Â鶹Éç

Â鶹Éç Children’s is based in Salford and is home to the UK’s most popular kids brands. We are a multi-genre department, commissioning and acquiring bold and ambitious content for our portfolio of branded platforms. Our content spans drama, news, sport, factual, factual entertainment, comedy, animation and live action. We want to work with the best producers and the most inspiring talent, and pride ourselves on supporting a range of companies.

Watch a recording of our lastest briefing day

Working with Â鶹Éç Children's

We welcome pitches from any company that’s excited about producing content for kids, whether you've made children’s content before or not. Our experienced commissioning teams will be able to guide you through the various compliance steps and editorial policy considerations for a young audience. The most important thing is that you understand what is relevant and exciting to the age group you’re pitching for and watching our output to see what we’re already doing is a must. Please ensure you have read the relevant development briefs on the 0-6 page and 7-12 page to see what we are interested in making now before contacting us.

We consider projects from early stages for pre-buy acquisition and commissions, to completed projects for off the shelf acquisition. We also consider ideas that could appeal to the top end of the 4 to 6 audience, but also to the lower end of the 6 to 9 audience eg Andy and the Band. We are always looking at ways in which our slate money can go further and bring as much value as possible to the licence fee payer. We are open to looking at most co-funding and co-production models.

We rarely commission or acquire feature films or one-off specials, but if you have a unique idea specifically for young audiences then please do approach us. We do not consider content for teens, ie those over the age of 12.

We accept projects that are dubbed or not in English, but the pitch material must be in English and the audio/visual content subtitled. Please keep in mind that content needs to be relatable and accessible for our young UK audience.

How to send us ideas

Ideas must be formally submitted to us via the submission system PiCoS. However, please email the appropriate editorial lead before doing this so we can save you time. We would like to receive as much information as possible about the idea in the formal pitch, so dropping us a quick line about it on email first may avoid wasting your time if it doesn't fit our current needs. Our teams work closely together, so don’t worry if you're not sure who to send what idea to, we’ll make sure it gets to the right person.

If you are a UK independent production company that has had a commission in the last three years from a major broadcaster, you are eligible to submit project to us via PiCoS. Find the eligibility criteria for the system on the Using PiCoS page. Please note that we are unable to take submissions from members of the public not affiliated with a production company.

If you are an international company, distributor or a UK company not eligible for PiCoS (or unsure who is best to approach) please get in touch with Submissions Lead Desiree Peeters.

Please note:

You are free to submit your project to other broadcasters and platforms while under review at Â鶹Éç Children’s. You can withdraw and update your submission at any time. 

If we have rejected a project we do not accept re-submissions, and will only review a submission for a second time if you can prove the proposal has significantly changed.

Please see our for further details about how we commission. Please note this document it being updated and a new version will be published in due course.

Sending an acquisition proposal

Proposals from UK independent production companies should be submitted to Sarah Muller via PiCoS. International companies and those not eligible for a PiCoS account should email submissions to Desiree Peeters. 

In the first instance, your submission should include:

• A short outline of the concept. This should contain a clear explanation of the concept, character descriptions, locations and sample storylines along with visual materials.
• Proof of concept in the form of script(s).
• Test animation or an animatic is also useful when available, but we appreciate this can be costly.
• Please note that the Â鶹Éç email size limit is very small. If you are sending large or multiple attachments such as animatics, we advise exploring alternative file sending services such as WeTransfer or Dropbox. Due to the Â鶹Éç firewall we cannot access files through .ftp.

All these materials will help in our consideration, but it is the core idea and execution of that idea that we focus on when we review submissions. We do not judge a top-line submission any differently to one with extensive information such as a bible, scripts and an animatic.

Once your idea has been submitted and reviewed by the team you will be contacted regarding your submission. Please be aware that due to the high volume of submissions received it may take some time for us to get back to you.

Business support

Business advice and support for independent companies with ideas already in play can be discussed with Business Partner Jo Wheatcroft.

Diversity Lead Stefan Gibbons-Arif can be contacted for advice about our diversity commitments and diverse onscreen talent.

Please note, conversations about programme ideas or diversity within production teams should be directed to the commissioner.

Our diversity fund

To support our commitment to growing diversity within the broadcast industry we have a fund worth £300,000 per annum for projects that actively develop diverse off-screen talent.

The small indie fund

The small indie fund ring-fences £1million a year to back talented small independent production companies with turnovers of less than £10million, with a special focus on diverse-led companies and those based in the Nations and English regions.

Successful indies can access a range of benefits including tailored support packages to help them grow and commissioning mentors. Companies on the fund can also attend targeted masterclasses and have access to free training places at the National Film and Television School for their teams.

