Unscripted TV is Undergoing a Seismic Shift.

In the current milieu of the entertainment industry, a pervasive quietus has settled, markedly felt in the stories of individuals who have recently been cast adrift from their network anchorage or freelancers navigating the stark reality of barren prospects. Each resume that lands on my desk is a reminder, a poignant echo of my own past experiences in the trenches of freelance work — the relentless pursuit of the next project, the next paycheck, in a career path that is anything but linear.

This undercurrent of instability is now underscored by a more profound dilemma — an industry-wide stasis where the usual engines of employment, the buying, and commissioning of new shows, have seemingly ground to a halt. As someone who has weathered the highs and lows of this industry, the shift is palpable, and it reverberates with the same uncertainty I once knew.

In my journey, diversification was not just strategy but survival — expanding into the realms of TV, film, and digital content, casting our gaze toward the international horizon to capture a spectrum of opportunities. Yet, despite this breadth, a recent encounter with a TikTok post proclaiming “Hollywood is Broken” gave pause. While it may seem hyperbolic, the sentiment is grounded in truth — a reflection of the tremors shaking the very foundation of reality TV and the broader unscripted market.

What we are witnessing is not a mere fluctuation but a seismic shift — one that has prompted me to delve deeper, to seek the ‘whys’ and ‘hows,’ and to understand the repercussions. In this article, I aim to unfurl the narrative that has led us here, explore the potential avenues for interim solutions, and propose ways we can collectively retool and reinvigorate the creative spirit that is the lifeblood of our industry.

Navigating the Seismic Shift: Retooling and Regrouping in the US Entertainment Industry

The landscape of the US entertainment industry, particularly the unscripted television sector, is undergoing profound transformations. Recent testimonies from industry veterans and emerging talents and insights from trade magazines paint a vivid picture of an industry at a crossroads. The stories of individuals such as Matthew Hobin and Patrick Caligiuri, who have seen the heights of Emmy nominations while grappling with the economic realities of gig economy jobs, underscore a broader narrative of change, challenge, and the urgent need for adaptation.

The Current Climate

Once thought to be recession-proof, the entertainment industry has felt the tremors of economic fluctuations, technological advancements, and shifts in consumer behavior more acutely than ever before. The traditional content creation, distribution, and monetization models are being upended, leading to a state of flux that impacts everyone from executive producers to below-the-line workers. The phenomenon colloquially termed “Hollywood is dead” is symptomatic of an industry in transition rather than decline.

The Catalysts of Change

Several factors contribute to this seismic shift. The explosion of streaming services has disrupted traditional broadcasting models, leading to a fragmentation of audiences and revenues. The saturation of the market with an overwhelming volume of content has made discoverability and profitability more challenging for new and existing shows. Furthermore, the global pandemic accelerated changes in consumer behavior, with more people seeking diverse and on-demand entertainment options from the comfort of their homes.

Moreover, the industry’s economic model is under pressure. The reduction in episode orders, the outsourcing of production to more cost-effective locations, and the reliance on a few tentpole franchises have squeezed mid-level and emerging talent, making sustainability a significant concern.

The Imperative to Retool

For industry professionals, the imperative to retool is clear. This entails a holistic reassessment of how content is produced, where it is distributed, and how it engages audiences. Creatives and executives must embrace digital transformation, leveraging data analytics for content strategy, exploring new storytelling mediums such as interactive and immersive technologies, and adopting agile production methods that can adjust to the rapidly changing market conditions.

Retooling also means diversifying revenue streams. The reliance on traditional advertising and subscription models is giving way to innovative approaches such as direct-to-consumer offerings, content licensing, and branded partnerships. These models not only provide financial resilience but also open new avenues for creative expression and audience engagement.

Direct-to-Consumer Offerings

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) offerings allow content creators to bypass traditional distribution channels and sell their products and services directly to consumers. This model benefits from a direct relationship with the audience, which can lead to enhanced customer loyalty and valuable data collection. For media executives, shifting to a D2C model may involve creating streaming services, apps, or websites where content can be accessed directly. It’s important for D2C offerings to maintain high-quality content and leverage user data to personalize the experience, which can improve engagement and retention.

