Tbivision.Com August/September 2017
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TBI Interview: Amazon: Endemol Shine's originals assessed Perrin on formats Page 4 Page 6 TBIvision.com August/September 2017 pOFC TBI AugSep17.indd 1 21/08/2017 18:15 presents pIFC Go-N TBI AugSep17.indd 1 17/08/2017 11:44 CONTENTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 6 4 10 4 Monitor: Amazon Is Amazon’s original programming strategy a recipe for success or disaster? Kaltrina Bylykbashi talks with producers and analysts to find out 6 TBI interview: Lisa Perrin How do you go about overseeing indie format television’s largest catalogue? Endemol Shine Creative Networks chief executive Lisa Perrin reveals the key challenges to Jesse Whittock 16 10 Children’s Media Conference review The UK event revealed the growing impact of kids video-on-demand services from Sky and Virgin Media, plus the latest shopping lists from the established, linear players. Jesse Whittock reports 16 Kids Hot Picks A series dubbed “Total Wipeout meets Power Rangers”, a preschool cartoon featuring an autistic lead and talent, and a TV version of the online Badanamu brand feature in our round up 22 22 Talking drama TBI hears about three quirky scripted series set to hit the international market – including a BBC period medical comedy, an apocalytic Neil Cross drama and an Australian millennials dramedy 28 Content Innovation Awards 2017 preview Television’s hottest ticket is back: we run down the runners and riderds at our annual content-meets- tech awards ceremony as the CIAs turn three Regulars 2 Ed Note • 32 Last Word: Harry Gamsu, Red Arrow 28 For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM TBI August/September 2017 1 p01 Contents TBI AugSep17KBjw.indd 3 21/08/2017 18:19 EDITOR’S NOTE JESSE WHITTOCK t’s all getting a bit confusing, isn’t it? One minute Disney is buying of kids TV in the UK. Pay TV platforms Sky and Virgin Media have Netflix, the next the Mouse House is pulling all of its content from both launched on-demand services that are commissioning original I the SVOD giant in order to launch a rival over-the-top service. kids content, and they’re now battling against Amazon, Netflix and the Then you’ve got Netflix hitting back by poaching Disney’s most BBC for the hearts, minds and eyeballs of British children. prolific showrunner, Shonda Rhimes, and Robert Kirkman is both Meanwhile, MIPCOM and its younger sibling MIPJunior are on the joining Amazon Studios and suing AMC, the network that turned his horizon, so we run down a number of news kids TV series headed zombie comic book series into cable’s biggest show, The Walking Dead. for market in Cannes, plus take a look at new scripted series from Not only that, but Netflix has moved into acquisitions for the first Australia and the UK. time by acquiring Millarworld, a comic book publisher that plays in The French town will once again play host to our annual the same pool as Disney’s Marvel Entertainment and Warner Bros.- programming-meets-tech awards ceremony, the Content Innovation owned DC Entertainment. Awards, and this year it’s bigger and more competitive than ever. You’ll The theory here is that with Disney removing its superhero content, find a run-down of the runners and riders in our preview feature. Netflix will make its own movie and television franchises based on In this crazy, complex web of content owners, buyers and suppliers Mark Millar’s creations, which includes the Kick-Ass and Kingsman it’s good to recognise the quality of the product out there, regardless brands. The approach is similar to the original route Netflix and of where you find it. Amazon are already taking, but with more overall IP control. The truth is the battle between digital upstarts and established linear channels have never been fiercer, or more vital. In our lead news analysis, we look at how Amazon’s original content strategy is working, and assess whether its approach will end in victory or defeat. We also look at how video-on-demand players are changing the face Editor Jesse Whittock • jesse.whittock@knect365.com Published by KNect365 TMT, Maple House, Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5809 Twitter @TBI_Jesse 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AD Tel: +44 (0)20 7017 5000 Deputy editor Kaltrina Bylykbashi • kaltrina.bylykbashi@knect365.com e-mail: tbi@knect365.com web: www.tbivision.com Printed in England by Wyndeham Grange Ltd, Southwick, West Sussex BN4 4EJ. Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5390 Twitter @bylykbashi Television Business International (USPS 003-807) is published bi-monthly (Jan, Mar, Apr, Sales manager Michael Callan • michael.callan@knect365.com Jun, Aug and Oct) by KNect365 TMT, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5295 W1T 7AD. The 2006 US Institutional subscription price is $255. 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Commercial director Patricia Arescy • patricia.arescy@knect365.com © 2017 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5320 Reproduction without permission is prohibited @TBImagazine 2 TBI August/September 2017 For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM p02 TBI Ed Note AugSep17KBjw.indd 8 21/08/2017 18:29 Come see us at MIPCOM stand R7. B16 www.beyonddistribution.com p03 Beyond TBI AugSep17.indd 1 17/08/2017 11:40 BEYOND_LOVE IT OR LIST IT AUSTRALIA_TBI AD_AW.indd 1 15/08/2017 10:12 MONITOR AMAZON Making Amazon tick Amazon’s original content strategy is a risk, but could pay off in a big way, analysts and producers say. Kaltrina Bylykbashi reports ver the last year Amazon has 2017, the e-retail giant will have spent a total Olsavsky vowed to triple Amazon’s originals bolstered its video content between US$500 million and US$1 billion on compared to those it had created by the end library through investment original programming alone. of 2015. Since January 2016, it has launched in both acquisitions as well This falls in line with the company’s wider originals such as The Man in the High Castle, as original programming. ambitions to dominate the video content space. The Grand Tour, Mad Dogs, Sneaky Pete and OAmpere Analysis estimates that by the end of This time last year, Amazon chief Brian T. Patriot. In addition, it has ordered comedies 4 TBI August/September 2017 For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM p04-05 Amazon TBI AugSep17KBjw.indd 4 21/08/2017 17:00 MONITOR AMAZON Tick (pictured) and neo-Victorian drama Homecoming, which had a pre-established Carnival Row. audience as a podcast series, and Ripper Street, The question remains, however, what the which was brought back by Amazon Prime platform is getting back for its investment. Video for a new season after being axed by the Daniel Gadher, Ampere’s senior analyst, tells BBC in 2014, are others examples of this. TBI that the revenue generated from Amazon’s Amazon has also signed a first-look video subscriptions is not yet at a level to sustain development deal with The Walking Dead such high levels of investment in content. creator Robert Kirkman and his Skybound “However, Amazon can use its vast retail Entertainment compatriot David Alpert, a revenue to supplement its content investment major coup that came as Netflix poached strategy,” he says. “Ultimately, developing a Shonda Rhimes from ABC Studios. strong content library helps to add further value The service has also zoned in on key markets. to the Amazon Prime subscription and drive Since launching Amazon Prime in India in consumers towards its retail platform.” December 2016, it has ordered 18 original So, while Amazon may not be getting direct Indian titles, including Their, an original drama financial benefit from these investments, pilot starring Anil Kapoor from V Productions. it certainly sees opportunity in connecting The SVOD service says debut original Inside with the audiences it draws in. That differs Edge is one of the most-watched titles on its to Netflix, which has invested even more localised service. heavily in originals only to drive subscriptions The strategy may be working. Over the (though this may change with the acquisition past twelve months Amazon Prime Video of Millarworld and the launch of an L&M arm). subscribers have grown by close to 75% globally, This was further reflected in Amazon’s Q3 according to Ampere. financial results this year, where it announced In addition, viewers specifically tuning into that it would up content spend again. originals on the platform are growing. Statista The strategy also offers an explanation as shows that in the US those viewing originals to why Amazon has made certain content have jumped from 16% to 31% from December investments. Take the example of The Tick: 2015 to 2016. its producers tell TBI that although they have The Tick’s creators – Ben Edlund (the original had a very positive relationship with the SVOD concept creator), Barry Josephson and Fury platform from the get-go, and that the show’s – tell TBI that Amazon’s approach differs to already-established audience was key to it being those that they had worked with before.