Ignite animation scheme

Our Ignite animation scheme is a chance for sole creators, collectives, animation studios and production companies to pitch fresh, bold, innovative new animation ideas for a fully funded development opportunity. Find out more on the link below.

Ideas from members of the public

Please note that we are unable to take submissions from members of the public not affiliated with a production company. Any questions from members of the public with ideas can be directed to Desiree Peeters. If you are new to the media industry find further information about how you can develop your career in broadcast on the skills and training section. 

Stay in touch

If you’d like to receive commissioning updates via our newsletter, please subscribe to the Please note that to join the mailing list you must be a media based independent production company. Visit the how we work page to find out how to pitch ideas to our team.

FAQ's

Find some answers to some of our frequently asked questions.

1. I have an idea/project – how do I approach you?

If you are a UK independent production company that has had a commission in the last three years from a major broadcaster, you are eligible to submit projects via PiCoS. Please review the PiCoS eligibility criteria on the Using PiCoS page. However, please do reach out to the appropriate editorial lead before submitting.

If you are an international company, distributor or a UK company not eligible for PiCoS, or unsure who is best to approach, please get in touch with Desiree Peeters.

Unfortunately we are unable to take submissions from members of the public not affiliated with a production company. Any questions from members of the public with ideas can be directed to Desiree Peeters.

2. Does it matter if I’ve never made Children’s content before?

No! We welcome pitches from any company that’s excited about producing content for kids. Our experienced Commissioning and Acquisitions team will be able to guide you through the various compliance hurdles and editorial policy considerations for a young audience. The most important thing is that you understand what is relevant and exciting to the age group you’re pitching for and watching our output to see what we’re already doing is a must.

3. What stage should I approach you?

Any. We consider projects from early stages for pre-buy acquisition and commissions, to completed projects for off the shelf acquisition. If we feel your project needs to be reviewed by another department we will signpost you and/or introduce you to that team.

4. What information/supporting materials should I submit for my idea?

We would welcome as much information as possible to bring the idea to life, and so that we can assess its potential to grow into a big, noisy, returning brand. It’s always worth getting in touch with the Commissioning and Acquisitions team in the first instance, so that you don’t waste time working up something that we already have on air or in development.

5. Do you like projects to come with talent already attached?

Certainly, a big name will bring attention to a brand, so if you have already have someone on board your project that is helpful. However, we are also happy to discuss talent with you as you develop your project as we are always looking for new voices to grow alongside and inspire our audience.

6. Who should I pitch to if I have an idea for bridging content?

Anyone from the Commissioning and Acquisitions team will be able to steer you in the right direction. The teams across both age groups work very closely together so don’t worry, we’ll make sure it gets to the right person.

7. Who should I pitch to if I have an idea for teen content?

Â鶹Éç Children’s commissions and acquires content for 0 to 12 year-olds. If your idea is for an older teen audience then you should approach one of the TV genre commissioners.

8. I’ve submitted my project/idea, what’s next?

Once your idea has been submitted and reviewed internally and discussed with the relevant Head of Commissioning and Acquisition, someone will be in touch with a decision and or feedback. If your submission is successful a member of the team will work with you and support you through the creative and business process.

9. Do you accept re-submissions?

We do not accept re-submissions once a project has been rejected. The team will only review a submission for a second time if the indie/producer can prove the proposal has significantly changed.

10. Do you accept projects that are dubbed or not in English?

Yes, but only if the pitch material is in English and your audio/visual content is subtitled. Please keep in mind that content needs to be relatable and accessible for our young UK audience.

11. Do you accept feature films or specials?

We rarely commission or acquire features or one-off specials for our platforms, but if you have an idea then do approach one of the team. If you have a family-orientated film you can approach the acquisitions team.

12. Can I submit my project elsewhere while it is being reviewed by Â鶹Éç Children’s?

Yes, you are free to submit your project to other broadcasters and platforms while under review at Â鶹Éç Children’s. You can withdraw and update your submission at any time.

13. Do you provide development funding?

We have a limited amount of money set aside for development, but due to demand we’re only able to support a small number of ideas. This will be discussed as part of the normal commissioning and ideas submission process outlined on this page.

14. What kind of funding model do you prefer?

We are always looking at ways in which our slate money can go further and bring as much value as possible to the licence fee payer. We are open to looking at most co-funding and co-production models.

15. I am new to the media industry, what guidance can you give me?

Find further information about how you can develop your career in broadcast on the skills and training section. We also support new talent through our Ignite animation scheme. Find out more.