Our development priorities are updated for every commissioning round (last updated July 2009). We also include information on the commissioning team and process.

Factual Features and Formats now commissions all video content on all platforms including bbc.co.uk, mobiles and interactive 'red button' services as well as for television.

Background

Features and Formats are a key way to deliver volume for factual programming at the BBC.

The most important thing F&F can do is capture the attention of a busy modern audience.

Ideas should be able to deliver strong, simple answers to the following questions:

1. What's the title that will capture the audience's attention?
2. What is the billing for the show? What's it for and what will it achieve?
3. Who's in it and what do they bring to the table? Talent, whether known or not, is increasingly key to shaping strong propositions.

Development Priorities July 2009 - October 2009

Full details of our specific Development Priorities are available here.

• Pre-watershed 30' long running series
• Reputational mini series and one-offs

• Top end ideas at 21:00
• Big returnable formats
• Mid week features
• Event

Multiplatform

• 'Life tools'
• Exceptional 360s

What's been working well?

On BBC ONE, Rogue Traders' mixture of great entertainment and compelling factual content has returned to great effect with big, young audiences.

Famous, Rich and Homeless was a huge success with the BBC ONE audience and, though it was on our documentaries slate, showed the benefit of wrapping important contemporary issues in an entertaining format.

On BBC TWO, Grow Your Own Drugs is a great example of a distinct proposition, eye catching title and superb, fresh talent.

The Hairy Bikers continue to engage broad audiences of different ages with their inclusive charm and great food.

The Audience

The title, the billing and the talent should capture the attention of a busy modern audience. Propositions with a clear sense of what they can do for the audience are key.

Always entertaining and accessible, formats on ONE should change everyday lives for the better, giving people empowering ways to view life.

Formats on TWO should break new ground to appeal to broad audiences, whether it's bringing different perspectives to established subjects - or finding authentic but entertaining ways to explore otherwise complex areas.

Tariffs

Please read the full details regarding factual genre tariffs for independents.

Your Feedback

Your feedback about these development priorities is welcome here.

• As from April 2007, all proposals must now be submitted via our e-Commissioning system.
• This enables both in-house and independent producers to track their submissions online.
• Proposals will no longer be accepted via email.

Timeline

• All proposals are registered on a confidential database and independent suppliers receive an acknowledgement of their proposal within two weeks of receipt.

• The relevant Commissioning Editor will either reject or progress proposals within six weeks of receipt (four weeks from acknowledgement.)

• Proposals may be provided with funded development, in which case the timetable to commission will be subject to negotiation between the external supplier and the BBC and determined by the development contract.

• The final decision will be no later than 20 weeks of receipt of the proposal. A successful proposal will be given approval by the relevant Commissioning Editor.

• Projects may be held over in exceptional circumstances but only with the formal agreement of the supplier.

Queries

• At any point during this maximum 20 week period, an external supplier may write to the Commissioning Editor asking for a progress report and be guaranteed a response within 10 working days of receipt.

Page last updated 7 August 2009