Latest news with #BrandonKatz
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
'KPop Demon Hunters' shows a way for Netflix to compete with Disney in family animation
K-pop is taking charts of all types by storm — and Hollywood should take note. Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" has ranked in the top two of the streamer's global movie charts in each of the five weeks since its mid-June debut, including back-to-back weeks in the top spot. The animated film about demon-fighting Korean pop singers is, notably, gaining steam instead of slowing down. "KPop Demon Hunters" just had its best week with 25.8 million views, and Netflix said that's the first time one of its original movies has hit a new peak in its fifth week. The movie's popularity propelled one of its original songs, "Golden," to the top of the Billboard Global 200 last week, though it's since slipped to second — replaced by another K-pop hit. "KPop Demon Hunters" is now set to become Netflix's biggest animated original film ever, according to entertainment data provider Greenlight Analytics. "Netflix should absolutely continue pushing forward in the medium," Brandon Katz, the insights and content strategy director at Greenlight Analytics, said of K-pop and family animation. A Netflix spokesperson pointed to the streamer's top-10 list and an accompanying blog post. How K-pop can make Netflix more like Disney Korean shows like " Squid Game" have made waves for Netflix, which responded with a multibillion-dollar investment in the country's content. K-pop is a natural extension of that strategy. It's wildly popular around the world, as the Billboard charts show, making it an ideal fit for a global streamer like Netflix. Disney+ has taken note with a concert and documentary about BTS, one of the biggest K-pop boy bands. "The cultural interest and excitement surrounding K-pop continues to intensify," said Paul Dergarabedian, a media analyst at Comscore. He added: "The undeniable appeal of K-pop should have everyone's attention in the world of entertainment, studios, theaters, and content creators alike." Katz went a step further, venturing that "KPop Demon Hunters" could become the backbone of franchises for Netflix, which "doesn't boast a century-long library of intellectual property like its legacy media rivals," specifically those that are family-friendly. Sing-along franchises, especially those with K-pop, may be the icing on the cake. Netflix could create condensed sing-along versions of the hit songs from "KPop Demon Hunters" to keep its momentum going. "It's the perfect modernization of Disney's long-running emphasis on family-friendly musicals," Katz said. Family matters "KPop Demon Hunters" isn't just a welcome win for Netflix's original film business — it also may be a blueprint for competing with rival Disney in family and animation. Netflix set out to " beat Disney in family animation," cofounder and former CEO Reed Hastings told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021. But despite its best attempts, the streamer hasn't achieved that goal. Although Netflix has had many family animation hits on its platform, they've mostly come from elsewhere. Popular kids series CoComelon generated huge viewership, but the cartoon is going to Disney+ when its Netflix deal ends in 2027. And while theatrical hits like "Minions" and "Despicable Me 4" topped the charts on Netflix, they were licensed from Universal's Illumination. By contrast, "KPop Demon Hunters " is a Netflix original, though it was produced by Sony Animation and not the streamer's in-house team. The streaming giant could keep using these production partnerships while its own team masters the craft. Netflix should make cracking original family films a priority, Dergarabedian said. PG-rated films have outgrossed their PG-13 peers at the box office in 2023, 2024, and 2025, he said, citing Comscore data. That includes blockbusters like Universal's "Super Mario Bros. Movie" and the live-action "How to Train Your Dragon," plus Disney's "Lilo & Stitch." Katz said that "theatrical animation is arguably the best bang for your buck genre in Hollywood" since the pandemic. He said Netflix must nail the family genre, which already accounts for 15% of its global viewership, to keep Gen Alpha kids from going to YouTube. "Establishing an emotional connection with young audiences provides Netflix with a direct path to the next generation of disposable income spenders," Katz said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KatRisk buys property risk analytics provider Gamma
US-based catastrophe modelling company KatRisk has acquired Gamma, an Irish company engaged in location intelligence and property-level risk assessment. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been made public. The acquisition strengthens KatRisk's risk analytics offerings, enabling the provision of insights and technologies to support decision-making. Gamma's flagship product, Perilfinder, is known for its 'address-level' risk assessment and underwriting solutions, which have been developed through partnerships with various general insurers. KatRisk plans to incorporate Gamma's property-level visualisation technology to offer clients map-based risk insights, dashboards and spatial analytics. The enhanced capability includes exposure to floods, wind, wildfires and other perils, and is intended to provide insurers with improved risk selection and portfolio management. Gamma CEO Feargal O'Neill said: 'The combination of Gamma and KatRisk represents an exciting opportunity for our customers and partners. Joining KatRisk gives us access to the world's leading catastrophe modellers, while opening global markets for Perilfinder. 