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MY Entertainment — TV Show Distribution
TV Distribution Deal — How to Get TV Distribution
A producer’s guide to how TV distribution deals work — what terms to expect, how to find a distributor for your show, and what MY Entertainment’s distribution deal process looks like from submission to broadcast.
25+
Years structuring TV distribution deals
28+
Networks & streamers we deal with
15+
Countries across our format deals
How to Get TV Distribution
Getting a TV distribution deal requires a finished show, the right materials, and a distribution partner with real buyer relationships. Here is the process, step by step.
Finish Production
Distributors can only sell what buyers can watch. A finished episode or pilot — not a pitch deck or sizzle reel — is the starting point for a distribution conversation. Near-finished (cut but not color-graded) is usually acceptable.
Prepare Your Materials
A distribution submission needs: a finished episode or screener, a show summary (what it is, how many episodes, run time), production credits, and a completed Submission Release Form. Buyers decide from the screener — invest in picture quality before the distribution conversation.
Find the Right Distributor
Match your show's genre and production quality to the distributor's catalog and buyer relationships. A distributor with active relationships at Discovery, Travel Channel, and PBS is the right partner for unscripted paranormal, documentary, or lifestyle content — not a scripted drama distributor.
Submit and Negotiate
Submit via the distributor's formal channel (see /pitch for MY Entertainment's submission process). If the show fits, the distribution conversation moves to deal terms: territory, exclusivity window, license fee, rights type, and backend. A qualified distributor represents your interests through this negotiation.
What a TV Distribution Deal Covers
Every TV distribution deal covers a core set of terms. Understanding these before entering a distribution conversation puts you in a stronger negotiating position — and helps you evaluate whether a deal protects your interests.
Territory
The geographic area where the broadcaster has the right to air your show. A US-only deal leaves UK, Canadian, and international rights open for separate licensing. MY Entertainment structures deals globally from offices in New York, Toronto, and London.
Exclusivity Window
The period during which the broadcaster has exclusive rights to air the show in their territory. A 12–24 month exclusive window is typical for US cable. After the window, rights can revert or be re-licensed to other platforms in the same territory.
License Fee
The payment the broadcaster makes in exchange for the right to air the show. License fees vary by network, genre, episode count, and production quality. A finished episode (not a sizzle reel) is required to negotiate a fee — buyers need to see what they are buying.
Rights Type
Broadcast rights, streaming rights, and digital rights are distinct and separately negotiable. A TV distribution deal can cover one or all three. MY Entertainment negotiates rights packages that maximise reach without surrendering IP you will need for future deals.
Format Rights
Separate from distribution rights, format rights allow a broadcaster in another territory to produce a local version of your show. If your format has international remake potential — a repeatable structure that adapts to local talent — MY Entertainment identifies and sells that IP.
IP Ownership
A distribution deal does NOT transfer ownership of the underlying IP. You retain creator credit and ownership. The distributor licenses the right to broadcast — they do not buy the show outright. Protecting IP ownership is a core term in every deal MY Entertainment structures.
How MY Entertainment Structures Distribution Deals
MY Entertainment has been structuring TV distribution deals for 25+ years — from Ghost Adventures’ first placement on Travel Channel to Emmy-nominated documentary deals on PBS. Our deal approach is producer-aligned: we protect underlying IP, creator credit, and backend participation, and we negotiate rights packages that maximize commercial reach without surrendering what matters to you long-term.
We do not blast your show to a generic list. We identify the right buyer for your specific show — based on genre, production quality, and our current knowledge of what each network’s commissioning team is actively seeking — and pitch it there. If the show is right, it gets in the right room.
Our distribution deal track record includes placements on Discovery, Travel Channel, A&E, PBS, Oxygen, Investigation Discovery, Food Network, Comedy Central, National Geographic, BBC, and 20+ additional networks and streamers. Format deals have been structured across 15+ countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a TV distribution deal?
A TV distribution deal is a license agreement between a rights holder (usually the production company or a distributor acting on their behalf) and a broadcaster or streaming platform. The broadcaster pays a license fee in exchange for the right to air the show in a specific territory for a specific window of time. The rights holder retains underlying IP ownership and can license the same show to other territories, platforms, and windows. A TV distribution deal is distinct from a production deal — it applies to shows that are already finished or near-finished, not concepts in development.
How do I get a TV distribution deal?
To get a TV distribution deal, you need a finished or near-finished show and a distribution partner with active buyer relationships at the networks that buy your genre. The steps: (1) finish a quality episode or pilot — buyers decide from what they watch; (2) prepare your submission materials (screener, show summary, release form); (3) identify a distributor whose catalog matches your genre and whose buyer relationships include your target networks; (4) submit formally and negotiate deal terms. MY Entertainment's submission process is at myentertainment.tv/pitch.
What terms are in a typical TV distribution deal?
A typical TV distribution deal covers: territory (which countries or regions), exclusivity window (how long the broadcaster has exclusive rights), license fee (what they pay), rights type (broadcast, streaming, digital, format), and IP ownership (which always stays with the creator). Some deals also cover backend participation — a share of downstream licensing revenue if the show sells into additional territories or platforms. The exact terms vary by network, genre, episode count, and the distributor's negotiating leverage with the buyer.
How long does it take to get a TV distribution deal?
A fast-track placement with the right show in a genre actively sought by a buyer can close in 4–8 weeks. Most distribution deals take 3–9 months from initial pitch to deal signature — network commissioning cycles run on their own calendar, not the producer's. International distribution deals often move faster than US broadcast deals. Having a finished episode (not a sizzle reel) compresses the timeline significantly — buyers can approve content they have watched.
Do I need an agent to get a TV distribution deal?
You do not need an agent — a distribution company serves the same function for finished content. An agent (typically a talent or literary agent) pitches concepts and writers in development; a TV distribution company pitches finished shows to buyers, negotiates the distribution agreement, and manages rights across territories. MY Entertainment acts as the distribution partner for producers with finished unscripted content — handling network pitching and deal negotiation without requiring a separate agent.
Can I negotiate a TV distribution deal directly with a network?
In theory, yes — but in practice, networks prioritize pitches from distributors and production companies with established buyer relationships. Unsolicited pitches from unknown producers rarely make it through the intake process. A distribution partner with active relationships at your target networks gives your show a genuine path to the commissioning editor's desk. MY Entertainment has made sales to 28+ networks and streamers over 25 years — a relationship asset that a producer pitching directly does not have access to.
Ready to Pursue a TV Distribution Deal?
If you have a finished or near-finished unscripted show and want to explore a distribution deal, submit via the form on /pitch. MY Entertainment reviews every submission for genre fit, production status, and network placement potential.
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