10 Stories You Should Know: 12/07/2022
Here are the stories that should be on your radar
Here are the stories that should be on your radar for Wednesday, December 7th, 2022:
BBC To Have Fewer Linear Broadcast Services In Long Term & Consolidate Under One Brand, Reveals Tim Davie (Deadline)
The BBC is to have “fewer linear broadcast services” in the next decade as it “consolidates activity under one simple, single brand,” Director General Tim Davie has revealed, as he unveiled a blueprint for a digitally-led Public Service Broadcaster.
The First Episode Of Netflix’s Sonic Prime Will Be Streamed Through Roblox This Weekend (VideoGamesChronicle)
The entire first season of Sonic Prime will arrive on Netflix on December 15, but the ‘virtual world premiere’ of the first episode will kick off on Sonic Speed Simulator in Roblox on Saturday December 10 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm GMT.
The 40-minute episode will then continue to stream every 45 minutes until 5pm on Friday December 16, by which point all the other episodes will be on Netflix.
BARB Looks To Future Following Netflix Move (Digital TV Europe)
Following Netflix’s landmark decision to sign with BARB to measure audiences in support of its ad-supported streaming offering, the UK audience research organisation is moving ahead to extend it measurement metrics and reach out to other walled-garden streaming services, according to Matt Laycock, audiences director at BARB.
Warner Bros To Open Indoor Theme Park In Saudi Arabia Amid $13.2bn Entertainment Push (Arabian Business)
Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, a global leader in real-life entertainment, to bring purpose-built indoor adventures centres to the Kingdom which integrate Discovery’s media content.
How Asian Streamer Viu Is Fighting Off Global Competition With Youth Focus, Hot Content Trends: K-drama, Boys’ Love & Rising Thai Wave (Deadline)
Pan-regional streaming service Viu, owned by Hong Kong telco and media group PCCW, has been one of the biggest local success stories in Southeast Asia, holding its own against the entrance of global giants including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.
Prime Time Or Netflix? Streaming Wars Come To Thailand (Techxplore)
While big-ticket international series such as "Rings of Power" lead the publicity, the streamers see locally produced content—such as Prime's hugely successful Indian crime-thriller "Mirzapur"—as the longer-term workhorses of their offering.
The two fundamental "pillars" to success are local originals -– "across scripted, unscripted and film" -– and licensed locally produced series, according to Amazon Studios' director of local content Erika North.
Netflix’s ‘First Love’ Is Sign of Growing Global Success for Japan Series Content (Variety)
Japanese content, with exceptions like the hit 2020 sci-fi series “Alice in Borderland,” has been in the shadow of Netflix shows from nearby South Korea, including the global smash “Squid Game.”
One reason: Japanese content producers have long focused on their much larger home market, while regarding global sales as an after-thought. Netflix, however, has been trying to change that mindset, and the success of “First Love” is a sign their efforts are bearing fruit, especially in Asia, where Japanese music, fashion, anime and other creative content has made significant inroads.
BBC Acquires Two New WBD Shows (Advanced-Television)
The BBC has acquired two new shows – Search Party and Our Flag Means Death – from Warner Bros Discovery International Television Distribution that will stream on iPlayer in early 2023.
Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition, commented: “Search Party is a deliciously dark and quirky comedy thriller; Our Flag Means Death is a wonderfully rich and warm-hearted period comedy. We are truly delighted that these two critically acclaimed series will be joining our Channels and iPlayer line-up.”
Over The Top Growth: OTT Subscribers Up 20% This Year To 424 Million, Says Ormax (Business Insider India)
Despite the cinemas reopening, India’s OTT universe grew by 20% from 2021, as per the report. In fact, according to Ormax Media, 3 out of 10 Indians watched online videos at least once in the last month
CNews Keeps Jean-Marc Morandini On The Air Despite His Conviction For Corruption Of Minors (TV Mag)
On Monday, Jean-Marc Morandini was sentenced by the Paris Criminal Court to one year in prison with a probationary period of two years for "corruption of minors" on three teenagers between 2009 and 2016, during electronic exchanges and a casting at his home. "Despite the time that has elapsed, no questioning had been initiated" by Mr. Morandini on these "transgressive acts ," said the president, stressing nevertheless that "it does not appear either from the file or from the debates, that one could qualify Mr. Morandini as a predator or a pedophile” .