5 Live is BBC Radio's home of continuous news and live sports coverage. We bring our audience major news stories and sports events as they happen, and we provide context through wide-ranging analysis and discussion.
5 Live is a live, 24/7 conversation with the world - designed to inform, entertain and involve. We have moved beyond simple 'interactivity', to a point where some of our most powerful and original content is driven by our listeners.
5 Live itself was an innovation in 1994 - and we value originality and surprise in our output. Innovative production, format, and talent ideas will be central to any successful commissioning pitch.
5 Live is committed to digital growth - and 'digital' goes far beyond simple web-pages or the ability to 'listen again'. We value ideas which will get people's attention whether they're using Facebook, YouTube, iTunes, or Sky.
Commissions
Most of our daily output is produced by BBC News and BBC Sport. Outside that, we commission these main types of programming:
Long-term strands or series
These are commissions which typically run in 'seasons' throughout the year. Current examples include 606, Fighting Talk and Formula 1. Details of any open commissioning rounds for such programmes will be published here.
Ad-hoc ideas throughout the year
These are relatively rare, and the budget we can dedicate to them is fairly small. But we value innovation and originality, and we have a flexible schedule which can respond quickly - so we are always keen to listen to ideas which fall outside the formal commissioning process detailed above.
In the first instance, you should contact the Commissioning Editor, jonathan.wall.01@bbc.co.uk. You may then be asked to come and pitch your idea in person. Any resulting commission would be on the Terms of Trade described below.
Timetable
The process of inviting and selecting tenders for production of 5 Live programmes will generally follow this timetable.
| Time |
Process |
| TX minus 14 weeks |
Notice of Tender and detailed Commissioning Brief issued. This will explain the process, make it clear who can pitch, provide clear guidance on a) the editorial, audience and price requirements b) how to write and submit proposals c) what the BBC expects the proposed price to reflect in terms of rights and any new media content and/or metadata. |
| TX minus 12 weeks |
Shortlist announced, and pitches invited |
| TX minus 10 weeks |
Decision announced, and feedback offered |
| Promptly thereafter |
conclusion of a programme production agreement on the Terms of Trade agreed with the independent production sector. Details of these (including information on underlying Rights, Health & Safety requirements and the BBC's complaints procedure) can be found on the Business Affairs website |
In some circumstances, we may run a small 'quick-fire' commissioning round, in reaction to an event, story, or late schedule change. This would follow the same structure, but would move at a faster pace, on a 'restricted supplier' basis (limited to independents who already produce for 5 Live). This would only apply for short-run or one-off commissions.
Contacts and links
Commissioning Editor, Jonathan Wall
020 8624 8948
jonathan.wall.01@bbc.co.uk
Network Manager, Paul Blakeley
020 8624 8945
paul.blakeley@bbc.co.uk
5 Live website: www.bbc.co.uk/5live
Page last updated 30 September 2009
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