ITV opens applications for regional development fund
ITV has announced a new nations-and-regions development initiative called Amplify: The Regions, which will see five regional indies receive £5k development funding.
Independent production companies based wholly in the regions (in each of the UK’s nations), and not part of a larger corporate group, are encouraged to apply.
Five companies will then be chosen who will each be matched with a genre commissioner at ITV, receive a brief and then take part in a pitch.
As part of the initiative, each chosen company will be given £5,000 to develop any potential ideas. If the ideas are greenlit, they will then go through the standard ITV commissioning process. If ideas are not right for ITV then the production companies are free to pitch their ideas to others.
Kevin Lygo, MD, media & entertainment ITV, said: “For both linear and ITVX, ideas can and absolutely do often come from the nations and regions. ITV wants ideas from the regions, about the regions and produced by the regions in the regions. Which is why we’re excited today to be launching a brand new development initiative specifically for regional indies - Amplify: The Regions.”
ITV spends more on programme-making (including regional news) outside London than Channel 4 and Channel 5 combined.
Recent regional drama commissions include Lenny Henry’s Three Little Birds made in Birmingham and new Martin Clunes thriller, Out There, currently shooting in Wales in association with Creative Wales.
Regional factual content includes Social Media Murders from CrackIt North and for entertainment, Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours which is a co-production between Two Four in Plymouth and Big Productions.
A new regional commission for factual was also announced this week. Tik Tok: Murders Gone Viral is produced by Nine Lives from Greater Manchester and Birmingham.
Also on The Knowledge
Disney+ launches NI development fund
Disney+ UK has partnered with Northern Ireland (NI) Screen to establish a development fund for NI indies to source a female-skewing single doc.
MPs call for targeted film and TV tax support
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has written to the chancellor, urging the Government not to be “complacent” when it comes to targeted tax support for the production of film and high-end television.
British TV exports reach record-breaking high
Sales of British TV shows hit a record-breaking high of £1.853 billion in 2022-23, a 22% increase on the previous year.
Grierson Trust announces winners of Documentary Awards 2023
The Grierson Trust has announced the winners of the 2023 British Documentary Awards in association with All3Media.
Banijay buys National Treasure outfit The Forge
Banijay has continued its UK scripted expansion by acquiring National Treasure and Help indie The Forge.
BFI launches Creative Challenge Fund
The BFI has launched its new National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund, seeking applications from UK screen organisations and production companies to create and run targeted project development labs for features or immersive projects.