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This week on Two The Point, Janine Stein and Patrick Frater break down the biggest stories shaping Asia’s entertainment business — from cinema to streaming to corporate strategy.

We start with "Avatar 3: Fire and Ash", as the franchise rolls out across Asia and emerges as a key bellwether for the health of theatrical cinema. With early box-office signals from South Korea and China, we ask what success — or underperformance — would really mean for the region’s film industry.

From there, we look at Asian films on the Oscars shortlist, and what global awards visibility now looks like for Asian cinema.

We also unpack YouTube’s move to air the Oscars, why the timing matters, and what it signals about shifting power in global distribution.

Finally, Janine weighs in on FAST TV in Asia. Is FAST still the graveyard for old rights — or has it become a genuine opportunity for under-monetised Asian content libraries?

Plus:
• ABS-CBN’s latest distribution reset in the Philippines
• The TikTok US deal and its political implications
• Hong Kong’s ban of local film "Deadline"

And that's it for this week. If it’s happening in content, streaming, cinema or corporate chaos — we’re talking about it. We'll be back next Friday!

In this episode of Two The Point, veteran Asia film and TV journalists Janine Stein and Patrick Frater reflect on a week that captured the contradictions shaping Asia’s screen businesses as 2025 draws to a close. Coming out of the annual ATF in Singapore earlier this month, energy and attendance were strong, conference rooms were full and conversations were lively. And yet... caution reigns. Buyers are selective, order books are thin and many are waiting for global conditions to settle before committing to 2026. And THAT was before the Warner/Netflix/Paramount Skydance news... At CineAsia, the annual gathering of film exhibitors, Hollywood studios laid out their upcoming release slates while cinema owners pressed for answers on declining admissions and rising costs. Much of the focus was on experience: premium large-format screens, immersive sound, motion seating and other add-ons designed to make cinema feel distinctive again. Vietnam continues to stand out as a rare growth market, while much of the rest of Asia struggles. A notable shift in tone from Hollywood also emerged. Local films, once treated as competitors, are now widely acknowledged as essential to sustaining cinemas across Asia. Presentations from Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese studios highlighted growing confidence in local production ecosystems and the increasing ability of Asian films to travel within the region. Netflix was barely mentioned publicly, despite dominating private discussions, as speculation intensified around consolidation in Hollywood and its potential fallout. What will all this mean for Asia’s streaming platforms, licensing relationships and long-standing content pipelines in markets such as Japan, India and Southeast Asia? Janine and Patrick discuss why Asia often feels like an observer rather than a decision-maker in these global power struggles — and why that may not be entirely a disadvantage. While Hollywood debates mergers and regulation, Asia continues to adapt, diversify and build local ecosystems across theatrical exhibition, streaming and emerging formats. The episode also touches on wider signals: a dramatic rise in attendance at the Singapore International Film Festival in sharp contrast to the overall state of moviegoing; growing cross-border dealmaking; and rising investment in local-language content in India.

This episode is also available on Spotify and YouTube. 

Extended entry deadline: 25 April 2025
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