Content Licensing

Content licensing involves the legal rights to broadcast, reproduce, or distribute content. This can be a substantial revenue stream for content creators and owners. In today’s fragmented media landscape, licensing content to multiple platforms, such as streaming services, international broadcasters, or video-on-demand services, can maximize reach and profitability. For those managing such content, it’s vital to understand the value of the content library and negotiate licensing deals that reflect this. Content licensing strategies may include windowing, where content is available on different platforms at different times, or licensing different packages of content to different services based on their audience demographics.

Branded Partnerships

Branded partnerships refer to collaborations between content creators and brands, where content is either created for or integrated with a brand’s marketing campaign. These partnerships can help fund content creation while also providing additional marketing channels for the content. For instance, integrating a product into a television show or creating a co-branded piece of content can attract both audiences and revenue. It’s important for media executives to identify brand alignment and create partnerships that feel organic to the content. Successful branded partnerships don’t distract from the content but add value to the viewer’s experience.

The Call to Regroup

Regrouping, in this context, involves fostering a more collaborative and supportive industry ecosystem. The challenges faced are not insurmountable for individuals but require collective action and mutual support. This means advocating for fair practices, supporting workforce development, and creating platforms for emerging talent to showcase their work. It also involves building networks that transcend traditional industry boundaries, fostering collaborations between technologists, educators, and creators to envision the future of entertainment.

For industry veterans like me, with extensive international experience and insights into the dynamics of media and entertainment, this period offers a unique opportunity to lead. By leveraging their expertise, connections, and platforms, they can advocate for change, mentor the next generation, and pilot innovative projects that address the industry’s challenges head-on.

Looking Forward

Despite the challenges, there is room for optimism. The demand for content, in all its forms, has never been higher. Audiences worldwide are more open than ever to diverse stories and innovative formats. The technological advancements that challenge the traditional models also provide unprecedented opportunities for creativity, reach, and engagement.

Innovation will be key to navigating the seismic shift in the industry. This might involve exploring new genres, leveraging emerging platforms for distribution, or pioneering new business models that align with the digital age’s realities. The industry’s resilience and adaptability, evidenced by its rich history of navigating previous shifts, suggest that it can not only survive but thrive in this new landscape.

The entertainment industry is at a pivotal moment, requiring a collective effort to retool and regroup. By embracing change, fostering innovation, and supporting one another, the industry can move forward into a future where it continues to captivate, inspire, and entertain audiences around the globe.

The seismic shift in the US entertainment industry is a wake-up call for reevaluation and transformation. It’s a challenging yet exciting time for creatives and executives alike to shape the future of entertainment. With strategic retooling and a commitment to regrouping, the industry can navigate this transition, ensuring its vibrancy and relevance for years to come. The stories of today’s challenges will become tomorrow’s tales of resilience, innovation, and success.

Strike or No Strike?

The concerns around another potential strike in Hollywood underscore the broader challenges and evolving dynamics within the industry. The backdrop to these concerns is multifaceted, involving negotiations on crucial issues like streaming compensation, artificial intelligence (AI) protections, and overall working conditions. After significant strikes in 2023, including those by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which brought attention to the demands for better pay, staffing, and the sharing of streaming revenues, the industry is on edge once more.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has indicated the possibility of holding a strike authorization vote, signaling readiness to strike if necessary. This decision comes as the industry still reels from the effects of previous strikes, which saw substantial support from the public for union actions. The strikes have not only been a tool for securing better terms but also for raising awareness about the pressures and expectations placed on workers in the entertainment sector.

Note: These strikes appear mainly during election years and are often connected to political races, including the presidential race.

One of the pivotal issues in the upcoming negotiations is the role of artificial intelligence in the industry. There’s a shared concern among workers about AI potentially replacing jobs or altering them in significant ways. For instance, customers worry about the implications of AI in generating characters and outfits, which could diminish the creative and personal aspects of their roles. These concerns are reflective of broader industry anxieties about technology’s impact on creative professions and the need for agreements that protect workers’ interests in the face of technological advancements.

