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Holdback

business

A contractual restriction preventing content from appearing on certain platforms or in certain regions for a set period.

Explanation

A holdback is a licensing provision that prevents a piece of content from being made available on specific platforms, in certain regions, or during defined time periods. For example, a studio's output deal with Netflix might include holdbacks preventing the same films from appearing on a competitor's platform. Holdbacks are also used to protect theatrical releases by preventing digital availability during the theatrical window.

Last updated: March 2026