Create a Studio-Friendly One-Pager: What Executives at Vice, Disney+, and BBC Want to See

Cut the fluff: get a commissioning exec to read your pitch in 30 seconds

You're juggling a hundred ideas, a shrinking inbox, and commissioning desks that answer fewer than 1 in 50 submissions. The quickest way to get a meeting in 2026 is a single, studio-friendly one-pager that speaks the language of the network in 10-15 seconds — clear premise, clear audience, clear deliverables. This guide gives you ready-to-send one-page templates tuned for commissioners at Vice, Disney+, and the BBC, plus email subject lines, follow-up cadence, and a checklist to get past busy desks and into meetings.

Why a one-pager matters in 2026

Commissioners now sit at the intersection of data, platform strategy, and brand values. Post-2025 shifts—streamers tightening slates, broadcasters partnering with platforms (see the BBC-YouTube talks in Jan 2026), and companies like Vice rebuilding as studios—mean execs need fast, signal-rich documents that show editorial fit and commercial thinking.

What commissioners want in 2026:

• Concise signals: Can this reach a key audience and scale across platforms?
• Platform fit: Is the format native to the network’s strategy? (Short-form + long-form funnels, social-first hooks, IP potential.)
• Production realism: Do the budget and delivery model match capability?
• Diversity & reach: Can the project reach international or underserved audiences?

Top-level strategy: what to include (and why)

Think of the one-pager as a quick conversation starter — not the full plan. Use sections that answer the four commissioning questions in order: What is it? Who is it for? Why now? And how will it get made?

1. Logline (1 line) — the elevator pitch. Sharp, specific, 12–20 words.
2. One-sentence hook — the cultural or commercial rationale: why it matters in 2026.
3. Audience & positioning — primary demo + where it lives on the platform (e.g., homepage feature, kids hub, social clips).
4. Tone & comps — 2–3 reference shows and a one-line tone note.
5. Format & delivery — episodes, runtimes, total duration, windows (SVoD/AVoD/broadcast/YouTube tie-in).
6. Creator / talent — host or director name and a 1-line why they matter.
7. Budget band & stage — Low/Medium/High with a short note (e.g., proof-of-concept ready, pilot, treatment).
8. Production & distribution ideas — cross-platform hooks, short-form repurposing, social-first intro.
9. Contact — producer, representation, and the best times to reach you.

Studio-friendly visual format

Your one-pager should be a single-page PDF sized for A4/US Letter, with readable type (11–12pt), clear headings, and a logo or two. Avoid giant blocks of text. Use bullet points, bold for key facts, and a small visual (one photo or mood-strip). Name the file clearly: LastName_Project_Network_OnePager.pdf. File size: under 1.5MB so it lands quickly in inboxes and mobile previews.

Three tailored one-pager templates: Vice, Disney+, BBC

Below are copy-ready templates. Each is prefaced with what commissioners at that outlet care about in early 2026 — informed by executive changes and platform moves across the industry.

What Vice commissioners want (studio-facing)

Context: Vice is moving from vendor work to a studio model, expanding its C-suite and finance team to scale in-house production (new hires reported in early 2026). Commissioners are looking for sharp, culture-first shows with clear production economics and social engagement pathways.

What Disney+ commissioners want (EMEA/global franchises)

Context: Disney+ reorganized content teams in EMEA in late 2025 and early 2026, promoting commissioners focused on scripted and unscripted slate growth. They prioritize franchise potential, broad family reach, and IP-ready formats with global adaptation upside.

What BBC commissioners want (public value & multiplatform reach)

Context: The BBC in 2026 is actively exploring platform partnerships (notably talks with YouTube) and wants content with editorial integrity, public value, and digital-first distribution options for younger audiences. Commissioners look for proven storytelling with trust signals.

How to write each section—exact phrasing that works

Below are micro-guides and example lines you can drop into your one-pager.

Logline (12–18 words)

Good: "A former refugee trains under a retired boxer to reclaim his life and launch a community gym."

Bad: A long paragraph of backstory that reads like a synopsis.

The Hook / Why Now (one sentence)

Good examples: "An antidote to partisan news; a solutions-driven series about community climate action." or "Taps into 2026 social trend: Gen Z's resurgence in analog crafts and maker culture."

Audience (one line)

Be specific: "Primary: 18–34 urban viewers; Secondary: international young adults interested in activism and travel."

Tone & Comps (one line)

"Tone: sharp, immersive, wry. Comps: [Show A] meets [Show B]." Use known, recent shows as shorthand to telegraph production value.

Format & Delivery (one line)

"6x30' SVOD + 12x3' social; finished delivery within 26 weeks of greenlight." This shows you understand delivery timelines. If you're unsure about short-form repurposing, read up on how AI vertical video and vertical-first formats are reshaping discovery and funnel design.

Budget band (one line)

"Budget: Medium (£500–900k / episode equivalent) — pilot available on request." If you can’t give numbers, use Low/Medium/High bands with a brief justification.

Email outreach that gets opened: subject lines + body copy

Subject lines need to show fit and be scannable in mobile preview panes.

