BBC NI and BBC Factual Hot House scheme to develop local indie sector
Date Posted: January 13, 2023
Five Northern Ireland-based independent production companies have been chosen by BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Factual to take part in a new ‘Hot House’ development initiative, with support from Northern Ireland Screen.
The five-month Hot House development scheme aims to provide local indies with the advice, support and tools to help them compete for BBC network factual commissions and BBC NI/ BBC network co-commissions.
The scheme is about growing network production capacity and helping locally-based indies to succeed – with all of the benefits this will provide, including for the creative economy in Northern Ireland.
The companies involved were chosen through a competitive selection process. It attracted considerable interest and builds on joint work between the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen.
Alleycats Films, Below The Radar, DoubleBand Films, Stellify Media and Walk On Air Films have been confirmed as participants on this pilot phase of the Hot House scheme.
Each of these independent production companies will receive £50,000 development funding from the BBC. They will also be able to apply for match-funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
Hot House scheme participants will be invited to present their network television proposals at the end of their five month development period.
Successful proposals will result in a tv series commission at a minimum of three, hour-long episodes at the full network tariff.
Any company that doesn’t secure a network co-commission will still be guaranteed a series commission for one of their development proposals, to be broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland television, with involvement from a network television commissioner.
Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning BBC Northern Ireland says: “We’ve had some great successes with network co-commissions in recent years, thanks to the talent of the local independent sector here. This series development scheme is a great opportunity for us to build on these recent successes, support the Northern Ireland creative industry and to bring local stories to audiences across the UK through network broadcasts. It will also enable Northern Ireland indies to deepen their relationships with network commissioning leads and gain some valuable insights from them. It’s great to have the encouragement and support of BBC network colleagues and Northern Ireland Screen and for us to be working together in this way to develop and showcase locally-based talent and programme-makers.’’
Kate Phillips, Director of Unscripted, BBC, says: “I’ve seen first hand the brilliant talent there is in Northern Ireland so I’m really pleased to be working with Eddie and the BBC NI team on this exciting initiative which will help bring a richer breadth of stories to audiences across the UK and provide further opportunities to grow and develop talent.”
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen comments: “The success of the screen industry in Northern Ireland is underpinned by partnership, and we are proud of this latest development initiative from our longstanding partnership with BBC. Local factual and entertainment production companies are a vital part of our screen industry, and the Hot House initiative in partnership with BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Factual will support further creativity, innovation, and growth.”
The Hot House development initiative is hoped to be an additional way of generating co-commissioned projects with BBC network and BBC NI will continue to support other network projects pitched by independent production companies outside of the scheme.
