Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here. We’ve been out in force in France this week. To read about our travels, plus plenty more, scroll down, and sign up here.
All That Mania
‘So Long, Marianne’ star Alex Wolff (left) with Series Mania boss Laurence Herszberg
Netflix pulls ahead: Anything but doom and gloom this week at the Lille Series Mania confab, which was buzzy as ever, cementing its place as a must-not-miss event in the ever-crowded TV market calendar. Big stars including Patricia Arquette, Jeremy Irons and Michael Chiklis headed to the city in northern France to tout wares and talk shop. Netflix execs were out in full force, pushing hard against the cross-industry contraction narrative by unveiling dozens of shows in the weeks leading up to the market — and unveiling two more, starring Isabelle Adjani and Famke Janssen — at its showcase. At a time when local content is being rowed back,...
All That Mania
‘So Long, Marianne’ star Alex Wolff (left) with Series Mania boss Laurence Herszberg
Netflix pulls ahead: Anything but doom and gloom this week at the Lille Series Mania confab, which was buzzy as ever, cementing its place as a must-not-miss event in the ever-crowded TV market calendar. Big stars including Patricia Arquette, Jeremy Irons and Michael Chiklis headed to the city in northern France to tout wares and talk shop. Netflix execs were out in full force, pushing hard against the cross-industry contraction narrative by unveiling dozens of shows in the weeks leading up to the market — and unveiling two more, starring Isabelle Adjani and Famke Janssen — at its showcase. At a time when local content is being rowed back,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
French commercial broadcast giant TF1 is taking its streaming service international. CEO Rodolphe Belmer told Series Mania on Thursday that TF1+ will start rolling out in the middle of this year before a wider series of launches in 2025.
“We will roll out TF1+ in the French-speaking world,” Belmer said during a keynote, the first of several from the leaders of French broadcasters on the final day of the Series Mania Forum. “We’ll launch in Belgium and Luxembourg in June and then Switzerland a few months later. Then in 2025 we will launch in the [wider] French-speaking world.”
Belmer talked up TF1+, the free streaming service that the net launched in January. Outgoing M6 boss Nicolas de Tavernost similarly used his keynote to detail plans for M6+.
“The internet does not have borders and that has allowed international players to develop – Netflix, Disney+ et cetera – there is no reason for us not...
“We will roll out TF1+ in the French-speaking world,” Belmer said during a keynote, the first of several from the leaders of French broadcasters on the final day of the Series Mania Forum. “We’ll launch in Belgium and Luxembourg in June and then Switzerland a few months later. Then in 2025 we will launch in the [wider] French-speaking world.”
Belmer talked up TF1+, the free streaming service that the net launched in January. Outgoing M6 boss Nicolas de Tavernost similarly used his keynote to detail plans for M6+.
“The internet does not have borders and that has allowed international players to develop – Netflix, Disney+ et cetera – there is no reason for us not...
- 3/21/2024
- by Stewart Clarke
- Deadline Film + TV
Nicolas de Tavernost, the outgoing boss of M6, did not hold back today during what will likely be his last on-stage appearance after a near-40-year career with The Traitors France network.
De Tavernost used his Series Mania keynote to slam the French competition laws that prevented M6’s merger with TF1, while urging “collective measures” to improve local streamers in France.
Addressing the merger around 18 months after it collapsed due to regulators, de Tavernost said the law restricting consolidation in France is “a bit absurd.”
“When you see mergers in other parts of the world and here in France we won’t be able to do it because we are restricted by laws it is frustrating,” he added. “I am totally in favor of consolidation but it hasn’t so far been possible with TF1.”
He criticized French laws for being “not well drafted and having the wrong consequences,...
De Tavernost used his Series Mania keynote to slam the French competition laws that prevented M6’s merger with TF1, while urging “collective measures” to improve local streamers in France.
Addressing the merger around 18 months after it collapsed due to regulators, de Tavernost said the law restricting consolidation in France is “a bit absurd.”
“When you see mergers in other parts of the world and here in France we won’t be able to do it because we are restricted by laws it is frustrating,” he added. “I am totally in favor of consolidation but it hasn’t so far been possible with TF1.”
He criticized French laws for being “not well drafted and having the wrong consequences,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
European production and distribution group Newen Studios has appointed Pierre Branco — the former country manager of Warner Bros Discovery for France, Benelux and Africa — as CEO.
Branco will begin his position at Newen Studios starting in April, succeeding Romain Bessi, who has decided to step down after a six-year tenure during which he led the company’s expansion.
Newen Studios is owned by TF1 Group, France’s leading commercial network, and has a footprint in 11 countries. The banner regroups 50 labels and has so far produced more than 4,000 hours of content, as well as distributed 12,000 hours of programs across its catalog.
Under the executive reshuffle, Rodolphe Belmer, TF1’s chairman and CEO, will be appointed chairman of Newen Studios.
Under his role at Newen Studios, Branco will work with the banner’s French and international partners, ranging from traditional broadcasters to media platforms in France and abroad. Over the next six months,...
Branco will begin his position at Newen Studios starting in April, succeeding Romain Bessi, who has decided to step down after a six-year tenure during which he led the company’s expansion.
Newen Studios is owned by TF1 Group, France’s leading commercial network, and has a footprint in 11 countries. The banner regroups 50 labels and has so far produced more than 4,000 hours of content, as well as distributed 12,000 hours of programs across its catalog.
Under the executive reshuffle, Rodolphe Belmer, TF1’s chairman and CEO, will be appointed chairman of Newen Studios.
Under his role at Newen Studios, Branco will work with the banner’s French and international partners, ranging from traditional broadcasters to media platforms in France and abroad. Over the next six months,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
As CEO of Canal+ for more than a decade, Rodolphe Belmer pushed the pay TV giant to make original scripted content — a bet that paid off with award-winning shows such “Spiral” and “The Returned.” So what does he have planned at TF1, the French television company he took over last year?
From his office on the top floor of a 14-level skyscraper, with a panoramic view that includes the Eiffel Tower and La Defénse in the distance, Belmer reveals that TF1 hopes to expand its reach into other European countries, while launching an ad-supported streaming service on Jan. 8.
“We want to penetrate all French-speaking markets, including Belgium,” he says. “Let’s not forget that French is the fifth-most-spoken language in the world.”
And Belmer recognizes that TF1 has suffered some setbacks. Its planned merger with M6, the country’s second-biggest private TV network, failed to gain antitrust approval in 2022. TF1 also pulled out of Salto,...
From his office on the top floor of a 14-level skyscraper, with a panoramic view that includes the Eiffel Tower and La Defénse in the distance, Belmer reveals that TF1 hopes to expand its reach into other European countries, while launching an ad-supported streaming service on Jan. 8.
“We want to penetrate all French-speaking markets, including Belgium,” he says. “Let’s not forget that French is the fifth-most-spoken language in the world.”
And Belmer recognizes that TF1 has suffered some setbacks. Its planned merger with M6, the country’s second-biggest private TV network, failed to gain antitrust approval in 2022. TF1 also pulled out of Salto,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Pierre-Antoine Capton, the co-founder and CEO of Mediawan, was named Knight of the Legion of Honor by French President Emmanuel Macron during a ceremony held at the Elysée Palace in Paris.
