Pitching Guide: How to Tailor Your Show Bible for European Streamers (Post-Disney+ Reorg)

Hook: Stop wasting commissioners' time — make your show bible fit the new EMEA playbook

Pitching to European streamers today is not the same as it was in 2022. After the Disney+ EMEA reorg and a broader industry shift in late 2025 and early 2026, commissioning sensibilities shifted toward leaner bibles, clear localization roadmaps, and format flexibility. If your show bible is copy-pasted from a U.S.-centric template, it will fail to answer the exact questions European commissioners are asking.

Quick takeaway — what to do first

• Simplify: Lead with a one-page commissioning note and a one-page production snapshot.
• Localize early: Include a territory-by-territory localization and language plan.
• Be format-ready: Provide three viable episode/season formats (e.g., 6×45, 8×30, 4×70) with clear editorial reasons for each.
• Show commercial thinking: Include co-pro options, budget bands, and rights splits tailored to EMEA markets.

Why this matters in 2026 — the post-reorg landscape

Industry reporting in late 2025 highlighted leadership changes at Disney+ EMEA as part of a reorg designed to stabilize and localize commissioning strategies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As new content leads set priorities “for long term success in EMEA,” streamers have tightened their focus on content that is locally authentic but internationally scalable.

“For long term success in EMEA.” — internal memo cited in late-2025 reporting on the Disney+ EMEA reorg

Practically, that has meant: shorter commissioning cycles, preference for limited series and event-driven formats, and heavier weighting toward projects that demonstrate a localization-first approach (local writers, regional talent attachments, and built-in translation workflows). The business drivers behind these changes in 2026 include cost containment, rising AVOD/FAST experimentation, regulatory pressure to highlight European works, and increased demand for quick-to-market IP.

What EMEA commissioners want — a practical checklist

• Executive clarity: 1-page commissioning note that states genre, target demos, tone, and three format options.
• Local hooks: At least two ways the story maps to specific EMEA markets (e.g., UK, France, Germany, MENA, Nordics).
• Localization plan: Languages, dubbing vs subtitling decisions, cultural adaptations, and music rights strategy.
• Commercial model: Budget bands, co-pro structure, tax-credit pathways, and distribution-rights asks.
• Production plan: Realistic schedule, node of production (which country will service the shoot), and VFX/vendor strategy.
• Talent and writers: Local attachments and a showrunner/writer-room composition that reflects targeted regions.
• Regulatory compliance: Note on AVMSD and any country quotas or cultural tests that matter for funding.

Format guidance: runtimes, episode counts and why flexibility wins

One clear 2026 trend: commissioners prefer projects that can flex between formats. A single-configuration bible is a liability. Present two to three commissioning-ready options and explain the editorial trade-offs.

• Drama (Prestige): Common EMEA preference is 4–8 episodes per season, with episode lengths ranging 40–60 minutes. For high-cost prestige, 4×70 is increasingly commissioned for event TV.
• Serialized Drama / Thriller: 6×45 or 8×50 works well — compact enough to control budget, long enough to sustain complex arcs.
• Comedy / Dramedy: 6–10 episodes at 20–30 minutes often outperform longer formats due to shareability and schedule fit in local line-ups.
• Unscripted / Format Shows: 6–10 episodes for initial orders with a clear B-plan to scale to 12+ if KPIs hit. Format adaptability is key for international licensing.
• Mini-series / Limited: 3–6 episodes is the sweet spot for event series and co-financing partners across Europe.

Why multiple options? Streaming platforms often have several commissioning desks across territories. Presenting tailored format options reduces friction and speeds approval.

How to structure your show bible for EMEA (recommended length and sections)

Think of your show bible as a modular document: compact and flexible for a first pass, deeper for follow-ups. Below is a recommended Table of Contents and suggested page lengths for an initial pitch packet.

1. Cover & One-Line Logline (1 page) — Clear, high-concept sentence.
2. One-Page Commissioning Note (1 page) — Purpose, audience, and three format options.
3. One-Page Production Snapshot (1 page) — Budget band, delivery windows, primary territory for production.
4. Series Overview (2–3 pages) — Tone, themes, visual references.
5. Character Bible (3–5 pages) — Key characters with arcs tied to local cultural anchor points.
6. Episode Synopses (5–10 pages) — 1-paragraph per episode for first season.
7. Localization & Market Adaptation Plan (2–4 pages) — Language strategy, cultural issues, and localization partners.
8. Commercial & Co-Pro Plan (2–3 pages) — Budget ranges, incentives, rights plan.
9. Production Plan & Schedule (2 pages) — Key dates and country logistics.
10. Attachments & Showreel Links (1 page) — Talent, directors, and sizzle links.

Initial packet target: 10–20 pages. Keep deep-dive creative materials in a separate, expandable deck to send on request.

Commissioning note template — what to put on the first page

Commissioners will read the first page. Make it precise. Use this template structure:

1. Logline: One line.
2. Why now? Two sentences on cultural relevancy in the region.
3. Target audience & comparable shows: Two lines (e.g., “Fans of Gomorrah and Succession aged 25–45”).
4. Format options: Bullet three formats with runtime & episode count.
5. Localization hooks: Three points on how it maps to key EMEA markets.
6. Commercial ask: Budget band and co-pro options.

Example (condensed):

Logline: A Lagos-born investigative journalist returns to Dublin to rebuild her life—only to uncover a pan-European corruption network that links finance, football and art.

