Broadcast Behind the Screens

This week’s episode of Broadcast’s Commissioning Conversations features guests Emma Norton and Ed Guiney of Element Pictures as they discuss their adaptation of Sally Rooney's best-selling novel Normal People.

In Episode 5, UKTV’s Richard Watsham reveals his commissioning wishlist. Ahead of his Edinburgh Festival virtual Meet the Controller session Richard Watsham discusses his commissioning needs for UKTV, including comedy entertainment and eating (but not cooking) formats for Dave, archive for Gold and crime drama for Alibi and much more. Watsham also discusses how for UKTV there is less of a need for fast-turnaround Coronavirus programming on his channels.

Listen to this week’s episode of Commissioning Chats with our guest Diana Carter, Commissioning Editor and Head of Talent at A+E Networks, where we discuss the impact of the pandemic on the industry, what A+E look for in a pitch, advice for the community and more. 

Speaking to Alice Redman from the Commissioner Index, Rick Murray details how he gained the UK’s first commission from the US-based, mobile-only streaming platform that debuted this month.

Murray discusses the process of pitching to Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, as well as the commissioning team’s involvement once production began through to delivery, plus much more. 

Listen to episode 2 of Commissioning Chats with our guest Joe Mace, Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at ITV & ITV2, where we discuss what makes great primetime television, the effect coronavirus is having on scheduling, and how it's impacting working with talent. 

Listen to the first episode of Commissioning Chats with our guest David Royle, EVP and Chief Programming Officer at Smithsonian Channel, where we discuss the types of projects that lend themselves to quick-turnaround commissions in the time of coronavirus, changes in commissioning strategy and his advice for the production community. David has led the editorial and production team since the launch of Smithsonian Channel. He and his team are always on the lookout for unique programming.