Max price hike / Apple TV+ talks in China / Netflix NFL ads face obstacles / Peters on the limits of algorithms

Plus today's calendar, Flanagan says Netflix hates DVDs, Snook joins "All Her Fault," Paramount CEOs tout IP library, and more

Inside Streaming For June 04, 2024

Thanks for opening today's Inside Streaming daily brief. It's weird to me that people are still SO SURPRISED AND UPSET by the fact that Netflix doesn't want to release movies in theaters, or on DVD or Blu-ray. Every time Netflix drops a new high profile film with some mass appeal, like this week's action-comedy "Hit Man," there are a chorus of posts, op-eds, and tweets wondering aloud why it's not opening in theaters nationwide. And today, we have "Hill House" and "Midnight Mass" vet Mike Flanagan complaining that the company refused to release his TV shows and films on physical media. It might seem counter-intuitive that a company is turning down potential revenue by not making its products available through EVERY distribution channel possible, I guess? But that's not really so rare. It's focused and strategic. Netflix could potentially turn some kind of profit on making "Stranger Things" box sets and selling them to the hardcore faithful at Hot Topics and Walmart stores, sure. But if it would discourage even a few people from re-subscribing to Netflix next month... that would be counter-productive for them. (And if theaters and DVD stores entirely go out of business from lack of support? That also benefits Netflix. Now more people are staying home and watching TV!) Netflix executives and investors are looking at just a few numbers, and "DVD Sales" are not one of them. So there's no sense, I suppose, from their POV, in cannibalizing their core businesses to please old-school movie fans who prefer the big screen, and like having their own film libraries at home. I'm one of those old-school fans, but I have to at some point face this sad reality... Lon p/lon-harris

1 Warner Bros. Discovery is raising the monthy price of ad-free Max streaming plans by $1. Starting this week, the cheapest ad-free monthly Max subscription now costs $16.99 per month; annual plans jump from $149.99 to $169.99. More: The move is intended to increase overall streaming revenue, but particularly encourage Max subscribers to opt for an ad-supported plan. "Ultimate Ad-Free" plans, which allow streaming on up to four simultaneous devices in 4K Ultra HD, along with support for Dolby Atmos, also increased by $1 per month. The price increase comes just ahead of the hotly-awaited debut of "House of the Dragon" Season 2, premiering on June 16.

2 According to a report in The Information, Apple held talks last year about launching the TV+ streaming service in China. Apple's entry into the vast market could come via an agreement with the country's largest telecommunications provider, China Mobile. More: If a deal is finalized, Apple TV+ would become the only US streaming service available in China; the current status of the talks is unknown. China Mobile has around 200 million broadband customers, who already get traditional pay TV and streaming channels through their set-top boxes. The Information suggests a deal with China Mobile could also boost subscriptions for a wider suite of Apple services. Under Chinese law, foreign companies aren't allowed to operate their own streaming video platforms in the country; they can, however, license their content to Chinese platforms.

