The Business of Television

by Ken Basin

In this book, esteemed television executive and Harvard lecturer Ken Basin offers a comprehensive overview of the business, financial, and legal structure of the U.S. television industry, as well as its dealmaking norms. Written for working or aspiring creative professionals who want to better understand the entertainment industry -- as well as for executives, agents, managers, and lawyers looking for a reference guide -- The Business of Television presents a readable, in-depth introduction to rights and talent negotiations, intellectual property, backend deals, licensing, streaming platforms, international production, and much more.



The book also includes breakdowns after each chapter summarizing deal points and points of negotiation, a glossary, a list of referenced cases, and a wealth of real-world examples to help readers put the material into context.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

320 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2018

Reviews

[Bobbi-sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the TV business pre-streaming. A lot of the information is relevant for current-day production. It focuses a lot on scripted television. He outlines a lot of the business models related to the variations of agreements. This is a very good book for someone starting in the TV business on the business affairs or legal side of the house.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by an entertainment transactional attorney at my law firm. In his words, this book will help orient you to the "inside baseball" aspects of the business and legal landscape of the entertainment industry. Although the book focuses on television series, in particular, it provides a wonderful framework into different aspects of the entertainment industry, with some helpful context as to how streaming has impacted the business of creating series, but also the industry at large. (A new edition is set to come out in Fall 2024, which I understand has been drafted specifically to address the impact of streaming .) For anyone interested in (i hate to say it) "the business of television" or entertainment in general, this book lives up to its title. I found that even in reading the trades (e.g., Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Ankler), this book provided me with a very helpful foundation of knowledge so that I could better engage with other industry news and business considerations. Definitely worth a read for any law student considering entering a career in entertainment, attorneys new to the entertainment industry (litigators and transactional folks, alike), and any non-attorney readers who want to have a better understanding of the industry and how the business mechanics affect what is put out into the world and what we see.

[Brandon Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone with a passion for entertainment and business, this is the perfect book. Ken gives a great an excellent breakdown of the streaming landscape, differences in the types of producers, and so much more. Definitely recommend for anyone interested in the business of TV and Movies.

[Indira Wolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

i didnt really like this book,it was too condensed

[Nidhi Bhatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone looking to get a foundational understanding of the business behind television, but be warned: it's dry as a bone.

[Julia Dillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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