Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, April 22nd, 2021. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities suburbs, where AllYourScreens HQ is powered by root beer with a sidecar of strong coffee.
HOW NETFLIX HELPED SAVE FORMULA 1
Like nearly every professional sports league, Formula 1 racing had a very tough 2020. Its stock price dropped nearly 50% in one month last year. And after being forced to run a shortened season without the typical excited crowds, its parent company, Liberty Media, says the sport recorded an $877 million decline in revenue last year — from $2.03 billion in 2019 to $1.14 billion in 2020. But things appear to be headed for a turnaround in 2021. There's going to be a full season, advertisers are back in force and the league is adding a second U.S. race, this one in Miami. There are a number of factors that have led to this optimism, but one of the bigest impacts on the sport has come by way of the Netflix documentary series Formula One: Drive To Survive:
Not only did Mercedes and Ferrari — the top two teams — agree to participate in filming after seeing the success of season one, but Netflix announced last month that the documentary-style series was trending number one worldwide.
Even better, the results are quantifiable:
Formula One made significant digital gains in 2020, with social media engagements soaring 99% year-over-year (YoY) to 810 million (Source).
Formula One is the fastest-growing major sports property across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, Snapchat, Twitch, and Chinese social platforms, with total followers up 3% to 35 million (Source).
Over 75% of Formula One’s audience growth in 2020 came from those aged between 16 and 35, a key demographic for broadcasting and advertising partners (Source).
The partnership between Netflix and Formula One appears to be helping the sport grow internationally.
For the first event of the 2021 Formula One season in Bahrain, ESPN 2 averaged almost 900,000 viewers. That’s still a small number compared to an average NFL or NBA broadcast, but it represents the largest US-based audience for Formula One in years.
I have never been a engaged F1 fan, but from the first episode of the show, Formula One: Drive To Survive has provided a real sense of the sport and the personalities and team dynamics that make F1 as complex to follow as a daytime TV soap opera. The series is extremely well-done and to be honest, Formula One should be paying Netflix to stream it globally.
Now if Netflix could just create a series that made sense of Rugby.
VIACOMCBS AS A CONTENT 'ARMS BROKER'
Broadcast has an interview with new ViacomCBS licensing chief Lisa Kramer (sub required), who says the company plans to continue to distribute shows widely following the launch of SVoD Paramount+, differentiating the company from the warehousing approach being undertaken at rivals WarnerMedia and Disney:
“We’re not Disney or WarnerMedia,” she said. “Our company views the value of third-party licensing strongly, not only in terms of revenue generation, but being able to reach additional audiences via additional platforms.”
Kramer said that ViacomCBS’ “international strategy is developing” and her team “would be working very closely with our brethren at Paramount+” to try and “perfect distribution”.
“The streaming strategy is at the forefront of our company, so we are looking at being more strategic about our windows to preserve key franchises for our owned-and-operated platforms,” she said. “But we are also not ignoring the value that third-party licensing brings to us."
Kramer does admit, however, that the ViacomCBS content licensing initiative might be altered a bit in the future:
“Should we reserve entire content pillars for Paramount+? Should we look at the relationships that we have with third parties and discuss what’s important to them?” she asked. “Maybe we need to start exploring co-exclusives.”
ODDS AND SODS
* HBO Max has ordered the docuseries Take Out, which follows journalist Lisa Ling "as she takes viewers behind the counter and into the lives of the people and families who run some of America’s over 45,000 Asian restaurants."
* According to a study from GlobalData, pay TV revenue in India will grow less than 1% over the next five years:
The study revealed that cable TV subscriptions are expected to decline at a CAGR of 0.6% between 2020 and 2025, while the average monthly spend per pay TV account will drop from US$1.49 to US$1.40 over the same period. A steady rise in the adoption of OTT based video services by consumers seeking new content will also affect the pay TV market growth in the country.
* Disney has ordered a second season of Secrets Of Sulphur Springs and HBO has ordered a third season of Selena + Chef.
CLASSIFIEDS
Beginning today, you'll find a few sentences of classified ads placed here in the newsletter just ahead of the daily listings. I think this a low-annoyance, more effective way of generating a bit of revenue instead of the increasingly popular subscription-based method. If you end up responding to the ads or interact with the advertisers, I hope you'll let them know where you saw it. And if you'd like to advertise in this newsletter - which now reaches more than 15,000 subscribers Monday through Friday - I'll have a link to info on that in Monday’s newsletter.
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TODAY'S PREMIERES
1) A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations.
2) Deceitful Dating (LMN)
When a teenage girl investigates the background of her father's mysterious new girlfriend, she discovers a shocking, deadly revelation.
3) For All Mankind Season Two Finale (Apple TV+)
Tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union reach an all-time high on the moon, throwing multiple missions into jeopardy.
4) Mortal Kombat (HBO Max)
An explosive cinematic adventure inspired by the blockbuster video game franchise pits Earth's greatest champions against enemies from the Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
5) Murder By The Coast (Netflix)
In 1999, teen Rocio Wanninkhof is murdered. Her mother's ex-partner, Dolores Vazquez, is suspected. Did she do it? A second victim reveals the truth.
6) Romeo & Juliet (PBS)
In this contemporary rendering of Shakespeare’s beloved romantic tragedy, a company of actors in a shuttered theater bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. The production is directed by Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Simon Godwin.
7) Shadow & Bone Series Premiere (Netflix)
Dark forces conspire against orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov when she unleashes an extraordinary power that could change the fate of her war-torn world.
8) Tell Me When (Netflix)
Workaholic Will puts his humdrum life in LA on hold to fulfill his grandpa's last wish: visiting Mexico City's most iconic sights and falling in love.
9) The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Season Finale (Disney+)
The series stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. The pair, who came together in the final moments of "Avengers: Endgame," team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience.
I'll be back with another one on Monday. If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.
Tag:Too Much TV