LA Screenings 2026, the event where Hollywood studios introduced their new series and films to worldwide buyers, has finished last week after 6 days of ‘major’ screenings and cocktails, including some days with even 3-4 events per journey. A wrap up? The overall sensation has been better than expected, considering the previous rumors of product lack and uncertain future. One year more, the onsite experience was nothing to do with that.

Though this time there were shorter screenings, the ‘major’ studios continued very steady in product and glamour developments, including stars as Glenn Close, Freddie Highmore (Sony) Patrick Dempsey (WBD) or The Scorpions (FOX), and parties at iconic locations (Disney, Amazon MGM) or the Pacific Park at the Santa Monica pier (Lionsgate). Interacting with global buyers, most of them liked the event, said it was quite the same or a bit better from last year and plan to continue coming next year. The bigger buyers don’t doubt about future attendances.

Main trends? At the London Screenings in UK, we’ve seen that the European titans (ITV, Fremantle, Banijay, All3Media) today are based in three pillars to push the market: premium dramas, fresh creativity based on Digital First, and all kinds of collaborations as much as possible: co-productions, co-developments, simultaneous releases, etc. In Hollywood, the US studios have shown premium dramas and often, co-productions with the world (mainly UK, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, the Nordics). The pending tips have been Digital First, just one Lionsgate title was created in YouTube, and micro-dramas, which are a huge fever internationally (just Sony presented a catalogue).

About product, the Hollywood premium dramas have been now mainly supported by mainstream hooks, as spin-offs, sequels, prequels, of big hits, and AAA actors and names: Einstein (Paramount), Ted (NBCUniversal), Big Bang Theory (WBD), Glenn Close (Sony), etc. Most of the studios have continued developing the usual themed jobs --series about policemen, doctors, lawyers, etc.-- but with twists to make them different --love comedies with vampires (Paramount), etc. The psychological thrillers, crime in general, kept themselves as the favorite genres, but we’ve seen more comedies, horror, to attract younger audiences. And every major studio, no exceptions, has been stressing back the theatrical releases as the main way to massive impact, considering hit series are not so easy to see nowadays.

Three, the hooks to push up a content are more and more on the screen: famous actors especially. No main promotional value to directors, writers, etc, except if they are celebrities. Four, in genres, the platforms point out more to gain young audiences, with comedies, horror contents, apart from thrillers. Five, the European fictions are now more sporadic in Free TV screens, that are now gained by entertainment formats and live programming.

And six, as a main tip about developments, the main production players are requesting paper formats. There is no money for main hits, so it is better to develop from zero and then to sell abroad. This is the model of John de Mol and Talpa, where even without success, the projects are profitable (House of the Seek, etc.). ITV from England, TF1 from France, RAI from Italy, are all in the same direction.

At the two sides of the ocean, content industry needs to evolve and find new ways of making market better. We’ll see LA Screenings editions for many years more, but it is important to attend the new trends as Digital First, micro-dramas, etc. To move from the TV sets to cellular phones and all kinds of screens, a market many times wider. Let’s see the next markets…

During the whole screenings, Prensario was interacting with about 100 buyers worldwide. What new trends are seen by them in Europe, for instance? Many can generate surprise… one, justly, the program developers are back to the job stories as in the 70’s (doctors, lawyers, policemen, etc) but now the jobs are expanded (plumbers, mechanics, etc) and these make easier Branded Content and Product Placement options, with the suppliers of products, solutions involved. Second, there is no more hard discussions about windows, now platforms and broadcasters agree easier each other the order or simultaneous releases. The top thing is to have the product, not the first window.

Nicolás Smirnoff y Francisco Ferreyra

If you want to receive our Daily Reports, please send an email to newsletter@prensario.info with your email and contact details