Regional Development

RTÉ Regional and Regional Development

In line with RTÉ’s 2025–2028 strategy, RTÉ is expanding its production and commissioning activity as part of a wider commitment to representing the whole country, strengthening regional creative clusters, and supporting talent pipelines across Ireland’s regions. The core objective is to broaden the range and depth of ideas generated by regionally based companies and to create meaningful opportunities for those companies to scale, compete, and grow.

RTÉ in Cork currently produces and commissions a broad mix of programming—from daytime and factual entertainment to landmark documentaries and natural history series—and continues to collaborate with Irish and international partners to deliver high impact content for audiences across RTÉ One, RTÉ2, and RTÉ Player. As part of the strategy, RTÉ will launch three distinct commissioning schemes designed to stimulate new ideas, support emerging and established production companies and build a dynamic pipeline of ambitious projects.

RTÉ is seeking to hear from companies based in throughout Ireland that are full of energy and fresh ideas. We aim to support and mentor these companies through a range of schemes and development supports, working with partners to help strengthen regional creative clusters and broaden the commissioning base beyond Dublin.

The team at RTÉ in Cork will serve as a national driver of regional creativity — act as a creative anchor for the regional production sector, a commissioning and development headquarters, tasked with delivering distinctive Irish content with genuine national impact.

 

Published March 30th, 2026

RTÉ Regional – Open Call 2026

Information

Programme:                   pre-watershed multipart series

Duration:                         25 minutes

Episodes:                       6 episodes or 3 x 50 minutes

Budget Range:              €80,000 - €120,000 cost per hour

(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:                        Friday 01 May, 12 Midday, 2026

Full Brief

RTÉ is inviting submissions from new and established production companies, based in Ireland’s regions, for a new factual series and is particularly interested in ideas that demonstrate innovation in format, storytelling, and visual style. We are seeking projects that bring humour, warmth or competition elements into factual programming, as well as proposals led by new presenters or strong, authentic regional voices.

The call additionally welcomes contemporary lifestyle formats that offer viewers meaningful, practical take-home value. RTÉ is also open to documentary series that provide emotionally resonant, investigative or experiential perspectives. Overall, we are looking for ambitious, original concepts that broaden the scope of factual television for Irish audiences, capable of attracting younger demos to RTÉ will be welcome.

What do we want?

  • Bold, innovative storytelling formats with clear returnability potential.
  • Ideally new presenting talent with likeability and confidence.
  • Tone matters – optimistic, rewarding, and at times offer escapism and warmth.
  • Strong characters, access, or worlds that can sustain multi-episode arcs.
  • Concepts that broaden RTÉ’s tonal mix, with energy, originality, fun and audience relevance.
  • Projects that can showcase production talent across the Ireland’s regions.
  • Growing digital-first and cross-platform content, ensuring ideas are adaptable for both Linear broadcast and RTÉ Player audiences.
  • Surprising and original.

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 RTÉ Regional, Open Call 2026 before 12 midday Friday 01 May 2026. Late submissions cannot be accepted.

 Published 30th March,2026

RTÉ Regional – Síol Fund: Funding Scheme 1

Information

Programme:                   Regional Development – Síol Fund 1

Duration:                         25 minutes

Episodes:                       Single episode

Budget Range:               up to €50,000 per episode

Deadline:                        Friday 01 May, 12 Midday, 2026

Full Brief

The Regional Síol Fund is designed to support the development of strong and distinctive ideas from both emerging and established production companies based in the regions. Its purpose is to build creative capacity, help companies grow, and guide them through early‑stage development towards projects that are ready for commission. The fund will support up to three films, each approximately 25 minutes in duration, at a funding level of around €50,000 per film, creating meaningful opportunities for regional companies and individual creatives.

All funded films must be suitable for transmission on RTÉ’s linear channels and Player services, with the potential to serve as broadcast pilots for future series.

What do we want?

  • Ideas with a clear mainstream audience appeal and a strong editorial purpose.
  • Concepts that reflect life, identity, culture, and stories from the regions, while still resonating with national audiences.
  • Projects capable of becoming returning series in future years.
  • Work that strengthens the regional creative economy.
  • Ideas that will deliver significant audiences on RTÉ Player and RTÉ Linear services.

What is an eligible company?

Companies must have a substantive base outside Dublin/Wicklow. The base must be the usual workplace for those managing the business, senior production personnel.

New, emerging, or established independent production companies seeking to grow capacity or expand into new genres.

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 RTÉ Regional, Síol Fund 1 2026 before 12 midday Friday 01 May, 2026

Late submissions cannot be accepted.

 Published March 30th 2026

RTÉ Regional – Síol Fund: Funding Scheme 2

Information

Programme:                   Regional Development – Síol Fund 2

Duration:                         Subject to proposal

Episodes:                       Subject to proposal

Budget Range:               up to €25,000 per project

Deadline:                        Friday 01 May, 12 Midday, 2026

Full Brief

The Regional Síol Fund is intended to support the development of strong, distinctive ideas from both emerging and established production companies based in regional areas. Its purpose is to build creative capacity, help companies grow, and guide them through early-stage development toward commission ready projects. The aim of this development funding is to create opportunities for companies to progress ideas toward potential series commissions, with up to four companies or ideas receiving development funding of up to €25,000 per slate.

Participants will have access to RTÉ’s editorial support throughout the development process, ensuring consistent creative guidance and collaboration. In addition, companies will benefit from assistance from RTÉ’s business functions, helping to strengthen their projects as they move toward commissioning.

What is an eligible company?

Companies must have a substantive base outside Dublin/Wicklow. The base must be the usual workplace for those managing the business, senior production personnel.

New, emerging, or established independent production companies seeking to grow capacity or expand into new genres.

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 RTÉ Regional, Síol Fund 2 2026 before Friday 01 May, 12 Midday, 2026

Late submissions cannot be accepted.

 

Published, March 30th, 2026