Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, has undergone a notable shift in his stance on data transparency within the streaming industry. Previously, Netflix was known for its reluctance to disclose detailed viewership data, favoring a more opaque approach that kept its competitors and creative talent in the dark. However, Sarandos is now advocating for greater transparency, positioning Netflix’s biannual data releases and top 10 lists as the new standard for the industry. At a recent Fast Company conference, Sarandos emphasized Netflix’s commitment [...]

As the U.S. broadcast networks unveil their fall 2024 lineups, they will mark a significant milestone: the fewest original scripted series in at least 20 years. This decline includes past challenging years like 2020, impacted by COVID-19, and 2007, during the previous Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. In a landscape where Hollywood is supposedly operating under "business as usual," 2024 stands out as a bleak year for the comedies and dramas that have traditionally defined American network television. For [...]

If not the studios, then the law. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed off on legislation aimed at protecting Hollywood actors and performers from unauthorized artificial intelligence, which could be used to create digital clones of their likeness without their consent. The new policy, signed on September 17th, reflects the state’s effort to address concerns about AI's potential impact on the entertainment industry. Fears that studios might use this new technology to replace workers led actors to strike for four months [...]

Already in 2022, renowned Italian director Marco Bellocchio had told ANSA (Italian News Agency) about his desire to make a TV series about host Enzo Tortora "to tell the story of the great injustice he suffered while at the peak of his success with the show Portobello. That moment has now arrived." But let's go in order. Television host Enzo Tortora was one of the most recognizable and beloved faces on Italian TV between the late 1970s and early 1980s. [...]

The mid-September Emmy appointment marks the start of Hollywood's school year: the awards season kicks off with accolades for TV series and programs and culminates with the Oscars in early March. The 76th Emmy Awards edition has shown that the upcoming year is rather unusual. Firstly, the competing productions, those aired or streamed between June 2023 and May 2024, managed to dodge the strike that last year kept lights and cameras off for a total of six months. Additionally, the [...]

Hacks snagged the top comedy prize from the highly favored The Bear, which was expected to repeat its success from last season with its second installment. The HBO/Max show about a seasoned comedian trying to regain her audience and comedic edge also won for writing (with Italian screenwriter Lucia Aniello on the team) and for its lead actress, 73-year-old Jean Smart. No surprises, however, when the envelope was opened for Best Drama Series: Shogun took home the trophy as expected, [...]