Capton was honored alongside other French figures who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s cultural landscape, including the filmmaker Costa Gavras, actor and novelist Marlène Jobert, contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, historian Pierre Nora, choreographer Claude Bessy, journalist Jean-Claude Narcy and conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus.
A former indie TV producer who rose through the ranks, Capton co-founded Mediawan with telco billionaire Xavier Niel and financier Matthieu Pigasse in 2015 and has turned it into an international powerhouse with a raft of strategic acquisitions, including France’s Ab Productions, the U.K.’s Drama Republic, Italy’s Palomar and Brad Pitt’s Plan B. The company, which is backed by Kkr and recently signed a €100m TV development deal with Entourage Ventures,...
Capton was honored alongside other French figures who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s cultural landscape, including the filmmaker Costa Gavras, actor and novelist Marlène Jobert, contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, historian Pierre Nora, choreographer Claude Bessy, journalist Jean-Claude Narcy and conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus.
A former indie TV producer who rose through the ranks, Capton co-founded Mediawan with telco billionaire Xavier Niel and financier Matthieu Pigasse in 2015 and has turned it into an international powerhouse with a raft of strategic acquisitions, including France’s Ab Productions, the U.K.’s Drama Republic, Italy’s Palomar and Brad Pitt’s Plan B. The company, which is backed by Kkr and recently signed a €100m TV development deal with Entourage Ventures,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Gilles Pélisson, the former boss of TF1, has been elected president of French film and TV promotion org Unifrance. He will succeed to Serge Toubiana and Hervé Michel.
Other candidates to take the helm of Unifrance included Frédérique Bredin, the former boss of the National Film Board (Cnc), Anne Durupty, former Arte France boss, and film producer Marie Masmonteil.
Pelisson was elected by a 60-member executive committee, which includes representatives of major guilds and commissions. Pelisson is a veteran within France’s media and entertainment industry landscape but may not be as knowledgable about French films as his predecessor, Toubiana, who had led the French Cinematheque and Les Cahiers du Cinema prior to joining Unifrance.
Pelisson’s election comes two years after Unifrance merged with TV France International, the French TV promotion body.
Pelissonn, who is the former president of Accor, Eurodisney and Bouygues Telecom, entered the Bouygues-owned commercial TV network TF1 in 2009 as administrator.
Other candidates to take the helm of Unifrance included Frédérique Bredin, the former boss of the National Film Board (Cnc), Anne Durupty, former Arte France boss, and film producer Marie Masmonteil.
Pelisson was elected by a 60-member executive committee, which includes representatives of major guilds and commissions. Pelisson is a veteran within France’s media and entertainment industry landscape but may not be as knowledgable about French films as his predecessor, Toubiana, who had led the French Cinematheque and Les Cahiers du Cinema prior to joining Unifrance.
Pelisson’s election comes two years after Unifrance merged with TV France International, the French TV promotion body.
Pelissonn, who is the former president of Accor, Eurodisney and Bouygues Telecom, entered the Bouygues-owned commercial TV network TF1 in 2009 as administrator.
- 7/7/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Rodolphe Belmer, the former CEO of Canal+ Group, who recently took the helm of France’s leading commercial channel TF1, said the company looks to forge deeper ties with streaming services, including Netflix, to team on premium content.
Belmer, who was part of Netflix’s administration board from 2018 to 2022, explained TF1 is facing a dearth of U.S. content available for its primetime slots. “U.S. series are less and less available because of the vertical integration of big U.S. production companies and networks, so we have to replace the bulk of these programs,” said Belmer, who recently succeeded to Gilles Pelisson as CEO and chairman of TF1.
The French executive pointed out these U.S. shows are not easy to replace because they pulled some of the highest ratings on primetime TF1 and were “very profitable because the costs to acquire them were largely below the advertising revenues they generated.
Belmer, who was part of Netflix’s administration board from 2018 to 2022, explained TF1 is facing a dearth of U.S. content available for its primetime slots. “U.S. series are less and less available because of the vertical integration of big U.S. production companies and networks, so we have to replace the bulk of these programs,” said Belmer, who recently succeeded to Gilles Pelisson as CEO and chairman of TF1.
The French executive pointed out these U.S. shows are not easy to replace because they pulled some of the highest ratings on primetime TF1 and were “very profitable because the costs to acquire them were largely below the advertising revenues they generated.
- 3/23/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Rodolphe Belmer has made the case for TF1 Group as “the free entertainment reference for French citizens on TV and in streaming.”
Talking during a Lille Dialogue keynote session here at Series Mania, the TF1 CEO said the growth of streaming services, especially Netflix, meant linear networks such as his group needed to double down on their cultural strengths to reach viewers.
Several times he referenced the need to create content based around “heroes” and cultural figures, adding: “The editorial line is to promote French popular culture.”
Belmer, a Netflix board member, provided an analysis of the TV and streaming market during his talk. He claimed international SVOD service Netflix remained firmly established in the subscription market as rivals such have pivoted back towards major franchises and owned IP to offset streaming losses.
Related: Deadline’s Full Coverage Of Series Mania 2023
“Netflix is a huge and remarkable success but the...
Talking during a Lille Dialogue keynote session here at Series Mania, the TF1 CEO said the growth of streaming services, especially Netflix, meant linear networks such as his group needed to double down on their cultural strengths to reach viewers.
Several times he referenced the need to create content based around “heroes” and cultural figures, adding: “The editorial line is to promote French popular culture.”
Belmer, a Netflix board member, provided an analysis of the TV and streaming market during his talk. He claimed international SVOD service Netflix remained firmly established in the subscription market as rivals such have pivoted back towards major franchises and owned IP to offset streaming losses.
Related: Deadline’s Full Coverage Of Series Mania 2023
“Netflix is a huge and remarkable success but the...
- 3/23/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Lille’s Series Mania Forum is kicking off today with a packed schedule of talks, screenings and competitions.
Fighting it out in International Competition are the likes of Prime Video’s Toni Collette starrer The Power, Haven of Grace from Magnetic Beats director Vincent Maël Cardona, and Quoc Dang Tran’s Apple TV+ series Drops of God.
They compete against Greek series Milky Way, which opened the festival, Viaplay’s futuristic Russell Tovey drama The Fortress, Red Skies from Israel, The Actor from Iran and Fleeting Lies from Spain. Each will have its world premiere at the event.
The Power is a fantasy series set in a world where the physical balance of power between men and women switches when electric arcs emerge from the fingers of teenage girls all around the world. Debuting later this month, it comes from Sister, the UK producer behind Chernobyl and is based on Naomi Alderman’s sci-fi novel.
Fighting it out in International Competition are the likes of Prime Video’s Toni Collette starrer The Power, Haven of Grace from Magnetic Beats director Vincent Maël Cardona, and Quoc Dang Tran’s Apple TV+ series Drops of God.
They compete against Greek series Milky Way, which opened the festival, Viaplay’s futuristic Russell Tovey drama The Fortress, Red Skies from Israel, The Actor from Iran and Fleeting Lies from Spain. Each will have its world premiere at the event.
