ABC announces Factuals pitching intitiative

ABC has announced a new development initiative to create original factual formats.

The ABC Factual Format Initiative, in conjunction with The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), will award a $15,000 development agreement to a production company with the aim of producing a prime time factual format.

A pitching event, The FACTory, will be held at Federation Square’s Deakin Edge on 2 March during AIDC 2016.

Steve Bibb, ABC TV Head of Factual, says: “At the ABC, we’re serious about game-changing factual television. We want to help Australian producers create innovative and compelling factual formats that sell to the rest of the world. The ABC aims to be a catalyst for creative and financial success for Australian producers in factual storytelling.”

ABC Factual has launched this initiative to encourage independent Australian production companies to develop factual multi-part series with distinctive and innovative format beats with the potential to apply to foreign territories. Proposals to the ABC Factual Format Initiative must have the potential to be long running and returnable and to play in an 8.30pm time slot on the ABC. The preference is for one-hour proposals, but 30-minute proposals will also be considered.

All proposals must appeal to a broad audience, reflect contemporary Australia and be brave, genuine and ambitious in their proposition. Importantly, they must have something at stake and a compelling reason for viewers to care. Applicants should consider editorial approach and the use of technology to make their proposal distinctive. Importantly, the format must be that – a format. ABC Factual would like to see formatted series that spark national conversations while always having genuine documentary and public service sensibilities at their core.

Submissions are open until 19 February.