Bridgerton sets new Netflix record with 82 million viewers

NEW YORK - Bridgerton has become Netflix's most popular new series, with more than 82 million households tuning in to watch the period drama, the streaming service has announced.

The show reached number 1 in 83 countries including the United States, Britain, Brazil, France, India and South Africa, Netflix said in a statement Wednesday.

"I'm so proud of the incredible team behind this show! And thank you guys for loving it," 25-year-old actor, Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton, wrote on Instagram.

Netflix said a record 82 million households watched the show in its first 28 days online, describing it as its "biggest series ever."

The previous record was 76 million views over a 4-week period for "The Witcher."

The figures are not subject to third party verification, unlike audience measurements for broadcast television.

Bridgerton has made the top 10 in every country except Japan, the company added.

The drama, set in early 1800s London, centers on the well-to-do Bridgerton family as it tries to navigate Regency-era high society in England. 

The show, with its outlandish costumes and racy sex scenes, has been lauded for casting Black actors in period drama roles that are traditionally played by white actors.

"It's designed to be more lavish, sexier and funnier than the standard period drama -- and that's what so surprised and delighted our members," said Netflix vice president of original series, Jinny Howe.

Bridgerton is produced by acclaimed American producer Shonda Rhimes and is based on a series of romance novels by Julia Quinn.

It has been commissioned for a second series.

Agence France-Presse

Kim Kardashian announces end of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'

LOS ANGELES -- Fans will have to find another way to keep up with the Kardashians, as the mega-celebrity family announced Tuesday that their reality show will end next year.

"It is with heavy hearts that we've made the difficult decision as a family to say goodbye to 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians,'" Kim Kardashian wrote in a post to her 188 million Instagram followers.

"After what will be 14 years, 20 seasons, hundreds of episodes and numerous spin-off shows, we are beyond grateful to all of you who've watched us for all of these years -- through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children," she said.

"Our last season will air early next year in 2021," wrote the businesswoman and wife of rapper Kanye West.

"Without 'Keeping Up with The Kardashians,' I wouldn't be where I am today," she added. "This show made us who we are and I will be forever in debt to everyone who played a role in shaping our careers and changing our lives forever."

The statement was also shared by Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, the family's highly adept "mom-ager." The post was signed by the three Kardashian sisters -- Kourtney, Kim and Khloe -- their mother, their brother Rob, their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Scott Disick, the father of Kourtney's three children.

The family gave no explanation for the decision to end the popular show.

The announcement comes after rap star West, who has four children with Kim Kardashian, said he is running for US president.

West has also recently made enigmatic and disjointed, even incoherent, remarks on Twitter and at a campaign event, prompting his wife to open up about his bipolar disorder and ask for "compassion and empathy."

"Keeping Up with the Kardashians" skyrocketed the entire family to fame, turning them into regulars in celebrity tabloids and helping them leverage their notoriety into multi-million dollar careers in makeup, perfume and modeling.

Agence France-Presse

Bright of ‘2gether’ fame to release OPM cover

MANILA — Here’s a treat for Filipino “BrightWin” fans.

Bright Vachirawit, one-half of the “2gether” tandem, is set to release a cover of an OPM hit, Dreamscape Entertainment announced on Tuesday.


Dreamscape Entertainment is the local partner of GMMTV, the Thai production company behind “2gether.”

The song Bright recorded has yet to be announced, although a previous teaser has prompted fans to speculate it’s Eraserheads’ “With a Smile.”

They will know for sure once the cover is released on Friday, 3 p.m.

Bright, whose “2gether” character Sarawat is part of a band and sings numerous times in the series, has been sharing covers on social media.

In a June media conference with Philippine media, the Thai actor said he intends to cover more English songs, so his international fans can understand the lyrics.

At the time, he also teased that singing a Filipino tune is a possibility, but said that first has to study the language.

“BrightWin” fans will also get to see more of Bright and his onscreen partner Win Metawin, as the series to “2gether” is set to be simulcast in the Philippines starting August 14.

news.abs-cbn.com

TV show 'The Simpsons' ditches using white voices for characters of color

LOS ANGELES - Animated TV comedy "The Simpsons" is ending the use of white actors to voice characters of color, producers said on Friday.

