If you have a TV show that you want to have produced, you’re going to need to learn how to pitch ideas to TV production companies in order to get interest in your TV projects. If you don’t already know how to operate cameras and other video equipment, you’ll also need to take some classes in order to do a show at independent and cable TV companies.

Depending on what you choose to do, soon you can broadcast your own TV show with the help of television production companies. Here are some things to consider about making the most of television production companies:

1. Learn how to pitch TV show ideas to television companies.

2. Find out how to produce your own show at an independent or cable TV production company.

3. Get information about taking classes in order to do your TV show at public access video production companies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get information about pitching your television show ideas to TV production companies

A pitch is when you have an idea for a scripted or reality TV show or a movie and you give a demonstration of what your TV show will be about. Since you are basically trying to sell your show, make sure to describe things such as how large your cast will be, location, who the characters are, and what the premise of your show will be.

I recommend: Go to The TV Writers Vault, which is television industry's project database used by mainstream and category television production companies. This site offers resources on how to pitch ideas to TV production companies. If you're thinking of creating a reality TV show or a documentary, then visit Pie Town Productions to learn about the kinds of shows this TV company produces.

Have your own cable access show with independent or cable television production companies

If you've ever wanted to host your own show, then cable and independent television companies are a way to do that. To begin with, contact your local cable or public access station to find out their criteria for having your own show. Some independent and cable TV production companies offer equipment as well as studio space, while others charge a small fee.

I recommend: Visit Mapping Access to find locations of public access TV production companies across the United States. Go to Access San Francisco, which is an independent television production company.

Take classes to learn video production for cable access TV production companies

In order to produce TV shows for childrens television production companies, Christian television production companies or mainstream media production companies, it will be necessary for you to learn about video production since most video production companies only give or rent out studio space while you and your staff do all the camera and production work yourselves.

I recommend: Check out Cybercollege, Videomaker or WYOU to learn video production, which includes things like lighting and learning how to use editing equipment, so that you can create professional TV shows for a cable access T.V. production company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take the time to learn how to properly pitch ideas to television production companies by reading industry information about how others have pitched successful TV deals.

Getting a commercial on television is not out of the reach of small businesses. Advertising through a quality commercial with the help of a television production company can help expand business.

Be prepared to invest time in finding and selecting the right television production company for your business needs. A television commercial is a big investment for small business owners, so be sure that the selected T.V. production company is capable of providing the services that represent your business well. Make the right decisions, and a commercial can really pay off.

When beginning the process of finding the right T.V. production company, you need to:

1. Come up with a vision of the business image you want the television production company to convey in your advertisement or commercial.
2. Be willing to pay for quality.
3. Consider the type of experience a T.V. production company has. It should represent what you are looking for.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search television production company directories

There are television production company directories that are very easy to search, and some can be searched by location or specialty. There are video and TV production companies that specialize in cable TV production, or you may find a independent television production company would best suit your needs. You can even get online quotes on some of the websites of media production companies.

I recommend: Search ProductionHub.com, which features TV production companies in major areas like New York and Los Angeles. Backstage.com has fewer television companies for commercials, but is more localized. Search Craigslist.com as well for freelancers, but be sure to screen them well.

Prepare a contract that highlights your needs before beginning production

Include essential information like date of completion, cost specifications and approval of all changes.

I recommend: Find sample contracts and release forms for television productions at VidPro.com. Download legal forms for a small fee at Thomson West Legal EForms.

Look critically at previous work done by television production companies

Two things in particular that need attention are audio quality of the production company and editing ability. Cheap special effects or low sound can ruin an advertisement and reflect poorly on your business.

I recommend: Have a look at some examples of quality editing work at Marcus Productions and sound design at Futurity.

Try an Internet-based T.V. production company

An Internet-based custom-made commercial is low-cost and well made. It allows you to choose custom settings from hundreds of stock images and sounds to create your own commercial and negotiate airtime on local cable stations. Prices start as low as five hundred dollars.

I recommend: Visit SpotRunner.com to begin viewing options organized according to industry. Also try MPowerMedia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider a small but reputable production company that can increase the likelihood of only a small number of people working on your project rather than a lot. You may get better quality and service by working with a small independent television production company.
• •  For cable TV production, Think about working directly with the cable company, which may save costs by weeding out the middle man.
• •  Only work with television companies that have professional equipment.

