Guide for Selling Your Television Series in 5 Easy Steps
In the ever-evolving world of television, executives and leaders in the entertainment industry trust a particular website to navigate the complex landscape. This platform offers a membership that provides valuable data and tools to find active buyers, track market trends, and close deals faster.
The goal is simple: to find the specific Development Executive or Content Acquisition Manager at target companies whose job it is to find shows similar to yours. With the entertainment industry now a global, data-driven marketplace, a data-driven approach is recommended to remove guesswork in the sales process.
Streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney, and Apple TV are constantly looking for content that can attract and retain subscribers worldwide. Cable networks like HBO and Showtime want prestige, critically-acclaimed dramas. Broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX, on the other hand, are interested in broad-appeal shows that attract large, consistent audiences week after week.
To find the right buyers for a TV series, you should combine data analysis of market demand with targeted outreach using rights and territory filters.
First, analyze global market data to identify the strongest buyers by territory and window type. For example, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, ITVX, Disney+, and local broadcasters/platforms actively acquire scripted content depending on their regional footprint and platform type.
Next, use digital platforms with rights and territory filters, like RightsTrade, to list your series' available rights. Buyers typically search these platforms by specific criteria such as territory, rights type, and availability period to find content that suits their needs. This targeted matching helps you directly reach relevant buyers instead of a broad scattergun approach.
Monitor second window opportunities where exclusivity is less critical, and buyers look for prestigious series they can license after the initial airing on the originating platform. This window can multiply buyer interest across multiple territories with diverse types of buyers including SVOD, AVOD, BVOD, and traditional broadcasters.
Leverage data insights from market reports and buyer behavior to refine your sales strategy. Understand which regions or platforms are growing and adjust your approach accordingly. By mixing data sources including transactional, behavioral, and psychographic data where possible, you can profile and prioritize buyers.
In essence, the right buyers are found by combining real-time market intelligence with using technology-enabled marketplaces that allow filtering by rights and territory. Success hinges on adapting windowing strategies to meet diverse buyer needs in a fragmented market where exclusivity is less common and cross-platform presence is rising.
Lastly, a complete, well-thought-out pitch package is essential. This includes a logline, series bible, polished pilot script, and a top-sheet budget. The goal is to find the specific Development Executive or Acquisition Manager whose mandate matches your project.
By understanding the landscape, tailoring your approach to the right type of buyer, building a professional pitch package, and leveraging data to find the right contacts, you can increase your chances of success in this global, data-driven entertainment market. Top producers and sales agents use intelligence platforms to get a real-time view of the market, and this platform provides direct access to the M&E supply chain, deal-making intelligence, and a Project Tracker. With the right strategy and tools, your TV series can find the right home in this competitive market.
The entertainment industry, now a global, data-driven marketplace, warrants a data-driven approach to remove guesswork in the sales process. Integrating market demand analysis with targeted outreach using rights and territory filters can help find the right buyers for a TV series.
This strategy combines real-time market intelligence with technology-enabled marketplaces that allow filtering by rights and territory to increase chances of success in the global, competitive entertainment market.
