1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: which we speak with some of the brightest minds working 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: in the media business today. I'm Andrew Wallenstein with Variety. 4 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: When a streaming service has a brand spelled c hai 5 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: fl i cks, some might pronounce it as chai flex, 6 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: which might be movies for I don't know lovers of 7 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: flavored tea, but if you're Jewish, you're likely to pronounce 8 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: the brand Kai flex, Kai being the Hebrew word for life, 9 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: and today's guest breathed life into this streaming service for 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: is rally and Jewish themed movies, TV shows and docs 11 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: nearly three years ago. Now Hi Flix founder Neil Friedman 12 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: is ready to embark on the next big step, the 13 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: brand's first original series. We'll be back with him after 14 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: the break. 15 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 2: We are back with. 16 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: Neil Friedman, CEO and founder of the streaming service high Flix. So, Neil, 17 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: for starters, I'd be remiss in not asking you about 18 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: how the recent tragedy in Israel, how that colors this 19 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:32,479 Speaker 1: strategy for high Flicks going forward. Certainly it must cast 20 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: quite a shadow over your streaming service and its place 21 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: in the market right now. 22 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 2: It does in the short run, I think it's we 23 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: had to readjust ourselves immediately to the advertising and social 24 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 2: media that we're doing. We press pause right away. We 25 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: didn't want to be taking advantage of, you know, the 26 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 2: attention of what was going on. We wanted to be 27 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: low key and be out of the way. We're storytelling service. 28 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: I will say that even without promoting and spending advertising 29 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 2: or social media money, our subscribers sent a message to 30 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: us by viewing almost in eighty ninety percent of their 31 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: viewership was of the Israeli programming since the conflict started. 32 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: But I just want to add one other thing to 33 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 2: that is that you know, we still are a Jewish 34 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:41,839 Speaker 2: storytelling service for Jewish stories from all over from all 35 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: over the world, Israel included. And I think it's to 36 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: be honest, to be frank, okay, our mission is more 37 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: important now than ever because you know, Jewish culture, Jewish 38 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 2: history is more precious as a result of this. 39 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: Conflict, I understand. And also so when and where did 40 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: hi Flix get its start. 41 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 2: We started in the United States and Canada in August 42 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty with forty titles we had from our 43 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: film distribution company. In February of twenty and twenty one 44 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: we made a deal or arrangement with an Australian distribution 45 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: company that became our partner in Australia and New Zealand. 46 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: So we expanded from the US and Canada to Australia 47 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: New Zealand, and three months ago we expanded into the UK. 48 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 2: So we're in five of the English speaking territories around 49 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: the world. I guess. The only one that we're not 50 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: included in that category of South Africa, which you know 51 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 2: we probably will go back and do so. 52 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: And do you have plans beyond those five? 53 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: Yes, we do. We have plans to expand in Europe 54 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: and Latin America as well. 55 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: And at this point, can you say how many subscribers 56 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: you guys have. 57 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: We have had an amazing run over the last three years, Andrew, 58 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: we have surpassed our goals on subscriber levels at every 59 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 2: step of the way. We have been happily surprised about 60 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: the excitement and the depth of interest in this channel. 61 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: Part of the storyline of our growth and expanding into 62 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: the UK, for instance, lately, has come from the interest 63 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 2: from outside, not us seeking that territory, but getting emails 64 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: and letters even from the UK asking us to expand 65 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: into the UK. We are very happy with our subscriber 66 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: growth to date. We are a successful company and the 67 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: future is really bright. 68 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: Okay, so I take it. I'm not going to get 69 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: an exact number out of you, but let me ask 70 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: you this, is there a Jewish market that you have 71 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: sized up globally? Is there a target number you're going after. 72 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: I have been involved in the Jewish space for twenty 73 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 2: years now from the film distribution company that I was 74 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: involved in that I'm still involved with. This is not 75 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: a new exploration for me to extend into the Jewish space. 