SPA Future Thinking is research partner for GEITF 2014 and works with a range of media clients utilising a range of bespoke research tools. Our knowledge of media and marcomms extends from brand proposition and development, campaign evaluation and effectiveness of broadcast sponsorship; to researching all forms of today’s media.

To find out more about our expertise in researching the broadcast and media industry please contact a member of our media team.

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THE WHOLE COMMISSIONING PROCESS

WE STILL NEED TO TALKABOUT COMMISSIONING

SPA Future Thinking gained feedback from 83 independent production companies who were given the opportunity to talk frankly about their views on getting work commissioned; from securing a meeting, to production, funding and terms of trade.

After last year’s survey and festival session, which prompted real changes at a number of broadcasters, GEITF and Broadcast returned to the subject of commissioning and indie relations.

81%

75%

77%

65%

72%

35%

71%

49%

53%

18%

52%

30%

37%

18%

36% 8%

Pitched and/or sent/discussed programme proposals with

Supplied

BBC, Channel 4 and ITV are the main

broadcaster indie’s have supplied this year

1998

63%Male

55%Aged 45+

77%Industry for

16 yrs+

51%CEO/MD

RESPONDENT PROFILE

ITV achieve the highest ratings for

being excellent to deal with over the whole

commissioning process

Scored 8 or more out of 10

Scored 5 or less out of 10

RATING OF BROADCASTERS YOU DEAL WITH ON WHOLE COMMISSIONING PROCESS

Concerns exist around the BBC commissioning

process with 44% believing it has become worse over the last 12

months

CHANGE IN COMMISSIONING PROCESS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Better

Worse

BROADCASTERS COULD MAKE LIFE EASIER

QUICKER RESPONSES, DECISIONS AND GETTING FEEDBACK COULD HELP REDUCE FRUSTRATION IN INDIES LIVES...

ITV - passion! Stop playing safe / second guessing.

Channel 4 - loosen up! Take proper risks

Clear answers, honest and

speedy feedback

LISTEN! And answer emails quicker. No isn’t a great answer, but at

least it’s an answer

Cheer up, trust us more, and think out of the box

By making it a collaborative process - not ‘them’ and ‘us’. We all want to find the next hit show

Let the commissioning editors do the commissioning rather than having to go to a

channel control

TO MEET OR NOT TO MEET, THAT IS THE QUESTION

% who have had a meeting unreasonably rescheduled by a Commissioning Executive

TWO THIRDS HAVE HAD A MEETING UNREASONABLY

RESCHEDULED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WITH THE BBC AND CHANNEL 4 THE MAIN OFFENDERS

69% 56% 19% 17% 8% 4% 4% 2%

33% 28% 16% 14% 25% 22% 20% 26%

% who rate broadcasters poorly for politeness and respectfulness in meetings (5 or less out of 10)

THE TROUBLE WITH PRODUCTION IS...2 IN 3 HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO START PRODUCTION ON A COMMISSION WITHOUT OFFICIAL SIGN OFF, OR HAVE OVERSPENT DUE TO NOT HAVING CLEAR EDITORIAL INSTRUCTIONS - CHANNEL 4 AND THE BBC ARE THE MAIN OFFENDERS

64% 67%

46% 46%

26% 14%

20% 14%

16% 14%

14% 5%

10% 7%

6% 0%

Encouraged to start production without official green light

Overspent due to unclear editorial instruction

SETTING APPROPRIATE BUDGETS

CHANNEL 4 IS THE TOP BROADCASTER FOR SETTING APPROPRIATE BUDGET LEVELS; WHILE CHANNEL 5 AND THE BBC SEEN AS THE WORST

Good

Bad

66% FEEL MUCH MORE THREATENED BY IN HOUSE PRODUCTION AT ITV THAN THEY DID A YEAR AGO

Less threatened

More threatened

66%

5%

40%

13%

36%

3%

26%

6%

18%

4%

9%

4%

6%

-

-

2%

FAIR DEAL OR RAW DEAL

WHEN IT COMES TO TERMS OF TRADING, WHO DO THE INDEPENDENT’S CONSIDER IS THE FAIREST TO DEAL WITH?

46%

24%

33%

13%

36%

13%

31%

14%

17%

49%

16%

20%

10%

26%

7%

53%

13%

44%

23%

27%

27%

39%

34%

19%

36%

18%

18%

16%

26%

15%

16%

3%

36% 30% 13% 2%

25%

41%

36% 25%

21% 11% 10% 6%

26% 45%

23%

38%

49% 55% 61% 58%

Whilst most broadcasters are

viewed as polite and respectful in meetings,

1 in 3 rate the BBC poorly