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Create a ‘Behind the Commission’ Interview Series with Execs Like Disney+ EMEA Promoted Leaders

UUnknown

2026-02-14

10 min read

Turn commissioner interviews into access and authority — launch a repeatable 'Behind the Commission' series modeled on Disney+ EMEA moves.

Beat the noise: build authority with a “Behind the Commission” exec interview series

Struggling to get commissioners and platform execs to notice your slate? You’re not alone. In 2026 the gatekeepers — commissioners, content chiefs and platform leads — control both greenlights and distribution partnerships. A consistent, high-quality interview series that profiles those leaders is one of the fastest, most defensible ways to build trust, industry access and long-term relationship equity.

Why this matters now (and why 2026 is the right moment)

Two developments in late 2025–early 2026 make executive interviews more valuable than ever:

The Disney+ EMEA leadership reshuffle (promoting commissioners like Lee Mason and execs tied to hits such as Rivals) highlights how commissioners are becoming public-facing brand-builders for platforms. Their visibility is an opportunity: executives now accept thought leadership as part of their role.
Major content-platform partnerships — notably talks between the BBC and YouTube for bespoke channel content — show platforms are experimenting with cross-platform commissioning and direct-to-audience strategies. That creates demand for intermediaries who can articulate how creators fit into new publisher-platform deals.

Result: commissioners and platform execs are easier to justify as interview guests, and partnerships born from those conversations can turn into distribution or development pipelines.

"I want to set the team up for long term success in EMEA." — Angela Jain, quoted on Disney+ EMEA strategy (2024–2026 reporting)

What a “Behind the Commission” series achieves

Design the series with these outcomes in mind:

Relationship building: an owned content asset that sparks ongoing conversations with commissioners and development execs.
Authority: public-facing proof you understand commissioning criteria, editorial strategy and platform needs.
Industry access: a credential that makes other execs more likely to accept interviews, meetings and pitch sessions.
Repurposable formats: short clips, tweet threads, newsletter summaries and podcast episodes you can use for months.

Series format blueprint (repeatable and scalable)

Structure determines whether your interviews feel like PR stunts or industry tools. Use a three-tiered format that balances depth with shareability:

Tier A — Anchor Episode (30–40 minutes)

Long-form interview with a commissioner or content chief (e.g., Disney+ EMEA VPs or platform heads).
Segments: origin story, signal projects (what they greenlit and why), commissioning wishlist, rapid-fire Q&A, audience questions (curated).
Release cadence: monthly. These episodes are your authority builders.

Tier B — Deep-Dive Mini (12–18 minutes)

A focused conversation about one decision or trend — e.g., why a particular format like dating shows or short-form unscripted is prioritized in EMEA.
Perfect for busy VPs and commissioners who can’t commit to an anchor slot.
Release cadence: biweekly.

Tier C — Micro Clips & Q&A (30–60 seconds)

Repurposed clips for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Each clip targets a single insight or a sharp quote for creators and producers.
Use subtitles, branded frames, and 1–2-phrase pull quotes.
Daily or weekly distribution to keep momentum.

Production checklist: studio vs remote, team roles and tech

Set a minimal but professional production standard so executives take the series seriously.

Crew: host/moderator (experienced interviewer), producer (scheduling, briefs), editor (cutting long and short-form), social lead (distribution), legal/clearances.
Tech: 4K camera for anchor episodes, two-camera setup for cutaways, quality XLR lav mics, ISO recording or clean remote recording tools (e.g., Riverside, SquadCast), live captions service. For quick kit ideas see the Compact Home Studio Kits for Creators and hands-on gear reviews like the PocketCam Pro write-ups.
Environment: branded set or clean remote background, soft lighting, B-roll assets of platform branding or titles (licensed or allowed by guest org).
Pre-brief packet: 1-page agenda, air-check consent, sample questions, audience profile and distribution plan.

Research & briefing — how to prep fast and impress execs

Executives are busy. Impress them by knowing their beats and public priorities.

