What we are looking for in 2008?

• 8PM
  Tariff: Approx £50K per ep + AFP potential (6 – 10 x 60’)

  • Docusoaps work well at this time especially strong, precinct driven ones with inherent jeopardy and lots of storylines such as the acquisition Nothing To Declare and celebrity driven commissions like To The Manor Bowen.  We would like more of these but for celebrity docusoaps, names must suit Living and there still needs to be a strong narrative.
  • Fact ent formats work well here.  We are not a worthy channel so parachuting in experts is not the way to tackle factual subjects.  Series need to have a strong narrative and purpose, but they should be entertaining, witty and fun.
  • Celebrity Biography.  Our Exposed serieshas worked very well at 8pm.  Are there other celebrity formats that could work well here?

  9PM and 10PM

  Tariff: Approx £80K+ Per Ep (8 – 10 Eps)

  • Constructed Reality Shows.  With strong brands like Dirty Dancing and Britain’s Next Top Model, the bar is set very high and we are looking to commission less of these series in 08. We would still consider commissioning constructed reality shows, but the stakes need to be really high and the prize life-changing.
  • Fact Ent Formats.  We have commissioned Diet On The Dancefloor – a series that helps people lose weight through dance as it is an entertaining way into a serious subject and feels very Living.  What other subjects would benefit from a similar treatment?
  • Paranormal.  2008 has seen us take the core Living subject of paranormal and make it much darker and scarier.  Alongside Most Haunted and the Most Haunted Lives, we have commissioned Conversations With A Serial Killer which follows paranormal investigations into some of the world’s deadliest criminals.  This is an example of how we are continuing to experiment and take risks with this genre and we would welcome more ideas in this vein that are innovative and really push boundaries.
  • One offs.  Our Extreme strand is a fast turnaround doc strand that tackles subjects like weight and addiction through celebrities.  We can move very quickly for the right idea eg The Birth of The Spice Girls (which had access to the audition material and tied in with the tour) and these ideas should be zeitgeisty, guarantee ratings and have an approach that makes them intrinsically Living rather than a doc you might find elsewhere.

  Weekends

  Tariff: 200k+

  We’re looking for event programmes that stand out from the sea of multichannel catch-up (repeats) and brand extensions elsewhere. Most Haunted Live continues to perform well in this role, but what next? We are looking for programmes at the weekend that demand to be watched (such as Extreme Makeover: Jade’s Mum) and generate buzz off air.