Making money from documentaries is no easy task, but there are some business models that are generating revenues online
The volume of broadcast-quality, long-form documentary content available online is growing, fast. But despite the array of platforms, aggregation services and websites that are eager to work with content creators, many documentary-makers are still struggling to effectively monetise this growing internet audience.
"It's Armageddon, culturally," documentary-maker Ben Lewis, whose credits include Art Safari, says. "At a time when broadcasters are spending and scheduling less, there's still no clear way of making money online; platforms hold on to most of the revenue, aggregators' fees are sky high, and what money you do make is nowhere near enough to fund your next film," he explains.
Lewis generates revenue selling DVDs and streaming content via his own website. He is also selling via Amazon and hopes to soon have his content listed on iTunes.
The volume of broadcast-quality, long-form documentary content available online is growing, fast. But despite the array of platforms, aggregation services and websites that are eager to work with content creators, many documentary-makers are still struggling to effectively monetise this growing internet audience.
"It's Armageddon, culturally," documentary-maker Ben Lewis, whose credits include Art Safari, says. "At a time when broadcasters are spending and scheduling less, there's still no clear way of making money online; platforms hold on to most of the revenue, aggregators' fees are sky high, and what money you do make is nowhere near enough to fund your next film," he explains.
Lewis generates revenue selling DVDs and streaming content via his own website. He is also selling via Amazon and hopes to soon have his content listed on iTunes.
- 6/6/2011
- by Meg Carter
- The Guardian - Film News
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