Netflix adds 5 million subscribers, blames Hollywood strikes for patchier content offering

by Thinus Ferreira

On Thursday night Netflix revealed its third-quarter 2024 financial results and that it added another 5.1 million subscribers worldwide, blaming its "patchier" content offering on the wake of the Hollywood strikes.

On Thursday the global video streaming service announced that it has grown to 282.2 million subscribers worldwide. 

This is its penultimate release of quarterly subscriber numbers since Netflix announced earlier that it will stop releasing numbers from the first quarter of 2025.

In its latest quarterly investors' letter, Netflix indicated that paid users now watch Netflix for an average of two hours per day. 

"Engagement on Netflix is healthy: around two hours a day per paid membership on average, despite the impact of paid sharing,” the streamer said.

Netflix said it won't bundle its streaming service with others in the way that other American streamers are doing and contemplating.

"Programming for such a large, engaged audience, with so much variety and great quality, is hard. It's why streaming services which lack our breadth of content are increasingly looking to bundle their offerings (selling and discounting their services together, channel offerings, etc.)."

"Netflix is already an extraordinary package of series and films (licensed and original), and increasingly games and live events - all in one place and for one price, easy to use and great value for money."

"We believe there's a huge opportunity to grow that share by investing even more in our slate and continuing to improve the variety and quality of our offering. Part of that improvement is ensuring we have a steady drumbeat of great, new TV shows, movies and games throughout the year to satisfy our members."

Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO, on Netflix's third quarter investors' earnings call, noted that its content in 2024 was "patchier than normal" due to the fallout from the joint actors and writers strikes in America and that Netflix's production pipeline "hasn't fully recovered".

"Our aim here is to always have a very steady drumbeat of great new TV shows and films and games for our members to watch throughout the year - a drumbeat so steady that when you're watching the last episode of whatever you're watching, you start expecting the next thing to be great, too," he said.

"The first half of this year, our lineup was much lumpier than we liked, and it was primarily because of the work stoppage. It did hit the United States and Canada the hardest the hardest, but there were some effects of that felt in production around the world."

"We’re moving closer and closer to a more normalised output schedule now, series are a little more on track than film, but neither are fully recovered," he said.

Over the next quarter to the end of 2024 Netflix will release the second season of South Korea's Squid Game, No Good Deed with Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, as well as the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight on 15 November.

Also on the Netflix schedule are Man on the Inside with Ted Danson, as well as Black Doves from the United Kingdom with Keira Knightley. 

Film-wise Netflix will release The Piano Lesson, Emilia Pérez, the action movie Carry-On with Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, as well as Tyler Perry's war drama The Six Triple Eight with with Kerry Washington.

In 2025 Netflix will release a new Knives Out film, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the Russo brothers' film The Electric State with Millie Bobby Brown, as well as a new season of Wednesday.

Science-fiction sandworm series Dune: Prophecy coming to M-Net from 18 November as an Express from the US title

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net (DStv 101) has snagged the HBO Original science-fiction prequel series Dune: Prophecy which will broadcast as an Express from the US title on Mondays, from Monday 18 November at 21:00, similar to Sky in the United Kingdom.

Dune: Prophecy is a prequel series from Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schaper also serving as showrunner, set 10 000 years before the events of the Dune film of 2021 and its sequel. 

Dune: Prophecy is produced by Legendary Television and has a 6-episode first season. It is inspired by the novel Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

The series is an origin story of the start and growth of the secretive and powerful Bene Gesserit sect of women, with the official logline stating that the story "follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they combat forces that threaten the future of humanity, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit". 

Besides the galactic machinations behind closed doors of the secretive sect to control the politics of the galaxy, Dune: Prophecy will also explore the origins of the interstellar family feud between the evil Harkonnens and the noble Atreides, although the Harkonnens when the series starts are not the vicious and depraved clan they end up being thousands of years later. 

 The TV series, filmed in Hungary, is a direct spin-off from the 2021 film and will debut on HBO in the United States on 17 November. 

Sky in the United Kingdom and MultiChoice's DStv will both show Dune: Prophecy on 18 November as an Express from the US title, after it was rebranded in July as an HBO Original.

Another upcoming series, Lanterns, was also rebranded as an HBO Original and will tell a Green Lanterns story, making it very likely also an M-Net and Showmax acquisition.