The Power is a fantasy series set in a world where the physical balance of power between men and women switches when electric arcs emerge from the fingers of teenage girls all around the world. Debuting later this month, it comes from Sister, the UK producer behind Chernobyl and is based on Naomi Alderman’s sci-fi novel.
- 3/21/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
‘The Woman King’ & ‘Aftersun’ Dominate Girls On Film Awards
The Woman King and Aftersun dominated the main awards at the second annual Girls On Film Awards. The Woman King picked up Best Ensemble, sponsored by Netflix, and Best Female Friendship On Screen. Woman King star Viola Davis was also awarded the Feminist Superhero award. Woman King lead Sheila Atim was there in person to accept the awards. Aftersun nabbed Best Feature Film Sponsored by Eon Productions, while the film’s publicity team also won Best Publicity Campaign. Other big winners included Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder, which took home Best Cinematography and the Sinéad O’Connor pic Nothing Compares (Best Documentary). Nominees for the awards were chosen by a selection of critics and journalists. Girls On Film was launched by Deadline critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and producer Hedda Archbold with the aim of rewarding excellence in the field of feminism,...
The Woman King and Aftersun dominated the main awards at the second annual Girls On Film Awards. The Woman King picked up Best Ensemble, sponsored by Netflix, and Best Female Friendship On Screen. Woman King star Viola Davis was also awarded the Feminist Superhero award. Woman King lead Sheila Atim was there in person to accept the awards. Aftersun nabbed Best Feature Film Sponsored by Eon Productions, while the film’s publicity team also won Best Publicity Campaign. Other big winners included Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder, which took home Best Cinematography and the Sinéad O’Connor pic Nothing Compares (Best Documentary). Nominees for the awards were chosen by a selection of critics and journalists. Girls On Film was launched by Deadline critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and producer Hedda Archbold with the aim of rewarding excellence in the field of feminism,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Zac Ntim, Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content will deliver a keynote at Series Mania’s Lille Dialogues whose one-day summit looks set to take the pulse on a global content industry as content investment flattens and ask how to build a more responsible industry in the future.
Marking an early opportunity to hear from streaming platforms after both Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney have announced multi-billion dollar cuts in content investment, the Lille Dialogues also count on a keynote from James Farrell, head of local originals, Prime Video.
Further keynotes will be delivered by top execs at France’s biggest free-to-air service, TF1, as well as its energetic public broadcaster France Télévisions and Europe’s biggest pay TV operator, Sky. Jan Mojto, CEO, Beta Film, can be expected to deliver a wide-angled vision of how stories made in Europe can find a market worldwide.
“With the theme...
Marking an early opportunity to hear from streaming platforms after both Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney have announced multi-billion dollar cuts in content investment, the Lille Dialogues also count on a keynote from James Farrell, head of local originals, Prime Video.
Further keynotes will be delivered by top execs at France’s biggest free-to-air service, TF1, as well as its energetic public broadcaster France Télévisions and Europe’s biggest pay TV operator, Sky. Jan Mojto, CEO, Beta Film, can be expected to deliver a wide-angled vision of how stories made in Europe can find a market worldwide.
“With the theme...
- 2/24/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Beyond the festival element of Series Mania, one major draw for international industry professionals is its industry strand, Series Mania Forum, which runs from March 21-23. The popular event, which largely centers around its Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, panels and conferences, nicely wraps up with its Lille Dialogues one-day summit on March 23.
This year, the Forum is expecting delegates from Europe, North America, South America and Asia to touch down with a number of top industry execs set to speak. Notably, HBO’s Casey Bloys, will be doing an In Conversation keynote speech during the Lille Dialogues titled ‘How HBO and HBO Max Are Diving into The Future.”
The theme for this year’s Lille Dialogues is ‘Shaping the Future with the Audiovisual Sector’ and additional speakers at the summit include: Beta Group’s Jan Mojto; Prime Video’s James Farrell; Sky Studios’ Cécile Frot-Coutaz; and an In Conversation with TF1’s Rodolphe Belmer.
This year, the Forum is expecting delegates from Europe, North America, South America and Asia to touch down with a number of top industry execs set to speak. Notably, HBO’s Casey Bloys, will be doing an In Conversation keynote speech during the Lille Dialogues titled ‘How HBO and HBO Max Are Diving into The Future.”
The theme for this year’s Lille Dialogues is ‘Shaping the Future with the Audiovisual Sector’ and additional speakers at the summit include: Beta Group’s Jan Mojto; Prime Video’s James Farrell; Sky Studios’ Cécile Frot-Coutaz; and an In Conversation with TF1’s Rodolphe Belmer.
- 2/23/2023
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Salto, the French streaming service co-owned by TF1, M6 and France Télévisions, could either change hands or shut down in the near future, Variety has confirmed.
The service, which launched in 2020 after multiple delays, was created by the three French TV groups in an effort to give subscribers a local alternative to Netflix (which now has over 13 million subscribers in France) and other global services.
Priced at €6.99 (7.23) per month, Salto had only 523,000 subscribers as of June 2021 and ranked behind other local streamers, including Canal+, Ocs, beIN and Rmc by the end of last year, according to a study conducted by Npa Conseils/Harris interactive. With an annual revenue of €17.1 million in 2021, the company was valued at €45 million as of March.
The service features catch-up content from 19 different channels belonging to TF1, France Télévisions and M6, as well as premieres of upcoming shows, and fresh content available for streaming.
Tensions began...
The service, which launched in 2020 after multiple delays, was created by the three French TV groups in an effort to give subscribers a local alternative to Netflix (which now has over 13 million subscribers in France) and other global services.
Priced at €6.99 (7.23) per month, Salto had only 523,000 subscribers as of June 2021 and ranked behind other local streamers, including Canal+, Ocs, beIN and Rmc by the end of last year, according to a study conducted by Npa Conseils/Harris interactive. With an annual revenue of €17.1 million in 2021, the company was valued at €45 million as of March.
The service features catch-up content from 19 different channels belonging to TF1, France Télévisions and M6, as well as premieres of upcoming shows, and fresh content available for streaming.
Tensions began...
- 11/14/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French broadcaster TF1 and pay-tv giant Canal+ have resolved their two-month dispute over carriage fees, related to the latter’s distribution of TF1’s free digital terrestrial television (Dtt) channels.
Canal+ normally carries TF1 and its channels Tfx, Tmc, TF1 Séries Films and Lci as part of the offering of its bouquet and the TNT Sat service giving access to all French channels.
The group cut the signal on September 2 amid a stand-off over fees during negotiations for a renewal of the contract governing the arrangement which expired on August 31.
The companies put out a short statement on Friday evening (November 4) announcing TF1 channels would return to Canal+ on November 7, but gave little detail on the terms.
The statement said both parties “were happy to have reached an agreement renewing for the long-term, from November 7 2022, the distribution of all the TF1’s terrestrial channels as well as its catch-up services.
Canal+ normally carries TF1 and its channels Tfx, Tmc, TF1 Séries Films and Lci as part of the offering of its bouquet and the TNT Sat service giving access to all French channels.
