Learn the TV/streaming business from the guy who literally wrote the book on it.
In the entertainment industry, most people are expected to learn on the job. Everybody spends at least part of their career “faking it until they make it.” But they don’t always find a boss or colleague who has the inclination — or even sufficient expertise — to help them develop their professional craft with focus and intentionality. Fewer still find a willing and capable boss or colleague who can reliably find the time.
I was lucky enough to find countless people who invested their wisdom as well as their time in getting me to where I am professionally today. And where, exactly, is that? A reluctant but idealistic “entrepreneur” who misses nothing about his old executive jobs more than managing and mentoring young executives and watching as they built the savvy and confidence to tackle any professional challenge. And that, more than anything else, is why I started The Business of Television Prime: to recreate the sense of passion and meaning I once enjoyed from training my own team at work, by doing the same for any team in the business that will have me. (Good news: It’s working.)
With Prime, I now offer training, coaching, consulting, policy & operations design, and other expertise-driven professional services built on the same approach I’ve always used to try to find the “right” solutions in complex and high-stakes dealmaking — grounded in deep expertise and rich experience, adapted to the specific facts and circumstances of each situation, and always guided by the client’s values, priorities, and goals.
The Prime deck
Everything on this page, as I present it, in 20 slides.
Or page through the slides at the bottom of this page ↓
Why Does Prime Exist?
It Has Never Been Harder to Be a Good Boss (or a Good Employee) — Corporate consolidation and market-driven cost-cutting mandates force teams to do even more with even less, leaving even capable, well-intentioned managers without sufficient time or resources to develop rising executive talent.
Our Lives Are Easier (and We All Do Better) When Everyone Is Good — Custom-driven dealmaking puts a premium on shared assumptions and mutual proficiency. Insecurity and inexperience can make even the best young pros defensive and error-prone, costing all parties time, money, opportunity, and sanity. Great training is the best remedy.
Who Is Prime For?
Major Studios & Streamers
Mid-Major & Indie Studios
Independent Producers
Law Firms (Major & Boutique)
Agencies
Management & Production Companies
Investors & Financial Pros
Unions & Trade Groups
Motivated Individuals
What Can Prime Do for Me?
Save Money — by quickly empowering new hires and young professionals to punch above their weight
Save Time — by outsourcing training, freeing leaders to go where they’re needed most and focus on what they do best
Save Energy — by building the confidence, efficiency, and independence of every member of your team
Promote Morale & Retention — by nurturing rising professional talent with structured guidance and support
Technical and Craft Training
Technical Training
Boot Camp — Give new hires a crash course in everything they need to do their jobs well
Mastery — Conquer backend definitions, network licenses, budgets and modeling, complex rights deals, and competitive dealmaking
Innovation Toolkit — Build the skills to tackle any novel dealmaking challenge
The Bigger Picture — Learn how the business works (and why, lately, it so often doesn’t)
Craft Training
Negotiate with Finesse — Develop an effective and personally authentic negotiation style that earns credibility and trust
Communicate with Confidence — Sharpen written and verbal communication with colleagues, clients, and counterparts
Know Where the Action Is — Understand which terms matter most and what information you need to make a better deal
Rewrite the Rulebook — Practice crafting new dealmaking and policy solutions for complex or idiosyncratic situations
Programs Tailored to Your Teams
Business and Legal Affairs — Sharpen the deal knowledge and negotiating skills of executives, attorneys, and their support teams
Creative Teams — Give development, current, and production executives the business fluency to champion projects and partner with dealmakers
Cross-Disciplinary Groups — Put business affairs, legal, creative, finance, and production in one room, working from the same assumptions
Targeted Experience Levels — Pitch every program at the right level, from new hires to rising stars to seasoned leaders
One-on-One Executive and Career Coaching
For Early & Mid-Career Professionals — Receive technical and craft training in an intensive, one-on-one format that is personalized to your needs, interests, goals, and pace
For Late-Career Professionals — Work closely with a thought partner who can help you think big about the industry, grow as a manager and leader, and maybe get a little unofficial therapy