After the release of two Dune: Prophecy teasers over the last few months, HBO released an official trailer on Thursday at New York Comic Con.

It stars Mark Strong as the emperor, together with Travis Fimmel, Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jessica Barden, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis and Aoife Hinds.

Amazon Prime Video to cover US presidential election as first live news event

by Thinus Ferreira

Amazon Prime Video is expanding into news coverage for the first time with the video streaming service which will cover the upcoming 2024 American presidential election on 5 November with rolling coverage for viewers globally, including South Africa.

Amazon says its Amazon Prime Video streamer will be a "one-stop destination for election insights" when it streams Election Night Live with Brian Williams from 23:00 on 5 November.

The programme will be produced by Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirsher with Jonathan Wald as executive producer and showrunner and is Amazon Prime Video's first streaming of a major live news event.

Election Night Live with Brian Williams will be available in English to Amazon users in most countries where Amazon Prime Video is available, regardless of whether they have are subscribers of Amazon Prime Video.

Brian Williams, a former American TV news anchor who left NBCUniversal's American TV news channel MSNBC at the end of 2021, will be joined live by guests to share real-time poll results and commentary in the election race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

According to Amazon Prime Video, Election Night Live with Brian Williams "will meet global viewers where they are, providing a unique, first-stop opportunity to follow the evening's results in an informative, accessible and non-partisan presentation directly on Prime Video".

Brian Williams will be joined in conversation by a variety of experts across news and politics with insights and analysis.

"After 41 years in the business - from local news to network shows to cable news - this feels like the next big thing. And the global marketplace of Amazon is a natural home for this first-of-its-kind venture," says Brian Williams in a statement.

"Together we will follow the storyline on election night wherever it leads us."

Albert Cheng, vice president and head of Amazon Prime Video, says "Amazon Prime Video is excited to host Brian Williams for a one-night-only election night special event".

"This non-partisan live special will draw from major news sources and complement the various partner news channels available on Amazon Prime Video. Our comprehensive offering is designed to give today's viewer a direct and seamless way to keep up with election results."

BBC News cancels HARDtalk after 27 years along with a further 130 newsroom staff cuts

by Thinus Ferreira

The BBC has cancelled its long-running HARDtalk interview show seen on BBC News (DStv 400) after 28 years which will end in March 2025 with the show's axing coming amidst further budget cuts and 130 news division workers losing their jobs.

On social media, Stephen Sackur, HARDtalk's presenter, said that "BBC News has announced plans to close HARDtalk after 3 decades holding the world's politicians and powerbrokers to account". He is also exiting the BBC.

Stephen Sackur noted "This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it's depressing news for the BBC and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous, deeply-researched journalism. At a time when disinformation and media manipulation are poisoning public discourse".

He said "A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC director-general Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British government that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it. Whatever the outcome of that, it seems it will be too late to save HARDtalk".

HARDtalk started in 1997. The BBC says "HARDtalk has done great work across the last 25 years, but we've had to make some tough decisions given the level of savings required and changing audience habits".

"People are coming to our news channel for live and breaking news, while across the whole of BBC News, we have hard-hitting long-form interviews and discussion on more platforms than ever, for instance via our global on-air editors, and our debate and discussion programmes."

Investigation Discovery (ID) adds Chris Brown physical violence exposé ahead of South African concert tour

by Thinus Ferreira

His cycle of abuse and the troubled past of American singer Chris Brown will be exposed in the new documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence coming to Investigation Discovery (DStv 171) on 8 November as part of the channel's annual "No Excuse for Abuse" campaign.

Sunny Hostin is the presenter of the new documentary which will be on ID, coming amidst growing public pressure on Big Concerts and Chris Brown to cancel a concert tour to South Africa in December.

After growing public backlash, the local NGO Women For Change started a petition calling for a boycott of Chris Brown's performance at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the controversial artist trolled the organisation by noting that he "can't wait to come".

ID will broadcast Chris Brown: A History of Violence on Friday 8 November at 21:00.

"In 2009 the world was exposed to a much darker side of the pop star when he made headlines for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. This arrest put a spotlight on Brown and his adult life, which has involved multiple violent incidents, including intimate partner violence, assault charges, and even sexual assault allegations," ID says.

