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Join us in this week’s edition of the Entertainment Supply Chain Digest.ย From the groundbreaking $8.5 billion Disney-Reliance TV merger to the exciting MIPTV titles, we’ve got you covered. Explore the cutting-edge Generative AI advancements revolutionizing dubbing, witness the UK VFX sector surge with new incentives, and anticipate the eagerly awaited live-action debut of ‘Avatar’ on Netflix.
Join us this week in our LIVE session to explore the dynamic landscape and trends of Documentaries. Discover the latest trends, strategies of global players, and insights into the thriving global entertainment markets.
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IP Deals
Hottest IP [Stories, Formats, Books, Games, Podcasts] to be turned into the next big blockbuster- Atresmedia commissions the Spanish adaptation of Talpa Studios’ ‘The Quiz With Balls,’ where contestants are launched into a pool by giant yellow balls. This marks Spain as the third market for the format, following Netherlands and the USA. Production will take place at Talpa Studios in the Netherlands in collaboration with Warner Bros. Spain (๐ช๐ธ)
- Submarine and Rebel Maverick are teaming up for an animated TV adaptation of Sayantani DasGupta’s middle-grade book series “Kiranmala & The Kingdom Beyond.” DasGupta and Emmy-winning animation writer Michael Ryan are adapting the stories, with a focus on the trilogy’s debut book “The Serpentโs Secret,” published by Scholastic. (๐ณ๐ฑ๐บ๐ธ)
- Participant is to adapt journalist Adolfo Guzman-Lopezโs LAist Studios podcast Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionary into both a scripted and documentary limited series. The project delves into the mysterious death of Chicano student rights activist Oscar Gomez and its connection to California’s Chicano movement. Rodney Lucas is directing the unscripted series, with Juan Devis’ Ninetythree Media handling production. (๐บ๐ธ)
- SF Studios is to produce a film adaptation of Sofie Lassen-Kahlke’s crime novel “Adamโs Heir.” The story tracks lawyer Ursula Madsen as her past resurfaces when her childhood sweetheart is found unconscious after a suspicious fall at his manor. Marcella Dichmann is set to produce the film(๐ธ๐ช)
- Prime Video has greenlit a drama series, “El Gato,” based on Richard Dominguez’s comic book “El Gato Negro.” It features Diego Boneta as the lead character Frank, who confronts his estranged family in Mexico upon his father’s death. (๐)
Production Deals
Sneak peak into recently announced production projects worldwide- ITV’s 2024 weekend morning lineup debuts “Jimmy and Shiviโs Farmhouse Breakfast,” hosted by Jimmy Doherty and Shivi Ramotaur, offering food and lifestyle from Suffolk, alongside “The Chris McCausland Show,” featuring celebrity guests and live performances, produced by Cactus TV. (๐ฌ๐ง)
- Endemol Shine Brasil is creating a digital documentary titled “Elas Nas Telas” for International Women’s Day. Directed by Ana Julia Travia, the film highlights the lives of four women working behind the camera in the audiovisual industry. The production team consists entirely of women. (๐ง๐ท)
- Mzansi Magic is producing a new drama series titled “Code 13,” focusing on Johannesburg detective Bheki Ndlovu and his team as they track down six dangerous criminals who have escaped from police custody. The series explores themes of crime, corruption, and betrayal in the heart of Jo’burg. (๐ฟ๐ฆ)
- Netflix is set to produce “La Dolce Villa,” a romantic comedy directed by Mark Waters, following a businessman’s journey to Italy to prevent his daughter from squandering her savings on renovating a dilapidated villa, only to find himself enchanted by the country’s allure of beauty, magic, and romance. (๐)
- Screen Australia is providing story development funding for a fresh animated series named “Willy,” created by Ludo Studio. The series delves into the coming-of-age experience of a 15-year-old closeted gay teenager navigating puberty and emerging attractions. Mad Ones Films and Sad Man Studio as co-producers.(๐ฆ๐บ)
Season Renewals
More episodes on the way! Season Renewal Announcements- “Netflix has renewed the live-action series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” for seasons 2 and 3, paving the way for the show to conclude the story of Aang’s journey to become the Avatar. (๐)
- Mzansi Magic’s beloved dating show “Date My Family” returns for its twelfth season with an intriguing twist involving Driver Bae, promising viewers unexpected surprises throughout the season. (๐ฟ๐ฆ)
