How to Build Localised Show Ideas for EMEA Platforms (Templates & Examples)

Stop guessing: build show ideas that commissioners in EMEA will actually greenlight

Creators and indie producers in EMEA tell me the same thing: you can have a great concept, but inconsistent planning, missing cultural nuance, and the wrong budget format kill commissioning chances before the pitch. This guide gives you practical, ready-to-send series templates, a cultural research checklist, sample episode outlines and real-world budget examples you can submit to regional commissioners or use to brief partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 2026.

Why localisation is non-negotiable in 2026 EMEA

EMEA is not a single market — it’s dozens. Since late 2025, platforms and broadcasters have doubled down on regionally sourced and adapted content. Executives promoted into EMEA commissioning teams are explicitly prioritising local formats and talent, signalling a long-term shift to region-first strategies.

“I want to set my team up for long term success in EMEA.” — Angela Jain, quoted about commissioning strategy

That push affects how commissioners evaluate submissions: they favour concepts that are scalable across territories while still being deeply local. In short: commissioners want formats that travel easily with clear localisation nodes and modest, defensible budgets.

Top-line: What a commissioner in EMEA wants in 2026

• Clear format and delivery specs — episode length, episode count, all delivery masters and localisation files needed.
• Localisation plan — how you will adapt stories, talent, and languages for specific territories.
• Realistic budget and cost-per-episode — with localization and marketing line-items separated.
• Audience & platform fit — why this format belongs on the intended platform(s) now.
• Production plan & rights — who owns what; windowing strategy and license asks.

Platform fit: quick reference for EMEA commissioners (2026)

Match format to platform. Don’t pitch a long-form cultural doc to a FAST aggregator that wants 6–8 minute snackables — and don’t expect global SVODs to accept raw local-only ideas without plans to scale.

SVOD (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

• Prefer 20–60 minute episodic or limited series for scripted and premium non-scripted
• Value dual-language strategies: local language masters with dubbed/subbed international versions
• Commissioners look for attached talent or local production partners

Public Broadcasters / National FTA (BBC, RAI, France Télévisions, MBC)

• Format familiarity and broadcast-friendly runtimes (22/30/45/60 minutes)
• Local cultural verification is essential — public broadcasters are sensitive to representation

FAST / AVOD & Platforms (Pluto, Samsung TV, YouTube)

• Short-form to mid-form (5–15 minutes), high episode counts work
• Optimise for metadata and repeatability — think serial hooks

Social First (TikTok, Instagram, Shorts)

• Native vertical formats, micro-episodes (30–90s), repurposed from longer shoots
• Localization via captions, music rights cleared per region

Practical series templates that fit EMEA markets (ready-to-adapt)

Below are four format templates that commissioners in EMEA see frequently in 2026. For each you’ll get a one-line logline, format specs, localisation nodes and a ballpark budget framework you can copy into a pitch pack.

Template A — Regional Travel-Docuseries (6 x 30') — "Neighbourhoods: City Close-ups"

Logline: A six-episode series where each episode explores a single neighborhood in a different EMEA city through food, micro-economies and a local fixer’s perspective.

• Format specs: 6 episodes x 30 minutes. Local language masters per territory; English-language international cut optional.
• Localisation nodes: Local host per city, region-specific music, legal clearances for locations and local businesses, translated graphics.
• Why it travels: Easy to franchise: swap cities or create country editions. Broad appeal for streaming and broadcasters.
• Budget ballpark: €150k–€350k total (for six 30’ eps); variance depends on travel, talent rates, and production standards.

Template B — Creator-Hosted Short Series (8 x 10') — "Local Labs" (Social-first + FAST)

Logline: Creator hosts test ideas and small businesses across EMEA that solve local problems — each episode focuses on one idea and a local community outcome.

• Format specs: 8 episodes x 10 minutes. Vertical-friendly cut (9:16) and 16:9 master. Subtitles in local languages.
• Localisation nodes: Switching hosts per territory, subtitles and culturally relevant calls-to-action, region-specific sponsor tie-ins.
• Budget ballpark: €60k–€140k total. Cost-effective because of compact crews and location clusters.

