COMMISSIONING BRIEF
Commissioning Editor - Bill Malone
Executive Producer - Justin Healy
UPDATED: Monday 30th April 2012
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING
RTÉ One is continuing to grow audiences in an increasingly challenging and competitive environment.
Fundamentally the challenge the channel faces is to continue to serve and provide engaging, relevant and entertaining content for our core audience who watch our output in such huge numbers, while looking to attract new, younger viewers, particularly in the 35 - 54 year old age groups.
Invariably, it is our mainstream, event programming that generates the most significant share of younger sub-demographic groups, such as 'The Late Late Show', 'Eurovision', and 'The Rose of Tralee'. 'Mrs Browns Boys' and 'Trivia' have also demonstrated the strong appeal of warm scripted comedy, in a familiar setting. But we must also seek to surprise our audiences with new, fresh programming. While major international formats such as 'The Voice of Ireland' will be on air in 2012, we are also looking to create and develop indigenous formats and ideas.
In general, we need to provide event programming that can retain and build on the significant audience share that has been achieved by RTÉ One despite strong multi-channel competition. In recent years we have seen programmes like 'Killinaskully', and 'Celebrity Bainisteoir', deliver large audiences with well crafted programmes which have responded to uniquely Irish appetites. At the same time we want to provide other programming that challenges RTÉ One audiences' expectations and surprises viewers with innovative propositions.
Where possible and relevant, proposals should seek out ways of tapping into the increasing online consumption of content and the use of social media. We want to see TV and online complementing each other and driving audiences across both platforms.
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ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING
No. of Episodes/Duration: 6 x 25 minutes
Transmission: RTÉ One - Friday 19.30
Budget: Max €93,000
RTÉ Television is seeking submissions through the E Commissioning process for coverage of the annual Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann.
This music event that takes place in August, organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, with participation from both established and young traditional musicians, from Ireland and from around the globe. It includes street performances, competitions and other official events.
The resulting series, Fleadh Cheoil, produced by Forefront Productions, has been broadcast successfully in the Friday 19.30 slot on RTÉ One for a number of years.
We are now seeking proposals from suitable production companies for continuing coverage of this important cultural event, beginning with the 2013 Fleadh. The series is 6 x 25', with a maximum budget of €93, 000.
Submissions should outline the approach to be taken, the experience and familiarity with traditional music that the production team and proposed on air talent have.
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system:
https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category RTÉ Entertainment "Fleadh Cheoil" The deadline for receipt of submission is Noon on Friday 25th May
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PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR THIS HAS NOW PASSED AND WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
FORMATS IN THE AREA OF FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT, LIFESTYLE AND ENTERTAINMENT
RTE is seeking ideas for new formats, to play as a series of four or more one-off broadcast pilots for both 25 min and 52 min. slots.
The intent is to find new home-grown ideas with export potential that can challenge the best of international formats - Masterchef, Secret Millionaire, Don't Tell the Bride.
RTÉ will part-finance the series for up to €25,000 per pilot depending on duration and nature of production.
To participate in this series, we are asking producers to bring the balance of finance to the table, including a letter of interest from an international distribution company. Projects which do not have a distribution partner in place at application stage will be taken into consideration but will be at a disadvantage.
Budgets should reflect the needs of the production and take into consideration the finance available. In the case of studio programmes, if necessary and desirable, RTÉ could consider augmenting or offsetting part of the budget with the provision of RTÉ facilities.
This series of pilots will be broadcast on RTÉ TWO this autumn in a peak-time slot. An online vote will be held to gauge the public level of support for each transmitted programme
The series of programmes would be run under the banner "TV Labs", which is a European Public Service Broadcaster scheme - and as part of this, the pilots could be available for broadcast in other European countries, who participate in the scheme. Details of same to be further discussed with the producer and international distributor on a case by case basis so as not to conflict with the international commercial exploitation of the programme.
Projects must be submitted through the standard Ecommissioning system, and ideas that do not come through this system will not be considered. While the pilots will be broadcast initially on RTÉ TWO, we are looking for ideas that have the potential to play in a variety of time-slots on RTÉ ONE and TWO, should they go to full series commission. Proposals from companies with a strong track record in the production of high quality formatted television will be prioritised."
The ideas submitted can range in terms of genre, tone and target audience - from mainstream entertainment shows, to edgier or more challenging programming, from, family orientated studio entertainment programmes such as quizzes, to contemporary lifestyle formats, and more sassy late night programmes.
