Commissioning: BBC as a whole

BBC as a whole network obviously has different channels which means for the commissioning that its different in this post I will try to give an overview of the general rule of commission at the BBC as its more compact I will then move on to speak about each channel and how they commission because they go through their own commission chart as it were.

How Does Commissioning work at the BBC?

Well commissioning at the BBC is obviously a large process as their Genre Commissioners who work under factual head commissioners and it gets bigger and bigger, so how does a company get there product commissioned, well that's just it one big driving force to get your idea at least looked at is that it has to be made by an independent production companies, meaning if you’re going solo it’s high chance you won’t get a look in, this is mainly due to networks being able to trust a company rather than a person as the companies would have evidence to show work and to have a possible in that is recognised more than some member of public who comes out of nowhere with an idea however there are ways for public ideas to be heard although it’s not through commissioning.

What do the BBC look for

The BBC works on a genre based commissioning system as well as a collaboration with a channel, meaning that if the genre is appropriate and works for the channel than its likely that it will be commissioned for example if your programme focuses on the French Revolution and you choose BBC three they don’t usually gel together.

So What Happens?

After submitting your proposal via online submission, it will then be looked at by the relevant genre and if approved the producer/Production company may ask to develop it further. Leading onto conversations with the channel and genre commissioner.

Commissioners both channel and genre will often usually twice a year look at programme performance and what the network needs which often informs what they commission. Feedback will then be given on the ideas that have been picked which range from how many of ideas coming in for that genre, the basis for the idea and the genre that’s been chosen.

Eventually a meeting with the commissioner will happen based on strength of the idea, this one on one will allow for the discuss of the idea with the commissioner aiming to get the best idea that can be achieved and will lead to a commission.