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YouTube may produce more original programming outside the US
YouTube is working on original programming for international markets in an effort to boost paid subscriber numbers, Reuters reports. The company plans to develop shows for customers in France, Germany, Japan and Mexico, adding to series that have already been released in South Korea and India. Susanne Daniels, YouTube's global head of original programming, told Reuters that new productions will include music documentaries, reality series, talk shows and scripted series.
Apple adds Sesame Workshop kids’ programming to its TV slate
Apple has a large and ever-growing slate of shows in the works, including dramas, comedies, sci-fi originals and thrillers, and soon it will include programming geared toward children. Variety reports today that Apple has teamed up with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, to create live-action and animated series as well as a show featuring puppets. Sesame Street will not be included, however, as HBO has exclusive rights to new episodes.
Apple signs Oprah for a multi-year deal
Apple has been building its programming roster as it gears up for a launch of its TV platform, and it's latest deal is with Oprah Winfrey. The company announced today that it will be creating original programs with Winfrey that "embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world." Apple described the deal as a "unique, multi-year content partnership."
Hulu cancels 'The Path' after three seasons
We're afraid some of the Meyerism Movement's unanswered secrets will forever remain a mystery, now that Hulu has chosen not to renew The Path. The streaming platform has canceled one of its most high-profile originals after three seasons -- the third season started airing in January and concluded in late March -- ending the Lane family's journey as part of a controversial cult with a bloody past and a dangerous present. The series starred Aaron Paul (Jesse from Breaking Bad) as the Lane family patriarch who's going through a crisis of faith, Michelle Monaghan as his wife born into the movement and Hugh Dancy as the charismatic cult leader.
Apple's big push into original TV could start next March
Apple's original TV programming has been lackluster so far, to say the least. Planet of the Apps? Don't bother. Carpool Karaoke? Not much better. But the company isn't giving up and, according to The New York Times, has a major expansion in the works. Since October, Apple's top brass has bought 12 projects — nine of which have been green-lit for a full series — with a budget that will soon exceed $1 billion. The new slate of shows will reportedly launch somewhere between March and summer 2019, which is aggressive considering that most premium shows take a year to shoot.
Facebook snags a Kerry Washington-produced drama
Facebook continues to add to its slate of original content and the latest show to join the lineup is a Kerry Washington-produced drama called Five Points, Variety reports. The show follows high school students living on the South Side of Chicago and covers the fallout of a life-changing event from five different points of view.
Facebook's original TV lineup includes LaVar Ball and Mike Rowe
Facebook has greenlit two more shows for its expanding original programming lineup. They join a reality competition series as well as a cancelled MTV comedy series that the company picked up last month.
Report: Facebook to pay Hollywood millions for original shows
Facebook is very serious about its original programming ambitions -- $3 million per episode serious. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the tech giant is courting Hollywood agencies for original scripted TV shows, in some cases offering up to $3 million per episode. It's also keen on procuring less-expensive productions that would cost hundreds of thousands each episode to make. The Journal's sources said that Facebook has set late summer as a tentative launch window, and that it hopes to reach audiences aged 13-34.
Report: Facebook's first original shows have been delayed again
Soon, Facebook won't just be a place where people's personal videos go viral — it wants to become a destination for original videos, too. The push began in earnest in 2016 and the social giant hired notable names from CollegeHumor and MTV to develop made-for-Facebook shows soon after, but the launch schedule has gone awry. Recode reports that while the first batch of videos was intended to go live as early as this spring, we're probably not going to see them until at least the middle of the summer.
Facebook could launch two dozen 'TV-like' original shows in June
Facebook might be getting ready to make its video dreams a reality: According to Business Insider, the social network plans to launch two dozen original shows in June. Its no secret that the company has been looking for partners that can create unique programming since 2016 and even tapped CollegeHumor co-founder Ricky Van Veen to lead the effort. Van Veen previously admitted that Facebook is "exploring funding some seed video content," including "original and licensed scripted, unscripted" shows, to add to its live sports programming for the website's new Video tab.
YouTube creates four original shows just for its Kids app
Now that YouTube has dipped its toes into the wild world of original programming, the company has plans to launch four new shows this spring aimed at children and pre-teens. The YouTube Kids app will get two live-action and two animated series starring some popular YouTube creators including DanTDM and the hosts of TheAtlanticCraft, with more series scheduled to debut throughout the year.
Facebook bolsters original video ambitions with MTV hire
As rumored a couple of months ago, Facebook is getting serious about making its own original content. The company has now hired a former MTV executive, Mina Lefevre, to be its Head of Development. According to Deadline, she will be leading Facebook's efforts to create scripted and unscripted content -- something she has plenty of experience with. During her time at MTV, as the executive vice president and head of scripted development, LeVre worked on shows like Awkward, Scream and Teen Wolf, to mention a few. It'll be interesting to see what she ends up developing for Facebook, especially as it continues to make a major push into video.