76 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 2: Over those twenty years, have developed expertise in the Jewish space. 77 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: We've handled films not only for North America but for worldwide. 78 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 2: And this is what I focused on in my career 79 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: since I since nineteen ninety eight when I started the 80 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 2: start the film distribution company, I've focused on just one area, 81 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: built up my expertise and therefore I'm walking into high Flix. 82 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 2: When we started high Flix with a whole group, long 83 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: list of relationships, trust, expertise. Know how that is I 84 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: think unique to us and what we had done over 85 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: that period is released two hundred and fifty Jewish themed films, 86 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 2: which is an incredible amount of films, and we built 87 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: up that expertise from distribution of those films and during 88 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: the course of that film distribution company's life prior to 89 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: kay Flicks, we started to get into a TV series 90 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: world because we were asked by an Israeli network to 91 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,239 Speaker 2: release three TVs Israeli TV series through the Jewish Film 92 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: Festival circuit in North America. And that was dipping our 93 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 2: toe in the in the series of the TV world 94 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: when we in the past, so we were from that 95 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: experience and that new area for us right then and 96 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 2: there we decided that we were going to develop into 97 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: a streaming service, and we had put together business plans 98 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: after that experience, and we were ready to go, and 99 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 2: then the pandemic happened, and then we decided that there's 100 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 2: no reason to delay to a date later and we 101 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: went the first week of the pandemic. We were all 102 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: set ready to go. 103 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: Makes sense. And so you're basically describing your background at 104 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: Minemsha Films, and obviously clearly this experience establishes can't think 105 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: of a better person to get into this marketplace given 106 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: your background. But I still want to understand how big 107 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: is this global market that we're talking about. 108 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: We're talking about the streaming world right so, and the 109 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 2: world has changed. So we're not talking about distribution into 110 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: North American cinemas, and we're not talking about out limited access. 111 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: We're talking about home availability of programming. So there's a 112 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: couple there's a lot to talk about here. First of all, 113 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 2: there's an incredible amount of programming that's available that was 114 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: that we found, that's available, that has been untapped. And 115 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: even though others had acquired other Jewish or Israeli series 116 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 2: that people know about, we found out that there was 117 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: ninety five percent of the terrific available programs were not 118 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 2: acquired and not available. So we when we started, we 119 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 2: started with forty minemsha titles that were Jewish theme. We 120 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 2: had that advantage. That's how we that's how we're able 121 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: to pivot right into the once the pandemic hit, the 122 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 2: start conflicts right away. But what we also did is 123 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:59,239 Speaker 2: once the pandemic started and we no long could distribute 124 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: our film district Bausch And Companies films in theaters because 125 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: theaters were closed and film festivals were closed, we spent 126 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 2: that time immediately into pursuing more of the TV world 127 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: and the other programming world of Israeli Jewish. I'm going 128 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: to make that. I'm going to go over that again. 129 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: We are Jewish streaming service, and I want everybody to 130 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: understand that much of the programming Israeli, but we are 131 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 2: worldwide Jewish streaming service. So the first acquisition we made 132 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 2: for Jewish streaming service is a show called The New 133 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 2: Black or in Hebrew Shabbat ni Kim, which we now 134 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: have two years, two series, two seasons on the channel, 135 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 2: and it's one of the most successful series that we have. Yeah, 136 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 2: and mine as well. And this is a series I 137 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 2: will say that could be on any streaming service. And 138 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 2: I think when I was referring to our expertise that 139 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 2: we grew over those twenty years of being a film 140 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 2: distribution company, part of the reason that we ended up 141 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: with a quality program like The New Black was based 142 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: on that experience, and we've taken that experience and continued 143 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 2: to grow that experience. We quickly after