Netflix. The Trial of The Chicago 7.

 Just out on Netflix and getting a lot of talkability largely because it's true.

It's a court room drama in essence, regarding Nixon era Vietnam protests and the trial of 7 protest leaders. Political as much as legal.

Really nicely done, informative but to be honest, not terribly exciting. Sacha Cohen does well. Kinda worth a look but the publicity around it seems bigger than the show. 

At least you know it's there! 

New to Netflix. Filthy Rich.

It's just out, new to Netflix, a four-parter.

Is it disturbing? Only in the sense of the way the powerful manipulate, but all the content is watchable in that way. In other words, you needn't fear having the family around but that said, it's shocking.

It's based around the James Patterson book (a former Ad Agency chief) who features in the series and it's really revealing how the mighty thought they were untouchable.

Some famous faces rightly, come out badly. But it's a documentary that tells the shocking full story. Well worth a watch but it will, make you angry....

Netflix this weekend? Try 'White Lines'.

New to Netflix, this is an English/Spanish mystery drama. 

A sister (the amazing Laura Haddock) goes to Ibiza to try and find out who killed her Manchester DJ brother, 20 years ago and it literally, changes her life. Sun, Pills, Raves, it's so much based in those dance trance days. 

10 Episodes but it really takes to Episode 3+ to get going but it's worth it. Really worth it.

Definitely one for the weekend. Trust us! But stick with it....

New on Netflix. 'Extraction'.

New on Netflix and trending #1 in Ireland, 'Extraction' is worth a look. If you're a bloke that is, looking for lots of shooting and missiles...and there's a lot of them.

Have to say it's so well directed by Sam Hargrave a former stuntman and this his director debut. But it's nothing more than a Bourne style thriller but mind you, in these times, there's nothing wrong with that. And this is, one of the better ones.

Netflix this weekend? Try 'Designated Survivor'.

It sounds cheesy - President and Cabinet gets killed and unknown politician becomes President by default - but it's not. It's really good.

A political thriller made by ABC but cancelled after Series 2 and then taken over by Netflix. There's 3 Series and Kiefer Sutherland does a great job. 87% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.

It's not unlike The West Wing but practically a new crisis in ever episode. It becomes addictive but then, what else are you doing this weekend....well okay, walking? 

You've seen it? But have you seen it all? The Staircase. On Netflix.

The Staircase. You've seen it on Netflix but have you seen it all? There's 13 episodes with 3 added from the original 10.

True Crime documentary featuring Michael Peterson, a former newspaper columnist, for the murder of his wife, Kathleen who had fallen down stairs. Or had she?

Originally for French TV, it created a real Netflix stir when first aired but the follow-ups might have been missed. Have a look. And if you hadn't seen the original, start at the start. It's gripping.

Netflix this weekend? Try this. 'Who killed Malcolm X'.

This is a 2020 Documentary and it's on Netflix, which is about, well, as it says. But in exploring the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X it's more interesting because it remembers the time. Civil Rights, Ali, Black Power and of course, the Nation of Islam.

It's also great for those, like me, who really knew very little about the man. And it brought about the 're looking' and probably, reopening of the case. 3 men were jailed around the time. 

6 episodes but very watchable.  Malcolm X was on the opposite side to Martin Luther King's non-violence and clearly a very interesting (and likeable) man. 

Well worth a look!

Netflix? Try 'Hunter Killer'.

Now okay, it's a shoot em' up movie with a US sub, seal teams and a Russian coup but as they go, it's one of the better ones. 2018 based on a book 'Firing Point' and it features Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman.

You won't think about it for days afterwards but it's a good way to lose a little time on Netflix. At least for an hour and a half, you can think you too could be part of Seal Team 6. Go save the President!

Simple copy and paste of this report today from 'AdExchanger'. Viewing habits changing....

Coronavirus shelter-in-place orders have been in place for less than a month nationally, but consumer media habits are already massively changing.

Streaming is the clear winner of social distancing. From March 9 to March 16, total streaming time grew to 156.1 billion minutes per day in the United States, compared to 127.6 billion minutes during the last week of February, per Nielsen. 

In March, streaming accounted for 23% of consumer TV viewing time, up from 21% in February and 14% a year ago.

Meanwhile, live TV viewing grew between 1% and 3% during the last week of March across all demos, while streaming increased by up to 8% during the same time period. NBCU saw an 80% spike in viewership across its digital assets in March compared to a 20% increase in linear TV viewing.

