Exclusive: Prime Video is today beginning job consultations with staff in Europe, we hear.
It’s understood a figure of less than 5% of staff face layoffs through the cuts, which were triggered earlier this year when VP of Prime Video in Emea Barry Furlong unveiled a restructure that impacts Europe, Mena and Africa.
The consultations are understood to be happening across Prime Video’s European offices, and those impacted are expected to be contacted today. Staff impact is estimated to be in the double figures.
The cuts were expected as part of Prime Video’s international restructuring, which is turn are part of a reduction of “several hundred roles” that would be eliminated across the Amazon content organization to reduce costs. Furlong told staff in January that the changes were to “prioritize resources on what matters most to customers” and “rebalance and pivot resources to focus on the areas that...
It’s understood a figure of less than 5% of staff face layoffs through the cuts, which were triggered earlier this year when VP of Prime Video in Emea Barry Furlong unveiled a restructure that impacts Europe, Mena and Africa.
The consultations are understood to be happening across Prime Video’s European offices, and those impacted are expected to be contacted today. Staff impact is estimated to be in the double figures.
The cuts were expected as part of Prime Video’s international restructuring, which is turn are part of a reduction of “several hundred roles” that would be eliminated across the Amazon content organization to reduce costs. Furlong told staff in January that the changes were to “prioritize resources on what matters most to customers” and “rebalance and pivot resources to focus on the areas that...
- 3/5/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon is restructuring its Emea Prime Video business in a move which may result in job losses for staff in Africa and the Middle East.
Prime Video is set to reroute original programming funding towards two priority regional groups ‘EU Established’, which includes the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain, and ‘EU Emerging’, which covers Benelux the Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe.
Consequently, investment for original programming in sub-Saharan Africa and Mena will decrease as part of what Prime Video’s vice-president and general manager for Emea Barry Furlong described in an internal memo as a “rebalance and pivot” of resources.
Prime Video is set to reroute original programming funding towards two priority regional groups ‘EU Established’, which includes the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain, and ‘EU Emerging’, which covers Benelux the Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe.
Consequently, investment for original programming in sub-Saharan Africa and Mena will decrease as part of what Prime Video’s vice-president and general manager for Emea Barry Furlong described in an internal memo as a “rebalance and pivot” of resources.
- 1/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Amazon Prime Video is restructuring its international business to focus on European originals. The re-org will involve cutting content and staff in Africa and the Middle East.
Shows from the Mena region that have already been greenlit or contracted are still on the slate, including “Lol Za” and “Ebuka Turns Up Africa,” but it may stop greenlighting local originals in Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa for the foreseeable future.
Although Prime Video will continue to operate in those territories, there may be redundancies in the local teams.
Meanwhile the European team will be split into two, both reporting into Prime Video Europe VP Barry Furlong. One, known as EU Established and led by country director for France Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, will focus on the U.K., Germany, Italy, France and Spain. The other, EU Emerging, will focus on growing businesses in Benelux, the Nordics and Cee. It...
Shows from the Mena region that have already been greenlit or contracted are still on the slate, including “Lol Za” and “Ebuka Turns Up Africa,” but it may stop greenlighting local originals in Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa for the foreseeable future.
Although Prime Video will continue to operate in those territories, there may be redundancies in the local teams.
Meanwhile the European team will be split into two, both reporting into Prime Video Europe VP Barry Furlong. One, known as EU Established and led by country director for France Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, will focus on the U.K., Germany, Italy, France and Spain. The other, EU Emerging, will focus on growing businesses in Benelux, the Nordics and Cee. It...
- 1/18/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Prime Video’s teams in Africa and the Middle East & North Africa region are facing layoffs, as part of a wider restructure that also “rebalances” investment towards Amazon’s European content division.
The move will split Europe in two clusters and see “emerging” territories such as Benelux, the Cee and the Nordics get new investment, with funding for African and Mena slashed. In the past hour, Prime Video’s VP & Gm for Emea, Barry Furlong, has outlined the raft of changes to staff in a memo seen by Deadline.
Among the decisions, which are being defined as a “rebalance” of resources, Prime Video will create two European clusters, EU Established (EU5) and EU Emerging (Eux), with new roles for several execs.
This impacts the Sub-Saharan Africa and Mena, which will see investment decrease to what are being described as “prior levels.”
Furlong said the restructure is part of a...
The move will split Europe in two clusters and see “emerging” territories such as Benelux, the Cee and the Nordics get new investment, with funding for African and Mena slashed. In the past hour, Prime Video’s VP & Gm for Emea, Barry Furlong, has outlined the raft of changes to staff in a memo seen by Deadline.
Among the decisions, which are being defined as a “rebalance” of resources, Prime Video will create two European clusters, EU Established (EU5) and EU Emerging (Eux), with new roles for several execs.
This impacts the Sub-Saharan Africa and Mena, which will see investment decrease to what are being described as “prior levels.”