"Moving forward, 'The Simpsons' will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters," they said in a brief statement.

The statement did not elaborate but the move follows years of public pressure about the Fox television show's Indian convenience store character Apu, who is voiced by Hank Azaria.

Azaria said earlier this year that he would no longer play the character, which has been criticized as a negative portrayal of Indian-Americans.

Azaria has also voiced the Simpsons characters of Black police officer Lou and the Mexican-American Bumblebee Man. Harry Shearer has played Dr. Hibbert, who is Black.

Friday's statement did not say whether Apu or the other characters would remain on the series.

Bumbling Homer Simpson, housewife Marge, troublemaker Bart, prodigy Lisa and baby Maggie, have captured the changing face of America for more than 30 years in the longest-running scripted show on US television.

"The Simpsons" is syndicated in more than 100 countries.

Friday's announcement comes amid a widespread reckoning for US pop culture about racism following mass protests this month over the killings of Black Americans by police.

Other white actors, including Mike Henry of animated series "Family Guy" and Kristen Bell of "Central Park," have also said they would no longer voice characters of color.

"It's been an honor to play Cleveland on 'Family Guy' for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role," Henry said on Twitter on Friday.

-reuters-

'2gether' sequel to be simulcast in PH

MANILA -- Cue the shrieks: it appears the sequel to the hit Thai boys love series" "2gether" is also going to be airing in the Philippines. 

"Still2gether," set to premiere sometime before the end of the year, is announced as a five-episode follow-up to the original, which told the story of two college students falling in love with each other after pretending to be in a relationship.

A huge ratings success in Thailand with a cute soundtrack and lovable leads, it also became a smash hit with Filipinos, inspiring a devout local fanbase and plans to air it locally dubbed in Tagalog. 

In an announcement made last Friday, ABS-CBN said that as part of its partnership with GMMTV, the producer of "2gether," the series' sequel will also be simulcast on the Kapamilya Channel and iWant. 

The deal also involves six other GMMTV shows, although the specifics were not mentioned. 

"2gether" and "Still2gether" are the first boys love titles from Thailand acquired by ABS-CBN. 

It stars Thai actors Bright Vachirawit and Win Metawin.

The airing dates will be announced "soon," according to ABS-CBN. You can check out the dubbed trailer for "2gether" below: 




news.abs-cbn.com

Asian Americans lead in Internet-based TV use, study shows

Asian Americans, more than any other group, are using digital devices and streaming services for their television viewing, according to a report made public Monday.

The Nielsen company study said that Asian Americans are becoming key consumers and influencers in entertainment and gaming.

And Asian Americans are proving to be more tech savvy as their purchasing power widens, the report found. They are leaving behind live TV for Internet-based viewing at nearly double the rate of the total U.S. population.

The survey titled “Engaging Asian American Consumers at the Dawn of a New Decade” looked at people who identified as being Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone or in combination with another race.


It found that about 82% of Asian Americans subscribe to at least one streaming service, compared to 72% of the total population.

According to Nielsen, Asian Americans believe streaming platforms are where they will see more representation of people like themselves on TV.

The report cited Netflix, whose programming includes Ken Jeong and Ali Wong’s comedy specials and the “Ugly Delicious” food show hosted by chef David Chang.

On gaming, the report found that Asian Americans are 14% more likely to own gaming consoles than other U.S, residents.

The U.S. Asian American population is the fastest-growing group of all major ethnic and racial groups among eligible U.S. voters, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. They make up more than 11 million, or nearly 5%, of the electorate.

Asian American spending surpassed $1 trillion in 2019, according to Nielsen. That figure is projected to reach $1.3 trillion in 2022.

AP

'We Are the World' to get an 'American Idol' alumni encore

LOS ANGELES - “We Are The World,” the celebrity-packed 1985 charity single, is getting an encore this weekend, courtesy of the stars of “American Idol.”

“Idol” judges Lionel Richie, who co-wrote the song with the late Michael Jackson, Katy Perry and country singer Luke Bryan will perform it on Sunday alongside former stars and winners of the television talent show, broadcaster ABC said on Friday.

