Pay-One - FilmTake

Cannes Conundrum: Navigating the New Realities of the Independent Film Market

May 21, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

A significant concern voiced since the start of Cannes is the noticeable absence of US theatrical deals. This void has a cascading effect on international distribution. Films without a US distributor face deteriorating values over time, making it increasingly challenging to recoup production budgets.

Revealing the Financial Deals Behind Top Market Films at Major Festivals

May 16, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Integrating independent films into mainstream platforms like Hulu and Max signifies a broader shift towards looking outside the studio system for films to attract and retain subscribers. The recent deal between A24 and Warner Bros. underscores the escalating competition in the streaming space.

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.

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.

The Evolution of FAST: A Game-Changer for the Film and Television Industry

September 14, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

In a world where change is the only constant, the film and television industry has been undergoing a seismic shift over the past decade. The rise of streaming services has transformed how we consume content, challenging the traditional cable and broadcast models.

Starz Lost Access to Pay-One Rights for Major Studio Films

September 5, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Starz’s access to third-party content was severely diminished when it lost Pay-One rights to films released by Sony Pictures after Netflix swopped in last year. Starz only has Pay-One rights to films released by its sibling company, Lionsgate, which HBO and FX previously held.

Universal’s Unique Deal Bifurcates Pay-One Rights Between Multiple Streamers

July 31, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Universal Pictures bifurcates the 18-month Pay-One Film Licensing Window for its streaming service Peacock and Amazon. After four initial months on Peacock, Universal’s live-action films will stream exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video for ten months before returning to Peacock for the final four months.

Broken Windows: Inside Hollywood’s Lucrative Film Licensing Deals

January 15, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

The battle over film licensing exclusivity transpired as expected once Netflix transitioned from a content aggregator to a content creator. One-by-one the major studios built direct-to-consumer streaming services to compete with Netflix.

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.