Shorts TV
The world's first and only television channel dedicated to short films
Overview
Shorts TV is a unique television channel and streaming platform exclusively dedicated to short-form content. It broadcasts short films across cable, satellite, and digital platforms in multiple countries, giving short filmmakers a distribution outlet that has traditionally been very difficult to find.
Filmmakers can submit their short films for consideration through the platform's acquisitions team. Accepted films are broadcast on the Shorts TV channel and made available through the platform's digital distribution network.
How It Works
The platform is particularly notable for its annual Oscar-nominated shorts theatrical releases, which bring short films to movie theaters worldwide. This gives selected filmmakers extraordinary exposure that would otherwise be impossible for short-form content.
Distribution terms and licensing fees are handled on a per-project basis. Filmmakers should reach out to the Shorts TV acquisitions team to discuss terms for their specific project.
Who Uses It
An invaluable resource for short filmmakers who want their work seen on television and in theatrical settings. The focus on short-form content means your film is not competing against features for attention.
Pricing & Plans
Shorts TV operates on a licensing model where filmmakers are paid a licensing fee for the right to broadcast their short films on the channel and its digital platforms. Licensing fees are negotiated on a per-project basis and vary depending on the film's length, production quality, festival history, and commercial appeal, with fees typically ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the title's profile. The licensing agreement specifies the broadcast territory, duration of rights, and number of allowed broadcasts, with terms varying based on the scope of the distribution arrangement. For the annual Oscar-nominated shorts theatrical releases, separate licensing terms apply, and being included in these theatrical compilations represents an additional revenue stream and exposure opportunity beyond standard channel broadcast. There are no submission fees for filmmakers to have their work considered by the acquisitions team, making it a zero-risk proposition to submit your short film for evaluation. Compared to the near-zero revenue that most short films generate on other platforms, Shorts TV's licensing model provides one of the few genuine monetization pathways available for short-form content.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Shorts TV is the only global television channel and streaming platform exclusively dedicated to short films, which means your work receives a level of focused attention and curatorial respect that is impossible on general-audience platforms where shorts are buried beneath feature-length content. The annual Oscar-nominated shorts theatrical releases represent an extraordinary opportunity for selected filmmakers, bringing short films to movie theaters worldwide and generating public attention for a format that rarely receives theatrical distribution. The television broadcast model reaches audiences who would never actively seek out short films on streaming platforms, exposing your work to viewers who discover it while browsing their cable or satellite channels. Shorts TV's global distribution network spans multiple countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, providing international exposure that individual short filmmakers cannot achieve independently. The platform's editorial curation and programming create a premium viewing context for short films, positioning your work alongside other carefully selected titles rather than lost in an algorithm-driven feed. Being broadcast on Shorts TV serves as a meaningful credential on a filmmaker's resume, signaling to industry professionals that your short film met a professional distribution standard.
What Could Be Better
The selective acquisitions process means that many submitted short films are not accepted, and the evaluation criteria can be opaque, leaving rejected filmmakers with limited understanding of why their work was not selected. Licensing fees for individual short films, while better than most alternatives, are generally modest and unlikely to recoup the production costs of a well-produced short, making this a career-building opportunity rather than a significant revenue source. The broadcast rights granted to Shorts TV may restrict your ability to distribute the same short film through other channels during the licensing period, depending on the exclusivity terms of your agreement. The platform's audience, while dedicated to short-form content, is relatively small compared to major streaming services, and broadcast viewership metrics for individual short films are generally not shared with filmmakers in detail. The submission and evaluation process can be slow, with response times varying significantly, and filmmakers may wait months before hearing back about their submissions. Shorts TV's focus on polished, festival-quality short films means that experimental, ultra-low-budget, or unconventional work may not align with the channel's programming standards and audience expectations.
Our Recommendation
Shorts TV is highly recommended for short filmmakers who have completed polished, festival-quality short films and are looking for genuine distribution beyond the festival circuit and YouTube uploads. The platform is particularly valuable for filmmakers who want to build professional credentials and demonstrate that their work has been selected for broadcast distribution, which strengthens applications to film schools, grant programs, and industry networking. If your short film has received festival selections, awards, or positive critical attention, you should absolutely submit it to Shorts TV as part of your post-festival distribution strategy. Filmmakers whose primary goal is maximum viewership rather than licensing revenue should consider pairing a Shorts TV submission with a simultaneous YouTube or Vimeo release, as Shorts TV's smaller audience may not satisfy creators who prioritize view counts. For very experimental or non-narrative short work, platforms like Vimeo's Staff Picks or specialized film festivals may be more appropriate venues than Shorts TV's broadcast-oriented programming.
Pro Tips
Submit your short film to Shorts TV after completing your festival run, as festival selections and awards significantly strengthen your submission and improve your chances of acceptance. Prepare professional deliverables including a high-quality master file, compelling key artwork, a polished synopsis, and any festival laurels or press coverage that demonstrates your film's quality and audience reception. Review the licensing agreement carefully before signing, paying particular attention to exclusivity terms, territorial scope, broadcast duration, and whether the agreement restricts your ability to distribute the film through other channels simultaneously. Time your submission strategically — if your short film is in contention for Academy Award qualification, coordinate with Shorts TV's acquisitions team early, as the Oscar-nominated shorts theatrical releases have specific timelines and selection processes. Continue promoting your short film independently through social media, filmmaker communities, and your professional network, as filmmaker-driven audience development increases the value of your work to any distribution platform and strengthens your negotiating position for future projects.
