10 Stories You Should Know: 02/28/2023

Here are the global TV stories that should be on your radar

Here are the global TV and streaming stories that should be on your radar for Tuesday, February 28th, 2023:

David Beckham Fronts New Apple TV+ Series ‘Real Madrid: Until The End’ (Variety)
The three-part series, about iconic soccer team Real Madrid, goes behind the scenes to explore their incredible 2021-22 season. “Fueled by their fervent fans, they defy the odds and skeptics on their way to one of the most memorable finishes in football history, culminating in a record 14th Champions League title,” reads the logline.

Streaming Platforms Take To Hybrid Model For Price-Sensitive Consumers: Report (Mint)
SVoD revenue in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19% to reach $2.9 billion in 2027 from $1.2 billion in 2022, while AVoD could increase from $1.15 billion to $2.42 billion in the same period, at a slightly lower CAGR of 16%.

‘Neighbours’ Freevee Revival Adds More Series Regulars, Production Begins This Spring (Variety)
Seven long-time characters are joining Amazon Freevee’s continuation of Australian soap “Neighbours.” The new additions include Annie Jones (as Jane Harris), Rebekah Elmaloglou (as Terese Willis), Georgie Stone (as Mackenzie Hargreaves) and Tim Kano (as Leo Tanaka). All cast members will return as series regulars.

Netflix’s Ben Amadasun: ‘Shows Made In Africa, By Africans, Get Watched Around The World’ (African Business)
The strategy is two-fold, he says: first to give African creators the opportunity to reach audiences around the world and bring African storytelling to new audiences; and second to produce and licence content that African customers themselves will enjoy.

With a large number of African films and shows already available, the strategy appears to be working. South African series Blood & Water reached the famous Netflix “top 10” in 19 countries, including the US.

Nigerian series Blood Sisters did so in 11 countries, with over 11m hours viewed in its first week. Nigerian film Anikulapo reached the global top 10 for non-English films, as well as the top 10 in 24 countries, as did Amina, another Nigerian film. South African film Silverton Siege reached the top 10 in an impressive 88 countries.

Independent Rating System To Be Applied To Online Streaming Services In Korea (Korea Joongang Daily)
The government will allow online streaming services to rate their own content based on age appropriateness starting May in an effort to streamline the distribution process amid rising competition in the content industry.

Jamie Dornan, Danielle Macdonald Reunite For ‘The Tourist’ Season 2, Production Shifts to Ireland (The Hollywood Reporter)
Jamie Dornan and Danielle Macdonald are heading to Ireland for the second season of the thriller series The Tourist. The first season, which aired on the BBC in January 2022, became the most-watched drama of the year in the U.K. and won three Golden Nymphs awards at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

Vice France Editor-In-Chief Announces Its Closure On Twitter (Deadline)
Vice France Editor-in-Chief Paul Douard has announced the closure of Vice Media Group's Paris-based French subsidiary in a tweet. "I am sorry to write this but it's the end of Vice France. The office is going to shut between now and the end of March," he posted on his Twitter account on Monday.

Canal+ Expands In Czech Republic And Slovakia (Broadband TV News)
Canal+ Group's Czech and Slovak operator Skylink has launched Canal+ Action in the two countries and at the same time added five SPI International channels to its OTT service Skylink Live TV.

Digi Records Strong Growth For 2022 (Digital TV Europe)
Romania-based international cable and pay TV outfit Digi saw its revenue, earnings and subscriber total all rise significantly last year, with the company seeing its base of revenue-generating units grow by 15.4% to over 20.8 million. Group revenues were up by 18.3% compared to the previous year, reaching €1.5 billion. 

COVID-19 Restriction Lifted, TV Travel Shows Take To Road (Korea Herald)
South Korean broadcasters are set to flood the airwaves with programs filmed abroad as they resume long-suspended plans for shootings overseas.

With the easing of travel restrictions and reopening of international routes, broadcasters have been filming in exotic locations hoping to entertain viewers who have longed to see far-flung places beyond their doorsteps.