How is non-fiction storytelling evolving in the age of Netflix? I talk with Ed Hersh of consultancy StoryCentric about his work with producers and channels. His focus is on how Netflix and a host of new Direct-to-Consumer subscription platforms are challenging the storytelling conventions that once dominated in the Linear/Cable/Satellite era. You’ll hear about: Program …
Documentaries in the Streaming Era: 2020 predictions, Apple TV+’s The Elephant Queen, and much more in our Monthly News Highlights
Here are our top stories for December ’19, curated with our friends at Sunny Side of the Doc. Losing Yves Jeanneau: Read a selection of tributes to Yves Jeanneau, Sunny Side of the Doc co-founder, executive director and our friend, who passed away on November 14 // Sunny Side’s Official Announcement // Peter Hamilton // Realscreen // TV France International // Telerama and many more. Development …
NETFLIX sails into rough seas. What does Wall Street’s negative forecast mean for producers?
“Netflix: Your time in the sun is over!” That’s the view of the influential Wall Street Analyst Laura Martin at Needham & Co. Her recent stock downgrade note to investors briefly lopped several $ billions off Netflix’s market value. What is she saying? Is there a counter-argument? And what does her negative Netflix forecast mean …
Are U.S. Cable Channels Heading Over a Cliff? An audience snapshot at the end of the ‘Teens
Are Netflix and the streamers killing the channels’ business? And thus are opportunities shrinking for producers at the end of the ’20-teens’? Sample – 12 Factual Channels: For my presentation to the upcoming New York State Bar Association annual conference, Nielsen aggregated the Primetime audience for 12 channels that focus on Factual programs. They are: …
News Roundup: New slates & docs are announced daily by the streamers…
Don’t miss our monthly selection of stories that capture industry trends, curated with my friends and partners at Sunny Side of the Doc. Streamers are Green-lighting! Mickey Mouse doc for Disney from auteur Morgan Neville // Realscreen DISNEY+ tweets out nostalgic lineup for debut // Ad Week HBO Max commissions Monica Lewinsky scandal doc and …
Apple TV+ Faces Dominating Competition from Disney+ in the Streaming Wars
Apple faces daunting competition in the Streaming Wars. As consumers turn to the SVOD / subscription / “All You Can Eat” video model, they are cutting back on purchasing and renting programs. Take a look at the 3+ year trend in US Home Entertainment Spending revealed in the chart below from DEG and nScreenMedia: The …
Streamers vs Channels: A Reality Check on U.S. Video Entertainment Spending and What It Means for Producers
At Sunny Side of the Doc, producers packed into the presentation on Netflix’s documentary strategy. But they were less interested in learning What Do We Want? from the many broadcasters, cablers & foundations who presented later. The producers missed out on a lot of valuable information that could translate into new business. Here’s why the …
Chasing Netflix: The Keys to Success & Failure for New Online Video Services
Why do Netflix-type Subscription Video On Demand / Over-The-Top (SVOD/OTT) services succeed? Or fail? My colleague Dr John Morse (Byron Media) shared a very useful presentation / webinar from research firm Parks Associates titled AVOIDING OTT’s TOP FIVE MISTAKES. The key is Subscriber Retention. More than 25% of current SVOD/OTT customers have recently cancelled a …