I have just entered into a similar arrangments with the History Channel and
the Discovery Channel.  Before doing so, I called around to several local
istitutions here in the Chicago area, and very frustratingly, I got asnwers all
over the board on fees!

We are a small museums and finally decided on charging $25/image for
television productions.  I know this is a fraction of what other museums charge
(indeed the producer has complained to be about another local museum because they
charge over $200 for their images).

Our justifications --
We are a specialized topic (a fire museum) and many of these same types of
images are owned and avaliable from a lot of private collectors.  Many of these
collectors have (will) provide these images to someone such as the History
Channel for nothing -- or just for the "bragging rights" associated with working
on a television show.  It has been my experiance that a production company
will pay a little more (but not a lot more) for getting the image from a
"reputable" source and in a formatt that's easy for them to use.

Also, I tended to think that because we were providing the images in quanity
-- more than 50 in one case -- that should lower the price.... (cheaper by the
dozen theory)?

Lastly, I see it as part of our mission -- to present this history.  True the
Hist./Discovery Channel are for-profit entitys and they do have huge budgets,
but still there is a sense of duty when someone comes to our organization
looking for assistance in telling our of "our" stories.  I feel we should do our
best to share our "public" collection with the public -- however that may best
be done.

Our "good-will" has worked out in the end.  In both of our sitations the
production company donated money/materials to our museum.  In one case they
donated the "artifacts" used in a historical recreation and we are planning on doing
an exhibit on the myth vs. the reality.  In another situation, the production
company has donated several tapes of raw footage for our use in historical
programing.  Also both production companied have (will be) allowing us to
publicly air the programs.  For the Discovery show last year we did a fun,
members-only, "premeer night" fund-raising event, and the producer cajoled the
production company into sending a $1,000 donation!
(Ha!  -- see guilt about our low usage fees "pays off!" -- *grin*)

Good luck with your decisions.  Hope this helps.

 - David -
David Lewis, curator
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
www.auroraregionalfiremuseum.org

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