How to Pitch Branded Entertainment to Streaming Execs in EMEA

Hook: Why your pitch is getting ignored — and how Disney+ EMEA’s reshuffle gives you a way in

Pitching to streamers today feels like shouting into a crowded festival marketplace: thousands of concepts, dozens of commissioning editors, and a shifting set of priorities after every executive move. The good news for creators in 2026: the recent Disney+ EMEA promotions and internal reshuffle have clarified decision-making silos — and that clarity is your advantage. Learn how to turn executive moves into tactical research, tweak your show format and pitch deck for regional streaming commissions, and sell formats across EMEA with localization and branded entertainment baked in.

Top takeaways (read first)

• Map people, not companies: After Angela Jain’s restructuring at Disney+ EMEA, identify the new VPs and their genres — Lee Mason for scripted, Sean Doyle for unscripted — and direct your outreach accordingly.
• Format + Locality wins: Execs commission shows that solve audience gaps in specific markets. Show the format’s portability and local hooks in your deck.
• Make branded entertainment natural: Streaming commissions now accept brand-led integrations if they preserve creative integrity and unlock distribution or marketing budgets.
• Deliver a one-page sell and a 12-slide deck: Busy execs want clarity in 60 seconds, proof in 5–8 slides, and a creative appendix for follow-ups.
• Use 2026 trends: Emphasize regional language, data-backed audience insights, sustainable production practices, and co-pro / tax-incentive strategies.

Why executive moves (like Disney+ EMEA’s promotions) matter to your pitch

Executive promotions are more than headlines — they rewire who greenlights what. Angela Jain’s recent effort to “set her team up for long term success in EMEA” (reported in late 2025 and visible in early 2026) shows two commissioning trends you can exploit:

1. Stronger genre silos. With Lee Mason elevated in scripted and Sean Doyle in unscripted, decision paths tighten. Your pitch must reach the right lane — don’t send a scripted drama to an unscripted contact.
2. Faster local commissioning. Promoting regionally experienced commissioners signals a push for locally resonant content. Show how your format adapts to France, Germany, Spain, Italy or the Nordics.

Before you write a pitch deck: research checklist (people + data)

Spend time mapping the human landscape. Your time researching execs and market demand is the best ROI before crafting slides.

• Update your contact map: Track current VPs, heads of scripted/unscripted, and head of local originals for each territory. Use LinkedIn, trade outlets, and festival market directories (Berlinale Series Market, MIPCOM updates).
• Watch commissioned titles: Study recent Disney+ EMEA commissions — tone, episode length, season order, talent profile and production partners.
• Audience signals: Pull platform reports, regional ratings, and social data. Showcase one clear stat: e.g., “Top 5 Netflix titles in France in Q4 2025 averaged 32% audience share in 18–34.”
• Eligibility & incentives: Note tax credits, co-pro treaties and local funding bodies in your target markets.

Slide-by-slide pitch deck template for EMEA streaming commissions

Keep your pitch deck focused, visual and tailored for the commissioning lane. Aim for a 12-slide core deck + appendix.

1. Title & One-Liner (Slide 1) — 10 words max. Add territory fit: “A 6x45’ UK-Francophone thriller for Disney+ EMEA.”
2. The Hook (Slide 2) — 1 sentence audience hook and why now.
3. Format Snapshot (Slide 3) — Episode length, season order, tone, comparable titles (no more than 2 comps), and a compact visual style sample.
4. Series Arc & Episode Breakdown (Slide 4) — 3-line season arc + 3 episode bullets.
5. Localization Strategy (Slide 5) — Show how the format adapts: local hosts, regional storylines, language options, dubbing/subtitling plan.
6. Audience & Data (Slide 6) — One key regional insight per market you target, with sources noted.
7. Talent & Production Plan (Slide 7) — Attach names (if set), local prod partners, shooting locations and budgets ranges.
8. Commercial & Branded Entertainment (Slide 8) — How brands integrate, who funds marketing, and what assets are available for sponsors without diluting the editorial.
9. Budget & Financing (Slide 9) — Top-line budget, proposed commission model (license, co-pro, pre-buy), and incentives.
10. Why This Team? (Slide 10) — Creds, recent credits and local attachments. Highlight EMEA experience.
11. Delivery & Timeline (Slide 11) — Pre-prod, shoot, post, delivery windows and episodes per delivery.
12. Call to Action (Slide 12) — Clear next steps: request for commission, pilot, or development meeting.

Appendix

• Episode outlines, sample scripts, visual references, sustainability plan, and legal/clearance flags.

Localization: not a footnote — it’s the selling point

In 2026, the commission decision is often made on the localization plan. Platforms have learned that regional language content drives acquisition and retention. Make localization a core part of the format.

• Versioning: Define a minimum viable local version and a premium pan-EMEA version. E.g., “Local-hosted episodes for Spain/Italy; a pan-EMEA wrap episode for the finale.”
• Local talent attachments: Attach one credible local presenter or showrunner for each priority market in your initial outreach.
• Subtitling & dubbing strategy: Note preferred vendors, turnaround times and budgets — execs will see you planned for ops.

Branded entertainment & commissions: practical templates

Brands fund large parts of production, marketing or local activations. In 2026, smart brand deals are expected to be editorially transparent and beneficial to the platform.

• Bracket model: Offer three commercial layers in the deck — editorial-first (no visible brand), integrated (brand in storyline) and sponsored (clearer presence in promos). Provide sample scripts or beat sheets for each.
• Value exchange: Show what brands give back: additional distribution, data access (aggregate & privacy-safe), local promo spend or talent introductions — think micro-activations and micro-bundle local activations when appropriate.
• Guardrails: Include a one-paragraph creative guardrail in the deck assuring editorial control and brand transparency to avoid commissioner red flags.

