ABSTRACT
Public Broadcasters and the Specialty TV Ecosystem explains the technical and professional environments that program documentary films for television. Public broadcasting is a key market for documentaries. Public broadcasters get involved at several stages of production, from commissioning a series, to acquiring a completed product. This chapter explains two paths for getting content to air: Co-productions established before shooting begins, and acquisitions of finished projects. Filmmaker examples are provided for both scenarios and from different countries. A breakdown of deliverables needed is included, as well as licensing terms to be aware of. Practical money matters are also discussed, such as creating a business for a film project to harness the power of tax credits. There is also a listing of some public broadcasters who accept content directly from producers, and distributors that are known for working in this field.
