Mock Interview Kit: Questions & Model Answers for Roles at BBC, Disney+ and Indie Sales Houses

Beat interview anxiety: targeted mock interviews for BBC, Disney+ and indie sales roles

Hook: If you’re applying to be a commissioner, content executive or sales rep—at BBC, Disney+, EO Media or an independent sales house—you’re competing in a market reshaped by streaming consolidation, platform partnerships and data-driven commissioning. Recruiters now expect storytelling instincts, commercial fluency and evidence you can deliver across linear, AVOD, FAST and SVOD windows. This mock interview kit equips you with role-specific questions, model answers and scoring rubrics used by hiring teams in 2026.

How to use this kit (quick)

1. Read the role brief below that matches your target post.
2. Practice the written and verbal model answers; record yourself for the behavioral questions.
3. Run the live pitch task with a peer or mentor, time it and score using the rubric.
4. Iterate: refine your one-page pitch and metrics narrative until you consistently score 8+ across criteria.

Context: Why this kit matters in 2026

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw clear signals that hiring priorities have shifted. The BBC’s reported talks to produce bespoke shows for YouTube show broadcasters are partnering directly with digital platforms for reach and niche discovery. Disney+’s EMEA leadership shake-up under Angela Jain signals focus on local commissioning and executive development — part of a broader industry reshuffle as studios buy smaller-format houses. Indie sales houses like EO Media are expanding segmented slates (rom-coms, holiday films, specialty titles) to target buyers across markets. Recruiters now hire for:

• Platform fluency (linear, SVOD, AVOD, FAST, social shorts)
• Data literacy (KPIs, audience cohorts, retention/CTR)
• Commercial judgement (rights windows, co-productions, presales)
• Pitch and negotiation skills (buyers, talent, distributors)

Role 1: Commissioning Editor (BBC-style & Platform Partnerships)

Role snapshot

Commissioners now balance editorial voice with platform strategies. Expect to pitch content that fits public-service values while thriving on new distribution partners (e.g., YouTube). You must demonstrate curiosity, editorial discernment and an ability to translate cultural insight into performance metrics.

Top competencies assessed

• Curatorial judgment — selecting distinctive high-quality projects
• Audience strategy — platform-appropriate formats and discoverability plans
• Commercial awareness — budget, co-pros, licensing strategy
• Stakeholder leadership — working with producers, legal, marketing

Mock interview questions (Commissioner)

1. Tell us about a time you commissioned a risky idea and what the editorial rationale was. How did you measure success afterwards?
2. Following the BBC–YouTube partnership trend, how would you adapt a 30‑minute factual format for YouTube while keeping it true to public service values?
3. Describe your approach to diversity and regional representation in a slate. Give a concrete example of commissioning choices that increased reach or engagement.
4. How do you prioritise projects when budgets are limited and multiple commissioners advocate for different slates?
5. Explain a time you used audience data to change a project’s editorial direction.

Model answer — question 2 (short, high-impact)

Question: Adapt a 30‑minute factual format for YouTube while keeping public service values.

Model answer: "I’d reshape the 30‑minute format into a three-tiered content package: (1) a 6–8 minute flagship episode optimised for search and subscriptions with a strong narrative hook in the first 30 seconds; (2) a 2–3 minute shareable 'moment' cut and a 60–90 second vertical clip for shorts to drive younger discovery; and (3) an evergreen 4–6 minute explainer or companion piece for deep-dive viewers.

I’d keep public-service values by prioritising accuracy and accessibility: each short clip links to a source page with references and an opt-in newsletter for further learning. In commercial terms, the shorter assets increase CTR and drive viewers back to the flagship; retention targets would be 35–45% watch-through on the flagship and >20% click-through to long-form content. We’d negotiate rights so BBC retains editorial control while granting YouTube promotional windows and ad revenue-sharing aligned with public value. Finally, I’d run A/B thumbnails and titles for two weeks to optimise discoverability prior to a full marketing push."

Why this answer works

• Shows platform-specific format design and distribution plan
• Includes measurable KPIs (retention, CTR)
• Addresses rights and editorial control—key for public broadcasters

Scoring rubric — Commissioner (0–10 per criterion)

• Editorial clarity (0–10): Did the candidate show strong curatorial reasoning?
• Platform strategy (0–10): Were format and distribution choices platform-appropriate?
• Commercial & rights awareness (0–10): Did they cover budget, rights and revenue implications?
• Metrics & evaluation (0–10): Were KPIs and testing strategies concrete?
• Communication (0–10): Could they explain complex trade-offs clearly?

Target hire score: 38+ (out of 50) for senior roles; 32+ for mid-level.

Role 2: Content Executive (Disney+ and Streamer Commissioning Teams)

Role snapshot

Content executives at global streamers like Disney+ must deliver on franchise value, local originals and audience growth across EMEA. Since Angela Jain’s 2025/26 reshuffle, hiring focus has shifted to executives who can scale tentpole IP while nurturing regional hits that travel.

