All articles tagged with #original programming
Apple TV+ has increased its monthly subscription price by 30% from $9.99 to $12.99, citing new programming and its ad-free model as reasons, while its annual plan and bundle prices remain unchanged. This is the third price hike since its launch in 2019, with upcoming premieres including new seasons of popular shows.
Tubi, the free streaming platform, has unveiled a new brand identity featuring a redesigned logo, refreshed user interface, and a distinct sound cue. The update aims to reflect Tubi's mischievous brand voice and enhance the user experience. The rebranding is one of the first major moves by new CEO Anjali Sud and comes as Tubi continues to expand its lead in the free ad-supported streaming market. Additionally, Tubi is focusing on expanding its original programming slate and catering to its fastest-growing audience segment, Gen Z viewers, while maintaining its extensive library of older content.
Apple TV+ unveiled its original programming slate through Summer 2024, featuring nearly two-dozen new and returning shows, including "Sugar" starring Colin Farrell, "Franklin" with Michael Douglas, "Dark Matter" led by Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly, and "Presumed Innocent" featuring Jake Gyllenhaal. Returning series include "The Big Door Prize," "Loot," "Acapulco," "Trying," "The Reluctant Traveler," and "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock." The schedule includes a mix of limited series, docuseries, and children's specials, with release dates ranging from February to June, and original series awaiting release dates such as "Land of Women" and "Lady of the Lake."
As Netflix continues to dominate the streaming industry, it faces burning questions at the start of 2024 regarding its ad-supported subscription tier, investments in live programming and video games, and the potential slowdown in original content production. The company's fourth-quarter earnings report will provide insights into these areas, including the impact of its ad tier, the success of live programming and video game investments, and the strategy behind its original programming amid a decline in new releases and an increase in borrowed content from competitors.
Netflix has cut more than 100 shows and reduced its output of original programming, with notable cancellations including "Bling Empire," "Sex Education," and "Shadow and Bone." The streamer released roughly 130 fewer original programs in 2023 compared to the previous year, and also decreased its production of stand-up specials, movies, TV shows, and documentaries. Despite the cutbacks, Netflix remains committed to original programming and continues to produce successful content, with plans for new seasons of hit shows like "Stranger Things" and "Ginny & Georgia."
Cable television networks like USA, TBS, Comedy Central, and MTV are experiencing a decline in viewership and original programming, transforming into mere shells of their former selves. Advertisers are pulling money from cable at high rates, and cable providers are questioning the value they offer consumers. As subscribers migrate to streaming services, media companies are redirecting resources towards their streaming platforms, despite the fact that most streaming services are currently losing money. Cable networks are now filled with endless reruns, reality shows, and live sports, while original scripted programs have significantly decreased. The decline in cable advertising revenue has reached double-digit percentages, leading to concerns about the future viability of cable networks.
Apple has revamped its podcast app with the recent iOS 17 update, aiming to boost original content and expand its audience by allowing users to connect through third-party apps. Over 60 original podcasts are now available to subscribers of Apple Music, Apple News Plus, Calm, and Lingokids, with more than 100 new podcasts on Apple Podcasts. The company plans to launch new shows every week this fall. Subscribers to participating apps will have their subscriptions automatically connect when opening Apple Podcasts, and more third-party apps will be added next month. This move comes as Apple seeks to compete with YouTube and Spotify in the podcasting space, while Google announced the centralization of podcasts in YouTube Music, discontinuing Google Podcasts.
The latest Nielsen streaming chart reveals that "Suits" is dominating the streaming charts, surpassing even the top original series. The newfound popularity of "Suits" is attributed to people discovering that Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, played a role in the show. Additionally, the children's series "Bluey" achieved its first billion-minute week on Disney+, outperforming popular Marvel and "Star Wars" shows. The majority of the most-watched shows are acquired titles from broadcast or international television providers, raising concerns about the emphasis on original programming by streaming services. The accuracy of streaming numbers is also questioned, highlighting the ongoing strike by writers and actors for better contracts and transparency from platforms. Overall, it appears that streamers may not fully understand the value of their own content or how to market it effectively.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is reviewing the spending of the company's Hollywood studio on original TV programming, as part of a cost-cutting program. With a mixed track record and ballooning costs, Jassy has asked for detailed budget analyses of major shows. Amazon spent $7 billion on original shows, licensed programs, and sports last year, and has released several expensive series that failed to attract large audiences. The studio's spending is being scrutinized as Amazon aims to find savings and eliminate unnecessary projects.
Disney has removed more original programming from its streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, and Star+, as part of its cost-cutting measures. This wave of removals includes titles such as "Crater" and "More Than Robots," with most of the cuts being Turkish originals. Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, has previously stated that the company will focus on profitability and curate its content more carefully, leading to fewer original productions and the removal of canceled shows from streaming services. Other streaming services, such as Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount, have also been cutting their original content.
Spotify is laying off about 200 employees, or 2% of its workforce, in its podcast division as part of a "strategic realignment." The move comes after the company cut 6% of its overall headcount earlier this year and saw the exit of its chief content and advertising business officer. Despite the cuts, Spotify remains committed to original programming and will merge its Parcast and Gimlet groups into a renewed Spotify Studios operation. The Ringer will remain separate and continue producing programming across sports, culture, and tech. Spotify is the most-used audio podcast platform in most areas of the world and is the No. 1 podcast publisher in the U.S. based on reach.
Fox has revealed its 2023/24 programming slate and assured that it has a "solid" contingency plan in place for the ongoing writers strike. Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade expressed confidence in the network's ability to pivot as necessary and maintain a robust schedule of original programming, including a number of unscripted series and animated shows. Other entertainment CEOs, including Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, have also addressed the strike and expressed support for fair compensation for writers.
Meta is shutting down its Facebook Watch original programming, including the popular talk show Red Table Talk, as part of cost-cutting measures. Westbrook Studios is now shopping around the show for a new home. Other shows on the platform included Sorry for Your Loss, Simone vs. Herself, Steve, and JoJo Goes. Meta's move follows similar decisions by YouTube and Snap to scale back or move away from original content.
HBO has survived multiple mergers and strategy shifts to become the gold standard of television with award-winning series like "Game of Thrones" and "Succession." The network pioneered television as one of the first pay TV networks and pivoted to original scripted content when DVD rental companies rose to prominence. HBO has won 546 prime-time Emmys and currently has close to 80 million subscribers. Under AT&T, Time Warner became WarnerMedia and created a new streamer that combined WarnerMedia's extensive film and TV catalog with HBO, forming HBO Max. However, the company may be in for yet another sale as Warner Bros. Discovery looks at deep cost-cutting measures to chip away at the estimated $55 billion in debt it inherited from AT&T.
Warner Bros. Discovery announced the launch of its new streaming service, Max, which will combine HBO Max and Discovery+ offerings. The service will launch on May 23 and will feature original programming, including a new "The Big Bang Theory" series, a show set in "The Conjuring" universe, and a Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network project. The platform will also feature content from linear channels such as Food Network, TLC, HGTV, and more.