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 by Monday, 22nd January 2018.

 Please submit all ideas via BBC Pitch – http://pitch.bbc.co.uk.

FACTUAL

EYEWITNESS Powerful, impactful narratives that reveal something important  BBC One Scotland or ACCOUNTS about how Scotland or the world works. BBC Two Scotland

These films get under the skin of some of the big stories to have  3/4 eps x 60mins affected the country, told through the eyes of the key players. Can also be told in biographical style.  £100k-125K per hour

EXCEPTIONAL Hard to get access with revelation in every sequence. Think BBC  BBC One Scotland or ACCESS Two’s The Detectives. BBC Two Scotland

 3/4 eps x 60mins

 £100k-125K per hour

MODERN Stories from modern Scotland, which shine a light on different  In preparation for BBC SCOTLAND aspects of contemporary Scottish life. We’re looking for strong Scotland Channel DOCUMENTARY personal stories that others can relate to, told in direct and STRAND approachable ways.  Singles x 60mins

These films can be thought-provoking and emotional or about  Grouped in strand going out and having fun – as long as they’re contemporary.  £60k -105K per hour Recent titles which fit this bill include MND and Me, Teenage Millionaire, Insane Fight Club, Scotland’s Bounty Hunter and Facelifts & Fillers

OBSERVATIONAL Precincts with strong stories at the heart of them, and enough  In preparation for BBC DOCUMENTARY happening to generate longer-run series. Scotland Channel SERIES  8-10 eps x 30mins

 £45k-65K per hour

BBC Scotland Page 1 of 4 NEW TALENT We are planning on launching a strand for emerging producers and  In preparation for BBC DOCUMENTARY directors, which concentrates principally on younger-skewed stories Scotland Channel STRAND and underrepresented voices.  6 eps x 30mins/60mins

 £50-60K per hour

POLEMICS / These films can take on any aspect of life today – from sport to  In preparation for BBC AUTHORED politics, arts, culture and the media – and beyond. Challenging Scotland Channel conventional wisdom and lazy assumptions, done with authority and potentially wit.  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  In preparation for BBC are today. Scotland’s Game was a good example of this, using Scotland Channel 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  3/4 eps x 60mins again tell the story of how Scottish society has evolved over the past decades.  £60k-100K per hour

FACTUAL PILOTS (In preparation for the new BBC Scotland Channel)

 30mins 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  £10-30K per hour ‘Rock and Roll Years’

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

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

The treatment should have warmth, wit and relevance to today’s Scotland.

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

 Up to £50K per hour

BBC Scotland Page 2 of 4 TALK PILOTS (In preparation for the new BBC Scotland Channel)

TOPICAL We are looking for a topical discussion programme with  60mins DISCUSSION opinionated, informed, spiky guests that can take on the big stories of the week. This strand should also explore the fault lines and  £20-30K per hour cultural change we see in society today.

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

LATE NIGHT After 11, we want formats that feel more experimental and will  11.00pm / 11:30pm match the mood requirements of the audience at this time of night – wind down mode but still up for entertainment and some  30mins/60mins stimulation.  £10k per hour 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.

DIGITAL FIRST

SHORT FORM We are interested in new ways of telling stories that resonate with  10mins or DRAMA younger audiences, using digital platforms to reach them. We want thereabouts distinctive ideas that will cut through the noise of big budget dramas, taking a low cost approach to production but retaining  BBC The Social / quality and authenticity. The stories should talk directly to a Scottish BBC iPlayer audience, but resonate with young people across the globe. Topics of interest include but are not limited to, love, family, friendship,  £500-£1,000 per mental health and body image. minute

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.

DIGITAL FIRST We are looking for digital first strands that reflect the issues that  10 x 2mins FACTUAL people care about in Scotland. These films should get people talking, sharing and commenting and are a place to experiment with  BBC Scotland filming formats and new talent. Facebook / BBC iPlayer We anticipate that these strands could feed into bigger ideas for the channel including longer form offerings like the New Talent  £500-£750 per film 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.

BBC Scotland Page 3 of 4 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  BBC One Scotland and emerging talent for the Channel, and a show with more established in preparation for BBC Scottish talent aimed at BBC One Scotland. The production models Scotland Channel of the shows could be linked into one commission.  30mins Both types of shows should actively look for acts drawn from across Scotland or with distinctive appeal to our audiences  £20K per hour for BBC Scotland channel

 Up to £150K per hour for BBC One Scotland

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

 £25-30K per hour

SCRIPTED We have some of the biggest comedy shows on the network right  BBC One Scotland and now in Still Game and Two Doors Down – we want to build on in preparation for BBC that success with new ideas in scripted comedy. Scotland Channel

We’re aiming to bring single specials and scripted series to air in  30mins late 2018 and early 2019 and are keen to look at treatments now.  £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.

Within these 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 – http://pitch.bbc.co.uk

BBC Scotland Page 4 of 4