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23 November 2009
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Commissioning

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Multiplatform Commissioning Brief

Specifically - across Fiction, Knowledge & Entertainment - we’re looking to commission the following types of multiplatform content. More specific detail on the individual genre requirements for multiplatform content can be found in the relevant genre area. Background information on the types platform is available here .

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

Programmes

• 3-6 major multiplatform projects per genre tied in to a linear TV programme.
• These are large-scale complex productions and will likely use a variety of platforms. They should push creative boundaries and could include web, mobile, red button, short-form clips, games and/or anything else you can come up with!
• 10-15 mid-level projects per genre that expand or enhance a linear programme.
• These too could use any platform but at a lower level of investment.
• These projects should explore re-using existing formats or templates in a new way.

We're looking for real impact – think fewer, bigger, better. Programme related proposals should consider the personality and priorities of the channel. For example, BBC One proposals should be experiences that would engage a broad audience and have a sense of bringing people together; whereas BBC Three proposals can be more experimental, pushing boundaries and appealing to an audience that generally has far more experience with the web and interactive media.

Events

• 3-6 multiplatform ‘event’ projects per genre.
• These are time limited projects, delivering a real sense of excitement & occasion over the course of say a week, month, or a year.
• They may be a season, anniversary or something completely different (say a self-contained web only drama production that runs over the course of 2 months).
• They should reach beyond any one TV show to create new types of experiences for audiences.

Events offer an opportunity to think in a truly 360 degree way: The theme or idea should be the starting point, rather than the form or platform. We should be exploring all options (TV, radio, online – even physical, real world events) as our creative canvas.

24/7 Products

• We want to focus our portfolio on 10-15 major 24/7 products or services across BBC Vision.
• We already have some successful products within the current genre sites – such as the recipe finder – but we’re also looking for brand new ideas.
• 24/7 products should encourage habitual usage – things that the audience will come back to and use time and time again.
• All should be highly focused on user needs, built to evolve and consider the wider market.
• They should be conceived in such a way that they could potentially work across multiple platforms, ideally with any content made available via data feeds.
• These commissions will likely be for a long period (say a year or two) to reflect the level of investment and infrastructure required (with regular reviews of agreed success criteria).

Our top priority here is identifying successful products within the current genre sites and developing them further. In addition, we'd like to do beta trials of at least 2-3 completely new products this year – and are looking for strong ideas that really focus on user needs, distinctiveness and public value.

Directories

• bbc.co.uk contains a huge wealth of information, content, audio, video and much more - but it's not always easy to see the extent of what the BBC offers on a given subject at a glance.
• Directory pages will address that, by bringing together links from right across the BBC to make it easy for users to find all that we have on key topics, genres, people and places.

We're not going to be offering commissions in this area, but we would like to hear your thoughts on where you think the BBC can add most value in this way.

Other Specific Opportunities

• We want to invest in at least one major mobile innovation project this year, working directly with a high profile TV production team.
• We want to explore the possibilities around gaming in all genres, and are keen to talk to producers with strong ideas and an active interest in games opportunities.
• Does your show have the potential for original or additional short form content? We are looking to fund a small number of high profile programmes to develop such propositions.

And... If you've got an idea that doesn’t obviously fit this structure, just let us know!