streamingopportunitiesEMEA

New Disney+ EMEA Execs = New Windows for Local Content Creators

UUnknown

2026-02-13

10 min read

How Disney+ EMEA promotions in 2026 open new commissioning windows—who to pitch, what formats to offer, and how to finance & localize your project.

Hook: Your next commission from Disney+ EMEA might be closer than you think

Creators: tired of cold submissions, opaque slates, and waiting months for a reply? The recent shake-up at Disney+ EMEA — promotions of four senior commissioners led by new content chief Angela Jain — opens concrete, time-sensitive windows for regional creators and producers to get projects noticed and commissioned. For guidance on creative control vs. studio resources when putting together co-pro plans, see practical frameworks that help you choose partners and retain the right level of creative ownership.

What changed (quick summary)

In late 2025 and into early 2026 Disney+ EMEA reorganized key roles to sharpen local commissioning. Angela Jain’s drive to set the team up “for long term success in EMEA” included promoting Lee Mason (previously Executive Director, now VP of Scripted) and Sean Doyle (Executive Director of Unscripted, now VP of Unscripted) among four promoted executives. That change signals a clearer, more hands-on commissioning structure in London and stronger gates for both scripted and unscripted development.

“A promotional wave like this isn’t just HR — it re-maps who greenlights ideas and which formats get pushed into production.”

Translation for creators: decision-making is more centralized around named editors with distinct remits. That makes it easier to target the right desk with the right format, and to plan co-productions that fit slate priorities.

Why this matters in 2026 — trends & context

Several industry shifts through 2024–2026 make these promotions meaningful:

Local-language demand is king: Audiences across EMEA increasingly prefer local stories in local languages. Platforms are buying regional IP and talent to boost retention.
Commissioning is format-driven: Streamers want modular, scalable formats that can be localized and repackaged for FAST/AVOD channels and linear partners. For practical tips on reformatting longer work into shorter clips and platform-friendly edits, see How to Reformat Your Doc-Series for YouTube.
Hybrid windows and co-pros: The economics of mid-budget drama now rely on co-productions, tax credits, and pre-sales to national broadcasters. When you draft your finance plan, consider co-pro models and which partners you’ll approach—guides on co-pro strategy and funding are useful alongside commission-ready budgets.
Audience-first discovery: Short-form trailers, localized promos, and algorithm-friendly episodic structures increase discoverability on the platform. Automation and metadata tooling can speed localization workflows; technical teams are already experimenting with DAM integrations like Automating Metadata Extraction with Gemini and Claude to streamline subtitling and asset tagging.

Slate gaps to exploit — what Disney+ EMEA is likely hunting for now

Based on the company’s recent hires and public slates (and the formats the newly-promoted commissioners have shepherded), here’s a prioritized list of gaps regional creators should pitch into:

Scripted opportunities (target Lee Mason and scripted commissioning desk)

8–10 x 45–60’ limited-series/drama rooted in local culture — prestige dramas that can travel across Europe with subtitling and dubbing.
Anthology formats that allow local episodes per territory (e.g., crime or family-focused anthologies).
Young-adult and family IP — Disney is still hungry for family-friendly serialized content that can live alongside global franchises but has strong local flavor.
IP-lite, high-concept thrillers with clear hooks and 6–8 episode arcs for fast commissioning and marketing.

Unscripted & formats (target Sean Doyle and unscripted commissioning desk)

Competitive reality shows with local celebrity attachments — formats that are low-risk and high-engagement (think Rivals-style playbooks).
Dating/relationship formats with a twist — the Blind Date lineage shows dating franchises still attract commissioning interest.
Hybrid factual-entertainment — docu-reality series that can be turned into short-form clips for discovery.
Short-run event formats (4–6 episodes) with big episode-to-episode hooks and strong social moments.

Practical pitching playbook — who to contact and how

Now for the tactical part: who to reach out to, and how to make the most of the new structure.

Primary pitch targets (direct names + roles)

Angela Jain — head of EMEA content strategy. High-level strategy conversations (best via warm intro or through industry events).
Lee Mason — VP, Scripted (EMEA) — primary scripted commissioning lead. Send scripted one-sheets and sizzle reels targeted to his remit.
Sean Doyle — VP, Unscripted (EMEA) — unscripted and format commissions. Pitch format bibles and testable pilot concepts.
Local commissioning editors: Look for Head of Local Originals or Senior Development Executive in each market (UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Nordics).
Head of Co-Productions / Partnerships — for projects that need broadcaster pre-sales and finance structures. If you’re preparing legal and payment terms for partners, check best practices for onboarding wallets, payments and royalties when producing for platforms.

