Programme Commissioning Procedures

2010/2011 First Season Submission of programme proposal will be closed on

30 April, 2010

A. Programme Commissioning
B. Eligibility
C. Commissioning Funding
D. 2010 / 11 Topics for Commissioned Productions
E. Procedures of Commissioning
F. Enquiry

Download Forms

Download Application Form
Short-listed proposals must submit production budget in the format provided herein.
Download Drama Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Documentary Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Animation Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Agreement (for Single Episode / Mini Series)
Download Agreement (for Animation)

A. Programme Commissioning

Programme Commissioning is an open platform for independent producers to exhibit their creativity. By doing so, we aim to help building up Hong Kong's independent television programme production industry. Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) provides 100% funding in the form of equity and owns 100% copyright.

The types of programme RTHK will commission are:
i) Drama
ii) Documentary or Factual Programme
iii) Animation

B. Eligibility

In order to be considered eligible to apply to RTHK's Programme Commissioning, an applicant must be a company with major business activities related to film or television programme production or distribution and registered in Hong Kong. Such company does not hold any broadcast license and is not affiliated to any broadcasters.

C. Commissioning Funding

1. Single episode

-	Main theme of single episode will be decided by RTHK.
-	The duration of each episode will be 30-minute except animation which is 6-minute or 12-minute in length.
-	The programme shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.
-	No fixed production budget and its size will depend on production theme and merit. The selection criteria will consider if the production merits warrant such RTHK's investment.
-	The production budget for each episode of drama shall be no more than HK$300,000. For documentary shall be HK$180,000.
-	The production budget for each episode of 6-minute and 12-minute animation shall be no more than HK$75,000 and HK$150,000 respectively.

2. Mini-Series

-	Topic may be provided by RTHK or proposed by applicant.
-	Free topic is allowed to attract new programme ideas or innovative programme format.
-	Each series will consist of no less than 5 episodes of the same theme and each with a duration of 30 minutes.
-	The series shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.
-	Production budget and its size will depend on production theme and merit but will be no more than HK$1.3 million. The selection criteria will consider if the production merits warrant such RTHK's investment.

D. 2010 / 11 Topics for Commissioned Productions

We are now inviting proposals on:
1) 30-minute Single Episode Drama

Topic:		The Frivoious Years
Content:		How do the youths illustrate their lives? Some, full of ideals and passion, want to go the distance; Some, just reaching the age of independence, are confused and unsettled about their future. Is the world beautiful, or outright ugly? You'll know — only if you've got a taste of it. Now let's have the younger friends of the post-1980's and post-1990's leave their marks as greenhorns, And let's listen to the post-1920's, post-1930's…as well, as they offer those unforgettable memories of their twenties and thirties.
Requistion:	-	The programme must be themed on events experienced by youths aged between 20 and 30, and either the event or the case of the programme must be related to Hong Kong.
	-	The content may be Hongkongers' experience overseas, or foreigners' experience in Hong Kong; the protagonist(s) can be today's post-1980's youths, or the post-1920's in their younger days…their experience in those days should have significant impact on their own lives.
	-	The proposal may be a fact-bases adaptation or a pure fiction.
	-	Production budget: Not more than HK$300,000
	-	High-definition (HD) production.

2) 30-minute Single Episode Documentary

Topic and content:	The Frivoious Years
Requisition:	-	The programme must be themed on events experienced by youths aged between 20 and 30, and either the event or the case of the programme must be related to Hong Kong.
	-	The content may be Hongkongers' experience overseas, or foreigners' experience in Hong Kong; the protagonist(s) can be today's post-1980's youths, or the post-1920's in their younger days…their experience in those days should have significant impact on their own lives.
	-	The proposal must be fact-based.
	-	Production budget: Not more than HK$180,000.
	-	High-definition (HD) production.

3) Documentary/Factual Programme Mini Series

The Sea World series: Topics related to the sea world. The production shall consist of at least five 30-minute episodes centered on a single theme. Applicants may make reference to “Sea World Odyssey” and “Sea World Explorers”, our commissioned sea world series shown earlier.
Free topic: All topics are permissible. The production shall consist of at least five 30-minute episodes centered on a single theme. The creativity of the production shall prevail.

4) Animation

Free topic: Each episode shall be 6-minute or 12-minute in length.
Production budget: Not more than HK$75,000 for each 6-minute animation and not more than HK$150,000 for each 12-minute animation.

E. Procedures of Commissioning

1.	Submission of programme proposal is open all year round and evaluations take place in three sessions each year, with deadlines on 30th April (Friday), 30th June (Wednesday) and 30th September 2010 (Thursday) (for single episode dramas and documentaries, in case the respective number of episodes received has reached the quota in the first season, no more application will be received in the second season; application will be closed as the quota is met). The sought topics, programme formats and requirements, as well as the deadlines for application, are listed in the RTHK webpage ( http://www.rthk.org.hk/tvcommissioning ). Application forms, standard production budget forms and production budget guidelines are also available for download in the above-mentioned RTHK webpage.
2.	Applicants need to submit their application with programme idea and synopsis at this stage. Proposals received will be given a reference number, acknowledged and kept sealed until the deadline of each session.
3.	Proposals will be assessed on creativity, content originality, proposals' relevance to the theme and insights on the topic.
4.	For proposals that have been short-listed, producers will be given one month to submit detailed programme proposal which includes preliminary research report, programme concept, shooting locations, list of interviewees (for documentary) and lists of casting and full script (for drama or animation), etc.; production budget; full list of key production team members and their CV; production schedule; specification on technical aspect; copy of the company's business registration certificate.
5.	Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview. External members namely academics from universities' communications department, executive producer or producers from television or film industry, professionals related to the commissioning topics, may be invited to the assessment panel to assist in the evaluation. Assessment will be based on creativity, content originality, enhanced ideas to illustrate the theme, production feasibility, relevant expertise, track record, crew members' profile and experience, equipment and facilities support, suitability for prime time broadcast, budget and producer's performance during interview.
6.	All applicants will be notified of the results within three weeks after interview.

F. Enquiry

Documentary / Animation : docucomm@rthk.org.hk

Drama : dramacomm@rthk.org.hk