Top competencies assessed

• Franchise stewardship — developing IP sustainably
• Local-to-global thinking — slating projects that can export
• Stakeholder management — working with legal, brand and marketing
• Data-driven commissioning — interpreting platform analytics

Mock interview questions (Content Executive)

1. Pitch one local original (logline + 3 reasons it works internationally for Disney+).
2. Explain how you would manage a producer who wants higher spend than your budget allows.
3. How do you measure 'franchise potential' for a limited series vs an ongoing?
4. Case task: Given sample viewing data (first-episode completion 65%, week-2 retention 40%), propose three tactical interventions to improve retention.

Model answer — question 1 (pitch)

Pitch: "Title: 'Market of Ghosts' — a 6×45' dramedy set in a coastal EMEA marketplace where a grieving vendor discovers a market stall that trades memories." Three reasons it works internationally:

1. Universal emotional core: grief and memory are cross-cultural, providing easy translation and subtitling for global audiences.
2. Visual and location-driven storytelling scales well for franchise extensions (spin-off character arcs, global market locales) and merchandising partnerships consistent with Disney+ strategies.
3. Cost profile is mid-range and appeals to international partners for co-financing; the episodic format encourages binge viewing and strong weekly retention.

Commercial note: target cost per episode $1–1.5M (EMEA mid-tier), presale opportunities with public broadcasters for windowed rights, and a built-in music and ISP promotional tie-in for subscription lift.

Scoring rubric — Content Executive

• Creativity & fit (0–10): Originality and alignment with platform brand
• International potential (0–10): Exportability and co-provenance
• Budget sense (0–10): Realistic cost framing and revenue levers
• Retention & growth plan (0–10): Practical interventions tied to data
• Persuasiveness (0–10): Pitch craft and storytelling in response)

Target hire score: 40+ for senior EMEA commissioner; 34+ for development execs.

Role 3: Sales Representative (Indie Sales Houses — EO Media / Nicely / Gluon)

Role snapshot

Sales reps for indie slates must translate curatorial choices into buyer-ready packages. EO Media’s eclectic slate shows the need for reps who understand niche segmentation (rom-coms, holiday films, festival winners) and can close presales across territories.

Top competencies assessed

• Market knowledge — what buyers want by territory and window
• Deal structuring — presales, territory splits, minimum guarantees
• Pitch packaging — one-pagers, sizzle edits, delivery timelines
• Negotiation & relationship — long-term buyer trust

Mock interview questions (Sales Rep)

1. Sell me 'A Useful Ghost' (festival hit) to a U.S. premium cable buyer — what are your key selling points and proposed deal terms?
2. Walk through your approach to pricing a holiday rom-com for Europe vs China (assume theatrical isn’t an option in China).
3. Describe a time you rescued a deal that was stalled — what tactics did you use?
4. Explain how you would present a slate to a FAST platform seeking high-volume catalog with quick turnaround.

Model answer — question 1 (sales pitch)

Pitch: "Buyer: U.S. premium cable. Title: 'A Useful Ghost'—a deadpan coming-of-age found-footage winner from Cannes Critics' Week. Key selling points: festival pedigree, unique POV, critical buzz and press-ready talent likely to drive subscriptions among 18–34 cinephiles. Proposed terms: exclusive U.S. pay-TV window for 24 months, minimum guarantee $400k, 50/50 split on downstream SVOD after window, marketing commitment to a co-branded festival screening series and feature interviews. Risk mitigation: include a short-term payback schedule tied to press milestones and a modest trailer cut for re-use in linear promos."

Scoring rubric — Sales Rep

• Buyer insight (0–10): How well they know the buyer’s needs and KPIs
• Commercial terms (0–10): Creativity and realism of the deal
• Risk management (0–10): Protections and timeline clarity
• Presentation (0–10): Clarity and persuasion)
• Follow-up plan (0–10): After-sales strategy and long-term relationship plan

Target hire score: 36+ for senior sales reps; 30+ for junior reps.

Live task templates (use in interviews)

These timed exercises replicate panel or hiring manager tests. Time the candidate, let them prepare a one-page brief, then present.

Commissioner live task (30 minutes prep, 8 minutes pitch)

1. Read a short brief: broadcaster wants a low-budget factual series to drive youth engagement and meet diversity KPIs.
2. Deliver: logline, episode breakdown (2–3 eps), audience acquisition plan, top-line budget, and two success metrics.

Content executive live task (45 minutes prep, 10 minutes pitch)

1. Read a data pack (fiction show: drop-off at ep2). Propose three editorial/marketing strategies backed by metrics to improve retention.
2. Deliver: A/B test plan, content edits and cross-promo plan. Use creator and SEO rewrite pipelines for rapid thumbnail/text iterations (creator-commerce rewrite pipelines).

Sales live task (20 minutes prep, 6 minutes pitch)

1. Pitch a festival title to two buyers—one FAST platform, one SVOD—giving two different term sheets and seller rationale.