- CAPA Espaรฑa and RTVE Play have renewed 2nd season of their acclaimed documentary series ‘Lucรญa en la web’ at the Malaga Film Festival. The show is known for shedding light on untold stories and has been awarded for its investigative journalism. (๐ช๐ธ)
- Amazon has renewed “Upload” for its fourth and final season. A futuristic series set in a world where people can upload themselves to a virtual afterlife, it offerrs a glimpse into a technologically advanced future where death is redefined. (๐)
- BBC Two and iPlayer have commissioned the second season of “Inside Our Minds.” Presented by Chris Packham, it will delve into the experiences of living with dyslexia and ADHD through the perspectives of four contributors in two episodes. (๐ฌ๐ง)
Distribution Deals
Distributors securing worldwide content across different genres, languages and format types- Nippon TV is set to unveil three new titles at MIPTV, including the scripted series “Trespassers,” a dramedy about three women searching for hidden cash, and “Alice in Wonderful Kitchen,” a compassionate drama mystery centered on an exceptional cook, along with the unscripted format “Stars on the Shelf,” which explores celebrities’ business acumen in a competitive reality setting. (๐ฏ๐ต)
- Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide distribution rights to “Handle With Care: The Legend of the Notic Streetball Crew,” a documentary produced by Chris Paul and RZA, which chronicles the rise, fall, and resurgence of Canadian streetball group The Notic.(๐)
- New York-based distributor Cargo Film & Releasing has acquired “Balomania,” Danish filmmaker Sissel Morell Dargisโ debut feature, which delves into the world of Brazilโs “baloeiros” โ a secret society of hot air balloon makers and chasers in the favelas, ahead of its premiere at CPH:DOX. (๐)
- Beta Cinema has secured global sales for Andreas Dresen’s acclaimed Berlinale Competition film “From Hilde, With Love,” with deals including Picturehouse Entertainment, Haut et Court, Teodora, Angel Films, September Film, Outsider, Discovery, Film Europe, Circo, and Palace Film. (๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐ชย ๐ช๐บย ๐ฆ๐บย ๐ซ๐ท ๐ฎ๐น Scandinavia, Benelux ย ๐ต๐น former Yugoslavia, ๐จ๐ฟ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฟ)
- Inter Medya and Gain have formed an exclusive partnership for international distribution, with Inter Medya now representing Gain’s diverse portfolio of mini-series globally, enhancing both companies’ international presence and allowing acclaimed shows like “Hamlet” and “10K Steps” to reach audiences worldwide. (๐)
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Acquisition Deals
Streamers & channels acquiring latest content across the world- BBC and Australiaโs SBS have acquired Viaplay’s “Rebus” reboot, starring Richard Rankin as a young John Rebus in Edinburgh, a detective sergeant who becomes embroiled in a personal conflict when his brother turns to crime. (๐ฌ๐งย ๐ฆ๐บ)
- Pre-bought by OCS, Disney+, and TF1, ‘Hear Me Love (Joli Joli)’ by Diastรจme follows the story of Elias, a struggling writer in 1977 Paris, who unknowingly crosses paths with Lรฉonore, a rising star of French cinema, leading to a year-long journey of misunderstandings, jealousy, and romantic entanglements orchestrated by Elias’s devoted maid, Myrette. (๐ซ๐ทย ๐บ๐ธ)
- Fox has secured second-window rights for Amazon Prime Video’s US remake of the UK gameshow “The 1% Club.” Each episode will premiere on Prime Video in the US and Canada before an exclusive airing on Fox in the US. (๐บ๐ธ ๐จ๐ฆ)
- Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, ‘A New Kind of Wilderness’ tracks Danish screenwriter Lars K. Andersen’s search for a lost Apache tribe in Mexico. The film intertwines his journey with archival footage from Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad’s 1937 expedition. It was pre-purchased by Scandinavian broadcasters NRK, Yle, and SVT. (๐ธ๐ช ๐ซ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ด)
- Tubi has acquired exclusive U.S. and Canada rights to the comedy series “Big Mood,” starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West as best friends navigating life’s challenges. Written by Camilla Whitehill, directed by Rebecca Asher, it is produced by Fremantleโs Dancing Ledge Productions. (๐บ๐ธ ๐จ๐ฆ)
Global Entertainment Leaders Speak
Partnerships / M&A
Cross-Border Collaborations, Joint Ventures, M&A and Partnerships!- Disney and Reliance plan to merge their digital streaming and TV assets in India, creating a leader in entertainment and sports. The deal values the joint venture at $8.5 billion, with Disney holding about 37%. (๐ฎ๐ณ)
