The process of pitching a reality-based TV series can be complicated, but here's a way to break it down into a few relatively simple steps:

1) Make sure that something about your idea is proprietary. Thousands of similar ideas are likely floating around the many pitch-rooms in Los Angeles, so try to integrate elements that make your idea stand out and/or feel unique.  For example, any sponsors, celebrity attachments, and/or larger-than-life personalities who might add value to the specific concept are worth approaching/attaching.

2) Write a treatment that full represents your idea and register the concept/treatment with www.wga.org in an effort to protect it.

3) Secure an agent, manager, and/or attorney who can help make key introductions in Hollywood. They can help you to flush-out your concept, introduce you to appropriate producers/show-runners, and ultimately help to set the network pitch meetings.

4) Upon consulting with your agent/manager/attorney, partner with an established production company that has done business with the various networks around town. Networks tend to prefer working with companies who have delivered successful shows in the past. If you are trying to get the network to bite on your idea AND a production company that they have never worked with, it can be twice as hard.

7) Work with your production partner to put together a pitch tape that will grab the attention of the networks in the pitch room.

8) Identify the networks that are viable outlets for your concept and make the rounds to pitch the show.

9) Hope for a sale!

Alec Shankman
Alternative Programming Department
Abrams Artists Agency