NBC TV Writers Program
NBC TV Writers Program
The NBC TV Writers Program is our premier program for emerging episodic television writers with the goal of creating the next generation of showrunners and content creators. The program develops writers whose distinct points of view and lived experiences provide unique perspectives to the writers’ room.
2026
Overview
The NBC TV Writers Program is our premier program for emerging episodic television writers with the goal of creating the next generation of showrunners and content creators.
The program develops writers whose distinct points of view and lived experiences provide unique perspectives to the writers’ room.
During the program, writers develop an original pilot to which they retain all rights. They are paired with NBCUniversal development and current programming executives who mentor them, as they write their original pilot and polish samples for staffing consideration.
Writers also attend weekly evening workshops to enhance their creative and professional skills, including branding, pitching, and interviewing, as well as expand on their knowledge of the ever-changing television landscape. Additionally, they have opportunities to learn from and build relationships with industry professionals, including network and studio executives, showrunners, agents, and managers.
At the conclusion of the program, participating writers will be considered for available staff writer positions on NBCU Television and Streaming as well as Universal Studio Group series.
Applicants are encouraged to review the FAQs carefully as they are designed to guide you in creating a strong submission.
Rules & Guidelines
Submission Period & Program Timeline
Applications will be accepted June 1, 2026 through June 21, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on June 21, 2026. Targeted Program launch is January 2027.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be authorized to work legally in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not offered to program participants.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age as of January 1, 2027.
Entertainment industry experience is not required.
Mandatory, in-person weekly workshops take place during the first 12 weeks from the program’s start date. During this time, program participants must reside in the Los Angeles area. The workshops take place during the evening.
Writers who have received a staff writer credit on more than one streaming, cable, or broadcast television scripted series are ineligible and cannot apply.
The program does not accept writing teams.
Submission Requirements
Those applying must submit a complete application package, which includes the following items:
APPLICATION must be completed in its entirety. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2 ORIGINAL PILOTS that capture the writer’s unique tone, style, and point of view. Applicants retain ownership of these 2 pre-existing pilots which will be used solely for review and evaluation purposes, as part of the application process. Applicants must select and designate one pilot to prioritize for the first round of review and consideration. Should an applicant proceed to the next round, their second submitted pilot will be reviewed. Submitted pilots should adhere to the following:
For comedy pilots, follow a four-act structure or Cold Open + three-act structure; for drama pilots, follow a six-act structure or Cold Open + 5 act structure
Must be between 25-45 pages in length for 30-minute formats (typically comedy) or between 45-60 pages for 60-minute format (typically drama)
Have a clear beginning, middle, and end
The applicant must be the sole owner of all original material submitted.
All script reads are blind so only provide the title on the title page of the pilots. The applicant’s name, email, address, phone number, or any other identifying information should not appear in the filename, on the title page, or any other page of the script.
RELEASE FORM must be completed, signed, and dated, in order for submissions to be accepted. Incomplete release forms will result in disqualification. Digital signatures are accepted.
RÉSUMÉ outlining chronological paid employment history (may include entertainment and non-entertainment positions) and any writing-related honors/awards. Positions must have been held within the past 15 years (two pages or less). Only list compensated positions with the exception of entertainment industry internships and full-time volunteer work at non-profits. If listing writing projects, only include projects that were produced and/or optioned. The applicant’s résumé will provide us an understanding of their work history and insight into their individual life experiences.
PERSONAL ESSAYS articulate the applicant’s unique perspective and background as it relates to their storytelling. Applicant must answer both (2) essay questions, and each essay must not exceed 400 words.
(OPTIONAL) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION from entertainment industry professionals who have read the applicant’s material and can comment on the applicant’s writing ability. Letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged but not required. Acceptable letters must be on business or personal letterhead, dated in the current calendar year and include the author’s title and/or industry affiliation. No more than two letters per application will be accepted. Letters must accompany the submission and may not be submitted separately via email or mail. Any recommendation letters emailed or mailed to the Program separate from the writer’s application will not be accepted. Letter(s) from agents, managers, attorneys, etc. are considered a conflict of interest and will not be considered.
