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Programmer's Guide to Acquisitions
A primer for newcomers.
A review for others.
This guide is a review of binder contents, voting procedures and program acquisition processes.
So, now that your APT offer book has been delivered, what comes next, you ask? First, here's a bit of a walkthrough.
- In the front binder pocket, you'll find the In-Depth Preview feed sheet. This details the program offers that are previewed for stations following a teleconference or Marketplace. Revisions of this listing are always posted on Connect Forums, so check the Forums (Advisories | Refeeds and Program | Schedule Announcements) for the most up-to-date version. You'll also find your station's pricing and rights summary page called a "one-sheet pricer" in the back pocket of your binder.
- The first page you'll see upon opening your binder is the satellite transponder sheet. This contains all the information you need in order to watch or tape the teleconference. If you have questions during the teleconference, a phone number is provided. Fall Marketplace binders won't have a transponder page since program presentations are done on-site at the meeting. Following the transponder page is the Order of Presentation for the teleconference. For your convenience, all of the descriptions in each section are in the order in which they are presented. As you look at the binder a bit closer, you'll notice it's divided into four sections: Syndication, Premium Service, Exchange and Responses.
a. In the Syndication section, you'll find an alphabetical table of contents, immediately followed by your station-specific offer pages. The Syndication descriptions have your four-letter station abbreviation or call letters at the top of the page along with the price of the program.
b. Following the Syndication section is the Premium Service tab. The Premium Service section contains brief descriptions and premium information for current programs which Premium Service member stations are automatically licensed to air. Nonmember stations: please contact Erin Bowles or Loretta Davidson for pricing.
c. Next, you'll find the Exchange descriptions. Exchange programs are available at no cost to any licensee subscribing to the Exchange service. To find out if your station is an Exchange subscriber or to inquire about joining, please contact Reina Aktay. At the beginning of the Exchange section, you will also find an alphabetical table of contents.
d. The last section in our offer binder is the "Responses" section containing station-specific answer sheets. If there are any Rapid Responses (responses with a deadline earlier than the majority of program votes), the rapid response sheet will be clearly marked at the front of the section. The response due date is listed at the bottom of each response page along with our fax number and mailing address. The response due date is typically three weeks after the teleconference. Please pay close attention to the response deadlines since late fees apply when purchasing Syndication programs. Response sheets are also posted on Connect Forums in Program | Schedule Announcements.
Here is a how-to guide on obtaining programs from Syndication, Premium Service and Exchange.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
GENERAL
- Program voting for Syndication and Exchange must be confirmed by the station's designated buyer, generally the Program Manager. This is done either by circling "yes" on APT Response sheets (included with your Teleconference binder or packet) and e-mailing or faxing them to Erin Bowles or by contacting Loretta Davidson to add-on to existing contracts. Premium Service nonmember add-on inquiries should be sent to Erin Bowles or Loretta Davidson. Please refer to each programming department's section for possible add-on fees.
- APT always attempts to obtain as much information as possible about each program/series prior to the offer. This includes program "flags," prior broadcast or cable history, program-related offers, technical information, home-video offers, underwriters, content ratings, excluded stations, etc. This information is included on the description page. Any changes to the information presented in your teleconference or Marketplace binder will be posted in an "Offer Book Update" announcement on Connect Forums in Program Offers | Updates | Flags.
- All programs going to contract will be made available to purchasing/subscribing stations by initial satellite feed and by tape library booking. To book a tape, please send an e-mail directly to Robyn Mills. Tape library bookings are encouraged five to seven weeks in advance, and orders received outside a three-week (15 business days) lead are processed at no charge to stations (stations cover only outbound UPS Ground shipping costs.) Tapes booked inside a three-week period (15 business days) will be assessed a $75 late processing fee; in addition, shipping must be covered by the requesting station. For questions about the tape booking process, please contact Robyn Mills via email. Email address format is FirstName_LastName@APTonline.org.
- Syndication and Exchange program offers are confirmed and available for air once a "Program Release Announcement" is posted on Connect Forums in Program Offers | Updates | Flags. The "Program Release Announcement" contains the final title, release date, feed information (date/time/NOLA code), rights term and offer period. Exchange "Program Release Announcements" includes any excluded stations (where applicable). "Program Release Announcements" are typically posted as soon as APT and the program supplier have agreed to proceed to contract.
- Once program details have been finalized with the supplier, a "Contract Confirmation Announcement" will be posted on Connect Forums by APT's Contract Services department, containing final program information, approximately four to eight weeks prior to the release date.
- Press materials are posted on Connect Forums by APT or the presenting station, approximately eight weeks prior to the release date.
