Streaming Era Sets Off Battle Over TV Rights

When premium cable network Showtime in July started offering past seasons of “Homeland” through its channel on Hulu’s streaming service, the creators and producers of the hit counterterrorism drama sounded the alarm. Executive producers Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon and studio 20th Century Fox feared the arrangement would eat into their profits, people familiar with their thinking said. They don’t get a cut of the money Showtime makes from subscriptions to its Hulu channel. But they do have a financial stake when old episodes of shows are sold to streaming providers such as Netflix Inc., which might not bid as much if the show were already so exposed.

Source: Streaming Era Sets Off Battle Over TV Rights – WSJ