Expert: DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson - 10/22/2009

Question
I Produce a show that currently airs on over 300 community access stations across the united States and Canada self syndicated in less than 2 years. My show is original and the first of it's kind and we have 80 shows in the can. We would really like to switch to commercial television A. should we continue to shop or go on the air as paid programing and find our own sponsors. Can you give me some advice on the approach.
E.C.

Answer
The main thing I would take into account here is your cash flow - is the cost of the show such that with simple sponsorship, you could make adequate profit and sustain production?  If so, I would consider that route, with the next step being finding a way to repackage the content as a digital product and shopping those rights.  That is the most independent route for you.

The 80 shows may also allow for international rights if the content travels.  

If you try to get picked up, the upside will be slow in coming if it does come.  It's unusual, at least in the American market, for broadcast or cable to wholly acquire and re-broadcast existing series, especially that far along in production.  So the talent and executed concept is possibly something you could shop, but then you will want to fight to be at least a production partner, if not the lead prod co on the order.  Much of that will depend on the format and production value of what you already have done.

You might do better to try to license the existing content digitally or internationally, in which case, you will want to be at NATPE in January 2010 in Vegas.  Then you could independently use that experience as a calling card to shop a new or related show to B&C that they could develop in concert with you, which is what nets typically prefer.  

80 shows is great - a second series is even better and a logical next step in our business model.  Well done so far!