May 29, 2024
NBCU LAUNCH, the umbrella brand that houses the comprehensive inclusion efforts across NBCUniversal’s entertainment television portfolio, recently hosted its second annual “NBCU LAUNCH Unscripted” celebration at the NBCU FYC House.
As part of this year’s event, the LAUNCH team unveiled the Unscripted Pitch Accelerator, which provides creators and producers with the chance to pitch their unscripted series to NBCUniversal television executives in the hopes of creating the next hit franchise for the company’s broadcast networks including NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, USA Network, and the streaming platform, Peacock.
In an effort to expand the talent consideration pool and find the best ideas, independent producers do not need representation, nor do they need to have a relationship with an established production company or studio to submit their concepts. Up to five standout pitches will be awarded a $20,000 development deal with NBCU Entertainment, providing creators with the resources and support needed to refine their concepts for potential greenlight consideration.
There’s an abundance of great show ideas in our industry. By expanding access to the TV pitch process to independent creators, our Unscripted Pitch Accelerator aims to unearth fresh perspectives and untapped talent who, in success, will ultimately shape the future of television. This new initiative, open to all, complements our existing unscripted inclusion efforts by empowering storytellers with the opportunity to develop the next great NBCU unscripted franchise and put them on the pathway to become prolific producers.
— Jeanne Mau, Senior Vice President, TV Programming Diversity Equity & Inclusion, NBCUniversal
The Unscripted Pitch Accelerator is the latest addition to NBCU LAUNCH’s growing suite of inclusion efforts across unscripted television, which includes the Unscripted Producer’s Initiative, the Below-the-Line Traineeship, the Production Assistant Initiative and the NBCU Launch Talent and Casting Assistant Program. Mau also shared with guests the impact of these unscripted initiatives, including the Unscripted Producers initiative, to date has placed 28 producers across 20 unscripted NBCU shows, including “The Real Housewives” franchise (Miami, New York and Salt Lake City), “Winter House,” “Sins of the South,” “Love Island Games,” “Password” and “American Ninja Warrior.”
The event guest list was comprised of press, producing partners and independent producers as well as members of NBCU’s internal creative teams and external community organizations.
Submissions for the NBCU LAUNCH Unscripted Pitch Accelerator will be accepted from May 21-June 30, 2024 at the NBCU LAUNCH website.