Pitch Deck Template for Landing Platform Commissions (BBC, Disney+ Playbook)

Stop guessing — build a commission-ready pitch deck that platforms actually open

Creators and indie producers: your biggest barrier to landing commissions isn’t the idea — it’s the delivery. Platforms like the BBC and Disney+ now commission with sharper editorial strategies and regional playbooks. If your deck looks like a generic festival submission, it will be passed. This guide gives a customizable pitch deck template built for platform commissioning in 2026, with concrete lessons from the BBC’s platform partnerships and Disney+’s commissioning reshuffle.

Why this matters in 2026

Late 2025 and early 2026 accelerated two clear commissioning trends:

• Platform-first partnerships: Broadcasters are creating bespoke shows for third-party platforms (see BBC in talks for YouTube commissions).
• Regional commissioning power: Streamers like Disney+ are reorganizing teams in EMEA to commission local originals with global scalability.

These moves mean platforms want proposals that are platform-aware (format-first), region-aware (audience-first), and rights-aware (clear licensing asks). Use this deck to speak their language.

Quick takeaway (inverted-pyramid summary)

• Lead with a one-line hook and a 60-second sizzle summary.
• Show platform fit early: format, runtime, windowing, and geography.
• Include a compact show bible and monetization/rights ask — platforms need clarity to greenlight fast.
• Deliver assets in platform-ready formats (vertical short-form + 4K master + low-res proxies).

Lessons from the BBC and Disney+ (what to copy)

BBC: platform partnerships and bespoke formats

In January 2026 reports showed the BBC negotiating bespoke content deals for YouTube channels, signaling a shift where traditional broadcasters will produce platform-native shows. The lesson for creators: pack platform-specific variants into your pitch. Don’t just pitch a 45-minute pilot — pitch a 6×10-minute vertical companion, a 60-second hook for social, and a long-form premiere cut.

“BBC in talks to produce content for YouTube in landmark deal” — Variety, Jan 2026.

Disney+: commissioning with regional strategy

Disney+ EMEA’s promotions in late 2025 show commissioning teams doubling down on regional leads. That means commissioners expect: clear localization plans, potential talent attachments in-region, and exportability. Your deck must answer how a show travels from London to LATAM, or from a Nordic pilot to a pan-EMEA slate.

Source: Deadline coverage of Disney+ EMEA promotions — shows a commissioning focus on regionally tailored content.

The 12-slide commission-ready pitch deck (template outline)

Use this structure as your master template. Each slide is annotated with purpose, copy length, and file format suggestions.

1. Slide 1 — Title + One-line Hook (30 words)

   Purpose: Stop the skim. Format: PNG + PDF first page. Copy: 1-sentence hook, genre, and tone. Example: “THE LINE: A 6×10-min factual series exploring last-mile rescue teams — gritty, cinematic, and platform-native for social discovery.”

2. Slide 2 — 60-Second Sizzle (visual + bullets)

   Purpose: Give a rapid mental movie. Include a 60-second embedded sizzle (MP4) and three bullets that capture stakes, protagonist, and format. If you don’t have a sizzle, use a 3-card mockup (poster, moment, location).

3. Slide 3 — Platform Fit & Why Now

   Purpose: Explain why this fits the commissioner’s strategy. Include platform-specific hooks: audience demo, watch patterns, and examples of similar recent commissions (cite BBC/Disney+ moves where relevant).

4. Slide 4 — Show Format & Episode Blueprint

   Purpose: Runtime, episode count, act breaks, and vertical/short-form variants. Include a table showing 4 versions: broadcast/full, streaming cut, 8–12 min social, and 60-sec promo.

5. Slide 5 — Story & Characters (mini-bible)

   Purpose: Core arc and 3–5 character sketches. Keep to one paragraph per character and one-line stakes per episode.

6. Slide 6 — Pilot Outline + Episode 2–4 Loglines

   Purpose: Show immediate pipeline. Include one-paragraph pilot beat sheet and loglines for early episodes demonstrating sustainability.

7. Slide 7 — Visual References & Moodboard

   Purpose: Cinematic DNA. Use stills, color palette swatches, and a 3-shot storyboard for the pilot’s key scene. Provide links to a Figma moodboard and a downloadable PDF mockup.

