Multiplatform Commissioning

Multiplatform Commissioning

MULTIPLATFORM COMMISSIONING

December 2017

  • BBC Scotland will start commissioning new content from early next year so we would appreciate if you could submit ideas related to this briefing byMonday, 22ndJanuary2018.
  • Please submit all ideas via BBC Pitch –

FACTUAL
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS / Powerful, impactful narratives that reveal something important about how Scotland or the world works.
These films get under the skin of some of the big stories to have affected the country, told through the eyes of the key players. Can also be told in biographical style. /
  • BBC One Scotland or BBC Two Scotland
  • 3/4 eps x 60mins
  • £100k-125K per hour

EXCEPTIONAL ACCESS / Hard to get access with revelation in every sequence. Think BBC Two’s The Detectives. /
  • BBC One Scotland or BBC Two Scotland
  • 3/4 eps x 60mins
  • £100k-125K per hour

MODERN SCOTLAND
DOCUMENTARY STRAND / Stories from modern Scotland, which shine a light on different aspects of contemporary Scottish life. We’re looking for strong personal stories that others can relate to, told in direct and approachable ways.
These films can be thought-provoking and emotional or about going out and having fun – as long as they’re contemporary.
Recent titles which fit this bill include MND and Me, Teenage Millionaire, Insane Fight Club, Scotland’s Bounty Hunter and Facelifts & Fillers /
  • In preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • Singles x 60mins
  • Grouped in strand
  • £60k -105K per hour

OBSERVATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES / Precincts with strong stories at the heart of them, and enough happening to generate longer-run series. /
  • In preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • 8-10 eps x 30mins
  • £45k-65K per hour

NEW TALENT
DOCUMENTARY STRAND / We are planning on launching a strand for emerging producers and directors, which concentrates principally on younger-skewed stories and underrepresented voices. /
  • In preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • 6 eps x 30mins/60mins
  • £50-60K per hour

POLEMICS/
AUTHORED / These films can take on any aspect of life today – from sport to politics, arts, culture and the media – and beyond. Challenging conventional wisdom and lazy assumptions, done with authority and potentially wit. /
  • In preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • Singles x 30 or 60mins grouped in a strand
OR
  • 3 eps x 30 or 60mins
  • £60-80k per hour

SOCIAL HISTORY / The stories behind our recent past, and how we got to where we are today. Scotland’s Game was a good example of this, using football to tell the story of the last 30 years of social and political change. Scotland’s Home Movies took the universal family film to again tell the story of how Scottish society has evolved over the past decades. /
  • In preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • 3/4 eps x 60mins
  • £60k-100K per hour

FACTUAL PILOTS(In preparation for the new BBC Scotland Channel)
ARCHIVE / We’re looking for powerful cost-effective ways to tell stories using archive. What are new ways to do lists or capture social history like ‘Rock and Roll Years’ /
  • 30mins
  • £10-30K per hour

FIXED RIG / Where are the new ‘confessionals’ where people will open up – taxis, hair salons, living rooms - where else? /
  • 30mins/60mins
  • £50-60K per hour

FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT FORMATS / We’re looking for character-led formats of all types, from those primarily aimed at raising a smile to those that can touch on substantial issues.
The subject matter can range from modern love to the modern workplace, community makeovers to family dynamics – and well beyond.
The treatment should have warmth, wit and relevance to today’s Scotland. /
  • Pre and Post Watershed
  • 30mins/60mins
  • £50-65K per hour

LIFESTYLE AND FEATURES / We want fresh ideas and talent to front pre-watershed series that can cover the full range of lifestyle genres – food, travel, health and consumer issues, amongst others. /
  • Pre-watershed
  • 30mins
  • Up to £50K per hour

TALK PILOTS (In preparation for the new BBC Scotland Channel)
TOPICAL DISCUSSION / We are looking for a topical discussion programme with opinionated, informed, spiky guests that can take on the big stories of the week. This strand should also explore the fault lines and cultural change we see in society today. /
  • 60mins
  • £20-30K per hour

