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.

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

Distribution

February 18, 2025 Comments Off

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

Distribution

February 10, 2025 Comments Off

Distribution

Amazon MGM Studios Charts New Course with International Distribution Ambitions

February 8, 2025 Comments Off

Production

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

January 19, 2025 Comments Off

Streaming

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

January 11, 2025 Comments Off

Streaming

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

January 7, 2025 Comments Off

Distribution

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

January 4, 2025 Comments Off

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

Streaming

January 11, 2025 Comments Off

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.

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

Streaming

January 7, 2025 Comments Off

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.

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

Streaming

December 29, 2024 Comments Off

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.

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.