Tip: cold emails to corporate inboxes rarely work. Aim for warm intros via local producers, agents, festival contacts, or execs who previously worked with these commissioners.

Where to find contacts and when to approach

Industry markets: MIPCOM/MIPTV, Series Mania, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Sunny Side of the Doc, and Edinburgh TV Festival. Commissioners often scout at these events.
LinkedIn + Twitter/X: Use concise outreach — reference a recent commissioning credit (e.g., “Loved Rivals — I have a format that fits that energy”). If platforms go down or change messaging channels, have a fallback plan; see platform outage playbooks for outreach continuity.
Company slates and press pages: Monitor Disney+ EMEA press releases for commissioning calls and open development windows.

How to structure the perfect pitch in 5 minutes (and the assets you must have)

Commissioners are busy. Your pitch needs to be scannable, visual, and risk-aware. Send these assets in this order.

One-page pitch (THE most important doc)
- Logline + one-sentence hook
- Format: episodes × runtime
- Target audience and tone (2 comparables)
- Budget band (estimated)
- Rights ask (exclusive EMEA window? linear/stream split?)
- Key attachments (talent, director, producer)
Sizzle reel (60–90s) — even rough footage helps. For unscripted, produce a compact pilot proof-of-concept. If you need camera and field kit recommendations to shoot a tight sizzle, consult gear reviews like the Orion Handheld X review that road-test creator tools.
Format bible or episode breakdown (3–4 pages for formats; 8–10 page show bible for scripted)
Budget summary — banded ranges (low/mid/high) rather than exact numbers early on
Production calendar & delivery window — can you deliver a pilot in 6 months? 12 months?

Sample email subject lines that get opened

Scripted: "Limited-series pitch — 8x50' local thriller with pan-EMEA appeal"
Unscripted: "Format pitch — short-run competitive series (pilot proof + sizzle)"
Co-pro: "Co-pro proposal — UK/Spain limited series with broadcaster pre-sale"

Money talk: budgets, financing and rights (practical numbers for 2026)

Provide budget ranges as estimates and label them as such; commissioners want realism and financing routes up-front.

Estimated budget bands (EMEA, 2026, approximate)

Scripted drama per episode:
- Low: €200k–€400k
- Mid: €500k–€1.5M
- High: €1.5M–€3M+
Unscripted per episode:
- Low: €25k–€75k
- Mid: €100k–€350k
- High: €400k+

These are ballpark ranges. For many regional commissions, the sweet spot for Disney+ EMEA is the mid band with co-pro partners and local incentives filling the gap.

Financing combos that work

Co-pro + national broadcaster pre-sale: Reduces risk for the streamer and unlocks national promotion.
Tax credits & local film fund top-ups: France, UK, Germany, Spain, and several Nordic countries offer attractive offsets — list these early in your pitch.
Distributor pre-sales + streamer minimum guarantee: Helps mid-budget projects reach the required finance threshold.

Rights & windows — what Disney+ will typically ask for

In 2026 the common ask for platform commissioners is exclusivity in a territory for a defined window, plus long-form SVOD rights. Be proactive about flexibility:

Offer exclusive SVOD rights for EMEA for a set term (e.g., 3–5 years) while retaining some non-exclusive FAST/linear windows after that period.
If you need broadcaster pre-sales, propose a co-exclusive structure for the first broadcast window.
Negotiate ancillary rights (format licensing, merchandising) early if you believe the IP has broader potential. Practical guidance on payments, royalties and IP clauses can be found in onboarding and broadcaster payment guides like Onboarding Wallets for Broadcasters.

Localization & distribution strategy — make your project pan-EMEA-ready

Disney+ is increasingly commissioning projects that can be localized quickly for multiple territories. Make sure your plan shows:

Language strategy: Original language + plan for dubbing/subtitling and localized promos.
Modular structure: Episode formats that can be shortened or repurposed into 10–15 minute social clips. See practical reformatting advice in how to reformat doc-series for YouTube.
Talent plan: Attach a local star for the primary market and list pan-EMEA talent possibilities for cross-over appeal.

