DocumentaryBusiness.com
My newsletter DocumentaryBusiness.com, formerly DocumentaryTelevision.com, is my ‘indispensable’ platform for sharing my current industry analysis with more than 20,000 network executives, producers and professionals in 150+ countries.
TRUE CRIME BOOM: “Where’s OUR Quiet on Set?” by StoryCentric’s Ed Hersh
By Ed Hersh, StoryCentric, New York. The popularity of True Crime programming across all platforms — broadcast, cable, streaming, and podcasting — continues to defy gravity. Peter reported just last month that True Crime dominates all other genres in terms of net added programs on four of the Big 5 major streaming platforms. And of […]
The Last MIPTV in Cannes: Expert Takeaways from Anne Olzmann & Liz Levenson with Dan Salerno. Webinar
It was a sad moment when MIPTV said goodbye to Cannes, its home since 1965. I first attended MIPTV in 1986, and a Spring trip to Cannes has been an anchor, launchpad — and sometimes a life raft — for my career ever since. Dan Salerno offered to produce a webinar that sheds light on […]
“How To Pitch TV Execs, Sales Agents, Distributors and More!” LIVE Webinar with Pauline Mazenod, Windrose Distribution. Today, March 2. 11am ET
Students of my Selling to Netflix and the Streamers 2024 course, don’t miss your free pass to today’s LIVE Q&A: Topic: “How To Pitch TV Execs, Sales Agents, Distributors and More!” Date: Thursday May 2, 2024 at 8AM PT / 11AM ET / 5PM CET Guest Speaker: PAULINE MAZENOD, Windrose International Distribution (back by […]
PBS Distribution’s Joe Barrett & Tracy Beckett on PBSd and the Changing Documentary Market. Our MIPTV Webinar
PBS Distribution‘s Joe Barrett and Tracy Beckett joined me for our well-attended Meet The Executives session at MIPDOC in Cannes. Joe and Tracy described PBSd‘s role and structure within the PBS system. We discussed buying trends among both public broadcasters and streaming platforms, PBSd’s sweet spots, and the business and rights issues that can determine […]
Dawn Porter, Sundance Finalist and MIPDOC Keynote on her Productions and their Inspirations
At MIPTV in Cannes, I caught up with Dawn Porter multiple Sundance finalist and this year’s MIPDOC keynote speaker. In our latest Documentary Business webinar, Dawn describes how her Harlem family, and particularly her great, great uncle Paul Robeson provide values that inspire her filmmaking. We discuss her recent projects as well as her present […]
ANZAC Day & the Aussie Prince. How Rupert Murdoch Learned from his Kingmaker Father. My Rafah Connection
How did Rupert Murdoch become Rupert? My short answer: Look to the father! Keith Murdoch was the Australian kingmaker who taught the young Rupert how to forge political influence from media ownership. For Australia’s solemnly observed ANZAC Day (April 25), I reposted my reflections on how the disastrous Gallipoli campaign launched the Murdoch dynasty that enabled Brexit, Fox News, the Trump […]
True Crime: The Boom Continues. What’s Breaking Through?
The True Crime boom continues. And evolves. Ampere Analysis‘ findings presented at the recent MIPDOC capture how True Crime (in light blue) dominates all other genres in net added programs on four of the Big 5 major streaming platforms. And ID‘s disturbing Nickelodeon expose Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV dominated minutes […]
RAPTORS: Indie Producer Matt Hamilton’s Copro for Terra Mater Studios and PBS Nature. A Case Study for MIPDOC ’24
Independent producer / director Matt Hamilton created for Terra Mater Studios and PBS’s NATURE series, a superb two-parter that reveals the magnificent world of raptors to a global audience. For our RAPTORS Case Study, I connected with Vienna-based Sabine Holzer, Head of Specialist Factual, Terra Mater Studios, Nature’s Executive Producer Fred Kaufman, and Matt Hamilton. […]
MIPDOC ’24: Co-Production Case Study, Meet the Expert Sessions, and Dawn Porter’s Keynote
The 26th International Documentary and Factual Co-Production Market & Screenings is back again this year during a dedicated weekend ahead of MIPTV. Gathering the international doc & factual community, MIPDOC offers 2 days of networking, screenings, pitch, and conferences. I produced the inspiring Co-production Case Study and two Meet the Expert sessions, and helped arrange […]
Factual Trends 2024. What I Learned about Buyers, Buckets and Budgets
What are the key trends for Factual producers and buyers as we work our way towards 2Q24 and MIPTV? I’ve been checking in with industry insiders and analysts for their key Takeaways, and here my highlights from these conversations. Top Finding: The Documentary business boomed in the ‘Eighties thru the late ‘Teens as dozens of […]