Furlong said the restructure is part of a...
- 1/18/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Prime Video and Gaumont (“Intouchables”) are teaming up on an uplifting mother-son drama tackling disability, directed by Ken Scott (“Starbuck”), and starring French actors Leïla Bekhti (“All Your Faces”) and Jonathan Cohen (“Sentinelle”). Scott penned and will be directing the film which is titled “Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan” and is based on Roland Perez’s novel by the same name.
The project is the first theatrical film that Amazon Prime Video is co-financing as part of the French decree that kicked off in July 2021 and stems from the implementation of the European Commission’s legislation called Audiovisual Media Services Directive (Avms). As such, Gaumont will release the film theatrically in France and holds all distribution rights in France and internationally (outside of Canada). “Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan” will roll out on Prime Video 17 months after its theatrical release under France’s windowing rules.
The poignant movie...
The project is the first theatrical film that Amazon Prime Video is co-financing as part of the French decree that kicked off in July 2021 and stems from the implementation of the European Commission’s legislation called Audiovisual Media Services Directive (Avms). As such, Gaumont will release the film theatrically in France and holds all distribution rights in France and internationally (outside of Canada). “Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan” will roll out on Prime Video 17 months after its theatrical release under France’s windowing rules.
The poignant movie...
- 9/19/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“Challengers”, the anticipated tennis drama starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and “West Side Story”’s Mike Faist, will skip out on a French theatrical release and premiere on Prime Video instead.
The streamer announced the move on Monday during an upscale press event held at the Pavillon Royal on the outskirts of Paris.
Prime Video’s country managing director for France, Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, stated that the decision was made in lieu of France’s strict windowing rules, which prevents streamers from making a new film available on their services until 15 to 17 months after its theatrical roll out.
Read More: Zendaya Debuts New Hairstyle On The Set Of Upcoming Movie ‘Challengers’
“We’re a strong partner for French cinema and well-established talent. We contribute to the National Film Board’s subsidy scheme, but streaming services have been incited to not opt for theatrical releases for our original films,” Ricou-Bellan told journalists, as per Variety.
The streamer announced the move on Monday during an upscale press event held at the Pavillon Royal on the outskirts of Paris.
Prime Video’s country managing director for France, Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, stated that the decision was made in lieu of France’s strict windowing rules, which prevents streamers from making a new film available on their services until 15 to 17 months after its theatrical roll out.
Read More: Zendaya Debuts New Hairstyle On The Set Of Upcoming Movie ‘Challengers’
“We’re a strong partner for French cinema and well-established talent. We contribute to the National Film Board’s subsidy scheme, but streaming services have been incited to not opt for theatrical releases for our original films,” Ricou-Bellan told journalists, as per Variety.
- 6/19/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon Prime Video have set the launch date and pricing for their ‘Warner Pass’ offer in France to March 16.
Priced at €9.99 per month, the offer will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video Channels in France, and will boast all of HBO programs, along with 12 channels, including Warner TV, Eurosport, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network and CNN, as well as their associated on-demand services. Subscribers will benefit from a 30-day free trial until April 3.
“The launch of Warner Pass exclusively as a Prime Video channel in France is the next step in our journey to become the destination for customers in France to find the best in storytelling, premium entertainment and sports,” said Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video French Country Director.
“We are thrilled to expand our privileged relationship with Warner and join forces to delight the French audience,” added Ricou-Bellan.
Pierre Branco, general manager of Warner Bros. Discovery France,...
Priced at €9.99 per month, the offer will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video Channels in France, and will boast all of HBO programs, along with 12 channels, including Warner TV, Eurosport, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network and CNN, as well as their associated on-demand services. Subscribers will benefit from a 30-day free trial until April 3.
“The launch of Warner Pass exclusively as a Prime Video channel in France is the next step in our journey to become the destination for customers in France to find the best in storytelling, premium entertainment and sports,” said Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video French Country Director.
“We are thrilled to expand our privileged relationship with Warner and join forces to delight the French audience,” added Ricou-Bellan.
Pierre Branco, general manager of Warner Bros. Discovery France,...
- 3/13/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The US streamer unveils local-language originals and French acquisitions.
Amazon Prime Video has signalled its ambition to work closely with the French film industry by signing a four-year agreement with France’s film industry unions to support independent projects and promote gender and ethnic diversity, and unveiling a slate of original projects and acquisitions.
The signatories to the ground-breaking deal included audio-visual producers union the Uspa, independent producers union, the Spi and author’s rights group the Sacd. Under the terms of the agreement, Prime Video agreed to invest 85 of its financing into local French production and support a “diversity...
Amazon Prime Video has signalled its ambition to work closely with the French film industry by signing a four-year agreement with France’s film industry unions to support independent projects and promote gender and ethnic diversity, and unveiling a slate of original projects and acquisitions.
