How to get an idea on TV

Yesterday I got to participate in a Development pitch to Daytime Television for a terrestrial channel. Our department was pitching their game show idea so they rounded up a team of people to play and took us out to The Network TV Building where for 50 minutes we animatedly engaged in this general knowledge quiz show.

The object of the meeting was for my company to show how the game would play and the structure of it. There were no fancy graphics, no bright lights and no prizes but it was entertaining none the less.

Development fascinates me. They come up with a shell of an idea. Then they pitch that shell - which is sometimes just a catchphrase - to the channel commissioners who decide whether or not they want to hear anymore.

The team then goes off and develops the idea further. They put together a pitch proposal and take it back to the commissioners. The commissioners might tweak it further saying they are interested but want it slightly different. The team then goes back to the drawing board and panders to the commissioners desires. They tweak, change, redesign and ultimately try and create The Perfect Show.

Another presentation to the commissioner later they might be given a little bit of money to develop the idea even further. This does not guarantee a commission but is for the team to start finding talent and contributors to give the commissioners a clearer idea of what the heart of the show would look like.

This dance can go on for months. Even then you are not guaranteed a commission. You might get a pilot, or better yet a pilot which will be aired. The holy grail is to get a series commissioned with another 2 series off the back of it.

In the cab ride home yesterday the Development team decided that commissioners should give out trophies so you had something to show the team when you got back.

A certificate for a well pitched idea.

A tiny cup for a development grant.

A bronze cup for a pilot show.

A silver cup for a series.

A gold cup for 2 series.

Anything is better than hearing the commissioners say "We're very interested in this idea, BUT"

Even if they haven't heard the idea they're still interested.

I think they just like seeing how high they can make Production Companies jump.