ABC said it will be the first television performance in 35 years of the song, which originally was written to raise money for African famine relief and featured musicians including Jackson, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and many others.

Sunday’s singers will include “Idol” alumni Fantasia, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, Ruben Studdard and Scotty McCreery, as well as the top 11 finalists from the current season of the show.

The singing contest, which will crown this year’s winner during the broadcast, has been produced remotely since mid-March when the coronavirus shutdown movie and television sets throughout the United States.

Richie said he had been “asked a thousand and one times” whether he was going to write another song that captures the coronavirus era.

“My answer is, exactly the lyrics I would have written for the new song are in the old song,” he told television talk show host Jimmy Kimmel this week.

“The lyrics work perfectly,” he added, referring to lines such as “We’re saving our own lives.”

Asked why he wanted the song sung by the “American Idol” family, Richie told Billboard on Friday, “We’ve done the all-star cast and it was historic. These kids inspire me with their talent and they reflect the diversity of the world.”

news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: Pinoy dancers wow 'Britain's Got Talent' with 'sassy and spectacular' routine

Their ultimate goal is to perform for the British royal family. 

But for now, dancers Ezekiel and Karl, both Filipinos, made the most out of the rare opportunity to take the stage in front of the judges of "Britain's Got Talent" with a "sassy and spectacular" showing. 

As seen in a recent episode of the contest, the two came dressed to impress -- their performance had a couple of costume changes, including Ezekiel transitioning to a multi-coloured ruffled dress via twirls -- and slayed their routine set to Tina Turner's "Proud Mary."

They received a standing ovation for it, and it earned them the votes they needed from the judges to make it past the audition round. 

"That was pure, utter energy -- from start to finish so definitely yes," praised judge Simon Cowell. 

Check it out below: 

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In red, green, blue: De La Salle University shows support for ABS-CBN

MANILA - De La Salle University on Tuesday showed support to ABS-CBN Corp., hours after the broadcast giant was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to shut down its TV and radio operations.

In Facebook and Twitters posts, the facade of the university's Manila campus is seen lighted up in red, green and blue, which are the signature colors of ABS-CBN.

"In solidarity with ABS-CBN, its employees, and the millions of Filipinos who depend on the broadcast network for news and information, De La Salle University lights up the iconic St. La Salle Hall in the colors of the company to appeal to the National Telecommunications Commission to grant provisional authority for the continued operation of the network," it said.


The NTC earlier in the day ordered ABS-CBN to “cease and desist” its TV and radio broadcast operations, one day after the company’s 25-year operating franchise expired.

The agency said the network must stop its broadcast operations "due to the expiration of its congressional franchise" on May 4. 

It said the network should "stop operating its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide 'absent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law'."

ABS-CBN Corp., which employs around 11,000 workers, was given 10 days from receipt of the order "to respond as to why the frequencies assigned to it should not be recalled."

ABS-CBN Corp. stopped its broadcast operations Tuesday night in compliance with the NTC order.

In a statement, the country's largest media network cited how the order was issued despite earlier legislative resolutions assuring the issuance of a provisional authority pending the renewal of its broadcast license. 

Several bills for the renewal of its franchise, which lapsed Monday, are pending at the House of Representatives. 

The NTC order covers 42 television stations across the country, including the flagship Channel 2, 10 digital broadcast channels, 18 FM stations and 5 AM stations, including DZMM radio. 

news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: ABS-CBN workers watch before Channel 2 goes off the air

MANILA - Looks of worry and disbelief were etched on faces of people working in the ABS-CBN newsroom on Tuesday night, especially those who have been with the company for a long time.

Earlier in the day, the Philippines' telecommunication agency ordered ABS-CBN to stop its TV and radio operations, shortly after the company’s 25-year operating franchise expired.

ABS-CBN CEO and President Carlo L. Katigbak watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN CEO and President Carlo L. Katigbak watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

Chief Operating Officer of Broadcast for ABS-CBN Cory Vidanes watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs chief Regina E. Reyes reacts during the broadcast of TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission for the network to stop broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News workers watch TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

TV Patrol executive producer Marielle Gaceta-Catbagan watches her program and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News workers watch TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

An ABS-CBN News worker watches TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News workers watch TV Patrol and ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission stopping the network to continue broadcasting on air. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

The National Telecommunications Commission on Tuesday ordered ABS-CBN to stop its broadcast operations "due to the expiration of its congressional franchise" on May 4. 