Any candidate who does not meet the aforementioned criteria will be disqualified.
Notification
Due to the volume of submissions received, only those applicants who are selected to participate in the program will be notified. Applicants who are not selected will not be notified. Please check our social media pages for updates on the selection process. Selections will be announced a few weeks before the Program commences.
Acknowledgement
You acknowledge that the Submitted Material may be similar or identical to, in whole or in part, existing or future ideas, concepts, or proposals, or other material of any kind submitted to or independently developed by television networks or platforms of NBCUniversal Media, LLC or its related and/or affiliated entities (“NBCU”), and you agree that NBCU’s use of such similar or identical material does not entitle you or any third party to any rights, compensation or negotiation if NBCU determines it has an independent legal right to use such material.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will writers be compensated?
No. This is an unpaid program.
- May writers hold other forms of employment or be enrolled in school while in the Program?
Yes.
- Is there an application fee?
No.
- How many writers are selected each year?
The number of writers selected can vary from year to year.
- If selected for the Program, will I be guaranteed that my material will be developed and/or produced?
The main purpose of the program is to prepare writers to be staffed on a series. We do not guarantee that writers will be staffed on a series, nor do we guarantee that the material they write during the program will be developed or produced.
- Where is the Program located?
Universal City, CA. Mandatory, in-person weekly workshops take place during the first 12 weeks from the Program’s start date. During this time, program participants must reside in the Los Angeles area. These workshops take place during the evening.
- Is there an East Coast version of the program?
No.
- If I’m selected into the Program but do not live in Los Angeles, will NBC reimburse my relocation costs?
We do not offer relocation reimbursement.
- Can writing teams apply?
Unfortunately, the program does not accept writing teams.
- Can writers with previously produced credits apply?
Yes. However, writers who have received a staff writer credit on more than one scripted streaming, cable, or broadcast television series are ineligible and cannot apply.
- Do I need to have literary representation to apply?
No.
- Are Comcast-NBCUniversal employees eligible to apply?
Yes.
- Do I have to be a member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to apply?
No.
- Is material based on my life, someone else’s life, or a project in which I own the rights eligible?
Yes.
- Can I submit material that has already been produced?
No.
- Can I submit material that has been previously optioned, but all rights have been reverted?
No.
- Can I submit animation material?
No.
- Who owns the rights to the material submitted?
Applicants retain ownership of all material submitted.
- May I submit material that I previously submitted during the last application period?
Yes. However, new material will better reflect a writer’s progress.
- Who reviews submissions?
NBCUniversal executives, producers, and professional evaluators.
- Will I receive feedback on my submission?
Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unable to provide feedback.
- Can NBC provide me with sample scripts to review?
No.
- Do my original pilot scripts need to be in the same genres?
No. Submitted samples should be the best representation of your sensibility and voice.
- What do evaluators look for when reading the 2 required personal essays?
The two personal essays are an important and essential component to the application process. Responses should convey the writer’s distinct point-of-view, lived experience, tone, and creative sensibility.
- How do you define “industry professional” for Letters of Recommendation?
Industry professionals are persons who currently or previously worked in entertainment media (e.g., film, television, digital and streaming services, etc.). Positions within both film and television industries include studio, production company, and network executives, writers, producers, feature film and episodic directors, and educators (e.g., professors or writing instructors) who have entertainment industry experience and/or produced credits. Letter(s) from agents, managers, attorneys, etc. are considered a conflict of interest and will not be considered.