acquiring The New Black, 144 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: which was our first television series, which really got us 145 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: going right away because everybody loved it, we made a 146 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: three series deal with one of the premiere Israeli television 147 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 2: networks called Yes Studios. So in the first eight to 148 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 2: ten months of the company we already had. We were 149 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 2: off to the races as far as TV was concerned, 150 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 2: and we've only expanded into other areas of programming. We 151 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 2: now have thirty five TV series on the channel, not 152 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 2: all Israeli. We have a wonderful Swiss series, we have 153 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: a wonderful polar series, and you will see series from 154 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 2: all over the world. But I want to emphasize something. 155 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 2: There's something in the water in Israel. How So, the 156 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: quality of the of the creative pool there is absolutely 157 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 2: unique and specific to that country. Whatever way you want 158 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 2: to analyze it, pound for pound, it is no question 159 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 2: the best talented TV pool in the world. Well it's clear. 160 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: I mean you look at the track record that that 161 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: country has had in terms of exporting those shows, whether 162 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: it's the shows themselves or the formats. I think people 163 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 1: don't even in this country realize how some of not 164 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: necessarily the biggest shows, but some very successful shows in 165 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: this in the US are based on Israeli formats. 166 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 2: Israel revolutionized the television business because they exported formats. Yeah so, 167 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: and many of this reel companies have Los Angeles offices 168 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 2: now because they're really Hollywood players. So that just speaks 169 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: to the ingenuity from the business side of what they 170 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 2: were doing, but it also speaks to the exceptional quality 171 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: of the programming that was created. 172 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: Now, what I would also think bodes well for your service. 173 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: I mean you. 174 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 1: Cited earlier, obviously the pandemic was probably a real accelerant 175 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: for high Flix. You know, maybe the stuff the movies 176 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: that people would have gone to theaters for now they 177 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: were going to be willing to watch at home while 178 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: they were sheltered at home. But what I would also 179 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: argue was the success of shows like Fouda and Shtistle 180 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: on Netflix probably really opened up the appetites for Israeli 181 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: type shows for your service, would you say that was 182 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: also a big factor. 183 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 2: No question about it. What I want to emphasize there 184 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 2: is those shows are not just There's the viewership is 185 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 2: not just Jewish, right, because of the quality of those shows, 186 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 2: we see the world the same way. And the other 187 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 2: thing that I want to emphasize here is those two 188 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 2: shows that you just mentioned are just the tip of 189 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 2: the iceberg. How So, there are fifty shows of that 190 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 2: quality that have been made in the Israeli television business. 191 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 2: We've been lucky enough to get a certain amount of 192 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 2: those fifty and they've been very successful on our service, 193 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 2: and we can continue to acquire and put those undiscovered gems, 194 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: those hidden gems our on our channel. This is what 195 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 2: we do. We're micro focused on the Jewish storytelling, and 196 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: that gives us an advantage and a focus that other 197 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: streamers don't have. 198 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: Sure, although you know, here's the thing though, when I 199 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: there's obviously a vast world of so called niche streamers 200 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: or specialty streamers out there. 201 00:13:58,640 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 2: But don't you think. 202 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: All so that when people think of the Netflixes of 203 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: the world, the Amazons, the you know, the the big 204 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: Kahunas out there, that because there's such a vast amount 205 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: of programming on those services, that they've come to expect 206 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: that the kind of libraries that a that a high 207 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: Flix has could be on those premium services instead of 208 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: on a niche player like yourself. 