July Highlights
• Ad-supported streaming options are resulting in large customer bases for streaming platforms, providing opportunities for brands to create two consumer touch points: both in the content and surrounding it
• The streaming race continues to heat up and expand globally with Paramount+ increasing orders for U.K. shows
• Music artists explore unique experiences for fan engagement, opening ”virtual” entry points for brands to engage with consumers
• Content continues to push for accurate representation in front of and behind the camera, creating a more engaging and authentic experience for consumers
• Box offices around the world did as Marvel’s newest film proves summer blockbusters are back in full swing

HBO MAX’S Ad-Supported Tier Represents 30% of Customer Base After Just One Year
As the streaming industry continues to evolve, for an increasingly significant portion of cord-cutters there has been a clear migration away from premium subscriptions to free or reduced-price options. Ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) subscription tiers have shown their worth as of late with HBO Max revealing that almost 30% of its subscriber base chose their least expensive plan (eMarketer). This provides an opportunity for brands to reach their audiences both within the content and surrounding it. — READ MORE

Paramount+ Ordered Almost As Many U.K. Shows As Netflix During First Half of the Year
Paramount+ has planted a flag in the U.K. in recent months with the streamer green-lighting many U.K. shows during the first half of the year. Paramount+ ordered 13 U.K. shows from January to May 2022, only three behind Netflix and well ahead of rivals. Paramount+ is putting a full-court press on Netflix as the streamer’s downloads hit record levels in Q2. In the U.K. the platform has ramped up content production significantly to give subscribers more of what they want, proving positive that in a crowded streaming marketplace audiences will continue to reward platforms by purchasing additional services that provide great content. — READ MORE

Megan Thee Stallion’s “Enter The Hottieverse” A Satisfying But Limited Experience
As conversations about the relationship between VR and music continue to grow, Megan Thee Stallion invited her fans into the “Hottieverse” for a piece of the action in the form of a special  virtual reality concert. At a time when artists are exploring new ways to connect with fans, Megan’s VR experience offers one possibility for brands to engage with consumers. — READ MORE

How ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Achieved Authentic Representation of Autism
Cha Cha Real Smooth casting director Angela Demo said it was out of the question to consider neurotypical actors for the part of Lola, a character on the autism spectrum: “Never was it ever mentioned on this project that we would consider actors who do not have autism.” Cooper Raiff’s new film tells a messy love story about 22-year-old Andrew (Raiff) who falls for the older Domino (Dakota Johnson) while babysitting her daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). Accurate representation in content is more important than ever for audiences, and brands that reach engaged audiences through an authentic lens are likely to create a stronger brand affinity with consumers. — READ MORE

Thor: Love and Thunder Nails $302M Global Debut
Disney and Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder box office performance came largely in line with opening projections, landing a $159M start in 47 international box office markets and $302M globally. Worldwide, this earned the third-highest weekend for any Hollywood movie during the pandemic and the second-best of 2022 behind Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness. The summer of resurgence continues at the global box office. Continued premier successes should leave studios feeling confident that audiences are comfortable returning to theaters for must-see entertainment. — READ MORE

Click here to download a PDF version of this report.​

U.K. Specific News

UKTV owned-channel ‘Dave’ has set aside up to £8m to test the waters with its first drama commission, eyeing a six-part series that will fall outside of its usual comedy/ comedy entertainment output. At a tariff of somewhere between £1.2-£1.5m per episode, that would mean a commitment of up to £8m. — READ MORE

Pinewood Studios has submitted a planning application for an expanded screen hub, after being granted planning permission in April for a screen industries growth hub known as Screen Hub U.K. and a film-inspired visitor attraction. The ‘Pinewood South’ studios scheme would deliver 20 new sound stages with workshops and offices on 82 acres of land to the south of the existing studios. The £800 million ($955 million) scheme is estimated to create over 8,000 new jobs and add around £640 million annually to economic productivity. — READ MORE

LATAM Specific News

ViX+ head Rodrigo Mazon talks new Spanish-language SVOD Platform
TelevisaUnivision kicks off with more than 10,000 hours of entertainment, news and sports. More than 70 ViX+ Original series and films will stream in the first year. ViX+ costs $6.99 a month in the US and MX$119 (around $5.80) in Mexico and is available as an app and can be found on select connected TV and digital subscription platforms. US-based Mexican-American Mazon started at MGM in 2001 and has worked in streaming for the past decade. He was director of content at Hulu where he launched Hulu Latino and spent the last six years at Netflix, most recently as VP of content, where he and his team acquired or produced hit shows like Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) and El Chapo. — READ MORE

TelevisaUnivision Posts ‘Double-Digit’ Upfront Volume Growth
Scoring strong upfront ad market revenue results, Spanish-language media group, TelevisaUnivision posted “double-digit” volume growth, according to a media executive close to the company — its best result in seven years. The media company posted “high single digit” cost-per-thousand viewer increases (CPMs) versus the upfront market of a year ago. A TelevisaUnivision representative had no comment with regard to the upfront negotiations. Compared to other national TV network-based media companies, TelevisaUnivision witnessed rising overall ratings from its linear TV networks. It also gleaned faster gaining results from its streaming platform, ViX — its recently launched Hispanic household data ID graph — to help boost revenue, the executive says. — READ MORE

Disney Teams With Starz For Streaming Bundle in Latin America
Walt Disney and Lionsgate’s Starz platform have partnered to produce a streaming subscription bundle targeted at Latin America. The offer ties together Disney+, Star+ and Starzplay for consumers in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The latest streaming bundling offer comes as online video platforms face increasing competition as they roll out worldwide and contend against tech giants like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ as well as studio conglomerates’ platforms like Hulu, Paramount+, HBO Max and Discovery+. Starz has a global streaming subscriber base of 24.5 million, while Disney+ boasts 137.7 million subscribers. — READ MORE

Batman Azteca: HBO Max Orders Animated Feature Set In Mexico
Batman is heading to Mexico. HBO Max Latin America has ordered an original animated feature-length film that takes the DC Comics character south of the border. The streamer will launch the Dark Knight story Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios (Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires). The news was unveiled at the Guadalajara International Film Festival. The animated feature comes from Warner Bros. Animation and DC in partnership with Anima and Chatrone. — READ MORE

Netflix On Board For Latinx List 2022
Back for a third year, the Latinx List has added some significant streamer sinew for 2022. Netflix has now come on board with the scriptwriting initiative to offer WGA minimum script deals to two selected scribes. With five original feature films and five original pilot scripts to be chosen, the submission period for the 2022 Latinx List runs through September 2. — READ MORE