News
June 3, 2016
June 3rd News Report from your Los Angeles Representative
Weekly Update from Kelly Graham-Scherer, Los Angeles Representative
Happy Friday everyone,
The Hollywood trades were abuzz this week with news of a flurry of high level studio executive shakeups.
At NBC Universal, TV president Bela Bajara has unexpectedly stepped down. As detailed in the Los Angeles Times below, many say NBC network brass was unhappy that many of Universal’s shows run on other networks and felt Bajara should have developed more programming specifically for NBC, illustrating the conflict that often exists between studio and network executives.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-universal-bela-bajaria-20160531-snap-story.html
There were also major shakeups at Sony this week.
As reported in the L.A. Times, the studio is revamping the leadership of its key television division after the abrupt exit of TV chairman Steve Mosko this week.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-sony-tv-executives-20160602-snap-story.html
The president of Sony Pictures Group Doug Belgrade also announced this week that he was stepping down. As detailed in the Hollywood Reporter, Belgrade has been with Sony for 27 years and had held the number two spot in the studio's film group since 2014.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-pictures-shakeup-doug-belgrad-876850
Over at 21st Century Fox, came news this week that 300-400 employees had accepted buyouts. As detailed in the L.A. Times below, the buyouts were part of the company’s efforts to cut costs at its TV networks and film studio.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fox-buyouts-20160601-snap-story.html
Finally this week, the Hollywood Reporter had an interesting article on how Canadian broadcasters have Netlifx to blame for the dramatic rise in prices this year for U.S. primetime hits. As detailed below, Canadians have recently bid progressively more each year for new US shows that are key to their primetime campaigns, but this year Netflix's entrance to the fray further increased competition, working to the advantage of Hollywood studio suppliers looking for Canadian SVOD rights overall to become more competitive and costly.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canadians-unveil-new-us-shows-898247
I'll be spending this weekend at the Producers Guild of America Conference. I will be attending several industry talks and seminars and look forward to reporting back next week on what I perceive as the emerging industry trends and buzz.
Warmest regards,
Kelly Graham-Scherer
Los Angeles Representative
Toronto/ Ontario Film Office