Author:
Gregory Harris
Date Of Creation:
11 August 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
If you think you have a great reality TV idea, you can sell it even if you don't have any experience or necessary connections. Here's a quick guide.
Steps
1 Bring out the basic concept of your idea. You must summarize the whole point of the show in 30 words or less. This will be your logline. It serves as an explanation to the audience of what the show is about. 
2 Create a format for your show. In other words, outline what will happen during the show. For example, "Dancing with the Stars", celebrities dance together with professional ballroom dancers, competing with each other, and the winners are determined by the jury and TV viewers. Describe the specific and main events of each episode of the show, including the elimination of the project participants, showing what they were able to achieve on the show. 
3 Increase your chances of success by getting professional TV consultation. Skipping this step is like going to court without prior legal advice! Professional TV consultants have typically been high-profile figures on television at this time or in the past. They will help you shape your idea and make it more commercially viable. A well-formulated idea can lead you to get funding and to meet industry leaders (professional Google TV consultants, and the like). 
4 But if you want to do it yourself, you can make a list of producers who might like your idea. There are directories of producers, such as the Hollywood Creative Directory, which indicate the directions of shows and films that a particular producer is involved in. List the appropriate options from the catalog on your list. 
5 Present your show idea to producers. Most broadcasters avoid cooperation with a person on the street, so you will have to call them a lot until your application is accepted. If you succeed, you will most likely have to sign a special form. Be polite and direct in your communication. 
6 Use the online TV industry marketplaces like the TV Writers Vault to market your reality TV idea. Here you will need to submit securely digital electronic documents to be reviewed by the producers. They will contact you directly with any business proposal. You do not need an intermediary to use this type of service, but always use the services of a lawyer when you close a deal to sell your project.
Tips
- Remember: the idea itself is not a commodity. The main thing is its embodiment, format.
- Do your best to make your concept look original and attractive. Take the time to research the market and see what is missing.
- Find ways to improve your concept, its originality; make sure there is nothing like it on the market.
- We do not recommend using stars in your show unless they have personally given you their consent. This is called tact. You can, of course, submit an idea for a similar show. But from a producer's point of view, it will look tactless; he will see you as an upstart who tries to brandish the names of the stars without even asking them for their opinion.
- If you are conceptualizing a game show, make sure that all branches of the gameplay are clearly defined. For example: what happens if there is a tie?
Warnings
- In fact, it is quite difficult to protect your copyrights on reality TV shows. All you can do is register your idea with the Writers Guild of America. You can easily find them online, and register online for as little as $ 20. This will be proof that the idea is yours. The TV Writers Vault gives you a check every time some broadcaster views your idea, which is the extra layer of protection you need to sell your reality TV idea.
