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Low-cost Documentary Shorts Are a Revolutionary New Tool in U.S. Democrat...
The wave of upsets by outsider candidates in this year’s Democrat Party pre-selection battles is being driven by a new format: the online documentary short. These mini-documentaries tell gripping,...
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Netflix: How Its Continuous Innovation Strategy Drives Programming Decisions
A senior Netflix executive recently presented his company’s strategy of continuous innovation. It reveals how BIG DATA drives the personalization of programming decisions. It’s a very useful read for...
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Facebook Watch Delivers A Half Billion Views For Factual Producer. A Podcast...
Sam Barcroft has built a pioneering production company that is successfully adapting to the new digital content universe. He describes Barcroft Media‘s strategy of servicing traditional channels, SVOD...
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Factual Channels Continue to Lose Distribution & Revenues. A Year-to-Year...
U.S. Basic Cable / Satellite channels are experiencing powerful headwinds from three sources: Households Using Television (HUTS) are in decline as viewers seek their entertainment from online...
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Global Demand for Food Programs. A Podcast with Parrot Analytics’ Insights...
Our topic for this weeks podcast: Measuring demand for FOOD programs in the U.S., UK and Europe. Sharing her expertise and analysis is Karina Dixon, the Insights Director of Parrot Analytics. Karina...
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Netflix’s Deals with Producers and its Impact on the Channels. A Podcast with...
This week’s podcast covers Netflix. Our focus is on its deals with producers. And on how the channels’ deal terms are evolving in response to the rise of the online video platforms. Sharing his...
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Revenues Drain from the U.S. Cable / Satellite Programming Ecosystem. Part 2:...
Advertiser-supported channels like Discovery and History provide the greatest volume of commissions for factual producers. There’s good and bad news for producers in current projections for the U.S....
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Revenues Drain from the U.S. Cable / Satellite Programming Ecosystem. Part 4:...
Is the U.S. Cable /Satellite Channels business facing its Napster moment? That’s when a disruptive online solution sucks the revenues out of an established business model. Cord-cutting accelerated in...
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Netflix, Prime & Hulu Audience Data: Comparing “The Grand Tour” with Their...
Netflix and Amazon Prime famously don’t disclose their viewing data. We don’t know how many subscribers are watching documentary and unscripted programs. Or how their audience breaks down, for example...
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Sweet Spots: Production Cost Benchmarks for U.S. Factual Networks, 2019. Save...
The 2019 Sweet Spots Study is out now! The Study is an invaluable guide to cost benchmarks for network commissions. What do 31 U.S. channels pay for original programs? For documentaries and specials?...
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Distributing Documentaries & Non-fiction Programs. A Podcast with Ludo...
Ludo Dufour is the Managing Director, Sales & Co-Productions for OFF THE FENCE, the leading independent non-fiction specialist based in Amsterdam. We connected last June in Durban at NEWF, that...
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Happy Holidays!
Dear Friends & Colleagues, It’s been a fascinating year to report on the online video tsunami that is restructuring our industry. As the New Year approaches, we often feel that Netflix and Amazon...
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The Rise of Netflix Increases Pressures on Producers. My 2018 Takeaways
Here are my key Takeaways for 2018. It was the year in which Netflix accelerated its challenge to the entire film and television eco-system, with the Amazon behemoth warmed up on the field and ready to...
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Netflix: Why Subscriber Retention is High as New Subs Flock to the SVOD Leader
There are two drivers of a success for an SVOD service: Subscriber Acquisition & Retention. Netflix continues to attract new subs during its relentless global expansion. Its retention rate is...
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Sundance Takeaways: A Podcast with Peter Broderick, Veteran Distribution...
Peter Broderick has just returned from the Sundance Film Festival. The quality of both the films and the deal-making in the Documentary category made a big impression on this veteran distribution...
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Getting Real at Realscreen: A Podcast with Michael Hoff, Veteran Producer
In this week’s podcast, veteran unscripted producer Michael Hoff shares his Takeaways on the Realscreen Summit. Realscreen was held in New Orleans for the first time this year. Michael is President...
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Sundance: Buyers Bid $20 Million as the Feature Documentary Category Booms
The feature documentary is booming. That’s the message from Sundance 2019. Reported bids for rights approach $20 million. Topping the list is Knock Down the House, the Sundance Audience Award winner...
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Quibi: $1 Billion for Short-form Content. Watch the Pitch. Why I Think It’s a...
Quibi is showing up in my conversations as an active buyer that is outbidding legacy networks. The ‘Quibi’ brand name does not refer to a Vietnamese appetizer: It is short for ‘quick bites.’ Funded by...
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Amazon Prime Video Direct Slashes Royalties for Creators in U.S., UK, Germany...
Producers are on the receiving end of another rate card reduction from Amazon Prime Video Direct. The online retail behemoth is cutting U.S. royalties from the present range of 6 to 15 cents...
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Off The Fence: Independent Distributor Celebrates 25th Anniversary in Cannes....
Ellen Windemuth launched OFF THE FENCE from her basement 25 years ago. In this week’s podcast, Ellen: Looks back at her company’s launch. Reflects on the particular challenges then for women in a...
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