Streaming

Netflix Subscribers Surge

April 22, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Netflix Subscribers Surge

With most of the world in mandatory lockdown, Netflix doubled its quarterly subscriber estimates from January through March by adding 16 million new subscribers.

Exhibition

Cineworld Nears Bankruptcy

March 15, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Cineworld Nears Bankruptcy

As the coronavirus threatens to close movie theaters in the US and beyond, Cineworld has warned that there is “significant doubt about the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

Streaming

The Paradox of Choice

March 8, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on The Paradox of Choice

The major studios sabotaged the dream of a la carte programming and are now attempting to transform streaming into cable television via an ethernet connection instead of coaxial.

Streaming

AVOD Market Heats Up

February 25, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on AVOD Market Heats Up

Several media companies are holding discussions to acquire advertising-supported video streaming services. Fox Corp is in talks with Tubi, and NBCUniversal is considering Vudu.

Streaming

Netflix Wins Over France

February 12, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Netflix Wins Over France

Streaming giant Netflix officially opened its latest non-US office in Paris last month, signaling a deeper commitment to Europe. Netflix now has four offices in Europe.

Broadcast & PayTV

Cord-Cutting Gains Momentum

February 11, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Cord-Cutting Gains Momentum

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.

Streaming

Disney Aims At Netflix

February 6, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Disney Aims At Netflix

Disney+ nearly triples its subscriber base since launching in November. Through January, the streaming service has 28.6 million subscribers, up from 10 million weeks after it debuted.

Distribution

UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

January 28, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

After a slow start to the 35th annual Sundance Film Festival, the weekend produced a handful of sizable deals, including from Amazon Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Lionsgate.