Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
Universal Television
Universal Television is doubling down on close-ended procedural drama for broadcast, with its Wolf Entertainment franchises posting post-strike ratings resilience and renewal talks underway across NBC and CBS.
Current mandate
Universal Television is currently in active renewal discussions with NBC and CBS for its full slate of Wolf Entertainment procedurals, including the Law & Order and Chicago franchises at NBC and the FBI trio alongside The Equalizer at CBS. Executives have publicly stated they expect to close those deals and produce more procedurals this summer for a fall launch, with particular optimism around adding a new true procedural to the NBC roster. The preemptive acquisition of series rights to Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas' debut novel "Climbing in Heels" (December 2024) and a first-look deal with Charmaine DeGraté (May 2025) signal continued appetite for IP-driven projects alongside the franchise core.
Over the past twelve months, UTV's acquisition pattern has centered on source material with strong narrative structure: book rights bought preemptively, first-look writer deals, and pilot orders anchored to procedural or episodic formats. The studio is also developing Season 2 of "The Irrational" for NBC and has one non-procedural drama pilot, "Grosse Pointe Garden Society," in the pipeline, indicating a selective but real openness to serialized or hybrid projects that retain episodic elements. Activity metrics show 97 total records across the trailing twelve months and 68 decision makers tracked, reflecting a large, institutionally active operation.
Writers and rights holders seeking access to Universal Television should prioritize material that fits the close-ended, self-contained episode model that executives describe as the dominant currency in linear broadcast. First-look and overall deals remain the primary pathway for writer relationships, as evidenced by the DeGraté signing. Unsolicited submissions are not a standard entry point at a studio of this scale; representation and existing industry relationships are the practical route to the development table.
Signature peaks
- 9 procedurals Wolf Franchise Footprint — Law & Order and Chicago at NBC; FBI trio and The Equalizer at CBS, all returning post-strike at or above prior-season levels
- 68 Decision Makers Tracked — One of the largest institutional buyer footprints on the ScriptMatch platform, reflecting UTV's multi-network, multi-franchise scale
- 2 deals (Dec 2024 + May 2025) Recent IP Acquisitions — Preemptive book rights buy for "Climbing in Heels" and a first-look deal with writer Charmaine DeGraté
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- First-look and overall writer deals are the primary documented entry point, as illustrated by the May 2025 signing of Charmaine DeGraté. Preemptive IP acquisition, such as the December 2024 book rights buy for "Climbing in Heels," is a secondary channel. Representation by a licensed literary agent or entertainment attorney with existing studio relationships is the practical prerequisite for either pathway.
- Deal structure
- Recent deals include a preemptive series rights acquisition (book, undisclosed terms), a first-look writer deal (undisclosed terms), and pilot orders at NBC. All disclosed acquisitions list budget as not disclosed. The studio operates on broadcast network timelines, with summer production targeting fall launch windows.
Recent acquisitions
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Climbing in Heels (series rights to Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas’ debut novel)
"The studio preemptively bought the rights to the book which hits store shelves on April 29, 2025."
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First-look deal with Charmaine DeGraté
DeGraté has struck a first-look deal with Universal Television.
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‘Hide’ (series) development
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Murder by the Book (pilot)
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Murder by the Book (pilot order at NBC)
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Royal Spin
Market context
"The vast majority of what seems to be really working, and what buyers are responding to, are those shows that have a beginning, middle and end to them."
Universal Television is currently in active renewal discussions with NBC and CBS for its full slate of Wolf Entertainment procedurals, including the Law & Order and Chicago franchises at NBC and the FBI trio alongside The Equalizer at CBS. Executives have publicly stated they expect to close those deals and produce more procedurals this summer for a fall launch, with particular optimism around adding a new true procedural to the NBC roster. The preemptive acquisition of series rights to Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas' debut novel "Climbing in Heels" (December 2024) and a first-look deal with Charmaine DeGraté (May 2025) signal continued appetite for IP-driven projects alongside the franchise core.
Common questions about Universal Television
Does Universal Television accept unsolicited scripts?
Universal Television does not operate an open submission pipeline for unsolicited scripts. As a major studio producing for NBC and CBS at volume, access runs through representation and established industry relationships. The studio's recent activity, including a first-look deal with Charmaine DeGraté in May 2025 and a preemptive book rights acquisition, reflects how material typically reaches the development table: through agents, managers, or existing producer relationships rather than cold outreach.
What budgets does Universal Television work with?
No specific per-episode or per-project budget figures have been disclosed in recent coverage. Executives have noted that Dick Wolf's operation delivers scripts and episodes at disciplined price points, which is cited as a contributor to franchise longevity. UTV produces at broadcast network scale for NBC and CBS, which generally implies higher budgets than cable or streaming originals, but no precise numbers are publicly confirmed in available sourcing.
Does Universal Television acquire projects from film festivals?
Festival acquisition is not a documented part of UTV's current mandate. The studio's recent acquisitions, including preemptive book rights for "Climbing in Heels" (December 2024) and a first-look writer deal with Charmaine DeGraté (May 2025), point to a development model built around IP optioning and writer relationships rather than finished-film festival pickups. UTV's primary output is broadcast drama series for NBC and CBS.
How do I reach Universal Television's development team?
The practical pathway is through a licensed literary agent or entertainment attorney with existing relationships at the studio. UTV tracks 68 decision makers according to recent platform data, indicating a large but institutionally structured development operation. First-look and overall deals, such as the one recently signed with Charmaine DeGraté, are the primary mechanism through which writer relationships are formalized. Cold outreach to executives is not a standard or documented entry point.
What genres is Universal Television focused on right now?
Procedural drama is the dominant priority. Executives have explicitly stated that close-ended storytelling, shows with a beginning, middle, and end, is what broadcast buyers are responding to. The studio's active slate includes the Law & Order and Chicago franchises at NBC and the FBI trio plus The Equalizer at CBS. UTV is also reportedly hoping for NBC pickup of an additional true procedural. Serialized or hybrid projects are considered selectively, as evidenced by the Grosse Pointe Garden Society pilot, but procedural remains the core mandate.
Is Universal Television currently active in acquisitions?
Yes. The studio recorded 97 total activity signals in the trailing twelve months and logged a preemptive book rights acquisition in December 2024 and a first-look writer deal in May 2025, according to available sourcing. Executives have publicly stated they plan to close renewal deals and produce additional procedurals this summer for a fall broadcast launch. The most recent platform signal is dated June 2026, indicating ongoing institutional activity across development and rights acquisition.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Focus Features — Focus Features is doubling down on experiential brand-building and festival acquisitions to court th
- Roadside Attractions — Roadside Attractions is a North American boutique distributor actively acquiring festival-originated
- Fox Entertainment — Fox Entertainment is running a deliberate, low-volume acquisition strategy built around creator-led,
- 20th Television — 20th Television is actively building its overall-deal roster and deepening its animation pipeline, w
Related reading
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