UTV Ireland will host a briefing session for independent production companies on Thursday 19 June, 2014 in Dublin to discuss the commissioning process for the new channel which goes on air on January 1, 2015.
Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television and Mary Curtis, Head of Channel, UTV Ireland will outline UTV Ireland’s programme requirements, commissioning process and Code of Practice at the briefing. Speaking about the upcoming event, Wilson said: “For more than 50 years UTV has commissioned innovative and popular programming for our audience in Northern Ireland and in the last five years alone we have worked with more than 20 independent production companies on regional productions. UTV Ireland now wishes to develop strong relationships with the independent sector in Ireland and bring further choice to the Irish market by commissioning high quality domestic programming across all genres.
“We have been delighted with the interest from the Irish independent production sector wanting to know what type of programmes will be shown on UTV Ireland and how they can work with UTV on new commissions. This briefing will answer those questions and many more as we embark on a new relationship with the Irish production community.”
Curtis also added: “We will be looking for independent commissions which will reflect the people and culture of the Irish audience UTV Ireland aims to serve. We are also seeking programming that will entertain and inform.”
Representatives from independent production companies must register their interest to attend the UTV Ireland briefing session by Tuesday, June 10 2014 by emailing commissioning@utv.ie. Attendance is limited to two representatives per company and UTV will confirm the venue and time directly to attendees. This event is to explain the commissioning process of UTV Ireland and to answer questions, it is not intended as an event to pitch ideas.
