First Time Negotiating With Network

[Steve Meeks]

Congratulations on getting the attention of a cable broadcaster. You are in a great position. You are obviously talented and dedicated to your creative profession. Now, as a business person I have a few suggestions, thoughts for you.

I know you are invested ($$ and brains) in the current deal – changing the title, cutting major portions of the program and rights releases are big issues for you…they should be because its “your” program. But, its not all about this current deal. You should be working on the next deal with this cable network. Use the current deal as leverage to get a second, third program. Do you want to make another movie/program? Do you have other topics/subjects you want to offer to the viewing public?

Use what you know now about the network to structure a deal that you want on the NEXT program. Link the current program and a second program. Make it a two for one deal to the network.

How long should the next program be? Better to create original content and cut it yourself to fit what the network wants. (BTW, it will most likely be cut anyway – scenes need to be trimmed, etc…just like an editor/publisher works with an author)

Get funding guarantees based on clear milestones like rough-cuts.

Negotiate the rights for U.S. release or English speaking countries (name the countries in your contract). Pitch German, French, Chinese, Spanish rights as a different release, etc…

You have a great opportunity to turn your hard work into more money/opportunity/progress for the narratives you care about. Your past matters, but do not live in the past…you already made a great program…move on to the next thing, move forward and give us the chance to see your next film, not the re-cut, re-titled, watered-down program the network is requesting.

Turn this into a future win for you and what you care about. Best of luck to you and congratulations again.