±«Óãtv

±«Óãtv Arts

±«Óãtv Arts makes programmes about the culture and creativity that give meaning and pleasure to our lives. We make shows for everyone - from committed arts lovers, to the culturally curious, to people who might not feel ‘the arts’ is for them. At the heart of everything we make is richness and delight, detail and expertise and all our commissions are united by an ambition to tell cultural stories in an innovative way.

Together with you, we want to make arts programmes that create major impact and set the global standard. We’ll offer you our expert guidance and support from the first development meeting through to TX and after, leveraging the power of the whole ±«Óãtv portfolio of services to maximise the reach of your shows - whether it’s working with radio networks, News, online, press or social teams. ±«Óãtv Arts are experts in the power of partnerships and we work with more than 150 of the UK’s leading creative organisations, as well as co-production partners including PBS and Fremantle and ±«Óãtv commissioning teams in the Nations and regions to ensure our commissions have real impact.

Our approach

In a crowded, on-demand landscape, ±«Óãtv Arts shows need to be must-watch. So, we want to see something special or new in your idea from the first development meeting. What we are really after is strong narratives and confident editorial takes with a stylistic tone or approach that makes for essential viewing.

We don’t want surveys, anthologies or broad overviews. Similarly, merely having access or a ‘territory’ won’t be enough – ±«Óãtv Arts stories need to connect with viewers emotionally and intellectually, whether it’s a strong narrative about one person, compelling past-tense tales or stories unfolding in real time. 

Definitive and innovative

We want to champion innovative storytelling that excites audiences. For example, Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius told the definitive story of the life of the world’s greatest writer, blending rich drama with a glittering cast of interviewees. Our boxset Picasso: The Beauty and the Beast examined the artist fifty years after his death with an unvarnished perspective – through sound recordings of the women in his life along with unprecedented access to his archives, confidants and family.

Clear proposition

In a world of almost infinite choice, clarity of proposition is the only way to cut through and grab people’s attention in the schedules and on iPlayer. Really think about what that one-line sell is. David Harewood on Blackface was a polemical doc with singular, timely purpose. Coco Chanel: Unbuttoned told the complex life story of the designer – warts and all – with real visual flair and panache.

Key talent

From on-screen to off-screen, we want to work with the best. Exciting, unusual and engaging expert on-screen voices can bring new audiences to our programmes, so think carefully about who is the best person to tell your story. Off-screen, we work with directors with a track record for premium factual TV, who deliver fresh styles and tones, and have a passion for arts and classical music. We want to work with producers who reflect the richness and diverse experience of audiences across the UK.

Our current focus

Currently, we are focusing on three key areas:

Premium reputational series

We are after ambitious premium series, with or without presenters. They can be two, three or four episodes long but must be designed to be bingeable on iPlayer, where a strong ‘north star’ central idea and a compelling narrative ensures audiences keep coming back.

They need a contemporary tone and approach, laser-like clarity and a definitive take on their subject. We need these pieces to really stand out on the iPlayer rails and have major impact on linear channels.

We are particularly interested in:

• Historical subjects with contemporary resonance, linking our past with the present through artefacts, ideas or major cultural figures
• Inside stories of creative minds
• Unprecedented access combined with an unmissable story or revelatory take on the subject

Forthcoming projects include a definitive boxset on the dramatic life and cultural influence of Elizabeth Taylor, exec produced by Kim Kardashian and with privileged access to Taylor’s friends, family and colleagues. Mozart: Rise of a Genius will tell the stranger-than-fiction tale of the life and music of the world’s favourite composer. And a three-part boxset investigates the $86m rise and fall of art dealer .

Popular mainstream series

These are series that can return to win large audiences on both iPlayer and linear. Projects range from Hidden Treasures of the National Trust to a travelogue on the trail of Europe’s Grand Tourists of the 18th and 19th centuries - Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour. These both have a surface layer of pleasure and fun but also deeper threads of identity, discovery and cultural excellence at their heart. 

Single films

Whatever the subject, our singles need to be award-winning and noisy. We need big ambition here.

Arena is the home of our director-led singles – recent successes include Nick Broomfield’s The Stones and Brian Jones, Hannah Berryman’s Coco Chanel Unbuttoned, Michael Waldman’s The Mysterious Mr Lagerfeld and Claire Whalley and Hannah Lowes’ Caroline Aherne – Queen of Comedy.

We are particularly interested in:

• singles which bring big, untold stories of the cultural figures we thought we knew
• films which explore the space where science and the arts meet. For example, this could be about how we unleash and understand human creativity, the future of the creative industries and heritage, or perhaps art and music in a therapeutic setting. That said, we are not looking for projects around culture and AI right now.
• innovative, single documentary films on classical music that will reach a broad audience, enhancing our rich offer of year-round classical performances.

Unscripted on iPlayer

Read about how we commission unscripted content in an iPlayer first-world, along with advice and further resources to maximise the impact of your programme on the platform.

Who to contact

Mark Bell: first point of contact for singles across ±«Óãtv One and Two and landmark series.

Alistair Pegg: first point of contact for boxsets, formats and limited series on ±«Óãtv Two.

Stephen James-Yeoman: first point of contact for classical music ideas and Arts Digital.

Please note, pop music ideas should be pitched to the popular music commissioning team.