What is one strategic purpose of a media franchise as a business model?

• A. Brands rarely extend beyond original releases.
• B. Franchises primarily rely on one medium.
• C. Franchises discourage derivative media.
• D. Franchises generate cross-media storytelling opportunities and revenue through sequels and merchandise.

Answer: (D)

Franchises maximize value by letting stories unfold across multiple platforms and products, building a connected universe that keeps fans engaged over time. This cross-media approach opens several revenue streams: new installments like sequels or spin-offs, licensing for games and merchandise, and other derivative media. That combination—the ability to tell stories in different formats while monetizing through sequels and lots of merchandise—is what makes the franchise business model strategically strong. The other ideas describe more limited or single-medium approaches, which don’t capture the way franchises typically grow audiences or profits.