Broadcast Behind the Screens

This week Alice and Heather unpack the addition of brand new international commissioner profiles to the Commissioner Index. They discuss their findings during months of research, and why producers should start looking around the world for co-production opportunities. Later, they speak with Blue Ant Media Canada's Alison Barrat, SVP, Production and Development, and Sam Linton, VP, Head of Original Content about their opportunities for producers. 

This week's episode features special guests Zia Bales, Senior Manager of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Kids EMEA for WarnerMedia, and award-winning production company and  Commissioner Index subscriber, Icon Films. Icon's Head of Development Gemma Greene speaks to Heather Fallon about the last year and what's coming up for them in 2021, while Lizzie McDonald spoke to Zia Bales about her shopping list for Cartoon Network & Boomerang, plus her view on reboots. Alice Redman and Lizzie discuss their greenlights of the week, and give an exciting Commissioner Index update. 

This week we'll be taking a look at what's been happening in the world of commissioning, including BBC3's return to linear. Alice Redman speaks with Channel 5's Sebastian Cardwell about his wider remit. And, of course, we discuss our greenlights of the week.

In this week's episode, the third member of the Commissioner Index research team, Lizzie, joins Alice and Heather to unpack the latest commissioning news. Lizzie delivers the inside scoop on the Discovery Network's Magnolia channel, described by Discovery as "a warm cup of milk," which is now arriving in streaming form before it launches as a linear channel. Heather discusses YouTube's move towards diverse, unscripted original content, and why UK producers should be looking to YouTube for exciting opportunities. Alice brings Disney+ updates, including a move away from their reliance on existing IP for their new European slate. Alice also explains how the streamer's series Wandavision has been her gateway into the world of Marvel. All that, plus our 'Greenlight of the Week' segment is back.

Commissioner Index researchers Alice Redman and Heather Fallon break down all the new commissioning appointments that have happened across Channel 4 and Sky in the last few weeks. They also discuss our recent Commissioning Conversations Live event, featuring daytime commissioners from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. They analyse what the panel said about the pathway to peak, and why daytime is best-placed to sit on the channels' respective streaming services. All that and more on this week's Commissioning Conversations.  Subscribe to CI here. 

On this week's episode hosts Alice Redman & Heather Fallon discuss producing programmes for the highly prized 16-34 demographic, plus changes at E4 and what's on their TV radar, including Sex & the City reboot And Just Like That... This week they are joined by special guest Alan Clements, Managing Director of Two Rivers, who discusses their latest commissions and more. Subscribe to the Commissioner Index here. 

Episode 20 introduces a re-formatted Commissioning Conversations. Hosts and CI media researchers Alice Redman and Heather Fallon briefly break down a tumultuous year's commissioning updates, and share the programmes that got them through 2020.  Later, Alice speaks to Sara Gibbings, founder of production company Troy TV, an international outfit specializing in scripted, documentaries, factual entertainment, commercial and educational content. They catch up on how Troy navigated 2020, their big plans for 2021, and how CI assisted them along the way.  All that, plus Heather and Alice answer a subscriber question about forming relationships with commissioners. Subscribe to the Commissioner Index here.

In this special episode, Commissioner Index media researchers Alice Redman and Heather Fallon join their colleagues at our sister site Broadcast to discuss their latest report, Working with the New Streamers. The report provides an in-depth look at the commissioning strategies of the newest SVoD services – Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max and Peacock. They also talk about a few more of the upcoming streamers, Discovery+, Paramount+. The report also features a chapter detailing the commissioning strategy of Star – Disney+’s newest venture. The report is available to buy now at broadcastintel.com  Subscribe to the Commissioner Index here.

Alice Redman speaks to Channel 5 Commissioning Editor Denise Seneviratne in this week's episode. Seneviratne, whose genres include Factual, Specialist Factual and Factual Entertainment, unpacks the different path Channel 5 went down during lockdown, their focus on escapist programming, and highlights her current shopping list. She also discusses Viacom's diversity policies, how to pitch to her and the importance of looking at the entire Viacom portfolio when making the approach. All that, plus what Seneviratne has been watching recently.  Subscribe to the Commissioner Index here.

Speaking to Alice Redman, Collie Cousins unpacks UKTV's The Diplomat, its commissioning process, and how lockdown took the pressure off for the show's writers. Collie Cousins also discusses how a turbulent 2020 may change the types the of stories that people want to write and want to watch. All that, plus what she's looking for next, how to pitch to her and what's been her lockdown go-to boxset.  Subscribe to the Commissioner Index here.