10 Stories You Should Know: 10/26/2022

Is a recession starting to impact global streaming TV services?

Here are the TV and streaming stories that should be on your radar for Wednesday, October 26th, 2022:

Endeavor Sells Miss Universe Pageant To Thailand’s JKN Global Media (Deadline)
Endeavor's IMG global events group has sold The Miss Universe Organization to Thailand-based JKN Global Media. Financial details weren't disclosed but JKN CEO Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip told local press the price tag was $14 million.

City of Lubbock To Join Suit Against Disney, Hulu, Netflix (KCBD)
Lubbock joins 25 other Texas cities that filed a lawsuit in District Court in Dallas County in August, claiming the streaming services owe franchise fees that cable companies and others pay as required under Texas Utilities Code to use public streets, easements, alleys and other public rights-of-way for wires and other connectivity purposes.

Inside Amazon Music’s Massive Livestream Of Kendrick Lamar’s Paris Concert (Variety)
A sea of cables led outside to two giant trucks parked outside the arena, one for video production and another for audio, each containing state-of-the-art production studios to deliver the livestream.Some 19 cameras are placed in multiple positions in the venue, from one located in a step on the walkway extending from the stage to a sports-like “spidercam” that can follow the action from above it.

ESPN Sells Controlling Stake in X Games to MSP Sports Capital, Which Wants to Expand Digital Livestreaming of Events (Variety)
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. MSP will assume day-to-day operational control of the X Games business, which will spin off from ESPN. ESPN Productions Inc. will retain a minority, non-controlling stake in X Games, and ESPN will continue to serve as the U.S. linear broadcast partner as part of a multiyear agreement inked in conjunction with the transaction.

Disney+ Hotstar Holds On To Top Spot In Q3/22 Share Data In India (BizAsiaLive)
The huge digital streaming OTT player, Disney+ Hotstar has once again beaten global leader, Netflix and local player, ZEE5 – both collectively delivered a share of 22%, while smaller players Voot, Sony Liv, Jio Cinema and Alt Balaji combined stood at 17%.

OTT Media Services Market Is Booming Worldwide | Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+HotStar (Digital Journal)
The latest study released on the Global OTT Media Services Market by AMA Research evaluates market size, trend, and forecast to 2027. The OTT Media Services market study covers significant research data and proofs to be a handy resource document for managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people to have ready-to-access and self-analyzed study to help understand market trends, growth drivers, opportunities and upcoming challenges and about the competitors.

Disney Plus Ad-Supported Tier May Not Let You Use SharePlay And GroupWatch (Android Police)
An analysis of text strings appearing in the Disney Plus app (this appears to be an iOS build) sure seems to suggested that viewers on the ad-supported tier won't be able to use SharePlay or GroupWatch. There doesn't seem to be a ton of room for interpretation here, with the message plainly stating the features will be unavailable for “accounts on the ads tier.”

European Commission Challenges Greek Pay-TV Restrictions (Broadband TV News)
The Greek legislation currently prohibits the holder of a licence for pay satellite radio and television services and its shareholders, associated persons and affiliates to participate in, or to control, any other radio or television content provider active through terrestrial free or pay radio or TV networks.

Disney+ Hotstar Super Plan Gets Flat Rs 100 Discount (MySmartPlace)
Disney+ Hotstar is the app to watch T20 World Cup 2022 cricket tournament in India. It hosts the right to broadcast the much-anticipated tournament happening right now in Australia. To watch these matches or any other content on Disney Plus Hotstar, a user needs to pay for a subscription which is divided into two plans – Super and Premium. Hotstar Super Plan costs Rs 899 per year whereas the Premium plan is priced at Rs 1,499 per year.

M6 Hit By Falling Ad Revenues (Digital TV Europe)
French broadcaster M6 Group saw its revenues drop in the third quarter, pushed down by a decline in advertising that the company said reflected the uncertain economic environment