Elizabeth Sheldon
Director of Acquisitions and Co-Productions
Schlessinger Media

What genre of documentary/non-fiction do you program?
We license exclsuive non-theatric and home video distribution rights,including VOD, for North America for media content that can be utilized in the K-12 educational market.

How many hours or slots do you program per year?
We are actively seeking to acquire 200 programs in 2005.

What percentage or number of hours are commissioned vs. acquired? (Ie. 60% commissions/ 40% acquisitions)
In 2004, we commissioned 80% and acquired 10%.

What is the average amount for acquisitions and/or license fee?
Depends on the content and number of hours.

What are you looking for right now?
Series (not one-offs) in history, world cultures, geography, literature, science and math.

How do you prefer to be pitched?
An initial e-mail inquiry with relevant information about the series, such as copyright, broadcast partners, overview, etc.

What is your biggest pitch turnoff?
When the pitcher doesn't know what Schlessigner Media distributes and to whom.