Dan Symonds

Could a proprietary live-streaming platform unlock key commercial opportunities in the esports domain? Dan Symonds reports.

FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery and ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, will launch a new sports streaming joint venture (JV) this autumn, combining the companies’ portfolios of sports networks, certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services and sports rights.

Figures released by the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE), Omdia, Kantar, Futuresource Consulting, and Official Charts Company have valued the UK screen industry at £12.5bn for 2023, a 5.6% YoY growth in a year when the UK Box Office topped £1bn for the first time since the pandemic. This was inclusive of SVoD, Premium AVoD, TVoD, Physical, Cinema and Pay TV.

More than 40% of behind the scenes workers for the UK’s film and TV industry have less than £1,000 in savings, with 29% reporting low cash savings and high levels of debt, according to the latest report from the Film and TV Charity.

The Esports World Cup Foundation, the Saudi Arabian nonprofit hosting the inaugural Esports World Cup this summer, has unveiled Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as the first confirmed title.

Netflix has recorded another strong quarter after revenue increased 12.5% year-on-year (YoY) for Q4 2023, reaching US$8.8bn. This is predicted to continue in Q1 2024 with more than 13% YoY growth.

US regional media and entertainment company Diamond Sports Group, operator of Bally Sports, has entered into a restructuring agreement that will see it emerge from bankruptcy.

AXA IM has exchanged contracts for the acquisition of the BBC Elstree Centre in North West London, with the acquisition due to complete in early 2025.

Directors UK has made two new appointments to spearhead its push for better working conditions and protection for members, with Paul Evans joining as Head of Industry Relations, and Niall Stewart as Public Affairs and Policy Manager.

Live sports, entertainment and events broadcaster EMG has today (11 Jan) announced a seismic merger with Gravity Media, a global provider of live creative production and media services.