pitchtemplateIP

Pitching Your Live Series to Studios: A One-Page Deck Inspired by Filoni-Era Moves

UUnknown

2026-02-13

10 min read

One-page studio pitch template for transmedia-ready live series—IP hooks, audience metrics, and revenue streams for 2026.

Hook: Stop sending 20-slide decks — give studios one thing they can act on

If you build live series, you know the pain: long decks that get skimmed, studio execs who ask for IP proof and revenue models, and the scramble to translate community energy into a bankable franchise. In 2026, studios are moving fast—favoring transmedia-ready IPs and concise pitches that show immediate audience traction and clear cross-platform revenue paths. This guide gives you a one-page pitch template tailored for franchise-friendly teams and the exact landing + onboarding templates to convert live viewers into subscribers, merch buyers, and licensing partners.

Why a one-page pitch works in 2026

Studios and agency partners now get hundreds of project submissions monthly. Two trends from late 2025–early 2026 accelerate the need for brevity:

Consolidation and franchise-first strategies at major studios — executives want projects that can scale across film, TV, games, live events, and commerce with minimal friction.
Rise of transmedia IP studios and agency deals (for example, The Orangery signing with WME) — studios prefer IP that already thinks multi-format and global rights.

That means your pitch must prove three things at a glance: IP hook, audience metrics, and revenue streams. The rest is negotiation.

The one-page pitch template (fill this in — print on letter-size)

This layout is optimized for execs, development leads, and transmedia teams. It fits on one page, prioritizes what studios care about in 2026, and translates directly into your landing and onboarding copy.

Header — Title + Logline

Title: [Series Name] — keep it punchy (3 words max when possible).
One-sentence logline: [Protagonist], [central conflict], [unique live twist].

IP Hook (Top-left, 2–3 bullets)

Core concept: Why this world is franchise-ready (unique mythos, adaptable IP assets).
Transmedia hooks: 2 quick threads that extend to comics, games, live events, AR, or toys.
Comparable IP: 1–2 references (e.g., The Mandalorian era moves — serialized + character-first universe).

Audience Proof (Top-right, compact metrics)

Use hard numbers. Studios trust metrics more than sentiment.

Active community: Total addressable audience + engaged base (DAU/MAU).
Live proof: Average concurrent viewers (ACV), peak concurrent, average watch time, retention % after 7 and 30 days.
Growth: Week-over-week growth rate, organic referral %, LTV to date.

Business Model & Revenue Streams (center-right)

List primary and secondary revenue paths — be explicit about near-term monetization vs. franchise upside.

Primary: Subscriptions, ticketed live events, sponsorships/brand integrations.
Secondary: Merch, VOD licensing, in-universe digital items, games, international format licensing.
Monetization KPIs: ARPU, Conversion rate (free→paying), Average basket for merch, Sponsorship CPMs.

Production & Team (bottom-left)

Showrunner/Creator: Name + 1 line credential (audience or credits).
Production model: Frequency, run time, tech stack (live platform, real-time interactive tech, cloud production).
Scalability: How the format scales to scripted spin-offs, games, or global productions.

Ask & Deal Terms (bottom-right)

Current ask: Development co-finance / studio distribution / branded partner / global format licensing.
Initial ask amount or commitment: $X / Y episodes / first-window exclusive.
What we offer: IP rights retained, first-look, revenue split proposal.

Include a small image (key art), 1-sentence hook repeat, and contact info (name, email, 1-line calendar link). Keep visual size to ~15% of the page.

Why this layout sells

This one-page layout mirrors the decision-making flow of studio execs in 2026: they check IP viability first, then audience traction and monetization, and finally legal/rights and team. You remove friction by surfacing the right answers immediately.

How to use it — step-by-step

Data-first fill: Populate the Audience Proof section with actual analytics from your live platform (concurrent viewers, retention, signups). Execs will ask for raw dashboards — be ready to share them.
One-line pitch polish: Test your logline with three colleagues — if they can explain the hook in 10 seconds, it's solid.
Revenue realism: Use conservative but provable revenue assumptions (historical sponsor CPMs, merch average order value). Never overinflate CAC or LTV.
Tailor the ask: If you approach a studio focused on games, emphasize game hooks and licensing. If it’s a streamer, emphasize subscriber conversion and retention.

