A Note from the Editor

March 28, 2019 Mansha Daswani

Apple finally revealed details about its upcoming streaming service this week, adding to an SVOD landscape that is already packed full of entertainment options. Apple TV+ does look like it’s going to be a compelling offering, with properties from Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams. Pricing details are yet to be announced.

For consumers, the question becomes, How many subscriptions do I really need? There was a time when I thought that having the full pay-TV triple bundle, a suite of premium channels, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu was more than enough. Now, there are so many other things I want to subscribe to. With The Twilight Zone being rebooted, I expect I’ll be adding CBS All Access to my monthly bills. The Walter Presents lineup of foreign-language drama, available through the PBS Masterpiece Amazon channel, has become far too compelling of a proposition to ignore. The ads for the CuriosityStream SVOD service have piqued my interest—I surely need a jolt of fact-based content after facing the barrage of “fake news” on the internet all day. Sundance Now and Acorn TV are on my mind too, each showcasing at least one show that I want to watch and can’t find anywhere else. Disney+, with the promise of Marvel content, is likely to make it onto my list of recurring subscriptions. (I’m still reeling from Netflix’s decision, in the run-up to Disney pulling all of its content from the streamer, to cancel its suite of Marvel-based shows, which included two of my favorites, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.)

I have a pretty good sense right now of what is a must-have, can’t-do-without-it subscription. I have a manageable number at present. But as I inevitably sign up for more, choices will have to be made. What’s the calculus? Is it a certain number of shows? One show in particular? A creator or writer or director whose work can only be found on said service?

Amid a seemingly endless flow of disruption, companies from every genre and every territory are finding ways to innovate and getting smarter about how and where they invest. This MIPTV edition explores the many ways in which distribution companies, broadcasters and digital platforms are charting new paths. For our main feature, I got to speak with a range of rights owners about how they are making windowing decisions, accessing talent and committing to early investments in ideas that show the potential to be both local and global hits.

We also feature in-depth Q&As with RTL Group’s Bert Habets, WarnerMedia’s Gerhard Zeiler, Viacom International Media Networks’ David Lynn, ZDF’s Thomas Bellut, CBS’s Armando Nuñez, Endemol Shine’s Cathy Payne, Fremantle’s Jens Richter, Lionsgate’s Jim Packer, all3media international’s Louise Pedersen, Banijay Rights’ Tim Mutimer, ZDF Enterprises’ Fred Burcksen, Red Arrow Studios’ Bo Stehmeier, Keshet International’s Alon Shtruzman, Dori Media’s Nadav Palti, A+E Networks’ Patrick Vien and AMC Networks International’s Eduardo Zulueta.

We also showcase in this edition some amazing on-screen talent. Michael Sheen and David Tennant, who have to avert the apocalypse in Amazon and BBC’s highly anticipated Good Omens, talk about their on-screen chemistry and the weight of expectations in taking on Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s adored book. Tom Selleck discusses television’s evolution over the course of his career and his current role in the CBS stalwart Blue Bloods. And Iain Armitage reflects on how he prepared to become the pint-sized version of television’s favorite geek in Young Sheldon. Three very different shows, financed with different models. Indeed, while there is still a one-size-fits-most approach for many companies, there is definitely not a one-size-fits-all strategy that will work in today’s environment. The economic stakes are too high, the factors to consider too complicated, and most importantly, audiences are way, way too demanding.

You can see the World Screen MIPTV edition here.

A full rundown of what’s in our regional and genre-focused MIPTV editions is below. Follow the links to access our digital editions online, or get the Issuu app for iOS and Android so you can read them on the mobile device of your choice.

TV EUROPE

Buyers discuss their programming needs in the run-up to MIPTV.
Gary Davey reflects on Sky’s success as the European platform marks its 30th anniversary.
Max Conze discusses what’s driving gains at ProSiebenSat.1 Media.