Free Resource

Free TV Show Pitch Deck Template

Eight slides. Fully annotated. Built from 25 years of pitching unscripted concepts to Discovery, PBS, A&E, and 28+ other networks. Download it and have a pitch-ready document in a day.

No email required. No paywall. Just the template.

What's in the Template

This pitch deck template is based on the structure MY Entertainment uses when developing pitch packages for our own network submissions — refined over 25 years and hundreds of pitches. It covers the eight sections every unscripted TV pitch deck needs, with slide-by-slide guidance on what to write, how much detail to include, and what mistakes to avoid.

The template is designed as a starting structure, not a fill-in-the-blank form. Every show is different; the guidance in each slide is there to help you think, not to replace your creative judgment. A strong pitch deck reflects a specific show — not a generic template.

For the pitch deck to work, pair it with a sizzle reel — the visual complement to the written document. Together, they form a complete pitch package.

The Eight Slides — Annotated

This is what the template covers — each slide explained with guidance on what to include.

Title & Logline

Your show title and a single-sentence logline. Format: "[Title] is a [format] series that follows [who] as they [do what] in a world where [stakes/conflict]." If your logline runs two sentences, you don't know your show yet.

The Hook / Why Now

Why does this show exist today — not five years ago, not next year? The cultural moment, trend, or news hook that makes this concept urgent for a network to commission right now. Buyers are always programming 12–18 months ahead.

Show Format

Episode count, episode length, single-location or travel format, episodic vs. serialized structure, and any special production elements (hidden cameras, competition format, real-time events). Buyers need to understand the production model before they can price it.

Characters / Talent

Photos, one-sentence bios, and — critically — what makes each person irresistible on camera. Networks buy characters, not concepts. If your character slides could describe any random person, they are not ready.

Episode Arc / Season Map

Three to five sample episode synopses or a season arc map. Demonstrates that the format generates repeatable content and that you have thought past the pilot. Buyers will ask "where does this go after season one?" — answer it here.

Target Audience

Primary demographic (age, gender), psychographic profile, and media consumption habits. Include comp shows already doing well with this audience on your target network — this is your proof of market.

Competitive Landscape

Two to four comp shows and a clear articulation of how yours is different. Be honest — buyers know the landscape better than you do. Using comps that are 10 years old signals you're out of touch with the current market.

Production Team

Logos, credits, and brief bios for your production company and key creatives. This slide answers the buyer's unspoken question: "Can these people actually make this show?" Partnering with an experienced prodco before this slide exists is your single best investment.

How to Use This Template

Start with Slide 01 — the logline. If you can't write a single clear sentence describing your show, no amount of strong slides in the other seven sections will save the pitch. The logline is the filter. Get it right before you build anything else.

Customize every slide to your specific show.

Generic language is the pitch-deck killer. Replace every placeholder with specific details about your concept, your characters, and your target network. Buyers read dozens of decks; yours needs to feel specific.

Know your target network before you fill in Slide 06.

The audience slide and the competitive landscape slide (Slides 06 and 07) only make sense relative to a specific buyer. If you're pitching Travel Channel, your comps are Travel Channel shows. Build this deck for one network at a time.

Pair the deck with a sizzle reel.

The deck explains the show; the reel shows it. In today's pitch environment, a deck alone is significantly weaker than a deck-plus-reel package. If you don't yet have a reel, include a production plan for it in Slide 08.

Keep it to 10–15 slides.

Add a cover slide and a contact/next-steps slide to the eight template slides for a 10-slide deck. If you feel the need to go past 15 slides, you're adding slides that should be in a separate treatment document — not the deck.

For a complete walkthrough of the pitch process — from concept to commission — read our guide on how to pitch a TV show, which covers the deck structure, sizzle reel role, who buys, and common mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be in a TV show pitch deck?

A TV show pitch deck typically contains eight sections: title and logline, the hook or why-now, show format details, character or talent profiles, episode arc or season map, target audience, competitive landscape, and production team credentials. The deck should be 10–15 slides and designed for a 5–10 minute verbal walkthrough in a pitch meeting.

How many slides should a TV pitch deck have?

10 to 15 slides is the standard for an unscripted TV pitch deck. Fewer than 10 usually means underdeveloped ideas in key areas (characters, episode arc). More than 20 slides tests executive patience and buries your strongest material. The template in this download is 8 content slides — add cover and contact slides for a 10-slide deck.

Is a pitch deck the same as a treatment?

No. A pitch deck is a presentation-format document (slides) built for the pitch meeting — visual, concise, scannable in 30 seconds. A treatment is a longer written document (3–20 pages) that details format, episode structure, character backstory, and creative vision. Both are often requested during development; the deck typically comes first.

Do I need a sizzle reel as well as a pitch deck?

Yes, if at all possible. A pitch deck asks the commissioning editor to imagine your show; a sizzle reel shows them. In the current pitch environment, a deck-only package is significantly weaker than a deck-plus-reel package. MY Entertainment recommends producing both as an integrated pitch system rather than two separate deliverables.

Can I use this template for a scripted TV show?

This template is optimized for unscripted and reality TV formats, which is MY Entertainment's primary genre. For scripted series, the structure differs — you would replace the "characters/talent" section with a cast list and character breakdown, add a pilot script excerpt, and adjust the format section to address writers' room and episode scripts. The core sections (logline, format, audience, comps, team) apply to both.

Need More Than a Template?

MY Entertainment doesn't just provide templates — we build the full pitch package, produce the sizzle reel, and submit directly to commissioning editors at your target network. If your concept is ready for a real partner, reach out.

Also read: How to Pitch a TV Show · What Is a Sizzle Reel? · Our Production Services