Map the exec’s recent public moves: promotions (like Disney+ EMEA's 2024–2026 reshuffle), commissioning history, trade press mentions.
Scan recent platform deals (e.g., BBC-YouTube discussions) to ask how legacy broadcasters and platforms will co-commission or reformat content — and read practical guides on how to pitch your channel to YouTube.
Pull three case studies highlighting the exec’s taste or strategy — one hit, one near-miss, one innovation project.
Prepare 5 tailored questions and 5 universal Qs (see bank below).

Outreach & relationship playbook (land interviews without burning bridges)

Your outreach should do two things: signal value and be low-friction. Use this step-by-step playbook when targeting commissioners, VPs and platform execs.

Identify mutual entry points: common contacts, trade press reporters, festival panels, or past collaborators who can intro you. Executive promotions are a perfect hook — reference them briefly.
Lead with value: offer them a professional episode package — published interview, repurposed clips, social tags and an excerpt for internal comms. Many execs want professional assets for their teams.
Short email template: 3 sentences: who you are, why the series matters to commissioners, the ask (20–30 minutes), and two proposed time windows. Attach a one-page show brief.
Follow-up cadence: 4–7 days after a no reply, one friendly reminder with a topical hook (recent article they contributed to, or a platform partnership announcement). Two polite attempts total before pausing.
On-boarding: after confirmation, send the pre-brief packet, release forms, and a 15-minute pre-call to align on notes and off-limits topics.

Interview question bank — tailored for commissioners, content chiefs and platform execs

Use these categorized questions to craft interviews that feel bespoke, not scripted. Mix and match depending on guest seniority and format tier.

For commissioners & VPs (Disney+ EMEA-style commissioners)

Which overlooked idea or creator would you like to see more of on the platform?
Describe one recent commission that surprised you — what made you say yes?
How do you weigh regional specificity vs. global appeal when you greenlight a project in EMEA?
What’s a common mistake creators make when pitching to you?
Rapid-fire: three non-negotiables for a pitch deck.

For content chiefs & strategy leads

How has your commissioning strategy changed in the last 18 months, and why?
Which formats (short form, docs, interactive) are you doubling down on in 2026?
How do partnership pilots with platforms like YouTube or broadcasters like the BBC change your commissioning calculus?
When you evaluate risk, what data or testing matters most?

For platform & distribution execs (BBC, YouTube, aggregator partners)

What does a successful creator-to-platform partnership look like in 2026?
How do you measure cultural lift vs. direct viewership metrics for co-produced content?
Are you looking for different types of content from legacy broadcasters vs independent creators?
How should creators prepare for pilot windows and platform-specific briefs?

Universal audience and relationship questions

Who is your ideal creative partner today?
What do you wish more creators understood about commissioning cycles?
How can creators prove they can scale beyond an initial series?

Getting value from each episode — distribution & repurposing checklist

One long interview should become a month of content if you plan it right.

Publish anchor episode: host on your site and a podcast platform with show notes that include links, timestamps, and a guest profile.
Create 6–10 microclips: 30–60 second clips for TikTok, Reels and Shorts focused on tactical takeaways (e.g., "Three things commissioners want in a pitch"). Use a lean kit and workflows described in compact kit reviews like the Budget Vlogging Kit to scale output.
Two editorial pieces: a short analysis article (“What [Exec]’s commissioning choices teach creators”) and a 400–600 word newsletter summary for your industry list.
LinkedIn longform post: 400–800 words excerpting a theme and tagging the guest — great for B2B visibility. Pair this with marketing playbooks such as Scaling Martech: A Leader’s Guide when reporting results to sponsors.
Internal asset for the guest: provide a press-ready excerpt they can circulate internally; this demonstrates value and encourages future collaboration. Use CRM and integration patterns in the Integration Blueprint to automate asset delivery and reporting.

How to turn interviews into relationship currency

Publishing isn’t the endpoint — the interview is currency you spend to activate opportunities.

