Our development priorities are updated for every commissioning round (last updated July 2010). We also include information on the commissioning team and process.

Factual Features and Formats now commissions all video content on all platforms including bbc.co.uk, mobiles and interactive 'red button' services as well as for television.

Background

BBC THREE's factual output is unique - provocative and funny, entertaining and challenging. We look always for the stark and original, to engage a demanding audience whose attention is difficult to keep.

We're extremely proud of being the only digital channel that experiments with new forms and subjects, and often of bringing traditionally specialist factual subjects to a new audience. This year we've covered medical science, anthropology, food ethics and even natural history in a way that engages a broad young audience with the right tone and casting.

Development Priorities July – October 2010

Full details of our specific Development Priorities are available here.

• Striking pre-watershed programmes
• Impactful programmes at 2100
• Brave and experimental programmes for 2230

Multiplatform

• See the Knowledge Multiplatform Strategy

What's been working well?

Bizarre ER is a great example of how, with the right tone and pace, specialist factual can deliver big, fresh hits for broad young audiences on THREE.

World's Strictest Parents returned to great success with a format that delivers purposeful factual content about family dynamics in highly entertaining fashion. The breadth of casting ensures that the appeal of the programme is broad amongst an under 35 year old audience.

Autistic Superstars was a clever format that performed well at the heart of the highly successful Autism Season. Key here was that the formatting made the journey more meaningful and brought us closer to the predicaments of the contributors.

Blood, Sweat and Luxuries shows how important contemporary issues can deliver big audiences with brave formatting and super casting.

The Audience

Remember, THREE isn't a niche youth channel: we're committed to reaching a broad range of young adults from 16-34.

Factual on THREE continues to blaze a trail of originality and bravery for a broad young audience without ever losing sight of their cheeky, provocative view of the world.

Successful factual on THREE is often driven by compelling real-world questions and always, always deliver high entertainment values.

Tariffs

Please read the full details regarding factual genre tariffs for independents

Your Feedback

Your feedback about these development priorities is welcome here

• As from April 2007, all proposals must now be submitted via our e-Commissioning system.
• This enables both in-house and independent producers to track their submissions online.
• Proposals will no longer be accepted via email.

Timeline

• All proposals are registered on a confidential database and independent suppliers receive an acknowledgement of their proposal within two weeks of receipt.

• The relevant Commissioning Editor will either reject or progress proposals within six weeks of receipt (four weeks from acknowledgement.)

• Proposals may be provided with funded development, in which case the timetable to commission will be subject to negotiation between the external supplier and the BBC and determined by the development contract.

• The final decision will be no later than 20 weeks of receipt of the proposal. A successful proposal will be given approval by the relevant Commissioning Editor.

• Projects may be held over in exceptional circumstances but only with the formal agreement of the supplier.

Queries

• At any point during this maximum 20 week period, an external supplier may write to the Commissioning Editor asking for a progress report and be guaranteed a response within 10 working days of receipt.

Page last updated 21 July 2010