Commissioning Process

Find out about our commissioning process and who makes the decisions.

Commissioning process

How to Submit a Proposal to UKTV

We've tried to make submitting your ideas to us as easy as possible. Simply send us an email with the idea attached. If approaching one of the Commissioning team directly then please always copy in submissions@uktv.co.uk to ensure that your proposal is logged and tracked. Our aim is to feedback within four weeks. Please note we do not accept proposals unless affiliated with or from an independent production company. You can search for production companies within your genre in the PACT directory. Please also take a look at our channel briefs as we don't commission across the whole network.

What happens after?

Development

Once you've pitched the original idea and worked it up with the Commissioning Editor, we may put the idea into paid development. This usually means submitting a more extensive treatment with additional research as well as budgeting and scheduling for a series. It can also involve taster tapes/ casting tapes through to full blown pilots. We have a fund specially set aside for development work which we can call upon instantly to make sure we never lose momentum on the best ideas.

Decision Process

Our decision making process involves a two tick system between the Commissioning department and the channel editorial team. We believe that this allows for creative debate and ensures that we're rigorous about commissioning the most exciting ideas.
Once we've agreed to proceed with the programme, our Production Management team will work with you to finalise the budget and schedule, and a member of our Business Affairs team will pick up with you to agree the rights position. The programme will then be discussed at the Finance Committee for cross departmental approval.

Pre-Greenlight Meeting

This meeting is an opportunity for us to focus on Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability within our programmes early on in the process. At the pre-greenlight meeting, the Commissioner and Production Executive for your project will explain how we can help you increase representation both in front of and behind the camera. It has been mandatory for all our Commissions to be Albert Certified since 2020. However as the UK TV industry moves away from carbon offsetting we need to discuss any opportunities to further de-carbonise your production and move closer towards a net zero future. We will also explore how to reflect sustainable behaviours and reflect climate change through planet placement references on-screen.

Greenlight

Once the programme is signed off, we'll ask you to fill out a Editorial Specification form. This will be used to form the basis of the Commissioning Agreement that will then be negotiated with a member of our Business and Legal Affairs team. We will then send out an official greenlight email.

Pre-Production Meeting

These are integral to each of our commissions and happen soon after the green light has been given. This is a large meeting with all of the departments from UKTV that you'll be working with and key members of the production team to discuss the project as well as schedules and deliverables required. They're informal and a good opportunity to meet face to face with our Marketing and Press teams as well as the channel itself.

Production

Throughout production you will work closely with the Commissioning Editor or Commissioning Executive who will be your main point of contact across UKTV. Our Marketing and Press departments will start to work on campaigns for the show and we will have a weekly internal commissioning routine with the channel teams and anyone involved in the project to update on how the project is going. Once you're in the edit, viewings from both the Commissioning Editor/ Executive and Compliance Manager will begin, and for a new series, Episode 1 will be also viewed by the Director of Commissioning before final sign off, and once the finished show is signed off our Delivery manager and Production Executives will coordinate delivery ready for transmission.

TX

When the programme is transmitting, we will update you on viewing figures, consolidated figures and performance on UKTV Play.