The 'Star Wars' Ratings Problem and What To Do Next
Jul 17, 2024
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Jimmy Doyle, Luminate’s director of business development, joins Matt to discuss the 'Star Wars' franchise's state, lack of theatrical movies, and TV ratings trouble. They debate successful 'Star Wars' properties, the upcoming Mandalorian film, and if Disney should license to Netflix. Matt wraps up with Emmy predictions.
Star Wars TV shows on Disney+ face viewership challenges, with 'The Mandalorian' performing well compared to other series.
Consideration for premiering Star Wars content on platforms like Netflix to attract wider audiences while maintaining exclusivity on Disney+.
Deep dives
Star Wars Streaming Struggles
Star Wars shows on Disney+ face challenges as data from Luminate reveals a trend of initial viewer interest followed by decline, with 'The Mandalorian' standing out as a top performer, contrasting with other series. 'Obi-Wan' had a strong start but experienced a significant drop-off in viewership. 'The Acolyte' opened well but saw declines in subsequent episodes, indicating ongoing challenges for Disney and the Star Wars streaming lineup.
Andor's Viewer Engagement
'Andor', a Star Wars series, demonstrates sustained viewer interest with a 30% increase in total views from week 12 to 26, outperforming 'The Mandalorian'. Despite softer numbers, 'Andor' received Emmy nominations and renewal prospects due to its engaging storytelling, pointing to potential success in retaining and expanding its audience on Disney+.
Platform Strategies and Star Wars
Discussions around potential strategies for Star Wars content placement involve possibly premiering shows on other platforms like Netflix to attract broader audiences and enhance relevance. However, retaining exclusive content on Disney+ remains a critical aspect of Disney's platform value proposition, balancing between wide exposure and platform loyalty to drive sustained viewership.
Emmy Awards Predictions
'The Bear' and 'Shogun' emerge as strong contenders in the Emmy Awards, with 'The Bear' favored for comedy series and 'Shogun' anticipated to win in the drama series category due to extensive nominations and critical acclaim. 'Baby Reindeer' shows potential in the limited or anthology series category despite controversies surrounding its promotional approach, suggesting voter inclination towards buzzworthy shows.
Matt is joined by Luminate’s director of business development, Jimmy Doyle, to discuss the state of the 'Star Wars' franchise, its lack of theatrical movies, and what the troubling TV ratings signal for the brand. They talk about the 'Star Wars' properties that are working, the upcoming Mandalorian movie, and whether Disney should ultimately license its content to Netflix (02:43). In light of the recent Emmy nominations, Matt finishes the show with his prediction for Best Drama Series, Best Comedy Series, and Best Limited Series (23:13).
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