Programme:                    History and Contemporary History

Duration:                          50 minutes

Episodes:                         Single episode or multi-part series

Budget Range:                €90,000 - €140,000 cost per hour for single documentary

€90,000 - €135,000 cost per hour for multi-part series

(In exceptional circumstances if a higher cost per hour is necessary, producers must provide additional information and details explaining the reasons for the increased cost.)

Deadline:                         Commissioning on a rolling basis

RTÉ is committed to original, thought-provoking History content and welcomes a broad approach to the interpretation and narration of Ireland’s complicated and nuanced past.

The slate’s focus is on recent Irish history: the transformation of Ireland since de Valera. How is it that the country developed so quickly to get to where it is today and what does that journey tell us about where we are now? And where we may be headed in the future?

Form and tone are key: can we use contemporary leads, stories, clues and devices as entry-points into the telling of modern Irish history?

The Loose Horse two-parter, Dev: Rise and Rule, which looked at the impact of Eamon de Valera on modern Ireland, is a recent case in point. So too Kevin Brannigan’s multi-parter for Push and Pull Films, Noraid: Irish-America and the IRA.

Other examples include one-offs like Made of Stone [Tile Media] and Duffy’s Pub [Dearg Films], which took a light-touch hand to some of the more curious stories of modern Ireland but that rang through as authentic and impactful films.

What do we want?

The slate is also interested in ambitious, multi-part history strands and welcomes proposals that have third-party or multi-agency support attached. Come to your Census [VIP], which marks the on-line publication of the 1926 Census – and which is co-funded by The National Archives - is a useful reference point in this regard.

All proposals should be strong enough to play on Mondays and Wednesdays at 21:35 on RTÉ One but can also be scheduled as standalone event pieces.

How to Submit

Producers are asked to submit their ideas through the video section of RTÉ’s eCommissioning system: Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) under the programme category Specialist Factual, History 2026.

This call out will be operated on a rolling basis.

Published 03 March 2026

Programme:                    Natural History and Wildlife

Duration:                          50 minutes

Episodes:                         Multi-part series

Budget Range:                Not defined - budget will also be subject to programme proposal and third party funding if applicable

Deadline:                         Commissioning on a rolling basis

Home-grown Natural History and Wildlife content is at the heart of the Specialist factual slate and notable recent projects in this space include Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean [Sea Fever Productions] and Kerry: Tides of Time [Silver Branch Films]. We currently have a number of long-term, multi-year projects in production that explore Ireland’s unique physical landscape, both above and below ground.

Among them Wild Connemara [Crossing the Line Productions], An Irish Atlantic Rainforest [Gambit Pictures] and Ireland’s Wild Mountains [Crossing the Line Productions], all of which can play on Sundays, either before or after the watershed, or on weekends before the watershed in half-hour segments.

What do we want?

Producers are asked to give consideration to the form of their proposals in this genre: structure, shape, on-screen talent, locations, use of music and cross-pollination with other aspects of the slate, like History, Rural Affairs and Climate. To this end, the slate is looking to support new entrants into what has long been bespoke and truly specialist production.

Proposals with third-party funding attached will be especially attractive.

How to Submit

Producers are asked to submit their ideas through the video section of RTÉ’s eCommissioning system: Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) under the programme category Specialist Factual, Natural History 2026.

This call out will be operated on a rolling basis.

Published 04th March 2026

Programme:                    Science and Climate

Duration:                          50 minutes

Episodes:                         Single episode or multi-part series

Budget Range:                €90,000 - €140,000 cost per hour for single documentary

€90,000 - €135,000 cost per hour for multi-part series

(In exceptional circumstances if a higher cost per hour is necessary, producers must provide additional information and details explaining the reasons for the increased cost.)

Deadline:                         Commissioning on a rolling basis

The slate will also continue to support innovative and original content in the areas of Science and Climate. Specialist Factual is continuing its long association with Taighde Éireann – formerly Science Foundation Ireland – and will further plans in a general call for ideas later this year.

This relationship has helped us to produce a significant number of high-end projects and recent successes in this genre include the stripped, three-part Science Week series, Futureville Ireland [Rare TV] and Hooked: How Addiction Hijacks Your Brain [Cable Rock Films] which looked at the science of addiction.

The slate is also committed to high-end content reflecting diversity in Irish society and Scratch Film’s upcoming Welcome to Moore Street – supported by Coimisiún na Meán – and Curious Dog’s recent feature, Born That Way, are just two recent examples of key output in this area.

What do we want?

Seeking subjects that people are currently talking about or that get people talking and generate reaction, proposals should include plans for digital additionality and dual-platform storytelling.

Projects in these genres that comply with the Coimisiún na Meán Sound and Vision scheme are particularly encouraged.

How to Submit

Producers are asked to submit their ideas through the video section of RTÉ’s eCommissioning system: Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) under the programme category Specialist Factual, Science and Climate 2026.

This call out will be operated on a rolling basis.

Published 03 March 2026

History of the Fund

In November 2016, RTÉ and ARTE G.E.I.E., the Strasbourg branch of the Franco-German public broadcaster ARTE, joined forces to develop and co-fund exceptional documentary projects, aiming to bring more Irish content to European audiences. Since then, ARTE G.E.I.E. and RTÉ have invested in a diverse range of Irish documentaries covering factual topics, current affairs, history, and the arts. The collaboration between ARTE commissioning editors and Irish production companies has flourished, creating numerous opportunities for Irish creative talent.

Practical Information

The fund operates on a rolling basis, with projects being developed and funded continuously. We seek standout single documentaries that have secured development or broadcast commitments from an RTÉ Commissioning Editor, which can then be pitched to ARTE’s specific documentary strands. Most documentaries for ARTE are 52 minutes long and do not include commercial breaks. The RTÉ version of the programme should be a 50 minute duration with two commercial breaks as agreed with the RTÉ Commissioning Editor.

RTÉ and ARTE welcome ideas from all genres, including Factual, Specialist Factual, Science and Natural Science, History, Archaeology and Human Endeavour, Current Affairs/Geopolitics, and Arts, Culture, and Music. We are particularly interested in compelling Irish stories with international appeal, whether they focus on ancient or contemporary history, arts, or society/current affairs. Ambitious factual, specialist factual, and arts documentaries that resonate with both Irish and European audiences are highly valued.

Given that ARTE documentaries are broadcast in multiple territories, projects led by voiceovers that can be revoiced in several languages are preferred. Presenter-led documentaries or series are generally not suitable for ARTE, except in rare cases where the presenter is a global icon, such as Angelica Huston on Joyce by Blueprint Films.

Completed projects must be delivered to ARTE 6-8 weeks before the broadcast date to allow time for translation, subtitling, and revoicing in French and German, as well as Polish, Spanish, and Italian for on-demand services. The costs for revoicing and subtitling are covered by ARTE and should not be included in the programme production budgets.

How To Apply

Production companies interested in submitting a programme proposal for the fund should initially submit their proposal through RTÉ’s e-Commissioning system Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) . Indicate that the idea is suitable for co-production with ARTE and provide information on any other third-party funders if applicable. If the proposal is approved for further consideration, Sarah Ryder, RTÉ’s ARTE lead, will present it to the relevant ARTE commissioning executives.

Further information

For more details on the RTÉ / ARTE G.E.I.E. co-production fund, please contact Sarah Ryder at sarah.ryder@rte.ie.