Unscripted TV Archives - Documentary Business

WB Discovery’s ID Network Orders Originals. Pact Webinar with Dan Salerno

2023 July 13 / Commissioning Process, Network Profile, PACT, Unscripted TV, Webinars

Warner Brothers’ ID: Investigation Discovery network is actively ordering new originals. While many legacy channels are cutting back on their commissions, ID‘s strategy is relatively unchanged in the streaming era. What is ID buying? Veteran programming executive Dan Salerno, answers this question and more in our latest webinar. This is episode #7 in a series on …

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Reelz Explodes into the Top-Tier of U.S. Networks. How They Did It! A Pact Webinar

2023 June 26 / Commissioning Process, PACT, Peacock, Reality Television, True Crime, Unscripted TV, Webinars

Reelz is currently the most-watched U.S. entertainment network on Fridays and Saturdays. It has not just grown, but exploded into a top-tier service — and in a matter of weeks! Veteran programming executive and respected senior consultant Dan Salerno continues his unique, deeply-researched strategic analysis of U.S. network schedules. How does the success of On …

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How to Pitch Your Documentary & Reality Series to Streamers & Channels. Webinar with Steve Harris, Veteran Exec & Producer. Tues June 28, 10am/Pacific

2022 June 24 / Amazon, Apple, Commissioning Process, discovery+, Disney +, Netflix, Pitching, Reality Television, Unscripted TV, VOD, Webinars

Steve Harris bursts with inspiring insights into the pitching process. He has a gift for breaking out the key qualities for a successful pitch. As my charismatic, globe-trotting co-presenter, Steve has shared his insider knowledge to grateful producers at WESTDOC (LA), AIDC (Adelaide), Sunny Side (La Rochelle), and more. He draws on his veteran experience …

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Fading U.S. Channels: How steep is their audience decline in the streaming era?

2022 January 17 / discovery+, Disney +, Netflix, Ratings, Reality Television, Streaming Video, Unscripted TV, VOD

Variety Intelligence recently published Fading Ratings, featuring a useful series of charts that captures the downward audience trend over five-to-seven years of several portfolios of U.S. networks. The starting points are 2014 or 2016. All screenshots were taken from the report. SVOD’s Rising: The context-setting chart highlights the rise of Netflix and the top subscription …

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SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC – NEWS ROUNDUP, June 2021: Unscripted Investment Frenzy & more

2021 June 14 / Australia, Conferences & Markets, Disney +, Documentary Production, Inclusivity, Internet Economy, Monthly News Roundup, Netflix, Public Television, Streaming Video, Sunny Side of the Doc, UK, Unscripted TV, VOD, Women and Film

Story of the Month: Investors Target Unscripted Production. There’s a frenzy of investment in unscripted production // Wall Street Journal. New SVOD’s fail to understand that success depends on streaming addiction // Lightshed Partners. Netflix Australia: Revenues surge but avoids taxes and local production // The Age + Documentary Business. Audiences want more documentaries in streaming libraries …

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Discovery Documentaries: SVP Howard Swartz reveals “The docs we’re looking for!”

2021 June 2 / Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, discovery+, Documentary TV, Funding a Documentary, Interviews, Network Profile, Panels, Pitching, Sunny Side of the Doc, Unscripted TV

Howard Swartz is the Senior Vice President Docs and Specials, Factual Networks & Streaming, for Discovery. For Sunny Side of the Doc‘s Meet the Executive session, he joined Peter Hamilton to share Discovery’s documentary strategy and key buckets. Following are session highlights, including clips of several projects that reveal Howard’s priorities. MISSION & STRATEGY What …

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Channels & Streamers: How Animal Planet is adapting to the rise of discovery+, with Dan Salerno

2021 April 21 / Commissioning Process, discovery+, Internet Economy, Podcast, Streaming Video, Unscripted TV, VOD

by Dan Salerno Discovery continues to go “all in” with Discovery+. Announcements of new premieres are rolling out almost daily, with four more last week alone. One announcement, the upcoming Discovery+ special, Crikey! It’s a Baby! prompted us to check in with Animal Planet. Three months since the much publicized launch, what is coming, what is …

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Nielsen’s Streaming Ratings 2020: Positive Takeaways for the Documentary / Unscripted Sector

2021 January 17 / 'Sweet Spots', discovery+, Disney +, Documentary Budget, Internet Economy, Netflix, OTT, Producers' Tool Kit, Ratings, Reality Television, Streaming Video, Theatrical Documentary, Unscripted TV, VOD

Nielsen released their Top 10 Streamed Programs for 2020 (U.S.) in three categories: Originals, Acquisitions and Movies. Their key metric is Minutes-Streamed-per-Show. In the Originals category, the Top 10 is led by OZARK with 30.5 billion views in 2020. TIGER KING is #4 with 15.6 billion views. When I looked deeper into the data, I …

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