For Professionals at All Levels — Talk about any subject you’d like — from career planning to market intelligence to networking — with an experienced pro who just gets it
Expert Consulting That Empowers Your Business
Consult Your Consigliere — Give senior decision-makers confidential, objective, expert advice on their thorniest challenges
See Outside Your Walls — Track market trends, learn from competitors, and spot opportunities to innovate
Support Your Team — Give junior and mid-level negotiators extra oversight and feedback, and develop your rising stars
Policy and Operations Design for Evolving Organizations
Revise and Reform — Revamp and codify deal policies, approval standards, and negotiating parameters; devise new dealmaking and business models
Build the Templates — Draft clear, concise deal templates, from term sheets to deal memos, that speed negotiation and approval
Department Integration — Assess team strengths and weaknesses; harmonize structure, policies, and processes
Purpose-Built Programs and Packages
Choose Your Own Adventure — Customize every aspect of the substance, format, and goals of your training or coaching program; exercise as much control as you want
You Set the Rules — Decide whether (and how) to address company policies, precedents, and live matters, in confidence*
Practical Pricing — Flat/project, monthly retainer, or hourly billing, depending on the nature and scope of services
* Subject to clearing conflicts. Clear and fair contractual non-disclosure provisions protect all confidential or proprietary client information. No engagement creates an attorney/client relationship or any related duties.
Additional Benefits with Qualifying Engagements*
Group Book Purchases — Put The Business of Television on every participant’s shelf, at group pricing
Free TBoT Max Access — Complimentary Premium access to The Business of Television Max for participating employees, with cheat sheets, sample contract language, and MCLE trainings
Trial Access to TBOT — Ask anything of the only AI chatbot built on The Business of Television, full-length guild agreements, and a curated library of professional-grade industry materials
* Available with select engagements; ask for details.
Professional Biography
Ken Basin is a veteran business affairs and operations executive, recognized as a thought leader in business strategy and dealmaking for original content over a career spanning senior executive roles at Paramount Television Studios, Sony Pictures Television, Amazon Studios, and (most recently) Riot Games, where he also executive produced the Emmy Award-winning second season of the blockbuster Netflix hit Arcane.
Ken is best known as the author of The Business of Television, the leading reference text for (sometimes referred to as “the bible of”) the television and streaming industries. A companion subscription Substack, The Business of Television Max, publishes at tbotmax.com.
Ken is probably second best known for his unique game show accomplishments, which you can Google later if you’d like.
Why Am I the Guy for the Job?
I’m Kind of the Professor of Television* — My book is the go-to training and reference guide for many working professionals, earning me unique credibility and trust across the studio/talent divide. I am known for my clear, structured, and practical approach to teaching not just what we do in this business, but why we do it.
I Have a Great Coaching Tree — The people who have worked for and with me have become sharper, more confident, and more effective executives, negotiators, leaders, lawyers, and problem-solvers for the experience.
Ask them about me (or read their testimonials below).
* Also literally an adjunct professor at Harvard Law School, teaching Entertainment and Media Law (2014–19).
How It Works
1. Start a Conversation — Email ken@tbotmax.com with who needs support, what they need, and what success looks like
2. Design the Program — Choose the services that fit your needs, and shape the program around your priorities
3. Agree on Terms — Settle scope, schedule, and fees up front
4. Get to Work — Start on your schedule, and adjust scope, pace, and focus as you go
Testimonials
From My Former Direct Reports
“Anyone who has worked for Ken, or been fortunate enough to have him as a mentor, knows that what truly sets him apart is his ability to explain the reasoning behind deal structures. He has a rare grasp of the practical, often overlooked details of how the television business actually works across every function, well beyond business affairs and legal, including budgets, P&Ls, and day-to-day production realities. He brings that holistic perspective to his teaching and genuinely cares about making everyone he works with a stronger, more thoughtful negotiator and lawyer.”