The NTC said the network should "stop operating its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide 'absent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law'."

ABS-CBN Corp., which employs around 11,000 workers, stopped its broadcast operations in compliance with the order.

In a statement, the broadcast giant said the order was issued despite earlier legislative resolutions assuring the issuance of a provisional authority pending the renewal of its broadcast license. 

Several bills for the renewal of its franchise, which lapsed Monday, are pending at the House of Representatives. 

news.abs-cbn.com

Fil-Am Francisco Martin makes it to 'American Idol' top 11

The “American Idol” journey of Filipino-American singer Francisco Martin is not yet over.

The results of last week’s votes were announced during the show’s Sunday episode (Monday in Manila), sending its top 10 contestants to the next round.

Martin was the last to be called, although the announcement of the top vote getters was in no particular order.

“I just made top 10 and I feel speechless to be honest. I actually didn’t think I was gonna make it. I was super scared at the end. I was shaking, my legs were quivering. I am just super grateful. Thank you guys for voting for me, for voting me in. I am just super grateful. I can’t talk right now. I am still in awe. Thank you guys so much,” he said.

At the end of the show, judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie used their “save,” sending 11th contestant Makayla Phillips through to the next round.

Immediately after the announcement, the top 11 performed for America anew in the hopes of securing a spot in the top 7 next week.

For this round, Martin chose to sing James Arthur’s “Falling Like the Stars.”




Martin’s performance was so moving that Perry was crying.

“When you sang those lines about having four kids and then one on each knee, I was like -- yeah sure it was hormones, but it was believability too. It was real believability and I felt it,” Perry told the 19-year-old singer.

Bryan, meanwhile, thinks Martin is “a diamond in the rough.”

“You really know how to get all the emotions out of a song. If I was a little more hormonal, I’d be crying right now,” he said.

As for Richie, he told Martin: “Halfway through that song, I just saw you fly out of that nervousness and give us exactly what you’re all about which is true talent.”

Here’s how to help Martin make it to top 7:

View this post on Instagram

we did it! top freakin’ ten. <3 the love and support from all of you is out of this world. looking back on my first ever audition in oregon, it’s crazy to see just how much we’ve achieved on this journey together. you’ve all made an impact on my life that I will never forget. the journey isn’t over yet: vote up to 10 times on each of the three platforms! voting is open now and closes tomorrow morning at 6am pst. love from me to you. x #americanidol

A post shared by Francisco Martin (@franciscomartinmusic) on May 3, 2020 at 7:09pm PDT

news.abs-cbn.com

Fil-Am Francisco Martin sings Katy Perry song as he fights for a spot in 'American Idol' Top 10

The show must go on for “American Idol” as it returned on Sunday (Monday in Manila) with a fresh new episode featuring the top 20 contestants singing from their homes as they vie for a spot in the top 10.

For Francisco Martin, he took a chance when he decided to cover “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, who is one of the show’s three judges along with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.



While saying it was a “dice roll to do that song,” Perry gave her seal of approval, telling the Filipino-American singer that what he did was really beautiful.

“I thought it was really beautiful at the beginning. That one note that you hit was amazing, and then it was all the way uphill,” she said. “You did it real justice. Good job!”

Bryan, on the other hand, said: “I was nervous. I was like please do not let this kid cover a Katy song and mess it up. You didn’t man, you made it you, and you just have the magic. I’m jealous.”

Meanwhile, Richie said it’s just warming to watch Martin go on stage and take anybody’s song, especially a Katy Perry tune.

“Are you kidding me? You took the chance of life. But you turned it into your song. You made it your song. Congratulations you’re doing a great job,” he said.

After the top 20’s performances, fans can vote for their favorites through the “American Idol” phone app, at the American Idol website, and by texting the contestant’s number to 21523. Ten votes are allowed per contestant for every method of voting.

