10 questions to ask before choosing a streaming platform

1. Who is actually watching?
   How many active viewers or paying subscribers does the platform likely have, and how does that compare with the size of its catalogue? If you're a niche genre film on a mainstream platform, will your audience be there and will your film perform?
2. How will audiences discover my film?
   Does the platform actively promote individual titles through social media, email, editorial, partnerships and recommendations, or will your film simply sit in a catalogue? Discoverability is a challenge on platforms so you want to see if they'll actually promote your film.
3. Does it have a genuine audience outside its own website?
   Check social reach and, more importantly, engagement. Are audiences, filmmakers, festivals and independent voices actually talking about the platform? 
4. How does the platform make money?
   Is it subscription, rental, advertising, licensing or a mixture? If you cannot understand where the money comes from, it is difficult to understand how you will get paid.
5. Does the business model make financial sense?
   Look at subscription prices, free trials, lifetime memberships and heavy discounting. Can the platform realistically cover technology, staffing, marketing and licensing costs at those prices while still paying filmmakers?
6. What have filmmakers actually been paid?
   A promised revenue percentage means very little without revenue. Ask about previous payouts, reporting frequency and whether you can speak to filmmakers already on the service. Don't be afraid to identify a similar title on the platform and reach out via social media to ask them if they receive reporting and royalties.
7. How frequently is new content released?
   Subscription platforms need regular new content to retain customers. Long gaps between releases may indicate problems with acquisitions, cash flow and.or subscriber growth.
8. What rights am I giving them, and for how long?
   Check territory, exclusivity, term, renewal provisions and termination rights. Avoid unnecessarily giving away rights the platform cannot meaningfully exploit.
9. Where does this platform fit within my windowing strategy?
   Consider whether the film should still be on the festival circuit, earning through screenings or TVOD, moving into SVOD, or reaching the stage where AVOD or free viewing makes sense. Do not sacrifice a higher-value window simply to achieve immediate availability.
10. Is this a platform I believe can still be operating in five years?
    Look beyond promises of growth. Does it have a sustainable model, a clear audience, sensible pricing, regular releases and a proven history of paying filmmakers? Supporting independent platforms matters, but supporting sustainable ones matters more.

The underlying question across all ten is simple: Is the platform offering distribution and discoverability, or is it simply another place where my film can technically be watched, or will be but remain fairly invisible?