Template C — Magazine Lifestyle Show for Broadcasters (10 x 22') — "Today in…"

Logline: Weekly lifestyle magazine combining culture, food and community stories tied to a national calendar (holidays, sports, festivals).

• Format specs: 10 episodes x 22 minutes. Strict delivery specs for broadcast: EBU-compatible files, closed captions for each language.
• Localisation nodes: Local expert contributors, regional calendar sync, segment-based swap capability to adapt per country.
• Budget ballpark: €200k–€500k total, depending on production values and studio needs.

Template D — Short Documentary Franchise (4 x 60') — "Borderlines"

Logline: Four deep-dive episodes exploring one social issue as experienced across four EMEA territories — comparative, intimate reporting with local producers attached.

• Format specs: 4 x 60 minutes. Local language variants with an English international version.
• Localisation nodes: Local reporting teams, region-specific case studies, legal and ethical clearances per territory.
• Budget ballpark: €600k–€1.2m total. Investigative reporting and higher production complexity increase costs.

Sample episode outlines: use these as blueprints

Below are two finished episode outlines—copy the structure into your episode bibles.

Sample Outline: Template A — Episode 2 (30') — "Old Port, New Kitchen"

1. 00:00–00:45 — Cold open: montage of market, street sounds, host voiceover introducing the neighborhood.
2. 00:45–03:00 — Intro: Host meets local fixer; stakes and episode promise (a market vendor's reinvention).
3. 03:00–08:00 — Act One: Historical context — brief archive/photos; interviews with elders and a local historian.
4. 08:00–15:00 — Act Two: Present day — vendor’s shop sequence, conflict around rent/competition, micro-economy explained.
5. 15:00–22:00 — Act Three: Resolution — community event, creative solutions, small wins and setbacks.
6. 22:00–28:00 — Local flavour segment: recipe or craft explained; utility for educational spinouts.
7. 28:00–30:00 — Tag: Tease next episode, credits with localized sponsor and music outro.

Sample Outline: Template B — Episode 5 (10') — "Solar Streetlights"

1. 00:00–00:20 — Hook: quick stat + visual of a dark street at night.
2. 00:20–01:20 — Intro: Creator outlines experiment — installing solar streetlights with a local startup.
3. 01:20–06:00 — Sequence: Site visits, community reactions, technical demo in local language with captions.
4. 06:00–09:00 — Outcome: First night test, local voices on change, short data snapshot.
5. 09:00–10:00 — CTA: Where to learn more, sponsor mention, credits (vertical graphics adapted per social platform).

Budget examples you can paste into a pitch (EUR, 2026-ready)

These are simplified, practical budgets. Always include a 5–10% contingency and line-items for localisation and legal clearances (often overlooked).

Budget Example 1 — Creator Short Series (8 x 10') — Low-to-Mid Range

• Producer / showrunner fee: €20,000
• Director / EP: €24,000
• Host/creator talent (8 eps): €24,000
• Camera, sound, lighting (rental + crew): €36,000
• Travel & location (clustered shoots): €12,000
• Post-production (editing, color, mix): €18,000
• Subtitles & localization files: €3,200
• Legal & clearances (music, image): €4,000
• Marketing / key art: €4,000
• Contingency (8%): €7,040
• Total estimated: €152,240

Budget Example 2 — Regional Travel-Docuseries (6 x 30') — Mid Range

• Showrunner & series producer: €50,000
• Director: €45,000
• Local producers (4 territories): €60,000
• Camera & crew (multi-city shoots): €120,000
• Travel, permits & accommodation: €45,000
• Post-production (6 eps): €90,000
• Localization (dubbing + subtitles) per territory: €30,000
• Music licensing & original score: €12,000
• Legal, insurance, clearances: €20,000
• Marketing & publicity materials for regional windows: €18,000
• Contingency (8%): €50,000
• Total estimated: €540,000

Tip: Break your budget into three columns when submitting — Production, Post & Localisation, and Marketing & Legal. Commissioners flag budgets as more credible when localisation is not lumped into 'misc'.

