For production companies, distributors and content creators, expanding into new territories doesn’t just mean selling a project overseas. It is an opportunity to evolve from being established in your home market, into a recognisable industry leader and expert on bringing content to global audiences, working with international talent and building partnerships across multiple territories.

The UK has long been one of the world’s great format exporters. MasterChef, Love Island and countless others have travelled far beyond their original market, creating enduring value for the producers, commissioners and broadcasters behind their success. But that pipeline is under pressure. A new format will always be a risk. But there are ways to give buyers, partners and audiences more reasons to back it.

Short-form, vertical videos – filmed in a 9:16 aspect ratio and designed for iPhone viewing – have fast become today’s global entertainment format phenomenon. Previously dismissed as low-value, this bite-sized content now forms a multi-billion-dollar industry which traditional film and TV producers can no longer afford to ignore.

Early development of a feature film can mean organising logistical aspects, timelines and budgets – but do you know how to use PR so that it can support this strategy from the beginning? Press and communication about a film doesn’t have to start on premiere day. Thoughtful, tactical PR placement can raise visibility, help secure financing and begin building an audience way before the camera rolls or the curtain goes up.

As the global market navigates shifts, financing barriers and tighter budgets combined with a tumultuous geopolitical landscape, there is a huge need to evolve models of production and packaging – e.g. coproducing with new territories – and making informed creative decisions – e.g. staying updated with changing audience behaviours – is paramount.

TV channels and streamers need to now more than ever assess their PR potential strategically to stand out. Broadcasters, channel groups and PSBs have a view that indies innately don’t have – access and authority across an entire ecosystem.

Virtual production is no longer the industry’s shiny new toy. Across the UK and internationally, a growing number of facilities, technology providers and production partners are also entering the virtual production market.

Human intelligence > Artificial intelligence. The question shouldn’t be whether PR is threatened by AI. The question is how we continue stay valuable in a world that is overwhelmed by it. Because let’s face it – it is already everywhere, and it touches everything we do.

We’ve asked some of our clients and network, who are experts in digital content, to share their insights into the current YouTube landscape. They explore the opportunities the format provides, break down distribution processes, look at how to utilise the platform in a strategic way, and share advice for producers.