productionpitchingindustry

Stream Production Checklist for Commissioners: How to Make Your Channel Commission-Ready

sslimer

2026-02-26

9 min read

A practical, 2026-ready checklist creators can use to package reels, analytics, budgets and rights to pitch BBC, Disney+ and regional commissioners.

Hook: Stop sending "link-only" DMs — make commissioners say yes

You're a creator with a loyal live audience, high retention on your slime/ASMR streams, and a messy folder full of VODs. But when you cold-email a BBC or Disney+ commissioner, you hear crickets. Why? Because successful commissioning teams in 2026 don't buy links — they buy packaged proof: a clear audience story, a concise production reel, legal clean-up, and a realistic budget.

The big picture (why 2026 is your moment)

Late 2025 and early 2026 showed broadcasters doubling down on digital-first deals: the BBC's talks to produce bespoke content for YouTube and recent leadership moves at Disney+ EMEA signal appetite for creator-led IP and short-form to long-form pipelines. That means top commissioners are actively scouting creators who can deliver formats that scale across linear, streaming apps, and social windows.

If you want to be on their radar, you need a commission-ready package that reads like a mini-production company: deliverables, analytics, legal certainty, and a production reel that tells a broadcast story in 90–120 seconds.

What commissioners actually look for

Format clarity: Can this be described in one sentence and visualised in 90 seconds?
Audience proof: Stable viewership, clear demographics, and engagement metrics that prove a repeatable pattern.
Production maturity: Reliable deliverables, technical standards, and a sensible budget/schedule.
Rights & safety: Clear music and release rights, moderation and editorial practices, and compliance with platform/regulatory standards.
Scalability: Does the idea scale beyond live streams into short-form, episodic, or regional versions?

Commission-Ready Checklist — Deliverables you must have

Below is a practical checklist you can assemble in a folder or a single ZIP/WeTransfer link. Treat this like a mini press kit for your show.

1-page show summary (PDF, 300–500 words): one-sentence hook, format type (live/as-live/episodic), episode length, target demo, and broadcast windows.
Filename: ShowName_OnePager.pdf

2) Pitch Deck (6–12 slides)

Slides: Hook, Format, Host(s) bio, Audience data + case study, Episode ideas, Production plan, Budget summary, Rights ask.
Keep it visual and short: aim for 6–8 slides for initial outreach.
Filename: ShowName_PitchDeck.pdf

3) Show Bible & Episode Treatments

Show Bible (2–6 pages): tone, recurring segments, guest types, moderation rules, accessibility plan (captions, audio description if relevant).
Two episode treatments with beat-by-beat run-downs and estimated timing.
Filename: ShowName_Bible.pdf, ShowName_Treatments.pdf

4) Production Reel + Full Episode

Highlight reel (90–120 seconds): your best moments, strong visual identity, and a clear narrative of the format. Put a caption overlay for context at 0:03–0:06: "Live Slime ASMR — Episode Concept: ...".
Codec: H.264 or H.265, 1080p or 4K, 16:9. File: MP4. Max size: 500MB for private links.
Include one full episode VOD (or a 12–15 minute 'as-live' edit) to demonstrate pace and structure.
Filename: ShowName_Reel_90s.mp4, ShowName_FullEp.mp4

5) Analytics & Audience Demo Pack

Data must be clean, visual, and repeatable — don’t send screenshots of dashboards without context.

