Legendary - FilmTake

China’s Hollywood Love Affair is Ending

October 26, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

After two years of running Legendary Entertainment into the ground, China’s Wanda Group is exploring a sale of the once great production company.

[Part Two] Hollywood Financing is Broke

August 7, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Tang Media is set to purchase Open Road Films for an undisclosed amount. The price might as well be one dollar, given Open Road’s massive debt load.

Wanda Group’s House of Cards

July 18, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

A mysterious document that appeared on social media in China places all of Wanda’s Hollywood acquisitions in jeopardy.

Update: Wanda’s Buyout of Dick Clark Productions Falls Apart

February 22, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Update: Dick Clark Productions sues Dalian Wanda for $25 million after the Chinese conglomerate failed to complete it’s $1.07 billion buyout.

Hollywood’s Growing Dependency on Chinese Capital

January 29, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

The media industry’s increasing dependence on Chinese capital sets up a crisis once the chickens of China’s property market come home to roost.

Buying Spree Continues with Voltage Pictures

November 14, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Xinke New Materials is acquiring an 80% stake in Nicolas Chartier’s Voltage Pictures. The acquisition amount will range between $345 and $518M.

Hollywood Welcomes Wanda Group’s CEO Wang Jianlin

October 18, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

Wanda’s CEO Jianlin is in Hollywood to purchase more media properties. The acquisition of Legendary for $3.5 billion was the biggest Hollywood-China tie-up.

Rush to Offshore

January 23, 2016 FilmTake Comments Off

China’s Perfect World Pictures will co-finance 25% of Universal’s B-slate over five years. The $500 million deal is the second major tie-up in a week.

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

Broadcast & PayTV

December 17, 2024 Comments Off

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

Streaming

December 15, 2024 Comments Off

Streaming

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

December 10, 2024 Comments Off

Streaming

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

December 8, 2024 Comments Off

Streaming

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

December 1, 2024 Comments Off

Distribution

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

November 26, 2024 Comments Off

Streaming

Subscriptions to Free Streaming: The Platforms and Formats Redefining Entertainment

November 24, 2024 Comments Off

Production

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

November 19, 2024 Comments Off

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

Broadcast & PayTV

December 17, 2024 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.

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

Streaming

December 15, 2024 Comments Off

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.

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

Streaming

December 10, 2024 Comments Off

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.

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

Streaming

December 8, 2024 Comments Off

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.

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

Streaming

December 1, 2024 Comments Off

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.