Invite guests to private follow-ups: an invite-only roundtable or salon with other commissioners and creators creates cohort-level relationships. See how micro-events are structured to convert attention into revenue.
Use clips as pitch openers: share a relevant clip when emailing about a project; it’s proof you understand the exec’s brief and a better opener than cold copy alone.
Offer reciprocity: provide analytics on reach and audience demos after publication so the guest sees tangible benefit. If you want a template for packaging activation and sponsor ROI, consult the Activation Playbook 2026.

Measurement: KPIs that matter to your goals

Pick 3–5 KPIs aligned to your strategic goals. Examples:

Authority: number of new execs who accept interviews/year.
Industry access: number of meetings or pitch requests that mention the series as a reason to connect.
Distribution opportunities: inbound partnership conversations with platforms (ex: outreach from broadcasters after coverage).
Audience engagement: watch time on anchor episodes, completion rate of microclips, and LinkedIn shares by industry contacts.

Legal, editorial guardrails and conflict management

Executive interviews often touch on confidential deals and future plans. Protect yourself and the guest.

Use a one-page release that includes rights for short-form repurposing and internal use by the guest’s organization; see legal tech audits like How to Audit Your Legal Tech Stack for practical checklists.
Agree on off-the-record boundaries before recording. Put any off-limit topics in writing in the pre-brief packet.
Run a quick legal check for brand and IP usage (logos, show clips). Some platforms require pre-approval for branded assets—also consider archiving and rights planning in guides such as Archiving Master Recordings for Subscription Shows.

Future predictions: what executive interviews will unlock in 2026–2028

Plan your series to capture the next wave of industry change. Here are three predictions to design for now:

Co-commission transparency: as broadcasters (like the BBC) and platforms (like YouTube) co-produce content, executive interviews will become a primary way to signal commissioning priorities to independent creators.
Data-led commissioning conversations: execs will increasingly discuss proprietary testing frameworks. Your series can become a resource hub for how commissioning data is interpreted—AI tools for transcript summarization can speed this up (see AI Summarization use cases).
Platform-specific creative briefs: expect more short-lived pilot windows tailored to social-native formats — interviews that dig into these briefs will be highly shareable and clickable.

Quick-play launch roadmap (first 90 days)

Week 1–2: Finalize series concept, episode tiers and one-page show brief.
Week 2–4: Target first five guests — start with warm intro to one commissioner and one platform exec. Book two anchor episodes.
Week 4–8: Record episodes, produce microclips, and prepare distribution calendar. Practical kit ideas include compact studio and vlogging guides like the Compact Home Studio Kits for Creators and the Budget Vlogging Kit.
Week 8–12: Publish first anchor episode, distribute microclips, gather metrics, and schedule two follow-up outreach emails per prospective guest referencing published episode.

Actionable takeaways

Start with one commissioner: landing an early, respected guest (e.g., a commissioned VP from Disney+ EMEA) creates momentum for future bookings.
Ship a packaged value prop: offer guests a polished episode plus short-form clips and internal assets — that offer works better than promises of coverage alone.
Design for repurpose: your long episode should live as 10 micro-assets aimed at different platforms and stakeholder groups.
Use interviews to open doors: every published conversation is an excuse for follow-up meetings and a credential to ask for development meetings.

Final note: build equity, not just content

Executive interviews aren’t one-off wins. They’re relationship instruments. Treat each episode like a deposit into an ongoing professional account with commissioners, platform execs and producers. Over time that account funds meetings, co-productions and early access to briefs.

Ready to launch?

If you want a ready-to-use show brief, email templates, and a 90-day production checklist tailored to your team size, we built a one-page kit that creators, indie producers and startups are already using to land commissioner interviews. Tap into it to land your first commissioner in the next 30 days.

Call to action: Grab the kit, book your first interview, and start turning executive access into commissions and distribution. Click here to request the kit and a sample outreach email tailored to Disney+ EMEA–style commissioners.

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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.