Ifyou’ve ever wondered about the timeline for how a TV series is created, wonder no more. While there are some variations to the 25 steps below, this is generally how it works. In the best case scenario, step 1 to step 25 will take about 12–16 months. The Writer in this timeline is a qualified, experienced writer/producer, usually called a “show-runner.” The Studio is usually the television production division of a large media company (Sony TV, Lionsgate TV, WBTV, etc). The Network or Cable Company is typically the domestic television distributor: the company that broadcasts the series, or airs it on cable or streaming (ABC, HBOMax, AMC, etc).