RTÉ | Comedy, Music & Talent | Call for ideas & Change of Date

RTÉ COMEDY, TALENT DEVELOPMENT & MUSIC, UPDATED BRIEF FOR COMMISSIONING & CALL FOR IDEAS

This department is responsible for commissioning Comedy output for RTÉ ONE, RTÉ2, and Online. The secondary function of this department is to develop new and existing Presenting and Production Talent. This department also handles Music output on both channels, and on RTÉ's Digital platforms.

Head of Comedy, Talent Development & Music: Eddie Doyle

Executive Producer - Justin Healy

Updated – 29th January 2016

COMEDY

Making people laugh is an unusually Irish vocation. We have an extraordinary level of writing and performing talent, production and editorial skills, and Irish audiences have an unquestionable appetite for quality comedy. Comedy production is one of the most pure forms of creativity, and it requires taking bigger risks. But when these risks pay off, they can generate the biggest wins for RTÉ, such as channel defining content (Damo & Ivor, Mrs Browns Boys), new ways of reaching audiences, especially on-line (Republic of Telly, The Mario Rosenstock Show), strong youthful public service statements (Savage Eye, Irish Pictorial Weekly) and generate additional commercial revenue. We are now looking for proposals that can build on recent successes. Ideas that break new talent, or generate new opportunities for existing talent. Coherent development phases will be prioritized, as will pragmatic budgets and finance plans - including BAI and Co-production Opportunities (especially with the UK Comedy Industry). Projects that maximize RTÉ's cross-platform offering will be of particular interest.

So what are we looking for?

On RTÉ ONE Comedy output can build an emotional connection with mainstream audiences, helping to give the channel a lighter, contemporary feel, to augment the more heavyweight News, Current Affairs and Factual programmes. Proposals that can bring large audiences, but which also help reposition RTÉ ONE as a confident, modern brand at the heart of contemporary Irish life. Big talent, strong writing, confident warm tone and contemporary family appeal are key. We have had success on the recent past with a mix of big, broad family friendly comedy (Mrs Browns Boys, Killinaskully), topical and satirical comedy (Irish Pictorial Weekly, Mario Rosenstock Show), alongside some comedy formats and quirky comedy and comedy drama (Trivia, The Walshes). We are interested in finding and developing new projects in these spaces. RTÉ2 has refocused on the 15-34 audience, and the programmes commissioned in recent years, such as Damo & Ivor, and The Republic of Telly are at the core of the channel's brand. These are high quality Irish comedy statements, aimed definitively and unapologetically at this youthful audience. They stand out in the crowded multi-channel environment, and also respond to the increasingly multi-platform viewing habits of the young. We are interested in new scripted, formatted and talent-driven comedy for this audience, focusing on the core channel brand. On both channels, we are interested, on an ongoing basis, in comedy projects that can be co-produced by RTÉ and another broadcaster - following the financing model of projects like Mrs Browns Boys and The Walshes. In these cases, RTÉ partnered with the BBC to develop, produce and fund the projects.

This has influenced our overall comedy strategy, and one of our core ambitions is to act as a bridge and partner for Irish comedy talent, into larger marketplaces - primarily the UK. To that end, we are engaging proactively with a variety of potential partner broadcasters in the UK, and we now want to identify new projects (often in the scripted comedy territory) to co-develop. We are happy to discuss a variety of budgets and production timeframes, on a case-by-case basis. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis. Separately, on both channels, we are interested on an ongoing basis, in projects which provide an opportunity to innovate with new or existing talent (primarily comedy talent), for example placing a high profile individual in a new format or talent vehicle. As above, given that innovation is key to our plans, we are happy to discuss a variety of budgets and production timeframes, on a case-by-case basis. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis. Alongside this, we are interested in new Comedy, Music or Talent Development proposals for the next BAI Sound & Vision round, for RTE ONE or RTE2. These proposals should fits with the overall brief for each channel as outlined above.

Comedy animation projects for RTE ONE or RTE2 will be of particular interest. On all BAI projects, we are happy to discuss a variety of budgets and production timeframes, on a case-by-case basis.

We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system: Here under the programme category “Comedy Music & Talent - BAI" Deadline for submission of these BAI projects is 12 noon on Friday19th February 2016. (Strict deadline)

COMEDY PROGRAMMING ON RTÉ2

No. of Episodes: 6

Duration: 24 minutes

Transmission: RTÉ 2 - 22:00 and 22:30

Delivery: Autumn 2016

Budget: €60k per episode

We are interested in developing and commissioning new content in this area that can build on the success of Damo & Ivor, The Mario Rosenstock Show, The Hardy Bucks and The Republic of Telly, and which can be transmitted as a series in the Autumn of 2016. All slots are post-watershed and the focus is on targeting 15-34 year olds. Talkability, virality and real cut through with younger demos is a priority. We are interested in a variety of new comedy proposals that can fit these slots, and the channel's overall mission of nurturing and supporting new Irish talent and commissioning brave comedy that connects with 15-34 year olds. Comedy formats, talent based projects and scripted comedy is of interest, as are proposals that lend themselves to development phases and BAI or co-production funding. Budgets for this slot should be in the region of circa €60k and we are happy to consider proposals / funding models for scripted comedy programmes which might require extra funding.

We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system: Here under the programme category Comedy Music & Talent "RTÉ2 - Mondays" Deadline: 12 noon 26th February 2016 – Strict Deadline

MUSIC PROGRAMMING, RTÉ ONE, RTÉ2, RTÉ DIGITAL

We are interested in creative proposals for music programming, to augment our current output. Programmes like Other Voices on RTÉ2 and The Imelda May Show, Fleadh Cheoil, and The Transatlantic Sessions on RTÉ ONE have delivered mainstream audiences. Proposals for low cost or fully funded music programming (perhaps with a commercial sponsor on board) will be of interest, as will proposals which have a digital component. Music-based proposals that can draw a significant audience, or make an on-brand, noisy statement for the target audience on either channel will be of interest for the Contestable Slots on RTÉ ONE and RTÉ2. Projects that can potentially secure BAI funding, or co-production finance are also of interest.

We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system: Here under the programme category Comedy Music & Talent "Music"