Is Disney now at war with Netflix? Is Facebook video relevant? What happened with SeeSo? With special guest Andy Beach.
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CordKillers: Ep. 183 – Hi-Ho SeeSo
Recorded: August 14 2017
Guest: Andy Beach
Intro Video
Primary Target
- The Walt Disney Company to Acquire Majority Ownership of BAMTech
– Disney announced it is buying a majority stake in BAMTech, the streaming-video company founded by Major League Baseball that powers services like the NHL, MLB, and HBO now. Disney also announced it plans to launch an ESPN-branded streaming service in early 2018, with broadcasts not aired on other ESPN channels, and a new Disney and Pixar streaming service in 2019. Disney will end its agreement with Netflix for Disney and Pixar movies at the end of 2018, though Netflix is still negotiating to renew a deal for Marvel and Lucasfilm content.
- Disney won’t renew Netflix deal
- Disney has a streaming service called Disney Life in the UK
- Disney wants to make a huge shift in its business model — but it’s not ready to do it yet
- Your favorite Disney movies will be leaving Netflix. This is where (some of them) are going.
- Netflix doesn’t want to be a better streaming service — it wants to be Disney
- Marvel and Star Wars streaming services still being considered.
- Star Wars and Iron Man may not disappear from Netflix in 2019 after all
- Netflix signs Shonda Rhimes away from ABC in huge coup
– Shonda Rhimes’ production company Shondaland signed a multi-year deal to produce new content for Netflix. Rhimes told the Wall Street Journal, “I’m thrilled by the idea of a world where I’m not caught in the necessary grind of network television.”
- David Letterman is joining forces with Netflix for a new show
– David Letterman has agreed to host 6 episodes of a talk show for Netflix to arrive in 2018. Each episode would be an hour long with a longform interview with one guest as well as segments shot outside the studio. In a statement Letterman said, “Here’s what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first. Thanks for watching, drive safely.”
- Netflix lands the Coen Brothers’ Western TV series
– The Coen Brothers will produce, write and direct their first television show called “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” for Netflix. It will be a western anthology with six stories centered around Scruggs. The cast includes Tim Blake Nelson as Buster Scruggs, as well as Ryne Daley, James Franco, Zoe Kazan.
- Netflix snags an Alan Arkin, Michael Douglas comedy series
– Netflix announced a project called The Kominsky Method starring Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. The series will be written and produced by Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre. Chuck Lorre’s series Disjointed starring Kathy Bates premieres August 25th.
How to Watch
- Facebook launches Watch tab of original video shows
– Facebook is rolling out a new version of its video section, renamed Watch, to select users in the US. Some videos are episodic and broken down into categories like “Most Talked About” or “What’s Making People Laugh”. Users can subscribe to updates from favorite shows, chat with other viewers while watching, and connect with creators through Groups. Facebook has funded some of the shows, but anyone can create one and get 55% of the revenue generated. Shows come from places like Tastemade, Major League Baseball, Mike Rowe, Billboard Magazine, National Geographic and more.
- Seeso shutting down
– NBC will shut down its Seeso comedy streaming service later this year. The service launched in January 2016, but laid off staff in June. Seeso originals “HarmonQuest,” “My Brother, My Brother and Me,” “Hidden America With Jonah Ray,” and “The Cyanide and Happiness Show” will move to the VRV streaming service.
What to Watch
What We’re Watching
- Brian: Preacher, Firefly, Rick and Morty, Game of Thrones, Last Week Tonight
- Tom: Preacher, Firefly, Twin Peaks, Dunkirk, Game of Thrones, Rick and Morty
- Andy: Rick & Morty, Difficult People, Ozark (just finished), Pure, The Sinner, Detroit
- On the Lookout: VRV
Front Lines
Dispatches from the Front
What do you think will happen with Star Trek Discovery if the first episode is a huge hit on CBS television, but the subsequent streaming only episodes are a bomb? Does it move to CBS television? Will they let if fail as a streaming only show? If they move it to television, what will this do for future streaming only series? Will people buy in to CBS All Access if they think there is a chance that streaming only shows will eventually show up on CBS television for free?
– Ken
Morning Tom and Brian,
Last show, Mickey Neumann made a great point I wish would have moved into discussion. His comment was following the conversation of how CBS moves it’s properties around like pawns — Mickey said he didn’t feel “it respects the creator of the art”.
Particularly from Brian, who’s produced shows (and even reneged his cable cutting tacit agreement so he could watch himself on cable tv)… and no longer controls the distribution of them. I’ve heard Brian mention in passing he doesn’t know where the shows are or how to get them.. so it sounds like he’s just let go. I’d love to hear more about that end of the deal process to letting go of your art
– Joe
Is there a way to request a company to start streaming some of their back catalog? HBO GO/HBO Now does not have some major pieces of their library:
The Tom Hanks produced From the Earth to the Moon mini series…
The Golden Globe winning Don King: Only in America movie…
The classic David Mamet directed magic special Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants…
And all of the past Young Comedian Specials…
Is it because these things were all filmed and produced for 4×3 television screens that they remain mothballed and not available to stream?
Thanks for any guidance…
– Shannon
Links
2017 Summer Movie Draft
patreon.com/cordkiller
After On
Reddit hosts videos now, Skype for Mac gets redesigned, AT&T loses lawsuit to slow competitors in Louisville.
Google tweaks Google Docs, launches Google Home calling and HMD shows off Nokia 8.
Apple may spend $1 billion on making video, Tech companies push for warrants to surveil cell phones, FCC filing points to Pixel 2.
LinkedIn can’t stop access to public data, Intel CEO quits White House council, Dreamhost resists a warrant.