MY Entertainment — Unscripted TV

Unscripted TV Shows: What They Are, Genres & How to Make One

MY Entertainment is a New York unscripted TV production company founded in 2000, behind Ghost Adventures (28 seasons), Destination Fear, and Pros vs Joes. We develop, produce, and sell unscripted television to 28+ networks worldwide.

What Is Unscripted Television?

Unscripted TV shows are television programs produced without a pre-written script — meaning the content is generated by real people in real (or constructed real) situations, rather than by actors performing written dialogue.

The term covers a wide range of formats: reality TV, documentary series, competition shows, game shows, talk shows, and true crime. What they share is the absence of fictional characters and pre-scripted storylines. The drama, conflict, and story come from real people making real decisions.

Unscripted television is the dominant format across most cable networks and is growing on major streaming platforms. It is generally produced faster, at lower cost per episode, and with more format repeatability than scripted drama or comedy — making it the primary commissioning target for production companies like MY Entertainment.

28+

Networks MY Entertainment has sold to

Seasons of Ghost Adventures on Discovery

25+

Years producing unscripted television

Have a finished unscripted show?

MY Entertainment is a TV distribution company that pitches finished unscripted shows to 28+ US networks and international broadcasters. If your show is in production or complete, submit it for distribution consideration.

TV Distribution Submit Your Show

Unscripted TV Genres

Unscripted television spans six major genre categories. Each has distinct buyer relationships, format requirements, and pitch conventions.

Paranormal & Supernatural

One of cable television's most durable genres. Paranormal shows follow investigators or witnesses of unexplained events — hauntings, cryptid encounters, UFO sightings — combining documentary elements with serialized character relationships. Primary buyers: Travel Channel, Discovery, Syfy. MY Entertainment produced Ghost Adventures, which ran 28 seasons on Travel Channel and Discovery, and Destination Fear.

MYE shows: Ghost Adventures, Destination Fear, Paranormal Challenge

Sports & Competition

Competition shows pit skilled individuals against each other in structured challenges — sports-based, talent-based, or knowledge-based. The format engine is the competition itself: clear stakes, repeatable structure, and emotionally invested characters. Primary buyers: ESPN, Fox, NBC, Bravo. MY Entertainment produced Pros vs Joes (four seasons on Spike TV / Comedy Central).

MYE shows: Pros vs Joes, Competition formats across cable and broadcast

True Crime & Investigation

The most consistently high-rating genre on cable television. True crime shows examine real criminal cases — murders, disappearances, fraud, and systemic crime — through investigation and testimony. Access and exclusivity are the pitch differentiators. Primary buyers: Investigation Discovery (ID), Oxygen, A&E, Peacock, Netflix. MY Entertainment has produced true crime content for multiple buyers.

MYE shows: Sin City Justice, Investigation-based formats

Home, Lifestyle & Food

The broadest genre in cable unscripted, covering home renovation, cooking, design, and lifestyle content. Strong format repeatability and a loyal, well-defined female-skewing audience. Primary buyers: HGTV, Food Network, Bravo, TLC, Magnolia Network. MY Entertainment's Legacy List (PBS) sits at the intersection of home and history documentary.

MYE shows: Legacy List (PBS), Home & lifestyle formats

Documentary Series

A documentary series applies long-form investigative or observational filmmaking to a repeatable subject or anthology format. Distinguished from standalone documentaries by episodic structure. Primary buyers: PBS, Netflix, Max, Hulu, National Geographic. MY Entertainment produced Legacy List with Matt Paxton — an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary series.

MYE shows: Legacy List with Matt Paxton (PBS), Emmy-nominated documentary series

Comedy & Satire Unscripted

Comedy-driven reality and hidden-camera formats that prioritize humor over drama. Format engine: comedic situations, character-driven absurdity, and social dynamics. Primary buyers: Comedy Central, E!, TruTV, Bravo. One of the harder genres to pitch because tone is difficult to convey in a deck — the sizzle reel is especially critical for comedy formats.

MYE shows: Comedy reality formats, Hidden camera / character-driven humor

How to Make an Unscripted TV Show

Making an unscripted TV show involves two parallel paths: the creative development path (defining the format, finding the characters, producing the sizzle reel) and the commercial path (pitching to buyers, negotiating the deal, and delivering the commissioned series).

