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TBI Weekly: OTT players threaten British content
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This week ended with BBC chief Tony Hall once again warning of the threat OTT players such as Netflix and Amazon present for UK original content.
Hall said: “The reality is that their investment decisions are increasingly likely to focus on a narrow range of very expensive, very high-end content – big bankers that they can rely on to have international appeal and attract large, global audiences.”
This in turn could strain the BBC and other UK players and jeopardise making shows such as Sherlock and Broadchurch.
After commissioning a Mediatique report, Hall predicts that there will be a £500 million (US$652m) shortfall in spend of original UK content by 2026.
This is not just simply concerning for the UK, but for all territories that take pride in producing original local content.
With Stranger Things continuing to do wonders for the Netflix brand and The Grand Tour set to return for a second run on Amazon, the debate over the future of original content has never been fiercer.
Also in the news…
Canadian prodco and distribution company Media Ranch has bagged a range of international agreements for ready-made content and formats including True Sex Confessions, Thunderstruck, Legal House Call and Verdict On Demand.
Anonymous Content, which is behind Mr Robot and True Detective, has appointed Matthew Velkes to the post of chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing strategic elements the company’s growth.
Fox Life in Italy has renewed TalpaGlobal’s celebrity dance format Dance Dance Dance for a second season.
Banijay Nordics, Zodiak Belgium, Tuvalu Media in the Netherlands, Screentime in Australia, Constantin Entertainment in Germany and Newen Group-owned Production Valley have all optioned Magnify Media‘s new lifestyle format When a Designer Knocks.
Armoza Formats has sold primetime studio entertainment format The Bubble to Finland’s prodco Moskito.
Genius Brands International has added eight new animated series for children and families from DHX Media to its premium subscription streaming channel Kids Genius Cartoons Plus!, which is available on Amazon Channels.
Chinese streaming service iQiyi has licensed the first two seasons of Rai Ragazzi‘s Mini Pet Pals, which is from Gruppo Alcuni, through an agreement with Beijing’s JY Animation.
CNN-backed programming strand Great Big Story will be distributed on OTT service XUMO.
Lip Sync Stories launched on Belgium’s commercial channel VTM as the highest ranked programme of the day yesterday, gaining an average market share of 28% and 608,000 viewers. The New Flemish Primitives has international rights.
US-based prodco Electus hooked up with addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky to create The Painful Truth with Dr. Drew (WT).
Kids streaming service Ameba scored nearly 350 hours of content from YouTube video producer Studio71.
Six-part series Intruders is set to premiere on Animal Planet on November 5 at 10pm in the US, telling the story of creatures and pets that make their way into family homes.
Portfolio Entertainment has acquired CBC Kids-commissioned series Addison, from executive producer Charles Bishop of Halifax’s Six Eleven Media.
NPact, the combination of trade organisations NPA and PactUS, has announced its new board of members, including Arrow Media, Bomanbridge Media, CJ E&M, Super Delicious, Ugly Brother Studios and Revolution Entertainment Services, and has unveiled a new board.
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