Attn JMS: First Run Of US-Based Shows In Non-USA Markets

[Alyson L. Abramowitz]

This actually was brought up, in general, on the unmoderated list. I
suspect this list might have folks who actually know enough about the
industry to explain the process.

When a US-created show is sold to a non-USA network (assuming a show not
in syndication) in first run play, what is actually being sold? Is it a
certain number of episodes for a certain period of exclusivity? Some
other metric? If so, what? What happens if the show is canceled before
the intended number of episodes have been completed? Is there a standard
"foreign" contract or are all the variations unique per country/station
(ignoring the cost which surely must vary from country to country). Is
there any variation when something comes in the other direction (non-USA
into a USA network)?

I'm also curious about the play times. How are these controlled? From
the distributor or the buying network or some combination?

Thanks for the enlightenment.

Best,
Alyson

[Jms at B5]

The situation varies from market to market, but generally a non-US market buys
the rights for a given period of time.

jms

(jms...@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com

[Alyson L. Abramowitz]

Jms at B5 wrote:
>
> The situation varies from market to market, but generally a non-US market buys
> the rights for a given period of time.
>

So a market buys a season of (first-run) X with a hope (but no
certainty) of a certain amount of episodes that they can broadcast
however many or few times they want in an increment of time?

Is that true if the originator is a non-USA network to the States as
well?

Best,
Alyson