Streaming service wars news and trends 4 4

[Bosco685]

 

[drotto]

On 2/17/2023 at 6:48 AM, Bosco685 said:

 

Netflix and Paramount up, Disney down.  Interesting.

 

On a saved the movie theater note, Paramount is saying much of the added subs were a results of adding Top Gun to the platform at no added charge.

[Bosco685]

Disney Considering Selling Films and TV Shows to Rival Outlets

Quote

The Walt Disney Company is exploring selling some films and TV shows to rival media outlets so they can earn more money from their giant content library, Bloomberg reports.

 

Disney+ subscriber rates continue to exceed expectations but the company still reported a $1.5 billion loss for online video last year while stock plummeted. The board then fired CEO Bob Chapek and re-hired CEO Bob Iger, but stock is still relatively low. Disney will report their financial results for the most recent quarter on February 8, 2023. Iger has already begun to restructure The Walt Disney Company, and is planning to give distribution decisions back to the creators of movies and TV.

 

Disney has kept most of their content close to the chest on Disney+ and Hulu, though some Disney movies remain on other platforms due to previous contracts. But phasing out licensing deals with Netflix, Amazon, and other services, as well as all essentially replacing home video sales with streaming, meant a loss for Disney.

 

Disney executives are reportedly shopping some titles to third parties now but there are no further details.

I guess we are at that part of the studio lifecycle where first they charge in to a new business model, and then reevaluate when the bean counters determine revenue is decreasing - not increasing.

[drotto]

On 2/27/2023 at 8:49 AM, Bosco685 said:

Disney Considering Selling Films and TV Shows to Rival Outlets

I guess we are at that part of the studio lifecycle where first they charge in to a new business model, and then reevaluate when the bean counters determine revenue is decreasing - not increasing.

I do not see how D+ is profitable by 2024 at this point.  How do you turn around a $1 billion per quarter loss in 1 year, while the world boarders on recession? They are also going to cut content creation, meaning less shows, which is a massive driver to streaming services. Things do not add up.

 

But, Disney is not alone in the streaming problem. All streamers save maybe Netfilx have the same issue.  Content is expensive, but is needed to drive subs, but very hard to detemi  how much it actually brings in. Sub revenue is not enough to cover content creation, but no new content you loss subs.

[Bosco685]

On 2/27/2023 at 9:04 AM, drotto said:

I do not see how D+ is profitable by 2024 at this point.  How do you turn around a $1 billion per quarter loss in 1 year, while the world boarders on recession? They are also going to cut content creation, meaning less shows, which is a massive driver to streaming services. Things do not add up.

 

But, Disney is not alone in the streaming problem. All streamers save maybe Netfilx have the same issue.  Content is expensive, but is needed to drive subs, but very hard to detemi  how much it actually brings in. Sub revenue is not enough to cover content creation, but no new content you loss subs.

Agreed!

That's why WB Studios/DC Studios is selling content to Netflix instead of running it on HBO Max. More money to be made having another company pay for the development of such content, and taking the risk on being profitable.

[Bosco685]

Warner Bros Discovery licenses movies and TV shows to Roku, Tubi

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Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) has reached deals with streaming services Roku Inc (ROKU.O) and Fox Corp's (FOXA.O) Tubi to license 2,000 hours of movies and TV series, as it becomes the latest media company to embrace free, ad-supported streaming TV. The deals include the science-fiction western “Westworld,” the reality series “Cake Boss,” and reality dating series “F-Boy Island", the companies said, as Warner Bros seeks new ways to monetize its library of film and TV content.

 

The streamers announced Tuesday they plan to use the content to launch Warner Bros-branded free, ad-supported TV (or FAST) channels.

DC Drama ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ Moves to Netflix From HBO Max

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The DC drama based on the Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner comics has been sold from HBO Max, the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed streamer that developed the show, to Netflix. Producers Warner Bros. Television shopped the drama after sources say the series didn’t fit with the new chapter of content that DC executives James Gunn and Peter Safran are building for the comic book powerhouse. That plan includes five inter-connected shows that will live alongside Peacemaker on HBO Max. Also contributing to the show’s move between platforms is the fact that HBO Max would not have been able to market the show until 2024, with execs at the streamer blessing producers to take the show out elsewhere.

 

Dead Boy Detectives joins the fellow Greg Berlanti-produced drama You at Netflix after Warners — where the prolific producer is based with a rich overall deal — shopped the latter following its failure to cut through on basic cable network Lifetime. You now ranks as one of Netflix’s most popular scripted originals.