For independent creators, the commercial path runs through a production company. Networks commission unscripted shows from production companies — not from individual creators. The production company brings network access, production infrastructure, and the credibility to convert a pitch into a commission.

Develop the Concept

Define your format, identify your characters, and clarify your target network. Build a pitch deck and a sizzle reel — the two documents that constitute a commission-ready pitch package.

Attach a Production Partner

Partner with a TV production company that has existing relationships with your target buyers. The partner co-develops your concept, submits it to their network contacts, and shepherds it through the development process.

Pitch, Develop, and Commission

Your production partner submits the package to commissioning editors. Read our guide on how to pitch a TV show for the full process — from the first pitch meeting through to the commission deal. Once commissioned, the show enters pre-production and then principal photography.

MY Entertainment Unscripted Shows

MY Entertainment has produced unscripted television since 2000, across paranormal, sports, true crime, home, and documentary genres. A selection of produced shows:

Ghost Adventures

28 seasons on Travel Channel and Discovery. A paranormal investigation series following Zak Bagans and team at the world's most haunted locations. One of the longest-running paranormal series in cable history.

Destination Fear

Travel Channel. An investigative paranormal series following Dakota Laden, Chelsea Laden, Alex Schilpp, and Tanner Wiseman as they spend nights alone in America's most feared abandoned locations.

Pros vs Joes

Four seasons on Spike TV / Comedy Central. Competition reality series in which amateur athletes compete directly against retired professional athletes across multiple sports.

Legacy List with Matt Paxton

PBS. Emmy-nominated documentary series in which certified estate liquidator Matt Paxton helps families sort through lifetimes of possessions and uncover extraordinary stories hidden in everyday objects.

Paranormal Challenge

Travel Channel. Competition series in which paranormal investigation teams compete at notoriously haunted locations, judged by Ghost Adventures' Zak Bagans.

View our full catalog of available and in-development unscripted content: Available Shows →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unscripted TV?

Unscripted TV refers to television programming that is not based on a pre-written script with fictional characters and storylines. It includes reality TV shows, documentary series, competition formats, game shows, and talk shows. In unscripted television, the content is generated by real people in real (or constructed real) situations, rather than by actors performing a written script. The term "non-fiction television" is sometimes used interchangeably with unscripted TV.

What is the difference between scripted and unscripted TV?

Scripted TV (drama, comedy, limited series) is produced from a written screenplay or teleplay with professional actors performing fictional roles. Unscripted TV (reality TV, documentary, competition, game shows) is produced with real people in real or constructed situations, without a pre-written script. Unscripted shows typically have lower production costs per episode, faster development timelines, and higher production volume than scripted series. Most cable networks program a mix of both; most streamers are expanding their unscripted commissions.

How do I pitch an unscripted TV show?

To pitch an unscripted TV show, you need to build a pitch package: a logline, a 10–15 slide pitch deck, and a 2–4 minute sizzle reel. You then need access to the right commissioning editor at your target network — which in practice means partnering with a production company that has those relationships. Read our full guide on how to pitch a TV show for the complete step-by-step process.

How many unscripted TV shows are commissioned each year?

Precise annual commission counts vary by year and by network. Across US cable networks and major streamers, several hundred new unscripted series are commissioned each year, with thousands of pilots, development deals, and pitched concepts that don't reach commission. The overall volume of unscripted TV production is significantly higher than scripted — most cable networks commission unscripted exclusively or predominantly. In a typical year, networks like Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, and TLC each commission dozens of new unscripted series.

What are the most popular unscripted TV show formats?

The most durable unscripted TV formats include: competition formats (American Idol, The Voice, Survivor, Amazing Race); renovation and makeover shows (Fixer Upper, Property Brothers); paranormal and investigation shows (Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters); true crime docuseries (Making a Murderer, The Act); and food and restaurant shows (Chopped, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives). The most commercially successful formats share a common trait: a clear, repeatable structure that generates conflict in every episode.

Have an Unscripted TV Show Concept?

MY Entertainment is actively developing new unscripted concepts across paranormal, true crime, competition, and documentary genres. If you have a strong concept and real characters, reach out — we'll tell you honestly whether it's ready to pitch.

Show already made? Learn about TV distribution with MY Entertainment →

Also read: How to Pitch a TV Show · How to Sell a TV Show Idea · Free Pitch Deck Template · What Is a Sizzle Reel?