As the American Film Market (AFM) gets underway in Los Angeles, the spotlight is on new models of collaboration in independent distribution and the growing concentration in the streaming sector. Twelve international distributors, including Wild Bunch Germany and Wild Bunch Austria, have joined forces to form Lokia. The network aims to pool market information and revenue forecasts, jointly evaluate projects at an early stage, and tap into new opportunities for financing and the exploitation of intellectual property.
The participating companies will initially remain independent and will continue to acquire rights separately for their respective territories. Joint acquisitions are only planned for a later phase. Distributors will be able to contribute their assessments of projects via a shared platform, thereby creating a broader basis for financing and production decisions. A partnership with Fintage House is intended to support the reporting and settlement of revenue. In the long term, joint financing as well as additional sources of revenue through licensing and merchandising are also planned.
At the same time, Fox Corporation’s takeover of Roku is reshaping the US streaming market. Fox completed the transaction, valued at around 22 billion US dollars, on 6 November. This brings the ad-supported streaming services Tubi and The Roku Channel, as well as Roku’s connected TV platform – which reaches more than 100 million households – under one roof. Fox expects the merger to deliver annual cost synergies of around US$400 million within two years.
The US competition authority had previously concluded its investigation. Among other things, Fox undertook to keep Roku’s platform open to content from other providers and not to disadvantage them in search results.
The AFM programme also addresses the structural changes taking place in the industry. Under the theme „The New Global Screen Economy“, the programme includes, amongst other things, new financing models, the exploitation of film rights and new ways of engaging with audiences. The market will take place in Los Angeles from 10 to 15 November.