Why now: Transnational crime dramas with local specificity have outperformed pan-regional thrillers in 2024–26 because audiences value authenticity and strong local casts.

Localization & cultural adaptation — the 2026 playbook

Localization is no longer an afterthought. Commissioners expect a clear plan showing you’ve thought through language, cultural references, music rights, and adaptive storytelling.

Core localization checklist

• Language tiering: Identify primary language(s) of production and two secondary languages for priority dubbing/subbing.
• Transcreation brief: Provide guidance for adapting jokes, idioms and cultural backstory to target territories.
• Local writer attachments: Attach one or two local writers or consultants for each major territory (UK, FR, DE, ES, IT, Nordics, MENA).
• Music rights plan: Global vs territory-limited clearances and a fallback tracklist for territories where rights are cost-prohibitive.
• Testing plan: Quick qualitative testing with 20–40 viewers in at least two priority markets pre-delivery.

Subtitling vs dubbing — guidance

Offer both options in the bible and recommend one per territory. For example:

• Nordics and Netherlands: subtitles preferred for dramas.
• France, Germany, Italy, Spain: dubbing drives reach for mainstream audiences.
• MENA: modern Arabic dubbing for family-leaning titles; subtitling for premium adult drama in select markets.

Localization workflow & deliverables (practical steps)

1. Define target territories and language tiers in the commissioning note.
2. Create a localization spec sheet per territory: timecodes, glossary, cultural flags.
3. Run a shadow translation on episode 1 via a professional media-loc vendor; test with natives.
4. Finalize dubbing cast shortlists and music fallback lists before principal photography ends.
5. Deliver dual-language masters where feasible to speed up region launches.

Budgeting & co-production tips for EMEA

Commissioners will ask early about budget realism and co-pro options. Present three budget bands (low/medium/high) with line-item highlights and an outline of which countries may offer the best tax credits or cash rebates.

• Use incentives strategically: UK, France, Germany, Ireland and certain Eastern European countries have competitive rebates; list potential percentages and eligibility notes.
• Co-pro pitch: Identify at least one public broadcaster or independent producer in a priority market as a potential co-pro partner.
• Rights flexibility: Offer split-rights models — platform first-window + territorial licensing — and show projected ancillary revenue streams (linear windows, FAST channels, airline, SVOD international rollouts).

Pitch email + follow-up cadence

Make your initial email single-minded and short. Attach the 2-page pitch packet (one-page commissioning note + one-page production snapshot) and a showreel link. Follow up at a disciplined cadence: 7–10 days, then 3 weeks. If you get a soft pass, quickly offer a tailored version for a market they name.

Sample subject line: Commissioning note: [Title] — 6×45 / 8×30 — Localized for UK/FR/DE

Case studies & real-world alignment

Post-reorg teams at major streamers have publicly signaled preference for fast-to-scale local Originals and tight creative pipelines. One practical example: a mid-budget European thriller commissioned in 2025 succeeded because the producers submitted a short, localized pitch that included immediate dubbing plans and a co-pro roadmap — reducing legal and technical risk during greenlight. The lesson: foresight reduces friction in the commissioning meeting.

Advanced strategies & predictions for creators (2026+)

Looking forward, adopt these advanced moves now:

• Data-smart bibles: Include a mini-section with audience insights: which markets show demand for similar tags, early social listening signals, and platform-specific performance analogs.
• AI-assisted localization: Use AI for draft subtitling and terminology glossaries but always pair with human review for tone and cultural nuance.
• Modular IP: Design story elements that can be spun into local versions — format-franchising is a big value lever in EMEA.
• Sustainability & compliance: Include a production sustainability note and data on diversity in the writers’ room — both increasingly influence commissioning decisions.

Final pre-send QA checklist

• One-page commissioning note ready and customized to the streamer.
• Two-to-three format options explained with editorial trade-offs.
• Localization roadmap with concrete language priorities.
• Budget bands and at least one co-pro path identified.
• Talent/writer attachments listed and links to reels provided.

Sample commissioning note (compact, copy-ready)

Logline: When a small-town chef inherits a failing Michelin-starred restaurant, she must navigate old family secrets and a ruthless hospitality conglomerate to save her locals and reclaim her city’s soul.

Why now: Culinary dramas with strong local identity have proven commercial in EMEA and open doors for international format licensing.

Formats: 6×50 (primary), 8×30 (alternate), 4×70 (event).

Localization hooks: Ireland/UK: culinary tourism; France/Italy: high-end gastronomy adaptation; Nordics: character-driven, slow-burn tone.

Commercial: Estimated budget €3.5–6m per season. Seeking co-pro partners in FR/IE; eligible for [country] tax rebates. Deliverables: full masters + dubbed tracks for FR/DE/IT/ES.

Closing — make your bible a commissioning accelerator

In 2026, the fastest way to move from pitch to greenlight in EMEA is to remove uncertainty. A tight, modular show bible that answers commissioning questions up front — formats, localization, budget, co-pro options — shortens review cycles and positions your project as low-risk and high-reward.

If you want a ready-to-edit template, a localization spec sheet, or a one-page commissioning note tailored for Disney+ EMEA-style commissioners, I’ve assembled downloadable templates and a sample localization brief that map directly to the guidelines above.

Call to action

Download the free 2-page commissioning packet template and the EMEA localization checklist now — or book a 30-minute pitch clinic to get a tailored 1-page commissioning note for your project. Send your title and logline; I’ll show you the exact edits that put you on a commissioner’s desk.

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