How To Pitch Your Series to a Streamer After Exec Restructuring

When a content chief reshuffle keeps you up at night: a tactical playbook for creators

Executive change at a streamer is both a threat and an opening. If your biggest worry is: "Do I pitch now, quietly wait, or start cold-emailing the new commissioners?" — this guide is for you. Below is a practical, step-by-step playbook for timing, packaging and relationship management when content chiefs or commissioners are promoted, with actionable examples drawn from the Disney+ EMEA moves in late 2025–early 2026.

Quick takeaways — what to do first

• Pause immediate hard-sell for 7–21 days after the promotion announcement. Use that window for intelligence, not pitching.
• Audit and re-package your series materials into a one-page brief, 90-second sizzle and an investor-style 6-slide deck targeted to the new exec’s commissioning history.
• Warm the relationship with a short congratulatory note that offers value (audience data, a talent intro, or a relevant comp) before asking for a meeting.
• Map the team — promotions often come with reshuffles. Identify who gained influence, who left, and who’s the commissioning contact now.

The 2026 context: why this moment matters

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw a pattern in streamers’ EMEA operations: newly appointed content chiefs reshuffling commissioning teams to build slates optimized for local originals and international scale. For example, Disney+ EMEA's promotion of Angela Jain and subsequent elevation of long-standing commissioners like Lee Mason (scripted) and Sean Doyle (unscripted) signaled a push for stable leadership and fresh slates in the region. As Jain put it internally, the goal is to "set the team up for long term success in EMEA." That quote is a strategic hint: new leaders want pipeline, not noise.

"Set the team up for long term success in EMEA." — Angela Jain (internal memo, reported Dec 2025)

Streamers in 2026 prioritize slate efficiency: fewer but more deliberate commissions, stronger franchise potential, and measurable audience outcomes. That means your pitch must be sharper, faster to evaluate, and demonstrate clear business logic.

Why promotions create a window — and how to use it

New commissioners have three incentives that play to creators’ advantage:

• Political capital: They need early wins that justify their promotion and validate their taste to leadership.
• Fresh mandates: New leaders often adjust genre focus and are open to different formats than their predecessors.
• Team reorganization: The legal, finance, and production contacts may change — letting you find warmer paths or new budget lines.

Tactically, that means a well-timed, precisely packaged pitch can ride a promotion’s momentum — but a clumsy or premature approach can label you as tone-deaf.

Timing playbook: what to do in the first 12 months

0–7 days: Listen and map

• Track announcements (Deadline, Variety, Hollywood Reporter) and LinkedIn updates. Document who moved, who was promoted, and any quoted strategy.
• Map the commissioning chain: the new chief, scripted/unscripted heads, development execs, and head of production.
• Do not pitch in this period unless you have a close, pre-existing relationship.

7–21 days: Warm outreach and intelligence gathering

• Send a brief congratulatory message (LinkedIn or email). Keep it under 60 words and include one value offer (a relevant comp, audience insight, or mutual contact).
• Use this time to speak to mutual contacts — agents, producers, or prior collaborators — to learn the new exec’s priorities and KPIs.
• Monitor public statements to refine positioning (e.g., emphasis on local-language originals, younger demos, or franchise-building).

21–90 days: Make a targeted, value-first pitch

• Send a tailored pitch pack only after you’ve validated the slate focus. Include a one-page brief + 90-sec sizzle (or a 90-second personal pitch video if you’re the showrunner).
• Request a short, agenda-led meeting (15–20 minutes). Offer a clearly annotated leave-behind that shows how the series meets their goals.
• If you get a pass, ask for feedback and permission to stay in touch — that’s the start of relationship-building, not the end.

3–12 months: Build trust and follow-up rhythm

• Share short status updates, casting attachments, or new talent interest. Keep updates useful and infrequent — bi-monthly is reasonable unless they ask for more.
• Use festivals and market events (Berlinale, Series Mania, MIPCOM) to meet in-person. In 2026, streamers are back to prioritising in-person development meetings again.
• Track internal budget cycles — many streamers plan commissioning quarters 6–9 months in advance. Know those windows and time formal submissions accordingly.

How to package a series for post-restructuring pitching

When a commissioner is new, they want fast, evaluable materials. Build a modular pitch pack with three core layers:

1. Executive One-Pager — Logline, tonal comps, audience, distribution idea, and a budget band. One page only.
2. 90–120 second sizzle — Visual tone and pace. If you can’t produce footage, a narrated animatic or mood reel with strong comps will work.
3. 6-slide Development Deck — (1) Hook & logline, (2) Tone & comps, (3) Series arc & episode guide, (4) Target audience & KPIs, (5) Budget & production plan, (6) Talent & attachment strategy.

Key packaging insights for 2026 streamers:

• Make rights clear: indicate if you’re pitching global exclusive rights, territory-limited, or proposing a co-producer model.
• Show a clear path to audience: include real-world data (podcast listeners, YouTube subscribers, social metrics) to quantify demand.
• Include localization plans: EMEA commissions now expect localization or bilingual strategies that improve cross-territory reach.

Practical pitch assets — checklist and templates

Use this checklist to proof your pack before sending:

• One-page brief — mandatory.
• 90–120s sizzle or visual mood reel.
• 6-slide development deck with budget band.
• Pilot script or 10–15 page excerpt for scripted shows.
• Clear rights statement and chain-of-title note.
• Talent status (attached, in discussion, or desired), and any producer attachments.
• Data appendix (audience numbers, engagement rates, comparable titles).
• Two versions of your outreach note: a short LinkedIn message and a 150–200 word email follow-up.