Case studies & interviews (anonymized composites based on 2024–2026 commissioning patterns)

Below are three anonymized case studies synthesised from recent EMEA commissions, festival market feedback (Berlinale, MIPCOM) and commissioning moves such as Disney+ EMEA’s internal promotions. These show practical adaptations you can copy.

Case study A: Scripted drama — UK to Pan-EMEA

Problem: A UK-based writer had a tight, locale-specific drama about shipyard workers. Executives liked the voice but worried about pan-EMEA appeal.

What worked:

• Reframed the conflict as a universal economic-theme (workplace community vs corporate buyout) but kept local texture for authenticity.
• Added optional episodes that local producers could refilm to include regional politics/tone (a plug-and-play model).
• Attached a French co-pro and presented a phased spend plan using France’s tax credit to lower the commission price.

Result: Commissioned as a limited series with local-version options in two markets. The pitch highlighted the modular format and tax credit savings — both explicit decision drivers for the commissioning team.

Case study B: Unscripted format — Spain adaptation

Problem: An unscripted format that worked in Latin America needed retooling for Spain and the UK.

What worked:

• Provided a 3-episode Spanish pilot cut and a UK format bible showing how beats could be tightened to 30-minute episodes preferred by UK and Nordics viewers.
• Built in local celebrity ‘advisors’ as optional segments to boost acquisition in Spain and Italy.
• Outlined a modest branded entertainment option where a household brand sponsored an ethically framed challenge — all editorial controls agreed in advance.

Result: Development commitment and a local pilot commission. The exec appreciated the ready-made local pilot and the responsible brand integration plan.

Case study C: Branded mini-series — Pan-EMEA marketing tie-in

Problem: A creator wanted a brand to underwrite production but feared the brand would dictate creative direction.

What worked:

• Created a clear sponsor charter: what the brand could and couldn’t request. Presented measurable marketing benefits: geo-targeted promos, co-owned social assets, and first-party campaign lift reporting — and leaned on platform-native social promotion best-practice like new social features for distribution.
• Offered tiered deliverables: a branded short-form spin-off for social platforms, and a brand-neutral long-form for the streamer.
• Proved editorial independence with a sample episode and a protective legal clause in the financing slide.

Result: Brand funded 20% of production and contributed marketing funds; the commissioning editor greenlit development after reviewing the sponsor charter and creative sample.

How to approach Disney+ EMEA execs now — outreach that converts

Cold emails and social messages still work — if they’re targeted and short. With recent promotions, tailor your outreach by role.

• To Scripted VPs (e.g., Lee Mason’s remit): Attach a 1-page series bible + a 2-minute sizzle or scene. Highlight story uniqueness in international markets.
• To Unscripted VPs (e.g., Sean Doyle’s remit): Include a 2-page format one-sheet, a 60–90 sec pilot cut (even rough), and clear local adaptation notes.
• Subject line formula: Market + Format + One-line hook (e.g., "Spain—6x45’ social-repair series: 'Fix It For Good'—local pilot attached").

Advanced strategies — data, co-pros, and market timing in 2026

Use these advanced levers to make your pitch irresistible.

• Data-driven asks: Bring one clear metric (search trends, social volume, or audience retention benchmarks). Platforms respect measurable trends more than gut feelings.
• Co-production leverage: Secure at least one regional partner or a public broadcaster attachment to lower the requested commission fee and demonstrate market buy-in.
• Market timing: Pitch around market windows (Berlinale Series Market, Series Mania, MIPTV). Execs are in a commissioning headspace and more open to meetings post-market.
• Sustainability & compliance: Include a short sustainability plan — many streamers now require carbon reporting or sustainability compliance as part of delivery in 2026.

Common mistakes that kill your chances

• Decks longer than 20 slides: keep it tight.
• Ignoring regional specifics: presenting a monolithic “global” case rarely wins in EMEA.
• Too much brand dependency: if the brand looks like it owns the content, commissioning editors will pass.
• Not naming a local partner: no attachment often equals no traction.

One-page pitch checklist you can copy

Use this to create an email attachment that complements your deck.

• Title + 10-word hook
• Format snapshot (episodes x length)
• One-sentence season arc
• 3 selling points for local audiences
• Top-line budget & financing model
• Requested next step (pilot, meeting, commission)
• Contact + 1-minute sizzle link

Quick tip: Attach a low-res 60–90 second pilot cut to your first outreach. Unscripted commissioners often make decisions after seeing tone and cadence rather than reading long bibles.

Final words: leverage 2026 trends to get ahead

2026 is a year of clearer silos and stronger regional commissioning across EMEA. Use the recent Disney+ EMEA promotions as a signal: find the right human lane, tailor your format for localization, and bake in branded entertainment options that respect editorial control. Pitch with data, local attachments, and a concise deck that answers the executive’s first question — “Why this, why now, and for whom?”

Actionable next steps (do these in the next 7 days)

1. Update your contact map to reflect current EMEA commissioning roles.
2. Create a one-page sell and a 12-slide deck based on the template above.
3. Attach or produce a 60–90s pilot cut or scene for unscripted/scripted probes.
4. Reach out with a tailored subject line to the scripted or unscripted VP depending on your format.

Call to action

Ready to convert your format into a commission? Send your one-page sell to our peer review desk for a free 72-hour expert critique tailored to EMEA streamers — include your target territories and whether you want branded entertainment options. Click through to get detailed, commissioner-oriented feedback and a 30-minute strategy call to sharpen your outreach.

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