Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Wednesday, July 19th, 2023
Where is Africa's "Cocomelon?" Oh, and some Netflix stuff
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Wednesday, July 19th, 2023.
THE FUTILITY OF EARNINGS CALLS
Netflix announced its Q2 earnings numbers today and they were generally okay. Better-than-expected sub growth and the global ARPU only dipped about a percent, adjusting for currency changes. The company also announced it was getting rid of its cheaper, basic tier in the U.S. Which was also expected and it makes a lot of economic sense. From what I can tell, Netflix makes a higher ARPU with the ad-supported plan that it did with the ad-free basic plan. If you'd like more details about the earnings numbers, check out this story that I filed earlier today.
As for the subsequent investors call with co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, CFO Spence Neumann, VP of Finance/IR/Corporate Development Spencer Wang and Jessica Reif Ehrlich of BofA Securities...well, it was pretty much the same carefully structured dance you'll hear every quarter. Now, I have some sympathy for Netflix executives in this process, because investors and the press will pour over every word in an effort to parse out where the company is headed. Sure, these call would receive a lot less attention if any of the streamer's top executives would sit down for in-depth interviews with a journalists who know the industry. But I digress...
Of course, questions were asked about the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and Sarandos had this to say, which I am posting in its entirety:
Let me start by making something absolutely clear: This strike, these strikes, is not an outcome that we wanted. We make deals all the time. We are constantly at the table negotiating with writers with directors with actors and producers with everyone across the industry. And we very much hoped to reach an agreement by now. So I also want to say, if I may, on a personal level, I was raised in a union household. My dad was a member of IBEW Local 640, he was a union electrician. And I remember his local because that union was very much a part of our lives when I was growing up. And I also remember on more than one occasion, my dad being out on strike. And I remember that because it takes an enormous toll on your family, financially and emotionally.
You should know that nobody here, nobody within the AMPTP, and I’m sure nobody at SAG or nobody at the WGA, took any of this lightly. But we’ve got a lot of work to do there. There are a handful of complicated issues. We’re super committed to getting to an agreement as soon as possible, one that is equitable, and one that enables the industry and everybody in it to move forward into the future.
Now, while I'm sure the point of mentioning his union family upbringing was to humanize his approach to the strike, many of the striking writers and actors I heard from this afternoon took it as almost an insult. As one writer mentioned, "well, if he was that interested in getting this strike settled, the producers wouldn't have refused to talk to us for the past 79 days."
So while Sarandos' comments about the strike won't have an Iger-like impact on anyone's morale, they likely didn't help matters much either.
There are a couple of other random things I heard in the call. Asked if Netflix was interested in buying a studio, Sarandos reiterated the company was "a builder, not a buyer." But he did mention if they did consider an acquisition at some point, it would be a company with IP Netflix could build on. There aren't a lot of companies that fit that description. Sony seems determined to keep its movie and TV assets and while I once wondered if Lionsgate was a possibility, that moment feels as if it might have passed. Paramount might be an option, particularly given its relatively low market cap. Netflix has no interest in Paramount Global's linear TV assets, but if a deal was made to send the studio and its IP to Netflix, with the linear assets being split up and acquired by a hedge fund...well, that isn't the craziest idea we've heard this year.
TWEET OF THE DAY
NO, MAYBE *THIS* IS THE TWEET OF THE DAY
WHERE IS AFRICA'S 'COCOMELON?'
I have been trying to educate myself about the TV and streaming industry globally and there are some areas where there aren't very many great options when it comes to journalists covering the local entertainment industry. It's especially challenging in Africa, where there are almost no outlets covering entertainment outside of Egypt and Africa.
I stumbled across the Substack
Tinga Tinga Tales on Citizen TV in Kenya is another show I can somewhat associate with my childhood. This local show was focused on spelling bees, facts, you name it. A cool way to engage with kids. The best part is that they had animal mascots on the show, perhaps a sublime way to showcase the African wildlife heritage.
What was also a rather interesting mix was a show like Club Kiboko on KTN TV in Kenya. This segment combined some aspect of Kenyan-ism (the title of the show, a Kenyan host) and globalization (the last segment of the show was syndicated Cartoon Network shows).
Tony does derive some hope from the fact that several Afro-centric shows are now reaching global audiences:
All is not lost. All has never been lost really, it’s just that it’s good for us to interrogate what we’re consuming and what our kids are consuming for entertainment.
SuperSema, voiced by Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and award-winning actress Stycie Waweru, is a fun animated series targeted at kids. I’ve watched a couple of episodes and I love it. It’s been developed in Nairobi and if you want to offer your kids or nieces and nephews some alternative forms of entertainment, this show is pretty solid.
Disney+ and Netflix are currently in a battle to win our kids over and I’m not complaining. Disney+’s Kizazi Moto is an animated anthology series, focusing on new technologically advanced worlds, spirits and more while Netflix’s Supa Team 4 will be giving Powerpuff Girls and Kim Possible a run for their money with a focus on young African girls who have world-saving powers.
Supa Team 4 premieres on Netflix tomorrow and while I haven't seen it yet (insert standard complaint about Netflix's unwillingness to share screeners of global titles), the artwork and trailer look amazing. I'll likely have a review of it up on AllYourScreens tomorrow.
And if you have any suggestions for outlets or people I should be following in Africa, please let me know.
SPEAKING OF READER FEEDBACK
I really appreciate the feedback, comments and even complaints I receive from readers. Even the ones where I can't quite decide if they are a compliment or an insult. Like one I received last night, that described me as "this strike's Nikki Finke." Given what I know about Finke and her methods, I'm not sure how to take that.
But what I really enjoy are the emails and messages that let me know about subjects that weren't on my radar at all. I received an email last night that explained that many people - including actors - don't understand the differences between SAG and AFTRA, which are in reality two very different unions. One difference is that SAG offers health insurance an AFTRA doesn't. So many actors are apparently surprised to learn after they've been working on an AFTRA show that those earnings don't count towards the earnings minimum they need to make each year to qualify for health insurance.
I'm going to have to spend some time on this. I don't think I've seen this mentioned in any of those "I'm a working actor who didn't make enough to qualify for SAG health insurance stories."
WHAT'S NEW FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19TH:
CMA Fest (ABC)
Court Cam Season Premiere (A&E)
Kalvin Phillips: The Road To City (Prime Video)
Mayans M.C. Series Finale (FX)
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter Season Premiere (MTV)
The (Almost) Legends (Netflix)
The Deepest Breath (Netflix)
THURSDAY, JULY 20TH:
Black Sands Series Premiere (Viaplay)
Don't Kill The Babysitter (LMN)
Glitch: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia (Max)
My Magic Closet (Além do Guarda-Roupa) (Max)
Raven Song (Netflix)
Supa Team 4 (Netflix)
Superpowered: The DC Story (Max)
Sweet Magnolias Season Three Premiere (Netflix)
Tacoma FD Season Premiere (truTV)
The River Series Premiere (Topic)
Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.
SEE YOU THURSDAY!
If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.