8. Slide 8 — Production Plan & Budget Range

   Purpose: Realistic cost and timeline. Offer 3 budget tiers (economy, standard, premium) with key line items: core crew, above-the-line, VFX, and post. Provide a high-level 12–18 month schedule.

9. Slide 9 — Rights & Windowing Ask

   Purpose: Be explicit about what you’re offering. Example asks: 12-month exclusive first window (global), creator retains format rights, platform gets linear/streaming rights for X territories. Offer alternative co-pro scenarios.

10. Slide 10 — Team & Attachments

    Purpose: Build trust. Include short bios, past credits (with links), and attachments: director reel, writer samples, producer CVs. Highlight regional ties (for Disney+ EMEA) and platform experience (for BBC/YouTube-style deals).

11. Slide 11 — Audience & Marketing Plan

    Purpose: How this will find its viewers. Include key demos, discovery strategy (social-first verticals, editorial partnerships), and 3 KPIs (views, completion rate, subscriber lift).

12. Slide 12 — Next Steps & Call-to-Action

    Purpose: Make it frictionless to greenlight next steps. Offer three options: pitch meeting, request for pilot fee, or development agreement. Include contact, one-sheet PDF link, and sizzle download.

Slide-level copy examples (paste-ready)

Drop these into your deck and adapt the specifics.

• Hook: “A 6×10 factual series following city rescue crews — raw, cinematic, and primed for social-first discovery.”
• Pilot logline: “When a winter storm strands a metro tram, one rookie paramedic must lead a rescue that exposes a city’s hidden fractures.”
• Platform fit blurb: “Built to increase dwell time and discoverability: 10-minute episodes with 60-second narrative hooks for Shorts and Reels.”

Packaging assets: what to include and file specs (2026 platform expectations)

Commissioners in 2026 expect more than a PDF. Deliver a zip with labeled files and platform variants.

• Master sizzle: MP4, 4K where possible, H.264/H.265, 1920×1080 (and 9:16 vertical version), 60–120 seconds.
• Low-res proxies: 720p MP4 for fast email previews.
• Deck: Google Slides + PowerPoint export + PDF one-sheet.
• Moodboard & storyboards: Figma file + PDF mockup.
• Show bible: Editable Word/Google Doc with episode breakdowns and rights appendix.
• Legal one-pagers: rights proposal, talent attachments, NDA (if required).

Commission negotiation cheat-sheet

Be proactive — include your ideal terms in the deck so commissioners can say “yes faster.”

• Exclusivity: Offer a short exclusive first window (6–12 months) with non-exclusive long tail if you want wider distribution.
• Territories: Specify primary territories and list options for additional territory licensing.
• Rights: Separate format, broadcast, SVOD, AVOD, clips, and short-form social rights. Platforms increasingly pay for a full bundle — but you can keep format or remake rights.
• Fee vs. Development: Request a paid pilot or development fee. If the platform offers only development, secure a defined timeline and milestones.
• Credits & Back-End: Keep on-screen credits and negotiate backend or incentive structures if you retain exploitation rights.

Production and delivery realities (practical checklist)

Prepare to answer delivery questions in the first meeting. Symptoms of an inexperienced pitch: vague timelines and no delivery spec. Fix that now.

1. Confirm delivery masters: codec, color space (Rec. 709 or 2020), closed captions, and subtitle packs.
2. List localization needs: dubbed vs. subtitled, regional promos, alternate music clearance.
3. Provide post schedule: offline, online, color, VFX, delivery window.
4. Offer data plan: how you’ll measure launch success and feed metrics back to platform partners.

Platform-tailored extras (increase your chance to be greenlit)

Use these add-ons based on the BBC/YouTube and Disney+ playbooks:

• Short-form companion edits: 3–6 vertical edits per episode for discovery.
• Behind-the-scenes bundle: 3–5 bingeable shorts for platform channels.
• Local talent attachments: Attach one in-region host or actor to show local scalability.
• Data-driven audience map: Provide a one-page map of potential audience clusters and suggested hometown premiers or festivals.