— Lisa Wang Pearl, Attorney, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP (previously VP, Business Affairs, Paramount Television Studios)
“When I was an SVP in Ken’s group, Ken met with me weekly to prepare me for a leadership role. Each session pushed me to analyze concepts from every angle and question underlying assumptions. Over time, as we covered more and more aspects of both the business and the job, our regular conversations challenged me to dig deeper and think more strategically. The preparation and Ken’s guidance were invaluable, and when I had the opportunity to run my own department, I was able to hit the ground running.”
— Erika Kirkwood, Partner, Hansen Jacobsen Teller Hoberman et al. LLP (previously EVP and Head of Business Affairs, Paramount Television Studios)
“I consider my early access to Ken’s encyclopedic knowledge of the business, and his genuine joy in sharing that knowledge with me and others, as one of the luckiest hands I was dealt in my career. But even more valuable than all the ‘whats’ and ‘hows’ I learned from Ken, his focus on the ‘whys’ and the importance of thinking critically have been foundational to the way I approach our business, and is what truly sets him apart as an executive and teacher.”
— Rachel Valadez, Vice President, Business Affairs, Universal Global Television (previously VP, Business Affairs, Paramount Television Studios)
“As a boss, Ken taught me not just about the business, but also how to have the confidence necessary to make the hard calls and asks in the dealmaking process. I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to work with him. He is still an amazing resource and friend.”
— Erin Einstein, Attorney, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP (previously EVP, Legal Affairs, Paramount Television Studios)
“Ken is exceptional at taking big complex concepts and making them digestible and accessible. This talent is evident when reading his book, The Business of Television, but is multiplied exponentially when you’re able to interact with Ken directly on a back-and-forth basis, making his Prime service an invaluable offering for training and development.”
— Ari Luxenberg, Business Affairs Executive (TV), William Morris Endeavor (previously SVP, Business Affairs, Paramount Television Studios)
From My Former Colleagues
“Few people can match Ken Basin’s ability to synthesize complexity into clarity. His intelligence is matched only by his creativity and persistence in solving the problems that matter. As my colleague, Ken’s impact was substantial — I learned from working alongside him, and our collaborations consistently resulted in better, more innovative deals, of which our industry is in desperate need. If you’re seeking someone who can define — not just predict — your business’s future, Ken is that partner.”
— Jenna Santoianni, President, MRC Television (previously EVP and Head of Development, Paramount Television Studios)
“Ken Basin’s sharp intelligence, genuine curiosity, and ability to build trust made him a vital (and desperately needed) bridge across departments, with external partner studios, and with corporate leadership. But even better for me, he was exceedingly generous with his time and insight as a professional mentor — always eager not only to teach, but also to learn, and continually impressing me with his combination of exceptional business acumen and sincere, relatable leadership. His sharp wit and keen understanding of all the elements that come into play when working ‘in the industry,’ both tactical and psychological, have helped me time and time again.”
— Melinda Dilger, Producer, Blue Eye Samurai (previously Global Head of Animation Production, Riot Games)
From My Fractional Business Affairs Clients
“Ken has a rare ability to take the most complex business, legal, and strategic issues in television and distill them into clear, actionable thinking. He always brings a thoughtful rationale and a ‘why’ behind every position, making it easier not only for clients to understand, but for counterparties to align and reach agreement. Working with Ken is truly like having a business affairs, legal affairs, and strategic planning executive all in one at your side. His clarity and credibility consistently lead to better, faster outcomes.”
— Andrew Gumpert, President, Business Affairs & Strategy, Artists Equity
“As a company creating a new business model for independent TV, we were lucky to have Ken join our team at the perfect time. He understood our vision right away and was able to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of our approach. He played a vital role in creating a clear and concise deal template, and was our ambassador to the community in explaining the value of our deals for all parties. Ken also has an innate ability to quickly identify the most salient issues in any deal, and based on his extensive experience, provide our team with a very targeted negotiation strategy that enables us to be focused, efficient, and consistently successful.”
— Colin Miller, Chief Operating Officer, Amplify Pictures
The Deck
Every slide, in order. Expand to see all 20, or download the PDF.
