FACTUAL TV
SVOD OPPORTUNITIES
a reality format and Amazon Prime is reversioning Love Island for its French subscribers. True crime has clearly been a winner for
Netflix, including stand-out series such as Don’t F*ck with Cats from the UK’s Raw TV. Kershaw describes true crime as “the gift that keeps on giving.” Simon Chinn, co-founder of Lightbox has made two true crime series for the streamer, recently announcing a third for 2021. Chinn describes streamer investment as “a cornerstone” for his business. Lightbox is currently in production on a feature doc with Nat Geo and a co-pro with Discovery for its upcoming streamer, while Apple is “an absolute priority for us,” says Chinn. “I don’t want eggs in any basket…I want to work for all the SVODs and I want to own our content.”
THE RIGHTS STUFF One of the big sticking points with the streamers for UK producers who are used to retaining rights, has been the ‘producer for hire’ status, with global services wanting global rights. But this rigid position is beginning to soften. At ITV Studios, svp Global Content Cecilie Olsen has seen a shift as the market becomes more crowded and stand-out programming is more vital for competing SVODs. “When they get to a certain stage in a saturated market, how do they attract even more people to come to the service? One way is to have the best possible content and sometimes the only way is to share it…. The moment that a service is only looking for certain territories, they become a much more interesting co-pro partner.” HBO Max has been vocal about wanting to join co-productions, Its international originals
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televisual.com Winter 2020
SVOD FACTUAL CONTENT UPDATE
The Netflix content budget now stands at $17bn and includes a raft of factual, commissioned through two distinct silos, unscripted and documentary. While it’s still lining-up plenty of high profile docs, the streamer is also interested in more reality, with the success of two dating formats and a call-out for more formats. It recently announced an eight-part gardening competition format from Multi Story Media. Amazon Prime has invested in sport and sports documentaries, as well as its Grand Tour franchise and has recently been asking for pitches at all levels of budget. The Grand Tour talent extends its influence into some of the latest commissioning, such as upcoming James May: Oh Cook. While UK-based 72 Films is making another All or Nothing sports doc series. Amazon may well be one to watch for factual in 2021. Comcast’s HBO Max and NBC’s Peacock SVoD feature factual originals in rapidly expanding
original slates. Still early days, but HBO Max is interested in co-pros and has invested in one major UK produced reality show and another high profile doc feature from a UK indie. While Peacock lists a slew of doc and unscripted originals in the pipeline, with a definite US skew. Apple is rumoured to be hiking its content budget from $1bn to $6bn and still targeting super premium factual. Three natural history series from UK producers Plimsoll, Wall to Wall and Offspring are live on the service, together with motorcycle series Long Way Up from Big Earth. Feature docs are on the agenda: Boys State is on already and upcoming is Letter to You about Bruce Springsteen. Disney Plus and its National Geo factual brand are very much in business. Nat Geo programming includes content for Sharkfest, which will include a special from Nutopia in 2021. While 72 Films is behind a 9/11 six-parter and The New Media Collective, together with Plum Pictures is commissioned for Race to the Centre of the Earth. With the Disney Plus channel targeting a family audience, Blink’s Meet the Chimps ticks all the right boxes.
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