Metrics & KPIs studios actually care about

Numbers matter. In 2026, studio development teams want early indicators that scale — and they want them quantified.

Average Concurrent Viewers (ACV): Live-first proof of habit formation.
Peak Concurrent: Event capability for scale and sponsorship inventory.
Watch Time per User: Average minutes per session and sessions per week.
Retention: % retained at Day 7 and Day 30 for live series — critical for subscribers.
Conversion Funnel: Visitor → Signup → Free Viewer → Paying Subscriber/Buyer.
Acquisition Costs: CAC by channel and organic referral %.
LTV/ARPU: Lifetime value or annual ARPU for paying viewers.

Cross-platform revenue streams — how to show upside

Studios buy potential. Show them how your live series becomes multiple revenue verticals in 12–36 months.

Subscriptions: Weekly live tiers + premium back-catalog VOD. Show conversion ratio from free viewers.
Brand sponsorship & integrations: Live native integrations command premium CPMs when ACV and retention are proven.
Ticketed live events: IRL meetups, finales, and festival showcases that double as monetization and PR.
Merch & physical goods: Limited-run drops tied to live moments increase urgency.
Games & interactive extensions: A format that shows commerce and microtransactions is easier to license — for frameworks and revenue plays, see advanced commerce playbooks.
International format licensing: Studios love formats that translate (local adaptations, dubbed VOD, regional live broadcasts).
Secondary rights & library licensing: Sell VOD windows, compilations, and spin-off packages.

Transmedia hooks — concrete examples to include

A transmedia hook is a simple rule: a piece of your IP must unlock a story or product beyond the live stream. List 2–3 with execution notes.

Character-driven artifact: A prop or artifact introduced live that becomes a collectible (physical + NFT utility used sparingly and only if it has secondary market or user value).
Serialized lore drops: Weekly micro-comics or audio episodes that deepen the universe and feed into a collector’s merch ecosystem.
Playable beats: A simple AR/mini-game tied to weekly outcomes; scores can be redeemed for exclusive access or merch discounts.

Example: Filled-in one-page pitch (fictional)

This example shows how to convert data and IP hooks into one page.

Title: Night Market: Neon Bazaar
Logline: A nightly live-hosted marketplace series where creators auction rare in-universe artifacts, and the community drives a branching narrative that spawns comics and a mobile mini-game.

IP Hook

Unique world: Urban sci-fi bazaar with collectible artifacts linked to lore.
Transmedia threads: Weekly artifact auctions → collector tier merch → serialized comic arcs for top buyers.
Comparable: Serialized appeal like The Mandalorian with commerce-first live mechanics.

Audience Proof

DAU/MAU: 35k/220k
ACV: 7.2k; Peak: 21k
Avg watch time: 48 minutes per session; Retention Day7: 38%

Revenue Streams

Subscriptions: 14% conversion on engaged viewers → $6 ARPU/mo
Live auctions + merch: avg basket $42; monthly revenue $75k
Sponsorships: $45 CPM on live impressions

Ask

$1.2M co-dev for 10-episode season + global format rollout.
Offer: studio gets first-look on linear/streaming adaptation; live IP remains co-owned.

Your one-pager should link to a landing page that converts curious execs and prospective partners into meetings and data-access. Use this template as the page wireframe and initial email nurture.

Landing page wireframe (above the fold)

Hero: Title, 10-word hook, CTA: “Request One-Page Deck & Dashboard”
Proof strip: ACV / Peak / Avg Watch Time buttons (small icons)
Quick links: One-pager PDF, 3-minute highlight reel, sample metrics dashboard (view-only link)

Full name
Company & Role
Work email
Reason for interest (dropdown: Dev, Distribution, Sponsorship, Other)
Calendar link pre-populated via scheduling system

For landing pages and protecting conversion, consider best practices for email deliverability and landing-page hygiene — see Protecting Email Conversion From Unwanted Ad Placements and customer-trust cookie experiences to keep execs' email flows clean and clickable.

