UK’s ITV & Pact agree new streaming-focused trade terms

Trigger Point

UK comcaster ITV and screen body Pact have agreed a new terms of trade deal tailored for the streaming era.

Under the new agreement, producers will continue to own the underlying IP to their ideas, whilst benefiting from a more favourable net position, streamlined processes and enhanced tariffs, particularly for independent producers new to ITV, said Pact.

The new terms will also help maximise exposure for producers’ programmes by giving Trigger Point and Endeavor broadcaster ITV the flexibility to improve the availability and discoverability of programmes across ITV1 and its streaming service ITVX – including premiering on ITVX without the need to negotiate rights separately, show by show.

Pact, which appointed Ross Lewis as its head of international and projects this week, said that the new terms recognise that the old way of doing things with primary linear rights and secondary on demand rights no longer meets audience needs. ITV will now have a more flexible, platform-agnostic rights framework to help boost its streaming strategy.

This, said Pact, will allow ITV to enhance ITVX with flexible windowing, improved series stacking and increased box set availability – delivering all previous series of a title on ITVX and allowing viewers to catch up from the beginning in its entirety before a new series starts. The new terms apply to programmes with an intended transmission on ITV1.

ITV negotiations were led by Jonathan Vandermeer, director of rights strategy in conjunction with Tom Graham, director of legal & business affairs, content, rights & marketing and Emma Smithies, head of legal & business affairs.

Kevin Lygo, managing director, media & entertainment at ITV, commented: “The new deal will help supercharge ITVX, ensuring that audiences can watch more of the brilliant British content they love, whenever and wherever they want. It will also ensure that ITV continues to play its crucial role as a public service broadcaster supporting the UK’s thriving independent production community.”