Ideas will be assessed by a cross-genre Formats Commissioning group, with representatives from Lifestyle, RTÉ TWO and Entertainment.
A briefing session for independent producers will be held where this group will more fully outline the commissioning processes and the ambition for this series on Tuesday 27th March in the AR4 Room, in the main TV building, RTÉ, Donnybrook at 10am.
Deadline for submissions: 20th April 2012
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system:
https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category RTÉ Formats "Formats" The deadline for receipt of submission is close of business on Friday 20th April
Please post or email letters of interest from distributors to Gareth Williams in the IPU office (Gareth.williams@rte.ie) clearly marking them with the relevant e-commissioning number of the submitted proposal by the same deadline.
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ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING
RTÉ ONE Sunday 19:30 & 20:30
No. of Episodes/Duration: 6 x 25 minutes
Transmission: RTÉ ONE - Sunday 20:30
Budget: No set budget, but competitively priced projects will be favoured.
As with the earlier 18:30 slot, the focus for Sunday 19:30 and 20:30 is on family viewing. We are interested in proposals which can bring maintain strong heartlands audiences, but also bring an additional sparkle to early evening, which can grab floating viewers.
We seek proposals, either studio or EFP, for this highly competitive slot.
We are interested in competitively budgeted programmes that offer fresh takes on broad family friendly comic entertainment.
Well made Irish scripted comedy such as Killinaskully, Mattie and Val Falvey TD, has played historically in this slot heretofore, and we will also consider new scripted comedy proposals for this slot.
Appropriate budgetary allowance will be made for projects of this type. The BAI Sound & Vision Fund has supported a scripted comedy, and proposals that can attract additional funding of this type and from other sources, including co-production, will be favoured.
But we are also interested in more cost effective ways of serving this broad family audience, for example with block recordable studio programmes. We are exploring the option of quizzes at this time of day, and are interested in other options in this genre.
At this pre watershed time, proposals must be broadly based. Projects offering strong value for money will be favoured. Suggestions for presenter or presenters should be included in submissions.
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system:
https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category "Entertainment RTÉ One Sunday 19.30"
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ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING
RTÉ ONE Thursday 22:10
No. of Episodes/Duration: Varying durations
Transmission: RTÉ ONE Thursdays, 22:10
Budget: Up to a maximum of €75,000 per hour
In this slot we want to see the more youthful, surprising face of RTÉ One. We have seen the success of comedy, formats and formatted chat in this slot, in making a statement that changes preconceptions about RTÉ One. PJ Gallagher's comedy 'Meet Your Neighbours' is currently playing at this time.
We want to take the opportunity in this slot to bring greater variety and to try something different, to surprise and charm our audiences.
There are large numbers of people watching at this time of Thursday evening, and we want to offer them a compelling but escapist programming as the working week draws to a close.
Proposals ranging from formatted studio programmes, location factual entertainment, comedy or an entirely different format will be given consideration, but the tone and sensibility of each idea should be warm, lively and youthful.
Proposals can vary in episode duration from half hours to full hours, with budget proportionate to duration.
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system:
https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category "Entertainment Thursday 22.10"
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ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING
One-off and event TV
No. of Episodes/Duration: 1 or 2 x 52 minutes
Transmission: Mondays, 18:30 or 21:30
Budget: Up to a maximum of €120,000 per episode
We are looking for 'stand-out' one-off hour long (or longer shows) for Bank Holidays or as high points in the schedules. These 'special event' programmes must be bold, self contained and should aim to become talking points across the country. They should appeal to the widest possible audience.
We have seen the success of talent led list-based programming, and this is still an option. More innovative proposals will be considered, in particular ones with a strong entertainment bent, or ones tied to a particular anniversary. These could be based on self-contained events or involve music or comedy.
Strong ideas for one-off event programming for Christmas or New Year will be considered.
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system:
https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category "Entertainment One Off Event"
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Please note:
The discussion of, or initial interest in, a proposal does not represent a commitment to commission by RTÉ and should not be understood as such. Commissioning decisions will reflect the quality of proposals received and the scheduling priorities operating at the time. RTÉ's financial position will also be a factor.
Any proposals previously submitted to RTÉ in categories listed here, and which were rejected on a first reading in a previous Round, should not be re-submitted and will not be reconsidered.
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