• Vice: "One-pager: [Title] — youth-led doc series for Vice Studios"
• Disney+: "Franchise-ready family series: [Title] — 8x30 for Disney+ Originals (EMEA)"
• BBC: "One-pager: [Title] — public-service doc series with YouTube-first shorts"

Short email body (3–4 lines):

Hi [Name],
Attaching a one-pager for [Title] — a [logline in 12–15 words]. It’s a [format] aimed at [audience] and built for [platform]. We have a proof-of-concept / talent attached and a short deck if you'd like more. I can jump on a 15-minute call next week. Best, [Your name].

Before you hit send, consider running subject-line checks — in 2026 many teams are testing automation and AI-assisted edits. See recommended checks in When AI Rewrites Your Subject Lines.

Follow-up rhythm that respects busy desks

1. Day 0: Send one-pager with short email (above).
2. Day 4–6: Quick follow-up — "Circling on this one-pager — happy to send a 90-second lo-fi proof."
3. Week 3: If no reply, a value-add follow-up: send a 30-second vertical cut or one-sentence update about new attachments/talent.
4. Month 2: Final touch: "Closing the loop on this — open to feedback for future submissions."

Common pitfalls — and how to avoid them

• Too much jargon: Keep it plain and translatable across colleagues (finance, marketing, editorial).
• Missing platform fit: If you pitch a 60’ prestige drama to Disney+ kids hub, you’ve already lost.
• Wrong file type: Never send editable files — always PDF. If you send links, ensure previews work without login.
• No social plan: In 2026, commissioners expect cross-platform ideas, not afterthoughts.

Real-world examples & micro case studies

Below are anonymized, composite examples based on real commissioning patterns in 2025–26. These show how a one-pager opened doors when tailored correctly.

Case study: Culture-first doc for Vice

A producer with a 60-second vertical package and a 1-page doc that emphasized youth engagement and social-first asset planning got a meeting at Vice Studios after sending a single targeted email. The one-pager highlighted monetization via branded social content and a 6x30 SVOD run — matching Vice’s studio ambitions and the new C-suite focus on scaled production. If you need fast field capture for a proof reel, check lighting and phone-kit field tests like the Field Test: Budget Portable Lighting & Phone Kits.

Case study: Family series for Disney+ EMEA

A creator attached a well-known European director and reframed local folklore as a franchise-ready family drama. The one-pager emphasized merchandising potential and EMEA co-pro windows; the commissioner on the Disney+ EMEA desk responded within two weeks and requested a pilot budget conversation.

Case study: BBC digital-first documentary

A public-interest documentary pitched to the BBC included an explicit YouTube rollout plan and accessibility commitments. Given the broadcaster's talks with YouTube, the one-pager’s cross-platform plan made the project appealing for pilot funding and short-form commissioning. For outreach and PR follow-up workflows that turn mentions into ongoing attention, see this digital PR workflow guide.

One-pager checklist before you send

• Is the logline clear in one read?
• Does the one-pager state exactly what the platform gets (episodes, runtimes, assets)?
• Is the tone & comp line present and accurate?
• Are talent and stage clearly noted (attach proof-of-concept if available)?
• Is the file named and sized for mobile preview?
• Did you tailor the subject line and first sentence to the specific commissioner?

Advanced strategies for 2026 and beyond

Commissioners increasingly evaluate projects against platform strategy: studio capacity, global reach, data-driven audience windows, and short-form funnels. Use these advanced moves to stand out.

• Data signals: Include one-line audience indicators: “TikTok trend X: 8M views; pilot test reel attracted 150k views in 14 days.” Hard metrics are persuasive — and newsroom teams are increasingly using ethical data pipelines to source and verify signals.
• Proof-of-concept first: In 2026, many desks prefer seeing a 60–90 second proof over long decks. Attach one clip when possible and capture it with compact rigs or field-friendly streaming kits (portable streaming kits).
• Flexible delivery: Offer tiered delivery: pilot-only, full series, or short-form first. This reduces perceived risk.
• Local adaptation plan: For Disney+ and BBC, include a sentence on localization/adaptation potential for other territories.
• Studio economics note: For Vice and streamer studios, a one-line ROI note (e.g., branded integrations, co-pro sales) signals you think like a partner. Early commerce and merch thinking can help — see ideas for fan merch and licensing.

Templates to download and quick formatting rules

Use a single-column layout, bold headings, no more than 6 bullets per section, and keep the total word count under 350–450 words on the page. Use a single mood image (landscape strip) not larger than 300px height so the page reads quickly in previews.

Final checklist — last-minute quality control

• Open your PDF on mobile and desktop to confirm legibility.
• Make sure links open without logins (use unlisted YouTube or Dropbox preview links).
• Spell-check names of attached talent and comps.
• Confirm the subject line uses the exact network name (e.g., "Disney+ Originals" for Disney+ teams).

Parting advice

Commissioners at Vice, Disney+, and the BBC are looking for different signals, but they share one thing: they are short on time and need clarity. Your job is to remove friction — give them the idea, the audience, the delivery plan, and the contact. Show that you understand their 2026 priorities: platform fit, data, and realistic production economics.

Call to action

If you want the exact editable one-pager templates (A4 and US Letter PDFs pre-formatted for Vice, Disney+, and BBC) and three email subject/body swipe files, grab the free pack I created for creators and producers. Click to download, or reply to this article with your project logline and I'll give a free 5-minute line edit to help you tighten the one-liner for commissioners.

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