London TV Screenings Insights: Agapy Kapouranis, president of int’l TV & digital distribution, Lionsgate

Borderline

As buyers flock to the UK for London TV Screenings and BBC Studios Showcase this week, TBI talks to the bosses of more than 25 distribution companies to test the temperature of the global content industry and to find out how the next 12 months are shaping up.

In this latest installment we hear from Lionsgate’s Agapy Kapouranis, who discusses new co-production opportunities, the crowded marketplace and the growth of ad-supported streamers.

What three words would you use to describe the state of the TV/streaming industry as a whole right now?

Transition, disruption and opportunity. While the transition of traditional media from linear to digital has disrupted our industry, the Lionsgate Television Group has successfully navigated this change by continuing to diversify our business. For example, we found a new opportunity in international co-productions, forming partnerships with Irish national broadcaster TG4 on the drama Northern Lights and Stan in Australia on series such as Prosper and Population 11.

What three words would you use to describe the state of the distribution sector right now?

I would use the same three words. The distribution landscape is also evolving as new platforms continue to emerge.

With fewer shows being commissioned, how are you securing your pipeline?

With our recent eOne acquisition, we’ve added thousands of titles to our robust film and television library. We are now offering network procedurals, such as the hit eOne series The Rookie. We’ve also added several titles to our existing slate of premium series and acquisitions, such as the Emmy-nominated Yellowjackets and the Australian drama-thriller Fake.

Agapy Kapouranis

What is the single biggest difference in the discussions you’re having with buyers today compared with 12 months ago?

We’re now in a very crowded marketplace. With more sellers than ever before shopping their series, it has become increasingly important to differentiate our content and ensure that it stands out among the competition. To cut through the clutter, we offer a broad range of noisy premium series, such as the highly anticipated Spartacus: House of Ashur series, a reboot of one of STARZ’s biggest original hits.

How do you expect global streamer demands for rights to change in 2024 compared with 2023? 

As streamers continue to push their ad-supported plans and consumers’ uptake of these options grows, I expect to see an increased demand for rights to ad-supported SVOD content.

Where does opportunity lie for you in 2024?

The acquisition of eOne has enabled us to enhance our extensive television portfolio, bringing an even stronger content lineup to the marketplace. In addition to adding network procedurals to our library, we also now offer an even broader array of non-scripted content following the launch of Lionsgate Alternative Television. The division spans Pilgrim Media Group, Renegade 83, Blackfin, Daisybeck Studios and eOne’s U.S. and U.K. unscripted groups, the labels responsible for hit series like Naked and Afraid, Street Outlaws and Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, to name a few.

Tell us in no more than two sentences about the biggest problem facing the distribution industry and what needs to change so it can be overcome.

As mentioned above, we’ve seen a great proliferation of content as we’ve entered a buyer’s market. In order to differentiate ourselves in this challenging landscape, we have created a diversified business with the ability to support all existing distribution channels including streaming, linear, free and transactional, among many others.

Tell us about your top show at London Screenings & why we should buy it

We are excited to offer the crime drama Borderline, starring La Brea’s Eoin Macken and Line of Duty’s Amy De Bhrún. Viewers will be drawn into the series’ unique storylines, as each investigation is solved over the course of two episodes.