ITV's Regional Production Fund

What is the Regional Production Fund?

ITV's Regional Production Fund is a new initiative that will make £3million a year available to "new to network" producers. It will be dedicated to commissions from producers based outside London and for off-screen development and promotion of talent. The first commissions through the fund are expected to reach the screen in early 2006.

Who is it for?

The fund is open to any individual or production company that has not previously produced a network programme for ITV1. This includesindependent producers as well as "new to network" in-house producers.The fund is also open to producers who have made network programmes for channels other than ITV1.

What kind of programmes is ITV looking for?

ITV is open to programme ideas across any genre. As with all network commissioned programmes, ITV commissions o­n merit. The fund is likely to be used for programmes in daytime and off-peak slots. However, if the fund can be used for programmes that merit a peak time slot and budget,ITV will be happy to provide the appropriate slots. The idea of the fund is to find the best programmes from new producers to fund and nurture the best talent from around the UK.

How do I get involved?

ITV are hosting a series of roadshows during the summer, across the UK, for interested producers. Please see the itvrpf.itvbrand2010.com/roadshows.html Roadshows page for more information.

ITV will be inviting submissions during the second half of 2005, with a view to funding being available later in 2005, and the first commissions being broadcast in the first half of 2006. Please see the itvrpf.itvbrand2010.com/submissions.html Submissions page for more information.

How will the fund be allocated?

The majority of the fund will be spent o­n ITV1 commissions, predominantly in daytime and off-peak slots. In addition, part of the fund will be used to develop programme ideas, through non-broadcast pilots, extended proposals and treatments. The fund is being administered by Steven Andrew (Controller of Off-Peak) and Nick Thorogood (Editor, Daytime).

Why has it been set up?

The fund has been established following Ofcom's PSB Review. It is intended to give producers who have not previously been commissioned by ITV Network an opportunity to break into network production for ITV1. ITV hopes that this will tap into the UK's wealth of talent by dispersing commissioning more widely across the UK.

Submissions 

Please provide as much relevant information as possible, using the  following format to help us to assess your offering. Submissions MUST

be made by email to submissions@ITVRPF.com and must include the following information

presented in the following order:

• Subject Line: RPF Submission
• Your Name
• Your Company Name:
• Full Postal Address:
• Contact Telephone Number:
• Email Address:

Biography / Company / Personal: (Approx 200 words max)

Your “Pitch“: (Approx 500 words max)

Budget: (If known)

Please include any relevant attachments (limiting the file size to 1 Mb maximum)

Please ensure that you specifically answer the follow questions:

• Has your company ever produced an ITV1 network commission?   Yes or No
• Has the producer ever made an ITV1 network commission?   Yes or No
• Does this production qualify as a regional production, as defined by Ofcom?   Yes or No

All submissions will be acknowledged and the Fund Administrator will contact applicants within 8 weeks of receiving proposals. If the Fund administrators have any further questions or queries, they will contact you directly. If you have further questions, please email  info@itvrpf.com