"Chris Brown: A History of Violence charts Chris Brown's past all the way back to his troubled childhood, explores the lasting impact of the cycle of abuse, and poses the question: how does a man with such a violent public record maintain his superstar status?"

"With expert and cultural commentary layered throughout, the documentary provides thoughtful reflections on each survivor's experience and the psychological destruction left in the aftermath of their abuse."

Sunny Hostin says "Throughout my career, I have always prioritised being a fierce defender of women and children".

"Domestic violence is a very close, personal issue to me as I reflect on my past as a prosecutor of these types of cases and in my role as a mother and public figure whose actions inform and help shape the next generation."

"This issue is a prevalent epidemic which knows no socio-economic boundaries, so I am dedicated to expanding and continuing this crucial conversation. The more we know, the better we can help advocate for change as a society."

Jason Sarlanis, ID president, says "ID is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through its programming and campaigns. Our annual No Excuse for Abuse campaign amplifies this message, providing resources to show survivors and their loved ones that they are not alone and that help is available".

"In our third year, we are creating impactful content and collaborating with champions like Sunny Hostin, who brings her expertise and passion to lead thoughtful and nuanced discussions on domestic violence."

Growing consumer frustration with fast-rising video streaming costs

by Thinus Ferreira 

New consumer research from Deloitte has found growing frustration among consumers with the fast-rising costs of video streaming services.

According to the new market research, 64% of consumers are increasingly unhappy and frustrated with the constant, increasing prices of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and the like, with over 44% who have actually cancelled at least one video-on-demand (VOD) subscription in the last 6 months.

The consumer market research is based on a survey which was conducted under 3 554 American consumers during June and July this year.

According to Deloitte, 15% of respondents said that they do password sharing and use someone else's video streaming service password, while 7% have watched pirated TV shows or movies and around 4% do both.

Under the so-called Gen Z and Millennials categories more than 35% of password sharers indicated that they don't want to pay for a streaming video service.

Cast and crew of Paramount Africa's Queendom telenovela on BET once again shuts down production after going unpaid again with 'milestone not met'

by Thinus Ferreira

Production has shut down yet again and filming abruptly stopped on Paramount Africa's embattled Queendom telenovela produced by Clive Morris Productions (CMP) for BET Africa (DStv 129) after the show's crew and cast decided to stop working a second time, after they were once again not paid as promised.

There's been no public statement to the industry or MultiChoice's DStv subscribers from Clive Morris Productions or from Monde Twala, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager and BET International lead, about the latest Queendom production shutdown that started two weeks ago already.

Paramount Africa has remained silent in previous months over the reasons behind why the scandal-plagued show's crew and cast have not been paid and what exactly Paramount Africa and the production company have been doing about it.

The cast and crew on Queendom again stopped working on 2 October after they were again not paid by Clive Morris Productions at the end of September despite promises of payment.

The past two weeks' worth in lost episode production due to filming downtime and work stoppage over non-payment will likely once again force Queendom off the air soon and Paramount Africa to once again schedule repeats when it again runs out of completed episodes to air.

New episodes of Queendom just started again on BET on 23 September, two months after Paramount Africa was forced to switch to padded filler with rebroadcasts of episodes already completed since 22 July, after Clive Morris Productions ran out of money to film and even to pay cast and crew.

Paramount Africa didn't respond to earlier media queries about the rebroadcasts or how it would work, or what was going on.

Paramount Africa was forced to switch to repeats of Queendom just four months after its debut on BET Africa due to financial problems and not being able to finance and pay for production.

There been no explanation, and no response to earlier media queries made to Paramount Africa, on where Clive Morris Productions found the money to restart the embattled production which already saw cast and crew forced to sell possessions to buy food, while a crew member couldn't pay for a parent's funeral after a funeral policy lapsed due to non-payment.

On 25 September, just days before the Queendom crew and cast were supposed to be paid at the end of the month, Paramount Africa held what it called a "Paramount Summer Showcase" event for some Johannesburg media at Rockets in Bryanston and where some Queendom actors appeared and talked up the returning, yet floundering show's prospects.

About the latest Queendom work-stoppage which has been going for two weeks, a crew member told City Press newspaper "We are not going to work, we are still not paid".

According to the person, Clive Morris Productions told cast and crew they would be paid by Friday.

