Business of Media
The real reason why Netflix is haemorrhaging viewers
New analysis has revealed that Netflix is pulling the plug on its own hit shows much earlier than it used to … and it’s all down to keeping a lid on costs. But the tactic is backfiring, report The Times’ Rosamund Urwin and Narottam Medhora.
It is the bane of the Netflix subscriber’s life: the streaming service has cancelled their favourite show and they never know which series will be axed next.
Now analysis has revealed that Netflix is pulling the plug on its own shows much earlier than it used to, and the strategy is thought to be one factor putting subscribers off the platform. Last week its share price dropped more than 35 per cent after it reported that it had lost 200,000 subscribers in three months, the first decline in a decade.
However, it is becoming rarer for even Netflix’s own hit shows to last beyond three seasons, with fewer than one in five launched in 2017 reaching that milestone compared with 31 per cent in 2015.
Fans have been surprised by the cancellation of high-profile shows including the fantasy epic Marco Polo and the science fiction drama The OA – both axed after two series – and the thriller Bloodline, which ended after its third season.
News Brands
Media outlets have been warned about distributing misleading federal election information
The Australian Electoral Commission has already forced the Seven Network and other media organisations to amend content it says contains factual inaccuracies about the voting system, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
In the lead-up to the May 21 poll, the AEC has issued warnings to publishers, social media companies and political parties against distribution of misleading election material.
The AEC’s director of media and digital entertainment, Evan Ekin-Smyth, told The Australian they had already received hundreds of complaints during the election campaign about pieces of electoral communication distributed via mainstream media, social media companies, political parties, candidates themselves and other stakeholders.
The AEC has told Seven to amend one video – which explained the electoral system – to provide the correct information to viewers. This is just one of many examples where the AEC has taken action.
Networks vie for two federal election debates
Anthony Albanese’s Covid-19 diagnosis has complicated the picture for the leaders’ debate program for the federal election, reports News Corp’s Nick Tabakoff.
The Australian understands that three bidders – Nine’s 60 Minutes, the ABC and Seven – are now fighting for a maximum of two debates for the remainder of the campaign.
That will mean that at least one of the competing media networks will have to miss out.
Albanese won’t come out of isolation until Thursday, almost certainly eliminating any options for holding a debate in the coming week. That effectively leaves three weeks of the campaign remaining for any debates to take place after the Labor leader re-emerges.
It is understood that Scott Morrison’s camp has ruled out holding a debate in the last week of the campaign, effectively leaving open only a two-week window for remaining debates.
Labor MP Mark Dreyfus accused of spreading ‘lie’ about Coalition plans to privatise the ABC
Federal shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has doubled down on his claims the Coalition wants to privatise the ABC, despite the federal government repeatedly rejecting any such proposal, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
The Victorian Labor MP, addressing an ABC Friends’ rally on Saturday, criticised the Morrison government for “threatening the ABC” and said it was considering selling off the public broadcaster.
His comments were reiterated by ABC Friends’ Victorian president Michael Henry, who also addressed the event outside Liberal senator David Van’s office in Melbourne’s southeast.
But Communications Minister Paul Fletcher told The Australian that Mr Dreyfus’ claims were “nothing more or less than election disinformation”.
“The Coalition is fully committed to the ABC in public ownership,” he said. “The suggestion the government has a policy of privatising the ABC is a lie and Mr Dreyfus should withdraw it immediately.”
Newsprint price spike threatens country papers
Price hikes slated to hit regional newspapers on July 1 from Australia’s sole remaining newsprint plant are worse than the industry has feared, with some publishers reporting price jumps of 80 per cent over previous rates and orders going only half filled, reports SMH’s Nick Bonyhady.
Regional media representatives have asked the federal government for rapid help, fearing the cost rises could result in newsroom closures.
Norwegian paper giant Norske Skog has closed its New Zealand and Albury mills in recent years because of a long-term decline in demand for newsprint, leaving only its Boyer facility in northern Tasmania making that type of paper in the region.
Radio
New Commercial Radio Australia CEO Ford Ennals says all radio content must be ‘free and easy to access’
The new head of Australia’s radio industry body has warned that global tech companies must not abuse their power by acting as gatekeepers to digital content and there must continue to remain free and easy access to radio services, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
One of the UK’s most experienced digital radio figures, Ford Ennals, began his appointment as Commercial Radio Australia’s chief executive this month, and stressed the importance of ensuring Australians did not face barriers to readily accessible radio.
In his first interview since taking up his new role, Ennals said the tech platforms had “great influence and increasing power because they are in so many households and people rely on them”. “When people want to listen to their favourite radio podcasts or their favourite show it ought to be easy to access and it ought to be what they get,” he said.
Television
Netflix cancels in-production titles after subscriber loss and stock price plunge
Netflix is already making moves after the distressing news it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of this year, resulting in a stock price plunge which wiped $54 billion off its market value, reports News Corp’s Wenlei Ma.
While the streaming company flagged it would introduce a cheaper ad-supported subscription option and crack down on the common practice of password sharing, executives also hinted that it would be cutting back on content spend.
The first casualty of that cost-cutting appears to be its animation slate with The Wrap reporting Netflix has ousted the head of its animation department, Phil Rynda, and with him several staff members and in-production projects.
Rumour: Pluto TV circles Australia
Streaming platform Pluto TV appears to be is inching closer to an Australian launch, after a visit from global Paramount executives, reports TV Tonight.
Maria Kyriacou, President ViacomCBS Networks International Australia, Israel and UK, and Raffaele Annecchino, President & CEO, International Networks, Studios and Streaming at Paramount Global were both recently guests of Paramount ANZ including at the Australian Grand Prix.
US-based Pluto TV is an ad-supported free streaming service available in some 25 markets including US, UK and European territories. Pluto TV offers a range of channels including Movies, Entertainment, News + Opinion, Reality, Crime, Comedy, Gaming + Anime, Kids, Sport and more.
Sport Media
AFL boss flies to US for talks with media companies
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is leading a delegation of senior executives to the US to ramp up talks with media companies for the league’s next broadcast deal, reports The Age.
The trip comes after The Age revealed two of the world’s biggest streaming companies, Amazon and Paramount, were bidding to screen AFL matches as part of the next agreement beyond 2024.
The league confirmed on Monday night that McLachlan, who attended the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG during the afternoon, had boarded a plane to the US along with broadcasting boss Travis Auld, strategy supremo Walter Lee and general counsel and head of football Andrew Dillon.
A league spokesman said they were making the trip “for further discussions regarding the AFL’s broadcast arrangements”.