Channel Information
Wanted: What the UK Digital Channels Want
Photo by rightee (CC BY 2.0)
At the Intelligent Factual Festival last week a number of commissioning execs outlined their channel brands and where they’ve still got gaps.
ITV3
Aimed at ABC1s aged 35+
Recently broadened its remit from repeating crime dramas from ITV1 – now doing themed weekends and stunts, focused on crime.
Martina Coles’ Lady Killers – crime author Martina Cole looks at female serial killers.
Matthew Kelly’s Forensic Casebook – exploring the early days of forensics.
Also commissioned a property series “we will show you people how are living a 1903s dream, and we will show you various properties you can buy for that”, said Emma Tennant.
Wanted:
Not commissioning for 2010 but are looking for programmes for 2011
ITV4
Male skewing aimed at men aged 24+, slightly more ABC1
Channel does a lot of premium sport, so likes programmes that complement that, to keep the male sports audience engaged – visceral fact ent.
Channel faces include Vinnie Jones and Andy McNab
Wanted:
Looking to commission for 10pm – and “soften the edges a bit, make it slightly more joint viewing in the 10 o’clock slot.”
Discovery Networks UK
60/40 male-skewed with media age of 35, aspiring to get ABC1s
Adventure and survival programmes very important
Machines also do well
Successful shows include: MythBusters, How’s Stuff Made and How do They Do It? and Rampage!
Mark Williams and Robert Llewellyn are distinctive faces and the personality at the front of a show is becoming more important.
Wanted:
Distinctive personalities who can be the face of the channel – recognisable faces.
Clever use of user generated content and archive – Dan Korn cited the example of Cheri Sundae’s Rampage! and showed a clip of Seoul in 1988 where a group of dissident Buddhist monks had barricaded themselves into their temple and were waging a pitched battle with police.
See also: What the UK Specialist Factual Commissioners Want and What the UK Factual Entertainment Commissioners Want
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