The Consolidation Era Is Already Here
- Gato Scatena
- Oct 30
- 4 min read
The Consolidation Era Is Already Here
Consolidation isn’t theoretical anymore — it’s the world you’re now operating in. Funds managed by Oaktree have merged FilmRise, Shout! Studios, and Gravitas Ventures into one mega-entity: Radial Entertainment, now overseeing more than 70,000 film and TV assets and dozens of platforms and outputs under one roof. Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s $375M acquisition of eOne absorbed thousands more titles, including Yellowjackets, The Rookie, and film rights to MONOPOLY.
For independent filmmakers, this means the “middle class” of buyers — the Gravitas’, and FilmRises of the world — are no longer competing for content. They’re collaborating under shared infrastructure. And that shift is reshaping how deals get done.
The MG Collapse: A Reality Check
Let’s call it what it is — MGs (Minimum Guarantees) have cratered for mid and low budget indies.A few years ago, $75K–$350K was a modest deal for a well-produced indie. Now, $5K–$150K is the norm, with some buyers offering nothing but rev-share promises and “marketing support.” That’s roughly a 50% drop across the board.
But this isn’t entirely bad news. It’s a signal of where leverage has moved: toward data, libraries, and access. Filmmakers can still win here — not by waiting for the old market to return, but by negotiating in sync with the new one that’s arrived.
Where the Money Actually Flows (2025 Reality Check)
AVOD & FAST — Still growing. Libraries dominate. The bigger the content pipeline, the stronger the negotiating position.
Transactional micro-windows (TVOD) — Front-loaded bursts before sliding into ad-supported revenue.
Airline & hotel licensing — Steady flat-fee income, often outside the “public” licensing radar.
Niche SVODs — Vertical platforms (faith-based, horror, docu) paying small but targeted exclusivity fees.
Data-enhanced royalty optimization — Downstream deals are renegotiated using viewership and retention data.
Micro-territory licensing — Rev-share or flat-fee deals with regional streamers and ISPs.
Community & brand integrations — Direct-to-fan monetization, merch, digital screenings, Q&As.
What This Means for Filmmakers
You don’t need to become a distributor — but you do need to negotiate like one.
1. Lean Into Revenue Share Models — But Demand Transparency