Streamers Tighten Grip on Content Rights, Leaving Little Room for Negotiation

According to industry experts, the rapid growth of streaming has significantly transformed the TV distribution landscape. As of October 1st, 2025, the traditional windowing strategies for film and television are being materially disrupted by the evolving streaming environment.

Alexander Marín, VP of Distribution at Estudios RCN, explains that the "consumption curve has completely altered, so the monetization curve has been destroyed." He recalls how a decade ago, negotiating content rights with the then-nascent Netflix was relatively straightforward, but those "sorts of opportunities don't exist anymore."

Fremantle's Al de Azpiazu concurs, noting that it is now "harder to differentiate the windows we can monetize" due to the complicated market situation. Streamers like Netflix and Prime Video are increasingly "functioning more and more like regular TV, accepting the windowing system."

However, David Atlan-Jackson of Vuelta Entertainment argues that the windowing system is still essential for making content stand out. He believes the streamers' focus on subscriber retention and profit-making means they are willing to adapt to the traditional model, even if it is a challenging transition.

As the industry navigates these changes, experts agree that the power dynamics have shifted, with streamers tightening their grip on content rights and leaving little room for negotiation. The future of TV distribution remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the disruption caused by streaming is fundamentally reshaping the industry.