Here’s how to help send Martin through to the next round:

View this post on Instagram

Roll the 🎲, nail a @katyperry hit... 🤯🎸 Just another day chez @franciscomartinmusic⁣! ⁣ 3⃣ ways to vote:⁣ ⁣ 🌟Go to americanidol.com/vote⁣ 🌟In the American Idol App ⁣ 🌟Text “12” to “21523”⁣ ⁣ #AmericanIdol #IdolAtHome

A post shared by American Idol (@americanidol) on Apr 26, 2020 at 6:07pm PDT

Host Ryan Seacrest said the top 10 contestants with the most number of votes will be revealed next week.

news.abs-cbn.com

Netflix adds 15.8 million customers during quarantine

Netflix Inc on Tuesday reported a surge in new sign-ups as audiences stayed in their homes to help fight the novel coronavirus and binged on series such as "Tiger King," but the company predicted a weaker second half of the year if quarantine orders are lifted.

The world's largest streaming service gained 15.8 million paying customers in the first three months of the year, bringing its global total to 182.9 million at the end of March. That nearly doubled the average Wall Street expectation of nearly 8 million, according to FactSet.

The company warned, however, that it expected fewer new customers from July to December compared with a year earlier. Many people who would have joined then are likely to have already signed up, executives said.

"We expect viewing to decline and membership growth to decelerate as home confinement ends," Netflix said in a letter to shareholders.

Shares of Netflix rose 1.2% to $439 in after-hours trading.

The company is among the few businesses to benefit from government orders imposed in March to keep people in isolation amid the coronavirus threat. While the S&P 500 Index has fallen 19% from its Feb. 19 record high, Netflix has gained 11% during the same period.

Netflix also issued a bullish forecast that it would add 7.5 million new customers for the current quarter, which ends in June, though the company said it was "mostly guesswork" given uncertainty over when stay-at-home orders might be lifted. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected 3.8 million.

For the just-ended quarter, Netflix's earnings per share fell short of analyst expectations. The company posted diluted earnings per share of $1.57, below the $1.65 consensus, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Total revenue rose to $5.77 billion from $4.52 billion. Analysts on average had expected $5.76 billion.

Appreciation of the US dollar, due partially to the coronavirus crisis, dragged on international revenue, the company said.

In the quarter, Netflix true-crime documentary "Tiger King" about a colorful zookeeper became a cultural sensation. It also released reality show "Love is Blind" and a new season of Spanish-language thriller "Money Heist."

As streaming video has grown in the United States, the market has become more competitive with the debut of Walt Disney Co's Disney+ and upcoming rivals. That has pushed Netflix to look for growth overseas.

The company's biggest expansion from January through March came from Europe, where it added 4.4 million new customers.

The most popular Netflix plan in the United States costs $13, nearly double the $7-per-month cost for Disney+.

-reuters-

Mariah Carey, Billie Eilish to headline coronavirus benefit TV special

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mariah Carey, Billie Eilish and Tim McGraw will headline a benefit concert on Sunday, playing from their homes, to raise money to help fight the spread of the coronavirus, Fox television said on Wednesday.

The one-hour special, to be hosted by Elton John and broadcast on Fox and iHeart radio stations, is the first major nationwide event in the United States to harness celebrity power to help those affected by the disease.

The “IHeart Living Room Concert for America” will also feature performances from Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. All of the musicians will film themselves from homes with their cellphones or other equipment.

The special is aimed at paying tribute to health workers and those on the front lines of efforts to cope with the pandemic, which has overwhelmed hospitals. It will also encourage viewers to donate to two charities: Feeding America and the First Responders Children’s Foundation.

Musicians have been quick to move online as U.S. states have issued shutdown and stay-at-home orders, with free performances filmed at home and streamed on social media from the likes of John Legend and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

Others have made individual contributions to hospitals and nonprofits as the coronavirus has spread across the United States.

They include folk singer James Taylor, who this week made a $1 million donation to Massachusetts General Hospital, and Rihanna, whose foundation gave $5 million to charities to supply food and protective equipment to healthcare workers.

Fox said the “IHeart Living Room Concert for America” will be broadcast on Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT/6 pm PDT (0100 GMT on Monday).

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Jonathan Oatis

'Future superstar': Fil-Am singer wows judges on 'American Idol'

Another Filipino-American is set to make waves in Hollywood.

