Selling Content to TV Channels: A Five-Step Guide
In the vast world of content creation, understanding the intricacies of content sales is crucial for success. Here's a comprehensive guide to navigating the process, focusing on identifying suitable acquisition executives and employing data-driven strategies.
To find the right acquisition executives for film, series, or documentary content sales, it's essential to look for professionals with at least five years of experience in movie/film/title acquisitions, licensing, or sales within film, TV, or streaming platforms. These executives should demonstrate a strong understanding of the film industry and acquisition strategies, possess robust relationships with distributors, studios, and sales agents, and have the ability to identify and source high-value titles effectively.
Key steps and considerations to identify suitable acquisition executives include:
- Experience requirements: Look for professionals with a minimum of 5 years in acquisitions or sales roles related to film, television, or streaming content.
- Industry knowledge: Ensure candidates understand current market trends, licensing models, and have experience negotiating strategic deals that align with company goals.
- Networking: Candidates should have strong existing industry contacts with distributors, studios, sales agents, and be comfortable engaging in industry events to source new content and opportunities.
- Analytical skills: Although more common in content strategy roles, executives benefit from some analytical capabilities to evaluate title performance and content value.
- Alignment with distribution platforms: Understanding various distribution channels—digital streaming, theatrical, broadcast, Pay TV, and physical media—is essential for effective acquisitions.
Recruitment can focus on leveraging film industry job boards such as Jobo and ZipRecruiter where acquisitions roles are posted, engaging with companies specializing in film distribution that employ acquisition executives, like Filmhub, and attending industry networking events and film markets where acquisition executives and sales agents gather.
Additional qualifications like a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related analytical field may be preferred to support strategic and data-driven decision-making in content acquisition but are secondary to industry experience.
The global content market is massive, with broadcasters and streamers spending over $240 billion on content. Researching comparable sales is the best way to set a realistic price for content. Our website provides a centralized hub for access to a global database of buyers, ongoing projects, and content acquisition trends, making it easier to research and price your content effectively.
Identifying the specific acquisition executives or content buyers for your genre is necessary. Creating a professional press kit with a poster, synopsis, trailer, and screener link is important for selling content. Using data-driven tools to track projects, identify partners, and close deals faster is beneficial. Personalizing your email pitch to solve a problem for the buyer is important, as is leveraging platforms to track contacts, deals, and market trends to stay organized.
Our website can help identify and connect with the right acquisition partners, reducing research time significantly. Signing up for our website gives access to the data and contacts needed to succeed in content sales. The real work begins once a buyer is interested, including discussing license term, territory, exclusivity, and license fee. Looking for programming gaps in a channel's content and framing your pitch around filling that need is advantageous.
In conclusion, understanding the target demographic and tone of a channel, researching channels whose brand, audience, and programming gaps align perfectly with your content, and employing data-driven strategies are the keys to success in content sales. By finding the right acquisition executives, researching comparable sales, and utilizing data-driven tools, you can navigate the complex world of content sales and increase your chances of success.
In the search for acquisition executives, it's important to have a strong background in movie or film acquisitions, licensing, or sales within film, TV, or streaming platforms, showcasing a solid understanding of the industry and acquisition strategies. Additionally, possessing a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related analytical field can aid in making strategic and data-driven decisions during content acquisition.
In the ever-evolving landscape of content sales, entertainment, business, and lifestyle all converge. By identifying suitable acquisition executives, researching comparable sales, and employing data-driven tools, content creators can effectively navigate this challenging market and boost their chances of success.