209 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 2: I don't think so, why, because I think that we're 210 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 2: The whole idea behind high Flix is one stop shopping 211 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 2: for a certain kind of subscriber, Okay, that core Jewish 212 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: subscriber who who has a voracious and a very loyal 213 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 2: attendance to viewing Jewish storytelling and what we've found with 214 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: the series of successes that we've had, especially on the 215 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: television side for us with Shabatanakeam, then with a series 216 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: called Unchained, which w has become a big hit, and 217 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 2: very recently with a series called The Lesson that once 218 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 2: these folks binge these series, they go out and look 219 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 2: at the other eighteen hundred hours of programming that's available 220 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 2: on high Flix and that's unique to high Flix. Now, 221 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 2: eighteen hundred is just the begin is where we are. Now, 222 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 2: We're going to grow and continue and build the quality 223 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: programming on our channel and continue and continue and continue. 224 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 2: This is a life pursuit. This is not a this 225 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 2: is not a pandemic pursuit on our part. We're building 226 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 2: this channel for preservation of Jewish culture and the storytelling 227 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 2: that we'll that will that registers in the audience, Jewish 228 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 2: or otherwise, will register in the word of mouth that 229 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 2: comes from people's viewing of this quality programming makes people 230 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: want to watch more and come to high Flix more 231 00:15:55,480 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: and tell others about the channel. We have tremendous word 232 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: of mouth, tremendous, whether it's rabbis at synagogues, whether it's 233 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 2: Jewish federations, whether it's the press. And we're building a 234 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 2: unique streaming service that, although it is Jewish storytelling, it 235 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: will have it has a quality base and a spirit 236 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 2: that can go beyond just the Jewish audience because it's 237 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 2: the bad stories that everybody can relate to, not just 238 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 2: Jewish folks. 239 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: We will be back to help Meil spread the word 240 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: of mouth right after these messages, and we are back 241 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: with Neil Freedman, CEO and founder of the streaming service 242 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: hi Flix. So in terms of how people discover hi Flix, 243 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: you know, I caught an interesting statistic. There was a 244 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: firm called Antenna Research that studies specialty and niche streaming services. 245 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: Last month, they just said that two out of every 246 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: three specialty streaming services are discovered through so called aggregators 247 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 1: like Amazon Channels, compared to just nine percent of the 248 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: so called premium you know, the big time streaming services. 249 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: Is there any arrangement like that for your service or 250 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 1: you aggregated elsewhere or how do we find you answer? 251 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: You asked a great question, and I'm really happy that 252 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 2: you asked that question. We've had that decision to make 253 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 2: from the very beginning whether to go and become a 254 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 2: channel on Amazon or Roku, et cetera, et cetera. But 255 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 2: there's something unique to our channel that's different than any 256 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 2: other niche distributors. We have a world unto itself. People 257 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 2: that are on our streaming service US have uncles in 258 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 2: another part of the world, another part of North America. 259 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 2: They have friends, friends, they have university roommates. We believe 260 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 2: that we do not need to be on a bigger 261 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 2: channel in order to grow, and that's not that's been 262 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 2: the case. We don't want to give over our channel 263 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,959 Speaker 2: to another platform. We want us We want to continue 264 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 2: to go in the way that we have been successful 265 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 2: from day one, which was starting with one subscriber all 266 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 2: the way up to where we are today, where we're 267 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 2: continuing every single day to add subscribers. That's the way 268 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 2: it's worked. It's worked on word of mouth, and then 269 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 2: maybe it's unique to the Jewish space, okay, as opposed 270 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 2: to other spaces, but we're going We're banking on that 271 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 2: and what we and part of that is the experience 272 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 2: have had at the film Distribution Company in the sense 273 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 2: that our repation as that name Menemsha became a brand 274 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 2: name in the in the Jewish world in North America 275 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 2: as big as Mirror Mex. Okay, you, when you narrow 276 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 2: the world to the Jewish world, Menemsha is a big, 277 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 2: big brand, and the ki Flix and when it's narrow 278 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 2: to the Jewish world in the world, is a big, 279 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,400 Speaker 2: big brand, and we want that for ourselves. 280 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: Makes sense. And also you don't have to split revenue 281 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: with the aggregator, which certainly helps your business. Of course, 282 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: another thing that could help ky Flix is a nice 283 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: breakout original hit of your own. So it sounds like 284 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: you guys are now ready to talk about a first 285 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 1: original program. Tell us what's what's coming for ki Flix 286 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: on that front? 