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 …
The Five Top Trends in 2019 from Veteran Producer Michael Hoff. Podcast
Michael Hoff is a veteran producer who has delivered more than 1,000 hours of mainly male-targeted Factual Entertainment to dozens of clients. Michael shares his 5 Top Takeaways for 2019… focusing on how the shift to streaming is changing the ways that cable channels commission programs. Listen to Hoff Productions’ Michael Hoff (25 min) Michael …
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: …
Steve Burns, veteran programming executive reflects on the changing documentary landscape. Podcast
STEVE BURNS has enjoyed senior management roles at Nat Geo, Discovery Networks and CuriosityStream. Our podcast topic: HOW THE DOCUMENTARY LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE ‘EIGHTIES. First, Steve shares his shock and loss on hearing that Sunny Side’s Yves Jeanneau had passed away. We discuss the rise of big budget international co-productions, “Occu-soaps”, character-led Reality, and …
DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION ROADMAP: 34 CASE STUDIES – A new resource packed with valuable detail and strategic Takeaways
A new publication packed with original research from Peter Hamilton and DocumentaryBusiness.com: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION ROADMAP: 34 CASE STUDIES From Concept & Development to Production & Distribution Contents Complete set of 34 detailed Case Studies of award-winning projects 200+ pages of original research Projects in U.S., Australia, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Scandinavia and more. Compelling Takeaways …
Sunny Side of the Doc 2019 Snapshot: Growing engagement by producers, decision-makers & exhibitors
Sunny Side of the Doc 2019 broke new ground for attendance from all sectors of the documentary eco-system. And that’s aside from the big step up in engagement that all the delegates felt throughout this year’s exciting event in beautiful La Rochelle. The highlight was the packed presentation by Netflix documentary executive Diego Buñuel. Here …