- Nikon is set to acquire RED, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary, aiming to boost its presence in the professional digital cinema camera market. (๐)
- Animation studio Panic, celebrating its 10th anniversary, expands into Canada through a strategic partnership with Hestyreps, opening new opportunities for creative collaborations. (๐จ๐ฆ )
- Little Dot Studios, a digital content studio and media network, has expanded its partnership with Cineverse Entertainment to include long-form content licensing and Digital Copyright Management (DCM) services. Little Dot Studios will license hundreds of hours of Cineverse’s long-form scripted and unscripted content for publishing on the Little Dot Studios Network. (๐ฌ๐ง)
- Mometu, a free VoD and live TV streaming service, partners with V Channels for a three-film deal, bringing independent horror features like “Stupid Games” and “The Box” to its platform.(๐บ๐ธ)
Companies Making Headlines
Launch and Expansions of facilities, studios, services & technologies- Ionart Studios, a leading animation and VFX studio, has expanded from a boutique studio to a recognized full-service entity. Partnering with Mark Nazal, they aim for North American expansion, focusing on delivering innovative solutions and world-class visual effects. (๐ญ๐บ)
- Hackman Capital Partners and its affiliate The MBS Group will develop and operate the Basin Media Hub, a $250 million purpose-built film studio on an 8.9-acre waterfront site in Toronto. The studio will feature eight sound stages, production office space, and production support facilities. (๐จ๐ฆ)
- Auckland Film Studios, renowned for hosting productions such as Netflix’s “Sweet Tooth” and Amazon’s “The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power,” has inaugurated two additional sound stages, totaling around 2,000 square meters each. The new stages are already booked, with productions scheduled to commence in early 2023. (๐ณ๐ฟ)
- The Pinewood Group has assumed full ownership of Pinewood Toronto Studios, a production facility in Canada, after providing sales and marketing services to the studio since 2009. Pinewood Toronto Studios recently completed an expansion, adding 170,000 square feet of production space and five soundstages, making it the largest film and TV studio in Ontario. (๐จ๐ฆ )
- Leonine Studios, a leading German producer and distributor, is expanding its production division with the launch of Leonine Documentaries. The new label will focus on developing and producing projects for Leonine Documentaries. The goal is to create premium commercial documentaries for a broad audience, combining information, entertainment, and high production value. (๐ฉ๐ช)
Featured New Specializations
Global innovations & breakthroughs in the Entertainment supply-chain- Dalet Flex integrates into Veritoneโs AI Digital Media Hub, fostering a seamless workflow from creation to distribution, empowering media monetization. (๐ฌ๐ง)
- Eyevinn Technology launches Open Source Cloud, a pioneering managed media service with a unique revenue-sharing model, facilitating quick open source integration for media companies. (๐ธ๐ช)
- Telestream unveils DIVA 9 middleware content archive system, enhancing accessibility, reliability, and efficiency of digital video archives with advanced features, including smart storage policies and cloud integration. (๐บ๐ธ)
- Interra Systems will showcase advanced innovations, including upgrades to the BATON solution, ORION monitoring suite, and VEGA media analyzer. These solutions ensure end-to-end quality assurance for the evolving media landscape across IP and OTT workflows, covering content preparation to delivery. (๐บ๐ธ)
- Topaz Labs has revamped Photo AI’s user interface, introducing new features for enhanced photo editing and upscaling. The updated workflow promises easier and more effective results for photographers, leveraging AI for automatic detection and correction of common image quality issues. (๐บ๐ธ)
Localization & Post-Production
Latest updates in the world of content Localization & Post-Production- Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ) has introduced LipDub AIโข software in private beta for professional content producers. The platform automatically dubs and lip-syncs videos, delivering high-quality and photorealistic results, making it suitable for Hollywood studios, advertising agencies, marketing teams, and large social media influencers.