Practical prep checklist (what hiring managers actually look for)

• One‑page project brief — logline, target demo, budget range, distribution windows, KPIs. A crisp one-pager is a core asset — treat it like a compact UI or component (design systems & marketplace thinking).
• Two-minute elevator pitch — memorise and record it.
• Metrics literacy — be ready to quote reasonable KPIs: completion %, week-2 retention, subscriber conversion uplift. Testing and measurement tooling is part of the role — look at practical testing scripts and tools for technical literacy (testing scripts & tools).
• Rights & windows fluency — know presale, co-pro, and MG terminology. Mapping opaque buys to transparent outcomes helps when negotiating complex deals (principal media & brand architecture).
• Visual evidence — sizzle, moodboard, or one-scene script extract. Production craft matters: lighting, spatial audio and hybrid set techniques improve presentation values (studio-to-street lighting & spatial audio).

Advanced strategies (2026 hiring signals)

Use these to stand out in senior interviews.

• Show AI-assisted workflows. Explain how you’d use AI tools for metadata generation, subtitling, or ideation while maintaining editorial vetting. Hiring managers now ask about ethical guardrails for AI — see governance playbooks (versioning prompts & models governance).
• Quantify audience-first experiments. Describe an A/B test (thumbnails, runtimes, short-form teasers) and expected delta—e.g., a 10–15% uplift in first-episode CTR from thumbnail changes. Practical A/B tooling and training can be supported by AI upskilling guides (Gemini guided learning examples).
• Demonstrate sustainability thinking. Producers and buyers increasingly ask about production carbon audits and green clauses; mention basic measures and budgetary impacts and tangible examples from sustainable product and merch strategies (rethinking merch & sustainability).
• Local-to-global pipeline. Show a three-year pipeline for a show that begins regionally and maps export points—festivals, presales, dubbing and brand licensing.

Common behavioral questions + high-impact frameworks

Behavioral interviews dominate. Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and add a 'Metrics' line at the end to tie outcomes to numbers.

Example behavioral prompt and model STAR answer

Prompt: "Tell me about a time you had to de-risk a marginal project."
Model STAR + Metrics: "Situation: a scripted pilot had creative promise but weak presale interest. Task: increase buyer confidence within 6 weeks. Action: I secured a modest talent attachment (director), re-cut a 4-minute sizzle for buyers, and offered a staggered rights package (non-exclusive early window). Result: we landed a 3-territory presale and a $250k MG. Metrics: presale cover reduced required gap financing by 35% and accelerated delivery by 4 weeks."

How hiring panels score: decoding interviewers

Interviewers look for three things in ranked order:

1. Can you do the job? (technical knowledge + examples)
2. Will you fit culturally? (collaboration style, leadership)
3. Will you grow the business? (commerciality, network)

Tailor answers to cover each dimension: combine a concrete example (Can you do it), a line about how you worked with teams (Fit), and a sentence on outcomes or revenue lift (Grow the business).

Example scoring rubric template (panel use)

Panel members score 1–5 on each domain then multiply by weight.

• Technical competence — weight 40%
• Commercial judgement — weight 30%
• Leadership & collaboration — weight 20%
• Cultural fit & values — weight 10%

Example: Candidate scores: Technical 4, Commercial 3, Leadership 4, Fit 5 -> Final weighted score = (4*0.4)+(3*0.3)+(4*0.2)+(5*0.1)=3.9 (out of 5).

Real-world case study: Prep applied

Case: A mid-level exec preparing for a Disney+ EMEA content role used this kit to rehearse a 10-minute live pitch. She integrated local-to-global arguments, a rights structure for co-production with a Nordic public broadcaster, and a data-led retention plan (improve week-2 retention from 42% to 54% using targeted recaps and influencer-led short-form teasers). In interviews (early 2026) she reported hiring managers asked specifically about her A/B test plan and the co-pro commercial model — both items she had rehearsed and included in her one-pager. She received an offer with development responsibilities and a measurable KPI target tied to subscriber lifts in two markets.

Quick checklist for D‑Day (interview day)

• Bring printed one-pager and sizzle link or USB with offline preview.
• Have concrete KPIs ready: expected CTR, retention, MGs, co-pro splits.
• Prepare three insightful questions for the panel about strategy and success metrics.
• Be ready to show an ethics/AI or sustainability stance—hiring teams ask this now.

"Hiring managers hire for evidence. Bring measurable outcomes, a clear distribution plan and a one-page world-ready brief."

Final takeaways — how to win

• Lead with audience and platform: explain how your idea finds and keeps viewers.
• Quantify everything: metrics are now interview currency.
• Be commercially fluent: know rights, windows and basic deal mechanics.
• Package fast: a crisp one‑page brief is worth more than a long CV in creative interviews.
• Practice the live tasks: timed, scored practice mirrors real panels and reduces anxiety.

Call to Action

Ready to convert this kit into an offer? Download our editable one-page brief templates, timed mock-interview scripts and printable rubrics. Book a 60‑minute coached mock with an ex-commissioner or senior sales director and get personalised feedback tied to the rubrics in this kit. Click below to start practicing with the same scoring frameworks used by BBC, Disney+ and leading indie sales houses in 2026.

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