3 DAILY CALENDAR TUESDAY, JUNE 4 THE ACOLYTE: Disney's latest "Star Wars" series is set at the close of the High Republic era, 100 years before the events of "Episode I: The Phantom Menace." Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) and his former padawan (Amandla Stenberg) reunite to investigate a string of mysterious crimes. "Russian Doll" vet Leslye Headland created and serves as showrunner. [Disney+] CLIPPED: Six-part limited drama series from FX, based on the ESPN "30 for 30" podcast "The Sterling Affairs," and chronicling the public scandals around Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (Ed O'Neill) and his assistant/alleged mistress V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman). Laurence Fishburne and Jacki Weaver co-star as Clippers coach Doc Rivers and Sterling's wife Shelly; Gina Welch ("Castle Rock") created. [Hulu] ERASED: WWII HEROES OF COLOR: Four-part historical docuseries from National Geographic, relating the prevously-obscure stories of Allied soldiers of color during the Second World War. The first two episodes ("Pearl Harbor" and "D-Day") debut today; the next two ("Dunkirk" and "Battle of the Bulge") arrive on June 10. Idris Elba, whose grandfather fought in WWII, executive produced and narrates. [Hulu and Disney+] THE REAL RED TAILS: Hour-long documentary from National Geographic relating the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-Black US fighter squadron who encountered combat in WWII as well as racial discrimination at home. Sheryl Lee Ralph narrates. [Hulu] CELEBRITY NAME THAT TUNE: The Fox game show revival features famous contestants attempting to identify songs based on just a few recognizable notes. It's back for a fourth season. Jake Krakowski and Randy Jackson co-host. [Hulu] LET THE CANARY SING: Documentary profile of iconic '80s pop star Cyndi Lauper from filmmaker Alison Ellwood ("Laurel Canyon"), tracing her working-class upbringing in Queens, her meteroic rise in the music industry, and her outspoken activism. Lauper participated in the film and tells her story in her own words. [Paramount+] MARLON WAYANS: GOOD GRIEF: The stand-up's new special was recorded at Harlem's iconic Apollo Theater, and features reflections on the deaths of both of his parents, and why his mom was actually the funniest member of his famous family. [Prime Video] MEAN GIRLS: Musical comedy feature based on the 2004 movie and its stage adaptation, starring Angourie Rice as a formerly homeschooled teen who investigates the strange world of social cliques upon transferring to public high school. Renée Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Tina Fey, and Tim Meadows co-star. [Prime Video] AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR: The tournament-style reality competition series challenges athletes to complete a string of difficult and punishing obstacle courses as they ascend "Mt. Midoriyama"; the contestant with the overall fastest times takes home a $1 million grand prize. Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila, and Zuri Hall co-host; it's back for a 16th season. [Peacock] BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN: The Bravo reality series -- part of the "Below Deck" franchise -- follows crew members working on board a super-yacht as it visits exotic destinations. Season 9 debuts this week, and finds Capt. Sandy Yawn and the Mustique crew preparing for a new charter season in Athens, Greece. [Peacock] KILL OR BE KILLED: Debut true-crime docuseries from Oxygen examining murder cases in which the killer claims to have acted in self-defense. [Peacock] JO KOY: LIVE FROM BROOKLYN: The comedian's latest special was recorded at King's Theatre in New York and features material about energy vampires, mumble rap, flirting via text, and how it feels to be labeled a "zaddy." [Netflix] THE PRICE OF NONNA'S INHERITANCE (RICCHI A TUTTI I COSTI): 2024 comedy feature from Italy -- a sequel to 2022's "The Price of Family" -- about siblings who devise a scheme to protect their inheritance after grandma embarks on a questionable relationship with a sleazy suitor. "Price of Family" vets Christian De Sica and Angela Finocchiaro co-star; Giovanni Bognetti returns as writer/director. [Netflix] DEADLIEST CATCH 20th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: Discovery TV special looking back on 19 seasons of the reality series, which centers on crab fisherman working the treacherous waters of the Bering Sea. The landmark 20th season debuts next week on Max and cable. [Max]

4 Variety suggests that Netflix may encounter some difficulty in convincing advertisers to sign on for its Christmas Day NFL games. Netflix has secured the exclusive rights to stream two upcoming Christmas Day football games, and has not yet presented deal specifics to potential sponsors. More: Both games -- the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Houston Texans -- will stream on December 25, 2024. According to Variety -- based on four unnamed sources familiar with the negotiations -- Netflix is looking to charge around $400,000 for a 30-second ad during the football games. Sources suggest that the timing of the games, after the close of the traditional holiday shopping season, are not ideal for such costly ad rates. Netflix also hopes to lock its NFL sponsors in for additional inventory, requiring them to also purchase ads on the streamer's more conventional entertainment and VOD content; one executive flat out told Variety that "will not fly in this marketplace."