- Dubbing company Deepdub introduces Accent Control technology, utilizing custom generative AI models to manipulate and control characters’ accents in dubbed content, providing flexibility in preserving or modifying accents during language localization. (๐ฎ๐ฑ)
- Sony’s Ci Media Cloud incorporates Dolby Atmos support, allowing upload and playback of Dolby Atmos audio files with support for ADM BWF Atmos audio through Dolby.io integration. Users can access binaural or stereo audio proxies directly in Ci. (๐)
- Vaudeville Sound Group collaborates with Google to develop 3D audio models and creative sound design for the Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF) specification. IAMF enables the creation of immersive audio applications and experiences, from broadcasting to extended reality. (๐ฌ๐ง)
- VITEC has unveiled the MGW Diamond-H 4K HDMI encoder, expanding its range of HEVC encode and decode products. The compact encoder is designed to offer powerful 4K HDMI encoding capabilities, seamless integration features, and support for Power over Ethernet.(๐)
Animation, VFX & Virtual Production
Latest global updates in Animation, Visual Effects VFX & Virtual Production- UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announces improvements to film and high-end TV incentives for visual effects in the 2024 Budget, stimulating an estimated ยฃ175 million additional VFX work in the UK. The changes include lifting the 80% cap on eligible expenditure for VFX spend and increasing the Audio Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) rate to 39%, leading to potential job growth.(๐ฌ๐ง)
- The Ultimate Farming asset pack for Unreal Engine 5 introduces a comprehensive collection featuring 300+ Meshes, 134 Materials, and 200 Textures. It enhances digital farming environments with advanced customization and utilizes Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen and Nanite technologies for improved visual fidelity.(๐)
- Avid introduces updates to its MediaCentral workflow platform, including the Blueprint Builder in MediaCentral | Collaborate for tailored planning workflows and the Collections app to streamline content gathering for accelerated production in on-premises and cloud environments.(Global)
- Alfalite has introduced the Alfalite UHD Finepix AlfaCOB fixed installation LED panels with pixel pitch ranging from 0.6 to 1.8mm. Designed for use in broadcast and virtual production XR, the panels feature a new mechanical and electronic design compared to their predecessors, Alfalite UHD Finepix. (๐ช๐ธ )
- DreamWorks Animation’s proprietary production renderer, MoonRay, has received an update that includes support for the VFX Reference Platform and Rocky Linux 9. MoonRay, a ray tracing renderer used in animated features like “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” was open-sourced last year along with Arras, its distributed rendering framework.(๐)
FAST Channels
World of FAST channels & related market moves- Blue Ant Media has launched its free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, Love Pets, on The Roku Channel in Canada. (๐จ๐ฆ)
- Waipu.tv, the German streaming service owned by Exaring, has introduced five new channels to its platform. The channels include KalkTV, featuring German actor and comedian Oliver Kalkofe, as well as Real Crime Deutschland, Romance TV Catch-Up, StoryZoo & Friends (a multi-IP kids FAST channel), and TV-Klassiker, which airs popular German TV series from past years. (๐ฉ๐ช)
- AMC Networks announces an upgraded version of the anime-focused streaming service HIDIVE, offering a redesigned interface, simplified menu, improved content discovery, offline viewing, and customizable watchlists for subscribers across the US, Canada, and international markets. (๐บ๐ธ ๐จ๐ฆ)
- Fetch TV and Kargo have formed a partnership aimed at boosting sales of premium video advertising inventory on the Fetch aggregation platform. Fetch offers access to a large-scale and engaged TV audience through advertising-supported FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) and subscription channels. (๐ฆ๐บ)
- ROXi, the music streaming company, partners with Frequency to launch linear music video channels on Free Advertising Supported Television (FAST). LG is the first to offer these channels in the UK. (๐ฌ๐ง)
New Global Film and Series Arrivals
Recent biggest releases across the globe!- “Damsel” is a film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, follows the story of a young woman who is on the verge of having her fairytale come true. She agrees to marry a handsome prince, but soon realizes that her fairytale might turn into a nightmare. The film is available on Netflix. (๐)
- “To Kill a Tiger” by Nisha Pahuja narrates the story of Ranji, an Indian farmer seeking justice for his daughter after a brutal gang rape. This Academy Award-nominated documentary produced by Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas is now available on Netflix.(Global)
- Available on Hulu: “The Marsh King’s Daughter,” starring Daisy Ridley. A psychological thriller follows Helena’s escape from her captor father. (๐บ๐ธ)
- Out on March 7 and available on Hulu, “Poor Things” stars Emma Stone in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscar-nominated adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s novel. (๐บ๐ธ)
- Premiered on March 8 on MGM+, “American Fiction” by Cord Jefferson, nominated for five Oscars, satirizes racial identity and storytelling, starring Jeffrey Wright. (๐บ๐ธ)
