Comments on: Is a return to the “Studio System” on the horizon? http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/ Philip Hodgetts' random thoughts and items of interest on where the industry is at, and where it might be going today and into the future. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:15:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Philip http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19327 Philip Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:40:07 +0000 http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19327 What can you do to help make the change take place? Jan 22 is the scheduled launch of Open Television Network, the first (and only) unmediated marketplace between content creators and viewers. It's a micropayment based system built around the convenience of RSS but with commerce added in. Fully customized channels for viewers and an easy and simple method of subscribing and buying. Content owners add themselves to the network and add their content as well, then build feeds for themselves for their content setting whatever price the content owner would like. When it's up and running, support content owners by subscribing through Open TV Network and paying a fair price for the content. (If you've read previous posts of mine, you'll know that I consider a penny a minute a good rule of thumb here.) OpenTelevisionNetwork.com will get an overhaul and new host in the next couple of days. AT that time the merchant side will be open so content owners can start adding their content to the system ahead of our Jan 22nd launch (post CES, post MacWorld). Philip What can you do to help make the change take place? Jan 22 is the scheduled launch of Open Television Network, the first (and only) unmediated marketplace between content creators and viewers. It’s a micropayment based system built around the convenience of RSS but with commerce added in.

Fully customized channels for viewers and an easy and simple method of subscribing and buying. Content owners add themselves to the network and add their content as well, then build feeds for themselves for their content setting whatever price the content owner would like.

When it’s up and running, support content owners by subscribing through Open TV Network and paying a fair price for the content. (If you’ve read previous posts of mine, you’ll know that I consider a penny a minute a good rule of thumb here.)

OpenTelevisionNetwork.com will get an overhaul and new host in the next couple of days. AT that time the merchant side will be open so content owners can start adding their content to the system ahead of our Jan 22nd launch (post CES, post MacWorld).

Philip

]]> By: jake http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19326 jake Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:18:30 +0000 http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19326 I would like to see the niche groups take over and hollywood phased out. Hollywood has become so detached and delusional over their "WORTH" that they have forgotten what it is all about. Philip, what can we do to help this change take place? any suggestions? I would like to see the niche groups take over and hollywood phased out. Hollywood has become so detached and delusional over their “WORTH” that they have forgotten what it is all about.

Philip, what can we do to help this change take place? any suggestions?

]]> By: Philip http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19169 Philip Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:17:47 +0000 http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19169 From Today's reading: "While these entrepreneurial groups have kept mum on the details, a few strategies have emerged. Some want to create a collaborative studio that would be officially sanctioned by the guild; others are looking to create their own studio that creates content solely for the web, ideally bypassing the need to cut TV or movie deals; while others are looking to creating programming that would be distributed via social networks like Facebook." From http://newteevee.com/2007/12/17/striking-writers-plot-their-own-studios/ quoting an LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-webwriters17dec17,1,2200844.story?page=1 Philip From Today’s reading:

“While these entrepreneurial groups have kept mum on the details, a few strategies have emerged. Some want to create a collaborative studio that would be officially sanctioned by the guild; others are looking to create their own studio that creates content solely for the web, ideally bypassing the need to cut TV or movie deals; while others are looking to creating programming that would be distributed via social networks like Facebook.” From http://newteevee.com/2007/12/17/striking-writers-plot-their-own-studios/
quoting an LA Times article:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-webwriters17dec17,1,2200844.story?page=1

Philip

]]> By: Philip http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19167 Philip Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:02:32 +0000 http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19167 There was an article in the New York times a while back, I'll try and find the link to it now they don't hide archives behind a pay wall, that talked about research done that showed the huge payments to the stars did not help a film's bottom line. Even taking into account the promotional value of the "name", the film was worse off financially for paying for the "star value". Of course, "Hollywood" has its way of doing things and big stars will continue to get big money because everyone's afraid to change "the formula". But I don't think that's the only way it can, or will, be done when we're talking about niche content. I don't think niche content can be profitably made using the old rules; but I believe niche content can be profitable. Philip There was an article in the New York times a while back, I’ll try and find the link to it now they don’t hide archives behind a pay wall, that talked about research done that showed the huge payments to the stars did not help a film’s bottom line. Even taking into account the promotional value of the “name”, the film was worse off financially for paying for the “star value”.

Of course, “Hollywood” has its way of doing things and big stars will continue to get big money because everyone’s afraid to change “the formula”.

But I don’t think that’s the only way it can, or will, be done when we’re talking about niche content. I don’t think niche content can be profitably made using the old rules; but I believe niche content can be profitable.

Philip

]]> By: Adam Oas http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19165 Adam Oas Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:34:10 +0000 http://www.philiphodgetts.com/2007/12/16/is-a-return-to-the-studio-system-on-the-horizon/#comment-19165 I see the talent (at least the $20m talent) as bringing more than just acting. They've generated a whirlwind of media coverage around themselves and provide more marketing dollars than you are giving them credit for. I can see where you're going with this, but feel that what's even more likely is that you'll see the tail wagging the dog on things. Those actors are (and many already have) going to be the new bankrolls for whole channels or even blocks of channels. These stars won't get a 20m upfront payment, but they will get 75 or even 100% of the profit with everyone else that is currently above the line moving back below the line. They've got the eyeballs on them, and that's what generates the real money is. I see the talent (at least the $20m talent) as bringing more than just acting. They’ve generated a whirlwind of media coverage around themselves and provide more marketing dollars than you are giving them credit for.

I can see where you’re going with this, but feel that what’s even more likely is that you’ll see the tail wagging the dog on things. Those actors are (and many already have) going to be the new bankrolls for whole channels or even blocks of channels. These stars won’t get a 20m upfront payment, but they will get 75 or even 100% of the profit with everyone else that is currently above the line moving back below the line.

They’ve got the eyeballs on them, and that’s what generates the real money is.

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