Cultural research checklist — what commissioners will check

Before you lock a pitch, run through this checklist to avoid red flags in EMEA submissions.

• Languages & Dialects: Primary spoken language in target territory, major dialects, and preferred subtitle language(s).
• Religion & Holidays: Relevant religious calendars, norms around dress, and public holiday production impacts.
• Representation & Sensitivities: Gender, ethnicity, colonial histories, and regional tensions—consult local advisors.
• Regulatory checks: Broadcasting rules, quotas for local works (e.g., EU encouragement of European works), music clearance per territory.
• Legal permissions: Location releases, talent contracts that account for international exploitation, and data/privacy compliance (GDPR-adjacent laws).
• Music & archival rights: Availability and cost of clearing music in each country; alternatives (local composers).
• Distribution windows: Local broadcaster windows, platform exclusivity expectations, and secondary market plans.
• Local production partners: A named producer or fixer in each territory reduces risk and increases commissioning confidence.

Packaging your pitch: the one-page executive that gets read

Commissioners see hundreds of submissions. Give them a one-page executive summary with these elements — formatted to be scannable and evidence-backed.

1. Title, format (e.g., 6x30'), logline (one sentence).
2. Why now? (1–2 lines referencing a 2025–26 trend or a cultural moment).
3. Target territories & localisation plan (bulleted list).
4. Production plan & schedule (key milestones — prep, shoot, post, delivery).
5. Budget headline & cost per episode.
6. Attached talent & production partners.
7. Delivery & rights ask (license length, exclusivity, delivery specs).

Advanced strategies to increase your greenlight probability in 2026

Use these tactics to sharpen your commissionability and ROI in pitch conversations.

• Design for repurposing: Film with social cuts and vertical masters in mind to deliver additional platform-ready assets.
• Local partner + data: Pitch with a distributor or broadcaster’s historical viewing data or a social creator’s audience metrics.
• AI-assisted localisation: Use generative-dubbing proof (2025–26 tech improvements) to reduce costs — but always budget for human quality control.
• Sustainability & compliance: Include a brief sustainability plan (travel mins, local hires) — public funders increasingly ask for it.
• Stacked windows approach: Propose a phased release—local broadcaster first, SVOD rights next, then global FAST/social snippets to extend the title’s lifetime.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a global template with no localised beats — commissioners want examples of local episodes.
• Under-budgeting localisation or legal fees — these are routine killers in due diligence.
• Overcomplicating the format — if it’s hard to explain in a minute, it’s hard to commission.
• Not attaching a local partner or talent where cultural credibility is required.

Checklist — final pre-pitch run-through

• One-page executive: done.
• Series bible with 3 full episode outlines: included.
• Budget with localisation breakout and contingency: included.
• Named local producer(s) and talent: attached.
• Delivery specs & rights sheet: clear and simple.

Actionable next steps (do these in the next 72 hours)

1. Pick one of the templates above and write a one-line logline adapted to a specific EMEA territory.
2. Draft a one-page executive with budget headline and localisation bullets; get feedback from a local fixer.
3. Build three episode outlines using the sample structure in this article; add precise localisation notes for one target market.
4. Prepare two budget scenarios (lean & full) and separate localisation and legal line items.

What to expect from commissioners in 2026

Commissioners will increasingly ask for proofs of scalability: clear localisation nodes, local partners, and multiplatform asset strategies. Expect faster turnaround on short-form commissions (social + FAST) and more rigorous due diligence on legal and rights for long-form. Use the templates, checklist and budgets here to show you’re ready — not just creative, but production-ready and region-aware.

Final takeaways

To succeed in EMEA commissioning in 2026, make your format franchiseable, your localisation plan explicit, and your budget transparent. Commissioners want projects they can adapt across languages and territories with minimal friction — show them how you do it.

Ready for the next step? Download the editable series templates, episode outline sheets and budget spreadsheets from januarys.space/templates and use them to create a pitch pack tailored to one EMEA commissioner on your target list.

Pitch smarter: craft one clear localized series, attach a local partner, and present a budget that separates production from localisation and legal — do that and you go from idea to greenlight much faster.

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