Monthly summary (CSV + PDF): viewers, average concurrent viewers (ACV), average watch time, 30-day retention, watch time per VOD, new follower/subscriber growth, peak concurrent viewers, revenue per month (tips, subs, ads).
Audience demographics: top 3 countries, age brackets, gender if available, device split (mobile/desktop/TV).
Engagement signals: average chat messages/min, stickers/tips per stream, top recurring contributors.
Filename: ShowName_Analytics_Jan2026.pdf, ShowName_AnalyticsData.csv

6) Technical & Delivery Specs

Camera list & settings, audio chain diagram, stream ingest quality, hallmark file formats (master files), and backup procedures.
Captioning workflow: who generates captions, timecode accuracy, sample SRT file.
Filename: ShowName_TechSpec.pdf

7) Rights, Clearances & Legal

Music-clearance status for background tracks (license copies or confirmation of royalty-free / original composition).
Talent release forms, location releases, brand partner agreements if any.
Filename: ShowName_Rights.pdf

8) Budget & Production Plan

Simple 1-page budget with line items (pre-prod, production, post, legal, contingency) and a 6-8 week production calendar.
For initial slides show low/medium/high cost options (e.g., DIY: £5k/season; Producer-led: £25k/season; Studio: £75k+).
Filename: ShowName_Budget.pdf

Press mentions, notable collabs, and short testimonials (1–2 lines) from platform partners or known creators.
Links to socials and a contact card for producer/manager.
Filename: ShowName_Contacts.pdf

Production Reel: The one asset that opens doors

Your reel is the fastest way to communicate format, tone, and production competence. Build it like a mini-episode, not a best-of montage.

0:00–0:06 — Branding & logline overlay (one sentence).
0:06–0:40 — Hook: most arresting visual and a strong beat that shows the show's premise.
0:40–1:00 — Structure: pick two recurring segments to show rhythm.
1:00–1:20 — End with social proof: quick graphic with average viewers/engagement and a CTA "See full episode / full analytics on request."
Make three outputs: 90s for commissioners, 60s for socials, and a 15s trailer for exec assistants.

Analytics: what numbers matter (and how to present them)

Commissioners want signals that you can consistently pull an audience. Don't send raw charts — annotate them and add short context bullets.

Key metrics to include

Average Concurrent Viewers (ACV): for live-first formats, ACV is gold. Show a 3-month trend line.
Average Watch Time per stream and per VOD: how long users stay.
Retention at 10/30/60 minutes: drop-off points and what you do to re-engage.
Subscriber & follower growth: monthly delta and % growth.
Revenue KPIs: tips/superchat/month, subscriptions, ad RPMs (if available).
Geographic reach: top markets and language implications.

Presenting your analytics

One-page dashboard PDF with 4–6 charts and a 2-line interpretation for each.
Include raw CSV for verification but lead with insights like: "Top 3 markets account for 68% of ACV; 20–34 age group is 42% of viewers; retention improves 18% when segment X is used."
Show sample A/B tests or format tweaks that improved key metrics (e.g., changing thumbnail style lifted VOD click-through +12%).

Tailoring your package for BBC vs Disney+ vs regional platforms

Not all commissioners evaluate the same way. Match your tone and deliverables.

BBC (public-service, editorial weight)

Emphasise reach in the UK, accessibility plans, editorial standards, and evidence of trust/safety moderation.
Include clear PSB alignment: cultural / educational value, representation, and content warnings.

Disney+ (IP-friendly, scale-focused)

Demonstrate family-safe content, potential for format spin-offs, merch or IP-friendly hooks, and international scalability.
Highlight any cross-platform successes and potential brand tie-ins.

Regional platforms & smaller streamers

Local language demos, culturally relevant segments, and cost-efficient production plans are persuasive.
Provide subtitled examples for alternate regions and a localisation checklist.

"In 2026, commissioners value creators who present themselves like producers — the content is the promise; packaging is the contract."

Pitching: email, follow-up, and meetings

Make your outreach executive-friendly: short, contextual, and easy to action.

Subject lines that get opened

"Pilot-ready: Slime ASMR Live — 90s reel + UK audience (ACV 4.2k)"
"Format pitch — Family-friendly DIY Slime series (60s reel + 2 eps)"
"[ShowName] — Commission-ready pack & budget (Light/Medium/Studio)"

Email body template (short)

Hi [Name],

I'm [Your Name], host of [ShowName] — a live slime/ASMR format with a strongly engaged UK audience (ACV 3.8k; avg watch time 22 mins). I've attached a 90s highlight reel, one-page pitch, and a 1-page budget with low/med/high options. We're commission-ready and interested in finding a broadcast partner for a 6x20' season. Would you like a 10-minute call next week?

