joiningthedots.tvjoiningthedots.tvIndependent Film For Independent PeopleIndependent Film For Independent People

Tim SparkeTim SparkeMercury MediaMercury Media

Presented to AIDCPresented to AIDCFebruary 21st 2008February 21st 2008

BackgroundBackground

December 2006December 2006

Study shows 0.1% of weekly UK prime-time Study shows 0.1% of weekly UK prime-time programming is acquired documentaryprogramming is acquired documentary

Loose Change 2 attracts 4 million viewers on google Loose Change 2 attracts 4 million viewers on google videovideo

Idea for documentary portal begins to form - based Idea for documentary portal begins to form - based around independently sourced film and combined with around independently sourced film and combined with existing print offerings.existing print offerings.

Clear interest in docs online yet broadcaster reluctance Clear interest in docs online yet broadcaster reluctance to support genre on TV. to support genre on TV.

BackgroundBackground

March 2007March 2007

Commence site build with technology partner -Commence site build with technology partner -Aggregator TV. Aggregator TV. Attract interest of Guardian Newspaper.Attract interest of Guardian Newspaper.

Decision:Decision:

50/50 Partnership with Aggregator.50/50 Partnership with Aggregator.Guardian reject concept of site as ‘unworkable’.Guardian reject concept of site as ‘unworkable’.Start acquiring documentary films for siteStart acquiring documentary films for site

BackgroundBackground

Launch:Launch: April 2007April 2007Cost:Cost: $100,000$100,000Delivery:Delivery: 40 Docs for download only service from 40 Docs for download only service from

350 offered.350 offered.

May 2007:May 2007: Aggregator goes bankrupt Aggregator goes bankrupt – – site collapsessite collapses!!

July 2007:July 2007: New technical partner MPS Broadband New technical partner MPS Broadband found found

Independent Newspaper now interestedIndependent Newspaper now interested

TodayToday

• February 2008 – Soft launch of new service.February 2008 – Soft launch of new service.

• Offering 50+ films with 100 new films including Oscar winners and Offering 50+ films with 100 new films including Oscar winners and nominees in process of coming on stream.nominees in process of coming on stream.

• Independent service to launch Spring 2008 melding on-line journalism with Independent service to launch Spring 2008 melding on-line journalism with documentary.documentary.

• Significant marketing budget support contracted.Significant marketing budget support contracted.

• Agreement with major Movie House to launch 1 film per month from site Agreement with major Movie House to launch 1 film per month from site theatrically in the UK.theatrically in the UK.

What Are We Looking For?What Are We Looking For?

Author Driven Docs with a point of view that fit into any one Author Driven Docs with a point of view that fit into any one of our eight strands.of our eight strands.

Outstanding production values coupled with great Outstanding production values coupled with great storytelling.storytelling.

No subject off limitsNo subject off limits

Ideal length 50 - 100 minutes.Ideal length 50 - 100 minutes.

Delivered in DVD format.Delivered in DVD format.

Non-exclusive streaming and download rights + download Non-exclusive streaming and download rights + download to burn rights in future.to burn rights in future.

Can accept territory exclusions as site can be geo Can accept territory exclusions as site can be geo filtered/blocked but must be available for most countries – filtered/blocked but must be available for most countries – we are a world-wide site!we are a world-wide site!

Realistic expectations from producers and distributors..Realistic expectations from producers and distributors..

What Do We Offer?What Do We Offer?

Opportunity to have your film seen by a worldwide Opportunity to have your film seen by a worldwide audience audience

For producers: 30% net revenue royalty split after For producers: 30% net revenue royalty split after streaming, VAT and currency costs. More for distributors streaming, VAT and currency costs. More for distributors offering 10+ titles. – No upfront advances yet!offering 10+ titles. – No upfront advances yet!

Possibility of UK theatrical window for top titles.Possibility of UK theatrical window for top titles.

Marketing and Editorial support from major branded Marketing and Editorial support from major branded worldwide newspaper.worldwide newspaper.

TV buyers already taking notice of films on site. Web stats TV buyers already taking notice of films on site. Web stats will increasingly inform buying decisions.will increasingly inform buying decisions.

Audience OpportunityAudience Opportunity

A haven away from ‘Big Media’. A club for doc lovers.A haven away from ‘Big Media’. A club for doc lovers.

Great films made by great film-makers. List of Great films made by great film-makers. List of producers/distributors already committed reads like a producers/distributors already committed reads like a who’s who of documentary film.who’s who of documentary film.

Off limits subjects available 24/7. An online film Off limits subjects available 24/7. An online film festival.festival.

A place where the power of film on the Internet can A place where the power of film on the Internet can create interest, and lead to informed, real-time create interest, and lead to informed, real-time discussion.discussion.

ChallengesChallenges

Persuading Audiences to ‘pay’ for documentary films Persuading Audiences to ‘pay’ for documentary films online where there is no tradition of doing so.online where there is no tradition of doing so.

JTD offering needs to be persuasive - content, branding, JTD offering needs to be persuasive - content, branding, and viewer experience needs to meet expectations.and viewer experience needs to meet expectations.

Has to work alongside ‘Big-Media’ - complimentary not Has to work alongside ‘Big-Media’ - complimentary not competitive. competitive.

Audience interactivity coupled with technological advances Audience interactivity coupled with technological advances will drive success.will drive success.

Opportunity to raise production funding for new films Opportunity to raise production funding for new films through membership base.through membership base.

ConclusionConclusionThe traditional distribution model (theatrical… DVD…TV… Internet) is The traditional distribution model (theatrical… DVD…TV… Internet) is dead. A new model (Internet… DVD/TV…theatrical) is emergingdead. A new model (Internet… DVD/TV…theatrical) is emerging

Joiningthedots.tv is just one place for documentaries online, though Joiningthedots.tv is just one place for documentaries online, though the public has yet to feel comfortable paying for content in the way the public has yet to feel comfortable paying for content in the way they pay for DVD’s. This will come with set-top box distribution.they pay for DVD’s. This will come with set-top box distribution.

Specialised audience interest groups can find content on niche topics Specialised audience interest groups can find content on niche topics easily on the Internet. easily on the Internet.

Email, blogs and forums are the new water-coolerEmail, blogs and forums are the new water-cooler

Broadcasters Broadcasters do take noticedo take notice of what is going on online Successful of what is going on online Successful Internet distribution can lead to mainstream success. Internet distribution can lead to mainstream success.

The internet represents a new uncontrolled universe which threatens The internet represents a new uncontrolled universe which threatens the very basis of traditional media control the very basis of traditional media control

We are at the very beginning of the online journey – your future as We are at the very beginning of the online journey – your future as film-makers will be increasingly governed by its development.film-makers will be increasingly governed by its development.