Countdown to "Avatar: Fire and Ash" in Asia, FAST: IP graveyard or opportunity? & more [19 Dec 2025]

This week on Two The Point, Janine Stein and Patrick Frater break down the biggest stories shaping Asia’s entertainment business — from cinema to streaming to corporate strategy. We start with "Avatar 3: Fire and Ash", as the franchise rolls out across Asia and emerges as a key bellwether for the health of theatrical cinema. With early box-office signals from South Korea and China, we ask what success — or underperformance — would really mean for the region’s film industry. From there, we look at Asian films on the Oscars shortlist, and what global awards visibility now looks like for Asian cinema. We also unpack YouTube’s move to air the Oscars, why the timing matters, and what it signals about shifting power in global distribution. Finally, Janine weighs in on FAST TV in Asia. Is FAST still the graveyard for old rights — or has it become a genuine opportunity for under-monetised Asian content libraries? Plus: • ABS-CBN’s latest distribution reset in the Philippines • The TikTok US deal and its political implications • Hong Kong’s ban of local film "Deadline" And that's it for this week. If it’s happening in content, streaming, cinema or corporate chaos — we’re talking about it. We'll be back next Friday!