The signatories to the ground-breaking deal included audio-visual producers union the Uspa, independent producers union, the Spi and author’s rights group the Sacd. Under the terms of the agreement, Prime Video agreed to invest 85 of its financing into local French production and support a “diversity...
- 12/1/2022
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Amazon Prime Video has come a long way since launching in France in 2016. The streamer, whose first French film original, “The Mad Women’s Ball,” recently picked up an International Emmy Award, unveiled a landmark deal with French guilds during a posh dinner with industry players and talent in Paris on Wednesday evening (Nov. 30).
On the guest list at the chic Lutetia Hotel was a laundry list of talent that’s in business with Prime Video, including Philippe Lacheau (“Lol”), Franck Gastambide (“Medellin”), Eloise Lang (“La Graine”), Melha Bedia (“Miskina”), Ziad Doueiri (“Coeurs Noirs”), as well as producers Alain Goldman, Pathé Films’ Ardavan Safaee, Mandarin’s Eric Altmayer, CG Cinema’s Charles Gillibert, Metropolitan FilmExport’s Victor Hadida, Newen’s Romain Bessi, and Asasha Group’s Gaspard de Chavagnac, among many others.
Announced by Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video’s country manager in France, the four-year deal was signed with the guilds AnimFrance,...
On the guest list at the chic Lutetia Hotel was a laundry list of talent that’s in business with Prime Video, including Philippe Lacheau (“Lol”), Franck Gastambide (“Medellin”), Eloise Lang (“La Graine”), Melha Bedia (“Miskina”), Ziad Doueiri (“Coeurs Noirs”), as well as producers Alain Goldman, Pathé Films’ Ardavan Safaee, Mandarin’s Eric Altmayer, CG Cinema’s Charles Gillibert, Metropolitan FilmExport’s Victor Hadida, Newen’s Romain Bessi, and Asasha Group’s Gaspard de Chavagnac, among many others.
Announced by Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video’s country manager in France, the four-year deal was signed with the guilds AnimFrance,...
- 12/1/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Sahar Baghery has been appointed head of content for Amazon’s Prime Video in France, succeeding Isabelle Bertrand.
The Paris-born executive joined Prime Video in 2018 as head of business development for France and the Mena region. She was then made head of worldwide business development. Most recently, she spearheaded the programming strategy for Emea at Amazon Studios.
In her new role, she leads a team of local content experts to negotiate library deals with studios, buy second-window rights to movies and buy first-window rights to scripted series, direct-to-platform movies and exclusive documentaries.
The executive, who reports to Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, country director for Prime Video in France, aims to come on board series and films at an early stage, ideally before the start of production, and will be contributing to the co-production and financing of these titles. Baghery’s team is also actively looking at non-scripted and scouting for stand ups...
The Paris-born executive joined Prime Video in 2018 as head of business development for France and the Mena region. She was then made head of worldwide business development. Most recently, she spearheaded the programming strategy for Emea at Amazon Studios.
In her new role, she leads a team of local content experts to negotiate library deals with studios, buy second-window rights to movies and buy first-window rights to scripted series, direct-to-platform movies and exclusive documentaries.
The executive, who reports to Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, country director for Prime Video in France, aims to come on board series and films at an early stage, ideally before the start of production, and will be contributing to the co-production and financing of these titles. Baghery’s team is also actively looking at non-scripted and scouting for stand ups...
- 7/20/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video has unveiled seven new shows from the likes of Jean Dujardin, Nicolas Bedos, Franck Gastambide and Maïmouna Doucouré, while recommissioning Celebrity Hunted and Lol: Qui Rit, Sort!. in the region.
The new shows include Academy Award-winning The Artist star Dujardin’s Alphonse, based on an original idea by Dujardin and Bedos and produced by Alain Goldman, who recently signed a deal with Banijay.
The show was positioned by Amazon as a “surprising and funny take on comedy.”
Gastambide’s feature Medellín follows Pablito, a young YouTuber fascinated by Pablo Escobar, who makes his dream come true by flying to the Colombian city to walk in the notorious drug lord’s footsteps. A few days later, a video is posted on social media, showing that Pablito has been kidnapped by a group of dangerous Narcos.
Meanwhile, Federation Entertainment and Yvette Production’s comedy Clasico will be out later...
The new shows include Academy Award-winning The Artist star Dujardin’s Alphonse, based on an original idea by Dujardin and Bedos and produced by Alain Goldman, who recently signed a deal with Banijay.
The show was positioned by Amazon as a “surprising and funny take on comedy.”
Gastambide’s feature Medellín follows Pablito, a young YouTuber fascinated by Pablo Escobar, who makes his dream come true by flying to the Colombian city to walk in the notorious drug lord’s footsteps. A few days later, a video is posted on social media, showing that Pablito has been kidnapped by a group of dangerous Narcos.
Meanwhile, Federation Entertainment and Yvette Production’s comedy Clasico will be out later...
- 4/12/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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