In The Frame - June '22

Tom Pammenter Published: 30.06.2022 Industry news

Streaming/Online/Tech

Following Netflix’s decision to build an ad-supported tier to prop up its struggling subscription model, the company has reportedly spoken to Google, Roku and Comcast. Google is understood to be the frontrunner to partner with the streaming company. Netflix has laid off a further 300 employees, following the 150 it made redundant last month.

Apple has announced a new 10-year partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS). Apple will show more than 1,000 matches per year. Some games will be available free via the Apple TV app, others will stream only to Apple TV+ subscribers, and the rest will be shown via a new MLS streaming service exclusive to the Apple TV app.

Amazon Prime Video’s watch party feature, which enables viewers to watch content with friends and family remotely, is now available on smart TVs, streaming devices including Roku, and gaming consoles.

Now available in the US, The Elvis Presley Channel is accessible as a free, ad-supported streaming television channel on connected TVs, digital set-top boxes, media-streaming devices and online.

BBC News

The BBC enjoyed record-breaking figures for its coverage of Glastonbury this year. Streams increased by 116% on iPlayer and 205% on the Sounds app compared with 2019, when the festival was last held. On iPlayer, 23 million streams were live, which is the most on record for a BBC programme brand. Paul McCartney’s Saturday night performance on BBC One was watched by a peak audience of 3.9 million and an average audience of 2.7 million.

The BBC has refurbished the studio it uses for the BBC News at Six and Ten, as well as BBC London’s regional bulletins.

A new survey for BBC Bitesize, which has launched a campaign to help 11-16 year-olds navigate fake news, suggests the corporation is the most trusted news source for young people.

And finally…

Idris Elba is reportedly in talks with Miroma, the marketing agency bidding for Channel 4.
Channel 4 is preparing to sign a deal to keep its news programme on air for the next five years.
The BFI has published its Skills Review, commissioned by the DCMS and examining the needs for training and skills development across the production sector for scripted film and high-end TV.
IBC has revealed the line-up of its headline speakers as the industry returns to live, in-person networking.
The Indian Premier League has announced new five-year deals for the domestic market that make the competition the second-most lucrative in the world. Only the NFL generates more on a per-match basis.
The concert celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee is the most-watched show of the year so far in the UK, with a peak audience of 13 million.
Ofcom has assessed whether the holders of the Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences will be able to fulfil their public service broadcasting obligations at a commercially sustainable cost, over the next ten-year licence period and believes ITV and Channel 5 should retain their PSB licences. The Secretary of State now has a year to decide whether or not to intervene in the licensing process. Channel 3 and Channel 5’s broadcast licences are scheduled to expire on December 31st 2024.