287 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 2: Okay? So we have, as I said to you, we 288 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 2: now have eighteen hundred hours of programming. It's all fired programming, 289 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 2: and it's not programming, it's third party acquisition programming. But 290 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 2: we have I'm announcing now with you that we have 291 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: our first original it's called Schmoozing and Cruising and it's 292 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 2: a kosher food series. Okay, six episodes with a food 293 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: subject matter as the essence of each thirty minute episode. 294 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 2: One episode is about barbecue, one is about doughnuts, one 295 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 2: is about coffee, one is about Chinese And in each 296 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 2: episode you will see three restaurants in different cities in 297 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 2: the country who highlight who present that kind of food 298 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 2: as a highlight of their menu. And we're in essence, 299 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:57,640 Speaker 2: this series is bringing the kosher food world again, something 300 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 2: that not everybody knows about, not even the Jewish world. 301 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 2: It's sort of underground to some extent, out into out 302 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 2: above ground. And this is this is what our mo 303 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 2: O is with the channel. Overall, we're bringing great programming, 304 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 2: whether it's from Israel, or whether it's from from uh Poland, 305 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 2: or whether it's from Swiss Jewish programming out into the 306 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 2: world for the Jewish and audience and and the larger audience. 307 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 2: We believe, okay, we believe that we're onto something that 308 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 2: is only going to get bigger, and that in the 309 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 2: same way that you talked about the format rights of 310 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 2: of the of the Israeli programming being remade in the 311 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 2: in the home countries, we believe that these stories that 312 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 2: are that that are that the Jewish storytelling that that 313 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 2: that we have on our channel are available to others 314 00:21:56,160 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 2: in the in the sense that they they're about human experience, okay, 315 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 2: and that's why they're transferable beyond the Jewish audience. 316 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: So when are we going to start? When do we 317 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 1: see a first episode hit the service. 318 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 2: Of the of the original Yeah, just before Thanksgiving? 319 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: Makes sense? 320 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 2: And is this going to be by the way, it's 321 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 2: time to Thanksgiving because that's a food holiday. 322 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: As makes sense. And by the way, food is a 323 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 1: savvy programming choice. 324 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 2: Nothing is more. 325 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: Universal in its jewishness than food, like I get it. 326 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 2: And what about kosher food that's even more Jewish? 327 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: Absolutely? Will this take place in international cities or is 328 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: it just you as. 329 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 2: It's North America? 330 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: Okay? 331 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 2: And you know it will play in all five of 332 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: the territories that Kiflix is on. And this is just 333 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 2: our first foray, we're dipping our toe in this water, 334 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:52,679 Speaker 2: and we are going to rely on licensing third party 335 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 2: series or from around the world, and we'll go step 336 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,959 Speaker 2: by step, including this original program in building the channel. 337 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 1: Now, what's the cruising element in this. 338 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 2: The idea is that you're going from city to city, okay, 339 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 2: because every episode will take place in three cities, in 340 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 2: three different restaurants, one restaurant in each city. 341 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 1: Okay, sound can can you preview what restaurants are going 342 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: to make the cut in this first season. 343 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 2: There's one in you know, I don't know the name 344 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 2: of the restaurants on the top of my head, but 345 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 2: you know it's if there's one in the valley here, 346 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 2: there's one in Cleveland, there's They're all every every part 347 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 2: of the US. 348 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: I'm salivating already. Yeah, no, it sounds absolutely. 349 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 2: This is just part of what we do. I mean, 350 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 2: the whole idea is that this is a repertoire. This 351 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,479 Speaker 2: is not this is one stop shopping. I want to 352 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: keep emphasizing this right, one stop shopping, preserving Jewish culture. 353 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 2: So where our ideas to go to a to z okay? 354 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,399 Speaker 2: In terms of kinds of programming, a subject matter of 355 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 2: programming and sensibility of programming. 