Homebound people are streaming more TV during the daytime. Streaming between 10 am to 5 pm grew 39% during the week of March 17 to 23, compared to the previous week, Conviva found. Meanwhile, prime-time viewing declined by as much as 5% between 8 pm and 11 pm.

“Prime time is starting nine hours earlier than normal,” said Conviva CEO Bill Demas. “Even if people are working from home and kids are distance-learning, streaming accelerates at 10 am and goes throughout the day.”

In APAC, where people are slowly getting back to work, streaming hours decreased 10% between March 17 and 23, according to Conviva. That dip offers a preview of what may happen in other regions as lockdown restrictions ease.

“Streaming will go down as people go back to work,” Demas said. “But the rollback into work will take months. How many habits are formed in that time because people got used to streaming?”

Ad dollars, however, are likely to lag until the economy gets back on track and the industry creates a common currency and measurement standard for streaming that brands can trust.

What are people watching?

Netflix is the SVOD player gaining the most traction, with people spending 29% of their total streaming minutes with the platform during the week of March 16, per Nielsen. Nine of the top 10 streamed shows during the second week of March are on Netflix.

Netflix is followed by YouTube, where people are spending 20% of their streaming minutes, followed by Hulu at 10% and Amazon at 9%.

But 31% of streaming minutes are spent on other platforms, meaning that ad-supported viewing could be seeing a boon as the economy crumbles.

Well-funded, top-tier players such as Netflix and Amazon appear to be best-positioned to weather the storm, as are smartly packaged bundles such as the $13-per-month Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN combo.

What about linear?

Without live sports, linear TV is hanging on by the thread of local news and increased daytime viewing during the pandemic.

Viewing of live local news grew 7% across demos from early February to the week of March 9, with adults over 25 spending 30.4% of their TV consumption time watching local news during the same period, according to Nielsen. 

Ratings increased 3.5% to 12.5% across local markets as more people tune into the news to find out what’s happening where they live.

Daytime cable news viewing skyrocketed 347% year over year during the last week of March, growing 50% more than total TV viewing time during the same period, according to Samba TV.

But people are also turning to social media for local news. During March, local news engagement climbed 196% on Twitter, 62% on YouTube, 34% on Instagram and 15% on Facebook, according to Conviva.

“Local news is so important because every area is [responding] differently,” Demas said. “But when the pandemic ends, is local news less vital or urgent?”

Linear TV will also be hit by a lack of live sports. Roku found viewers who watched live NHL and NBA games in February increased their streaming time between 58% and 63% in the first three weeks of March, while their linear TV viewing was flat.

If the NFL season can’t start on time this year, linear TV might be in even more trouble.

“The main driver of linear TV is NFL football,” Demas said. “Where is NFL football come August and September?”

Anything good on Netflix you say? Power is better than good.

American crime dramas have rarely been as good as this and there's 6 seasons of it.

James St Patrick a street wise drug dealer, wants to restart life as a nightclub owner. But his life keeps catching up with him and so does his best friend, Tommy Egan (the excellent Joseph Sikora whom you'll see in the new series of Ozark).

This is down and dirty. Almost film noir, it is dark and gritty but it's so great. 

If crime is your thing, stick it on and be hooked. You won't think about the virus, you'll be looking behind the couch.....

Nothing good on Netflix? Oh yes there is...Joe Exotic Tiger King.

It's trending on Netflix and for good reason.....with talk of a second season because "there's much more to come". Which in itself is impossible, surely?

The story of Joe Exotic who runs a 'zoo' in every way and his trials and tribulations which are more than extraordinary. Hard to believe what happens but it doesn't really get going until Episode 3 onwards. It's all probably about 2 hours too long, but stick with it. Get your teeth into it. And other puns. 

There are more tigers in captivity in the US than there are in the wild. But this is a story of mayhem, strippers, guns (lots of them) politics and murder for hire. From the crew that brought you 'Fyre' which is also well worth checking out.

So too a Louis Theroux doc also on Netflix:

Stick it on and start growling. 

Something for the Weekend? Try Witness for The Prosecution.

Just for these peculiar times, yesterday we mentioned that YouTube was a good source of movies or online, if you get bored with TV or indeed, Netflix. A lot of them are free, especially classic movies.

Yesterday we talked about Billy Wilder's 'Double Indemnity' so here's another, 'Witness for The Prosecution'.