During the pilot episode of the 18th season of “American Idol,” singer Francisco Martin walked into his audition with his nerves getting the best of him.

Clasping his guitar, Martin looked extremely anxious only to be calmed down by judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

This seemed to have helped him as he nailed his cover of Maggie Rogers’ “Alaska,” earning raves from the judges.


“I just checked the pulse of a future superstar,” quipped Bryan.

Richie, for his part, said in jest that he loved how Martin set them up by looking afraid and timid at first only to explode into the amazing singer that he is.

As for judge Katy Perry, she lauded the singer’s “incredible voice” before asking him to perform one of his originals saying “we just want you to win.”

In the end, Perry said: “Would you faint if I told you that you are top 10?”

All three judges then unanimously sent Martin through to the next round.

Aside from the judges, Martin also received a positive feedback from Rogers herself, who took to Twitter her reaction.

“I can’t handle this,” she wrote in all capital letters.


Eighteen-year-old Martin, who is currently taking up his pre-law course, hails from San Francisco, California.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, will have free option, ‘The Office’

Despite taking its name from one of the flashiest animals on the planet, NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service is at risk of blending in with the flock.

On Thursday at Rockefeller Center in New York City, the media company, owned by cable giant Comcast, made the case that Peacock would distinguish itself from Netflix and Disney Plus, among others in an increasingly crowded field, because it will rely on advertisements rather than subscriptions to generate revenue, while offering live broadcasts, including news programming and sports coverage in addition to 15,000 hours of TV shows and movies.

The streaming service announced itself to the world with the help of a 15,000-pound topiary peafowl sculpture that towered over throngs of Midtown tourists for much of the day. As the 4 p.m. presentation approached, investors, journalists and ad agency employees headed through the doors of 30 Rock toward Studio 8H, home of “Saturday Night Live,” to hear the Peacock pitch from company executives and stars.

Stephen Burke, chief executive of NBCUniversal who recently announced that he would step down in August, was the first to take the stage. He described Peacock as “the equivalent of a 21st-century broadcast business delivered on the internet” before making way for a procession of NBC talent.

Tina Fey, the “SNL” alumna and “30 Rock” creator, got laughs with a reference to the streaming service’s name. “When I sold my first very TV show,” she said, “I named it after this building. I wanted to name it ‘Peacock’ but was told it was a hard no and that it would not pass the censors.”

NBC late-nights hosts Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon helped make the case, as did NBC News anchors Rachel Maddow, Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie. Dick Wolf, the powerhouse producer whose “Law & Order” shows will stream exclusively on Peacock, sat in the audience. Sizzle reels were heavy with scenes from “The Office,” the enduring sitcom that NBCUniversal wrested from Netflix in a $500 million deal last year.

When it goes live in April, Peacock will have a deep library of content and a smattering of originals. So what will distinguish Peacock from other streaming platforms, other than its affinity for avian references on Twitter? As the two-hour presentation repeatedly suggested, it will be NBCUniversal’s hefty bet on advertising.

Peacock will be available in three tiers. The so-called Peacock Free option will allow viewers to watch current seasons of NBC shows, past series, movies, news, Spanish-language content and one of NBC’s most elaborate productions: the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

In exchange for paying nothing, Peacock Free viewers will sit through commercials from State Farm, Target, Unilever and other brands, making Peacock more akin to YouTube than Netflix. NBCUniversal executives hope the reliance on ads will give them an advantage over streaming services from The Walt Disney Co., Apple, AT&T and other media giants.

Peacock will also offer what it calls Peacock Premium, a plan that comes with commercials and has double the content: more than 15,000 hours of original programming, current series, news and sports. Those who sign on for the top level will have early access to “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” Peacock Premium will be free to viewers who subscribe to cable companies Cox or Comcast and will cost $5 a month for other viewers. For $10 a month, the same amount of content will be available ad-free.

Peacock will go live April 15 for certain Comcast customers, expanding nationwide July 15, days before the 2020 Games. NBCUniversal plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to market the platform. It expects to rack up 30 million to 35 million accounts by 2024.

