system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How to submit a tv show idea to a network and what prevents them from stealing it?
gpt
To submit ideas, you need representation, generally. You need an agent or someone who knows the legal layout of entertainment, and who has enough pull for the network to know that their time isn't being wasted. 

The reason for this is that so many people in the past have been burned by studios/networks/publishers from idea stealing that rather than dealing with the repercussions, all pitches, ideas, whatever, MUST be solicited. This means a meeting, representation, and all the right players in the same room. 

If you submit something unsolicited, they won't look at it at all. Trash/returned script that says "hey, we can't look at these. It's our policy. Don't send us these." Nothing guarantees that they can't just steal the idea and then send you the letter, but then again, you have postmarked correspondence that might be able to be used in court. 

Plus - networks have so many people in their, well, network, that they're not short on good ideas. They're not in the business to steal from the little guy. Even if your idea is the best they would have ever seen, there are thousands of ideas that will work just fine for them.