Format your TV pilot script correctly. A screenplay for a TV show is similar to a screenplay for a movie. There's action and dialogue. Scene headings are written in all capitals and give three pieces of information: whether the scene is interior or exterior, where the scene takes place and whether it's day or night. Write the action in standard upper/lowercase. Precede all dialogue with the speaking character's name in all capitals and write dialogue in standard upper/lowercase. The main difference between a TV script and a movie script is the inclusion of the acts in the TV screenplay. This is the way directors time out the commercials. Also, you'll include episode information on the cover of the script. If you've been hired by a network to write a TV pilot, check with network executives before beginning the script. Many TV shows have specific formatting requirements that aren't standardized.
Outline your series ahead of time. The purpose of the TV pilot script is to set up the premise of the TV series and introduce the characters that will be starting the show off. TV shows are made and broken on the pilot script, so it's essential to set the show up in such a way that viewers will be compelled to watch the next episode. It's also very important to create characters whom viewers will be able to read in that first episode. By the end of the pilot, viewers should have a good idea of which characters they'll love and which ones they're not going to like much.
Think in terms of budget when you write a TV pilot. Television isn't like the film industry and doesn't produce a lot of pilots with the same budget you'll find for a film release. If you develop your TV series so there are fewer locations, you'll stand a better chance of getting a network to look at your TV pilot script.
Write for actors. If you feel your TV series is one that will interest a specific actor or actress, write the situations around the acting style of the actor you have in mind. That doesn't mean the network will give him or her the part, but if you know the actor's work well enough to present a series that will convince a network your idea is right, you have a good chance of at least getting your actor considered.
End the TV pilot with a situation that will bring viewers back for the next episode. A cliff-hanger or continuing story line is always a good idea. The purpose of the TV pilot is to sell a TV series to viewers.
Register your script either with the Writer's Guild or the U.S. Copyright Office (see Resources). A work is copyrighted upon creation, but registration offers the advantage of having a record of creation should infringement ever occur and a lawsuit becomes necessary. You need only register with one or the other, since both will serve essentially the same purpose.