Panel
That's Entertainment: Looking for the Next Stage
Milken InstituteJulia Boorstin, Leslie Moonves, Peter Rice, Ted Sarandos, Reese Witherspoon, Jeremy Zimmer, Les Moonves
- Netflix plans an annual output of 50 movies and 78 series, aiming to release new original content daily while prioritizing local productions designed for global travel, with a distribution strategy utilizing "day-and-date" theatrical releases in limited New York and Los Angeles venues primarily for awards qualification.
- The company projects that "day-and-date" models could generate five to ten times the business of traditional theatrical releases within 25 days and anticipates the ratio of US to international viewers remaining near a 50-50 split, though its acquisition strategy remains uncertain pending growth evaluation.
- Netflix intends to maintain a limited China partnership as a distributor model rather than direct distribution, expects to release more multi-language shows simultaneously, and will avoid branded content to preserve subscription business model integrity.
- Fox anticipates that acquiring the remainder of Sky will shift 40% of its business focus to Europe, driving increased local content production in Italy and Latin America alongside expanded global sports properties like the 10-year Argentinian Soccer League contract.
- Fox expects addressable advertising to become a major opportunity with $200 million in marketing spend potential, leveraging Hulu data to improve targeting, while maintaining a wholesaler-retailer mix and a "big tent" content aggregation strategy.
- The company forecasts that the direct-to-consumer shift is "wildly successful" and will allow streaming services and traditional networks to grow together, with theater models needing to rethink their approach to instant access comparable to the music industry's adaptation.
- Fox expects to sell content to Chinese partners but will not own channels there due to regulatory restrictions, believing the TV business can thrive by avoiding the direct-to-consumer mistakes of the past.
- CBS projects international revenue to grow significantly as all production decisions factor in the global marketplace, with upfront advertising and the scatter market performing strongly due to TV's advantages in digital media adjacency and guaranteed association with high-quality programming.
- The company expects its direct-to-consumer product, CBS All Access, to grow above projections, requiring a premium feel similar to Showtime to justify subscription costs, with Star Trek serving as a key driver supported by international sales.
- CBS plans to program for a broad audience regardless of the political administration over the next 12 to 24 months, anticipating news shows to benefit from political interest while maintaining that hits like NCIS transcend leadership changes.
- A legal dispute regarding personal service contracts is expected to be settled by California courts, with CBS prepared to compete for creative employees through market pay and work environments if such contracts are ruled unenforceable.
- CBS believes the majority of the world offers significant opportunities, including emerging economies in Africa, and notes that social media monetization for traditional film and TV is still developing but is being built, currently serving more as a promotional tool.
- Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine is set to launch in the summer with mobile, digital, television, and film content, aiming to serve an underserved female audience through partnerships on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram while showcasing female filmmakers.
- Witherspoon expects the theatrical experience to remain unique despite the rise of "day-and-date" releases, which she views as offering different consumption options rather than eliminating the large-screen experience, and anticipates a trend toward culturally representative characters.