They are meant only for illustration and explanation. You should structure any budget and financial outline for any program according to the kind and quality of program you wish to make. Your proposal should be as complete as you are able to make it. That means the concept should meet the evaluation criteria as outlined in the first FAQ answered earlier. We try very hard to keep turnaround time to a minimum.
Discovery listens to and reads literally thousands of pitches each year.
Some can be dealt with instantly. Others may take a month. It's rare for a proposal to go unanswered in any form for longer than that, but if yours does, we deserve a pointed reminder from you at least every other day. If you would like to run a story idea by us before you go to the trouble of putting all the details down on paper, you are welcome to do that. The most you should expect if you are trying out an idea by telephone is an indication of whether the idea is a potential fit for Discovery's themes.