Case study: How a creator used this deck to win a regional commission (anonymized)

In late 2025, an indie production used this exact structure to land a co-commission between a UK public broadcaster’s digital arm and a global streamer’s EMEA slate. Key moves that won the deal:

• Included a vertical companion for platform feeds (matched BBC/YouTube interests).
• Negotiated a 9-month first-window exclusivity with retained format rights for remakes.
• Attached an EMEA-based director to satisfy regional commissioning leads at Disney+.

The result: a paid development deal, a greenlit pilot, and a multi-territory licensing option within six weeks of the pitch.

Design, accessibility and SEO for commissioners

Design matters: clean typography, high-contrast images, and accessible PDFs. Also make your materials discoverable if you’re submitting via a platform portal:

• Filename convention: projectname_deck_v1_2026.pdf
• Include metadata: title, logline, keywords (pitch deck, commissioning, platform pitch, show bible), and contact info in the PDF metadata.
• Provide closed captions and transcript for sizzles to improve accessibility and searchability.

How to customize this template fast (30–90 minutes)

Use this quick workflow to adapt the deck for a specific platform in under 90 minutes.

1. Open the base deck (Google Slides) and replace the Title and Hook (5 mins).
2. Swap the moodboard images and update the visual references (10–20 mins).
3. Adjust the Platform Fit slide with 2–3 sentences about the specific platform (5 mins).
4. Prepare a 60-sec sizzle cut or a vertical 30-sec promo (30–45 mins if you have footage; use existing assets otherwise).
5. Export deck + sizzle, compress into a labeled zip, and attach the show bible (10 mins).

Downloadable assets & mockups (what to include in your Assets & Downloads kit)

When you package your materials for a commissioner, include these mockups and templates:

• Google Slides & PowerPoint templates (editable)
• Figma moodboard + storyboard templates
• One-sheet PDF generator (editable Word/Google Doc)
• Sizzle templates: 60-sec vertical/social + 2-min 16:9
• Rights one-pager (sample contract language)
• Delivery checklist PDF (technical specs and deadlines)

Final tips from commissioning insiders (practical etiquette)

• Be concise: commissioners read dozens of decks. One strong page beats six weak ones.
• Be transparent: show realistic budgets and timelines — platforms appreciate honesty.
• Be adaptable: offer variants and co-pro scenarios instead of hard “take-it-or-leave-it” asks.
• Follow-up smartly: After sending, wait 7–10 business days, then offer a 15-minute call slot with calendars attached.

Looking ahead: commissioning trends to watch in 2026–2027

Plan your pitch for the near future:

• Platform-hosted shorts: Expect more broadcasters to fund short-form ecosystems — include short variants in every pitch.
• Data-first commissioning: Platforms will increasingly request pre-launch audience tests and pilot analytics — offer measurement plans up front.
• Creator-economy tie-ins: Commission deals will favor projects with creator network strategies (influencers, vertical channels, UGC to amplify discovery).

Resources & links

Useful reading on the shifting commissioning landscape:

• Variety — BBC in talks to produce content for YouTube (Jan 2026)
• Deadline — Disney+ EMEA promotions and commissioning strategy (late 2025/early 2026)

Template files included (what you’ll get)

When you download the kit you’ll receive:

• Editable deck: Google Slides + PowerPoint + PDF
• Sizzle templates: vertical and 16:9 (Premiere Pro/Final Cut XML)
• Figma moodboard and storyboard templates
• Show bible template (Google Doc)
• Sample rights one-pager and delivery checklist

Wrapping up — your next steps

If you only take one action: replace your generic deck’s top three slides with a tight title + 60-second sizzle + platform fit. That trio decides whether your proposal reaches a desk or the trash.

In 2026 commissioners value creators who are platform-literate, region-aware, and legally explicit. Use this template to make that case fast.

Call to action

Download the customizable Pitch Deck Template for Landing Platform Commissions (BBC, Disney+ Playbook) kit now — includes ready-to-edit slides, sizzle templates, show-bible, and rights one-pagers. Tailor it for a BBC-style platform partnership or a Disney+ EMEA pitch and book your pitch meeting with confidence. Ready to convert that show idea into a commission? Download the kit and start customizing it today.

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