Drama Commissioning
Submission Process and Timeline
Published: Wednesday, 23 April 2008, 12:23PM
We operate a rolling commissioning system so we’ll look at scripts and treatments as and when they’re delivered, however there are three key points in the year when we focus on commissioning returning series.
ITV1 PEAK-TIME REQUIREMENTS 2009: DRAMA
Spring/summer 2009 (April-August) Commissioning Period
2100 60' Series (15-20 hours) May-July 2008
Sunday 2100 120' or 90' films (max of three) May-July 2008
Autumn 2009 (September-December) Commissioning Period
2100 60' series (15-20 hours) August-November 2008
Sunday 2100 120' or 90' films (max of four) August-November 2008
Christmas 120' or 90' films (max of two) November 2008
• We commission from both in-house suppliers, ITV Productions and the independent sector and have expanded our supply base to include suppliers who are new to ITV drama. We will commission the best ideas wherever they come from and are keen to nurture newer independent companies as well as the more experienced suppliers.
• To reiterate, all submissions will be acknowledged and we aim to provide a response within 6-8 weeks. Please note that we do not read or accept unsolicited material, i.e. it has to be submitted via a production company either an independent or one of the ITV in house departments.
Tariffs
• We commission across all price brackets, however our priority is affordable returning series.
• Cost is a huge factor for us. We want to ensure we can offer as much diverse drama across the year and not just in the autumn and winter. But, affordability is inevitably a big issue and rather than ‘salami slicing’ all budgets, we would encourage ideas for series that are attractively priced to allow us to afford the classic adaptations and higher cost contemporary events. So, competitively priced, returning series is a key priority going forward.
• We encourage suppliers to test their ideas before bringing them to us and think about what’s missing from ITV. We’re not looking for replicas of shows that are already on screen. Think about the spirit of the channel, think about what’s missing from the drama slate and think about areas of difference from our competitors while always remembering we need to attract a mass audience. We want dramas that are intelligent but entertaining, that are celebratory and escapist, and that push the boundaries but don’t push the audience away. We want shows with spirit, shows that have clarity and a confidence to them, not necessarily ‘high concept’ but in a crowded viewing environment you have to be able to stand out from the crowd and if you can’t summarise an idea in one simple strap line then it’s probably not clear enough.
• We’ve lost some important series like LIFE BEGINS and WILLIAM AND MARY which offered warmth and heart in the relationship genres and FOOTBALLERS WIVES which added colour and importantly drew in a younger audience. But we have other titles coming through that aim to replace but not replicate these – our mantra is WHY NOW? Any series must be the 2008/9 iteration and not something that feels old fashioned (unless that’s the deliberate intention). And, they don’t all need to be high-concept as long as they’re clear concept.
Recently Transmitted Projects
Over the past 18 months we’ve commissioned some varied and eye-catching singles and event dramas. Following on from the success of our Jane Austen season, we had OLD CURIOSITY SHOP and ROOM WITH A VIEW – real quality highlights with stellar casts (Toby Jones, Zoe Wanamaker, Derek Jacobi, Tim Spall)– MY BOY JACK which brought Daniel Radcliffe to his first leading television role since Harry Potter along with Kim Cattrall playing his mum. We’re encouraging producers to widen the pool of actors on ITV 1 – as well as the much loved and familiar faces of David Jason, Martin Clunes, Caroline Quentin, we’ve brought in Max Beesley, Holly Aird and Stephen Fry to name but a few. Two other contemporary singles were the modern adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN by Jed Mercurio and the romantic comedy, CATWALK DOGS, written by Simon Nye. At the moment we are pretty well served for period drama and classic adaptations although always open to suggestions in this area, particularly if they move the genre on in some way (like Bleak House). Realistically, we will only ever be able to afford a couple of these high ticket pieces per year so it's probably best to focus on bold, contemporary original ideas and adaptations of contemporary novels.
We’re keen to bring new voices to ITV and to encourage a greater diversity of writing talent to work on our dramas.
There is great competition for the established names and we would love producers to bring on the exciting writers who are breaking through and really try and grow some new voices on ITV1.
Some examples of recent commissions on ITV1
THE FIXER
Written by Ben Richards and starring Andrew Buchan, Tamzin Outhwaite and Peter Mullan.
THE FIXER takes us on a journey through the different worlds that make up contemporary Britain. At its heart lies the theme of impunity – those members of the criminal and official establishment who think they are above the law. But it will also ask difficult questions about the shifting frontiers of morality.
HARLEY STREET
Written by Marston Bloom plus others and starring Paul Nicholls, Suranne Jones and Shaun Parkes.
An aspirational medical series set in a modern private practice.
LAW AND ORDER
Kudos Film and TV Ltd has teamed up with original series creator Dick Wolf to develop the Emmy award-winning drama for the UK.
Dick Wolf said: “As the brand continues to expand around the world, we could not ask for a better team than ITV and Kudos to help us bring a home grown version to the UK."
ITV2 and the importance of our multi-channels
• We’re pleased that there are now some opportunities for drama on the digital channels, primarily ITV2 which is the biggest digital channel in the UK, however these are limited. It’s unlikely that we’ll have a huge number of slots initially but the right piece at the right price is always worth pitching.
• Secret Diary of a Call Girl was the channel’s first original commission. A story of a 21st-century Moll Flanders (played by Billie Piper), an illuminating glimpse behind the scenes of the high-class sex trade. It is an insight into the secret life of an extraordinary young woman whose conventional family have no idea that she is leading a double life.
SUMMARY
To summarise; our focus is firmly on contemporary series for ITV1 but we’re still committed to our family feel-good shows and our heartland drama audience. We want to push that envelope, be bold, brave and innovative as well as loyal, honest and accessible. This is an exciting time for drama on ITV, but just how exciting is down to you.
