How do I sell my cable access show to a network?

November 4, 2009 12:13 PM

How do I sell my cable access show to a major network?

I've been working on my show for the past 5 years. I think it's good and would like to either sell the old episodes or the concept to a network. I don't the first thing about doing this. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

posted by apiaryist to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Best answer: This is something where, unless you already have contacts in the television world, you'd be well served by an agent. I didn't hire my (literary) agent to find me deals, because I already knew the players in my particular market niche, I hired her to handle the contracts, negotiating, fine print, etc. An agent is likelier to know who would be interested in your concept, who's actively looking for things like it, etc.

Meanwhile, back in DIY land, if your show is a niche market fave, you might be better off releasing it yourself via something like Amazon's CreateSpace. Hey, it worked for Joss Whedon and Dr. Horrible, why not? and then you're in control...

I've spoken with a producer about bringing a show of my own to a particular channel -- most won't even look at you unless you're affiliated with a production house or some other list of reqs, so the self-pub option might eventually end up being your best bet anyway, unless you want to sign away a lot of the profits to someone else whose name is on your deal "in name only," anyway...
posted by bitter-girl.com at 12:30 PM on November 4, 2009

Investigate Brightcove's distribution partners. It's not a traditional network but it's the future.
posted by sammyo at 7:15 PM on November 4, 2009

Oh, hey, good luck, it's really cool that you have a base to work from. Oh and get really really good *entertainment* legal representation.
posted by sammyo at 7:18 PM on November 4, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks for the information. Yeah, we've been voted Best Cable Access TV Show in a popular local publication for the last 2 years. The stars of the show were featured on the cover the first year that we won. Willie Nelson got the cover a few years ago. We've got a strong local fanbase. I think that self-releasing is more my style.
posted by apiaryist at 2:31 PM on November 5, 2009