Dissertation Defense: Daphne Idiz

Streaming Giants and European Screen Production. Cultural Diversity, Creativity, and Dependence | 29 January 2025, Aula, 14.00 hrs | Promotores: Julia Noordegraaf; Thomas Poell

In light of the growing role of streaming giants like Netflix as global content commissioners, the central question of this thesis is: how do global streaming TV services reshape cultural production in the European screen industries? Employing a holistic conceptual model, this research investigates the complex interactions between cultural policy and regulatory frameworks; content, catalogues, and reception; production practices; and evolving producer-distributor relationships across European markets. Crucially, it moves beyond algorithmic and data-focused analyses by shifting the focus to cultural producers, who operate within and intricately negotiate this field of tension.

To answer this question, the thesis builds on theory from media industry studies, production studies, information law, and platform studies. The methodological approach combines multiple research methods, including 17 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from five European countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and Spain), textual analysis, quantitative research, and document analysis. Interviews were conducted with media authorities, a Netflix representative, public broadcasters, producer and film associations, showrunners, producers, directors, and screenwriters, offering valuable insights into the changing media landscape.

This thesis contributes a conceptual framework for researching cultural production, a methodological approach for assessing content locality, and critical examination of how streaming services impact local production cultures. Key findings include the challenges surrounding existing regulatory frameworks, the complexities of local content production for global streamers, and the power asymmetries between producers and streamers. This research highlights significant concerns around intellectual property rights, fair remuneration, and data transparency that directly impact cultural production and the dependence of cultural producers.