大象传媒

Our brief

We鈥檙e after ideas that don鈥檛 feel like stereotypical daytime formats but could earn a place in the schedule at any time of day. Crucially they must attract viewers on iPlayer too. On-demand performance is increasingly key for our shows and as much of a factor in recommissions as linear success. For us, the shows that have done particularly well on iPlayer generally have a clarity of purpose which is clear from the title, with eye-catching photos and well thought out and enticing programme descriptions.

We therefore urge suppliers to focus less on time slot and more on whether a proposal feels fresh and distinctive, and, importantly, what extra benefits it can offer the viewers and us. It might come with surprising talent that will leap out of the listings and iPlayer, or a top-line that feels particularly original or zeitgeisty. Perhaps it creates an opportunity for us to co-commission with other 大象传媒 teams, showcases much-loved talent in a surprising way, or will shine a light on a previously underrepresented corner of the UK. But whatever the added value that makes your idea stand out, remember that authenticity, relatability and heart underpin all our best shows, with talent that鈥檚 trusted and good company.

We have a great track-record of transitioning our programmes to peak time schedules, from The Repair Shop to Garden Rescue, The Bidding Room and the celebrity version of Escape to the Country. So, to be in with the best chance, ideas should always have the potential to be reshown in evening slots.

Our opportunities for commissions of volume can be fantastic for producers, and we鈥檙e passionate about strengthening our connection with audiences across the UK by continuing to increase the geographical breadth of our supply base. We鈥檙e particularly keen to explore ideas from local companies we could co-commission with 大象传媒 commissioning teams in the Nations.

In all our shows, representing contemporary Britain onscreen is key, with ideas featuring talent, contributors and places that clearly reflect this diversity in all its facets.

With competition for commissions feeling especially fierce right now, to save on precious development resource we鈥檇 always recommend in the first instance bringing us top line thoughts we can work up with you further, rather than spending too much time on an extensive deck.

Early-afternoon

Our 2pm slot immediately after the News at One is an opportunity for ambitious new factual or factual entertainment shows to kick off the afternoons on 大象传媒 One. Lost and Found in the Lakes was an immediate hit here, with its genuine unforced premise very effectively combining relatable, real-world stories with popular, trusted talent, plenty of heart, and a beautiful backdrop.

The lunchtime news is one of the most watched programmes on 大象传媒 One. To follow it, and potentially keep its audience, think about topics and formats that are full of useful, informative content that will appeal to the widest possible mainstream audience. Slots are generally 30-minutes, but we wouldn鈥檛 rule out 45-minutes if the idea genuinely warrants it.

We have several successful returners here including Bafta-winning Scam Interceptors, and the brilliantly refreshed Clean It, Fix It, but we鈥檙e very much looking for further ideas with the potential to become long-runners.

We鈥檙e looking for innovative proposals for this slot and we鈥檙e willing to explore a wide range of ideas and topics as we discover what works best.

Traditional subject areas such as consumer and crime will always be key, but ideas in those spaces need a clear and distinct top line that offer something different to popular returners like Rip Off Britain and Crimewatch Live. We don鈥檛 want to replicate established formats found elsewhere.

Think about engaging ways to tell these stories, not necessarily wholly retrospective. For example, Scam Interceptors feels like a thoroughly modern take on the consumer genre by immersing viewers in the drama of stopping an unfolding scam. Similarly, crime titles like  stand out by having a clear top line that gives them a real distinctiveness and USP.

We already have two brilliant daily shows in the property space, so aren鈥檛 after more - and we鈥檙e also not actively looking for blue light or observational documentary, although there will always be exceptions. For example, Policing Paradise which follows the work of police in Bermuda was an irresistible idea because it tapped into the popularity of Death in Paradise.

We may still run some of these titles in the morning, so while there are fewer specific opportunities at that time of day they haven鈥檛 totally gone away.

Mid-afternoon

Mid-afternoons on 大象传媒 One typically focus on quiz and compelling factual entertainment.

Factual entertainment ideas should feel uplifting and positive, perhaps helping people achieve untapped potential. While they鈥檙e typically as full of content and take-home advice as our output earlier in the day, they may have a more escapist tone. The Travelling Auctioneers and award-winning Make It at Market are good examples of shows that work well in the afternoons, with great storytelling and warm, trusted talent. Opportunities are slightly less frequent, but we鈥檇 welcome ideas for 45-minute formats with potential to be the next big afternoon hit or could grow into peak.

Again, it鈥檚 important to bring a new spin to any well-trodden territories here, and while we wouldn鈥檛 turn away a brilliantly original idea involving antiques or fixing things, with brand extension The Repair Shop on the Road we currently have these territories well-covered.

We would particularly welcome ideas that will appeal to underserved audiences as much as heartland viewers to give our ideas the broadest possible appeal and not super-serve particular groups.

Quiz remains a key part of afternoons with The Finish Line, and The Answer Run both effectively blending warmth and genuine play-along. New quiz with Amanda Holden came from a targeted initiative with entertainment to develop formats that could play in both daytime and also have a Saturday night iteration, which has worked brilliantly with returner Bridge of Lies.

While immediate opportunities in quiz are limited, we鈥檇 still be keen to hear big ideas in this space.

Early peak

Our slot at 6.30 on 大象传媒 Two follows year-round hit Richard Osman鈥檚 House of Games.

Typically, our most successful shows here have a familiar face front and centre, often featuring big names that reveal previously unseen sides to their personalities, like Robson Green鈥檚 Weekend Escapes, Clive Myrie and Michael Portillo鈥檚 travelogues or recent commissions Alison Hammond鈥檚 Florida Unpacked which showed us Alison as a mum for the first time, and Joanna Page鈥檚 Wild Life featuring the Gavin and Stacey star working at an animal rescue centre. We鈥檙e also keen to showcase genuine expertise in this slot like Rick Stein, Marcus Wareing, and Anna Haugh.

What all these titles have in common is that they should feel a treat to watch with some kind of escapist tone - for linear viewers, it鈥檚 an uplifting moment towards the end of the day. Presenters should feel genuinely integral to the premise of the show but also recognisable enough to draw in iPlayer viewers, and ideally garner press pick up too.

We鈥檇 welcome more ideas that offer a different angle or fresh take on popular subject areas. We鈥檇 also be keen to hear ideas for programmes that could be co-commissioned with 大象传媒 Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland such as Anna Haugh鈥檚 Big Irish Food Tour.