Netflix sets a new narrative (in case it loses Warner Bros)
One of the more interesting podcasts I watched(!!!) yesterday was this interview with Netflix co-chief Ted Sarandos on The Town.
The big headline from the interview was Sarandos getting specific about what a theatrical window would look like when Netflix closes its deal to buy Warner Bros.
He’s committing to retaining 45 days exclusive for cinemas before the films then move on to PVOD (ie renting/buying it from a digital store). Read more on this over at The Wrap.
What I found more interesting was the new narrative I saw Sarandos dropping into the conversation, which is that Netflix has always been a shrewd business that doesn’t overpay for assets (he cited projects they regularly let go to other studios when the price gets too high), indicating that if Paramount drive the price up high enough, Netflix will drop out.
Do I think Paramount will drive that price up to a point where Netflix opts to abandon the sale? It’s possible, but my assumption has been for a while that papa bear Larry Ellison is at the ceiling on what he wants to spend on Paramount.
The real cash cow for him is the recent TikTok US acquisition and the last thing he needs is for the Democrats clawing back power in the midterms later this year and launching investigations into how his company Oracle was given the TikTok opportunity by Trump. Strategically, it’s better for all attention to be on Netflix and its market share following a WB purchase.
This 90s hit sitcom star could derail latest Prime Video comedy
Prime Video has announced the cast for the second season of stunt comedy prank show Jury Duty. In the first season we saw a real life guy cast in a fake jury trial. The second season will leave the courtroom behind and instead the fake reality show will take place at a corporate retreat.
Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat is a documentary-style comedy that captures a corporate offsite event at a family-owned hot sauce company from the perspective of Anthony, a recently hired temporary worker.
Unbeknownst to Anthony, the entire experience is staged, every colleague around him is performing a role, and each moment – whether in conference rooms or during downtime – has been meticulously orchestrated. As the founder prepares to step down, the getaway transforms into a clash between big corporate ambitions and small business values, with control of the company hanging in the balance.
Joining the cast of Jury Duty: Company Retreat will be: Alex Bonifer (Kevin Can F**k Himself), Blair Beeken (Pluribus), Emily Pendergast (Veep), Erica Hernandez (True Lies), Jerry Hauck (Paradise), Jim A. Woods (The Office), LaNisa Renee Frederick (Shifting Gears), Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur (Home Economics), Rachel Kaly (Worried), Rob Lathan (Inside Amy Schumer), Ryan Perez (The Break with Michelle Wolf), Stephanie Hodge (The Comeback), Warren Burke (Dead for a Dollar), and Wendy Braun (Atypical).
…. wait, Stephanie Hodge is in the cast for this? I hope for Prime Video’s sake that Anthony, the guy at the centre of the show, isn’t a fan of early 90s sitcom Nurses, a spin-off from The Golden Girls spin-off Empty Nest. Otherwise, the entire setup will be blown!
News Desk
The iconic WKRP call letters are available from a North Carolina broadcaster auctioning them off to TV, AM or full-power FM stations in Greater Cincinnati and half of America. And if you’re under the age of 45, you might need this for some context. Read: WVXU
Peter Krause is the latest familiar face to front an NBC pilot this season, set to star in Protection. Read: THR
If, like me, the first thought you had while playing popular board game Ticket To Ride was “this really should be a movie,” good news: Netflix has acquired the exclusive global rights to do just that. Read: Deadline
150,000 people attended the Kaguya concert at the Saniro Virtual Festival. That’s the largest number of concurrent streamers to have attended a Japanese language concert. Read: Road To VR
Fifth season has acquired the rights to erotic novel Beautiful Bastard. Great name. The book’s co-authors will write the TV adaptation. Read: Variety
Apple TV show The Hunt, which was put on hold following concerns the studio hadn’t cleared the rights for a Douglas Fairbairn book the show was based on, will debut March 4. The trailer is below. Read: The Verge
Former The Good Place writers Andrew Law and Matt Murray will team with The Good Place EP Mike Schur for new Netflix animated comedy Dang!. Read: THR
According to measurement firm Tubular Labs, Over 72 hours, 1320 video uploads of the Stephen Colbert interview with James Talarico were registered across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook generating 85 million views. A view being anyone watching for more than two seconds. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man debuts on Netflix March 20.
House of The Dragon is back for season 3 on HBO Max in June.
The Hunt debuts on Apple TV March 4.
Franck (Magimel) and his longtime friends enjoy spending their weekends hunting together, but one Sunday, they come across another group of hunters who start targeting them without explanation. When one of their party is shot, Franck's friends strike back, sending an attacker to the ground. Barely managing to escape, the four friends keep the event a secret. Franck tries to go back to his life as usual alongside his wife Krystel (Laurent), but in the next few days, he starts to feel like he and his friends are being watched, or worse, tracked by hunters who are now hell-bent on revenge.
Bedtime Stories With Ryan debuts on Nick Jr March 2.
Boyfriend on Demand debuts on Netflix March 6.
Seo Mi-rae is worn out by work. Love? It's the last thing on her mind. But a virtual dating service sparks feelings - and maybe a real shot at romance.
Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black returns for part 2 of season 2 on Netflix March 19.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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