The group cut the signal on September 2 amid a stand-off over fees during negotiations for a renewal of the contract governing the arrangement which expired on August 31.
The companies put out a short statement on Friday evening (November 4) announcing TF1 channels would return to Canal+ on November 7, but gave little detail on the terms.
The statement said both parties “were happy to have reached an agreement renewing for the long-term, from November 7 2022, the distribution of all the TF1’s terrestrial channels as well as its catch-up services.
- 11/7/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Rodolphe Belmer, the former Canal+ CEO on the verge of heading up French network TF1, has stepped down from the Netflix board.
The news came in a regulatory filing earlier this week, which stated that Belmer had notified the U.S. streamer October 19 that he would be resigning effective October 27, when he starts at TF1.
Related Story French Broadcaster M6 Put Up For Sale By Bertelsmann Following Failed TF1 Merger Related Story 'The Watcher': Ryan Murphy Takes Pride In Having Cast Older Women In His Limited Series For Netflix Related Story Netflix Adds "Fictional" Disclaimer To 'The Crown' Season Five Trailer Following Backlash
“Mr Belmer’s resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company,” it added.
Belmer has been on the now-11-strong Netflix board for nearly five years. Other members include Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings, former Disney-abc Television Group president...
The news came in a regulatory filing earlier this week, which stated that Belmer had notified the U.S. streamer October 19 that he would be resigning effective October 27, when he starts at TF1.
Related Story French Broadcaster M6 Put Up For Sale By Bertelsmann Following Failed TF1 Merger Related Story 'The Watcher': Ryan Murphy Takes Pride In Having Cast Older Women In His Limited Series For Netflix Related Story Netflix Adds "Fictional" Disclaimer To 'The Crown' Season Five Trailer Following Backlash
“Mr Belmer’s resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company,” it added.
Belmer has been on the now-11-strong Netflix board for nearly five years. Other members include Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings, former Disney-abc Television Group president...
- 10/21/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Rodolphe Belmer will step down from the board of directors of the streaming giant Netflix to join French TV group TF1 as CEO.
On Friday, Netflix in an SEC filing said Belmer resigning from its board of directors, effective Oct. 27, was “not due to any disagreement with the company.” But it does follow a failed merger between TF1 and rival French TV group M6 to better compete against U.S. streaming giants.
On Oct. 27, a board meeting at TF1 Group, the French broadcaster, will propose Belmer as its new CEO. At that time, Gilles Pélisson, currently CEO and chairman of TF1, is expected to remain chairman as Belmer becomes CEO.
And TF1 proposes that at another board meeting planned for Feb. 23, 2023, Belmer will become chairman and CEO of TF1. Belmer became a director of Netflix in January 2018.
The veteran French media exec taking...
Rodolphe Belmer will step down from the board of directors of the streaming giant Netflix to join French TV group TF1 as CEO.
On Friday, Netflix in an SEC filing said Belmer resigning from its board of directors, effective Oct. 27, was “not due to any disagreement with the company.” But it does follow a failed merger between TF1 and rival French TV group M6 to better compete against U.S. streaming giants.
On Oct. 27, a board meeting at TF1 Group, the French broadcaster, will propose Belmer as its new CEO. At that time, Gilles Pélisson, currently CEO and chairman of TF1, is expected to remain chairman as Belmer becomes CEO.
And TF1 proposes that at another board meeting planned for Feb. 23, 2023, Belmer will become chairman and CEO of TF1. Belmer became a director of Netflix in January 2018.
The veteran French media exec taking...
- 10/21/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Come in quickly, Insiders. It’s getting colder out there. Jesse Whittock here with a rundown of this week’s top news and analysis, coming to you from across Europe.
Queen Elizabeth Laid To Rest
The world says goodbye: Following Queen Elizabeth II’s passing on September 8, the mourning period that came after and the thousands of stories about to the never-ending queue to see her laying in state in central London, the monarch’s funeral was held on Monday. The likes of Joe Biden, Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh and even Bear Grylls joined the Royal Family to pay respect to the UK’s longest-serving monarch. Caroline Frost was on hand to keep you informed. Following the religious service at Westminster Abbey, the funeral procession stretched more than a mile long. When the Queen was finally laid to rest at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, the world saw...
Queen Elizabeth Laid To Rest
The world says goodbye: Following Queen Elizabeth II’s passing on September 8, the mourning period that came after and the thousands of stories about to the never-ending queue to see her laying in state in central London, the monarch’s funeral was held on Monday. The likes of Joe Biden, Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh and even Bear Grylls joined the Royal Family to pay respect to the UK’s longest-serving monarch. Caroline Frost was on hand to keep you informed. Following the religious service at Westminster Abbey, the funeral procession stretched more than a mile long. When the Queen was finally laid to rest at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, the world saw...
- 9/23/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Canal+ CEO Rodolphe Belmer is taking charge of TF1.
Belmer will be proposed at an upcoming board meeting by current CEO and Chairman Gilles Pélisson, who will step down early next year before joining TF1 owner Bouygues group as Senior Vice President in charge of Media and Development.
Belmer joins from Atos but was with Canal+ for 14 years, operating as CEO and Group CEO for the majority of the time.
“I am delighted that Rodolphe Belmer, whom I have known for many years, has accepted my offer to join TF1 group, and wish him every success in his role,” said Pélisson. “His track record at the head of several leading French multinationals, and his experience in media and streaming, mean he is ideally prepared to meet the challenges we face and to steer the long-term development of the TF1 group.”
Belmer added: “I’m convinced that together...
Belmer will be proposed at an upcoming board meeting by current CEO and Chairman Gilles Pélisson, who will step down early next year before joining TF1 owner Bouygues group as Senior Vice President in charge of Media and Development.
Belmer joins from Atos but was with Canal+ for 14 years, operating as CEO and Group CEO for the majority of the time.
“I am delighted that Rodolphe Belmer, whom I have known for many years, has accepted my offer to join TF1 group, and wish him every success in his role,” said Pélisson. “His track record at the head of several leading French multinationals, and his experience in media and streaming, mean he is ideally prepared to meet the challenges we face and to steer the long-term development of the TF1 group.”
Belmer added: “I’m convinced that together...
- 9/23/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Rodolphe Belmer, the former CEO of Canal+ Group, is set to join TF1 and is on track to be appointed managing director of TF1, France’s leading commercial channel.
Gilles Pélisson, who is currently the chairman and CEO of TF1 Group, will propose Belmer as CEO at an Oct. 27 board meeting. Belmer would then fully succeed Pélisson as chairman and CEO after the following board meeting on Feb. 13.
Pélisson will remain at the company as chairman of the Board of Directors until Feb. 13 and will then join the Bouygues group as senior VP in charge of media and development.
Belmer built his career within the Canal+ group, and played a key role in raising the profile of the company with investment in premium content, among other strategic moves. After a 14-year tenure at Canal+, Belmer became CEO of the satellite operator Eutelsat. A well-respected figure in France’s media landscape,...