Netflix aims to fill half its catalogue with original shows
Netflix would have launched up to 600 hours of original programming by the end of 2016, but that's apparently nowhere near enough the company's goal. According David Wells, its CFO, Netflix wants to fill 50 percent of its library with original shows and movies within the next few years. Seeing as the streaming service has such an expansive catalogue, ensuring half of its offerings in the US is made up of originals will be huge undertaking.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Will.i.am join Apple's reality TV show
Planet of the Apps, Apple's first leap into the TV content pool just snagged a couple of big names. The show, which will follow an unscripted reality TV format, is set to feature famous lady Gwyneth Paltrow, rapper Will.i.am and digital media personality Gary Vaynerchuk as advisors and mentors to a class of entrepreneurs and app developers.
Amazon Japan adds 12 new original series to Prime Video
Amazon isn't wasting any time making good on its original programming plans for Japan. As part of its Prime Video service, which launched in September of last year, the company had announced plans to offer about 20 original shows tailored to that market. And today, Amazon Japan has unveiled a slate of originals detailing 12 new series that span a variety of genres, including documentaries, dramas and children's shows. Standouts include Magi, a time-traveling historical drama about teens that return to Japan to find Christianity's been banned; new versions of Ultraman and Kamen Rider; and manga adaptations like Businessmen vs. Aliens and Baby Steps. While some of these series are already available to stream now, others are planned to debut later in the year or even in 2017. It's also worth noting that Prime Video subscribers in Japan get access to these originals, as well as other Amazon series like Mozart in the Jungle for the bargain price of $32/year. Doesn't seem fair, now does it?
Netflix to double its original programming in 2016
On Monday, Netflix head of content Ted Sarandos announced that the company will double the number of original shows it produces in 2016. Next year, Netflix will deliver 31 original series compared to 16 in 2015. Additionally, the company reportedly plans to release 10 feature films, 12 documentaries, 10 stand-up specials and a whopping 30 children's programs to enhance its For Kids section. This marks a significant shift in Netflix's strategy and puts it on equal footing with traditional premium cable heavyweights like HBO and Showtime. Sarandos argues that since original programming grants Netflix full exclusivity and global rights forever, they're a better investment than haggling for outside content. Such a change in thinking could prove vital to the company's continued international expansion.[Image Credit: Getty]
PlayStation's original programming future depends on 'Powers'
Powers is the first series to come from Sony PlayStation's original programming push, a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and it's not rated "E" for everyone. With comic books as its source material, the racy superhero cop drama from creator Brian Michael Bendis is a custom fit for the PlayStation user base, especially users that pony up $50/year for Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service. And it's that particular demographic the PlayStation group is keen to pursue with any future projects. "We are a gaming company, so we want to do what's best for gaming and for our gamers," says PlayStation VP of Platform Marketing John Koller. "We're going to make a decision here after we see how Powers does. But whatever we do, it'll be very centered on the gamer and the gaming audience and what caters best to them."
Microsoft set to launch original programming for Xbox One in early 2014
Microsoft hopes its first wave of original TV programming for Xbox One will be out in early 2014, the company's president of entertainment and digital, Nancy Tellem, tells Variety. At the latest, Redmond is hoping to have its original content out by the second quarter. She admits the initiative has taken longer than expected, due in part to a lack of a prescribed business model like that of Amazon or Netflix. Hollywood deals are also hard to come by due to a fully formed strategy. The goal isn't to redefine the TV viewing experience, she tells Variety, it's it's to evolve it. Her division is in the process of securing exclusives and trying to figure out whether the content is "best on Xbox or only on Xbox" when it comes to interactive functionality. Whether the first round of shows includes the previously-announced Spielberg-produced Halo series or something involving street soccer remains to be seen, but from the sounds of it, it won't be long until we find out. Tellem says Microsoft is keeping millenials in mind when it comes to how programming is consumed, whether it's through multitasking or on-demand content that's available whenever someone has the time to watch. If Microsoft's original programming model with Xbox Video sounds familiar, that's because the likes of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are all leading the charge on their own streaming services. For more from Tellem, be sure to check out Variety's piece.
Sony to bring original programming to PS4 and PSN
With its much anticipated PS4 console reveal out of the way, Sony brought out Entertainment head Michael Lynton to talk media services for the platform. When the PS4 launches later this year, gamers will be privy to exclusive, original programming crafted specifically for PSN and made by Sony's studios. No further details were given on just what the company has in store nor what the pricing model would be (free vs paid?). But like Microsoft, Sony's looking to maximize on its living room position and, of course, that familiar buzz word: corporate synergy.
Amazon unleashes 'Pilot Season' with 14 original shows
Amazon's been doing plenty of talking around its original programming, but now the site's ready to show us the goods. The mega-retailer this morning has made available pilot episodes for 14 new original series, crowdsourcing its programming block by soliciting viewer feedback. Head on over to the source link below to watch the likes of Onion News Empire, Betas and Zombieland, among others, as well as a handful of kids shows. The page also includes a link for feedback, so you can finally become the professional web TV exec you've always dreamed of.
