Exactly How to Pitch a TV Show: Five Steps
A beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide to pitching a TV show idea to producers, networks, and streamers.
Pitching a TV show is not just “talking about” your idea.
It’s not explaining all the fun details of your favorite scenes. It’s not hoping your rizz (you have so much!) will get you through it. And it’s definitely not just reading your deck out loud.
Pitching is a structured, rehearsed presentation of your concept and of yourself (as the person who should get to make it).
Whether you have a pilot script on lock or not, you should start (again) here.
If you want to know how to pitch a TV show—literally—here are the five steps that actually matter.
Step 1: Develop the hell out of your TV show concept (Before you pitch it)
Before you build a TV show pitch deck. Before you book that meeting. Before you even spitball through an elevator pitch… Get clear.
When pitching a TV show, buyers are listening for:
- A strong, clear concept
- Compelling characters with arcs
- A season-long storyline
- A tone that’s specific and consistent
- Comparable shows (so they know where it fits in the market)
- A reason this show can sustain for multiple seasons (and a peek at what’s to come)
If you’re in a room with a Netflix exec, they’re thinking about Season 4—not just Episode 1.
Clarity beats vibes. Every time.
If you can’t explain:
- What happens every episode,
- Why the audience keeps coming back,
- And how the show evolves over time…
…you’re not quite ready to pitch yet!
Good news? That’s fixable. But it starts here with, (un)fortunately, the hard work.
Step 2: Know your “Why”—they will ask
When pitching a TV show to producers or networks, these questions are always asked:
Why you? Why now?
You are not just selling a TV show idea. You are selling yourself as the person who should shepherd it.
That means you need:
- A personal connection
- A point of view
- Authority or lived experience
- A clear reason this story matters to you
This doesn’t mean trauma dumping or telling your entire life story. It means clarity (and sure, some branding).
If you don’t know why you’re the one to tell this story, an executive won’t know either.
Step 3: Create your TV show pitch deck and your verbal deck
Two decks is company. Three’s a crowd.
You need:
- A written TV show pitch deck
- A verbal version of that pitch deck
A TV show pitch deck typically includes:
- Logline
- World/Setting
- Characters (and actors they can picture in the role)
- Season arc (and a peak at what’s to come beyond season one)
- Tone
- Comparable shows (“Comps”)
- Visuals that support the vibe
But here’s the key:
Your verbal pitch cannot be you reading your deck out loud.
Your deck supports you. It does not replace you. If it does, that’s, like, a whole other problem because you might be slides? Are you person or are you a deck??
When learning how to pitch a TV show, this is where most beginners get stuck. They build a pretty deck—and then have no idea how to walk someone through it with confidence.
The written pitch and the spoken pitch are related. They are not identical. Sisters, not twins. Like your brows. (They look great, by the way.)
Step 4: Lock it in and memorize your verbal pitch
Pitching your tv show is a performance. That doesn’t mean it’s fake. It means it’s rehearsed and (hopefully) perfected.
If you can’t pitch it clearly, the show isn’t clear yet.
A strong TV show pitch is typically 8–15 minutes. You should know:
- Your opening hook
- How you transition between sections
- How you introduce characters
- How you explain the season arc
- How you land it
You don’t need to memorize it like a robot. But you should absolutely practice it until it feels second nature. Confidence comes from repetition. Not only hope. Sorry, Princess Leia! (Wait, actually she has plenty of confidence, she doesn’t need my apologies!)
Step 5: Be ready for questions and be the expert in the room
After you pitch, the real conversation begins.
Executives may ask:
- How does Season 2 evolve?
- Who is the target audience?
- Why now?
- How does this differ from similar shows?
This is not an interrogation. It’s a collaboration test.They want to know HOW you answer questions and think things through as much as they want to know the answers. (I think this is how engineers do job interviews, too. Clearly I’m not the authority on that.)
You created this world. You are the authority on this.
Answer clearly. Don’t apologize. Don’t shrink.
And if you don’t know something? Say so—and think it through with them. (BIG SECRET INCOMING: Execs love to feel creative and funny. Use this secret wisely.)
Pitching isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, confidence, and collaboration.
Want to practice pitching in a real room?
Here’s the truth: pitching is a skill. And crafting a pitch is just that–a craft.
You can have a great idea and still struggle to present it. That’s normal. It’s learnable.
Inside GOLD’s Build Your Pitch class, Emmy-winning producer Ryan Cunningham (Broad City, Search Party, Inside Amy Schumer) teaches you how to:
- Develop your idea
- Refine your pitch deck
- Craft your elevator pitch
- Structure your verbal pitch
- Practice delivering it with confidence
And then…you pitch to a room of legit industry professionals.
Your first real pitch opportunity is built in. You’re not just learning theory. You’re doing the damn thing.
You’re the authority on your show. But, Ryan is the authority on pitching.
That combination? Powerful.
FAQ: How to Pitch a TV Show
Do you need a script to pitch a TV show?
No. You can pitch a TV show with or without a completed script. What matters most is clarity of concept, strong characters, a compelling season arc, and a confident verbal pitch.
How long should a TV show pitch be?
A typical TV show pitch runs 8–15 minutes, followed by questions. Shorter is usually better—as long as it’s clear and complete. Sometimes there will be time limits/restrictions. It’s okay to ask!
What is a TV show pitch deck?
A TV show pitch deck (sometimes called a pitch bible) is a visual document (we used to call these “PowerPoints” but I guess no one does that anymore?) that outlines your concept, world, characters, season arc, tone, and comparable shows. It supports your verbal pitch. But, it doesn’t replace it. Often you’ll send this pitch deck to folks without actually PITCHING to them, so think of it as a stand-alone document.
Can you pitch a TV show without an agent?
Yes. Many creators pitch independently, especially at early stages. However, relationships and preparation matter. A strong pitch can open doors, but you still need to be ready for the room.
What are executives listening for in a TV pitch?
They’re listening for clarity, sustainability, a clear audience, a strong creator point of view, and whether you can confidently collaborate.
If you’ve been Googling “how to pitch a TV show,” this is your starting line.
Now the question is: are you ready to practice it in a real room?