Marlene Dietrich a german anti-Nazi star of the silent era, steals the show but so too Charles Laughton (Mutiny on the Bounty, Night of the Hunter)) as the typical Rumpole of The Bailey defence barrister and that's not to take away from the murder accused, Tyrone Power (who died at 44 and this his last film). The housekeeper is Una O'Connor from Belfast. 

They're all great in this 1957 Courtroom drama.

Based on an Agatha Christie play, you don't know the real story until the shocking very end and theatre goers then, were asked not to reveal it. Because it's a great, great ending to a superb picture. You'll never guess it...Duckie....

Another Billy Wilder classic. And classic it is, if you're looking for something different to take your mind off things. This one will. 

Something for the Week? Netflix, The Politician.

Bored? Want to watch something really good on Netflix? Try this.

The first season went out in September 2019 and you need to start there. Then series two because there's two series up there.

Created in part by Ryan Murphy ('Glee', 'Pose', 'Nip Tuck') raised by an Irish catholic family no less and paid an estimated 300m usd by Netflix for 5 years....

It starts with a student body presidential race but watch the real life parallels....it's one step on a dream to be President of the USA. 

Ms.Paltrow is probably the best known actor in it (although Barbara Streisand, Jessica Lange were cast) but beautifully produced and put together. Beautifully shot in LA. Bette Midler makes a guest appearance.

Nominated for two Golden Globes it's a terrific series. You will just need to get past the first episode but it's so worth it.

Everyone we've told has said thanks and the thumbs up thing they do on text. 

Stick it on tonight and let your mind drift. 

1.3 Million UK Homes have no TV. New BARB data.

People are watching less and less TV so they're not even buying one.

New UK Barb figures (the TV measurement group) show that in the UK over 1.3 million homes don't have a traditional TV simply because they want online video like Amazon and Netflix. That's 4.7% of homes in 2015.

That actually tallies in Streamabout, where 2 crew members have no TV for over a year. They simply say, when asked, 'Well, Why would I?'. Fair enough.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of UK Homes subscribe to an online broadcaster and that's up in a year from 14%. Netflix is the dominant brand with growth of 1.5 million UK subscribers last year alone.

We've blogged and blogged about the decline in TV audiences, despite broadcasters issuing dubious statements to the contrary. But not buying a TV set in the home is another very clear indicator of the TV decline. If you don't have a TV you can't access TV stations except for the few broadcasting free online).

And the markets know it, hence the declines in broadcasters share prices. The top 10 US TV shows last year, featured only 2 Shows and a massive 8 live Sports. Broadband speeds and penetration zoom on, as does online choice.

The game is up and online video marches on thankfully. The truth needs to be told by the broadcasters and their representative bodies to advertisers. Advertisers need to move quicker, online to video.

The Television world has changed. Media meltdown from the markets.

Investors this week are re-assessing the value of TV.

The TV business is in trouble on two fronts - Firstly from disruptive technology that's ad-free (Netflix) and therefore, declining audiences (bringing less Advertising) and now, from the markets. A perfect storm.

Shares in Viacom, Time Warner, CBS, Fox were all hit last week, greater than the general market declines. Viacom for example, was -25% down, having reported declines in revenue, profit and income.

Disney, who are very diversified with blockbuster movies, even took a hit because of their dependence on TV. Time Warner took a hit because of its loss of subscribers/viewers. Yet, Netflix audiences surge to nearly 50 million in the US.

The problem with traditional TV continues, as viewers have now more (and better) options. 

Whether that's online broadcasting (Netflix, Amazon) or Apps (snapchat, vine) or spending time on Social Media (Twitter, Facebook) or Second screen viewing whilst watching TV - they're simply watching less. That means in turn, less advertising (because advertising money follows audience) and less subscribers (I use it less so why should I pay for it).

Audience ratings of prime shows (which you'll see peppered in this blog) are in steep decline with Nielsen reporting that 25 of the top 35 channels attracted lower audiences in 2015. Shows are in decline too. That's despite the TV industry trying to convince us otherwise through spurious data analysis.

According to The FT, "Wall Street has belatedly realised that the television world has changed. It is unlikely that the latest media meltdown will be the last" and indeed, that reporting will also be self-prophecy.

Of course too, TV is being replaced. By online digital video, something which Streamabout knows so well.

Netflix Soars. Up to 9%

Well there's one stock that's soaring! Netflix. Up + 9% this morning.