Gilles Pélisson, who is currently the chairman and CEO of TF1 Group, will propose Belmer as CEO at an Oct. 27 board meeting. Belmer would then fully succeed Pélisson as chairman and CEO after the following board meeting on Feb. 13.
Pélisson will remain at the company as chairman of the Board of Directors until Feb. 13 and will then join the Bouygues group as senior VP in charge of media and development.
Belmer built his career within the Canal+ group, and played a key role in raising the profile of the company with investment in premium content, among other strategic moves. After a 14-year tenure at Canal+, Belmer became CEO of the satellite operator Eutelsat. A well-respected figure in France’s media landscape,...
- 9/23/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ukrainian film producer and co-founder of the Ukrainian Film Academy Julia Sinkevych (“Heat Singers”) has been selected as jury president for this year’s Series Mania Festival and its international competition.
“She has always been committed to supporting Ukrainian artists and the culture of her country from Kyiv, where she lives,” the festival said in a statement. “As her presence in Lille is not certain at this point in time, renowned French writer and director Marc Dugain, has been appointed as vice-president of this year’s jury.”
Sinkevych is also a member of European Film Academy and a member of the Ukrainian Oscars committee. From 2010 until 2020, Sinkevych worked as general producer of Odesa International Film Festival, one of the biggest audience film festivals in Eastern Europe. Currently Sinkevych is working on feature films “Lucky girl” by Marysia Nikitiuk and “Lesia” by Nana Janelidze.
The jury also includes German Christian Berkel...
“She has always been committed to supporting Ukrainian artists and the culture of her country from Kyiv, where she lives,” the festival said in a statement. “As her presence in Lille is not certain at this point in time, renowned French writer and director Marc Dugain, has been appointed as vice-president of this year’s jury.”
Sinkevych is also a member of European Film Academy and a member of the Ukrainian Oscars committee. From 2010 until 2020, Sinkevych worked as general producer of Odesa International Film Festival, one of the biggest audience film festivals in Eastern Europe. Currently Sinkevych is working on feature films “Lucky girl” by Marysia Nikitiuk and “Lesia” by Nana Janelidze.
The jury also includes German Christian Berkel...
- 3/2/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
TV festival and industry event Series Mania, which normally takes place in March in the northern French city of Lille, is moving its dates back to August 26 to September 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision comes amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks in the northern French region of Hauts-de-France, of which Lille is the capital. Cases there currently stand at around 200 per 100,000 inhabitants, against around 120 in December.
Series Mania previously announced last November that it would take place in late May, early June this year with the intention of returning to its March slot in 2022.
Under the new dates,...
The decision comes amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks in the northern French region of Hauts-de-France, of which Lille is the capital. Cases there currently stand at around 200 per 100,000 inhabitants, against around 120 in December.
Series Mania previously announced last November that it would take place in late May, early June this year with the intention of returning to its March slot in 2022.
Under the new dates,...
- 2/12/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Series Mania, the TV drama showcase held in Lille, France, is postponing its 2021 edition to Aug. 26-Sept. 2 due to the pandemic. It’s the second time the event changes dates. Series Mania was initially scheduled to take place in late March before being pushed by two months to May 28 to June 5.
The Series Mania Forum will run Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The edition will have hybrid component with Series Mania Digital, the online platform, complementing the live event for those who may not be able to travel.
“We are beyond grateful to the Hauts-de-France region and the city of Lille who have worked tirelessly to help us secure these dates in August and September,” said Rodolphe Belmer, Series Mania president.
“Everyone involved is keenly aware of the importance of Series Mania as the place where television series begin, as well as the value of an in-person physical event. I cannot begin to thank everyone enough,...
The Series Mania Forum will run Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The edition will have hybrid component with Series Mania Digital, the online platform, complementing the live event for those who may not be able to travel.
“We are beyond grateful to the Hauts-de-France region and the city of Lille who have worked tirelessly to help us secure these dates in August and September,” said Rodolphe Belmer, Series Mania president.
“Everyone involved is keenly aware of the importance of Series Mania as the place where television series begin, as well as the value of an in-person physical event. I cannot begin to thank everyone enough,...
- 2/12/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Susan Rice will step down from the board of directors of the streaming giant Netflix to join the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“We are grateful to Susan Rice for her many contributions on our board and congratulate her on her return to public service,” said Netflix chairman and co-ceo Reed Hastings in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rice, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor to President Barack Obama, joined the Netflix board in March of 2018. Netflix has not added a new director since Rice, Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer and ...
“We are grateful to Susan Rice for her many contributions on our board and congratulate her on her return to public service,” said Netflix chairman and co-ceo Reed Hastings in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rice, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor to President Barack Obama, joined the Netflix board in March of 2018. Netflix has not added a new director since Rice, Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer and ...
- 12/10/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Susan Rice will step down from the board of directors of the streaming giant Netflix to join the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“We are grateful to Susan Rice for her many contributions on our board and congratulate her on her return to public service,” said Netflix chairman and co-ceo Reed Hastings in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rice, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor to President Barack Obama, joined the Netflix board in March of 2018. Netflix has not added a new director since Rice, Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer and ...
“We are grateful to Susan Rice for her many contributions on our board and congratulate her on her return to public service,” said Netflix chairman and co-ceo Reed Hastings in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rice, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor to President Barack Obama, joined the Netflix board in March of 2018. Netflix has not added a new director since Rice, Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer and ...
- 12/10/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Event was forced to cancel the physical festival component of the 2020 edition earlier this year.
French TV festival and industry event Series Mania, which normally takes place in March in France’s northern city of Lille, has moved back its planned dates for the 2021 edition in response the uncertanty around the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival is now scheduled to take place from May 28-June 5, with the industry-focused Series Mania Forum unfolding June 1-3.
“With this opportunity to move our annual in-person rendezvous to June for 2021, Series Mania will be in the coveted position slated between two other major international events,...
French TV festival and industry event Series Mania, which normally takes place in March in France’s northern city of Lille, has moved back its planned dates for the 2021 edition in response the uncertanty around the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival is now scheduled to take place from May 28-June 5, with the industry-focused Series Mania Forum unfolding June 1-3.
“With this opportunity to move our annual in-person rendezvous to June for 2021, Series Mania will be in the coveted position slated between two other major international events,...
- 11/19/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Stephen Garrett’s Character 7 Options Thriller Novels
Character 7, whose founder Stephen Garrett (pictured) executive-produced thrillers The Night Manager and Spooks, and is one of the producers behind current HBO drama The Undoing, has won rights to adapt Holly Watt’s thriller novels To The Lions and The Dead Line, which follow the life and adventures of globetrotting investigative journalist Casey Benedict. To the Lions takes Casey into the North African desert to investigate a series of mysterious and disturbing incidents in a Moroccan refugee camp and a trail leading back to the highest echelons of Western society. Follow-up The Dead Line Casey seeks the source of a desperate message secreted in clothing sold on the British high street: They take the girls. Her search takes her across the world to a Bangladeshi refugee camp, and into the heart of the wealthy, connected families who will be destroyed if her discovery is revealed.