SPORT DISCUSSION / We are looking for a fresh, informed approach to discussion around Sport – particularly football - which harnesses expertise and knowledge to some of the spirit of the fanzines and the many Scottish sport podcasts. /
  • 30mins/60mins
  • £20-30K per hour

LATE NIGHT / After 11, we want formats that feel more experimental and will match the mood requirements of the audience at this time of night – wind down mode but still up for entertainment and some stimulation.
We are interested in shows that feel part of a cultural conversation in Scotland but also looking outwards. Personality, tone, humour and surprise are all important elements.
These should be low cost formats that are innovative and will get people talking. /
  • 11.00pm/11:30pm
  • 30mins/60mins
  • £10k per hour

DIGITAL FIRST
SHORT FORM DRAMA / We are interested in new ways of telling stories that resonate with younger audiences, using digital platforms to reach them. We want distinctive ideas that will cut through the noise of big budget dramas, taking a low cost approach to production but retaining quality and authenticity. The stories should talk directly to a Scottish audience, but resonate with young people across the globe. Topics of interest include but are not limited to, love, family, friendship, mental health and body image.
Length is suggested as 10’ but with digital platforms we can be flexible to meet the needs of the story.
Recent title for Facebook Kidder is a good reference point, as are the short films in The Social Presents… soon to be on iPlayer. /
  • 10mins or thereabouts
  • BBC The Social / BBC iPlayer
  • £500-£1,000 per minute

DIGITAL FIRST FACTUAL / We are looking for digital first strands that reflect the issues that people care about in Scotland. These films should get people talking, sharing and commenting and are a place to experiment with filming formats and new talent.
We anticipate that these strands could feed into bigger ideas for the channel including longer form offerings like the New Talent Documentary strand.
BBC Three’s short form content like ‘How obedient are we?’, and ‘How to live when you’re dying’ are examples of digital first factual strands that have worked well and provoked discussion. /
  • 10 x 2mins
  • BBC Scotland Facebook / BBC iPlayer
  • £500-£750 per film

COMEDY PILOTS
Comedy will play an important role on the BBC Scotland channel, and will continue to do so on BBC One Scotland.
STAND-UP / We are looking for two variants of stand-up shows – one aimed at emerging talent for the Channel, and a show with more established Scottish talent aimed at BBC One Scotland. The production models of the shows could be linked into one commission.
Both types of shows should actively look for acts drawn from across Scotland or with distinctive appeal to our audiences /
  • BBC One Scotland and in preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • 30mins
  • £20K per hour for BBC Scotland channel
  • Up to £150K per hour for BBC One Scotland

SATIRICAL REVIEW / There’s room for a comedy-led take on the world about us, potentially based round a panel format, but we’re open to other models. /
  • In preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • 30mins
  • £25-30K per hour

SCRIPTED / We have some of the biggest comedy shows on the network right now in Still Game and Two Doors Down – we want to build on that success with new ideas in scripted comedy.
We’re aiming to bring single specials and scripted series to air in late 2018 and early 2019 and are keen to look at treatments now. /
  • BBC One Scotland and in preparation for BBC Scotland Channel
  • 30mins
  • £130-220K per hour for series aimed at Channel

DRAMA
BBC Scotland has a strong track record in drama – from River City to Shetland.
As with Comedy, we are working closely with network colleagues to bring new ideas with particular appeal to audiences in Scotland to air. As at present, drama commissions for the BBC One Scotland opts or the BBC Scotland channel are likely to need significant co-funding.
Withinthese parameters, there are a number of areas in which we’re interested in receiving ideas and treatments.
FACTUAL-BASED DRAMA / From biopics to powerful stories that resonate with our audiences
CONTEMPORARY DRAMA / Stories that capture something about life in Scotland right now
SOCIAL HISTORY DRAMA / The stories that pack out Scottish theatres. Where’s ‘The Steamie’ or ‘Slab Boys’ for those who came of age in the 80s and 90s?

Please submit all ideas via BBC Pitch –

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