Latest news with #ElzaSoares
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil Emerges as FAST Streaming Powerhouse, Set to Soon Become Its Second Biggest International Market in the World (EXCLUSIVE)
FAST services are on a tear — especially in Latin America, where Brazil is emerging as a global leader in adoption and monetization. Already the second-largest market for Netflix subscribers outside the U.S. Brazil is on track to become the No. 2 international FAST market by 2029, the country playing a growing role in how the next era of connected TV unfolds. More from Variety Rio2C's Industry Pitching Captures a Brazil Intent on Remembering the Forgotten, Its Slaves, Extraordinary Artists and an Emblematic Guerrilla Fighter O2 Filmes to Produce a Biopic of Samba Star Elza Soares: 'If She Were American, She Would be Compared to Ella Fitzgerald'(EXCLUSIVE) Rio2C, Latin America's Largest Creativity Event, Reaches Record Attendance as Rio de Janeiro Aims to Build as Brazil's Film and TV Capital That is one of the key takeaways from a presentation to be delivered by María Rua Aguete, Omdia's senior research director of global analyst Omdia, made Tuesday as one of the opening sessions at Rio2C, Latin America's largest entertainment creativity meet. According to Omdia, the media and entertainment sector will generate $1.07 trillion globally in 2025, with online video commanding the lion's share — accounting for 70% of that total and growing at 13% year-on-year. While traditional pay-TV is in steady decline, FAST services are scaling rapidly, both in terms of user engagement and advertising revenue. Brazil Rises to FAST's Global Top Tier 'Brazil is now the third-largest market for FAST services outside the U.S. — and will climb to No. 2 ahead of Canada in revenues by 2029,' Rua Aguete told Variety ahead of her presentation. 'It's not just about adoption; it's about monetization. That's why we're here.' According to Omdia, Brazil's online video revenues will reach $14.4 billion by 2029, $3 billion of that increase from advertising. Brazilians are increasingly opting for free services over adding subscriptions, and platforms like Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Tubi are now regulars in the country's top 10 most-watched services on Smart TVs, sitting alongside Netflix, Prime Video and Globoplay. Advertising Trends: Underspending in Streaming Rua Aguete's keynote will likely strike a chord with brand and agency attendees, spotlighting what she called 'a massive imbalance' in the global advertising mix. Despite consumers spending more time on streaming platforms than ever before — 86 minutes per day on average — advertisers continue to disproportionately invest in social media and linear TV. In Brazil, the disconnect is even more stark. 'FAST and online video are clearly under-penetrated in media plans. That is the massive opportunity,' she said. Globally, Connected TV (CTV) advertising is the fastest-growing category in media, with an expected 80% growth over the next five years. In Brazil, CTV revenues are rising while YouTube's share is projected to decline from 56% in 2024 to 41% by 2029 as premium ad-supported platforms gain ground. Smart TVs Are the New Shopfronts Much of this shift is being driven by the rapid rise of Smart TVs. Among Brazilians who watch FAST, 45% do so on Smart TVs, while 20% turn to their smartphones. Of the Smart TVs used to stream these services, Samsung leads the market with a 51%share, trailed by LG at 20%. Rua Aguete noted that 83% of FAST content in Brazil is watched on Smart TVs, particularly via built-in apps. With $6.6 trillion in global e-commerce forecast by 2029, she highlighted the rising potential for shoppable TV — an area brands like Samsung and LG are investing in. 'If we can get shoppable TV, buying through the TV as easily as currently through smartphones, the revenue upside is enormous,' she said. Streaming Landscape: FAST Enters the Top 10 The FAST ecosystem is no longer niche. In Omdia's global consumer surveys, FAST services now routinely appear in the top 10 most-used streaming apps on Smart TVs including in Brazil, Mexico, the U.S., and across Europe. Yet the commercial beneficiaries vary significantly by region. 'In the Americas, CTV platforms like Samsung, Roku, and LG are winning,' Rua Aguete explained. 'But in Europe, it's public service broadcasters and video streamers like Pluto TV.' Netflix's Brazil Strategy? Local Hits with Global Reach Brazil also remains Netflix's second-largest subscriber market globally, Omdia estimates. In 2024, Netflix used Brazil to launch a wave of local originals that gained significant global traction, top performers included 'Desperate Lies,' 'Burning Betrayal', 'Senna,' and 'Bionic,' according to PlumResearch. These shows weren't produced with international audiences in mind, Rua Aguete said, but rather as authentic stories rooted in Brazilian culture; a factor that has ironically made them stand out and potentially more exportable. ''Senna' is the exception,' she said. 