Best, [Name] / [phone] / [Vimeo private link]

Follow-up cadence

Day 1: Pitch email with links and attachments.
Day 5: Short follow-up (+ 15s clip attached to the email for quick traction).
Week 3: If no reply, one polite last touch offering a producer reference or new analytics update.

What to bring to a commissioner meeting

High-res reel on a reliable streaming link and local backup on a tablet.
One-page budget and production calendar printed.
Clear 'asks': commissioning fee, rights window, delivery format, and any co-pro requests.
Be ready to show live proof (a short live clip or a simulated live segment) to prove you can perform under pressure.

Advanced strategies & 2026 predictions

Commissioning in 2026 will reward creators who think multi-window and data-first:

Data-first pitches: Commissioners will ask for cohorts and event-based outcomes (e.g., live premieres that lift platform retention by X%).
Short-form to long-form pipelines: Create 60–90s vertical assets that act as discovery hooks for a longer commission.
Hybrid financing: Expect more co-productions with digital partners (BBC–YouTube style deals) and brand-funded pilots.
AI-assisted treatments: Use AI to auto-generate episode summaries, SRTs, and highlight timestamps — just audit for accuracy.
Interactive formats: Live voting and commerce layers are increasingly attractive; show how your format engages live viewers in measurable ways.

Quick sample case study — "SlimeScience Live" (hypothetical)

Snapshot of a commission-ready creator:

ACV: 4,200 (3-month rolling average)
Avg watch time: 28 minutes (45–60 minute streams)
Top markets: UK 46%, US 21%, Australia 7%
Revenue: £2,800/month (tips/subs + two small sponsors)
Reel: 90s highlight showing repeatable segments — "DIY Slime Lab", "Viewer Challenge", "Science Fact" — and a short test showing audience voting driving segment choices.
Outcome: Commission pitch included a low-budget 6 x 20' proposal and a plan to localise two episodes for Australia. The commissioner asked for a closed-caption workflow and a simplified music-clearance statement — a small ask because the package was otherwise complete.

Final Rapid Checklist (printable)

One-pager ✔
6–8 slide pitch deck ✔
Show bible + 2 treatments ✔
90–120s production reel + 1 full episode ✔
Analytics PDF + CSV (3-month trends) ✔
Tech spec + SRT sample ✔
Rights checklist + releases ✔
1-page budget + 6–8 week schedule ✔
Contact card + social proof ✔

Closing: Your next steps (actionable)

1) Build this package into a single folder and host it with a private Vimeo link and a WeTransfer/Dropbox download. 2) Practice a 2-minute verbal pitch that maps to your 90s reel. 3) Email with a tight subject line and the one-pager attached, then follow the 3-step cadence above.

Commissioners in 2026 are looking for creators who can prove consistency, scale, and production professionalism. Treat this checklist like currency: the cleaner and clearer your pack, the faster you'll move from DMs to development deals.

Ready for a review? Send your 90s reel + one-pager to our creators' review channel at slimer.live/submit and we'll give you a producer-style checklist to sharpen before you pitch BBC, Disney+ or regional commissioners.

Sources & context: Industry moves in late 2025 and early 2026 — including talks between the BBC and YouTube on bespoke content and leadership changes at Disney+ EMEA — mean commissioning teams are actively expanding digital pipelines. Frame your package for multi-window potential.

Call-to-action

Want a free template? Download our Commission-Ready ZIP (one-pager, pitch-deck template, analytics PDF template, and reel checklist) at slimer.live/commission-kit — or drop your reel link and one-pager in the creators' review channel for a quick critique.

slimer

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.