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We buy pre-made factual content that complements the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s original unscripted programming, adding impact to the factual offer across ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer as well as linear schedules.

We want engaging and high-quality programmes representing the best in global filmmaking, with unique access to subjects and a wide range of perspectives on the world that will resonate with audiences across the UK. Titles need to be authoritative but accessible, telling compelling stories and exploring wide ranging issues with flair and insight.

We work closely with the channel and iPlayer teams to ensure our programmes extend and enhance the commissioned slates, encouraging onwards exploration on iPlayer. We’ve had great success curating our content around wider ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ seasons and events.

Our current priorities

We are looking for ambitious limited and returning series that tell compelling and timely contemporary stories as well as some singles. They will offer exclusive or unusual access to well-known subjects and figures and be a strong draw for audiences to binge-watch on iPlayer. Subjects should appeal to a broad audience and not be too niche.

We are looking for a range of subjects and shapes including:

True crime: especially titles that provide a range of perspectives and unpack the social context of their time, like Secrets of the Chippendales Murders.

Access driven observational documentary series like Couples Therapy.

High profile and access driven narrative sport documentaries that bring us the drama and energy of the world’s greatest sporting stories like Muhammad Ali, Lance, Hoop Dreams or The Edge. Sport documentaries work brilliantly on iPlayer when they can complement a sporting event or season, such as The Phenomenon: Ronaldo which we curated around the World Cup.

History that takes a deep-dive into stories that resonate with our times – looking at significant events from a different perspective such as The Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry, Berlin 1945 and The Latest Secrets of The Hieroglyphs.

We’re also interested in history series that may appeal to newer and broader audiences and look inviting on iPlayer.

Single documentaries that tell us about communities or places across the UK like Organ Stops: Saving the King of Instruments or Gateways Grind: London’s Secret Lesbian Club.

Science that digs deep into a subject, reflecting excellence in the field like H2O The Molecule that Made Us, Into the Ice and The Blob: A Genius without a Brain.

Further considerations

Pre-buys

We may consider projects that are in production if we are able to meaningfully assess its potential by viewing a cut and if the funding is in place.

Rights and clearances

We will only consider programming that is fully cleared for broadcast in the UK, including the non-linear rights.

Presenter-led programming

We are happy to consider presenter-led programming that fits with our current priorities provided the presenters are already well known in the UK or bring a specific expertise to the subject.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ versions

We want all our films and programmes to reach as wide an audience as possible and regularly work with producers and filmmakers to create UK television versions of their programming.

Sending us your ideas

If you have programming that fits our requirements please register and submit via the .

Please note: this system is for completed and funded films and programmes only. We are unable to consider programming that does not meet this requirement and our current editorial priorities.

Projects seeking production funding from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ should refer to the main genre pages of this website and submit programme ideas through PiCoS to the relevant commissioning department.

We look for programming year-round so you can submit at any time. We receive a high number of submissions and carefully consider each one. We aim to give a prompt initial response to anyone who submits their project to us, but we cannot track programming submitted to individual ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ email addresses so please always submit via our factual acquisition submission system. 

Top image: H2O: The Molecule That Made Us. Passion Planet