- Privacy Notice
To learn more about how NBCUniversal LAUNCH collects and uses your personal information, please see our Privacy Notice: https://www.nbcuniversalprivacy.com/privacy/launch
NBCUniversal LAUNCH Privacy Notice April 2026
Who are we and how to contact us
NBCUniversal LAUNCH is the umbrella brand for NBCUniversal’s talent development programs across its broadcast and entertainment cable networks and streaming entertainment platforms, including NBC, Bravo and Peacock as well as Universal Studio Group, which comprises Universal Television, Universal Content Productions (UCP), Universal International Studios and Universal Television Alternative Studio. This notice explains how NBCUniversal Media, LLC (including its relevant group companies) (“NBCU” or “we”) collects and uses personal information about you when you apply for or participate in NBCU LAUNCH talent development programs.
What information do we collect
We collect the information you provide in your application and during the program, including (as applicable) your name and contact details and that of your representatives; information about your eligibility, employment, education, skills and experience; union membership; work samples and portfolio links; references; interview and assessment data; scheduling and availability; accessibility/accommodation requests; and program performance. We may also receive your resume and related information from referrers (e.g., producers, employees, mentors), nonprofit and training partners, or collect it from publicly available sources such as iMDb. With some programs (e.g., Unscripted Pitch Accelerator), we require applicants to provide a character reel to support submissions for talent-led projects, such as docu-soaps or occu-soaps that center on a family, group, or business. Character reels are filmed video materials that feature identifiable individuals in real world environments, relationships, and activities. When your submission includes information relating to other individuals (e.g. family members, friends, colleagues, children), it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate permissions to include them and to provide them with information about this use. We encourage you to avoid including children in character reels, and if you do include them, you must obtain their parents’ or guardian’s consent. Please also avoid including unnecessary or sensitive personal information in character reels.
How we use your information
Depending on the program, we may use your information to process your application, assess eligibility and suitability, communicate with you, deliver training and mentorship, manage placements and scheduling, help you to be considered for potential employment or professional opportunities at NBCU or with industry partners, process your expenses or stipends, promote our programs, manage our alumni, and maintain program records. These purposes help to further our legitimate interests of conducting talent development programs. If you have provided us with disability or health information so that we can make adjustments in connection with a program or placement, we will use this to support you accordingly. We use video submissions, including character reels, for the purpose of evaluating and developing program pitches and related talent opportunities, and for internal review by relevant NBCUniversal development, talent and commissioning teams, in line with our legitimate interests.
Sharing your information
We share your information with internal NBCU teams involved in talent development, production and HR, and with service providers who support our programs (e.g., application platforms, assessment, scheduling, communication, and travel support) under appropriate contracts. NBCUniversal’s US-based talent development team may be involved in the processing of your application. When transferring UK applicant or participant data to recipients in the US, we ensure that the recipients are contractually obliged to protect the data in accordance with the standard data protection clauses that have been approved by the UK authorities. For applicants who were referred to us, we may provide the referrer with updates on the applicant’s progress (e.g. if they were successfully placed). Generally, we will only disclose personal information to third parties other than as described above when required to do so by law, regulation or legal process; in response to a legitimate request for assistance by the police or other law enforcement agency; or to seek legal advice from NBCUniversal’s external lawyers or in connection with litigation.
How long we keep your information
We will keep your information only for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purposes described above, unless a longer retention is required or permitted by law. In determining how long to retain your information, we consider the amount, nature and sensitivity of the information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of the information, the purposes for which we process the information, and applicable legal requirements.
Your privacy rights
If you are a California or UK resident, you or your authorized agent have the right to make certain requests regarding your personal information. These include the right to request access to specific personal information; the right to request deletion of your personal information; and the right to request correction of personal information. These rights are not absolute and exemptions apply. You can exercise these rights using the contact details provided in your program communications or by contacting [email protected] and stating “NBCU LAUNCH” in the header. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights. Please note that we do not “sell” or “share” your personal information with third parties for cross context-behavioral advertising, and have not done so in the 12 months prior to the effective date of this policy. If you are based in the UK, the data controller for your personal information is the NBCUniversal group company mentioned in the program materials. You have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (https://ico.org.uk/) about our collection and use of your personal information, but we hope that you will contact us first to give us a chance to resolve your concerns.
Contact Details
Email: [email protected] and state “NBCU LAUNCH” in the header
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