ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Factual acquisition

Bringing the best non-scripted international content to our audiences

Jo Lapping

Jo Lapping

Head of Factual Acquisition

We buy pre-made factual content that complements the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s original unscripted programming, adding impact to the factual offer across ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer as well as linear schedules.

We want engaging and high-quality programmes representing the best in global filmmaking, with unique access to subjects and a wide range of perspectives on the world that will resonate with audiences across the UK. Titles need to be authoritative but accessible, telling compelling stories and exploring wide ranging issues with flair and insight.

We work closely with the channel and iPlayer teams to ensure our programmes extend and enhance the commissioned slates, encouraging onwards exploration on iPlayer. We’ve had great success curating our content around wider ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ seasons and events.

Eva Longoria and Felina Santiago
Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico. Cable News Network

Our current priorities

We’re on the lookout for compelling unscripted programming that reflects the world we live in and connects with a wide range of audiences across ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ platforms. Our current priorities include:

True crime

We’re looking for impactful cultural cases that gripped society and reveal deeper truths about the world we live in. These might be stories that took place behind closed doors, where betrayal comes from those closest to us, or crimes that unfolded in the online space. We’re particularly interested in episodic series with a strong narrative engine and cultural resonance, and we’re open to foreign language programming.

Recent examples include 11 Minutes: America’s Deadliest Mass Shooting, Escaping Utopia, The Man Who Murdered His Family and Amityville: An Origin Story.

Factual entertainment

Bold, standout factual entertainment series featuring recognisable names, emotionally engaging stories, and subjects with built-in audience appeal. That includes celebrity-led titles with big names that resonate with UK audiences, as well as formats driven by compelling contributors in areas such as dating, reality, cars and motoring or high-stakes competitions. We’re also open to distinctive takes on popular subject areas like the paranormal, where story and drama are more central.

Recent examples include Couples Therapy, Hauntings, The Simple Life and Great House Revival.

A creepy farmhouse at night with red windows. Copyright MGM
Amityville: An Origin Story. MGM

Sport

We welcome authored sport documentaries with exclusive access telling the most exciting stories across world sport with high energy and drama. Stories from women’s sport are of particular interest and we’re open to both singles and series.

Recent examples include Tom Brady: Man in the Arena, Daley: Olympic Superstar and Stable: The Boxing Game.

History

Shows with distinctive takes on the past. We’re looking for stories with relevance today or programmes which shed new light on well-known historical events. We’re open to singles and series.

Recent examples include The Great American Buffalo, The Cambridgeshire Crucifixion and Vasa: The Ghost Ship.

Oscar Nilsson, Forensic Sculptor, sculpts a human head
Vasa: The Ghost Ship. Terranoa

Science

We’re interested in science programming that reflects excellence in the field and has something surprising or compelling at its heart - whether a new discovery, big idea or extraordinary natural phenomenon. We take both series and singles.

Recent examples include Rachel’s Farm, Hunt for the Oldest DNA and The Secret Genius of Plants.

UK stories

We want beautifully told stories from and about communities and places in the UK.

Recent examples include Cumbria’s Red Squirrels, The Hunt for Lady Olive and the German Submarine.

Diver Chris de Putron inspects the gun on underwater UC18
The Hunt for Lady Olive and the German Submarine. Peter Frankland

Further considerations

Pre-buys

We may consider projects that are in production if we are able to meaningfully assess its potential by viewing a cut and if the funding is in place.

Rights and clearances

We will only consider programming that is fully cleared for broadcast in the UK, including the non-linear rights.

Presenter-led programming

We are happy to consider presenter-led programming that fits with our current priorities provided the presenters are already well known in the UK or bring a specific expertise to the subject.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ versions

We want all our films and programmes to reach as wide an audience as possible and regularly work with producers and filmmakers to create UK television versions of their programming.

A female boxer in the ring with a medal
Stable: The Boxing Game. Stable Productions Limited

Sending us your ideas

If you have programming that fits our requirements please register and submit via the .

Please note: this system is for completed and funded films and programmes only. We are unable to consider programming that does not meet this requirement and our current editorial priorities.

Projects seeking production funding from the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ should refer to the main genre pages of this website and submit programme ideas through PiCoS to the relevant commissioning department.

We look for programming year-round so you can submit at any time. We receive a high number of submissions and carefully consider each one. We aim to give a prompt initial response to anyone who submits their project to us, but we cannot track programming submitted to individual ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ email addresses so please always submit via our factual acquisition submission system. 

 

Top image: Cumbria’s Red Squirrels. Copyright Terry Abraham

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