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

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

Background

At the BBC, Religion and Ethics covers its subject matter in the broadest sense. Our output should reflect the voices of as many faiths as possible, but Christian worship is still at the heart of our content.

Our programmes should address the big subjects of the day - encouraging debate and proper analysis amongst people with and without faith across the country.

From the warm heartland appeal of Songs of Praise, through the adventure of Extreme Pilgrim, to the context and ambition of the thought-provoking History of Christianity, all shows should have both depth and substance but be unafraid to view religion with a curious mind and from all angles.

Religion is part of all our lives and we want to tap into that in a relevant and meaningful way.

Development Priorities July – October 2010

Full details of our specific Development Priorities for Religion are available here.

• Break-out series
• Stand-out singles at 2235

• Big Religion
• Immersive journeys

• Authored series
• Singles

Multiplatform

• See the Knowledge Multiplatform Strategy

What's been working well?

The Big Questions
When at its best, this show offers the viewer a chance to explore subjects from a multifaith and multicultural perspective. We want more ideas in other formats that do this.

An Island Parish
This series continues to work well for a heartland BBC TWO audience.

A History of Christianity
Diarmaid Macculloch's ambitious BBC FOUR journey through the history of Christianity provides relevant context to the world of today.

The Audience

Religion and Ethics on BBC ONE is for a broadly mainstream audience and should mark out the major events in the religious calendar for all Britons.

On BBC TWO, Religion and Ethics programmes should feel diverse, challenge our audience and get them thinking. We want to bring a wide variety of audiences - from the confidently curious right through to those who wouldn't necessarily consider themselves interested in faith-based issues - to thinking content that feels like it speaks to them.

Religion and Ethics on BBC FOUR should be the home of well-formed opinion for an audience who is prepared to work a little harder.

Strands

Programme ideas can also be submitted to the editors of Religion strand: Songs of Praise.

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 19 July 2010