6 Steps to Get Paid For Your Reality Show Ideas

If you're submitting a TV show idea in treatment form or other method, you'll most likely be required to sign a Material Release form IF they're willing to take a pitch directly at all. In a standard release form, the production company will typically require you to agree that they may create and produce similar subjects or themes. The language is more specific, but the intention is to protect them due to their position in the industry, and the fact that they work on tons of concepts in-house and in collaboration with others. To not require that would be to tie their hands with blind exposure to anything that came in to them. In contrast, they should agree to non-disclosure of your pitch.

It's always a good idea to get proof of creation with time-stamped archival at a place like the WGA, but the second measure of protection you need is "proof of exposure" to any third party anytime you pitch the project. That way you have proof that you created the project prior to exposure to the third party in conflict, as they would also then have to prove independent creation by themselves prior to viewing your pitch.

Since the industry is the draw, and executives would never pay to review ideas. People pitching at the TV Writer's Vault pay listing fees (membership). It's also important to point out that the TV Writer's Vault takes no financial participation in any deal or production, from either side. Not needing an Agent, and retaining 100% ownership of your project to negotiate any deal makes the TV Writer's Vault a good place to connect with producers and sell your reality show ideas.