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| Hello all! Thanks for reading. Netflix's most recent quarterly earnings report is expected today, so otherwise the news is kind of light, as we wait to see those numbers. Analysts are expecting them to be pretty good, as the streamer's password crackdown seems to be working and converting former freeloaders into paying subscribers. We'll certainly keep an eye on that for tomorrow's edition! Lon
p/lon-harris | |
| 1 | | Netflix has dropped its lowest-cost ad-free plan in both the US and the UK. According to Netflix's support pages in both countries, the $9.99 Basic Plan is no longer offered for new or "rejoining" members. More: - For now, at least, it appears subscribers who are already signed up for the Basic Plan can keep their subscriptions, so long as they don't cancel.
- This makes the Standard tier the lowest-cost ad-free option for new Netflix subscribers; it's available for $15.49 per month.
- The $6.99 ad-supported tier is also still available in both countries.
- Netflix previously dropped the Basic Plan in Canada last month.
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New Quarterly Earnings Today: Netflix will announce its Q2 earnings on Wednesday, July 19, and analysts are expecting them to report an uptick in subscribers, based on both the crackdown in password sharing and the international expansion of the streamer's cheaper ad-supported plans. As seen in the chart above, after a major revenue boost during the early days of the pandemic, Netflix revenue started to flatline in 2022, as subscriber counts started to even out or even dip in some quarters. The SAG and WGA Side: The company is likely to focus on its significant global impact as a counterbalance to the ongoing strikes by US actors' and writers' unions. Because of the company's worldwide footprint, it can continue developing new content to serve to subscribers both foreign and domestic. As well, the company already has a robust international production infrastructure, so business as usual -- from development through post-production -- can continue around the rest of the world. The strike could even serve to focus more American attention on Netflix's global hits, such as "Squid Game," "Lupin," and "Money Heist." But This Won't Last Forever: Still, as many analysts have pointed out, Netflix's content pipeline won't hold out forever, and soon enough, American subscribers will start to notice that everyone has accents. The streamer built its reputation on binging, which means content doesn't hang around and remain fresh and viable forever; you have to continually feed the beast to keep up with subscriber expectations. As well, the addition of SAG-AFTRA's 160,000 members -- many of whom have famous names and faces -- has brought a lot of new attention on to streamers, the Hollywood labor crisis, and the ongoing negotiations. Netflix won't be able to sit on the sidelines and just release Korean and French shows forever. | | | |
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| 3 | | DAILY CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL: Limited Western crime drama series, based on the Elmore Leonard novel, and featuring the return of Timothy Olyphant as Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens from "Justified." In the new eight-episode series -- set 15 years after the events of "Justified" -- Givens pursues fugitive outlaw Clement Mansel (Boyd Holbrook) to Detroit. Aunjanue Ellis, Adelaide Clemens, and Vondie Curtis Hall co-star. New episodes air Tuesdays on cable and hit Hulu on Wednesdays. [Hulu] IF YOU WISH UPON ME: Korean comedy-drama series, inspired by a true story, starring Ji Chang-wook as a self-involved ex-convict who's forced to volunteer for a service fulfilling the final wishes of hospice patients. Over time, he begins appreciating the value of helping others. Sung Dong-il and Choi Soo-young co-star. [Hulu] THE DEEPEST BREATH: 2023 documentary film about the extreme sport of freediving, in which competitors attempt to set new depth records in water without the use of scuba gear. The film centers on the relationship between Italian champion Alessia Zecchini and her training partner, Irish safety diver Stephen Keenan. Laura McGann ("Revolutions") directed. [Netflix] THE (ALMOST) LEGENDS (LOS CASI ÍDOLOS DE BAHÍA COLORADA): Spanish-language musical comedy film from Mexico about two estranged half-brothers who reunite after their father's death to hold a car rally in his honor. Benny Emmanuel and Dagoberto Gama co-star. [Netflix] FANTASTIC FRIENDS: Six-part travel series following actors and twin brothers James and Oliver Phelps -- who played Fred and George Weasely in the "Harry Potter" films -- as they journey around the world and try out unconventional challenges. The series features a number of cameos from fellow "Harry Potter" veterans. New episodes air Tuesday nights on CW and hit the app and website the following day. [CW] KALVIN PHILLIPS: THE ROAD TO CITY: Documentary profiling British soccer star Kalvin Phillips, chronicling his career from his early days at Leeds Academy through his current position as one of the top players for Manchester City from his own perspective. [Amazon] CONTRABAND: SEIZED AT THE BORDER: The Discovery reality series follows Customs and Border Protection officers on the job, as they defend the border and stop the flow of illegal drugs, weapons, and other illicit items into the US. Season 1 debuted earlier this month on cable and hits Max in the US today. [Max] JERSEY SHORE: FAMILY VACATION: The MTV reality series reunites the cast of the iconic series "Jersey Shore" for new adventures. Season 5 aired in 2022 and featured regulars Angela Pivarnick, Deena Cortese, JWOWW, The Situation, Snooki, DJ Pauly D, and Vinny, along with the long-awaited return of Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola. [Paramount+] THE CASAGRANDES: The animated Nickelodeon series, a spinoff of "The Loud House," follows the adventures of young Ronnie Anne Santiago and her extended family in the fictional town of Great Lakes City. Season 3 aired in 2022 and hits Paramount+ today.[Paramount+] SUPERKITTIES: Animated series from Disney Junior about four superhero kittens who work together to protect the citizens of Kittydale. 4 fresh episodes from the show's first season hit Disney+ today. [Disney+] | | | |
| 4 | | Amazon released a trailer for the second season of the epic fantasy series "The Wheel of Time," based on the novels by Robert Jordan. Season 2 hits Prime Video on September 1. More: - Josha Stradowski stars as Rand al'Thor, a simple farmer who has learned that he's a long-prophesized figure known as the Dragon Reborn, destined to either destroy or save the world.
- Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoë Robins, and Madeleine Madden co-star.
- Amazon plans to release new videos and previews each Wednesday from now through September, promoting the new episodes.
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| 5 | | According to CBS Sports, the Pac-12 has delayed announcing a new media rights deal, as additional bidders have recently come to the table. The bidders apparently now include both linear TV networks and streaming services. More: - One anonymous source told The Athletic that a number of new parties have announced interest in the rights, who were not considering bids as recently as 6 months ago.
- Negotiations started for Pac-12 media rights back in July of 2022, shortly after the conference announced the departure of UCLA and USC for the Big Ten.
- Current Pac-12 media rights deals expire in 2024.
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| 6 | | According to Variety, Netflix shut down development on a new film based on Mattel's "Masters of the Universe" toy line. The streamer had already spent $30 million developing the project over several years. More: - Various writers, directors, and actors have been attached to "Masters of the Universe" movie projects over the last several years.
- Most recently, "The Lost City" duo of Adam and Aaron Nee had been tapped to direct, while Kyle Allen was set to star as He-Man.
- According to the Variety report, which cites five unnamed individuals, the project was put on hold due to concerns about the budget.
- The "Masters of the Universe" franchise is set on Planet Eternia, and focuses on the conflict between He-Man -- the superheroic alter-ego of Prince Adam -- and the villainous warlord Skeletor.
- The toys previously inspired a memorably campy 1987 film and a number of animated series.
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| 7 | | The second season of "The Lincoln Lawyer" secured the #1 spot on Netflix's Top 10 English-language TV shows last week. The first half of the legal drama's second season debuted on July 6, and was viewed for 35.3 million hours between July 10-16. More: - Season 1 of "The Lincoln Lawyer" also jumped into the Top 10, with 3.4 million total views.
- The second half of the show's second season arrives on August 3, which will likely give it another boost.
- Season 3 of "The Witcher" had held the #1 spot for the previous two weeks; it dropped into the #2 spot with 32.1 million hours viewed.
- In its first four days of availability, the comedy series "Survival of the Thickest" grabbed around 3.7 million total views, a solid debut that makes the show likely to appear on next week's chart as well.
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- During an appearance on "CBS Mornings" this week, actor Sean Gunn explained the crucial importance of streaming residuals for working actors; Gunn receives meager compensation for his role on "Gilmore Girls," despite the show's continuing popularity on Netflix.
- Paramount's "Star Trek" fan panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con will include a full screening of the long-awaited "Strange New Worlds"/"Lower Decks" crossover episode.
- 600 local TV stations -- united under the banner "Coalition for Local News" -- have asked the FCC to change rules allowing streamers to negotiate package deals with studios; currently, platforms like YouTube TV or Hulu can work out deals with, say, Paramount for all of their CBS stations in various markets.
- Max subscribers who filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the platform of breaching federal data privacy laws by sharing their viewing history with Facebook have moved to dismiss the case without prejudice; the plaintiffs can potentially refile the suit with altered claims at a later date
- Netflix dropped a trailer for the third season of its investigative sports docuseries "Untold," featuring new episodes about Johnny Manziel, Jake Paul, coach Urban Meyer, and steroid supplier Victor Conte; the new season debuts on August 1.
- Hulu's series adaptation of the Zakiya Dalila Harris novel "The Other Black Girl" premieres on September 13; all 10 episodes will arrive at once.
- Amazon released some first-look images from "Wilderness," a new film based on the novel by B.E. Jones, debuting this fall; Jenna Coleman stars as a woman who goes on a hiking trip with her husband (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), while secretly enacting a covert revenge plot.
- The HBO documentary "After the Bite" -- which looks at the impact of a 2018 shark attack on residents and vacationers in Massachusetts' Cape Cod -- arrives on July 26.
- The Venice Film Festival will likely convert this year's event into a "Pan-European" celebration, should striking American actors decline to participate.
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 | Writer | | Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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