'It was designed from the start as a global franchise. But most Brazilian hits on Netflix succeed because they are locally grounded, not globally targeted.' What's Next? The FAST growth isn't set to slow. Weekly usage in Brazil has quadrupled in four years, and 30% of the population now watches FAST content weekly. While it still only accounts for 6% of premium video ad revenue in Brazil, that number is expected to rise steadily. The data on show clearly places Brazil as a region to track intently. Or as Rua Aguete put it: 'If you want to understand where the future of global streaming is headed, watch Brazil.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
O2 Filmes to Produce a Biopic of Samba Star Elza Soares: ‘If She Were American, She Would be Compared to Ella Fitzgerald'(EXCLUSIVE)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — Helmer Fernando Meirelles' O2 Filmes will produce a biopic of star Elza Soares, considered one of the greatest samba singers ever and a symbol of the struggle against racism and women discrimination in Brazil. Patricia Andrade ('Two Sons of Francisco') and Viviane Pistache are writing the screenplay, which is scheduled to go into production in the second half of 2026, said O2 Filmes partner and producer Andrea Barata Ribeiro, who founded the company with Meirelles and Paulo Morelli. More from Variety Rio2C, Latin America's Largest Creativity Event, Reaches Record Attendance as Rio de Janeiro Aims to Build as Brazil's Film and TV Capital Netflix Brazil Unveils a 'Sintonia' Spin-Off, Soccer Shows on Brazil 1970, Ronaldinho and Neymar and a Scripted Series on Brazil's Biggest Ever Radioactive Disaster Gullane+ Nabs Distribution Rights to Cannes Classic Doc 'Para Vigo Me Voy' About Legendary Brazilian Filmmaker Cacá Diegues Thais Araujo ('Aruanas'), a top film and telenovela star in Brazil, will play the leading role of Elza, Barata Ribeiro added. The life of Soares, who died at the age of 91 in 2022, is both tragic and glorious. She suffered from hunger in her childhood in a Rio slum and was abused by her first husband as a teenager. In 1953, when she was a widow struggling to feed her kids, she took part in a radio singing competition hosted by Ary Barroso, the most renowned of Brazilian composers at the time. Elza was so poorly dressed that Barroso jokingly asked 'Which planet you came from?', to which she immediately replied: 'From Planet Hunger.' But after hearing Elza singing a samba song with her powerful voice, Barroso proclaimed on air 'a star is born'. In 2019, then a big star, Elza launched her 34th album entitled 'Planet Hunger' and toured with a copy of the dress she wore in the radio contest. In spite of her astonishing talent, Elza endured up-and-downs in her career. Part of the society and media just could not accept the rise of a Black woman with a poor background to stardom. A drawback was when she got involved with legendary soccer player Garrincha in the 1960s. Instead of praising the marriage of two of the country's finest talents, the media blamed her for ruining Garrincha's previous marriage and for his decline as a player. Elza moved to Italy, but later resumed her career in Brazil, and consolidated herself as one of the country's top artists. 'Elza Soares was a phoenix. From extreme poverty to stardom, and then oblivion, the death of her sons, broken marriages, this Black woman with unparalleled talent survived and lived in a world that did not open doors to her easily. Her biography carried an enormous amount of drama and resilience,' said Barata Ribeiro. 'If she were American, she would be compared to Ella Fitzgerald.' O2 Filmes execs pack out panels at Rio2C. CEO Paulo Barcellos talks on a round table, IA and Creating Content – From Concept to Production on May 29; Igor Kuptas, director of sales-distribution company O2 Play, will receive Audiovisual and Games Startup Pitches, also on May 29; O2 Filmes head of development Gustavo Gontijo is a speaker on the round table Defying Limits: the Art of Innovation Without Losing an Essence, unspooling May 30. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil Emerges as FAST Streaming Powerhouse, Set to Soon Become Its Second Biggest International Market in the World (EXCLUSIVE)
