To Binge or Not to Binge?

Everything all at once used to be the mantra for SVOD streamers eager to give subscribers binge-worthy shows that would keep them hooked for hours at a time. But just as audiences burn through content, platforms are burning through their content budgets, only to see their beloved, and expensive, shows fall out of the conversation as quickly as they had arrived.

With the U.S. writers’ strike ongoing—and the prospects of one involving actors potentially on the horizon—the squeeze on subscription revenues and the dawning realization that there is just simply too much content being produced, platforms are beginning to adjust how they release content. And the jury is still out as to what is the most effective strategy for launching with a lot of noise and managing to sustain that buzz.

Analytics firm Samba TV found that weekly releases help drive viewership over time while bulk drops of episodes are better for audience retention. An episode a week is best suited for platforms looking to maximize total viewership, Samba TV says. Bulk releases are more likely to retain fans over the course of the season, making them more appropriate for streamers that want to maximize initial buzz and keep subs bingeing.

“In the battle among streaming providers, success is defined by various metrics: maximizing subscribers, platform engagement and show audience,” said Ashwin Navin, Samba TV’s co-founder and CEO. “As the streaming landscape rapidly evolves, it’s essential to develop innovative, data-driven ways to break away from the pack.”

Brutal Services

Brutal Media has launched Brutal Services, created to provide tailor-made services to international productions for their shoots in Spain’s mainland and the Canary and Balearic Islands. “We know that with our flexible structure capable of adapting to any TV or film project and our know-how based upon quality and sensitivity, we can carry any project from brief to the screen,” says Arlette Peyret, executive producer. “There is a huge opportunity to shoot in Spain and profit from the great tax incentives of up to 30 and 60 percent, including in the Canary Islands.”

Farah / Indefensible / EGO

Calinos Entertainment has on offer the Turkish drama Farah, which tells the story of an Iranian woman who escapes to Istanbul, where she works as a cleaning lady until she ends up in the middle of the mafia-police war. Also available, the Canadian crime drama Indefensible follows the Lapointe-Macdonald law firm and its criminal defense team. EGO, adapted from the Korean series Temptation, “is a chain of dramas starting with an indecent proposal done by a beautiful, rich, young but unfortunate woman,” says Asli Serim, head of international sales.