The negotiation stakes are high, with health and pension benefits among the key topics. The emphasis is on ensuring that advancements like AI improve working conditions without undermining job security or workers’ contributions. The collective voice of Hollywood’s workforce, from those on set to those in post-production, underscores a critical period of reassessment and potential realignment in the industry’s future direction.

As Hollywood navigates these negotiations, the outcomes will likely have profound implications not just for the immediate stakeholders but also for the industry’s broader ecosystem, including how content is created, distributed, and monetized in an era of rapid technological change and shifting consumer expectations.

Here are some other options before us:

If TikTok faces a ban in the United States, viewers who use it as their primary source of entertainment and content creators who rely on it for their audience engagement will need to explore alternative platforms. The migration from TikTok could create a surge in popularity and user base for these alternatives, presenting a significant opportunity for both viewers seeking content and creators looking to expand their reach.

Here are some potential alternatives that could benefit from a TikTok ban:

1. Triller: This platform is similar to TikTok, with a focus on music videos. It integrates with external music libraries like Apple Music and Spotify, offering a wider range of music for creators to use in their videos.

2. YouTube Shorts: Already a massive platform, YouTube introduced Shorts as a direct competitor to TikTok. It allows users to create short, engaging videos using YouTube’s vast music library.

3. Snapchat: Known for its ephemeral content, Snapchat’s Spotlight and Stories features provide a space for short-form video content similar to TikTok.

4. Likee: Offering advanced editing features and special effects, Likee is another platform that could fill the gap left by TikTok. It also focuses on high-quality video content.

5. Zigazoo: Specifically designed for children, Zigazoo is a safe and educational alternative that offers fun and educational challenges, making it an ideal platform for family-friendly content.

6. Instagram Reels: As part of a well-established social media app, Reels lets users create and share up to 90-second videos. It’s also considered more professionally oriented in terms of content aesthetics.

7. Firework: This app emphasizes video creativity and quality with the added functionality of sorting and saving content into categories.

8. Huddles: A Vine-like app that encourages short videos between two and 16 seconds, Huddles is geared towards a user-friendly experience.

9. Lomotif: Another video-creation platform with a wide range of editing tools and features to enhance your content.

10. Moj: Popular in India, Moj allows the creation of short videos with daily challenges and rewards, catering to a wide range of content categories.

These platforms could provide a new home for TikTok users and creators, with each offering unique features and communities. The shift from TikTok to these alternatives would not only mean a redistribution of user traffic but also open avenues for diverse content exploration and potentially more robust engagement models. Creators can take advantage of this transitional phase by establishing a presence on multiple platforms, thus ensuring their reach and influence remain strong irrespective of the changes in the social media landscape.

As we stand at the cusp of an industry facing seismic shifts and grappling with the economic fallout, it’s crucial to pause and reflect on the path ahead. The palpable unrest within the ranks of talented individuals whose livelihoods have been disrupted speaks to a broader narrative of an industry in transition.

The looming potential of another strike is not just a wake-up call but a clarion call for systemic change. It’s a stark reminder that the very ecosystem of content creation is evolving, and within that evolution lies both peril and promise. The current challenges may seem daunting, and the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty, yet history has shown us that from the depths of hardship often emerge the most creative and resilient solutions.

As a community, there’s a pressing need to harness the collective wisdom, the shared experiences, and the spirit of innovation that has long defined the entertainment industry. To the many facing an unforeseen hiatus, this is an opportunity for introspection, for upskilling, and for exploring new frontiers like the burgeoning platforms stepping into the spotlight in the wake of TikTok’s uncertain future.

As we look forward, let us be proactive in embracing these changes. By leveraging emerging social media platforms, engaging with new storytelling methods, and forging partnerships that value creative labor, the industry can not only rebound but also thrive in new and unexpected ways. The onus is on us, as creators, executives, and visionaries, to pave the way for a more resilient, diverse, and dynamic landscape of entertainment.

The hardships many are facing today are real and deeply felt. Yet, within every challenge lies the seed of opportunity — the chance to rebuild, reimagine, and reignite the spark of creative genius that has long been the hallmark of this industry. So, let’s step into the future with a resolve to turn these trials into a narrative of triumph for the next chapter in entertainment.