The Business of Television

The Business of Television

by Ken Basin
Released July 2018
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781351254168

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Book description

In this book, esteemed television executive and Harvard lecturer Ken Basin offers a comprehensive overview of the business, financial, and legal structure of the U.S. television industry, as well as its dealmaking norms. Written for working or aspiring creative professionals who want to better understand the entertainment industry — as well as for executives, agents, managers and lawyers looking for a reference guide — The Business of Television presents a readable, in-depth introduction to rights and talent negotiations, intellectual property, backend deals, licensing, streaming platforms, international production, and much more.

The book also includes breakdowns after each chapter summarizing deal points and points of negotiation, a glossary, a list of referenced cases, and a wealth of real-world examples to help readers put the material into context.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Disclaimer
  6. How to Use This Book
  7. Preamble
  8. Introduction
  9. 1 A Beginner’s Guide to the Television Industry
    1. A. What Is Television?
    2. B. Who Are the Players (and How Do They Interact)?
      1. i. Service Providers (Talent)
      2. ii. Studios
      3. iii. Networks
      4. iv. Broadcast Stations
      5. v. MVPDs
      6. vi. Advertisers
      7. vii. Talent Representatives
    3. C. Online Video Distribution
      1. i. Types of Online Video Distribution
      2. ii. The Roles of Digital Content Companies
    4. D. The Power of Tax Incentives
  10. 2 The Life Cycle of a Television Series
    1. A. From Idea to Production
      1. i. Packaging and Studio Rights Acquisition
      2. ii. Pitching and Set-Up
      3. iii. Script Development
      4. iv. Pilot
      5. v. Upfronts
      6. vi. Staffing and Writing
    2. B. Production
    3. C. Distribution
      1. i. Media
      2. ii. Territory
      3. iii. Time
      4. iv. Ancillary/Merchandising
      5. v. Portfolio Management and Diversification
  11. 3 The Intellectual Property Context of Television (Or, When Do You Need to Acquire Underlying Rights?)
    1. A. Copyrights
    2. B. Trademarks
    3. C. Life Rights
      1. i. Defamation and Related Claims
      2. ii. Public Disclosure of Private Facts
      3. iii. Right of Publicity
    4. D. The First Amendment
      1. i. Copyright Claims
      2. ii. Trademark Claims
      3. iii. Life Rights Claims
    5. E. Practical Considerations
  12. 4 Underlying Rights Agreements
    1. A. Rights Agreements for Books and Articles
      1. i. Option Fees and Terms
      2. ii. Purchase Price
      3. iii. Royalties
      4. iv. Backend
      5. v. Bonuses
      6. vi. Granted Rights
      7. vii. Reserved and Frozen Rights
      8. viii. Consulting Services
      9. ix. Credit
      10. x. Subsequent Productions
      11. xi. Reversion
    2. B. Life Rights Agreements
    3. C. Format Rights Agreements
    4. D. Other Forms of Underlying Rights
    5. E. Quick Reference Guide
  13. 5 Talent Agreements
    1. A. Writing/Writer-Producer Agreements
      1. i. Writing and Spec Acquisition
      2. ii. Producing Fees
      3. iii. Years/Locks
      4. iv. Services and Exclusivity
      5. v. Preexisting Commitments
      6. vi. Consulting
      7. vii. Royalties
      8. viii. Bonuses
      9. ix. Backend
      10. x. Credit
      11. xi. Perks
      12. xii. Subsequent Productions
      13. xiii. Quick Reference Guide
    2. B. Staffing Writer Agreements
      1. i. Term/Options
      2. ii. Credit
      3. iii. Fees
      4. iv. Guarantees
      5. v. Episodic Scripts
      6. vi. Exclusivity
      7. vii. Showrunners
      8. viii. Quick Reference Guide
    3. C. Non-Writing Producer Agreements
      1. i. Development Fees
      2. ii. Producing Fees
      3. iii. Locks
      4. iv. Services and Exclusivity
      5. v. Royalties
      6. vi. Bonuses
      7. vii. Consulting
      8. viii. Backend
      9. ix. Credit
      10. x. Perks
      11. xi. Subsequent Productions
      12. xii. Quick Reference Guide
    4. D. Pilot Director Agreements
      1. i. Services
      2. ii. Directing Fees
      3. iii. Executive Producing
      4. iv. Royalties
      5. v. Bonuses
      6. vi. Backend
      7. vii. Credit
      8. viii. Perks
      9. ix. Subsequent Productions
      10. x. Quick Reference Guide
    5. E. Actor Agreements
      1. i. Test Options
      2. ii. Pilot Services
      3. iii. Pilot and Series Fees
      4. iv. Series Options
      5. v. Series Guarantees
      6. vi. Credit/Billing
      7. vii. Dressing Room
      8. viii. Photo/Likeness/Biography Approvals
      9. ix. Merchandising Rights
      10. x. Other Approvals/Consultations
      11. xi. Travel/Relocation
      12. xii. Exclusivity
      13. xiii. Publicity/Promotion
      14. xiv. Quick Reference Guide
    6. F. Agency Package Commissions
    7. G. Other Key Agreements
  14. 6 Backend
    1. A. Gross Receipts
    2. B. Distribution Fees
    3. C. Distribution Expenses
    4. D. Overhead
    5. E. Interest
    6. F. Cost of Production
    7. G. Third-Party Participations
    8. H. Treatment of Tax Incentives
    9. I. Quick Reference Guide
  15. 7 Exclusive Studio-Talent Relationships
    1. A. Overall Term Deals
      1. i. Term
      2. ii. Guarantee
      3. iii. Overhead
      4. iv. Assignability
      5. v. Inside Terms
    2. B. First Look Deals
  16. 8 Network and Streaming Licenses and Studio Co-Production Agreements
    1. A. Network and Streaming License Agreements
      1. i. Development Contributions
      2. ii. Pilot and Series Options
      3. iii. Series Term
      4. iv. Pilot and Series License Fees
      5. v. Minimum Orders
      6. vi. Licensed Rights (Grant of Rights)
      7. vii. License Territory and Term
      8. viii. Network Exclusivity
      9. ix. Revenue Backstops
      10. x. Subsequent Seasons and Derivative Productions
      11. xi. Network Approvals
      12. xii. Network Promotional Rights
      13. xiii. Product Integrations
      14. xiv. Contingent Compensation
    2. B. Co-Production Agreements
      1. i. Lead Studio
      2. ii. Distribution Rights
      3. iii. Allocation of Revenues
    3. C. International Co-Productions and Co-Commissions
  17. 9 Sample Economic Model
  18. 10 Unscripted Television
    1. A. Basics of Unscripted Television
    2. B. Professional Talent Agreements
      1. i. Fees
      2. ii. Exclusivity
      3. iii. Options
      4. iv. Product Integrations
    3. C. Participant Agreements for Documentary and Competition Series
      1. i. Fees
      2. ii. Releases
      3. iii. Exclusivity
      4. iv. Options
      5. v. Reverse Royalties
      6. vi. Confidentiality and Publicity
    4. D. Production Company Agreements
      1. i. Production Company Fees
      2. ii. Format and Other Rights Fees
      3. iii. Locks
      4. iv. Overages and Underages
      5. v. Chargebacks
      6. vi. Product Integrations
      7. vii. Backend
      8. viii. Reserved Rights
  19. Conclusion
  20. Glossary
  21. Bibliography/Case Listing
  22. Acknowledgments
  23. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Business of Television
  • Author(s): Ken Basin
  • Release date: July 2018
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781351254168