Film and TV producers are sitting on a potential gold mine of revenues from non-theatrical showings of their content. Many are possibly unaware of the substantial income they're entitled to, from public presentations of their works outside of traditional cinemas and home viewings. In fact, fewer than 50% of businesses showing content publicly have the right license, according to research conducted in the U.K.
For decades, the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) has been helping partners across the world to understand the complexities of non-theatrical licensing, with the aim of ensuring that intellectual property owners receive the royalties their content generates.
MPLC is a one-stop shop for businesses and organizations to either choose a one-off license for a standalone event or opt for the MPLC blanket license, the most popular offering that is affordable to buy and provides businesses immediate coverage. Much like the collection of royalties for public performances of music, the MPLC license enables businesses and organizations to show films and TV shows in public venues, including retail spaces, fitness areas, corporate offices, hotel bedrooms and auto dealerships.
"Our mission is to protect the intellectual property rights of studios and ensure they are paid when their content is used," says CEO Rory Shedden. "We work tirelessly, navigating the complexities of public performance licensing on behalf of our studio partners. We have teams of experts who are tasked with maximizing potential revenue within each territory across our global operations, responding in real time to changes in local law, cultural nuances and emerging market opportunities. In this area of the industry, there is not an obvious point of sale, as there is in a cinema, for example, so MPLC does the legwork to ensure the maximum amount of revenue is collected and fed back to our studio partners."
With headquarters in the U.K. and a dedicated office in Los Angeles, MPLC operates in 28 countries across the globe and provides tens of thousands of individual licenses to businesses and organizations. Under Shedden's leadership, the company has grown by 52% in the last two years to become the world's leading non-theatrical licensing company for TV and movie content.
"For over 30 years, Warner Bros. has trusted MPLC to represent its blanket licensing rights around the world," says Andrew Cripps, president of international distribution at Warner Bros. "As the way we access film and television content continues to evolve, MPLC has remained a constant in its support of intellectual property and content creators."
Along with generating revenue for content creators and owners, MPLC supports demand from over 95,000 existing and new license holders, enabling them to use entertainment content from thousands of popular film and television offerings. MPLC also enhances customer experience and business offerings to help license holders comply with copyright laws and avoid adverse legal consequences.
"Our company has longstanding partnerships with leading Hollywood studios, including The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., CNN International and CBS News," says Roger Pollock, MPLC's global head of studio relations. "Our comprehensive licensing solutions champion the rights of creators and studios while enriching the viewing experiences of countless individuals beyond the cinema. Our business supports and funds the creation of exceptional content by ensuring creators receive fair compensation for their work. It's a crucial service in a world where that is increasingly difficult due to the ubiquity of piracy and illegal streaming."
MPLC plays a pivotal role in maintaining the vitality and accessibility of movies and TV shows across various platforms. The company's data shows a 95% renewal rate among licensees, demonstrating the effectiveness and value of its services. "The more rights a studio grants to MPLC, the higher its royalty revenues can become," Pollock notes. "For instance, granting rights not only for hotel lobbies but also for guest rooms can significantly increase public performance royalties."
Pollock adds, "We monetize behavior that is already happening and are dedicated to protecting and enhancing the content that our customers love, ensuring that the creative community continues to thrive."
By fostering a culture of appreciation and support for the arts — with a commitment to fairness, affordability, sustainability and legal integrity — MPLC's values closely reflect those of the studios and companies they represent in the market.
"MPLC has represented Universal Pictures' public performance rights for decades," says Jeff Greenspun, EVP of theatrical distribution operations at Universal Pictures. "Their licensing and compliance initiatives provide financial support for the premium films and TV series that we produce and for the jobs that rely on them. Universal values MPLC as a trusted partner."
While longstanding relationships with producers in film, TV and streaming are crucial, MPLC welcomes inquiries from prospective local and international partners. "We are happy to walk anyone through the wealth of opportunities in this growth area of the film and television industry," says Pollock.
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