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23 November 2009
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Commissioning

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Who Does What ?
This section explains Who Does What in the TV commissioning and delivery process.

e-Commissioning

Member of the public with ideas can get information here

Writers Room Link

Durations - don't make your programme too long for your slot - check programme and credit durations here

Interactive TV ideas are submitted to the normal genre teams

The Producer
Producers submit proposals to the genres (proposal requirements here ).

By the time the programme is commissioned the producer will have agreed achievable delivery details with the genre/channel.

The producer should inform the genre of any problems with hitting the delivery date and, if necessary, request that the delivery date be changed.

The aim of the new delivery processes in agreeing firm and achievable delivery dates at the commissioning stage is to minimise the need to subsequently push this date back. Requests to have the delivery date pushed back should become the exception and result from unforeseeable circumstances rather than, say, a lack of proper planning.

Once the programme is complete, in-house producers should arrange a technical review with Post Production on, or before, the delivery date. The producer manages the programme through this process - if it doesn't pass the transmission review then the producer takes it back, fixes and resubmits it.

Independents are responsible for delivering the completed programme to the TV Delivery Unit. This unit then manages the programme through the transmission review process. If the programme fails the review, the Delivery Unit will return it to the independent.

In addition to being responsible for delivering the tape, the producer is also responsible for delivering certain production paperwork to specified deadlines (details here ).

The TV Genres
The TV Genres manage the programme slates for the channels and are responsible for managing the proposals from producers. The genres sift and develop offers before they are taken to the channels. The genres use a system knows as Contender Manager to manage offer information.

More information on the pitching process is here . However is worth noting that when the channels and genres decide which offers to commission one of the factors taken into account is when the programme can deliver, and hence be scheduled. A channel may only be interested in an idea if it can deliver and transmit within a certain window e.g. for the 2003 autumn season.

Once a programme is commissioned, the genres manage the communication process - to the channels and suppliers. The commission is recorded on the financial system (PRDB), and Contender Manager is updated.

Any subsequent change to the delivery date must be managed by the genres. The genres role is twofold:

  • to ensure that the change is agreeable to all areas, primarily the commissioning channel(s) but also possibly M&C. Once the delivery date has been agreed, the genres will not change it without the agreement of the commissioning channel.
  • to communicate the change and to update the business systems


    • The TV Channels
    Programmes are commissioned with a transmission window in mind.

    The channels compile the schedules based on contracted deliveries. This is usually done season by season. Once a season has been scheduled, it is continuously refined until each individual week goes to press - 10 days in advance of the transmission.

    For certain topical programmes, the producer and the channel will agree transmission and hence delivery details directly, without involving the genres e.g Crimewatch. Where this is procedure being adopted, it must be agreed in advance by each area.

    The TV Delivery Unit
    The TV delivery Unit has two functions:
  • The management of almost all independent deliveries (see exceptions below*). Independents deliver the master tape and the transmission paperwork to the unit. The unit then arranges the transmission review and forwards the paperwork to the appropriate areas. If the tape doesn't pass its review the tapes goes back to the independent.
  • Delivery tracking - checking whether individual programmes deliver when they are contracted to.

    • * BBC Drama and CBBC manages delivery of independents in these areas and some stranded indies deliver to the in-house department managing the strand.

    Post Production
    There is a requirement that all pre-recorded programmes be technically reviewed.
    Post Production performs the reviews, and provided the programme passes, it takes ownership of the media, makes copies for access services and, unless it is required for transmission within 2/3 days, it is put into short term storage.

    Post Production are provided with schedule details about 10- 15 days in advance of transmission. They then start getting tapes ready for playout. Tapes are sent to the playout area 2/3 days in advance of transmission.

    Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcas)t
    Two days in advance of the transmission day all programmes already delivered are sent to the playout area. Subsequent deliveries are sent to the playout area as soon as they are received and have been technically reviewed. For live programme there will be a live feed from an outside broadcast unit or studio.

    When programmes are sent to the playout area they are put on broadcast servers - ingested. The programmes are then played out from these servers. In addition to playout, Red Bee Media also carries out the following functions:
  • Access services - subtitling, signing and audio description
  • Disaster recovery procedures whereby all programmes are electronically sent to a backup playout centre.


    • Marketing, Communications (MC&A)
    Although MC&A are not in the delivery chain, timely delivery is important to them for two reasons:
  • MC&A's strategy is to select a relatively small number of programmes- about 50 series/events annually - and to promote them heavily. Programme highlights are looked at across a year and the selection for promotion is based not only on how important that programme is but also how it relates, in terms of planned transmission timing, to other programme priorities (lots of the programmes selected for promotion will still be in production). For example a programme may be promotable so long as it delivers and transmits within its initially agreed window, but if delivery, and hence transmission, were to slip, say, a month then it may no longer be promotable because promotion effort may be allocated to other programmes.
  • In order to cut trails MC&A need access to programme material, preferably the final programme. Unless delivery is sufficiently in advance of transmission there will not be enough time to make the trails.


    Creative Services - Part of Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcast)
    Create and produce all the promotional campaigns for programmes on the BBC's public service and commercial television channels, with their work extending across all media: television, radio, online and print.

    Media Planning - Part of MC & A
    Manage and schedule the BBC's interstitial material across all BBC media to make the most effective and efficient use of promotional airtime. Detailed planning of schedules from pre-Press right up to transmission. Process all billings and transmission forms.

    Access Services - Part of Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcast)
    Subtitling, signing and audio description of programmes

    Playout Planning - Part of Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcast)
    Co-ordinate the data for all programmes for all the BBC's channels from publication right up to transmission. Process all billings and transmission forms.

    TV Planning & Scheduling
    Plan and schedule all non-CBBC programmes on BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBC CHOICE and BBC FOUR.

    Music Reporting Unit (MRU)
    The central facility for collecting and processing the music details to the copyright societies - who then distribute royalties to their members.

    CBBC Scheduling & Channel Management
    Plan and schedule CBEEBIES, the CBBC Channel and CBBC services on BBC ONE and BBC TWO

    CBBC On-air
    Responsible for the running of the CBBC Channel, CBEEBIES and all Children's programmes on BBC ONE and BBC TWO including making all wrap-around material.

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