“Peacock is unique because of its advertiser model,” said Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, mentioning the “massive moat of content” available through the platform. “This could be a watershed event in terms of starting to monetize advertising in the streaming world.”

Peacock’s pride is its sprawling library — more than 600 movies and 400 series — which it hopes will draw more advertising dollars.

The service has nailed down exclusive digital rights to shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” while also lining up reboots of “Saved by the Bell” and “Battlestar Galactica.” A series based on the true crime podcast “Dr. Death,” featuring actors Jamie Dornan and Alec Baldwin, is on its way, as is an adaptation of “Brave New World,” with Demi Moore.

Fey will produce a Peacock original series, “Girls5Eva,” about a washed-up 1990s band. NBCUniversal company Telemundo will provide 3,000 hours of Spanish-language original programming. And Peacock will also try to attract viewers through a licensing deal with Lionsgate, known for films like the “John Wick” action series, while also becoming the exclusive streaming home for new films from Universal.

Peacock will also run a comedy special and an interview series from Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud company, new animated episodes of “Curious George” and “Where’s Waldo,” and Premier League matches.

Other streaming services, like the Disney-owned company Hulu, offer discount plans that come with ads; and the still-gestating short-form video app Quibi, set to start streaming April 6, will also go the ad route.

Comcast does not expect Peacock to be profitable in its first five years, executives have said. The cable company, which has 21.4 million video subscribers and 28.2 million broadband subscribers, plans to inject $2 billion into Peacock over its first two years.

“Getting in the game with Peacock is the right way to preserve an audience, but it will be very, very expensive,” said Peter Supino, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein.

Peacock will give companies a lot of advertising options, with tech that will allow for ads that show up when viewers hit pause and others that will appear during bingeing sessions. The service will have five minutes of ads per hour or less, according to NBCUniversal, which is also capping the number of times an ad can appear for the same viewer. The company said that it will use customer data from Comcast set-top boxes, advertising partners and its own collection to deliver relevant ads.

“Ad-supported streaming is about more than giving consumers what they want; it’s also about giving advertisers what they desperately need,” said Linda Yaccarino, NBCUniversal’s ads chief.

The platform will become the main digital repository for shows like “SNL” and “The Tonight Show,” content available on YouTube that NBCUniversal would prefer to bring more securely into the corporate fold.

Some analysts have expressed the concern that NBCUniversal may be cannibalizing itself to support Peacock, forgoing licensing arrangements and other revenue-generating deals for popular shows like “The Office” to provide exclusive streaming content to its customers. By offering early peeks at its late-night programs, NBCUniversal may alienate station affiliates and cable operators that pay to carry those broadcasts.

Peacock went through a choppy development process, with a shake-up in its leadership team less than a month after the service was announced in September, and it faces intense pressure from competitors like Disney, which unveiled Disney Plus with a great marketing push in November.

The new platform must also contend with viewers who, faced with more entertainment options than ever, are battling streaming fatigue. Multiple studies have concluded that people are willing to pay for only a few services.

“There’s a battle for market share, and they’re going to have to fight tooth and nail for consumer eyeballs,” Ives said.


2020 The New York Times Company

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Star Trek' return 'irresistible,' says Patrick Stewart at new series premiere

LONDON (Reuters) - Sir Patrick Stewart said returning to “Star Trek” was irresistible as he led a new generation of cast members down the red carpet for the premiere of a series devoted to his much-loved character Jean-Luc Picard.

The 79-year-old British actor had repeatedly refused efforts to lure him back as the starship captain Picard.

But the writers of its latest chapter, “Star Trek: Picard”, helped change his mind to the delight of science fiction fans and his character is due back on screens later this month after a two-decade break.

“I came back because it was irresistible,” Stewart said on the red carpet on Wednesday ahead of a screening at a cinema in London’s Leicester Square.

“I was intrigued and that intrigue grew into something very exciting which is why I’m back.”

But he warned fans that this was a new era for “Star Trek”.

“Everything’s different. Everything. He’s hardly the same man,” he said of Picard.

There was also a question mark over whether the iconic colorful uniforms of the Starship Enterprise crew would return after Stewart said he told writers: “Don’t put me in a uniform.”

