BBC Pitch/ Commissioning
The Process
a)
What types of programmes do
they want from indies and when do they want it?
BBC Radio 2
This station is looking to
commission:
§
Documentaries and Music features that reflect the UK and the world.
Documentaries and Music features that reflect the UK and the world.
§
Presenter-Led Genre-based
series- These are hour long slots where a specific genre of music is to be
played by a presenter. For example, a presenter will be hosting a show that is
especially for reggae music.
§
Ideas welcome- This is basically
any ideas that will fit in to what the radio station normally do. They are new
ideas and something that the station hasn’t asked for.
They want it submitted in the
two times during the year that they conduct their commissioning rounds which
are:
Round 1:
March-April 2012/13
Round 2 (Main
Round): July- August 2013/14
b)
How do they want them to
submit it? The process?
The application would need to
be submitted via Proteus. Proteus is the online submission programme where
people that want to pitch their ideas upload them to the BBC. The commissioning
process should come with the proposal from the Proteus as well as a short
paragraph briefly explaining what the idea is and the treatment proposal. After
the closing date there will be a shortlisting period where producers might be
asked to discuss their idea further. When the shortlisting period is over, they
will be discussed. Then the decision whether to commission or reject the
proposal will be done and budgets will be made.
c)
Investigate TWO indies. Which
programmes do they make for BBC? Do they focus on a particular genre or format?
An indie is an independent
production company that produces many programmes for many broadcasters as a
result of pitching many ideas.
1. Random Entertainment (randomentertainment.co.uk)
This indie makes programmes
for the BBC. One of which is called The Unbelievable Truth which was
broadcasted on BBC Radio 4.
Jon Naismith (Right) and
Graeme Garden (Left) are both owners of the company Random Entertainment. They
have both created several of the shows that are shown on BBC Radio and TV. 
UBC media group
(www.ubcmedia.com)
The UBC is a
family of companies working in related areas of production
This was
information about how the BBC gets independent companies to produce their
programmes for them, I’m now going to be looking at one of their stations,
showing you five of the programmes their requesting and going into detail on
one showing the requirements needed in order to bid to create the programme
their requesting for the station.
BBC
Asian Network Commissioning
The BBC
Asian Network radio station want their programmes to connect with the Asian
community in Britain (mainly the Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi
origin) because they all have cultural links as part of South Asia.
The 5
invitations they are offering to tender are:
1.
Friday/Saturday 21:00-00:00: New Music Show (working title)
Guarantee
2.
Saturday/Sunday 06:00-10:00: Weekend Breakfast Show. WoCC only
3.
Saturday 13:00-15:00: Asian Network Request Show. WoCC only
4.
Saturday 15:00-18:00: The Official Asian Download Chart. Guarantee
5.
Saturday 18:00-21:00: Asian Network Anthems (working title).
Guarantee
I will now be looking at one of the tenders into more detail:
Asian Network Request
show
Content requirements- The BBC are looking for a similar
programme to their exixting one with more features that make the audience
interact with the station by calling in, texting and contacting the radio
online. They want their audience to select the music that they play throughout
the programme. The station wants to be linked to social media sites so that
listeners can tweet, like their page on Facbook and become an even bigger
influence on the stations programmes.
Technical requirements- These are requirements regarding the
studio. If the BBC has agreed to make the programme, the studio that will air
the show will have to be able to technically link to the BBC Studios with Such
high standards they expect so it like they created the programmes in their own
facilities. The non BBC studio also must be suitable for back ups in case
anything goes wrong whilst they are broadcasting live. By doing the programme
in a non BBC Studio, they will get paid extra on top of tehir budget.
Experience requirements
Budgets
BBC Pitch Process
ReplyDeleteYou should start this off by explaining that not all content on the BBC is actually made by the BBC. Explain what an indie is.
Explain how a range of talent from across the country can summit and produce work for the BBC, but they must meet strict requirements in terms of programme quality and technical quality.
Explain how the individual stations of the BBC invite pitches for programmes from these indies, and they are given very clear guidelines on what they want.
You have explained what an indie is in point © but you need to make it clear that the BBC communicates their requirements for the shows, and expects pitches based on those.
You have explained who Random Entertainment is but what sort of programmes do they make for the BBC? How do they expect them to fit in with the style, ethos and "feel" of the station they are producing for? Remember, for the listener there should be no perceivable difference to listening to a programme produced by the BBC of FOR the BBC.
When you talk about the Asian Network, it might be worth writing a clearer description of the station. What is their main purpose and audience? In your words?
Your descriptions of how they want a programme that involves more listener interaction is a little awkward. I would say something like this:
The BBC are looking for a programme similar to that which already exists, however they wish to develop the platform by extending and improving on the social network interaction available to the audience. The core audience continues to be a young audience from a central Asian background, but the fundamental change they want to make is to improve the way the audience interacts with the station. This is more relevant to a modern, young audience who often listens whilst online -chatting on facebook, twitter and browsing the web.
You also need to explain the actual process of making a pitch. What does an Indie need to do? What information does the BBC want from them? How are they expected to submit the pitch?
Pass+
Mr Monahan