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| Morning all! Goldman has upgraded Netflix from sell to NEUTRAL, based largely on their post-pandemic surge of momentum around creating new shows and films. Curious that this happens just ahead of a potential SAG-AFTRA strike, which could halt that very momentum in its tracks. But the company's next earnings report is in just a few weeks, so this may be an indication that the bank thinks those numbers are going to be largely positive, more than anything else. Also in the news today: Netflix has a new technique for greenscreens that involves lighting their actors in a hideous bright magenta hue on set. Sure, it makes it easier for the computers to do compositing in post-production, but will Jenna Ortega be able to truly inhabit Wednesday Addams under these harsh on-set conditions? Only time will tell... Enjoy today's issue! Lon
p/lon-harris | |
| 1 | | Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan upgraded Netflix shares to neutral from sell, and increased his price target from $230 to $400. Sheridan based the upgrade on the success of the company's password-sharing crackdown and its post-pandemic "content creation momentum." More: - Netflix shares are up 135% since Goldman added Netflix to its sell list in June 2022.
- The streaming stock is up about 50% this year so far.
- Netflix will announce its most recent quarterly earnings on July 19.
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| 2 | | BBC Studios passed $2.7 billion in sales last year, with profits hitting around $310 million. Nonetheless, the company's annual earnings presentation was largely focused on allegations of inappropriate conduct by an unnamed BBC host published by The Sun tabloid last week. More: - BBC earnings are up by around 28% over the previous year, driven largely by long-term partnership and licensing deals.
- Around 75% of BBC revenues now come from third-party companies, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix.
- Among the company's most popular international titles are "Dancing with the Stars," "Happy Valley," and "Sherwood"; BBC also benefitted last year from coverage of noteworthy events, such as Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and funeral.
- The company's streaming division saw profits tumble last year, down 24% from the year before; executives blamed inflation and a volatile advertising market.
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| 3 | | DAILY CALENDAR TUESDAY, JULY 11 MYTH OF THE ZODIAC KILLER: Two-part true-crime docuseries exploring the theory that the "Zodiac Killer" was actually a hoax, forging false connections between separate incidents. The new investigation features original interviews with people connected to the case and an AI analysis of the infamous Zodiac letters. [Peacock] BETRAYAL: THE PERFECT HUSBAND: Three-part true-crime docuseries from ABC News Studios, based on the Glass podcast. The series relates the story of high school teacher Spencer Herron, who was arrested in 2019 for sexually assaulting multiple students, from the perspective of his wife, Jennifer Faison. [Hulu] CRAIG OF THE CREEK: The animated Cartoon Network series is set in an untamed wilderness where young people from Herkleton, Maryland, hang out and go on adventures. The first batch of episodes from the show's fifth season come to Max in the US today. [Max] NINETEEN TO TWENTY: Debut reality series from Korea following a group of 19-year-olds during the final week of their teens. The cast will attend "19 School" together, where they'll get to know one another and gain insight into the adult world, but dating is strictly prohibited. [Netflix] PHILOSOPHER OF THE SEA: Documentary special from Sweden profiling 83-year-old sailor Sven Yrvind and following along as he plans a daring 300-day, 15,000-mile journey from Ireland to New Zealand. [Viaplay] | | | |
| 4 | | Netflix developed a new technique making greenscreen effects faster and easier to accomplish in post-production. As described in a recently-published paper, the company's "Magenta Green Screen" places actors under bright magenta lights in front of a green backdrop; machine learning software is then used to digitally adjust the colors in the composited shot. More: - According to the paper, the AI software can produce a final color scheme that's "virtually indistinguishable" from reality.
- Still, it notes that actors and other creatives on set would be forced to work under harsh lighting conditions.
- One potential solution could be switching the magenta/green lighting on and off quickly, making it less noticeable for the naked eye while still functioning for the benefit of the cameras, but this remains experimental.
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| 5 | | Hulu introduced a new hub specifically for anime and adult animation, called Animayhem. Several of the streamer's most popular shows are cartoons aimed at older viewers, including "American Dad," "Bob's Burgers," "Family Guy," "Futurama," and "King of the Hill." More: - According to Hulu's internal figures, around 1 billion hours of adult animated content -- along with 288 million hours of anime -- have been viewed on the platform so far this year.
- Hulu currently has 46 adult animated series in total, with around 2,600 individual episodes; that's along with 272 anime series and 17 films.
- A new season of "Futurama" hits Hulu on July 24; the company is also working on a "King of the Hill" revival.
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| 6 | | Cable company Charter plans to split its offerings into two separate packages. The new Spectrum Select Plus plan will include regional sports networks (RSNs), while the Spectrum Select Signature will be available for a lower subscription rate without RSNs and other sports-centric channels. More: - RSNs have traditionally been made available in bundled packages along with other cable networks.
- The company also has plans to offer a direct-to-consumer streaming platform for its RSNs, which "Select Plus" cable subscribers will be able to access at no additional charge.
- Charter owns a number of RSNs, including Los Angeles networks airing Lakers and Dodgers games.
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| 7 | | Discounted subscriptions to both Max and Paramount+ are available through Amazon Prime Video Channels, as part of the Prime Day promotion. New users can save 50% on their first two months of Max or Paramount+ with their Amazon Prime subscriptions. More: - With the discount, the monthly charge for Max comes to just $7.99, while Paramount+ runs $5.99.
- A number of streaming subscriptions are offered through the Prime Video Channels platform, also including AMC+, Starz, and BritBox.
- Prime Day 2023 runs through Wednesday, July 12.
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- Fox's animated comedy "Krapopolis," the latest project from "Rick & Morty" vet Dan Harmon, premieres on September 24; the cast includes Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, and Duncan Trussell.
- Roku Channel announced the new reality dating series "The Marriage Pact," in which long-time friends who have vowed to get married if they remain single too long decide if they want to follow through on their promises; relationship expert Shan Boodram hosts.
- The release of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" prompted many users to pull up previous films in the franchise on Disney+; "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the third most-streamed film in the US last week, based on data from Whip Media.
- Writer/producer Manny Coto, whose credits include the "24" franchise and "American Horror Story," passed away in Pasadena on Sunday at age 62.
- The 11 remaining dates on Colleen Ballinger's "Miranda Sings" summer tour have been canceled, as has the podcast "Oversharing," which she co-hosted with fellow YouTuber Trisha Paytas; Ballinger has been accused of inappropriate conduct in the past with underage fans.
- Former "The Bachelorette" star Katie Thurston joined the cast of The CW dating competition series "FBoy Island" ahead of its third season.
- Production started on Amazon's Spanish-language series "Cada Minuto Cuenta," set during a real 1985 Mexican earthquake that claimed the lives of around 5,000 people; the series hits Prime Video next year.
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INSIDE STREAMING LEADERBOARD (30 DAYS) |
 | 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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