3-email onboarding sequence (what studios want to see)

Email 1: Deliver the one-page PDF + 3-min highlight reel + live metrics snapshot.
Email 2 (48 hrs): Case study: 90-day growth chart + sponsorship case study with concrete CPMs and outcomes.
Email 3 (1 week): Offer an interactive demo — 20-minute live stream showing your production and commerce flow; include Q&A slot.

Onboarding checklist & live-run runbook

Studios will test your operations. Give them confidence by sharing a short runbook and onboarding checklist.

Pre-pitch checklist (what to have ready)

Raw analytics link (CSV & dashboard view-only)
Sample sponsor integration deck + CPM history
Legal: clear rights breakdown and proposed splits
Production test: 1-minute technical dry run video
Transmedia roadmap: 12–24 month bullet plan

Live runbook (one-page summary)

Pre-show (T-60 to T-5): setup, graphics check, commerce SKU readiness
Go live (0): host intro + 90s storytelling beat
Mid show (+20m): interactive beat, auction or poll, sponsor read
Close (+45–60m): call-to-action, merch drop, retention hook for next episode
Post-show (+0–24h): drop VOD, analytics refresh, community recap

Pitching strategy & follow-up playbook

Once you send the one-pager, follow a deliberate cadence to convert interest into term sheets.

Send one-pager + dashboard access. Allow view-only access to analytics for 72 hours and track opens.
Schedule a 20-minute demo. Use the demo to show live interactivity and commerce flow — not the story beats.
Deliver a 6-week transmedia timeline. Show quick wins that the studio can execute with a modest development investment.
Provide clear rights options. Offer a few flexible templates: co-development, first-look licensing, or full acquisition with back-end split.

Advanced strategies & 2026 predictions

Here are practical advanced plays based on industry movement in late 2025–early 2026.

Data rooms are table stakes: By 2026, studios expect view-only dashboards that auto-update. Prepare a sanitized, executive-ready dashboard and a raw-data CSV for legal teams.
Generative & localization play: Use generative AI to create localized highlights and captions quickly — studios like formats that can scale regionally without massive overhead.
Commerce-first pilots: Use limited merch drops and auction events to prove buying intent — studios value real transactional evidence over vanity metrics. See advanced commerce playbooks that show how drops and live drops convert.
Studio-friendly rights framing: Offer staged rights: live rights retained for community commerce; adaptation rights for studios for scripted formats. If negotiation on control comes up, reference a decision framework to show pros/cons for both sides.
Partner with transmedia boutiques: Emerging studios and boutiques can help you package modular IP so agencies and buyers can attach production partners quickly. For creator workflows and long-term career context, review interviews with veteran creators.

"Studios now look for projects that come with proof of habit, commerce, and scalable IP mechanics — not just a logline."

Common objections and how to answer them

Objection: "Live metrics are small."
Answer: Show high engagement and conversion velocity — a small, high-ARPU community is more valuable than a large passive one.
Objection: "This is hard to scale."
Answer: Present a 12-month plan with localization, format licensing, and automated content repurposing to reduce marginal costs.
Objection: "We need IP control."
Answer: Offer tiered deal structures with staged rights and back-end splits that protect long-term upside for both parties.

Actionable takeaways (use these today)

Create a single one-page PDF using the template above — keep it under 350 words of copy.
Populate the Audience Proof section with real metrics and a view-only dashboard link.
Build a simple landing page that lets execs request the one-pager and schedule a 20-minute demo. For protecting email conversion and landing hygiene, see best practices.
Prepare a 20-minute live demo that prioritizes production reliability and commerce flow. Use micro-apps and simple automation to remove friction from demo ops.

Call to action

If you want the editable one-page pitch template plus a landing page & onboarding kit pre-filled for a sample live series, download our pack and get a 15-minute pitch-review with our team. We’ll help translate your community metrics into a studio-ready one-pager and draft a 12-month transmedia rollout that executives can sign off on in 2026.

Ready to turn your live series into a studio-friendly franchise? Request the template pack and a free pitch review now.

Unknown

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.