New entertainment and debate series commissions being sought for the YouTube channels
The BBC is launching a digital Hot House development initiative this week, with support from Northern Ireland Screen. It is aimed at commissioning new series from Northern Ireland indies for its new discussion and entertainment YouTube channels.
The announcement was made at the Belfast Media Festival by Fiona Campbell, Director Factual, BBC Content and Eddie Doyle, Senior Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland.
The Digital Hot House initiative aims to help Northern Ireland-based independent production companies to move beyond single/one-off YouTube commissions into series commissions, including returnable formats.
The initiative will focus on two genres, with four companies selected to make entertainment content for the BBC’s new Showground (working title) YouTube channel and four companies to make content for the new Perspectives (w/t) YouTube channel, which is focused on showcasing perspectives and encouraging dialogue and debate for 16-24 audiences..
Once these companies have been selected, they will be provided with development funding and engage in ‘elevator-pitch’-style development conversations with BBC Network decision makers to help hone their ideas. They will then pitch their best ideas for potential co-commissions between Network and Nations.
Each of these eight companies will receive £10,000 development funding, funded by the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen in parallel, and they will receive additional training and mentoring support over the course of this Hot House period.
While commissions can not be guaranteed, the ambition is that the Digital Hot House initiative will result in at least one Showground (w/t) commission and one Perspectives (w/t) commission for YouTube.
The initiative will be launched with an online briefing session on Friday 13 November, with the invitation for submissions opening that same day. The deadline for submissions will be Friday 4 December. Further information will be made available on the BBC Northern Ireland Commissioning website from Friday 13 November.
The initiative will build on the previous Hot House television initiative. Originally launched in 2022, Hot House aimed to provide local indies with the advice, support and tools to help them compete for BBC network commissions and BBC NI/ BBC network co-commissions across factual, factual entertainment and daytime. Among the resulting commissions were Anna Haugh’s Big Irish Food Tour and The Big Deal With Steph McGovern.
Eddie Doyle, Senior Head of Content Commissioning, BBC NI, says: “This digital Hot House initiative is a great way for both new and established indies to bring fresh, creative ideas that appeal to younger and underserved audiences. We’re looking for proposals and talent that will cut through and make a real impact on audiences.”
Fiona Campbell, Director Factual, BBC Content, says: “Creating and building content on our YouTube channels is vital to us reaching younger audiences where they are. It’s an opportunity to bring vibrant new entertainment formats to life and develop engaging discussions that wouldn’t always be seen on other BBC platforms. This is a fantastic opportunity get advice and support from within the industry and to gain and grow real experience and expertise in making quality content for YouTube.”
Richard Williams, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Screen, says: “We are delighted to partner with the BBC once again on Hot House, building on the success of the original initiative, which since 2022 has helped Northern Ireland companies develop ideas that went on to secure network commissions. As audiences increasingly discover and consume content online, this new digital-focused Hot House initiative will provide local independent producers with the funding, support and industry connections needed to create ambitious, distinctive formats for digital platforms and younger audiences.”
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