Character 7, whose founder Stephen Garrett (pictured) executive-produced thrillers The Night Manager and Spooks, and is one of the producers behind current HBO drama The Undoing, has won rights to adapt Holly Watt’s thriller novels To The Lions and The Dead Line, which follow the life and adventures of globetrotting investigative journalist Casey Benedict. To the Lions takes Casey into the North African desert to investigate a series of mysterious and disturbing incidents in a Moroccan refugee camp and a trail leading back to the highest echelons of Western society. Follow-up The Dead Line Casey seeks the source of a desperate message secreted in clothing sold on the British high street: They take the girls. Her search takes her across the world to a Bangladeshi refugee camp, and into the heart of the wealthy, connected families who will be destroyed if her discovery is revealed.
- 11/19/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Series Mania, one of Europe’s biggest and most prestigious TV festivals, has pushed back its 2021 edition by two months, setting new dates of May 28 to June 5.
Remaining in Lille, northern France, the event’s industry centerpiece, the Series Mania Forum, will be held at the Lille Grand Palais over June 1-3.
Series Mania was originally slated to run over March 19-27 next year. The Lille Dialogues, one of the Forum’s most anticipated events, joining political decision-makers and leading industry executives, will take place on June 1. Series Mania Digital, the online platform launched by the festival in March, will serve to complement the live events, “especially for those who may still not be able to travel,” Series Mania announced Thursday.
The announcement was made by Rodolphe Belmer, president of Series Mania, and Laurence Herszberg, its founder and general director.
Belmer ascribed the later dates directly to “ongoing uncertainly surrounding...
Remaining in Lille, northern France, the event’s industry centerpiece, the Series Mania Forum, will be held at the Lille Grand Palais over June 1-3.
Series Mania was originally slated to run over March 19-27 next year. The Lille Dialogues, one of the Forum’s most anticipated events, joining political decision-makers and leading industry executives, will take place on June 1. Series Mania Digital, the online platform launched by the festival in March, will serve to complement the live events, “especially for those who may still not be able to travel,” Series Mania announced Thursday.
The announcement was made by Rodolphe Belmer, president of Series Mania, and Laurence Herszberg, its founder and general director.
Belmer ascribed the later dates directly to “ongoing uncertainly surrounding...
- 11/19/2020
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
France’s Series Mania, one of Europe’s biggest TV festivals, has been canceled following new French government coronavirus health restrictions.
“Series Mania attracts 80,000 festival attendees and 3,000 industry professionals every year. Given the French government’s ban of meetings of over 1,000 people and numerous restrictions on the travel of French and international delegates, we’ve decided to cancel the event,” Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer announced Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that we have had to make this difficult decision. However, our utmost concern is for the safety and well-being of our valued clients, guests, and staff who have invested so much time these past few months,” said Laurence Herszberg, founder and general director of Series Mania.
“I would also like to thank every creator, talent, producer, and broadcaster who have trusted us since the beginning. To our audiences, professionals, politicians, and industry leaders, we will be back stronger...
“Series Mania attracts 80,000 festival attendees and 3,000 industry professionals every year. Given the French government’s ban of meetings of over 1,000 people and numerous restrictions on the travel of French and international delegates, we’ve decided to cancel the event,” Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer announced Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that we have had to make this difficult decision. However, our utmost concern is for the safety and well-being of our valued clients, guests, and staff who have invested so much time these past few months,” said Laurence Herszberg, founder and general director of Series Mania.
“I would also like to thank every creator, talent, producer, and broadcaster who have trusted us since the beginning. To our audiences, professionals, politicians, and industry leaders, we will be back stronger...
- 3/11/2020
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Coronavirus has claimed another victim in the TV industry events space after Series Mania was canceled on Wednesday.
The decision was made after the French government banned public gatherings with 1,000 people or more to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Series Mania was due to launch on March 20 and host world premieres of shows including Eva Green drama The Luminaries and Sky Atlantic’s Little Birds, while Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito was jetting in as a gues to honor.
Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer said: “Due to the recent restriction from the French government banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people, coupled with the travel restrictions for many of our international participants, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Series Mania.”
Founder and director general Laurence Herszberg added: “To our audiences, professionals, politicians, and industry leaders, we will be back stronger than ever in 2021 for a new edition that will be,...
The decision was made after the French government banned public gatherings with 1,000 people or more to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Series Mania was due to launch on March 20 and host world premieres of shows including Eva Green drama The Luminaries and Sky Atlantic’s Little Birds, while Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito was jetting in as a gues to honor.
Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer said: “Due to the recent restriction from the French government banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people, coupled with the travel restrictions for many of our international participants, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Series Mania.”
Founder and director general Laurence Herszberg added: “To our audiences, professionals, politicians, and industry leaders, we will be back stronger than ever in 2021 for a new edition that will be,...
- 3/11/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Evp for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, will open Series Mania’s Lille Dialogues, a one-day summit which this year debates regulation and commercial practice in a streaming platform age.
Keynotes on the need – or not – for regulatory change will be delivered by Fremantle COO Andrea Scrosati and Giorgio Stock, president, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, distribution and advertising sales, Emea and Apac.
Grabbing another industry bull by the horns, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, CEO, France Télévisions, and Gilles Pélisson, CEO, France’s TF1 Group, will discuss TV channels’ entering the streaming era and how best to remain competitive and attract high-end projects.
They will be joined on a panel by Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board and CEO at France’s M6 Group; Ulrich Wilhelm, CEO of German public broadcaster Ard; and Christoph Mainusch, co-ceo of the Czech Republic’s Cme.
The risks and opportunities...
Keynotes on the need – or not – for regulatory change will be delivered by Fremantle COO Andrea Scrosati and Giorgio Stock, president, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, distribution and advertising sales, Emea and Apac.
Grabbing another industry bull by the horns, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, CEO, France Télévisions, and Gilles Pélisson, CEO, France’s TF1 Group, will discuss TV channels’ entering the streaming era and how best to remain competitive and attract high-end projects.
They will be joined on a panel by Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the executive board and CEO at France’s M6 Group; Ulrich Wilhelm, CEO of German public broadcaster Ard; and Christoph Mainusch, co-ceo of the Czech Republic’s Cme.
The risks and opportunities...
- 3/2/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s one for corporate-governance wonks: A majority of shares cast by Netflix shareholders at the company’s June 6 annual stockholders meeting were in favor of changing the bylaws to elect directors by a simple majority — but the measure failed, because it did not meet Netflix’s supermajority voting requirement.
Netflix disclosed the results of the votes at the shareholder meeting in an SEC filing Friday. Of shares voted on the proposal to adopt simple-majority voting for directors, 71.7% were in favor. However, that failed to meet the requirement that two-thirds of outstanding shares of common stock vote affirmatively for a measure to pass.
Currently, Netflix uses a plurality voting standard for directors, which allows nominees to be elected even if a majority of shareholders oppose them. The same measure to switch to simple-majority director elections was proposed last year — and also failed.
Some activist investors have been frustrated that Netflix...
Netflix disclosed the results of the votes at the shareholder meeting in an SEC filing Friday. Of shares voted on the proposal to adopt simple-majority voting for directors, 71.7% were in favor. However, that failed to meet the requirement that two-thirds of outstanding shares of common stock vote affirmatively for a measure to pass.
