How to Vet a Film Aggregator Before You Sign

Most independent filmmakers evaluate aggregators on two things: platform count and upfront cost. Both matter — but they're not the questions that protect you.

Distribber had platform relationships with iTunes, Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix. Their upfront fees were competitive. In 2019, they went bankrupt, filmmakers lost unpaid revenue, and distribution deals were stranded in the company's name rather than the filmmakers'. Platform count and upfront cost told you nothing about that risk.

This is the checklist that tells you more.

1. Question 01
   What happens to my distribution deals if this company shuts down?
   This is the Distribber question. When an aggregator submits your film to a platform, that deal is typically in the aggregator's name — not yours. If the aggregator closes, the platform has no obligation to you directly. Ask for a wind-down clause in writing: What notice do you receive? Do your rights revert automatically? Does your data export? If they can't answer this — or it's not in the contract — that's a red flag.
   What to look for: a specific contractual clause covering rights reversion and data export on company closure
2. Question 02
   Can you see where your film is in the pipeline — by stage, in real time?
   Submission → QC → delivery → live. These are four distinct stages with different people and processes involved. Some aggregators give you a dashboard. Others give you silence until your film either appears on a platform or doesn't. If you can't see the named stage your film is at, you have no way to know whether it's moving or stuck — or whether anyone is looking at it.
   What to look for: named pipeline stages visible in the filmmaker dashboard, with status updates as stages change
3. Question 03
   Who do you contact when something goes wrong?
   This is the question that separates aggregators from the businesses pretending to be aggregators. Get a name before you sign. Not a support ticket queue. Not a generic email address. A name — and a realistic response time. On Filmhub's free tier, there is effectively no support contact. Their Pro tier (which costs $599/quarter) promises 1–2 day response times, and there is at least one documented case of that failing at a critical moment. "We're working on it" is not a named contact.
   What to look for: a named person, stated response time, and what happens if they miss that window
4. Question 04
   What is the actual revenue share — and how is it calculated?
   Revenue share percentages are often framed as the aggregator's cut, not yours. "30% revenue share" could mean you keep 70% or it could mean you keep 30% — different aggregators use the term differently. Ask: of what? Gross platform revenue, or net after platform fees? On what payment schedule? How do you verify what the platform paid the aggregator vs. what gets passed to you? A dashboard that only shows your earnings without any payment history doesn't give you the full picture.
   What to look for: clear language on whether the percentage is the filmmaker's share or the aggregator's cut; regular payment schedules with documented history; a dashboard that shows your earnings with enough detail to verify the math
5. Question 05
   Is your license to them exclusive — and for which platforms?
   An aggregator only needs exclusive rights on the platforms where they're actually submitting your film. Some contracts imply a broader exclusivity — covering platforms the aggregator hasn't submitted you to, or restricting you from distributing through other channels simultaneously. A non-exclusive license means you can be on Filmhub and another aggregator at the same time. That flexibility matters, especially pre-scale when you don't know which platform will perform for your film.
   What to look for: a non-exclusive license, scoped specifically to the platforms the aggregator is delivering to — not a blanket exclusivity
6. Question 06
   Can you schedule your release date — and what does that cost?
   If you're building a marketing campaign around your launch — press outreach, social push, a screening event — you need to know when your film goes live. Not "sometime this quarter." A date. Filmhub charges $599/quarter (their Pro tier) for the ability to schedule release dates. On their free and mid tiers, the go-live date is not guaranteed. If you've already spent money on a PR campaign and the platform misses the launch window, that spend is gone. Ask what controlling your release date costs before you commit.
   What to look for: confirmed release dates at the plan tier you can afford, with consequences if the aggregator misses them
7. Question 07
   What can the aggregator change without your approval?
   Aggregators can and do change pricing, revenue share, and service terms. What notice do they give you before a price increase? Can they submit your film to a platform you haven't approved? Can they license your content to third parties for marketing purposes without asking? Read the section on modifications, platform submissions, and promotional rights carefully. You want to know what they can do without your explicit sign-off.
   What to look for: explicit notice requirements for price changes (30 days minimum); platform approval required before submission; no promotional rights on your content without consent
8. Question 08
   Does this aggregator sell or use your data?
   Your submission data — film title, synopsis, contact, earnings — belongs to you. Some platforms use filmmaker data to train recommendation algorithms or for advertising targeting. Ask for a direct answer: what do you do with my data, and do you share it with third parties for commercial purposes? A legitimate aggregator should be able to say clearly whether your information is sold or used for ad targeting. If it's not in the privacy policy, ask.
   What to look for: a clear privacy policy statement that your data is not sold and not used for advertising targeting

The short version

Ask these eight questions. If an aggregator can't answer five of them clearly — or defers to "check the terms" on questions about wind-down or exclusivity — that's the answer.

You're not being difficult. You're protecting years of work. Any aggregator worth working with will have direct answers.