This year SPA Future Thinking were proud to be the research partner for The Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, running a study to understand the subject of commissioning and indie relations. Research findings and outputs can be found here http://www.spafuturethinking.com/geitf The results of our three surveys were revealed in two lively sessions at the Festival, How To Be A Better Indie and We Still Need to Talk About Commissioning. If you were lucky enough to attend the Festival then we hope you enjoyed these sessions; if not, then here's your chance to review the results in infographic format. We still need to talk about commissioning: Speaking to independent production companies about their views on getting work commissioned; from securing a meeting, to production, funding and terms of trade. Commissioner Survey: Understanding how commissioners work with independent production companies and how well the independent sector serves broadcasters. Freelancer Survey: Capturing freelancers’ experiences of working in the TV industry; including how they think the industry is changing and exactly what the current issues are. Here at SPA Future Thinking we work 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, effectiveness of broadcast sponsorship; to researching all forms of today’s media. For more information on SPA Future Thinking and its role in researching the broadcast and media industry please contact, Suzy Aronstam - Head of Media, Marcomms and Technology on +44 (0) 20 7843 9777

1. 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.
E: info@spafuturethinking.com T: +44(0)20 7843 9777
www.spafuturethinking.com innovation intelligence inspiration
THE WHOLE COMMISSIONING PROCESS
WE STILL NEED TO TALK
ABOUT 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