Television production companies bring together writers, directors, producers and crew in order to create television shows. There are TV production companies that work with the larger networks such as ABC, CBS and NBC, and then there are others such as children's television production companies and Christian television production companies that specialize in creating only certain types of television programming. Cable television and independent media production companies, depending on the size of their production company, can produce shows for large cable television venues or small TV stations. These kinds of TV production companies can create shows for large cable networks or small independent channels.

Here are some things to consider as you learn television production companies basics:

1. Learn what television production companies do, and view listings of TV companies.

2. Find out about category television production companies, such as children’s and Christian television production companies.

3. Get information about independent and cable television companies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find listings of television production companies that create a wide range of programming

Reviewing listings of television production companies will show you how many TV production companies there are as well as what some of them do. A larger TV production company such as ABC can produce its own network shows, while smaller companies create other kinds of programming such as broadcasts, interviews and press conferences.

I recommend: Find television and video production companies by reviewing the lists at New York 411. Visit ProVideo Productions, which offers a video to learn about some of the services that video TV companies provide.

Learn about category television companies that produce shows for children and religious programming

Because there is a such a wide range of television programming available, there are production companies that specialize in creating TV shows for certain markets such as children's or religious programming. Since these kinds of TV companies work primarily in a specialty market, they will be able to bring a tighter focus to this kind of programming.

I recommend: Visit 4KidsEntertainment, which is a children’s T.V. production company that not only produces children’s TV shows but music for them as well. Harvest Media Television Group specializes in religious TV programming. This company has studio and satellite connections so that they can broadcast a television show around the world.

Obtain information about what cable and independent television production companies do

Since the budget for many independent or cable TV production is smaller than for a network show, these kinds of television production companies usually rent out studio space or shoot on location to save money. Of course, there are larger cable TV production companies like HBO, which produces and broadcasts its own shows or hires others to do TV production for them.

I recommend: Visit HBO.com to view its listing of original programming. Go to New Dominion to learn about this independent television production company, which has created and produced its own television programming for more than 15 years.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are many kinds of specialty or category television production companies, such as ones that primarily produce history or educational programming or those who focus on made-for-TV movies or reality shows.

Television programs are available in any format: drama, situation comedy, reality, how to, religious and children's. While you can access all of these programs on your television, you likely won't find a television production company that's one size fits all. When you have a program you want to produce, you need a television production company that can determine your audience, and produce a program based upon that information. Television production companies key terms include production companies where you can find services to fit your genre of television show.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Dick clark productions

One of the most recognized television production companies in the world is dick clark productions. It's most recognized for its entertainment programming, like New Year's Rockin' Eve and Bloopers. However, dick clark productions also produces awards shows like the Golden Globe Awards and the American Music Awards.

I recommend: Read about dick clark productions and see a list of some of its most popular shows on the company's website.

FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia is one of the largest international television production companies. It produces many leading programs in various genres like drama, serial drama, entertainment and reality. Some of its most popular television programs are the 'Idol' programs, like American Idol, that air around the world, and even came shows like 'The Price is Right' and 'Family Feud.'

I recommend: Read about FremantleMedia on the company website.

Pie Town Productions

Pie Town Productions is a leading television production company that specializes in documentary programming and reality shows. Many programs produced by Pie Town Productions are shown on networks like HGTV, The Food Network, Lifetime and Women's Entertainment. Shows produced by Pie Town Products are unscripted.

I recommend: Visit the company website for more information about Pie Town Productions.

4Kids Entertainment

4Kids Entertainment is a leader in producing, developing, acquiring and distributing children's programming all over the world.

I recommend: Read about the services offered by 4Kids Entertainment on its website.

New Dominion Pictures

New Dominion Pictures promises original and evolving television programming to meet viewer expectations. This company is praised as a top-notch independent television production company.

I recommend: Visit the New Dominion Pictures website to learn more about the company.

Harvest Media Television Group (HMTV)

Harvest Media Television Group (HMTV) produces television programming for just about every religious ministry in the world.

I recommend: Read more about Harvest Media Television Group (HMTV) on the company's website.