6 dios in the U.S. and around the world. A reintroduction of a Fin-Syn type rule might well be good if aimed at streamers. Especially Amazon Prime and Netflix have not only been acquiring intellectual property rights but also building physical studios (Amazon even acquired a studio, MGM). There’s likely not much use in considering the ever-weakening U.S. broadcast TV networks, whose production units are behind several shows. That said, the recent revelation of the new U.S. TV season hardly augurs well for sufficient scripted shows to be of concern. Add that to a seemingly blinkered view amongst decision makers to stick to “reinventing” familiar titles from the past, and one gets the huge possibility of Fin-Syn 2.0 for the networks being a no-go and a definite need for some oversight and course change recommended for streamers. (By Mike Reynolds) try would have been a good idea before shocking an already affected industry. Forcing creative decisions to accommodate a U.S. TV market, which has become less attractive over recent years for international productions, simply won’t work.” Remarked former Universal Studios executive Blair Westlake, “My bet: This [tariff] dies in the coming weeks from a lack of consensus.” Concluded entertainment consultant Anthony D. Friscia: “The Trump administration’s tariff proposal on films is never going to happen. An IP is not a physical good. The U.S. film industry is one of the very few industries that runs a financial surplus to the U.S. Why blow that? When President Trump and his tariff people meet with industry heads, this whole tariff thing will be dropped.” U.S. actor Jon Voight recently proposed the reintroduction of the Fin-Syn rules for TV content (which were killed off in 1993). Fin-Syn, officially the Financial Interest and Syndication rules, went into effect at the same time as The Prime Time Access Rule in 1970. Between them they would and did limit U.S. TV networks to supplying three hours of their own produced programming between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Voight (pictured) and Hollywood producer Steve Paul were among those who had helped provide information leading up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s movie tariff announcement. However, while the Hollywood tariff controversy caught the majority of attention, Voight’s suggestion of reintroducing the Fin-Syn rule released calmer mixed comments within the industry. Today, the industry is in a situation similar to 1970, though this time it isn’t the networks but streamers who are buying producer content for themselves, along with buying up and/or creating/building stuFin-Syn 2.0 Could Be on the U.S. TV Horizon (Continued From Page 4) Hollywood Tariffs (Continued from Page 4) VIDEOAGE June 2025 World
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI4OTA5