Does Television Business Trump Film in Era of Digital Distribution?

By emeadows
October 5, 2012

Major Hollywood talent is finding television — especially cable — more attractive than ever due to its improved quality and expanded possibilities in the digital revolution.
“The television business is so much better for the modern digital era,” said Chris Silbermann of ICM Partners, speaking at the Entertainment Business Managers Power Breakfast in Beverly Hills this week. “Really, it is just so much more organically aligned.”
“He said the episodic nature of many TV shows makes more sense in the digital realm, especially as shows that find an afterlife on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and elsewhere,” writes The Hollywood Reporter.
He also said that digital popularity and subsequent revenue are making increased production budgets possible for television series, which means profits are beginning to reach new talent.
“Digital dollars trickle down. We’re seeing a lot of shows, particularly from cable, that would not have had an afterlife in syndication being sold (to digital),” he said.
Silbermann suggests that Netflix’s “House of Cards” will prove to be an important test. “A lot of people have said it will be a watermark show. If they promote it well and it does well, then the flood of talent is going to go there. They have to prove not only that they can make a good show, but they have to prove they can market it.”

No Comments Yet