RADIO COMMISSIONING
Commissioning Brief
Commissioning Brief No. 47030, Round 3, 2022/23 CONSUMER JOURNALISM PODCAST TENDER from April 2022 to March 2023 with option to renew for up to two additional years
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CONTENTS
SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY ...... 3 Radio 4 ...... 4 The Consumer Journalism Podcast opportunity ...... 5 Treatment ...... 5 Diversity and Inclusion ...... 6 Success Measures ...... 6 Presenters ...... 6 Risk Management ...... 6 Price ...... 6 SECTION B: PROCESS, ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION ...... 7 The four stages ...... 7 Assessment criteria ...... 8 SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE ...... 9 SECTION D: FULL PROPOSALS AND REFERENCE INFORMATION ...... 10
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SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY Commissioning Brief ID / Title: 47030 / Consumer Journalism Podcast
Commissioning owner Mohit Bakaya
Commissioning contact Lea Lauvray
Commissioning Brief title Consumer Journalism Podcast
Network Radio 4
Guide price £6k The per episode price includes the provision of two simple digital assets to support the promotion of the podcast on social media platforms.
Genre Factual
Number of episodes We will commission one or more ideas, from around 10 episodes up to around 40. Linear slot day Thursday
Linear slot time Approx. 12.30
Duration Approx. 24’
Recorded Recorded
Transmission period April 2022 to March 2023, with an option to renew for up to two additional years
Production location Undefined
Important
If you are on the Radio & Music supplier database, you need not complete an eligibility form.
There is no short proposal stage.
Submit your proposal via Proteus before noon on Tuesday 06 July. Please do so in good time to avoid unforeseen network problems. Late submissions will not be accepted. Enter it under Radio 4, Round 3, 2022-2023, brief 47030, Consumer Journalism Podcast. It should be no longer than six sides of A4 using Arial font, size 11, in the full synopsis field of the Proteus form, including all the information requested in this brief.
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Radio 4
Radio 4 is unique in the breadth and quality of its informative, educational and entertaining programming. Every day, on air and online, Radio 4 has more original content than any other broadcaster in the world. Its authoritative news and current affairs journalism is complemented by programmes exploring many areas, including science, arts, history, religion, ideas, drama and comedy, offered through regular strands, one-off programmes and special seasons.
In the first quarter of 2020 (the most recent for which RAJAR figures are available) Radio 4 was reaching a weekly audience of 11 million, with an average age of 57. The latest RAJAR report is available on the Radio 4 Commissioning website. An audience pack relating to this commission will also be available on the site.
The station is always seeking to understand and reflect the changing nature of the UK, and the changing consumption of audio content. We want to find new ways of reaching beyond our existing base, to extend our journalism and storytelling to audiences that might be poorly served by other media, right across the social and geographical landscape. We are passionate about letting as many people as possible in on the Radio 4 secret, by finding imaginative new ways to engage them.
Further, as the podcast market grows, we aim to attract a new generation to Radio 4 as the home of intelligent audio, whether broadcast or on-demand.
BBC Sounds offers us a brilliant opportunity to reach listeners who may not yet have the Radio 4 habit. There is an avid and growing online Radio 4 audience. There are around 26 million downloads of Radio 4 content each month, around 15 million of them within the UK.
All Radio 4 programmes appear on BBC Sounds and we also commission content which is either digital-first or digital-only. Increasingly, we want our content to work on both platforms. We have had great success here with Intrigue: Tunnel 29, Girl Taken, The Whisperer in Darkness, Grounded with Louis Theroux, You’re Dead to Me and many other commissions. We also know that flagship Radio 4 programmes, like The Archers, The News Quiz, In Our Time and Desert Island Discs, are extremely popular on Sounds. Most of the listening in BBC Sounds - live and on demand - is to Radio 4 content.
We want to build on this success with this important tender.
Mohit Bakaya
Controller, Radio 4 & Radio 4 Extra
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The Consumer Journalism Podcast opportunity
High quality consumer journalism plays a crucial role in the economic and democratic life of this country. It has always been at the core of Radio 4’s offering to its listeners, informing and empowering them in relation to the goods and services they use.
We have seen how consumer journalism can engage and be relevant to a broad audience, and we want a new show that explores this opportunity.
Radio 4 is seeking to commission a consumer journalism podcast and radio series with a crystal clear and clever conceit, format and treatment – most likely built around an inspired choice of talent – that is on the side of listeners of all ages as together they navigate the consumer decisions, big and small, that we all make. You should interpret the role of consumer in the broadest sense here. This is about help with navigating the modern world and having the knowledge and analysis you need to make informed choices about the goods and services you select. The podcast should help you understand better the world you live in.