SYNDICATION
- All U.S. Public Television stations can purchase Syndication program offers.
- In those markets with more than one public television station, the "primary" station has the option to exclude the "secondary" station from purchasing the Syndication program by voting Yes-Exclusive. This option can only be exercised by previously designated primary stations on Syndication program offers. If a primary station does not buy a program, the secondary station can purchase non-exclusive rights for the price listed on the offer page/one-sheet pricer or can exercise exclusivity for the same price the primary station would pay. If your station can be excluded or can exercise exclusivity, it is indicated on the top of the Syndication section of your response sheet. In our experience, primary/secondary buying is best coordinated via programmer-to-programmer conversations.
- Syndication programs are generally priced according to market size. The actual price of a program is listed on the description page and/or on the "one-sheet pricer" pricing summary page included in the offer binder.
- In those cases where a single licensee programs a second station or a cable station in the same market, programs may be purchased for use on the second or cable channel, subject to noted rights restrictions.
- Some markets may be "excluded" by the supplier. Canadian border exclusions are not unusual when the CBC has purchased Canadian rights.
- Add-ons will be accepted for most programs going to contract. Add-on fees are $75 per episode with a cap of $600 for a series of eight or more episodes. In some instances, the distributor has the right to attempt sales to commercial stations in those markets not sold on the original contract. Should the distributor make such a sale, those markets will then be closed to public television stations.
- On-air promos generally are not available for Syndication offers. When promos are available, they are fed on APT promo reels announced by our Distribution Services department.
If you have any questions regarding purchasing Syndication programs, please contact Erin Bowles via email or 617-338-4455, ext. 146. Email address format is FirstName_LastName@APTonline.org.
PREMIUM SERVICE
- Premium Service is a programming fund that provides high-profile and fundraising specials exclusively for Premium Service members and authorized licensees. The fund comprises a group of stations that subscribe on an annual basis. Membership is open to most stations and enrollment closes July 1 of each year.
- Eligible nonmember stations may purchase Premium Service programs, but at a higher cost than if they were a member. In markets with more than one public television station, the "secondary" station is excluded from membership and from purchasing Premium Service programs if the "primary" station is a member.
- Premium Service programs are always available in both standard and pledge versions. Many times, a pledge event is also made available. On-air promos are always provided as well.
- Premium Service programs are initially announced directly to member stations. Shortly thereafter, a "Program Release Announcement" is posted for the general public television community on Connect Forums. Once program details have been finalized with the supplier, a "Contract Confirmation Announcement" from APT's Contract Services department will be posted to the forums.
- A document containing program timings, segment descriptions, and premium pricing and ordering information is posted on Connect Forums shortly before the program satellite feed. Since most Premium Service programs are original productions, much of this information is not available until the program is completed, often close to the release date.
If you have any questions regarding Premium Service membership and/or programs, please contact Erin Bowles via email or 617-338-4455, ext. 146. Email address format is FirstName_LastName@APTonline.org.
EXCHANGE
- Exchange offers are available free-of-charge to licensees that subscribe to the Exchange service.
- Licensees are required to vote on each program included in the offer book. To find out if your station is an Exchange subscriber or to inquire about joining, please contact Reina Aktay.
- Exchange offers require a minimum of 25 "yes" votes in order to be released for broadcast.
- Exchange program offers are confirmed and available for air once a "Program Release Announcement" is posted. Confirmed details will be contained within a "Contract Confirmation Announcement" posted on Connect Forums approximately four to eight weeks prior to the release date.
- Occasionally, due to the timing of a release, Exchange will offer a program/series via a "Special Offer." Special offers are not specifically offered at a teleconference or Marketplace. The "Special Offer" is posted to Connect Forums with all pertinent details found on a typical offer page, but will also include the release date, program feed (date/time/NOLA code) and preview feed information. The "Special Offer" also serves as the "Program Release Announcement" and confirms that the program is available for air as of the posted release date. Confirmed details will be contained within a "Contract Confirmation Announcement" posted to the Connect Forums. The program/series will be mentioned in the next scheduled teleconference or Marketplace, and votes will be collected at that time.
- On-air promos are generally made available for Exchange offers. For Exchange series, one generic promo is available. Promos are fed via satellite on APT promo reels, and are announced by APT's Distribution Services Department.
- Exchange subscribers may add-on to an Exchange program/series by contacting Loretta Davidson or Whitney Vieira, at any time during the rights term without incurring a late fee.
If you have any questions regarding the Exchange process, please contact Reina Aktay via email or 617-338-4455, ext. 154. Email address format is FirstName_LastName@APTonline.org.
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