FAST services are on a tear — especially in Latin America, where Brazil is emerging as a global leader in adoption and monetization. Already the second-largest market for Netflix subscribers outside the U.S. Brazil is on track to become the No. 2 international FAST market by 2029, the country playing a growing role in how the next era of connected TV unfolds. More from Variety Rio2C's Industry Pitching Captures a Brazil Intent on Remembering the Forgotten, Its Slaves, Extraordinary Artists and an Emblematic Guerrilla Fighter O2 Filmes to Produce a Biopic of Samba Star Elza Soares: 'If She Were American, She Would be Compared to Ella Fitzgerald'(EXCLUSIVE) Rio2C, Latin America's Largest Creativity Event, Reaches Record Attendance as Rio de Janeiro Aims to Build as Brazil's Film and TV Capital That is one of the key takeaways from a presentation to be delivered by María Rua Aguete, Omdia's senior research director of global analyst Omdia, made Tuesday as one of the opening sessions at Rio2C, Latin America's largest entertainment creativity meet. According to Omdia, the media and entertainment sector will generate $1.07 trillion globally in 2025, with online video commanding the lion's share — accounting for 70% of that total and growing at 13% year-on-year. While traditional pay-TV is in steady decline, FAST services are scaling rapidly, both in terms of user engagement and advertising revenue. Brazil Rises to FAST's Global Top Tier 'Brazil is now the third-largest market for FAST services outside the U.S. — and will climb to No. 2 ahead of Canada in revenues by 2029,' Rua Aguete told Variety ahead of her presentation. 'It's not just about adoption; it's about monetization. That's why we're here.' According to Omdia, Brazil's online video revenues will reach $14.4 billion by 2029, $3 billion of that increase from advertising. Brazilians are increasingly opting for free services over adding subscriptions, and platforms like Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Tubi are now regulars in the country's top 10 most-watched services on Smart TVs, sitting alongside Netflix, Prime Video and Globoplay. Advertising Trends: Underspending in Streaming Rua Aguete's keynote will likely strike a chord with brand and agency attendees, spotlighting what she called 'a massive imbalance' in the global advertising mix. Despite consumers spending more time on streaming platforms than ever before — 86 minutes per day on average — advertisers continue to disproportionately invest in social media and linear TV. In Brazil, the disconnect is even more stark. 'FAST and online video are clearly under-penetrated in media plans. That is the massive opportunity,' she said. Globally, Connected TV (CTV) advertising is the fastest-growing category in media, with an expected 80% growth over the next five years. In Brazil, CTV revenues are rising while YouTube's share is projected to decline from 56% in 2024 to 41% by 2029 as premium ad-supported platforms gain ground. Smart TVs Are the New Shopfronts Much of this shift is being driven by the rapid rise of Smart TVs. Among Brazilians who watch FAST, 45% do so on Smart TVs, while 20% turn to their smartphones. Of the Smart TVs used to stream these services, Samsung leads the market with a 51%share, trailed by LG at 20%. Rua Aguete noted that 83% of FAST content in Brazil is watched on Smart TVs, particularly via built-in apps. With $6.6 trillion in global e-commerce forecast by 2029, she highlighted the rising potential for shoppable TV — an area brands like Samsung and LG are investing in. 'If we can get shoppable TV, buying through the TV as easily as currently through smartphones, the revenue upside is enormous,' she said. Streaming Landscape: FAST Enters the Top 10 The FAST ecosystem is no longer niche. In Omdia's global consumer surveys, FAST services now routinely appear in the top 10 most-used streaming apps on Smart TVs including in Brazil, Mexico, the U.S., and across Europe. Yet the commercial beneficiaries vary significantly by region. 'In the Americas, CTV platforms like Samsung, Roku, and LG are winning,' Rua Aguete explained. 'But in Europe, it's public service broadcasters and video streamers like Pluto TV.' Netflix's Brazil Strategy? Local Hits with Global Reach Brazil also remains Netflix's second-largest subscriber market globally, Omdia estimates. In 2024, Netflix used Brazil to launch a wave of local originals that gained significant global traction, top performers included 'Desperate Lies,' 'Burning Betrayal', 'Senna,' and 'Bionic,' according to PlumResearch. These shows weren't produced with international audiences in mind, Rua Aguete said, but rather as authentic stories rooted in Brazilian culture; a factor that has ironically made them stand out and potentially more exportable. ''Senna' is the exception,' she said. 'It was designed from the start as a global franchise. But most Brazilian hits on Netflix succeed because they are locally grounded, not globally targeted.' What's Next? The FAST growth isn't set to slow. Weekly usage in Brazil has quadrupled in four years, and 30% of the population now watches FAST content weekly. While it still only accounts for 6% of premium video ad revenue in Brazil, that number is expected to rise steadily. The data on show clearly places Brazil as a region to track intently. Or as Rua Aguete put it: 'If you want to understand where the future of global streaming is headed, watch Brazil.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
