Summary Box: Entrepreneur buys short films cheaply, gives filmmakers visibility

Summary Box: Entrepreneur building fans of shorts

SHORT INSPIRATION: Former investment banker Carter Pilcher realized several years ago that a business could be made by buying quality short movies relatively cheaply and exposing them to new audiences.

CABLE CHANNELS: His company, Shorts International, now runs subscription TV channels that show short films in six countries. AT&T Inc.’s U-verse began carrying the ShortsHD channel in the U.S. last summer and Dish Network did so in April.

SHORT MONEY: Filmmakers are not likely to get rich off the plan. The licensing fee of a few hundred dollars over several years doesn’t cover the cost of making most shorts. But filmmakers get great exposure.