 

[drotto]

I think one of the changes we will see is moving back the streaming releases to give room for VOD, DVD, and even licensing deals.  So I stead of streaming 60 to 90 days after release, that is going to get pushed back to like 6 months.

[Bosco685]

 

[drotto]

On 3/2/2023 at 7:51 PM, Bosco685 said:

 

So an IP with 1 good movie, and a recently failed reboot. A story that likely is nothing without it's original lead, and already has a next generation anyway.  Another one good movie, that strangely leads to child actors dying. And finally, a mainly TV IP that has already multiple series and spinoffs, and is likely played out.

 

Seems like a solid decision.

[Bosco685]

Quote

Details regarding the revamped version of HBO Max have reportedly been revealed following the streamer's big expansion. Launched in 2018, HBO Max is the streaming home of shows like Game of Thrones, Euphoria, Barry, and House of the Dragon. The streaming platform has undergone a number of significant changes over the last year, however, as a result of the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery). Following the merger, it was announced that a merged HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming service would be launching in spring 2023.

 

Now, per a report from Bloomberg, details regarding the new HBO Max streaming service have been revealed. The report confirms that the merged service will be called "Max," with executives fearing that "HBO" could turn away certain potential subscribers. In addition to the name change, the service will feature thousands of new shows, mostly lifestyle programming that was previously on Discovery+. As for prices, the current $10-a-month ad-supported tier will stay, as will a $15 or $16 ad-free tier. A new tier priced at $20 is also reportedly being planned, offering higher-quality video and other offerings.

 

[Bosco685]

HBO Max to Be Relaunched as Max, Will Combine Discovery+ and HBO Content

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Warner Bros. Discovery is set to relaunch HBO Max under the name Max, bringing subscribers a combination of content from Discovery+ and HBO Max.

 

Per a report from The New York Times, three people with knowledge of the matter said that Max will make its debut sometime in May or June, and that it will cost $16 a month but will have several price tiers, including the inexpensive ad tier. HBO Max costs $16 a month as of January.

 

The information comes a day ahead of Warner Bros. Discovery executives unveiling plans for the combined streaming service, which include bringing Discovery reality shows like Fixer Upper, Dr. Pimple Popper, and Property Brothers in the same room as HBO Max series and movies like Succession, House of the Dragon, The Menu, and The Last of Us.

 

[Buzzetta]

Meanwhile I am still stealing borrowing sharing a full cable package. 

[drotto]

This is about to get ugly.  Streaming services having problems making money, and writers claiming they do not get enough of the revenue.  Writing strike likely coming soon.

 

https://deadline.com/2023/04/wga-says-survival-of-writing-as-a-profession-is-at-stake-in-this-negotiation-1235322122/

Edited April 12, 2023 by drotto

[media_junkie]

Ugh last time there was a big writing strike reality shows exploded and they became the norm.  What plague will be unleashed upon us this time.

[1Cool]

On 4/12/2023 at 12:56 PM, drotto said:

This is about to get ugly.  Streaming services having problems making money, and writers claiming they do not get enough of the revenue.  Writing strike likely coming soon.

 

https://deadline.com/2023/04/wga-says-survival-of-writing-as-a-profession-is-at-stake-in-this-negotiation-1235322122/

Wow - I assumed that they eliminated writers over the last couple years based on the plots of the shows coming out lately.

[Bosco685]

[Dr. Balls]

On 4/12/2023 at 10:56 AM, drotto said:

This is about to get ugly.  Streaming services having problems making money, and writers claiming they do not get enough of the revenue. 

Disney+ registered a revenue of $1.926 billion as of the fourth quarter of 2022 - or roughly $640M per month. I currently have more sympathy for the turds I flush down the toilet than any streaming media company or corporation.

[media_junkie]

On 4/18/2023 at 8:51 PM, Bosco685 said:

I didn't know Netflix still mailed out DVDs.

[Bosco685]

On 4/19/2023 at 10:39 AM, media_junkie said:

I didn't know Netflix still mailed out DVDs.

I was listening to a radio discussion this morning on this.

Turns out there are 2M households that are still using the service due to poor streaming service capabilities limited bandwidth).

[Bosco685]

Quote

The Walt Disney Co. reported higher fiscal second-quarter profits as it cut its streaming losses and saw big gains at its parks and experiences unit.

 

Disney’s direct-to-consumer business — streamers Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu — lost $659 million, down from the $1.05 billion the company lost in the prior quarter. A year ago, the DTC business lost $887 million.

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Iger said Disney will offer a one-app experience, letting consumers watch Hulu content through Disney Plus, by the end of the year.

 

“This is a logical projection of DTC offerings that will provide greater opportunities for advertisers while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content, resulting in greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience,” Iger said.