Here are the global TV and streaming video stories that should be on your radar for Friday, March 8th, 2024:
NFL Super Bowl Game Attracts 62.5m Global Viewers (Digital TV Europe)
The Super Bowl game was aired live in over 195 territories, with over 80 broadcasting partnerships and commentary in over 25 languages. In Mexico the highly anticipated event gained an audience of 24.1 million and an average of 8.7 million. It represented a 5% increase year-on-year, Apple Music halftime show also peaked at over 10 million viewers.
Al-Thaqafiah TV Named MENA Region’s Exclusive Broadcaster Of 96th Academy Awards Ceremony (Arab News)
Al-Thaqafiah’s exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2024 Academy Awards will allow audiences across the MENA region to enjoy a unique experience, the channel said in a press release. Cinema fans will also be able to watch the event on MBC’s streaming platform Shahid.
Akira Toriyama Dies: ‘Dragon Ball’ Creator & Manga Artist Was 68 (Deadline)
Akira Toriyama, the influential manga artist who created the Dragon Ball anime franchise, died March 1 due to an acute subdural hematoma — blood clots on the brain that usually form after an injury. He was 68. A statement from his Bird Studio said it was “deeply saddened” to report that he had passed.
Portugal: Pay-TV Growth At Lowest Level Since 2013 (Advanced-Television)
Portugal ended 2023 with 4.6 million pay-TV subscribers, an increase of 96,000 (2.1 per cent) on the previous year, marking the lowest annual growth rate since 2013. The penetration rate for pay-TV services amounted to 98.3 per cent, according to data published by the National Communications Authority (Anacom).
Deutsche Telekom Strikes New Partnership With Netflix (Digital TV Europe)
Starting with Hrvatski Telekom in Croatia and Magyar Telekom in Hungary, Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiaries in multiple European countries will offer new ways to integrate Netflix – including bundling or set-up features on their TV interface – giving customers more choice over how to enjoy Netflix content.
SkyShowtime Hires Disney & Fox Alum For Acquisitions & Licensing (TBI Vision)
SkyShowtime has hired former Disney and Fox Networks Group exec Josephine Van As to oversee its acquisitions and licensing activity. Van As will work under former Netflix exec Kai Finke, who was hired in September as chief content officer to replace the outgoing Jon Farrar.
Heart Beat Review: India’s Grey’s Anatomy Fails To Make A Mark Due To Sloppy Storytelling (Times Now News)
In the medical world, where stethoscopes are as common as morning coffee and prescription pads seem to multiply like rabbits, doctors often find themselves caught up in a fast-paced life that doesn't leave much space for family time. At least that’s the message Radhi and Reena from the show Heart Beat seems to hit home.
Premiere Darts League Finalist Lashes Out At Viaplay Over Coverage (Dart News)
Van Gerwen had to comment afterwards to Viaplay via a video link and he did not like that at all. "(Dutch journalist) Arjan van der Giessen was in England, why isn't he here? This is a nice message to you guys. They should just send people to England. Now it has to be via laptop and last week I also looked like a moron. I really hate that, via laptop. I hate that more than my own game," Van Gerwen said.
Forecast: APAC Multiplay Service Revenue To See Modest Growth (Advanced-Television)
Multiplay service revenue in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4 per cent from $245 billion (€224.1m) in 2023 to $276.3 billion by 2028, driven by the continued rise in the number of multiplay households in the region, and growth in the average monthly multiplay household spending.
Room To Read Partners With Warner Bros. Discovery To Premier ‘She Creates Change’ (My Republica)
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the film series will be premier on Friday March 8, 15 and 22 to audience in Asia. Presented in a series of six animated shorts with accompanying live action mini documentary, ‘She Creates Change features; the narrative of six courageous young women from historically low-income communities in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Vietnam.