The Reality Behind Commissioning in 2026

Commissioning has not disappeared — but it has fundamentally shifted.

Broadcasters are under stress, advertising revenues are volatile, and risk tolerance has tightened. Streamers are still commissioning, but increasingly from P&L accountability, not growth-at-all-costs mandates.

For producers, this means one thing: commissioning is harder, slower, and more selective — but still achievable.

Why Commissioning Feels So Difficult Right Now

1. Broadcasters Are Defensive

Linear broadcasters are struggling to maintain margins. Commissioning decisions are conservative, renewal cycles are shorter, and risk appetite is limited to proven formats, franchises, or strong local relevance.

2. Streamers Are Spending — Carefully

Streamers continue to finance content, but now expect:

• Clear audience logic
• Market relevance
• Controlled budgets
• Faster production timelines

They are commissioning fewer projects — but backing those that fit strategic gaps.

3. The Middle Has Disappeared

Mid-budget, vaguely positioned projects suffer the most. Commissioning now favors:

• Clearly premium, globally scalable ideas
• Or sharply targeted, cost-efficient local stories

Anything “in between” struggles to find traction.

What Commissioners Expect from Producers Today

• Strong understanding of audience and territory
• Clear format logic and scalability
• Budgets aligned with commissioning economics
• Delivery reliability
• Creative teams that collaborate, not oversell

Commissioners don’t just buy ideas — they buy confidence that the project will land cleanly.

The Unspoken Truth

Many producers fail not because their ideas are weak — but because they approach the wrong commissioners at the wrong time, with the wrong framing.

Commissioning success today is about alignment, not volume.

How Vitrina Concierge Outreach Helps Producers (Boxed Section)

Commissioning fails when targeting is generic.

Vitrina Concierge Outreach helps by:

• Identifying commissioners actively looking for specific genres or formats
• Mapping commissioning priorities by territory, platform, and cycle
• Pairing producers with buyers whose current mandates actually align
• Enabling outreach that reflects what commissioners need now, not last year