The person told City Press "If we get paid, we will resume work on Monday if the actors are available. This is the second week of not going to work. It's not looking good. People are not happy in the group because they said funds would be released but there is still nothing."

According to insiders they were duped by Clive Morris Productions and lured back to work with promises of getting paid again - which then didn't happen. 

Meanwhile, several crew and cast didn't return last month when filming restarted after the show shutdown and have since been lost to the show after they opted to take other work.

Clive Morris sent a message to the Queendom crew and cast about not being paid yet again, noting "I acknowledge this is difficult to understand. The funder is still there but requires various milestones to be met to release funds. A milestone was not met but we are attempting to get that closed so that funds can be released".

Unfulfilled payment promises

As I've reported earlier, Queendom started out as a co-production, with BET responsible for half of the investment, which was fulfilled by BET Africa and Clive Morris Productions responsible for the other 50%.

According to CMP, a backer pulled out that would have paid its 50% towards the production costs, but it's unclear why pre-production and filming started before the funding was fully paid over.

Insiders told TVwithThinus earlier that MultiChoice, Paramount Africa and Clive Morris Productions (CMP) are all equal parts responsible for the financial scandal of letting a show go into production without having secured the total money upfront to make it.

According to insiders Queendom had to shut down since MultiChoice placed massive pressure on Paramount Africa to maintain a contractual local content quota for BET Africa whereby Paramount must produce and air a number of local hours per year on the channel.

Paramount Africa, under pressure to adhere to its local content contract with MultiChoice or face stiff penalities, went ahead to programme Queendom on BET, with CMP which started filming even though the show's complete budget wasn't covered by production money in the bank.

Further complicating matters: Clive Morris Productions wanted to retain a stake in the show in order to benefit over the long run from back-end licensing - which is why the production company was and is responsible for putting up the financing of its "part" in the show's production equity.

When the available Queendom money ran out, angry and upset crew and cast continued working unpaid for a while based on payment promises, but eventually decided to down tools collectively.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa's Queendom on BET shut down with cast and crew unpaid by Clive Morris Productions as MultiChoice's Showmax also gives Empini to another producer.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa silent over unpaid Queendom crew and cast and why BET signed off for filming to start on Clive Morris Production show that didn't have production money fully in the bank.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa refuses to explain anything as BET Africa's cash-crashed Queendom from Clive Morris Productions restarts filming after shutdown and payment failure scandal.

Inside MultiChoice's push to expand Namibia's kykNET content

by Thinus Ferreira

An old Damara saying holds that patience is the key to eating ripe fruit and it is true for M-Net which has quietly been ramping up and expanding its slate of Afrikaans kykNET content from Namibia as it integrates stories from its South African neighbour into shows and even the nightly weather forecasts.

Observe closely, and notice that while Namibia is the country of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ovine, the Ovambo and the Omuramba, on M-Net's Afrikaans TV channels division, Namibia has come to resemble almost another South African province.

From increasing inserts on magazine shows like Kwêla, to the new culinary cooking show Op Pad met my Potjie, travelogues like Die Groot Niks with Neil Sandilands, Namibian towns included in the "Dorp van die Jaar" competition, and even Namibia featuring within the nightly eNuus weather forecast, the land of sand looms larger on DStv than ever before.

Production has started on the feature film My F*k Marelize, and the Namibian natural history documentary film Eden se Beskermengele just made its debut and is available on DStv Catch Up. 

At the end of September, MultiChoice held the first MultiChoice Film Festival in Windhoek with panel sessions and content screenings, showcasing productions created under the MultiChoice Namibia local content-creation banner of "Ombura", comprising six feature films, and a documentary.

M-Net told TVwithThinus that kykNET is actively ramping up the commissioning of Namibian content for DStv subscribers and says "kykNET, in collaboration with MultiChoice Namibia and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), is actively commissioning Namibian content".

"This partnership demonstrates MultiChoice's commitment to nurturing the Namibian television and film industry and providing viewers with high-quality local content."

The new Namibian lifestyle show, Op pad met my Potjie on Mondays at 21:30 on kykNET which started 30 September, sees Afrikaans foodie Joalette de Villiers travel across Namibia equipped with nothing more than a three-legged pot.

As she learns how to make and value different popular Namibian dishes, Joalette meets various people and experiences their culture through food as the show explores Namibian culture through the common tradition of cooking a potjie and the Afrikaans language. 

