Working with BBC Radio 4 Extra 2017/18 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2 Delivery ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Audio Delivery ........................................................................................................................ 2 Internal suppliers................................................................................................................. 2 Indie suppliers ..................................................................................................................... 2 Programme Durations ......................................................................................................... 3 Proteus .................................................................................................................................... 3 Running Orders ................................................................................................................... 3 Programme Descriptions ..................................................................................................... 4 Compliance ............................................................................................................................. 4 Compliance Form ................................................................................................................ 4 Referral ................................................................................................................................ 5 Future Repeats .................................................................................................................... 5 Presentation & Promotions .................................................................................................... 5 Press Information and On-Air Promotion: "Built" Trails ..................................................... 5 Opening and Closing Announcements ................................................................................ 5 On-Air Credits ...................................................................................................................... 6 Online Content........................................................................................................................ 6 Contacts .................................................................................................................................. 7 1 Working with BBC Radio 4 Extra v.6 Introduction The following information is provided to ensure that all programme makers are aware of our requirements. The document will be distributed as part of the transmission confirmation email for each conditionally commissioned programme. - BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on DAB Radio, all Digital Television platforms and Online. - All our programmes are available through the BBC i-player. - Owing to shortage of space on the BBC National DAB multiplex we currently only broadcast in mono on DAB – however all programmes should be produced in stereo since all other platforms are stereo. - Our presentation links are pre-recorded, three weeks ahead of transmission. - Transmission playout is totally automated via the SCISYS system – there is no “continuity” which can intervene to “pull” a programme at short notice, or make special announcements. - Staff are not on duty at weekends or public holidays. Delivery Due to the pre-recorded nature of the network, audio and all associated paperwork must be delivered 6 weeks ahead of TX. Audio Delivery We will notify you of the required delivery date after confirmation of conditional commission and unless a change is mutually agreed and confirmed by us on email, this must be rigorously observed. As BBC Radio 4 Extra is a pre-recorded network, programmes are delivered to dira! 6 weeks prior to transmission. If you are unable to meet the delivery deadline please contact the Forward Planning Schedule Coordinator to arrange alternative dates. If your programme is of a topical nature, a late delivery deadline will be agreed at the point of scheduling. Internal suppliers Dira Highlander Until further notice the programmes should be delivered on WAV audio file direct to Highlander, into the ‘BBC7_normalise_in’ folder: \\bbcmedrr006\VCS_Ingester$\BBC7\BBC7_normalise_in Indie suppliers We only accept audio via MediaShuttle. You will need a MediaShuttle account to access the BBC's service. To request an account, please contact the Operations Schedule Manager (see Contacts), with the following details: 1. Company name 2. Key contact name 3. Key contact email address 2 Working with BBC Radio 4 Extra v.6 Once your account has been set up you will receive some e-mails from MediaShuttle with links by which you can choose your password and access the system. The MediaShuttle address is http://bbcradiodelivery.mediashuttle.com MediaShuttle works in all web browsers but users of Chrome will need to install a plugin. There is an app for iOS. Programmes should be sent as wav or flac files. Notify Transmission Delivery (see contacts) that you have delivered the audio, otherwise it will be deleted automatically after 14 days. The naming convention for WAV files is important. It should include the title, transmission date (ddmmyy) and Proteus programme number. It should not include any punctuation. Please refer to the following example: A Programme 080917 PEA03004211.wav Old style programme numbers (e.g. 16DA3524) can be entered into the core details of Proteus. For Selections (3 hour commissions): Please send the programme in at least three sections of audio with natural breaks (these would normally occur after the back-anno of a programme within the commission). This will allow the Presentation team to insert idents and trails at the point of broadcast. There is no need for you to insert 4 Extra network idents in your audio. Please number each section chronologically. Programme Durations Programmes should be delivered to the following durations, according to transmission slot. This should include all announcements and the natural fade-point of any closing sig. We do not encourage long periods of playout music, preferring to use spare airtime for station branding and promotion. Slot Required Duration 15’ 14’ 00” 30’ 28’ 00” 45’ 43’ 00” 60’ 57’ 00” 180’ 177’00” In the case of topical programmes where late delivery is specifically agreed, we will specify a precise, to-the-second delivered duration at the point of scheduling. Proteus It is the responsibility of production departments to ensure that their appropriate staff have access rights to Proteus and are trained to use it. Running Orders We require that all details of new programmes commissioned for BBC Radio 4 Extra are entered into Proteus 6 weeks ahead of transmission, including: Contributors: e.g. actors, writers, interviewees Music reporting Paperwork must be marked as complete and music must be reported in Proteus. 3 Working with BBC Radio 4 Extra v.6 For Selections (3 hour commissions): - As per commissioning guidelines, all programmes and clips contained within the Selection will need to have broadcast rights cleared and available for rebroadcast within 3 years of the first scheduled date on Radio 4 Extra. - For guidance on R4 Extra’s rights agreements and running orders, please contact R4 Extra Production Management. - Any programmes contained within the Selection must be entered before transmission, if not then there will be no record of the insert programme having been broadcast. - Running orders of programmes contained within the Selection must also be entered. Programme Descriptions Short, medium and long descriptions must be entered in Proteus 6 weeks ahead of transmission. Ensure the descriptions are copied to the original template. Please note, Radio 4 Extra does not have an automatic link to Ericsson. You must inform [email protected] of any amendments made to your programme descriptions. If you need to send an amendment, 3 weeks before transmission you must also email [email protected] Radio 4 Extra is broadcast on multi-digital platforms and the station performs strongly on iPlayer Radio. In order to maximise information, please add your episode title into Proteus. The team at Radio 4 Extra will add brand and series titles and episode numbering. Compliance The compliance process is designed to ensure content that may pose a risk to the reputation of the BBC or that some listeners may find difficult or challenging is well-judged and broadcast in appropriate context and editorially justified. It upholds programme makers’ right to creative expression by ensuring it is exercised responsibly. Your department must have the appropriate compliance permissions in Proteus. Supplier’s compliance forms should be signed off by both the Producer and Executive Producer/Editor. Compliance Form Compliance forms should be completed with appropriate sign-off a minimum of 6 weeks prior to transmission. In the intervening period before transmission, please advise us if any content subsequently becomes unsuitable for broadcast due to topical events. If your programme is repeated once within 24 hours of its origination, the narrative repeats must be approved in Proteus with a dual-sign off for each transmission slot. Therefore, completion and approval of compliance forms should be sensitive to time of day for each narrative repeat, taking