Deal Making in the Entertainment Industry

Catalog description

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the deal-making and business affairs process in the entertainment space, using film and television content as the primary example for what goes into cutting a deal. The course will explore the deal process from the perspective of the different players in entertainment and media, focusing on how each player looks to maximize value. Students will learn the process of striking a deal, from its inception, to the term sheet phase, to the negotiation process and contractual agreements, through to deal implementation. The process will be evaluated in the context of the factors that play into reaching an agreement, such as exclusivity, windowing, multi-platform rights and timing. Students will learn about negotiations strategies for maximizing value in content deals, identifying common issues in the deal process and effective paths to reaching resolution and striking a deal. The course is designed to help students: --Understand the basics of the process for making a deal in the entertainment industry --Appreciate the factors that play into maximizing value through the deal process, including understanding the relative position of the players in the entertainment industry --Learn and understand negotiating strategies and how to navigate the business affairs and deal-making process