The verdict in three sentences
A thematic channel broadcasting over the air and on FAST platforms that manages 4,000 rights contracts in spreadsheets risks, with every schedule, an airing outside the window, outside the territory or beyond the licensed number of runs. A packaged rights management system costs 120,000 to 300,000 USD including integration, a custom build sits in a similar range, for a 5 to 8 month project. Expiry alerts and a blocking check at scheduling remove the risk of airing without rights, and a single incident can cost more than the tool.
Why spreadsheets no longer cut it
The head of programming juggles rights acquired from US and international distributors: dated broadcast windows, territories (US, Canada, Latin America), number of runs, exclusivities, linear, catch-up and FAST rights, language versions and closed captioning required by the FCC. Music cue sheets and guild residuals add another layer.
With one file per distributor, nobody knows instantly whether a documentary can air Saturday prime time on the FAST feed that also reaches Canada. Programming checks by hand, or does not check.
| Indicator (2026 estimate) | Spreadsheets | Rights management software |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts tracked | 4,000 across 30 to 50 files | single database, 4,000 contracts and amendments |
| Rights check before scheduling | manual, partial | automatic blocking check |
| Window expiry alerts | none or personal calendar | automatic at 90, 30 and 7 days |
| Run counting | by hand after the fact | real time per title |
| Captioning and compliance tracking | rebuilt at audit time | tracked monthly |
| Value of unused catalogue | unknown | dormant rights report |
Packaged system or custom build: the comparison
Packaged broadcast rights systems cover the essentials but impose their data model and costly integrations with the scheduling tool and playout. A custom build mirrors your contract types and your combined linear plus FAST distribution.
| Criterion | Packaged rights system | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 80,000 to 200,000 USD licence | 120,000 to 300,000 USD |
| Scheduling and playout integration | 40,000 to 100,000 USD extra | included in scope |
| Annual cost | 18 to 25 % of licence | 12 to 15 % of project |
| Timeline | 6 to 10 months | 5 to 8 months |
| FAST and AVOD handling | varies by vendor | designed in from day one |
| Compliance dashboards | limited configuration | dedicated dashboards |
| Code ownership | no | yes |
For a mid-sized thematic channel, the 5-year total cost is often comparable. Custom wins when the channel runs several FAST platforms with specific territory rules.
Must-have features
The minimum scope includes: a title and rights holder register, structured contract entry (windows, territories, platforms, runs), an availability engine searchable by title and date, a blocking check built into the scheduling tool, expiry alerts, acquisition cost tracking with amortisation per run, and compliance dashboards. An API feeds FAST platforms with metadata and availability dates.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Michael, head of programming at a New York thematic channel, has 2 rights coordinators who each spend 40 % of their time checking availability, 0.8 FTE at 95,000 USD loaded cost, 76,000 USD a year. A single unlicensed airing can trigger a contractual penalty of 25,000 to 80,000 USD and strain the distributor relationship. With a 200,000 USD custom build and 26,000 USD of annual maintenance, freed time and two avoided incidents a year pay for the tool in 2 to 3 years, before counting the value of dormant rights (estimate).
FAQ
How much does rights management software cost for a TV channel?
A packaged system costs 80,000 to 200,000 USD in licences plus 40,000 to 100,000 USD of integration. A custom build ranges from 120,000 to 300,000 USD, with 12 to 15 % a year in maintenance.
Does the software prevent unlicensed airings?
Yes, the check is built into the scheduling tool: a title outside its window, territory or run count is blocked before approval. Alerts go out 90, 30 and 7 days before each expiry.
Does it handle FAST and AVOD rights?
Yes, each contract lists authorised platforms and the availability engine separates linear, catch-up and FAST. This is a common weak spot in tools designed before 2020.
Can we track captioning and compliance obligations?
Yes, titles carry their captioning status and compliance attributes, and a monthly dashboard tracks gaps. That avoids discovering issues during an audit.
How long does migrating 4,000 contracts take?
Migration often takes 6 to 10 weeks of the project, importing spreadsheets then verifying active contracts first. The full project takes 5 to 8 months.
Let's scope your project. Share your contract volume, distribution platforms and scheduling tool, and we will price the scope, indicative budget and timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
