In The Frame – September ’17

Tom Pammenter Published: 30.09.2017 Industry news

Disney CEO Bob Iger has stated that Marvel and Star Wars titles will be streamed exclusively on his company’s new streaming platform when it launches in late 2019. The OTT service will also feature original Disney series and movies. Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2017 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference, Mr Iger said: “I have described a very rich, treasure trove of content for this app. We’re going to launch big, and we’re going to launch hot.”

Meanwhile, Netfilx – from which Disney will begin to pull its content in early 2019 – has confirmed the death of location manager Carlos Muñoz Portal, who was shot dead while working for the Narcos series, which documents the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Its fourth season reportedly focuses on the Mexican drug cartel, Juárez.

Amazon and Apple are to join the race for distribution rights James Bond and potential spin-offs. both tech giants are investing hugely in content production, and are reportedly competing with Warner Bros, Fox and Universal for the rights. Distribution rights were last held by Sony according to a contract that ended with the release of Spectre in 2015.

Red Bull Media House has partnered with Sensum, a Belfast company which combines engineering and emotions (describing that marriage as ‘Emotion AI’) to create The Hero Feeling, a VR film that enables viewers to follow – through the use of biometric sensors and bespoke spherical camera lenses that record 360-degree video – the emotions of an extreme-sports athlete as they journey down a mountain bike trail. At this month’s IBC, technology bosses at Channel 4, IBM, Liberty Global and Ericsson all suggested that voice search and AI technologies are what broadcasters and media companies should be investing in.

BBC News

The iPlayer has opened access to more than 450 BBC archive programmes, with the addition of more titles planned for the coming years.

Programmes from 1946 to the present day are available, including footage which hasn’t been shown since first broadcast. “From The Archive [makes] available hundreds of gems from the past including some historic documentary series and interviews with cultural and sporting icons,” Dan McGolpin, Controller, Programming & Daytime, said.

Sky News

One year since 21st Century Fox confirmed its interest in buying out Sky, the proposed £11.7 billion takeover has been referred to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for further investigation. A decision is not expected for at least six months. The CMA will consider the effect of the proposed deal on media plurality as well as the Murdochs’ commitment to broadcasting standards.

More happily for Sky, the broadcaster is to stream all midweek Championship football matches after agreeing a new £600 million, five-year domestic rights deal with the English Football League, representing an increase of 36 per cent compared to the value of rights in the current agreement.

Sky will also continue to broadcast the Carabao Cup, Checkatrade Trophy and play-offs until May 2024, while matches kicking off at the traditional time of 3pm on Saturdays will remain blocked from live streaming.

And finally…

Adobe revealed a number of VR enhancements to its Premiere Pro CC at IBC this month, enabling projects to be edited and tweaked more easily.
French and Saunders are to reunite for a Christmas special to mark the 30th anniversary of the first series of their sketch shows.
An exclusive, 40-minute documentary shot in the days leading up to one of the biggest fights in recent boxing history will be shown on Wednesday 18 October. Anthony Joshua: The Fight Of My Life will show insights into this year’s Joshua v Klitschko world-title contest.
Marking 50 years since the Home Service became Radio 4, the station has announced two special commissions: Adrian Mole returns on his 50th Birthday and Sarah Montague Revisits past Reith Lectures.
William G Stewart has died at the age of 84. Perhaps best known as the host of quiz show 15 to 1, he also produced and directed many programmes including the TV sitcoms Father, Dear Father, Bless This House, and Love Thy Neighbour.