Overall Deal
An exclusive agreement where a creator works solely for one studio or network in exchange for guaranteed compensation.
Definition
Overall deals (also called exclusive deals) lock creators exclusively to one buyer for a set period. Unlike first-look deals where rejected projects go elsewhere, overall deals mean all work stays with that buyer.
Common in television, overall deals provide creators with guaranteed annual compensation regardless of project sales. In return, all their creative output belongs to that network or studio.
Why It Matters
Overall deals represent the industry's highest creator compensation. Eight and nine-figure overall deals for top showrunners (like those with Shonda Rhimes or Ryan Murphy) signal peak market value.
Exclusivity has tradeoffs. Guaranteed income provides security, but creators can't shop projects competitively. Some prefer first-look flexibility over overall deal exclusivity.
Examples in Practice
Netflix signed Ryan Murphy to a reported $300 million overall deal, the largest in television history at the time, making all his new projects exclusive to the streamer.
A showrunner weighs a $5 million annual overall deal (exclusive) versus a $1 million first-look deal (non-exclusive). They choose overall for income stability despite creative constraints.