Relationship management: a 4-step outreach sequence

Here’s a repeatable cadence to convert a promotion into an introduction and, later, a meeting.

1. Day 7–14: Congratulate — 1 short message that includes a single value offer (a one-line audience stat or a relevant comp).
2. Day 21–35: Send the one-pager + sizzle (if appropriate) in a short email: "If this aligns with your slate goals, I’d welcome 15 minutes to explain how it delivers X."
3. If declined: Ask for feedback and permission to send a 2-minute update in 6–8 weeks. Keep the relationship alive.
4. Ongoing: Provide occasional value: invite them to relevant festival screenings, send data-driven updates, or make warm talent introductions. Avoid repeated unasked-for calls.

Sample outreach script (congrats message)

LinkedIn / Email (60 words):

"Congrats on your new role at Disney+ EMEA — excited to see your slate priorities. I run a (genre) series that maps to the kind of audience growth you’ve spoken about in interviews. I’ll send a one-pager if helpful; happy to connect for 10–15 minutes or to share a short sizzle."

Using commissioner history as a competitive edge

Research the new commissioner’s prior slate and commissions. If Lee Mason commissioned 'Rivals' and Sean Doyle oversaw 'Blind Date', they likely have genre preferences, tone expectations and production partners they favor. Align your pitch to those patterns, but don’t mimic; instead:

• Identify one or two titles from their history that are tonal comps and explain exactly how your show diverges in audience or business model.
• Call out collaborators (directors, producers) who have successfully worked with that commissioner’s team in the past.
• Demonstrate why your series is a strategic fit for their stated priorities (e.g., local originals with cross-border scale).

Multi-studio strategy: don’t put all your eggs in one inbox

Executive churn increases both risk and opportunity. Use this period to pursue a multi-streamer strategy:

• Simultaneous outreach is acceptable — disclose exclusivity timelines when asked but keep options open.
• Have an alternate route: label one or two producers or indies as partners to approach other streamers with stronger production credibility.
• Consider international co-producers who can bring financing and localized distribution; this is especially effective for EMEA-focused series in 2026.

Legal, rights and deliverables — what a commissioning team will check first

When an exec is newly empowered, legal and finance will still insist on clean paperwork. Before you pitch:

• Have a brief chain-of-title statement; confirm you own or control required rights.
• Outline a realistic budget band and the principal production timeline (dev — prep — shoot — post).
• List any options or exclusivity terms with talent and producers.
• Be ready to show evidence of audience interest (metrics, petitions, ticket sales) if your project originates from another medium.

Measurement and follow-up: KPIs to track after outreach

Track these simple metrics to measure traction:

• Response rate (%) to initial congratulatory note.
• Meeting conversion rate from 1-pager to 15-min call.
• Feedback quality — actionable notes vs. non-specific passes.
• Time-to-decision — typical streaming decisions take 3–9 months but vary by studio and budget.

Practical scenarios and recommended moves

Scenario A — You have talent attached

If a recognizable lead director or actor is attached, fast-track your outreach 21–35 days in with a short sizzle and a talent note. Executives new to a role love demonstrable crew attachments because they reduce perceived risk.

Scenario B — You’re a new showrunner without attachments

Be patient: focus on the one-pager, audience data and format innovation. Offer to develop a short proof-of-concept (sample scene or short-form pilot) and propose a co-development meeting rather than a commission ask.

Scenario C — Your project is format/unscripted

Unscripted formats travel fast when they solve an operational problem (lower cost per episode, fast turnaround). Emphasize production efficiency, clear format rules, and international adaptation potential.

Advanced strategies for creators with agency relationships

Use your agent or manager to deploy pre-existing relationships, but control your narrative. In 2026, top commissioners expect concise, data-backed pitches — ask your representation to refine materials to the 1-pager + sizzle standard above. If your agent has a warm line to the promoted commissioner, still send the concise pack yourself and ask the agent to warm it up internally.

Final checklist before you hit send

• Is the one-pager readable in under 90 seconds?
• Is your sizzle 90–120 seconds and focused on tone not plot summary?
• Does the deck include a clear business case (audience + budget + rights)?
• Have you mapped the commissioning chain and identified the right contact?
• Did you wait the 7–21 day buffer after the promotion announcement?

Conclusion: think like a development partner, not a vendor

Executive change is cyclical; promotions like those at Disney+ EMEA in late 2025 create both pressure and an opening. Your advantage as a creator in 2026 is speed, relevance and clarity. Move deliberately: do the homework during the immediate quiet window, warm the relationship with value, and present a lean, business-focused pack that a new commissioner can evaluate in 90 seconds. That combination wins meetings and, eventually, commissions.

If you want a ready-to-use template, downloadable one-pager, and an outreach email pack tailored to Disney+ EMEA-style commissioners, get the OnlyFan.Live Streamer Pitch Pack. It includes editable templates and a sample 90-second sizzle script tested with development executives across EMEA.

Ready to convert a promotion into a meeting? Download the free Pitch Pack or book a 20-minute slot with our development strategist to tailor your materials and outreach cadence for the next two commission cycles.

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