We’re the home of exciting new journalism that examines the biggest topics and reflects the world of our audience. Compelling revelation has to be at the heart of all our content. To reach the broadest audiences we want to seek stories with storylines or contain elements that are unexpected and surprising.
How our content appears on iPlayer is a big priority for us and a key thing to think about when you bring us your ideas. Panorama is increasingly viewed on the platform and other titles across our output have also outperformed their terrestrial audience when viewed on-demand. Impact is vital. Really think about a programme title and main image that will maximise that impact and make it stand out on the platform. For example, Laura Kuenssberg: State of Chaos married a striking title with an image that gave a visual explanation of the content.
The other key element to a good idea is news impact. Because we are so closely aligned to Â鶹ԼÅÄ News we want you to bring us ideas which will also make headlines on Â鶹ԼÅÄ News platforms. That way we can use the power of Â鶹ԼÅÄ News to start conversations and boost the reach of your ideas. Liar: The Fake Grooming Scandal for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Three revealed details of the police investigation into the Eleanor Williams case for the first time, and content from the film also featured on Â鶹ԼÅÄ News bulletins and online pieces watched and read by over 10 million people.
Panorama
Panorama is the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s award-winning, flagship current affairs strand with a global reputation for revealing the truth about stories that matter, and an emphasis on challenging and ambitious investigative journalism.
We produce 39 half hour programmes a year and at least seven 60-minute specials.
We’re looking for journalistically ambitious films that deliver genuine revelation and can make an impact on Â鶹ԼÅÄ One, Â鶹ԼÅÄ iPlayer and the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s news outlets. The stories need to reflect and be relevant to a broad and diverse audience, with a wide-ranging and varied mix of topics, tones, formats and talent.
Ideas for Panorama should be pitched to Adam Grimley via PiCoS.
Other opportunities
As well as Panorama we have opportunities for a range of current affairs short series and singles on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Two and Three, which also need to work well on iPlayer. We're interested in:
Important stories
We want important new journalism, testimony or analysis that offers compelling narratives and fresh insights from talented programme makers. Recent examples are Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods, The Shamima Begum Story or Putin vs the West.
Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods from director Jamie Roberts tells the story of a unit on the Eastern Front of the conflict, using body-worn footage to present an intimate and shocking portrait of the war and the impact it is having on lives.
The Shamima Begum Story directed by Josh Baker offers detailed context alongside long-term access. Putin vs the West series two delivered by Norma Percy, Tim Stirzaker and team was timely, with privileged access allowing stories to be told with added insight. These were both particularly high performers on iPlayer because they had instant narrative appeal and clear propositions. Both also offered newslines which could be used to create impact on Â鶹ԼÅÄ News and beyond.
Access documentary series
We’d like to find privileged and unique access to major public institutions or commercial entities relevant to our way of living today that can also capture the imagination. Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State is a perfect example of that because it allowed the filmmakers to tell the real-life stories of our benefit system from the point of view of the customers, staff and decision-makers.
Short series and singles
We want to uncover and explore levels of complexity in the subjects and stories we tell. This could be by focusing on systemic or societal complexity or by engaging in a level of analysis which reveals stunning new layers of detail. For example, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Two’s Britain’s Housing Crisis: What Went Wrong collated the long history of housing policy across successive governments, with a pattern emerging that helped inform our understanding of the present.
For Â鶹ԼÅÄ Three our singles need to feel engaging to our 16-24 audience’s immediate world, bringing complexity through investigation, new insight and an interesting fresh approach to storytelling. For example, Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power broke a headline grabbing story using exclusive testimony. Liar: The Fake Grooming Scandal revealed for the first time details of an investigation into a thankfully rare crime, but one which shocked an entire town and left a 22 year old woman imprisoned for perjury. Andrew Tate: The Man Who Groomed the World? offered a deeper dive into an existing story, with Matt Shea’s ongoing investigation revealing new detail which kept the story moving forward.
Current affairs for all
We live in a constantly evolving news environment and we want our current affairs output to really engage all audiences of all ages and demographics and feel instantly accessible and appealing. This can be done through clever, clear concepts and talent with broad appeal. In Simon Reeve's Return to Cornwall Simon added depth and context to the news headlines by uncovering the human stories behind the cost of living crisis. Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370 took the latest science about aviation’s biggest modern mystery to chart a way forward in the search for answers for the families affected by MH370’s sudden disappearance. And Electric Cars: What They Really Mean for You drew big audiences, informing a national conversation that came to a head right at the point of transmission. All these programmes delivered audience numbers well above average.
What we aren’t currently interested in
- Content which is too historic. We only really have room for stories which touch on the past when it stills feel relevant to today’s news and policy agenda.
- Compendiums of information which is already in the public domain, for example a televisation of an existing investigation or a book, with no further fresh insight. No matter how beautifully told, we exist to broadcast new journalism.
- Soft features labelled as investigations, fronted by talent but without significant new information or headline-grabbing journalism at the heart.
- Live event television.
- Straight social affairs or access documentaries with predictable narratives. Without further design these are unlikely to have enough impact on iPlayer.
- Partial/campaigning ideas. Is the treatment you are writing truly acknowledging all the forces at play, even if you don’t agree with them?
Unscripted on iPlayer
Read about how we commission unscripted content in an iPlayer first-world, along with advice and further resources to maximise the impact of your programme on the platform.
-
Commissioning for iPlayer: find out more
Strategy and advice for maximising impact on the platform
Current affairs commissioners
-
Gian Quaglieni
Commissioning Editor (current affairs TV) -
Sarah Waldron
Executive Producer, This World -
Mark Harrison
Commissioning Executive -
Adam Grimley
Executive Producer, Panorama
How to send us your ideas
-
Our ideas submission system for established companies
-
Accessing PiCoS
Eligibility criteria, how to guides and contacts -
How we commission
Our processes, commitments and priorities -
Not an indie?
Grow your skills and career in television
Further advice and support
-
Named business leads
Business advice per genre for companies with ideas in play -
Indies outside London
Advice and commissioning leads for each Nation and region -
Small or new indies
Our tailored support packages and advice -
Diverse-led indies
Our investment, commitments and contacts
Explore the site
-
Briefs and contacts
Commissioners and ideas -
Supporting indies
How we commission and work -
Skills and training
Industry training and skills development