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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Content, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scotland and Screen Scotland are seeking to co-fund the development of premium history series and or/singles from Scotland.

We are seeking ideas from production companies located in Scotland. They must be creatively distinctive with strong Scottish portrayal in terms of location and voices, with talent that will resonate with both a Network audience and an audience in Scotland.

The brief

Please focus the ideas you bring us around the following areas:

1. Boxset series

We want factual series that the audience can consume in multiple episodes on iPlayer. As well as broad-appeal subject matter, we need depth of story-telling detail. Tight character driven narratives, deep psychological examinations and new perspectives on iconic subjects drive successful ideas in this space – and each episode must leave audiences wanting more. Think about how the story arc unfolds so that a series can feel bingeable for viewers on iPlayer. Rise of the Nazis is a perfect example of this type of idea.

We’d love a boxset series with a Scottish story at its heart, and we are interested in retrospective storytelling from any era, whether modern or pre-20th Century. What are the big stories we can tell from Scottish history that will bring in a broad audience to iPlayer?

2. Single films

Single films can have a big impact on both iPlayer and linear, but they have to work hard to gain traction in a competitive viewing landscape. Ideas must have the ambition to be best-in-class, to grab media headlines or to create word of mouth buzz. They can’t risk getting lost in the crowd.

We’ve had success with singles that offer amazing access like the award-winning 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room, unearth unique archive such as Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen, or use new journalism such as How the Holocaust Began. From first pitch it was clear that each of these ideas was elevated by the promise of something exclusive.

Single films also offer a fantastic opportunity to introduce new presenters, such as historian James Bulgin in How the Holocaust Began. However, remember it’s the appeal of the subject-matter rather than the presenter which will initially bring the audience.

Which Scottish historians might have UK-wide impact? And which iconic Scottish subjects could be revisited with new journalism, unexpected archive or unparalleled access?

3. Landmark

We are actively looking for the next evolution in landmark programming. The recent series Union with David Olusoga examines the history of the whole UK over the last 500 years, exploring the bonds that unite us and the fractures that divide us. This series is a definitive new take on a subject that is hugely relevant and important to our lives across the UK now. We want ideas that have this level of ambition.

Yes/No: Inside The Indyref, was a great example of an insider account of a crucial moment in Scotland’s recent history, with superb access and behind the scenes revelation. Are there other stories from Scotland’s more recent past which might benefit from this type of approach?

Criteria

We are seeking ideas from production companies with a substantive base in Scotland, that employ talent based in Scotland and where the majority of the production spend is in Scotland.

This opportunity is open to qualifying independent producers and non-qualifying independent producers (as defined by Ofcom) and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Studios. Companies must meet the eligibility and spend criteria of .

The company should have a demonstrable track record in delivering this type of content, ie history productions or productions for similar genres such as documentaries, arts, science and religion, have a good understanding of the UK audience and how to reach viewers in a busy content market. We will also accept ideas from indies working together and we may also consider inviting companies to work together, where there is a good idea but a stronger track record is required.

Timeline, development funding and tariff

The deadline for ideas was Monday 11 December at 2pm.

We will provide development funding for ideas we would like to progress further, to facilitate the creation of a more detailed proposal.

Levels of funded development will be dependent on the requirements to work up the idea and will be co-funded by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and Screen Scotland.

We anticipate this stage of development to run between January to March 2024. Should any ideas be commissioned we would seek to confirm this by May 2024 with production and delivery by January 2025.

The indicative tariff range is within High cost factual, up to £300k per hour. We are also open to discussions around third party funding.

Further information

Successful companies will be required to enter into a development agreement with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and a separate agreement with Screen Scotland.

Screen Scotland is entitled to recoup development funding and receive a share of company’s net profits from the exploitation of any subsequent commission. Screen Scotland takes security in the development work in the form of a 10% share of IP which is reassigned to the company on repayment of the development funding.

Please submit a maximum of three top-line ideas to David Harron via Pitch along with:

• confirmation of Scottish substantive base including named Executive Producer
• confirmation of eligibility under Screen Scotland’s Broadcast Content Fund
• an outline of recent experience (in the past three years) of developing and delivering a history series to a UK public service broadcaster