In The Frame - Feb '22

Streaming/Online/Tech

The launch of two new services, Discovery Plus and Paramount Plus helped the US SVOD industry to grow by nearly 20% in 2021, reaching $25.3 billion.

Amazon Prime Video has agreed to a long-term, multi-million pound contract with Shepperton Studios for exclusive use of nine sound stages among its new production facilities. Netflix announced in July 2019 it was to take a long-term lease, believed to be ten years, on Shepperton Studios, which is based in Surrey and owned by Pinewood Group. Read more on the Netflix deal here.

Disney+ is projected to overtake Netflix in subscription terms in 2028.

A shortage of skilled, experienced workers, meanwhile, is leading to production delays at British film studios. A shortage of as many as 40,000 workers is predicted to have arisen by 2025.

DAZN appears to have failed in its attempt to acquire BT Sport, which has entered into exclusive talks with Discovery over a joint venture. DAZN's viability in the UK is now being questioned, and its parent, DAZN Group, has since reported a loss, in delayed accounts, of $1.3 billion (£969.7m) in 2020. The company also made a loss of $1.4 billion (£1.05bn) in 2019 but remains free of debt following a $4.3 billion recapitalisation by billionaire investor Leonard Blavatnik’s Access Industries

BBC News

Research conducted by Yonder Consulting on behalf of the BBC indicates people in the UK continue to turn to the corporation for impartial news before using any other source. Half of adults use BBC outlets first for news, and it’s the preferred choice for 42% of 18-to-34 year-olds, which represents more than three times the percentage opting for Twitter.

Bookmakers have made Alex Forsyth, the BBC political correspondent based outside London, the favourite to replace Laura Kuenssberg who steps down as the BBC’s political editor at Easter to take a senior presenting and reporting role. Paul Brand, the UK editor of ITV News, is reported to have been approached for the job. Jon Sopel stepped down as North America editor in October, while Emily Maitlis, the former Newsnight presenter, has also left the BBC. Both would have been strong candidates for the vacancy.

And Finally..

• Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, has “firmly advised” Ofcom to take “timely and transparent” action against Russia’s state broadcaster, RT, in the UK amid concerns the channel is spreading disinformation.
• Channel 4 and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) are to offer training sessions in film and TV careers across the UK between March and October.
• The first entirely disabled presenting and punditry team for a world-class sporting event will deliver Channel 4's coverage of the Beijing 2022 Paralympics. More than 80 hours of sport will be shown on Channel 4 and the broadcaster's YouTube channel.
• Discovery reports record Olympic Winter Games viewership and engagement on its digital platforms. Significantly higher consumption and numbers compared with corresponding figures for PyeongChang 2018 were driven by the appeal of discovery+.
• A new two-year deal with the EFL means ITV will show highlights of the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy from next season.
• Samsung remains the world's favourite TV manufacturer, holding the No.1 spot in terms of market share for the 16th consecutive year. Sets made by LG are the second-most popular. The two Korean companies are followed by Japan’s Sony in the data gathered by technology research specialist Omdia.

From the latest news to the latest positions – click here to see Frame 25’s most recent additions to its list of available TV jobs