FRIDAY'S ESPRESSO - 2nd February

The most followed indie newsletter about unscripted in the world

1. THERE IS CATCH: IT’S ONLY FANS!

In the vast ocean of the digital landscape, OnlyFans, with more than three million registered creators and 220 million registered users, plays a prominent role. In addition to their primary services, the UK-based company launched its free safe-for-work streaming platform in 2021: OFTV.

Currently it still has quite a small library (little more than 800 videos, divided into sessions as fitness, cooking, music etc.), almost all made by creators already active on OnlyFans. But things are changing and the contents are becoming more and more professional. In 2022, for example, OFTV released Model Farmers (now in its second season), a reality/competition show where six OF Creators trade their glamorous lifestyles for a week of chores on a sheep farm in the Australian outback.

Last 18th January, OFTV launched a new series, There’s A Catch, which follows six OnlyFans creators (again…) as they embark on a beautiful trip to Mallorca, involving the beach, boys, wild parties and… fishing. In the first episode, the cast arrive in Mallorca for what they believe is a relaxing content-creation trip, with hopes of soaking up the late summer sun and attending the hottest parties on the island.

But soon it becomes clear that there’s a catch to their time on the idyllic Spanish island – meaning they have to earn their keep as fisher-women under the instruction of the local fishing community. With just an hour to get suited in their fishing gear, the creators begin their journey of learning the ropes on a working fishing vessel, and their adventure has started.

Not particularly subtle and unpretentious - to tell the truth- , the program is nevertheless quite fresh and fun: there is a new AVOD in town…

2. STARS IN BRAZILIAN HOUSE

In Friday’s Espresso of 19th January, we wrote about Feat, a musical talent show with the purpose to launch a new generation of singers in the Latin music market (in that case, the record partner was Sony Music España).

Estrela da Casa (“Star of the House”) - an original format of Brazilian broadcaster Globo and record label Universal Music Brasil - has exactly the same goal. The program - premiering in the second half of 2024 on TV Globo with a multi-platform rollout on the pay TV channel Multishow, and 24-hour streaming on the Globoplay streaming platform - mixes up the classical talent rules with reality.

In the house of the title, a group of artists will live together, as they learn all the stages of building a music career. So the program has 2 classical ingredients taken from this type of shows: confinement and music competition.

The Universal Music team will support participants throughout the whole program, giving them "real experience of the music market and access to all the resources and strategies available to build their careers", Paulo Lima, president of Universal Music Brasil, explained.

Another example of a format with an “extra-television purpose”, a trend that will become more and more important, given the reduced economic resources of broadcasters.

3. A NOTE FROM CONTENT AMERICA

Content Americas 2024 took place in Miami from 23 to 25 January. With about 2000 delegates and more than 150 exhibitors (50% more than last year) it has achieved good results, considering that it is only 1 year old.

Pilar de Posadas, head of international content at Scenic Rights, reports.

“Content Americas was great. Despite the fact the dust has yet to settle in the US and international markets. Layoffs and mergers have not finished, buyers have significantly retreated in buying originals, the optimism and overall happiness was felt. The next couple of years will continue to be tough but people have the feeling they will be less tough than the ones we just passed. 

It seemed everyone who used to be in these events was back. We were all very happy to see each other and business was conducted. The organizers did a wonderful job with the panels, the communication and seized as best as possible the flow of people and activities within the hotel. 

The Rose D’Or awards were a big success. The pitching sessions too (I really liked Zebra Producciones Farruquito, a feature documentary Flamenco Story: a very eclectic pitch with competitors from various countries) and the panels were very well curated with high quality speakers. A big hooray for C21 folks. 

Content Americas has come here to stay and it seems we are all very happy with that. It was wonderful to see everyone again and, as resilient as we all are in this industry, we will push through this storm and keep entertaining and teaching people worldwide with wonderful content”.