Susan Lovell, Head of Local Television Commissioning, BBCNI
Our Aim for BBC Northern Ireland programmes
BBC Northern Ireland has a unique role in delivering the BBC’s public purposes in
Northern Ireland. Our aim is to create a range of local programming that deepens
our audiences’ relationship with our content.
Our vision is to create a refreshed and re-branded portfolio of high quality,
distinctive content reflecting life in NI, serving both existing and new audiences.
We want to commission programmes that are about this place: who we are, where
we’ve come from and where we’re going. We are looking for stories to thrill us, to
make us laugh, to make us weep, and to make us think.
More details on our Commissioning strategy are available here.
Landmark 1 Hour Documentaries
Creating memorable, important and significant programmes from and about Northern Ireland remains our top priority. We are looking for 10 x 60' films, using recognised film-making talent, to create content that can form part of BBC Northern Ireland's legacy. Recent commissions include Bloody Friday; Dig WW2 and Bomb Squad Men: The Long Walk.
Obs Docs NI
We are looking for set-piece series ideas that chart and document lives as they are
really lived in Northern Ireland. Hearth and home, congregation and community,
work and play: what are the stunning Obs Doc ideas that will provide a record of
our lives now?
Development priorities:
- We want to raise the quality threshold of Obs Docs – we are looking for setpiece series ideas that will define NI in 2013 and beyond
- Narrative, character and emotional arcs are essential, as is the sense that the audience will want to revisit these stories and characters over time
- We are keen for ideas that build on audience appetite for programmes that are genuinely revealing
- Accessible and entertaining character and format-led programmes. We are less interested in institutional Obs Docs where access is limited
True North
We are looking for a wide range of single docs to form part of our "True North" strand. These are designed to give our portfolio range and diversity – telling the
stories of contemporary Northern Ireland.
We have recently commissioned programmes featuring farmers, births/deaths and
marriages, Northern Ireland's interest in the Arab/Israeli conflict, plus a range of
intriguing docs from new directors.
We are particularly looking for extraordinary stories told by ordinary people. We
want a "son of" our original "Home Truths" strand. That made an impact on our
local audience because of the indigenous nature of the stories and their honesty: the
audience got a view of life in the North told by its people.
City of Culture
We have room for a 4 x 30' series as part of the Derry-Londonderry City of Culture
year. In addition to our arts and culture programming, we are interested in hearing
new ideas for bringing the North West to life on our screens. How might we refocus
to tell new stories? And who are our trusted guides?
We are also interested in City of Culture ideas that could attract the support of the
Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund.
Business & Entrepreneurship
BBCNI wants to commission a number of new programmes for 2013-14. To sit
alongside our enhanced arts and culture content in the year of Derry-Londonderry
City of Culture, we want to look at the world of business and entrepreneurship.
What are the true stories of Northern Ireland's business life? We have high
numbers of small businesses, yet we don't think of ourselves as particularly
entrepreneurial.
We are looking for one 4 x 30' observational series, and 2 x 30' documentaries.
What great characters or entrepreneurial endeavours can you bring to the audience?
Is there any hope amid the economic gloom?
BBC One and BBC Two
BBC Northern Ireland programmes opt out or time shift network programmes in order to complement the networked schedule. It is important that programme-makers understand the priorities of the network and you can read more about them here:
Head of Local Telelvision Commissioning
