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'Innovate within the mainstream', documentary makers are told

Source: The Guardian

Nov 06, 2009

Summary

Broadcasters want shows that enhance their reputations as well as their ratings, say commissioners

What sort of documentary do the commissioners for Britain's main broadcasters want to see on their channels? That was the question at the heart of a session at the Sheffield Documentary Festival today that was packed with independent producers eager to find out how and where best to pitch their film ideas to broadcasters.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the commissioners professed to be interested in programmes that would enhance their reputation as well as ratings. Channel Five's Chris Shaw was frank about the broadcaster's constrained budget. "As Channel Five moves into ever more populist and entertainment based schedules, the challenge in my areas is to keep providing shows that fit in that environment and rate as well as commissioned entertainment or acquired drama," he said.

He urged producers who wanted to get their shows on 5 to be "more creative about budgets, and also about co-production and co-financing".

ITV's Jo Clinton-Davis said programmes in the main 9pm slot

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