Q4 numbers showed a massive overperformance and a forecast of +6 million new subscribers in Q1 2016. Stunningly good.

Revenue was up +23%.
US and International subscribers, UP.
It goes live in another 130 countries this month.

We're tired of congratulating Netflix (not!) time and time again.
It's just one great Digital brand.

And it's killing the former high-roller TV stations.
And it's opening Production opportunities at the highest end.

Magic.

Making a Murderer. Stunning, like Netflix.

It's full credit to Netflix, that they're showing the way to TV broadcasters as to what can be achieved online. The latest release, 'Making a Murderer' is the most talked about show at the minute. And really, it's another stunner.

But it follows 'House of Cards', 'Orange is the new Black', the superb 'Narco' and of course, 'Breaking Bad'. Add to that, the ideal follow-upper to 'Making a Murderer' which is 'The Jinx'.

Whilst not all of these were 'made' or commissioned by Netflix ('The Jinx' is HBO), it is Netflix that's making the audiences by releasing the series same day and broadcasting with quality at a time that suits you. In fact, lending itself to that 'bingeing' (watching many programmes one after the other) which can't be done on traditional TV.

In fact, 'Netflix & Chill' has now become common parlance for a eh, good (?) night in.

Those that Netflix have made, they've thrown money at and have done so in a first class way. 'House of Cards' a real example of quality TV film making.

So their audience just keeps growing.

Given that CEO Reed Hastings, who takes his famed 6 weeks holiday and was "the most hated CEO" by the stock market 4 years ago, it's been a pretty stunning achievement.

They simply deserve it all because they put the work in and make broadcasting rich entertainment again. Even making a real niche like Documentaries, cool again.

And if you haven't seen 'Making a Murderer' or 'The Jinx' just go and do it. 'Making a Murderer' takes one or two episodes to get going (it was filmed over 10 years) but then it's an incredible story.

Like Netflix.

Hulu Mounts a challenge.

Hulu, the digital video service owned by Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast, seems to be mounting a challenge to market leaders Netflix and Amazon.

Buying up content, such as 'Empire' and 'Seinfeld', their subscriptions (9m+ subscribers v Netflix 43m) are up +60% yoy and therefore viewing is up +85%. On foot of that, Hulu are looking to expand internationally and move from loss making into profit.

They are of course, late to that international market and face internal competition as Disney talk about their own streaming service (meaning content may no longer be available solely on Hulu), nevermind pressure from Netflix on pricing.

Still, it's a streaming market that's growing as 'cord cutting' becomes more likely from traditional TV as better online options emerge. Meanwhile, traditional TV broadcasters simply sit on their hands.....and keep delivering their own home content in a way that nobody wants.

Netflix does it again. 62 Million subscribers.

Netflix does it again.

It beats forecasts of subscriber numbers and shares climb +12%.

New subscribers rose +22% year on year, to 4.88 million (forecasted at 4.05 million). Good forecasting though but it's a staggering growth.

It now has a total of over 62 million subscribers. 

This is driven by original content such as 'House of Cards' which is better than excellent and the decline in traditional TV viewing as viewers switch online. The original shows are also giving Netflix the edge of competitors such as Hulu. Revenue is 1.57 Billion usd, which shows that their pricing is right.

It's a tremendous success and it's hard to see Netflix not continuing to power on as its penetration in international markets is still low. 

HBO Talking about pay-per-view online.

HBO are in talks for broadcasting over a web service like Apple TV and Google as an 'a la carte' version - in other words, pay-per-view. 

HBO Go is already on Apple TV but only for subscribers only - so this pay-per-view version makes total sense and something we blogged about before. In fact in April 2014, where we suggested (!) that the only way to go for cable TV was "to introduce pay-per-view to supplement subs".

You can search the blog top left of this page or copy here;

http://streamabout.blogspot.ie/2014/04/pay-tv-is-going-to-be-in-decline.html

This will push HBO to compete with Netflix given they have 'True Detective', 'Game of Thrones' and many other quality series.

A huge amount of online viewers watch 'on demand' rather than on subscription and this will capture those. This is also now a fundamental issue for 'Sky' this side of the water and they need to take notice.

But online broadcasting, online TV, is taking a further twist. Better content online will continue to drive viewers away from traditional TV Stations. Their days are numbered.

(And thanks to Adforce's Kevin Foley for pointing it out. Always on the ball.)

Updated March 9th - HBO Announce Apple as their streaming partner so the service will be available on all Apple devices.