Women’s Sports Gain Momentum as GroupM Doubled Media Spend Women’s sports are finally getting their time to shine. GroupM, a WPP-owned advertising firm, says that it has “exceeded” its goal to double the annual media spend on women’s sports programming, a target set earlier this year in connection with the widely viewed NCAA women’s basketball tournament. In just a few months, over 20 major brands, from Adidas and Google to Universal Pictures and DoorDash, including Adobe, Unilever, and Target, increased [...]

‘Lights, Camera, Jobs!’ That was the message emblazoned on the banner behind California Governor Gavin Newsom as he announced a major new effort to keep Hollywood production at home. Standing at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and key industry leaders, Newsom unveiled a proposal to more than double California’s annual film and TV tax credits from $330 million to $750 million. If approved by the Legislature, this $3.75 billion, five-year plan could take effect as [...]

Netflix and Universal are expanding their partnership, renewing their licensing agreement for animated films from Illumination and DreamWorks Animation (DWA) and adding live-action titles from Universal Pictures and Focus Features beginning in 2027. This move bolsters Netflix's content offerings and enhances its lineup with new titles from a trusted partner in animation and beyond. Under this new deal, Netflix retains exclusive streaming rights to Universal’s animated films no later than eight months after their theatrical release. After these films premiere [...]

The live music industry hit record-high earnings at the halfway mark of 2024, but soaring ticket prices and slowing audience growth painted a mixed picture for its long-term prospects. However, fresh Q3 2024 data offers a more encouraging outlook, though the persistent issue of affordability remains a concern. Pollstar’s latest figures, covering the top 100 global tours from November 2023 to August 2024, show the industry rebounding after a turbulent few years. The best 100 tours grossed an impressive $5.68 [...]

The Los Angeles TV and film production industry saw a sharp decline in the third quarter of 2024, with filming activity dipping below levels seen during the 2023 strike. FilmLA reported 5,048 shoot days in Q3, the weakest quarter of the year so far, and a 36.4% drop from its five-year average. Reality TV took the hardest hit, plunging 56.3% from last year, reflecting a larger contraction in the unscripted sector. Production in the Greater LA area fell 5% compared [...]

At the tenth edition of the MIA-International Audiovisual Market in Rome, the sixth APA (Association of Italian Audiovisual Producers) Report reveals that the Italian audiovisual industry is growing and entering a new phase. The report highlights that the industry's value in 2023 has nearly doubled compared to 2017, exceeding 2 billion euros and achieving a steady annual growth rate of 11.6%. Television remains the primary audiovisual medium, generating revenues of €8.2 billion in 2023 (71% of the total market). At [...]