Entertainment industry guides
Start with a box-office figure, a rights deal or a production announcement. Follow the example to its source, or try the Entertainment Wire before opening an account.
Using the Wire
- What is the Global Entertainment Wire?
- How do I read an Entertainment Wire briefing?
- How do I research a company on the Entertainment Wire?
Before you create an account
- What can I try before joining the Entertainment Wire?
- How does search work on the Entertainment Wire?
- How do I read the Entertainment Wire calendar?
Try a source check now. Read Disney’s Moana 2 opening figures.
Read audience and revenue figures
Is box office gross the same as studio revenue?
Box office gross measures ticket sales. The distributor receives a share of those sales under its agreement with the exhibitor. The full gross is neither studio revenue nor film profit.
How does Netflix calculate views?
Netflix divides total hours viewed by the title’s runtime. The result expresses viewing in units of a complete title; it does not count distinct people who watched from beginning to end.
How do game bookings differ from revenue?
Net bookings is a publisher-defined operating measure. Electronic Arts reconciles it to reported net revenue using the change in deferred net revenue for online-enabled games.
Understand rights and release windows
What does a film or TV licensing deal give the buyer?
A licence gives the buyer permission to use specified rights. A streaming service can secure the right to show a series without buying the series or its producer.
What is a film release window?
A release window is a period when a film is offered through a particular channel. Theatrical exhibition, digital rental and subscription streaming can have different start dates.
How do FAST channels differ from on-demand streaming?
A FAST channel streams a free, ad-supported schedule. On an ad-supported on-demand service, the viewer selects a title and starts it. A platform can offer both experiences.
Follow a project from financing to order
What is a minimum guarantee in film distribution?
A minimum guarantee is an agreed minimum payment for distribution rights. The contract specifies what triggers payment and how the distributor can recover it from receipts.
What is a negative pickup deal?
In a negative pickup, a distributor agrees to acquire a film on agreed delivery terms. The producer still has to finance production before the delivery payment becomes due.
Does a film tax credit reveal the production budget?
A California film tax credit allocation identifies conditional incentive support. It does not establish the worldwide production budget, final eligible spending or cash paid to the producer.
What does a TV series order establish?
Development means a project is being worked on. A series order means the buyer has committed to make a series; the announcement may also specify how many episodes it ordered.