The tone and style will need to work brilliantly for the podcast audience without sacrificing any of the journalism and rigour which are essential to all Radio 4 output. We want you to engage listeners’ hearts as well as minds. We want to create an audio destination which is an enjoyable place to be even when the subject under discussion isn’t directly relevant to you – that means warmth, humour, personality and authenticity – and we want the ‘takeaways’ from each episode to be useful and very clear.
It will take account of innovative podcast work being done in this area, establishing an identity that lures the casual listener as well as the committed and rewards them all with relevant insights and engaging stories, entertainingly delivered.
We do not envisage this being a magazine show, rather a podcast/programme that focuses on one aspect or theme within consumer journalism, in a clever and innovative way.
The consumer podcast must appeal to both the podcast and the linear audiences and will have a place in the linear schedule on Thursday, following the Consumer Journalism strand which will have a shorter duration (approx. 28’) on that day.
We will commission one or more ideas here, from around 10 episodes up to around 40 per year, with distinct formats and presentation. Numbers commissioned may vary in subsequent years, depending on performance.
Please also read the brief for the Consumer Journalism strand on the Radio 4 commissioning site. The podcast will need to complement that strand as well as other relevant programming on Radio 4. We would expect the production teams of the podcast and the live magazine to coordinate closely their plans.
Successful suppliers will have experience of relevant broadcast journalism. They will have a production and business support team clearly able to meet the demands of delivering a weekly podcast and programme. They will have a good knowledge of the BBC Editorial Guidelines and a demonstrable ability to manage the risks of this output.
Treatment
Your written proposal should include an indicative series of subjects and treatments over the six Thursdays prior to and including Thursday 17th June 2021.
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Diversity and Inclusion
Radio 4 aims to reflect the UK of today and tomorrow in all its aspects. This podcast and programme will play a part in deepening and widening this relationship. We want to hear your ideas for new approaches which will attract engagement from the fullest diversity of listeners. (See also Section D of this brief.)
Success Measures
Your podcast will make a name for itself in the digital space as a destination that is as entertaining as it is informative.
Presenters
Your ideas for who should present the show will be a key to your success. Please tell us whether they have been approached and are willing to present.
Risk Management
You will demonstrate an awareness of the editorial risks involved in content of this kind and have the capacity, at executive producer level, to mitigate them. You will be required to deliver programmes in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and be able to adapt to the BBC’s changing editorial and business needs during the period of the commission.
You must be able to demonstrate the business capacity to deliver this content. We need to know that you properly understand the production risks and have plans to manage them effectively. You should also consider the possibility that TUPE may apply to this commission and have a plan to meet this risk.
Price
• The guide price includes presenter fees.
• The commission is offered as a fixed price contract. The supplier is responsible for any overspend and is entitled to retain any underspend, as long as the delivery requirements are satisfactorily met.
• This commission will be offered on the BBC’s usual terms for podcast commissions.
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SECTION B: PROCESS, ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION
The four stages
STAGE 1: Full proposal
Step 1: Producers will be offered the opportunity to discuss the programme brief with the commissioning team, prior to submitting their full proposal. Please email questions in advance to [email protected].
Step 2: Producers submit a full proposal, via Proteus, responding to this commissioning brief, which includes all the elements outlined in Section C (“Full Proposals”). Your full proposal should not exceed six sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11, including all the information requested in this brief.
STAGE 2: Pitch
Step 1: You may be invited to a pitch meeting via Zoom with the evaluation team. You will be asked to elaborate on your proposal and answer questions. We may ask you to bring additional material, such as a further running order. You will be asked to start with a presentation. More detail will be given when you are invited to the pitch.
Step 2: Following the pitch, the evaluation team will re-evaluate your written proposal against the assessment criteria below, considering the responses given during the pitch, and any additional material requested. The evaluation team may then decide to award the contract to the producers which best meet the assessment criteria. At any stage of the process, we may need to come back to you to seek clarification. Your answers will be factored into the evaluation process as appropriate.
Step 3: We may decide to hold second interviews, where we need more information to be able to differentiate between proposals. Before deciding, we may ask you to make a non-broadcast pilot, the cost of which we will meet.
STAGE 3: Contract signed
STAGE 4: Feedback
Feedback may be requested by suppliers on unsuccessful proposals that reach the pitch stage. Once notified of the result you have two weeks to send a feedback request to [email protected]. Feedback will be provided within two weeks.
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Assessment criteria We will assess your full proposal and pitch according to these criteria: editorial proposal and capability, diversity, value for money, risk.