356 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: Now do you see this says the first in a 357 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: I'll have to use a food metaphor menu of original 358 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: could be? 359 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 2: Could be? Obviously you said it yourself. Food is makes 360 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 2: sense that this would be the first original from a 361 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 2: Jewish streaming service. Why not? Okay, it's too early to tell. 362 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 2: I think this is this. You know, this could be 363 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 2: something special. We just don't know yet. 364 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: Sure, sure, I also have to ask the most Jewish 365 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: of questions, what does it cost per month or per 366 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,360 Speaker 1: year to access high Flex? And is that something that 367 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: could change over time? 368 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 2: It's it's right now. It's seventy two dollars for an 369 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 2: annual subscription and nine to ninety nine month. 370 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 1: And is that the same price in different regions or. 371 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 2: That's the same price in all five territories? 372 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: Okay? 373 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 2: And we want to make it affordable. Okay. We're not 374 00:24:55,560 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 2: looking for an elite audience. We want it. We we 375 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 2: we have a cultural function here. Remember I keep it. 376 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 2: I want to hit this bell often as often as 377 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: I can, preserving Jewish culture. We wanted it affordable. And 378 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 2: what we're finding and what we know now is that 379 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:20,439 Speaker 2: people really love this channel and people watch and are 380 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 2: voracious about it. And I'll tell you we sent out 381 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 2: a survey. I think it was about price, matter of fact, 382 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 2: and we wanted to talk to our subscribers this and 383 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 2: I would tell you, maybe not half, but a tremendously 384 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 2: large percentage of our audience said when we asked them 385 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: what about the price point, they said, we don't care 386 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 2: what it costs, we just want the channel. So that 387 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,879 Speaker 2: was a complete surprise to us, and that made us 388 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 2: think that we were onto something okay, And you know, 389 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 2: how could you How can I not feel that way 390 00:25:54,720 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 2: because there is nothing out there like this. And you know, 391 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 2: being Jewish, by the way, is not just being Jewish. 392 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 2: It's not just being a secular Jew. There's other aspects 393 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 2: that we think about in terms of being Jewish, whether 394 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 2: that's takun olam, you know, changing the world, whether it's 395 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 2: uh all these all these good traits of a human 396 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 2: being that come from our our history that and you 397 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 2: don't need to be Jewish to be that way. So 398 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 2: maybe we'll have a whole section on social justice unrelated 399 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 2: to being Jewish. Me personally, when I see the refugee 400 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,239 Speaker 2: crisis going on in the world right now, how can 401 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 2: I not think about World War two and and the 402 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 2: and the Jews situation in Germany. So is that is 403 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 2: that a Jewish subject matter that should be on the service? 404 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 2: It's a social justice issue. I'm I'm open to expanding 405 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 2: that way as well. Well. 406 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: That's interesting and it's commendable. But when you start getting 407 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: down that road, I also think you could potentially slide 408 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 1: down a slippery slope that could get divisive because obviously 409 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 1: there's also nothing more Jewish than disagreeing on stances about 410 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: social justice. And different kinds of Jews have different kinds 411 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:25,400 Speaker 1: of views. And then perhaps the audience starts to splinter 412 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: because politics get in the way. Do you think about 413 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: those kinds? 414 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:32,640 Speaker 2: We're not political, okay, we're not political, okay, But I'll 415 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 2: tell you there's two things that every Jew and this 416 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 2: is what I've learned from my handling this subject area 417 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 2: for twenty years. There's two things that every Jew cares about. 418 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 2: The Holocaust in Israel, and I'm not when we you know, 419 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 2: that's not the only program we have. Obviously, Coach of 420 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 2: Food doesn't fit into any of those two categories, right, 421 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 2: But we're not taking a position on any of those 422 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 2: two issues. 423 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: Right. 424 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 2: This is what Jews are, every Jew thinks about, and 425 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 2: these are and this the discussion is exactly what the 426 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 2: channel is for, to share programming, for people to discuss it. 427 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 2: May have different points of view on it. 428 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 1: Right. 