BBC RADIO SCOTLAND
BBC Radio Scotland offers a rich and diverse schedule of programmes. The station is driven by its news, sport and speech output during the day and its specialist music programmes in the evening. With a target audience of adults aged 35+ the station has a wide mix of programming providing news, sport, music, comedy, arts and intelligent conversation.
BBC Radio Scotland is 40 years old in November and is now looking ahead for programming through 2019. The station, like many radio services, has an approach of commissioning long running personality led strands across much of its output. Therefore, at present commissioning opportunities exist around our 13:30 features slots, special events which can offer a multiplatform approach, and one off programme ideas which reflect contemporary Scotland.
When submitting proposals for Radio Scotland in BBC Pitch please use the Channel TBA option
Feature Series: Weekdays at 1330 hrs
This is one of the most competitive slots in the schedule. Offers can be for 30min episodes single programmes, two-parters or a longer running series. £3k-£5k per episode We are looking for ideas that reflect the interests of our target audience - Genre: Scotland takes them on a journey of discovery, entertain or informs them and could Speech, Music & also have a multiplatform approach. Events Channel: TBA In addition we are specifically looking for a format or series which Commissioner: physically connects with our audience in a new and engaging way. We are Gareth Hydes looking to embed BBC Radio Scotland into communities around Scotland. Humour, warmth and companionship are important qualities for BBC Radio Scotland and we’d like these sorts of feature series to encompass that.
Landmark: BBC Radio Scotland competition
We are looking to create a significant BBC Radio Scotland competition, £3k-£5k per 30 which can become a returning and landmark part of the station. We are min episode looking for the narrative of the competition to appeal to our target Genre: Scotland audience and offer some form of exciting journey to success for the Speech, Music & participants. The competition may involve a “heat” style structure and Events be conducted over a period of half-hour programmes, or it could be a Channel: TBA
BBC Scotland Page 1 of 4 different format depending on what is right for the proposal. It should Commissioner: have as relevance to modern Scotland. Other similar successful formats Gareth Hydes include 500 Words (Chris Evans Breakfast Show – Radio 2); Brain of Britain (Radio 4); Countryfile Photographic competition (Countryfile – BBC One) All those competitions are of real relevance to their audience, have established themselves as part of the programme or station brand and have a strong specific identity and purpose.
BBC Scotland Page 2 of 4 BBC ONE SCOTLAND
From traditional celebrations like Hogmanay and Burns Night through to the wealth of music and arts festivals like Edinburgh and Belladrum, Scotland’s calendar is filled with these landmark celebrations and events. Across all our services we are looking to reflect what is happening across modern Scotland, and to provide “the best seat in the house” for our audiences.
We are especially keen to look at Music proposals that we could commission in partnership with BBC Alba.
Music programmes/Occasions
From TRNSMT in Glasgow through to The Opening of the V&A. While £35k-£155k per many of our large scale events for BBC Scotland are already committed to hour for 2018 we are keen to look at new opportunities for 2019. Genre: Scotland Speech, Music & Across all platforms we’d be keen to look at new treatments for Events significant events in the calendar, e.g. St Andrews night. Channel: BBC One Scotland Commissioner: Gareth Hydes
BBC SCOTLAND TV CHANNEL
BBC Scotland TV Channel Events
BBC Scotland channel will have its own distinct coverage, reaching festivals £35k-£55k per and other events across Scotland. In addition the channel would want to hour create landmark event programming in its own right, which can have a Genre: Scotland significant impact in the cultural life of Scotland. Innovative treatments for Speech, Music existing events, along with new proposals are encouraged. In addition and Events what can the BBC Scotland channel do in partnership with our Radio and Channel: BBC Digital services and with BBC Alba? Scotland Channel Commissioner: Gareth Hydes
Charity events
BBC Scotland Page 3 of 4 We are looking for formats which can support the Comic Relief and £60k-£80k per Children in Need campaigns in March and November 2019. Following on hour the success of Des Clarke’s Try-athalon for Sport Relief in 2018 we are Genre: Scotland looking to develop an entertainment proposition, but which has Speech, Music & fundraising at the heart of it. At the same time it should be able to reflect Events the impact theses charities are having with the people of Scotland. Channel: BBC Scotland Channel As both these charities are pan-BBC campaigns, a multiplatform approach Commissioner: would be encouraged. Gareth Hydes
The format should contain fundraising at the heart of it, but we’d also be looking for new and innovate ways of reflecting the impact the BBC’s charity has to children and young people across Scotland. As BBC Children in Need is a significant event, we’d be looking for this format to have a multiplatform approach.
BBC Scotland Page 4 of 4