Television

Sheridans boasts some of the most knowledgeable and experienced television lawyers in the business advising leading broadcasters, independent producers, distributors, financiers and brands.

The Television Group sees matters through from the creation and development of content to its monetisation on broadcast television, VOD, IPTV, the internet, mobile, as apps and on tablets. The group embraces a '360 degrees' approach to exploitation and works alongside specialists in live events, theatre, music, publishing and interactive media.

Rights need to be acquired and protected at the earliest stages of any television project. The team provides cost-effective advice on copyright, option and acquisition agreements, writers agreements and development funding, and have industry-leading practices in advertiser funding, international co-production and changed format licensing. Our TV lawyers advise a significant number of leading players on the commissioning, finance and distribution of television programmes as well as merchandising, clearance and content issues (OFCOM, ATVOD, privacy and defamation) talent deals and music for TV.

The financing of TV programmes, particularly 'big ticket' drama and children's programming, is becoming ever more complex. The effective management of the financing process is our 'stock in trade' putting together a patchwork of pre-sales, advances and tax credits.