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New Canada Streaming Regulations |
Netflix Settles Fairstein Suit |
Disney's EMEA Revenue Breakdown |
Netflix Debuts Japanese Same-Sex Reality Show |
New Trailer Drops for "That '90s Show" Season 2 |
Updates on Various Streaming Shows and Productions |
Streaming News Roundup
New Canada Streaming Regulations.
According to a new ruling from CRTC, Canada's TV and telecom regulator, international streamers must now direct an additional 5% of their Canadian revenues into local productions.
Last year, Canadian lawmakers passed the Online Streaming Act, imposing new rules on foreign-owned streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, and music streamer Spotify.
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- Revenues collected from the international platforms will go into a number of funds, both private and public, that invest in content from Canadian and indigenous producers and creators.
- These funds include the Canada Media Fund, the Black Screen Office Fund, and the Indigenous Screen Office Fund.
- The ruling applies to all streaming services that earn $25 million or more in annual Canadian revenue, and aren't directly affiliated with a Canadian broadcaster.
Netflix Settles Fairstein Suit
Netflix and writer/director/producer Ava DuVernay settled a lawsuit with former New York City prosecutor Linda Fairstein over the limited drama series "When They See Us."
Netflix has agreed to move a disclaimer, noting that some events in the series have been dramatized, from the closing credits to the top of each episode.
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The 2019 crime drama series is based on the true story of the so-called "Central Park Five," a group of young Black and Latino men who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for a 1989 sexual assault before being exonerated.
Fairstein was head of the Manhattan District Attorney's sex crimes unit at the time and oversaw the prosecution of the Central Park Five; she was portrayed by Felicity Huffman in the series.
Despite compelling evidence that convicted serial rapist Matias Reyes was actually the perpetrator of the 1989 assault, including a 2002 confession, Fairstein continues to deny any wrongdoing.
The agreement with Netflix was reached just a week ahead of the trial's scheduled start date.
In a statement, series creator DuVernay said that she hoped to take the case to trial, adding "I believe Linda Fairstein was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the Central Park Jogger case, that resulted in the wrongful conviction of five innocent Black and Brown boys."
Disney's EMEA Revenue Breakdown
Disney reported strong financial results in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) markets, with significant contributions from various segments.
These totals reflect all of Disney's interests in these markets, including streaming services, theatrical releases, consumer products, theme parks, and other live experiences.
The bulk of the total -- around £3.3 billion -- came from filmed entertainment, as opposed to theme parks and merchandising.
According to Disney, much of the growth was due to Disney+ and a strong performance by the studio's theatrical films, which helped to make up for a slowdown in content licensing.
£1.1 billion in revenue came specifically from the UK, compared to £2.5 billion from the rest of Europe, and £195 million from all other international markets.
Netflix Debuts Japanese Same-Sex Reality Show
Next month, Netflix will debut its first-ever Japanese same-sex reality dating show. In "The Boyfriend," nine single men move into a beach house together, and work shifts in a coffee truck, while also searching for new love.
The show premieres on July 9; there are 10 total episodes in Season 1.
In lieu of a traditional host, the series features a revolving group of TV personalities, including Megume, Horan Chiaki, Thelma Aoyama, Durian Lollobrigida, and Yoshimi Tokui.
Though Japan remains relatively conservative around gay rights, in June of last year, the country's government passed a new law promoting "understanding" of LGBTI people.
Some Japanese courts have also recently ruled that the legal ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, teeing up a larger legislative battle.
New Trailer Drops for "That '90s Show" Season 2
The first half of "That '90s Show" Season 2 hits Netflix on June 27; the next eight episodes ("Part 3") follow on October 24.
Updates on Various Streaming Shows and Productions
Several updates on popular streaming shows and productions were announced:
Hamish Linklater joined the cast of Amazon's "The Boys" spinoff "Gen V" ahead of its second season; he'll play Cipher, the charismatic new Dean of Godolkin University.
TLC announced the new reality series "The Baldwins," centered on actor Alec Baldwin, his wife Hilaria, and their seven young children; Baldwin stands trial next month on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, in connection to a fatal shooting on the set of the independent Western film "Rust."
Peacock's reality competition hit "Traitors" announced its Season 3 cast line-up, including "Vanderpump Rules" vet Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause of "Selling Sunset," and Britney Spears' ex-husband Sam Asghari.
Patricia Heaton and Yvette Nicole Brown will guest star on the second season of Paramount+'s "Frasier"; Heaton and "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer previously appeared together in the 2007 Fox comedy series "Back to You."
Paul Giamatti signed on to star in a TV series based on the "Hostel" horror films for "Severance" and "Tokyo Vice" studio Fifth Season; original writer/director Eli Roth is also collaborating on the show.
Hulu dropped a trailer for the three-part true crime docuseries "Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer," a profile of trailblazing FBI profiler Ann Burgess; Elle and Dakota Fanning executive produced the series, which lands on July 11.
The hashtag #DontStreamOnMax trended on Monday, following a social media campaign by "fan collective" Adopt Our Crew; the group started to protest Max's cancellation of the pirate comedy series "Our Flag Means Death," but has now extended its mission to "elevating queer stories."
A new update to Meta's Quest VR headsets will allow users to stream content via a web browser; though Netflix has a standalone app for the Quest, it only streams content at 480p.
Amazon released a trailer for "Federer: Twelve Final Days," a documentary chronicling the end of tennis champion Roger Federer's professional career; Asif Kapadia's ("Amy") film will premiere at this year's Tribeca festival before hitting Prime Video.
Several actors joined the cast of "Missing You," Netflix's next adaptation of author Harlan Coben's work; Ashley Walters, James Nesbitt, and Matt Jay-Willis signed on to the series, one of two Coben adaptations in development at Netflix following the runaway success of "Fool Me Once."
Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice are adapting their "Creep" serial killer films into a new TV series, "The Creep Tapes."