Netflix in talks to buy Roald Dahl. (The IP, not the corpse).

One of the big problems Netflix faces is a lack of intellectual property that is known away from Netflix. Anytime it is releases TV shows or movies as Netflix originals that are based on pre-existing books/TV/Comics/etc it needs to license the properties.

Three years ago Netflix did just that with the Roald Dahl library of content. It paid somewhere between a cool $500 million to $1 billion deal to make animated shows out of his books (which include Matilda, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, The BFG, The Witches, and more). But now, Netflix are looking at taking the deal further and buying the rights to the Roald Dahl library outright.

This means that any new movies or TV shows based on Dahl books would be through Netflix in the same way that Disney is the exclusive home of Star Wars, Warner Bros is where you go for DC Comics, etc.

While Dahl was best known for his children's books, he also penned books for adults. This includes his Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected anthology, which was adapted for TV between 1979-1988.

Want free Netflix?

If you want free Netflix, there's an easy way to do it. Move to Kenya.

As a way to entice locals to use the service, Netflix will have a free tier with 1/4 of its library available to stream ad-free on Android handsets. The non-paying customers will not be added to reporting on Netflix's paid customers.

Executives remain bullish on the long-term future, noting there are large markets where streaming television is just starting to take hold. To attract customers in Africa, Netflix is investing in locally made programming such as "Queen Sono" and "Jiva!" and has partnered with production studios in Nigeria.

"If you've never watched Netflix before — and many people in Kenya haven’t — this is a great way to experience our service," Cathy Conk, director of product innovation at Netflix, said in a blog post. "And if you like what you see, it’s easy to upgrade to one of our paid plans so you can enjoy our full catalog on your TV or laptop as well."

TeeVee Snacks

Scott Bakula says that there are talks for Quantum Leap to return. Oh boy. Read: Deadline
George Holliday has died, aged 61, due to COVID-19 complications. Holliday was the plumber who in 1991 filmed the beating of Rodney King. That iconic video you have now seen hundreds of times in your life was filmed using his then-wifes Sony Handycam. He handed the footage over to the local news and has never been compensated for the footage. Read: Washington Post
The 96-minute doco The Beatles in India has been acquired by Channel 4 in the UK, BritBox North America for the US & Canada, HBO Max in Latin America, Foxtel in Australia, Rialto Channel in New Zealand, Channel One in Russia, and A Contracorriente Films in Spain. Read: TBI Vision
The current Byron/Tweed lockdown in New South Wales was sparked by an I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here crew member testing COVID possible. Read: TV Tonight
The Amazing World of Gumball is being revived as a movie and TV series. Read: TV Line
Disney is updating the theme park ride Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin to focus on his wife Jessica Rabbit and her new detective agency. Did Roger get Me-Too'd at some point and I missed it? It's difficult to keep track. Read: The AV Club
Promotional stunt hip thruster James Corden will bring his audience back for The Late Late Show. Read: Deadline
US Paramount+ subscribers can now buy a bundle that gives them a discount on Showtime access. Outside the US, new Showtime originals and some older Showtime content is available in the Paramount+ subscription price. Read: The Verge
Disney head honcho Bob Chapek has warned investors that Q4 this year will have fewer new titles released on Disney+ due to COVID related production issues. He says it is temporary and that currently there's 61 new movies and 17 episodic programs in production. Read: Deadline
Peacock has ordered a Pitch Perfect TV series. Adam Devine will star. Read: Variety

Kathryhn Hahn set to play Joan Rivers

Sometimes you hear of a TV project and it just sounds like a great idea immediately. Kathryn Hahn has signed on to star in a new series The Comeback Girl. In it she will play comedy icon Joan Rivers. The series is focused on the time following the cancellation of her nightly talk show on Fox, during which time her husband Edgar Rosenberg took his own life.

Rivers is a fascinating subject. Hahn has always been a highly compelling actor. This is one to watch out for.

November 12 is Disney+ Day

As Christmas becomes so commercial and less about religion, the same cannot be said about Disney who this year will launch Disney+ Day, which is all about buying gifts and the religion that is Disney.

Celebrate Disney+ Day with your family this year on November 12. On the day, the company will debut Shang Chi and the new Home Alone film Home Sweet Home Alone. Also, Jungle Cruise will be made available for all subscribers and removed from the Premium Access tier.

Also on the day will be the release of Frozen anthology shorts series Olaf Presents, a new Simpsons animated short that celebrates all things Disney, five new episodes of The World According to Jeff Goldblum, some sort of Boba Fett special, and a Marvel Cinematic Universe special that features a look at what is to come for the MCU.

That's actually quite a bit of stuff to watch. How will your family come together to celebrate this hallowed day?

Trailer Park

Sex, Love and Goop debuts on Netflix Oct 21.

Escape The Undertaker debuts Oct 5 on Netflix.

The Hot Zone: Anthrax debuts on National Geographic November 28.

The Problem with Jon Stewart debuts Sept 30 on Apple TV+.

Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth debuts on Apple TV+ Jan 14. It'll be in cinemas on Dec 25.

From Academy Award winner Joel Coen, "The Tragedy of Macbeth" stars Denzel Washington and Frances MacDormand.

Misfit: The Series debuts on Netflix Oct 16.

The Misfits are in for a wild year as they prepare a school musical. But when the strict new headmaster bans the show, it's up to Julia to save the day.

What's next? Tomorrow.