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Pitching programme ideas: TV commissioner's tips

What should TV producers keep in mind when pitching programmes to commissioners?

To get a programme on television, you first have to master the commissioning process and pitch to someone who’s in a position to give you the go-ahead.

β€œWhen it works it is absolutely the best feeling in the world,” says Lisa Hazlehurst, head of Lion Television, Scotland. β€œWhen it doesn’t work you really do have to pick yourself up.”

"The key to success is serendipity and something that punches your show above the noise – and that’s often the talent.”– Alan Tyler

In this podcast presenter Sally Magnusson speaks to TV commissioners about:

- what they’re looking for
- the best way to approach them
- what goes into a taster tape

Producers who win a commission should enjoy the moment, warns executive editor at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ entertainment commissioner Alan Tyler. As one producer explained to him, it’s β€œ30 seconds of ecstasy when you get the commission, followed by the horrible realisation that you now have to make the bloody thing".

The guests on this panel include Alan, Lisa, the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ commissioning editor for daytime and early peak Jo Street, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ commissioning editor for science and factual Craig Hunter and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland commissioning editor Ewan Angus.

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Available now

24 minutes

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