29 September 2015

S4C, BBC ALBA and TG4 are calling for fresh and distinctive ideas for a new lifestyle programme format, which can work for viewers across the three Celtic nations.

The Welsh, Irish and Scottish broadcasters are uniting to create an aspirational and entertaining programme or series format, with wide appeal, which can be easily adapted for audiences across the three nations and beyond. Working together they will help develop the format with a view to offer it for use on the wider market.

Programme makers are invited to submit proposals for programmes which are brave and bold and that a peak-time audience can truly engage with. The ideas should also touch the emotions in some way, be it through laughter, tears or surprise.

S4C's Entertainment Content Commissioner, Elen Rhys, explains; "I'm very excited at the prospect of this new collaboration and am thrilled to be working creatively with colleagues at BBC ALBA and TG4. Lifestyle programmes play a key role as part of a vibrant and appealing entertainment TV schedule, and as a genre it is one of the main areas which S4C aims to build on. This is a scheme which will benefit audiences across the three nations, as we bring fresh new content to the screen. It is also a golden opportunity for programme makers to develop their ideas into flexible and adaptable formats with the potential to grow and grow."

BBC ALBA's Channel Editor, Margaret Cameron adds; "We really hope programme makers in each of the countries come forward with ideas that challenge and excite us, we're ambitious for our sector and hope they will be equally ambitious in their pitches."

TG4's commissioning editor, Máire Ní Chonláin, says, "The Celts are a creative and imaginative race of people and with this union of Welsh, Scots and Irish broadcasters, we look forward to finding smash-hit entertaining ideas that will not only work on our channels but could in the future travel the world."

S4C, BBC ALBA and TG4 are inviting programme makers to submit ideas by midday Friday, 30 October, 2015, by emailing celticformats@s4c.cymru. The submissions should include a logline, format treatment, indication of proposed talent and of how the development funds would be used to produce a worthwhile pilot which can be used as a basis for a returnable series.

One idea will selected to receive the £15,000 development funding to create a pilot for delivery in early 2016.

Full information and details of how to submit your ideas are available here: http://www.s4c.cymru/cy/cynhyrchu/page/1517/newyddion/

Ends

Notes:

S4C is also calling for lively and ambitious ideas for Entertainment programmes in three specific areas: Saturday Night Entertainment Series; Loud and Exciting Community Series; Popular Satirical Series. Closing date for each idea submission range from 2 to 30 October. More details here: http://www.s4c.cymru/en/production/page/1669/an-invitation-for-entertainment-ideas-/

S4C

S4C is the only Welsh language television channel in the world. As a public service broadcaster, it commissions independent producers from across Wales to make the majority of its programmes. ITV Cymru Wales is also commissioned to produce programmes. BBC Cymru Wales provides around 10 hours of programming per week for S4C, including the news and daily soap Pobol y Cwm, funded out of the licence fee.

S4C broadcasts over 115 hours of programmes each week, including sport, drama, music, factual, entertainment and events, across a range of platforms, including online. S4C offers comprehensive services for children: Cyw for younger viewers, Stwnsh for older children and programmes for teenagers.

S4C works in partnership with other broadcasters and producers to develop new ideas for exciting and daring programmes to broadcast on the channel and for distribution to a wider audience. As well as this new venture, S4C work with Sony Pictures Television to develop entertainment formats which are distributed beyond Wales on the international market. The channel also co-operated with STV in Scotland and TV3 in Ireland to produce the quiz series Celwydd Noeth, the Welsh version of the series titles The Lie.

BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA, the Gaelic language channel, is run by MG ALBA in partnership with the BBC. MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig, the Gaelic Media Service. The remit of MG ALBA is to ensure that persons living in Scotland are provided with a wise and diverse range of high quality programmes in Gaelic. MG ALBA fulfils its remit principally through BBC ALBA, the Gaelic television and multi-media service which it operates in partnership with the BBC. MG ALBA and the BBC have entered into a collaboration agreement that sets out the terms on which the two organisations run BBC ALBA, and the resources they provide to the channel. The partnership is overseen by a Joint Management Board, chaired by the Chief Executive of MG ALBA. Find out more about MG ALBA and the partnership at www.mgalba.com

or visit www.bbcalba.co.uk

for scheduling and programme information.

TG4

TG4 is the national Irish language public service broadcaster, bringing Irish language programming content to audiences in Ireland on all platforms and worldwide on our player.

The channel’s programmes have achieved national recognition, prestigious prizes and awards at home and abroad.

Find out more about our programme and scheduling information on www.tg4.ie