BBC Radio Ulster and Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund Commissioning Round November 2023
BBC Radio Ulster and Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund are calling for ideas for a new series of eight half hour radio programmes. This series should tell untold or relatively unknown stories of Ulster-Scots connections to music and the arts. This may be a connection to a contemporary music and arts scene, artist or shed new light on an established genre. We are particularly looking for ideas with a strong digital potential. Your submission should use music in an exciting way to relate these stories. You should also liaise with the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund on the use of an Ulster-Scots consultant to ensure accuracy and authenticity of the proposal’s Ulster-Scots narrative.
Commissioning Process
Your proposal should be no more than 500 words and summarise your specific idea. It should demonstrate your ability to produce the idea in the given timeframes, set out your editorial ambitions and address the requirements set out in the commissioning opportunity above. It would be useful for you to attach the most suitable broadcast slots (above) for your series proposal.
Deadline for submission Friday 1st December at 13.00.
Ideas should be submitted to Paul McClean
The expected tariff will be in the region of £3-4k per episode, depending on the editorial requirement. The Commissioning Decision will be made in mid-January 2024.
BBC Northern Ireland Ulster-Scots Commissioning Brief: Autumn 2023
BBC Northern Ireland is seeking submissions for our Ulster-Scots slate, for transmission on TV and BBC iPlayer in 2024 and beyond. This output will be produced by independent production companies based in Northern Ireland and will be co-funded by the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund and BBC Northern Ireland.
This commissioning round offers opportunities in Factual Documentary and Factual Entertainment, and we will consider both single films and short series.
We will also welcome projects of scale and ambition, which could be potential co-commissions with Network BBC, or with other broadcasters.
Deadline: Submit all ideas and proposals to Fiona Keane, Commissioning Executive via BBC Pitch by 5pm on Friday 17th November 2023.
BBC Bitesize Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Art and Design: Artist Profiles
15 minutes in total of original video or animation for Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Art and Design Northern Ireland
All proposals should be submitted via email to David Rowney by Friday 8th September 2023
Please use Submitted Proposal: Primary Art and Design Artists Profiles as the subject line
BBC Bitesize Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Art and Design: Creative Techniques
15 minutes in total of original video for Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Art and Design Northern Ireland
All proposals should be submitted via email to David Rowney by Friday 1st September
Please use Submitted Proposal: Primary Art and Design as the subject line
BBC Gaeilge Commissioning Brief Summer 2023
BBC Gaeilge is now seeking ideas for programmes for 2024 and beyond.
The content will be produced by independent production companies based in Northern Ireland and will be co-funded by the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and BBC Northern Ireland.
The BBC Gaeilge Commissioning Strategy continues to build a varied portfolio of ambitious, relevant and high-impact programming. We are evolving our commissioning approach in response to changing audience habits, emerging industry trends, and the growing ambition of the Northern Irish creative sector.
We are interested in commissioning new and returning proposals which can deliver on two agendas, the iPlayer First, and the need to offer Value for All audiences.
Please contact Karen Kirby, Commissioning Executive, BBC Gaeilge to discuss ideas beforehand.
The deadline for the submission of proposals with detailed budgets on BBC Pitch is Thursday 31st August 2023 at 1pm.
BBC Comedy launches new script partnership project in Northern Ireland
BBC Comedy has announced a new project aimed at promoting scripted comedy partnerships in a targeted part of the UK, starting in Northern Ireland.
The aim of this initiative is to bring together an independent production company (starting with an indie based in Northern Ireland) with another company, an executive producer or script executive with a significant track record in delivering ‘returnable’ scripted comedy for broadcast. The collaboration will facilitate the development of script ideas into content that could be commissioned as a broadcast pilot.
All of this is about supporting comedy talent and production capabilities within the region – and showcasing it to a wider audience
Details on how to apply can be found here.
Applications open on Monday 19 June and close on Friday 1 September 2023. Three of the partnerships will be selected for an initial script development (which will be announced at the 2023 Belfast Media Festival) and at least one of them will be selected for further funded development.
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, says: “This is a really exciting initiative for production companies in Northern Ireland who are committed to developing scripted comedy. This collaborative approach mirrors how we have done things elsewhere to great success, by providing a focussed way for us to create the space and financing to encourage partnerships, and in turn activate developments more quickly”.
Eddie Doyle, Head of Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland, says: “We know there’s plenty of comedy talent in Northern Ireland and it’s fantastic that BBC Comedy are as keen as we are to help get it onto network television. This initiative builds on other work that we’ve been doing with BBC network colleagues to develop and showcase our independent sector and to reflect life in contemporary Northern Ireland for a UK wide audience. And it’s another example of what the BBC can do to support innovation, creativity and local talent.”