Currently, Netflix uses a plurality voting standard for directors, which allows nominees to be elected even if a majority of shareholders oppose them. The same measure to switch to simple-majority director elections was proposed last year — and also failed.
Some activist investors have been frustrated that Netflix...
- 6/8/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Reed Hastings, Netflix’s chairman and CEO, brushed off criticism of teen-suicide drama “13 Reasons Why” — saying that no one is being forced to tune in to the show.
The Netflix chief was asked about the company’s renewal of “13 Reasons Why” for season 3 Wednesday at its annual shareholders meeting, which was conducted via webcast.
“It is controversial,” Hastings acknowledged. “But nobody has to watch it.” He said “13 Reasons Why” is “engaging content” that “has been enormously popular and successful.”
According to Nielsen estimates, the premiere episode of “13 Reasons Why” season 2 drew 6 million U.S. viewers on connected-tv devices in the first three days of its release (May 18-20). That higher than many recent Netflix original premieres, although it was less than half the turnout for “Stranger Things” second season premiere ep last fall.
Some activists and health professionals have voiced concerns that “13 Reasons Why” may...
The Netflix chief was asked about the company’s renewal of “13 Reasons Why” for season 3 Wednesday at its annual shareholders meeting, which was conducted via webcast.
“It is controversial,” Hastings acknowledged. “But nobody has to watch it.” He said “13 Reasons Why” is “engaging content” that “has been enormously popular and successful.”
According to Nielsen estimates, the premiere episode of “13 Reasons Why” season 2 drew 6 million U.S. viewers on connected-tv devices in the first three days of its release (May 18-20). That higher than many recent Netflix original premieres, although it was less than half the turnout for “Stranger Things” second season premiere ep last fall.
Some activists and health professionals have voiced concerns that “13 Reasons Why” may...
- 6/7/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Even as its market valuation soars amid Wall Street’s enthusiasm for its strong subscriber gains, Netflix shareholders raised corporate governance issues during the company’s annual shareholder meeting.
Investors supported a number of stockholder proposals that would give investors a role in the nomination of directors and the ability to make changes with a simple majority vote.
“The voice of shareholders is being ignored and has been ignored for many years,” said James McRitchie, publisher of a popular corporate governance portal CorpGov.Net. “Once again, let’s send a message to the board. Hopefully, the board will get the message. Shareholders want good governance.”
Over the course of the 20-minute annual meeting, conducted via the internet, investors returned four board members, Zillow Chairman Richard Barton, Eutelstat Communications CEO Rodolphe Belmer, Microsoft President Brad Smith and former Disney/ABC TV President Anne Sweeney. Shareholders also lent their nodding approval to Netflix’s executive compensation packages.
Investors supported a number of stockholder proposals that would give investors a role in the nomination of directors and the ability to make changes with a simple majority vote.
“The voice of shareholders is being ignored and has been ignored for many years,” said James McRitchie, publisher of a popular corporate governance portal CorpGov.Net. “Once again, let’s send a message to the board. Hopefully, the board will get the message. Shareholders want good governance.”
Over the course of the 20-minute annual meeting, conducted via the internet, investors returned four board members, Zillow Chairman Richard Barton, Eutelstat Communications CEO Rodolphe Belmer, Microsoft President Brad Smith and former Disney/ABC TV President Anne Sweeney. Shareholders also lent their nodding approval to Netflix’s executive compensation packages.
- 6/7/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Lille, France — The 9th Series Mania hit the home straits Friday with a clutch of favorites emerging for Series Mania’s prize announcements tomorrow, among them a comedy, “On the Spectrum.” Cutting-edge international drama used to be deadly serious: Think Nordic Noir. But innovation has now spread to comedy. As Series Mania’s industry event, its three-day Forum, winds down, and Air France industrial action winds people up, here are 10 highlights and trends of a first Lille-located Series Mania, unquestioned as one of Europe’s premier drama series events.
1.Netflix Goes Native
No appearance at the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues was more awaited than Reed Hastings. His appearance on the same platform as Andrus Ansip, European Commission, vice president for the Digital Single Market, sparked speculation of a detente between the U.S. streaming giant and the E.U., whose parliament approved quotas for Ott platforms in Europe. And so it proved.
1.Netflix Goes Native
No appearance at the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues was more awaited than Reed Hastings. His appearance on the same platform as Andrus Ansip, European Commission, vice president for the Digital Single Market, sparked speculation of a detente between the U.S. streaming giant and the E.U., whose parliament approved quotas for Ott platforms in Europe. And so it proved.
- 5/4/2018
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Some things change. Some stay the same. Case in point, France’s Series Mania. 2018 sees a change of venue – Paris to Lille – a broadening audience mission, the addition of a Writers Campus and Lille Transatlantic Dialogues.
Meanwhile, “La Casa de Papel” points to a potential tipping point in the international market status of foreign-language fiction, from niche to specialty product at best to mainstream social phenomenon.
Some stay the same: Such as the selectivity of Series Mania section and the enthusiasm of its founder Laurence Herszberg for talking about drama series trends.
On the eve of Series Mania, Herszberg drills down on change and continuity at the 9th Series Mania Festival.
For Series Mania, this looks like the year of greatest change in its nine edition existence….
It’s a total change, another festival. We kept the name, the brand because, not totally modestly, it is renowned for the quality of the event.
Meanwhile, “La Casa de Papel” points to a potential tipping point in the international market status of foreign-language fiction, from niche to specialty product at best to mainstream social phenomenon.
Some stay the same: Such as the selectivity of Series Mania section and the enthusiasm of its founder Laurence Herszberg for talking about drama series trends.
On the eve of Series Mania, Herszberg drills down on change and continuity at the 9th Series Mania Festival.
For Series Mania, this looks like the year of greatest change in its nine edition existence….
It’s a total change, another festival. We kept the name, the brand because, not totally modestly, it is renowned for the quality of the event.
- 4/27/2018
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Eight years after launching in Paris’ Forum des Images, the ever-growing Series Mania festival will use its first edition in the northeastern city of Lille as a kind of soft reboot, banking on the accumulated value of the Series Mania brand while substantially broadening its scope and sweep.
Running from April 27-May 5 in France’s fifth-largest city, the TV-focused event will screen episodes from 77 series across a number of different programs, while also hosting an international cross-section of writers and producers during its Industry Forum running May 2-4.
Benefitting from a robust €3.5 million ($4.3 million) investment from the regional government and the opportunities offered by Lille’s relatively compact urban core, the organizers hope to foster a more outwardly encompassing atmosphere than previous editions, which had remained confined to Paris’ Forum des Images complex.
General director Laurence Herszberg, who launched the festival in Paris and has followed it north, cites the...
Running from April 27-May 5 in France’s fifth-largest city, the TV-focused event will screen episodes from 77 series across a number of different programs, while also hosting an international cross-section of writers and producers during its Industry Forum running May 2-4.