429 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,399 Speaker 2: And by the way, if you know there's going to 430 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 2: be so much programming on the end, there already is. 431 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 2: If you don't like one show for whatever reason, there's 432 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 2: eighteen hundred other hours to watch. 433 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: Sure, but even when you say something like Israel that 434 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: can be divisive, and you could put something in that 435 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: one program about Israel that could offend someone to the 436 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 1: point where they don't want to watch the other eighteen. 437 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 2: I don't think sellers. I disagree with you about that. 438 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 2: And it's our job as a as a as a 439 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 2: streamer preserving Jewish culture to present the panoply of points 440 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 2: of view, and not everybody is going to agree with 441 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 2: every point of view. And when I say point of view, 442 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 2: I'm talking about a narrator of fiction show primarily, but 443 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 2: if it's a documentary and somebody has a point of view, 444 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 2: there's another documentary we will have a different point of view. 445 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 2: And that discussion, you know, you say two Jews, three synagogues, 446 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 2: this is part of who we are and that dialogue 447 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 2: is something that we want to encourage and we want 448 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 2: It's like a library. If you and I, you and 449 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 2: I went to the UCLA library and went into the 450 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 2: Jewish section, You're going to pull out three books, and 451 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 2: I'm going to pull out three other books, and then 452 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: we're going to sit and discuss. That's what that's the 453 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 2: basis of who we are. 454 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: That's certainly commendable and also you know there's different shows 455 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: on your service. There are also other streaming services and 456 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: channels out there servicing Jewish programming. Do you think much 457 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 1: about the competition out there. 458 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 2: No, we're aware of it, but we are different than 459 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 2: everybody else. Okay, nobody's released two hundred and fifty Jewish 460 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 2: theme films over fifteen years that I have. Nobody has 461 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 2: their relationships with film sellers, producers, sales companies, television companies 462 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 2: just in the Jewish space that we do. We've built 463 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 2: this up over years and years, first from our film 464 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 2: side and now since Hi Flicks started in two thousand 465 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 2: and twenty, and people come to us because they want 466 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 2: to be on our channel, because they want access to 467 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 2: our audiences. We're getting solicited more and more from sellers, 468 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 2: from producers, from sales agents for their programming to come 469 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 2: to Kiflis. Why because the past experience of other shows 470 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 2: and other producers has been that people are completely ecstatic 471 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 2: and happy and content with the experience of appreciation of 472 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 2: their shows. With our audience. We have an audience and 473 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 2: nobody else has and this is the audience for that, 474 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: and that's why people are now coming to us to 475 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 2: bring their programming to us, and we have a certain 476 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 2: way of dealing with these with programming which comes out 477 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 2: of the film side, I think, and my sensitivity, every 478 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 2: single show is a child, and we deal with it 479 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 2: in a special and sensitive way. That's the only way 480 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 2: to be a film distributor. We're not a big company, 481 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 2: we're not one of the we're not cut from the 482 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 2: studio world. Uh. And and the big streaming world where 483 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 2: it's just product product product. We're sensitive and I think 484 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 2: that relates a little bit to my personality, to the 485 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 2: truth to being to handling every every film, every program 486 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 2: as if it's your the only child you have. 487 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: Well, uh, that is certainly an admirable approach, and I 488 00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: appreciate you schmoozing with me about the channel and look 489 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: forward to seeing how you'll be cruising into twenty twenty 490 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 1: four with ki Flix. Thank you, Neil for walking me 491 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: through your fascinating venture. 492 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 2: Thank you great to be here. 493 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review 494 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:24,240 Speaker 1: at Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. We love to hear 495 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: from listeners. Please go to Variety dot com to sign 496 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 1: up for the free weekly strictly Business newsletter, and don't 497 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 1: forget to tune in next week for another episode of 498 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: Strictly Business.