BBC Alba (BBC Craoladh nan Gaidheal)

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BBC Alba

BBC Craoladh nan Gàidheal offers services on radio, television and on-line.

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ALBA Commissioning Guidelines (61 Kb)

Cuairt Coimiseanaidh

BBC ALBA is a BBC licensed television service managed in partnership by MG ALBA and the BBC.

Winter Commissioning Round – 2009/10.
Deadline for programme ideas – January 8, 2010 at 1pm.
Deadline for MG ALBA/BBC partnership decisions – January 29, 2010.
Programme delivery will generally be for August 2010 onwards but may be earlier.
Submissions for the re-commissioning of existing programmes or series will be accepted.
Budgets could include a co-funding element, ideally not from a competing broadcaster.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW.
In general terms, BBC ALBA’s schedule has three key weekday slots:

8:30 pm – half hour programmes which attempt to cater especially for Gaelic-speaking communities and their interests
9:00 pm – hour-long programmes, both factual and entertainment aimed at a national audience (40 + demographic)
10:00 pm – half-hour programmes, mainly entertainment, aimed at a younger national audience.

This commissioning round will mainly deal with programming for these three key slots but also welcomes submissions for children’s programming and landmark programme proposals.

PROGRAMME IDEAS.
Submissions of programme ideas should state which programme they refer to in this round. They should include a brief creative summary , details of key talent behind and in front of camera and a budget . They should not exceed one A4 page per programme. The opportunity to develop these summaries may be given through interviews with applicants.

1.
The programme: Strong, compelling stories about contemporary Scottish society or international stories of interest to Scottish audiences.
First broadcast slot: Weekday, 9pm.
Format: Single documentaries or short series of 58-59 minutes duration each.
Audience: General, but especially women.
2.
The programme: Entertainment, music, lifestyle or factual entertainment.
First broadcast slot: Various.
Format: Series of 2 - 6 episodes of either 58-59 minutes or 29 minutes duration each.
Audience: Various – to be specified by the producer.

3.
The programme: Landmark, high concept programmes which aim to create a substantial popular and/or critical impact.
First broadcast slot: Various
Format: Single programmes, ideally at least 58 minutes, but shorter drama or short animation or experimental ideas will also be considered.
Audience: Various – to be specified by the producer.
4.
The programme: Programmes of special interest and value for the Gaelic-speaking communities, including children.
First broadcast slot: Various
Format: : Series of at least 5 episodes of 29 minutes duration.
Audience: Gaelic-speaking communities, including children.

Draft dates for further Commissioning Rounds.
The MG ALBA/BBC partnership envisages two further commissioning rounds during 2010.
Commissioning Round Summer – 2010.
Draft deadline for programme ideas – May 20, 2010 at 1pm.
Draft deadline for MG ALBA/BBC partnership decisions – June 18, 2010.
Commissioning Round Winter – 2010/11.
Draft deadline for programme ideas – January 5, 2011 at 1pm.
Draft deadline for MG ALBA/BBC partnership decisions – January 28, 2011.

Details of these commissioning rounds will be published closer to these draft dates.
The MG ALBA/BBC partnership will accept ‘time-perishable’ programme ideas at any time and endeavour to return commissioning decisions on them without undue delay.

Any questions on anything contained in this commissioning round should be addressed to Fiona Mackenzie, at fiona.mackenzie@mgalba.com

Page last updated 12 October, 2009.

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