Benefitting from a robust €3.5 million ($4.3 million) investment from the regional government and the opportunities offered by Lille’s relatively compact urban core, the organizers hope to foster a more outwardly encompassing atmosphere than previous editions, which had remained confined to Paris’ Forum des Images complex.
General director Laurence Herszberg, who launched the festival in Paris and has followed it north, cites the...
- 4/27/2018
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix appointed Susan Rice, former U.S. National Security adviser and ambassador to the United Nations in the Obama administration, to its board of directors.
Rice currently is a distinguished visiting research fellow at American University’s School of International Service, as well as a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
“We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Rice to the Netflix board,” Netflix chairman and CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement. “For decades, she has tackled difficult, complex global issues with intelligence, integrity and insight and we look forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom.”
Rice commented, “I am thrilled to be joining the board of directors of Netflix, a cutting-edge company whose leadership, high-quality productions, and unique culture I deeply admire.”
Rice’s appointment increases the number of Netflix’s board members to 11 — and she...
Rice currently is a distinguished visiting research fellow at American University’s School of International Service, as well as a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
“We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Rice to the Netflix board,” Netflix chairman and CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement. “For decades, she has tackled difficult, complex global issues with intelligence, integrity and insight and we look forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom.”
Rice commented, “I am thrilled to be joining the board of directors of Netflix, a cutting-edge company whose leadership, high-quality productions, and unique culture I deeply admire.”
Rice’s appointment increases the number of Netflix’s board members to 11 — and she...
- 3/28/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Streaming giant adds 8.3 million subscribers in Q4; company praises Bright performance.
Source: Netflix
‘Bright’
Netflix’s largest single quarter subscriber increase to date propelled the number of worldwide subscribers to 117.58m in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The streaming platform reported on Monday (January 22) that 1.98m members joined from the Us and 6.36m from the international market, resulting in a record total increase of 8.3m that easily beat the company’s forecast of 6.3m.
For the whole of 2017, Netflix added 24m members, compared to 19m in 2016. The company attributed the surge to original content such as Stranger Things, big-budget action film Bright (pictured), and international originals including German series Dark.
Netflix said it plans to spend $7.5bn-$8bn on content in 2018 and will launch more than 30 international original series over the year in countries including France, Poland, India, South Korea and Japan. It also said it will increase its marketing spend from $1.3bn to $2bn.
In an online...
Source: Netflix
‘Bright’
Netflix’s largest single quarter subscriber increase to date propelled the number of worldwide subscribers to 117.58m in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The streaming platform reported on Monday (January 22) that 1.98m members joined from the Us and 6.36m from the international market, resulting in a record total increase of 8.3m that easily beat the company’s forecast of 6.3m.
For the whole of 2017, Netflix added 24m members, compared to 19m in 2016. The company attributed the surge to original content such as Stranger Things, big-budget action film Bright (pictured), and international originals including German series Dark.
Netflix said it plans to spend $7.5bn-$8bn on content in 2018 and will launch more than 30 international original series over the year in countries including France, Poland, India, South Korea and Japan. It also said it will increase its marketing spend from $1.3bn to $2bn.
In an online...
- 1/23/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
French executive becomes one of only two non-us personnel on board.
Former Canal+ CEO Rodolphe Belmer has joined the board of Netflix, bringing the total number of directors to 10, the global streaming giant announced on Monday (Jan 22).
Belmer is currently CEO of Eutelsat, the leading satellite operator in Europe, Middle East and Africa – a position he has held since March 2016.
Prior to that, he had a long career at France’s Canal+ Group, which he joined in 2001 and rose steadily through the ranks to become CEO from 2012 to 2105.
Belmer was among a number of top Canal+ executives to be axed unceremoniously between 2015 to 2016 by chairman Vincent Bolloré, shortly after the billionaire became a majority shareholder of its parent company Vivendi in a move that gave him control of the media and entertainment group.
When Belmer was ousted from his role of CEO in July 2015 and replaced by Maxime Saada it sent shockwaves through the French TV and film...
Former Canal+ CEO Rodolphe Belmer has joined the board of Netflix, bringing the total number of directors to 10, the global streaming giant announced on Monday (Jan 22).
Belmer is currently CEO of Eutelsat, the leading satellite operator in Europe, Middle East and Africa – a position he has held since March 2016.
Prior to that, he had a long career at France’s Canal+ Group, which he joined in 2001 and rose steadily through the ranks to become CEO from 2012 to 2105.
Belmer was among a number of top Canal+ executives to be axed unceremoniously between 2015 to 2016 by chairman Vincent Bolloré, shortly after the billionaire became a majority shareholder of its parent company Vivendi in a move that gave him control of the media and entertainment group.
When Belmer was ousted from his role of CEO in July 2015 and replaced by Maxime Saada it sent shockwaves through the French TV and film...
- 1/22/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Fourth quarter 2017 brings record membership surge.
Netflix’s largest single quarter subscriber increase to date propelled the number of worldwide subscribers to 117.58m in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The streaming platform reported on Monday (January 22) that 1.98m members joined from the Us and 6.36m from the international market, resulting in a record total increase of 8.3m that easily beat the company’s forecast of 6.3m.
For the whole of 2017, Netflix added 24m members, compared to 19m in 2016. The company attributed the surge to original content such as Stranger Things, big-budget action film Bright (pictured), and international originals including German series Dark.
Netflix said it plans to spend $7.5bn-$8bn on content in 2018 and will launch more than 30 international original series over the year in countries including France, Poland, India, South Korea and Japan. It also said it will increase its marketing spend from $1.3bn to $2bn.
In an online analyst interview about the results, Netflix chief content...
Netflix’s largest single quarter subscriber increase to date propelled the number of worldwide subscribers to 117.58m in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The streaming platform reported on Monday (January 22) that 1.98m members joined from the Us and 6.36m from the international market, resulting in a record total increase of 8.3m that easily beat the company’s forecast of 6.3m.
For the whole of 2017, Netflix added 24m members, compared to 19m in 2016. The company attributed the surge to original content such as Stranger Things, big-budget action film Bright (pictured), and international originals including German series Dark.
Netflix said it plans to spend $7.5bn-$8bn on content in 2018 and will launch more than 30 international original series over the year in countries including France, Poland, India, South Korea and Japan. It also said it will increase its marketing spend from $1.3bn to $2bn.
In an online analyst interview about the results, Netflix chief content...
- 1/22/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Rodolphe Belmer Ascends At Canal Plus Rodolphe Belmer has been appointed to the board the Canal Plus Group and named director general of the company. The executive, No. 2 at France’s dominant pay-tv company, was formerly deputy director general. Among his functions will be oversight of the free and pay-tv activities of Canal Plus in France as well as other activities. He will not, however, oversee international expansion or film-related activities which will remain under president Bertrand Meheut. According to Le Monde, Meheut, whose mandate at Canal Plus chief ends at the end of 2014, has been preparing his succession for several months. Belmer has been second in command at Canal since 2003 and recently oversaw the acquisition of free-to-air channels Direct 8 and Direct Star from the Bolloré group. Yahoo To Bow Out Of South Korea Yahoo Inc’s South Korean operation said today it will exit the country, underscoring its struggle against Google,...
- 10/20/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
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