Week in Review

Personnel changes 

  • Bela Bajaria has been named head of global television for Netflix Inc., while Cindy Holland, who worked at the company for nearly 20 years and oversaw the development of Netflix’s originals — including “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black” and “Stranger Things” — will depart the streaming service next month.  
  • Pearlena Igbokwe will oversee NBCUniversal’s global television studio business, including Universal Television, Universal Content Productions and NBCUniversal International Studios, becoming one of the most senior Black women in the industry as the company looks to reorganize and streamline its entertainment operations to compete in the streaming era. 
  • Apple Inc. has hired former Quibi executive Tim Connolly for its TV division, according to his LinkedIn profile, as the company seeks to expand its streaming and service offerings. Connolly, whose new role at Apple could not be determined, previously oversaw partnerships and advertising for Quibi, and before that helped launch Hulu’s live TV component, as well as strike a deal for its bundle with Spotify Technology S.A.
  • Amazon.com Inc. has tapped MAC Cosmetics Chief Marketing Officer Ukonwa Ojo to serve as the new CMO of Amazon Studios and Prime Video, where she will oversee the marketing of all of Amazon Studios’ global brand and original programming, starting Sept. 21. Andy Donkin, the current global head of Amazon Originals and Prime Video marketing, will take on a new role with the company that will be announced at a later date. 

TikTok

  • ByteDance Ltd. and the U.S. government are discussing possible arrangements to avoid a full sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations after the Chinese government placed new restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence technology, according to people familiar with the matter, who cautioned that the situation is fluid and a sale is still possible. One source said that even if a full deal could not be reached, TikTok would likely be restructured, and a U.S.-based tech company could potentially take a minority stake. 

Streaming services 

  • Reed Hastings, Netflix’s co-CEO, said in an interview that the streaming service doesn’t have plans to purchase a movie theater chain or expand into the theatrical world, and will instead keep its focus on internet content and improving its series and films, but he added that he would like Netflix to invest more in family animation in an effort to compete with Walt Disney Co.
  • WarnerMedia is considering an ad-supported, reduced-price version of HBO Max that would feature up to four minutes of commercials each hour, with ads airing alongside programs from WarnerMedia television networks, HBO Max originals and older films, according to a recent marketing survey sent to consumers, though the plans could change before the launch of the new tier.

Diversity and inclusion 

  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has set inclusion standards for all films competing for best picture, going into effect for the 2024 Oscars, which will require nominees to meet at least two standards across four categories – “Onscreen Representation, Themes and Narratives,” “Creative Leadership and Project Team,” “Industry Access and Opportunities” and “Audience Development” – that are aimed at increasing on-screen representation of underrepresented groups and the diversity of the off-camera workforce. 
  • Thirty-two of the 100 highest grossing films from 2019 featured leading or co-leading characters from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups – up from 27 in 2018 – while the number of films with a woman in a leading or co-leading role increased from 39 to 43 last year, according to a study from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The study found that 95 of the top 100 films would meet at least one of the new inclusion requirements set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its 2024 Best Picture nominees, while 71 would meet a second requirement and therefore be eligible to compete for best picture.

What’s Ahead

  • The Toronto International Film Festival will run through Sept. 20. This year’s festival will have in-person and virtual components and will feature films including Francis Lee’s “Ammonite,” Spike Lee’s “David Byrne’s American Utopia” and Regina King’s “One Night in Miami.”
  • TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference starts on Monday. Actor and producer Kerry Washington is among the featured speakers. 
  • Variety resumes its “Rebooting the Entertainment Industry” series on Tuesday with a session titled “The Outlook for Future Growth.”
  • The Primetime Emmy Awards will be held remotely on Sept. 20. Netflix was the most nominated network or platform this year with 160 nominations, breaking the record previously held by HBO. HBO’s “Watchmen” was the most nominated program with 26 nominations, while Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” earned 20 nods, the second highest total for any program.

Events Calendar (All Times Local)

09/13/2020
Toronto International Film Festival 2020
TIFF Industry 2020
09/14/2020
Toronto International Film Festival 2020
TechCrunch Disrupt 2020
TIFF Industry 2020
09/15/2020
Toronto International Film Festival 2020
TechCrunch Disrupt 2020
Goldman Sachs 29th Annual Communacopia Virtual Conference
Variety Streaming Room–Rebooting the Entertainment Industry: The Outlook for Future Growth 1:00 pm
09/16/2020
Toronto International Film Festival 2020
TechCrunch Disrupt 2020
Variety Streaming Room: Sustainability in Storytelling – Creators
View full calendar

Watch the Webinar On Demand – The Gen Z Threat

Recently, Morning Consult hosted a webinar breaking down our latest report, Gen Z’s Most Loved Brands of 2020.

You can access a recording of the webinar here for insight into how the pandemic is transforming Gen Z’s relationship with brands, and how brands should adapt to meet the changing expectations of this generation of the future.

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