Step 1: Understand What You’re Actually Selling (Know Your Rights)

Before you talk to anyone, you need to know what you own. Licensing isn’t usually about selling your entire show forever. It’s about “renting” it out under specific conditions. The more ways you can slice up these rights, the more deals you can make.

Think about these key rights:

• Territory: Which countries or regions can the buyer show it in? (e.g., North America, Pan-Asia, Global)
• Platform: Where can they show it? (e.g., Free-to-air TV, Pay TV, Subscription VOD like Netflix, Ad-supported VOD like Tubi)
• Exclusivity: Can they be the only ones to show it in that territory/on that platform? Exclusivity costs more.
• Term: How long can they license it for? (e.g., 2 years, 5 years)

If you sell “global, all-rights, in perpetuity” to the first person who makes an offer, you might be leaving a ton of money on the table. Knowing your rights is the foundation of a smart licensing strategy.

Step 2: Create an Irresistible Pitch Package

Acquisition executives are busy. They get hundreds of pitches a week. You have seconds to grab their attention. A professional pitch package shows you’re serious and makes it easy for them to say “yes.”

Your package absolutely must include:

• The Sizzle Reel: A 2-3 minute trailer that sells the concept, tone, and characters. This is your most important tool. Make it exciting!
• The Poster/Key Art: A high-quality, professional image that communicates the genre and feel of your show.
• Synopsis: A short, one-paragraph summary of the show.
• Episode Summaries: Brief summaries for each episode.
• Creator Bios: Highlight the key creative team’s experience.

Don’t skimp here. A sloppy pitch package signals a sloppy production, even if your show is amazing.

Step 3: Get Your Legal Ducks in a Row (Don’t Skip This!)

This is the part that feels boring but can kill your deal instantly if you ignore it. You need to prove you have the legal right to license the show. This is called “Chain of Title.”

Work with an entertainment lawyer to make sure you have:

• Copyright Registration: Proof that you have officially registered your script and/or pilot with the copyright office.
• Talent Agreements: Signed contracts with all actors, writers, directors, and key crew.
• Music Clearances: Legal permission for every piece of music used in the show. This is a huge one!

When a buyer asks for your chain of title documents, having them ready and organized shows you are a professional they can trust.

Step 4: Identify and Research Potential Buyers

Stop. Do not just email every contact you can find. The “spray and pray” approach doesn’t work. It just makes you look desperate. You need to be a sniper, not a machine gunner.

The key is to find buyers whose needs align with your show. If you have a gritty, dark sci-fi series, don’t pitch it to a family-friendly channel. You need to do your homework.

This is where data becomes your secret weapon. You need to know:

• Which platforms are acquiring content in your genre right now?
• What kind of deals are they making?
• Who are the specific acquisition executives for that genre or territory?

This research used to be incredibly difficult, relying on word-of-mouth and expensive market trips. Today, it’s about having the right intelligence tools to see the whole playing field.

Step 5: Master the Art of the Pitch

Once you have your target list, it’s time to reach out. Your initial email should be short, professional, and personalized. Reference a show they recently acquired that is similar to yours. Show them you did your homework!

Your goal is to get them to watch the sizzle reel. That’s it. If the sizzle reel works, they’ll ask for more.

When you get a meeting (virtual or in-person), be prepared to talk passionately about your show. Why does this story need to be told?

Who is the audience? Why are you the right person to tell it? Connect with them on a human level. They’re not just buying a product; they’re buying into your vision.

Step 7: Manage Your Deals and Deliver Your Show

Once the contract is signed, the work isn’t over. You need to deliver all the required materials (the “deliverables”) on time and to the correct technical specifications. This is a critical step for building a good reputation.

Maintain a good relationship with the buyer. Keep them updated on your progress. A smooth and professional delivery process makes them much more likely to license your next show or renew the deal for this one. Good partners are hard to find, so treat them well!

How Vitrina Powers Your Licensing Strategy

Feeling overwhelmed by Step 4?

That’s the most common hurdle for independent creators. Knowing who is buying, what they’re looking for, and how to reach them is a full-time job.

This is exactly why Vitrina exists. Our platform is a global B2B marketplace built on data. Instead of guessing, you can use Vitrina’s powerful market intelligence to instantly identify active buyers for your genre, see what deals are happening in real-time with our Project Tracker, and connect with the right decision-makers.

We empower you to skip the guesswork and focus on making deals.