Scripted television series continue to lead acquisition priorities in Asia, with 72% of surveyed buyers identifying a genre broadly as a top strategic focus. Movies – including both theatrical and TV titles – follow at 64%, alongside animation at 56% and kids’ programming (42%).

Since early 2023, Vietnam’s Decree 71 has pretty much decimated the international/regional TV industry’s interest in the country. Higher operating costs, driven by tighter regulation and oversight, coupled with low yields... you get the picture.

It’s a mid-summer Monday and we’re looking at… one new job, one missing set of earnings, one unkillable Korean zombie comedy, two shiny new bundles, and one retro hijack drama on Netflix’s horizon.   Our daily brief begins with...   

"Jumbo" gave Indonesia’s domestic animation industry a whole new spring in its step; Korean broadcaster SBS’ US$20-million investment in MD Entertainment for a 3.8% stake signalled new growth directions and another level of optimism; Media Partners Asia (MPA) put the country’s VOD total subs at 2

Our new section – NO BLINKS – is where we’re logging what’s bubbling, breaking, or just bugging us, from brewing deals and background drama to strategic moves with the potential to (or not) reshape the industry. 

The embrace of artificial intelligence by the BiFan film festival in South Korea is no longer new, as its conference and AI film competition this month amply demonstrated. But the event might serve as a lesson – or warning – to those who would rather bury their heads in the sand.