Networking tactics — not just events, but smart follow-up

Events open doors; follow-up wins deals. Use this 3-step cadence at markets:

Quick meet: 10–12 minute intro, bring a one-pager and sizzle on your phone.
Warm follow-up within 24–48 hours: a short thank you + sizzle link + one-pager attached.
Two-week check-in: offer a 15-minute treatment call and be ready to share a budget summary.

People remember stories. Start your follow-up with a 1-line visual: "Picture a coastal town where..."

Mini case studies & creative examples

Use concrete examples to position your idea. Here are three tailored pitches that fit Disney+ EMEA’s current appetite:

1) Scripted: "Coastal Secrets" — 8x50’ limited series

Local-language family drama with a mystery hook. Budget mid-band, co-pro with a national broadcaster, modular episode endings for weekly retention. Why it fits: prestige drama with local flavor that can travel.

2) Unscripted: "The Rival House" — 6x60' competitive series

Format inspired by Rivals energy but with a cultural twist per territory. Low production complexity, high social clip potential, ideal for Sean Doyle’s desk.

3) Factual/Doc: "City of Makers" — 4x45' craft-led docuseries

Profiles local creators/craftspeople with global human interest. Low-mid budget, excellent for kids & family adjacencies and FAST channels.

Follow-up templates (quick copy you can use)

Two minimum viable messages to use after a meet:

24–48 hour follow-up (short)

Hi [Name],
Great to meet you at [Event]. I promised a quick look at [Project Title] — one-pager attached and a 60s sizzle here: [link]. Happy to schedule 15 mins to run through a treatment and budgets.

Two-week check-in

Hi [Name],
Hope you’re well. Wanted to check whether you had a chance to watch the sizzle for [Project]. We’ve just refined the budget into a mid-band that matches EMEA co-pro models — can we set 15 mins to discuss next steps?

2026 predictions — what to expect next at Disney+ EMEA

More named desks, faster response times: With VPs leading Scripted and Unscripted, expect quicker greenlight decisions on low-risk formats.
Emphasis on modular formats: Projects that can be trimmed into promo-friendly clips will have an edge in commissioning and marketing budgets. Practical notes on trimming and repackaging long-form content into social-sized assets are covered in reformatting guides like how to reformat your doc-series for YouTube.
Increased co-pro activity: Disney+ will partner with local broadcasters more often to share promotion and finance risk.
AI-assisted localization: Faster subtitling/dubbing workflows will make pan-EMEA releases quicker and cheaper — teams are already adopting metadata automation and DAM integrations like Automating Metadata Extraction with Gemini and Claude to speed that work.

Checklist — the single-page to use before you pitch

One-page pitch: logline, format, comps, budget band, rights ask
Sizzle reel: 60–90s (mobile-friendly link)
Episode breakdown & series bible (3–10 pages)
Budget band and estimated co-pro strategy
Talent attachments (or list of target talent)
Localization plan and distribution windows
Warm intro source and target commissioner name

Final practical tips — stand out without over-promising

Be concise: Commissioners scan — make your one-pager irresistible and scannable. Use content templates to tighten copy and subject lines; see AEO-friendly content templates for concise formatting ideas and reusable phrasing.
Show audience data: If you’ve tested concepts on social or have audience demos, include metrics.
Attach realistic budgets: Over-ambitious budgets get filtered out early.
Plan for the long game: If you don’t get commissioned immediately, ask for feedback, keep building attachments, and stay visible at markets.

Call to action — get your idea in front of the right desk

The promotions at Disney+ EMEA have created an actionable runway for regional creators. If you have a format-ready project that fits scripted prestige, unscripted competition/dating, or a modular factual concept, now is the moment to prepare a tight one-pager, a 60s sizzle, and map a co-production plan. Target Lee Mason for scripted, Sean Doyle for unscripted, and use market events and warm intros to reach Angela Jain and the co-productions desk.

Ready to pitch? Start with the checklist above — and if you want a free one-page pitch template and two subject-line options tailored to your project, subscribe to our creator briefing or DM us your project logline on LinkedIn. Move fast: streaming slates in 2026 reward speed, clarity, and local-first thinking.

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.