5 During a presentation at Deloitte's Media & Telecoms 2024 and Beyond Conference in London this week, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters discussed how the streamer selects and develops new programming. According to Peters, producing globally popular hit shows and films is "more art than science" and can't be totally entrusted to any simple algorithm. More: Peters said the real key to producing a solid line-up of fresh hits is a diverse collective of empowered executives behind the scenes, ensuring that "we are not relying on a single tastemaker." Peters also noted that trailers get billions of monthly impressions on Netflix, which helps to guide and steer creative development. Speaking in the UK, Peters focused his remarks on breakout British shows, including "Baby Reindeer," "The Gentlemen," and "Fool Me Once." He also used the recent livestreamed Tom Brady Roast as an example of Netflix's attempts to add "more aspect to our offering" and drive cultural conversations.

6 "Haunting of Hill House" and "Midnight Mass" creator Mike Flanagan spoke about Netflix's hostility toward physical media during a keynote at the 2024 ATX Festival. Flanagan first described his frustrations with Netflix's policies toward DVD and Blu-ray in a blog post in 2023. More: Flanagan's 2016 horror film "Hush" has not been widely available in the US since Netflix pulled it from their platform in 2023; the filmmaker suggested it will soon become available on DVD and Blu-ray, "becuase I really value physical media." In his blog post last year, Flanagan described Netflix as "actively hostile" to releasing physical media; he claims the streamer refused to release his work on DVD and Blu-ray despite repeated requests. In 2022, Flanagan and creative partner Trevor Macy closed out their Netflix deal, and signed a new multiyear agreement to produce content for Amazon Studios; he recently signed on to write and direct a new take on "The Exorcist" for Blumhouse.

7 "Succession" vet Sarah Snook grabbed the lead role in Peacock's thriller series "All Her Fault." The series, adapted from a novel by Andrea Mara, centers on a mother whose young son goes mysteriously missing during a seemingly innocuous playdate. More: Snook was nominated for 3 Emmys in total for her portrayal of Shiv Roy on "Succession," and won the Lead Actress award in 2023. "Suspicion" and "Wolf" vet Megan Gallagher will write the adaptation and serve as showrunner; she'll also executive produce alongside Snook.

8 QUICK HITS In a presentation to stockholders, current Paramount Global co-CEOs Chris McCarthy, George Cheeks, and Brian Robbins touted the importance of the company's IP library, which they value at around $14 billion. Vivendi's all-cash acquisition deal for African media company MultiChoice -- owners of the Showmax streaming service -- opened on Wednesday, and closes on April 25; Vivendi's Canal+ and MultiChoice are also working out a structured deal to satisfy South African legal requirements. "Sons of Anarchy" and "Rebel Moon" vet Charlie Hunnam took the lead role in the Prime Video series "Criminal," based on the graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Netflix is dropping support for older Apple TV devices, from the product's second and third generation; Apple already considers these devices "obsolete." Apple released a trailer for the comedy-drama series "Land of Women," starring Eva Longoria as a wealthy New Yorker who returns to her hometown in Spain, to hide from her husband's powerful enemies; the series arrives on June 26. Corey Stoll and Bobby Naderi grabbed regular roles in the upcoming Prime Video thriller series "The Better Sister," based on a novel by Alafair Burke; Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks co-star as estranged sisters who reunite following a brutal murder. Amazon announced the 6-part Japanese action series "Like a Dragon," based on SEGA's "Yakuza" video game franchise; "Kamen Rider" vet Takeuchi Ryoma stars as a fearsome yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice. "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer's real life daugher, Greer Grammer, will join the cast of the ensemble Paramount+ comedy series in its second season; she'll play Roz's adult daughter, Alice May Doyle. Amazon dropped a first look at the raunchy adult animated spinoff series "Sausage Party: Foodtopia," premiering on July 11.

Upcoming Events * This is a sponsored event

Lon Harris 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 Lon Harris

Discover more on inside.com/streaming Thanks for reading today's issue of Inside Streaming. Explore Explore

Share Email Share on X Open in Browser Open in Browser Open in Browser

Did someone forward this email to you? Get your free subscription here. Interested in sponsoring this newsletter? Connect with our sales team here. You received this email because you are subscribed to Inside Streaming. Manage your subscription or unsubscribe here. 767 Bryant St. #203, San Francisco, CA 94107 Copyright © 2024 Inside.com