TBI’s 2023 Predictions: Tim Mutimer, CEO, Cineflix Rights

Last King Of The Cross

As the new year gets underway, TBI talks to some of the biggest names in the global TV industry to get their thoughts on the major trends and best shows coming up in the next 12 months.

Here, Tim Mutimer, CEO at Cineflix Rights, explains why FAST is top of the agenda for 2023, the importance of pre-sales and his prediction for Twitter in 2023.

Tim Mutimer

What is the biggest growth area for your company this year?

There are many. We’ll be launching our own FAST channels in 2023, which is a great way for us to build revenue from an additional window and better understand how audiences value our content. Having launched Reginald The Vampire and Last King Of The Cross in 2022, we’ll also continue to expand our activity in the scripted space with new premium scripted show The Doll Factory launching at the LA Screenings, Good Morning Chuck and another premium scripted series from Buccaneer all launching, as well as further series of our current drama slate.

We’re also expanding our presence in formats with the launch of an innovative and noisy new show produced by Voltage for Channel 4 and Roku called Tempting Fortune. We’re sure it will be a hit both as a format and a finished programme. We’ll also be making the most of being the biggest truly independent distributor in the market – we’ve been in distribution for 20 years and producers and buyers value our independence and experience more than ever.

What is the key trend going to be this year?

As the studios fine tune their business models and focus on making their DTC platforms profitable, there will be opportunities for distributors who can offer strong content to complement their originals slates. Pre-sales and co-productions will also become even more essential in greenlighting project, and distributors’ know-how and investment will be more important than ever in getting projects greenlit. FAST will become economically viable in more territories and the quality of the offering will continue to improve – content is always king. And could there be another mega merger?

What is your New Year’s resolution and why?

Be bold!

What will be the biggest headline in 2023 and why?

“Twitter collapses”

What show are you most looking forward to?

White Lotus S3.

Read more from TBI’s 2023 Predictions

• Tom Fussell, CEO, BBC Studios
• Marco Nobili, EVP & Int’l GM, Paramount+
• Mikiko Nishiyama, EVP, Nippon TV
• Julian Bellamy, MD, ITV Studios
• Nomsa Philiso, executive head of programming, Multichoice
• Marina Williams, co-CEO, Asacha Media Group
• James Burstall, CEO, Argonon
• Lucy Smith, entertainment division director, RX France
• Mark Fennessy, founder, CCO & chair, Helium
• Andrea Scrosati, Group COO & CEO Continental Europe, Fremantle
• Maaz Sheikh, CEO & co-founder, StarzPlay
• Kate Beal, founder & CEO, Woodcut Media
• Daria Leygonie-Fialko, CEO, Space Production, & co-founder, OUP
• Tim Mutimer, CEO, Cineflix Rights
• Rob Wade, CEO, Fox Entertainment