Cash for TV Shows

Cash For Tv Shows
How to make money writing tv formats.
by Richard Stone, Feb 15, 2007
Tags: cash Format money television writing
Formats make millions so write one.
How to make millions from writing a TV format.
A TV format is a show that has a beginning, middle and an end. It has a unique element and can be reproduced to the same pattern the world over. Game shows were the original formats but now reality, music and observational documentary shows can be termed formats and make their creators millions. Some examples are Who wants to be a Millionaire, Pop Idol, Big Brother and Faking it.
How do you make money?
TV eats up ideas and needs a constant flow of ideas to keep the machine fed. People won't pay you for an idea you sell them the right to turn your idea (format) into a TV show by licensing the idea. For this you can expect a percentage of the production budget every time an episode of the show is transmitted anywhere in the world.
How to protect your idea.
You can't, it's as simple as that. If a production company is good the will not sign any form of non-disclosure agreement. The best you can do is send a copy of the idea to a solicitor, the post mark providing proof of the date the idea was conceived. If you are asked to submit an idea electronically try and copy yourself and a solicitor on the e-mail.
Where to send your idea.
Look at the end credits of a show with a similar style and note the name of the production company who made the show. In general this is where you need to send the idea. Sending to a Broadcaster like the BBC or ITV is not very productive unless you know a person in the company and more importantly they know you. Look the company up on the Internet. They may well have a page for ideas or information of where and who to send any ideas.
Some tips
The show must have a beginning, middle and end. It needs Jeopardy, a much-overused term in the TV business. But it is a necessity to all TV shows, what is at stake? Money (only life changing amounts really work), a dream comes true and consequently a dream crashing down, public humiliation or simply will they won't they. Keep the idea simple. You need to sum up the idea in less than 3 sentences.