'Together, our combined strengths in catastrophe modelling and location intelligence will empower insurers and underwriters to make smarter, faster risk decisions with greater confidence.' The combined strengths of KatRisk and Gamma will cover multiple continents, with a presence in North America and Europe. KatRisk EVP of strategy Brandon Katz stated: 'Our acquisition of Gamma is a major step forward in our mission to provide the most comprehensive, high-resolution risk data available. 'By combining our catastrophic risk models across floods, storms and fire with Gamma's location intelligence capabilities, we will deliver an even more powerful suite of tools that improves risk selection, reduces loss ratios and enhances underwriting efficiency.' This move is supported by the backing of KatRisk and Technosylva by investment firms TA Associates and General Atlantic BeyondNetZero. In September last year, KatRisk launched a severe convective storm model to aid the insurance industry in managing risks associated with severe weather events. "KatRisk buys property risk analytics provider Gamma " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
KatRisk Announces Acquisition of Gamma, Expanding Capabilities in Location Intelligence and Property Risk Assessment
LA JOLLA, Calif., May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KatRisk, the leading provider of catastrophic risk modeling software to the insurance and financial services industries, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Gamma, a pioneering company in location intelligence and property-level risk assessment. This strategic move bolsters KatRisk's expertise in risk analytics, enabling the delivery of more precise insights and next-generation technologies that drive smarter decisions. Gamma has built a reputation for delivering trusted property-level risk data. Their flagship platform, Perilfinder™, is a widely recognized address-level risk assessment, exposure management, and underwriting solution developed in partnership with some of the world's largest general insurers. With this acquisition, KatRisk will integrate Gamma's expertise in property-level visualization, providing clients with intuitive map-based risk insights, dynamic dashboards, and enhanced spatial analytics. The ability to visualize risk at the property level, from flood, wind, and wildfire exposure to other peril data, will provide insurers with unparalleled clarity in risk selection and portfolio management. 'Our acquisition of Gamma is a major step forward in our mission to provide the most comprehensive, high-resolution risk data available,' said Brandon Katz, EVP of Strategy at KatRisk. 'By combining our catastrophic risk models across floods, storms, and fire with Gamma's location intelligence capabilities, we will deliver an even more powerful suite of tools that improves risk selection, reduces loss ratios, and enhances underwriting efficiency.' 'The combination of Gamma and KatRisk represents an exciting opportunity for our customers and partners,' said Feargal O'Neill, CEO of Gamma. 'Joining KatRisk gives us access to the world's leading catastrophe modelers, while opening global markets for Perilfinder™. Together, our combined strengths in catastrophe modeling and location intelligence will empower insurers and underwriters to make smarter, faster risk decisions with greater confidence.' The acquisition of Gamma reinforces KatRisk's commitment to advancing innovation, deepening technical expertise, expanding global reach, and solidifying its position as a market leader in catastrophe and property risk analytics. Together, KatRisk and Gamma bring proven capabilities across continents, with a strong track record in North America and Europe. This milestone builds on the strategic backing of KatRisk and Technosylva by TA Associates and General Atlantic BeyondNetZero, reflecting a shared commitment to delivering scalable, data-driven climate resilience solutions. About KatRisk KatRisk, a Technosylva company, is a global leader in climate catastrophe risk modeling, supporting clients in over 190 countries. Founded in 2012, KatRisk quantifies risk from global weather extremes, including floods, storm surges, hurricanes, hail, wildfires, and tornadoes. KatRisk's industry-leading simulation software platform, SpatialKat, allows customers to model the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and changes in extreme precipitation. Built on an open data architecture and designed for rapid execution, KatRisk empowers insurance, reinsurance, and financial services companies to assess catastrophe risk and make more confident, data-driven decisions in underwriting and portfolio management. For more information, visit About Gamma Founded in 1993, Gamma is a leading provider of location intelligence and property risk solutions, operating through two divisions: Gamma Risk and Gamma Labs. Gamma Risk offers advanced tools notably Perilfinder™ and AddressLink™, enabling insurers, lenders, and public agencies to access accurate, frictionless, property-level risk data for underwriting, exposure management, and ESG reporting. Gamma Labs develops innovative cloud-hosted solutions such as BERWOW and EPCWOW promoting retrofit and sustainability, as well as location intelligence platforms supporting custom applications. ISO 27001 certified and driven by continuous R&D, Gamma is trusted across Ireland, the UK, and beyond. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE KatRisk