Assessment criteria Weighting
Editorial proposal and capability
Key indicators: • Editorial fit with the scope of the tender, in the context of Radio 4 strategic objectives 55% • Appropriate knowledge: deep understanding of the subject • Format: structure and tone • Presenter: your ideas for who should present the programme • Innovation: evolution of content and tone to attract new audiences, without losing existing listeners • Track record: production team experience in recent and relevant content of high editorial and technical quality • Collaboration: ability to work collaboratively with other production teams and partners • Digital: engagement of new audiences on digital platforms • Diversity: strategies to evolve diversity in its broadest sense, in terms of 10% representing the whole of the UK today and reaching the widest audience (see also Section D of this brief)
Value for money Key indicators: • Budget: financial plan, including a full budget breakdown showing 15% production and overhead costs, sustainable beyond contract term • Price: confirmation that price per episode can be met and does not exceed guide price • Efficiency: demonstrable efficiency of the production process; potential ability to deliver additional value to the BBC • Contract terms: acceptance of key contract terms (including compliance with all applicable UK law)
Risk Key indicators: 20% • Editorial: ability to manage the editorial risk in this content • Production: ability to manage the delivery of daily, live content on this scale • Business continuity: robustness of business continuity plans • Conflict of interest: confirmation that there are no conflicts of interest; evidence of understanding how these might arise • Legislation and policy: ability to comply with relevant UK legislation, including TUPE, and BBC policies (not limited to editorial policies)
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Evaluation team The following people may be involved in the evaluation of your proposal at various stages: • Mohit Bakaya, Controller and main commissioning contact • Richard Knight, Commissioning Editor, Factual • Rhian Roberts, Commissioning Editor, Digital and Podcasts • A Procurement Manager • A Business Affairs Manager Other advisers (e.g. editorial policy, scheduling, finance, legal) may be consulted.
SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE
The commissioning process for this opportunity consists of several stages, as set out below.
Stage Timings Activities (all midday) Launch Early June Publication of commissioning brief Round opens in Proteus.
Mon 07 June - Full Proposal Opportunity to discuss brief with the commissioning and shortlisting Fri 02 July team prior to submitting full proposals. Please email questions in advance to [email protected]. Tues 06 July: 12 Deadline for full proposal to be submitted via noon Proteus. Late submissions cannot be accepted. Evaluation panel shortlists full proposals. w/c 19 July Shortlisted suppliers may be invited for a pitching meeting.
Pitch w/c 06 Pitches, via zoom, with shortlisted suppliers. September ** Please make sure you are available for pitching during this window ** November Conditional Commissioning decision made, commissioning Commission specification completed and contract issued. and Contract November Agreement of all programme related deliverables and technical specifications. Full contract signed. Feedback Feedback on rejected full proposals provided in Proteus. Suppliers have two weeks to request further feedback. Feedback will be provided within two weeks of receiving the request.
If you have questions about this commissioning brief that need answering before you submit your full proposal, email them to [email protected] by Friday 02 July.
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SECTION D: FULL PROPOSALS AND REFERENCE INFORMATION
Please refer to this important information on the Radio commissioning website, regarding submission of your full proposal, including guidance on how to set out your budget.
Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements contained in this commissioning brief and on the commissioning website. Proposals not complying may be rejected by the Commissioner whose decision in this matter will be final.
All the information required should be included in the (maximum) six pages of your proposal.
The BBC reserves the right at any time prior to award of a commission, and without incurring any liability to the affected suppliers, to accept or reject any proposal, or to annul the commissioning process, rejecting all proposals.
By submitting your proposal, you confirm acceptance of the key contract terms.
More information relating to all commissioning briefs and rounds, regardless of station, can be found on the Pitching ideas page of the Radio commissioning website.
BBC Radio Diversity & Inclusion commitment
We are interested in working with suppliers that share our Diversity & Inclusion values. BBC Radio has committed itself to spending £12m in the three years from financial year 2021/22 on newly competed commissions that support at least two of the three priorities set out below. This is in addition to the many proposals that we commission which meet only one of these priorities, as well as those that meet none of the three. i. diverse stories and portrayals, covering the nine protected characteristics plus social mobility. ii. diverse production leadership, where “diverse” includes ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability. iii. diverse company leadership, where “diverse” includes ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability.
Please tell us whether, and how, your proposal and/or your company meet any of the three diversity priorities. The definitions supporting each priority can be found here and some FAQs here. Proposals will not be accepted or declined simply because they do or do not support these priorities. What you write in relation to them will be considered alongside all the other factors we evaluate. Proposals that don’t support the diversity priorities may be commissioned on the strength of meeting the other criteria in this brief.
Our commitments will help create an inclusive culture for all, increasing diversity with regard to gender, ethnicity, socio-economic factors and disability, and helping to deliver on the BBC's new 50:20:12 diversity targets for gender, ethnicity and disability representation.
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