The new 10-part series picks up Picard’s life 20 years after the character last appeared in the film set in the 24th century.

A trailer showed a retired Picard living a quiet life running a family vineyard when Dahj, played by Isa Briones, comes to him asking for help and he puts together a crew to return to space.

Quizzed on the red carpet, Briones said that the Star Trek experience had been “crazy”.

“When you first sign on you really don’t know what you’re getting into,” she said.

For co-creator and executive producer Alex Kurtzman, the return of Picard brings a message of hope, reminding viewers of what a great leader can be.

“I think in this moment when so many people are looking and seeing so much division in the world, to be reminded that a great leader can come forward, and bring us back together I think that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Stewart’s history with Picard dates back to 1987 when he played the character in the TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, as well as in four feature films, the last of which was released in 2002.

Star Trek: Picard will launch on Jan. 24 with new episodes available weekly in the United States on CBS Corp’s CBS.N CBS All Access streaming service and in the UK and 200 other markets on Amazon.com Inc’s (AMZN.O) Prime Video.

CBS All Access has already confirmed that a second season will follow.

Reporting by Reuters Television; writing by Sarah Young; editing by Jonathan Oatis

source: news.abs-cbn.com

TV makers woo internet generation with super-high-def models

LAS VEGAS — Bigger, more beautiful and better connected: At the Consumer Electronics Show, which kicked off Tuesday in Las Vegas, TV makers flaunted top-notch models meant to lure a generation weaned on the internet.

LG, Samsung, Sony and others touted the visual grandeur of new 8K super-high-definition screens, which are suited for TVs larger than 65 inches in diameter, a fast growing segment of the market.

The luxury sets are meant to appeal to millennials and Generation Z with features such as video streaming services, plus smart home and video games capabilities.

Samsung's Sero TV, for example, pivots from landscape to portrait modes, the same way a smartphone or tablet lets a viewer flip a screen while watching a YouTube video, eliminating the black bands on the side.

"Screens have become lifestyle products," said JH Han, president of Samsung's visual display business.

"It has never been so clear that the role of the screen is changing right before our very eyes."

The newer sets go beyond the current 4K or ultra-high definition displays -- already an upgrade from the first generation of flat panels -- to 8K, with more pixels for the massive screens now becoming popular.

Rich 8K definition is meant to woo owners of huge flat screens, by packing more color to fill larger viewing areas.

Networks and content creators alike are beginning to come together to cater to viewers with such screens.

Samsung, for example, is working with YouTube and other partners to stream 8K content directly to its most expensive TVs, according to Joe Stinziano, Samsung Electronics America executive vice president.

He predicted 2020 would be a "tipping point" for 8K going mainstream.

Skyworth, a well-established TV maker in China, unveiled premium television models meant to break into the US and European markets.

"Only when the whole industry works together can it realize the full value of 8K to users," said Skyworth TV chief executive Tony Wang.

"The entire 8K industry chain is reaching its full development and now is the best time to launch an 8K screen, when users can fully benefit from it."

Skyworth's new 75-inch Q91 with 8K graphics will be priced at $5,999 in the United States.

PLAYING THE GAME

To stay in the race, televisions are also adapting to connected lifestyles by integrating voice assistants from Amazon, Google or Apple, and offering functionalities adapted to streaming platforms and video gaming.

The latest models presented at CES included advanced technical characteristics in terms of graphics and sound capabilities to satisfy gamers eager for greater immersion.

"A unique growth engine for our business has been gaming monitors," Stinziano of Samsung said.

Millennials see a television as a tool to help them win video games, according to TCL executives who showed off an enhanced line-up boasting features aimed at players.

That said, demand for flat panel displays fell short of expectations last year in the consumer market due in part to trade tensions between China and the United States as well as a slowing global economy, according to IHS Markit.

But it forecast "robust growth" of flat panel displays this year.

"Although there are still uncertainties due to the trade war between the US and China, demand for flat-panel displays is expected to increase on the back of historically low panel prices and the impacts of various sports events held during even-numbered years," said IHS Markit Technology display research director Ricky Park.

Such events include Japan public broadcaster NHK's plans to show the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in 8K, which is expected to help boost that demand.

Agence France-Presse