The New Deal Room: A 2026 Playbook for Global Content Licensing

How global content licensing is shifting beyond flat fees to flexible, deal-driven models.

How Deals, Buyers, and Revenue Models Are Shifting in 2026

Content licensing is becoming more structured and more flexible at the same time. Buyers are selective, sellers are packaging rights differently, and deal terms are moving beyond simple flat fees.

New models are emerging. Platforms are trading access instead of cash, bundling rights across windows, and tying deals to performance and downstream revenue.

This session breaks down how licensing is working in practice today and what these shifts mean for studios, platforms, and distributors.

Why You Cannot Miss This Briefing:

The 2026 Power Map
Who is buying, who is selling, and how leverage is shifting across markets.
The New Deal Structures
How licensing is moving beyond flat fees into hybrid and performance-linked models.
Swaps and Reciprocals
How platforms are trading library access to fill gaps without direct spend.
Bundles and Hybrid Deals
Combining SVOD, AVOD, and additional revenue streams within a single agreement.
Global Travelers
What types of content are consistently licensing across multiple territories.
Case Studies
Recent deals that reflect how licensing is evolving.

Who is this for

This briefing is built for people who make or fund decisions about how content gets produced — not for general AI curiosity.

Producers & EPs

Looking to cut production costs and timelines without cutting corners on quality or buyer expectations.

Studio & Streamer Execs

Setting internal AI policy and want a clear-eyed view of what’s production-ready versus what’s still risky.

Post & VFX Vendors

Deciding where to invest in AI tooling to stay competitive on turnaround and price.

Your hosts

Two people who talk to studios, streamers, financiers, and vendors every single week.

EXPERT

Atul Phadnis

Founder & CEO, Vitrina A.I.

– A value-chain specialist and host of Vitrina’s LeaderSpeak podcast series, Atul reads and analyzes big-player market moves—across regions, genres, content slates, and partner choices—and deciphers the why, how, and what next – within the business of content.

HOST

Kunal Barai

Strategic Growth & Solutions Leader, Vitrina

– Kunal spends every day speaking with studios, streamers, financiers, and vendors—surfacing real financing, partnership, and growth needs. He brings those live questions to the session to spot trends in real time and map where the industry is heading next.