Op pad met my Potjie not only showcases all the places Joalette visits from the perspective of the locals who live there but it captures and reflects Namibia to its viewers. 

A show like this also opens up Namibia to DStv subscribers in South Africa who have never seen many of these places in their neighbouring country and are surprised about the striking architecture and that Namibia is more than sand dunes.

"One of the interesting discoveries in commissioning Namibian content is the deep connection between Afrikaans-speaking Namibians and South Africans," MultiChoice notes.

"Despite the geographical distance, these communities share a common language, cultural heritage, and historical experiences. This shared identity has facilitated a strong sense of kinship and resonance among viewers on both sides of the border."

"However, while there are many similarities with their South African counterparts, Namibian Afrikaans culture has evolved in response to the country's unique historical, geographical, and social contexts."

"This has led to subtle yet significant differences in language, dialect, customs, and cultural celebrations, one of which will form the backdrop to the film My f*k, Marelize."

Namibian feature films

In 2022, MultiChoice Namibia decided to ramp up its output of local and inspiring Namibian content and to empower and establish Namibian content producers within the country's creative industry.

Thirteen films have since debuted on DStv, GOtv and MultiChoice's streamer Showmax under the "Namibia to the World" banner, and MultiChoice and kykNET are working on the next batch of programme development under the Ombura content pipeline.

Ombura includes eight projects - six feature films, a documentary and a lifestyle series – each showcasing a unique and authentic perspective of Namibia, its culture, its people, and way of life.

Upcoming films on Sunday evenings on kykNET&Kie (DStv 145) at 20:00 include Speel Aan on 13 October in which a former soccer coach, haunted by his tragic past, reluctantly accepts a job coaching a struggling high school team in the hope of redemption.

Speel Aan stars Dawie Engelbrecht, Hazel Hinda, Lucky Pieters, and Edo Dice Lutete with Errol Geingob as director.

Ataman on 20 October, directed by Lucia Kim Hamunghete and stars Mpumelelo Malgas, Azembua Katjirua, Norman Job, and Timothy Strauss. 

In Ataman a young, ambitious soccer player refuses to let his deceased father's shadow and a string of setbacks stop him from making the national team.

In !Dhina Boys on 27 October a single mom starts a neighbourhood watch with a self-defence instructor after a mugging, trying to thwart the evil plans of a gang leader.

Michael Swartbooi and Lucia Kim Hamunghete are the directors of this film starring Senga Brockerhoff, Otja Kooper, Keanu Greeves, Norbert van Wyk and Joe Mulisa.

Die Rooftog on 3 November, with director Hildegard Titus, is a comedy film that tells the story of a hardworking young man named Ernest who is struggling financially. Then his cousin Sly shows up in town with a plan to solve all their problems – he wants to rob luxury salons in Windhoek. Will they get away with it?

Die Rooftog stars Roger Nino, Edo Dice Lutete, Tjiurimo Kandjii, Amy-Leigh Hammond, Joyce Sydne Tjizu, Abigail Goliath, Oscar Shilongo, and Mark Kariahuua.

The action film Lubinda on 10 November directed by Leon Mubiana sees Lubinda return to the underworld after he left a life of crime behind, to rescue his rebellious daughter from the jaws of a vengeful past.

The film stars Fareed Du Toit, Harmony Ahalwa, Llewellyn Muenjo, Nguundja Kandjii, Filna Nalisa, and Johan Engelbrecht.

MultiChoice says abducted and rescued Nigerian sports crew were CAF freelancers and not working for DStv

by Thinus Ferreira

Contrary to reports from Nigeria that a crew of MultiChoice and SuperSport was abducted with one person killed on their way to cover an Afcon match, MultiChoice tells TVwithThinus the crew was freelance workers hired by CAF with the match not shown on DStv.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, police public relations officer of the Anambra State Police Command in Awka, Nigeria, tells TVwithThinus that "Joint security forces have successfully rescued six members of the media crew who were abducted while travelling from Lagos to Uyo along Isseke-Orlu Road in Ihiala".

A 7th member was shot and killed.

While Nigeria reports said that the crew worked for MultiChoice, the pay-TV operator tells me the crew in question are freelancers hired by CAF and that MultiChoice was not even showing that specific match on any of the DStv TV channels.