The best drama is local

 

2021 was a bumper year for RTÉ drama with KIN, Smother and Hidden Assets garnishing 26 IFTA nominations between them. RTÉ is the place for Irish writers, directors, producers, actors and all grades to showcase their incredible talent to an audience that loves watching Irish drama. We want to build on that success, develop Irish owned IP and expand our commissioned drama for 2023 and beyond.  Our approach is not only to build on the success of our recent drama, but to increase the volume of drama offered, and provide a range of shows with variety and tone that truly reflects the diversity of contemporary Ireland.

RTÉ’s drama strategy is dual purpose: to showcase Irish talent to Irish audiences; to develop Irish writers and producers and grow Irish owned IP

We are looking for original dramas for RTÉ One and RTÉ 2  for 2023 and onwards to entertain and open up a view of contemporary life. They must be Irish stories, but can include the Irish diaspora. We want to increase the returnability of series on a rolling annual basis as well as developing national statement pieces.

RTÉ One
Dramas for RTÉ One must have broad appeal and these slots are all post-watershed. Sunday night dramas speak to the nation and should provoke, challenge and entertain: TV for drama lovers of all ages. Eg. KIN, HIDDEN ASSETS, SMOTHER, TAKEN DOWN.

Returnability of a show is something to be considered at an early stage while acknowledging that some stories, particularly those drawing on real life events, will not extend beyond one serial event, we are open to discussing short and single run standalone series.

The ambition for 2023 is to have 32 hours of commissioned drama on RTÉ One and 10 hours on RTÉ 2. We want to show 12 hours on Sunday nights  from Q3 onwards in 2023 and 12 hours in Q1 2024. So ideally, two series of 2x6 hours in the Winter and two series of 2x6 hours in the Spring.  If the dramas suit, the remaining hours would play on Wednesdays at 9.30.

RTÉ 2
RTÉ 2 drama kicks off this year with a supersized Storyland, moving to RTÉ television for the first time. We will have three single 30 minute dramas ready for transmission in the autumn of 2022.  The ambition is to expand this in 2023 so we will have Storyland  plus 10 hours of new commissioned drama ready from September 2023.

Drama on RTÉ 2 should really stand out and be challenging, opinionated and irreverential. This is where new and emerging talent can showcase their stories. We’re looking for strongly authored voices that can see the world from a stimulating and provocative viewpoint.

Series must be distinctive and tonally differentiate from RTÉ One drama in the first instance. We’re actively seeking cost-effective series which will be a vehicle for emerging talent on either side of the camera as well as appealing to their peers. These shows can be for 60’ or 30’ slots

RTÉ actively develops projects that will meet the objectives of the various funding bodies on the Island of Ireland: BAI Sound and Vision Fund, Screen Ireland, the WRAP fund, Northern Ireland Screen as well as projects that are suited to international co-funding, pre-sales and co-production.

If helpful, RTÉ will work closely with producers in attaching financing partners. Co-production and co-financing is a high priority for RTÉ and we suggest producers talk to us early about projects they have in mind.

Should you wish to submit an idea for development investment you will need to register and submit on RTÉ's e-commissioning. Drama staff members are available to discuss ideas in advance of formal submission. A brief pitch from the writer and producer is useful at an early stage.

Some key points to keep in mind when submitting ideas to RTÉ Drama:

• All submissions need to be submitted by an independent production company and / or individuals or partnerships with previous production related experience;
• Keep pitches concise. Make sure that they are well thought through and have a considered point and purpose;
• Avoid following trends or mimicking what others have done; we always look for something we haven't seen before. RTÉ dramas should create their own trend;
• We’re not actively seeking period drama at the moment. Our audiences are responding more to drama with a contemporaneous resonance, stories that capture the essence of modern Ireland and what it’s like to be living in Ireland today;
• Co-production and co-financing are a high priority - be prepared to discuss financing options when you pitch though we don’t expect you to have a fixed plan.

RTE is now seeking proposals for BAI S&V 4 – Round 46 – Irish Language Programming

Closing date for submissions to be considered for RTÉ support in BAI S&V 4 - Round 46 is Friday 29^th July, 2022 at 12.00 noon (strict deadline).

All submissions must include a full production budget and finance plan.

Please note only proposals submitted through RTÉ’s eCommissioning system will be considered.

We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system: https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.WEB/skins/rte/login.aspx under the programme category “Genre - BAI Round 46”, before the above closing date and time.

BAI Sound and Vision 4 

Round 44 – Climate Change & Climate Action 

RTE is now seeking proposals for BAI S&V 4 – Round 44 - Climate Change & Climate Action 

Closing date for submissions to be considered for RTÉ support in BAI S&V 4 - Round 44 is Friday 24th June, 2022 at 12.00 noon (strict deadline). 

All submissions must include a full production budget and finance plan. 

Please note only proposals submitted through RTÉ’s eCommissioning system will be considered. We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system: https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.WEB/skins/rte/login.aspx under the programme category “Genre - BAI Round 44”, before the above closing date and time. 

The Comedy department develops and produces a diverse range of comedy content across multiple platforms. In addition to key properties such as The Tommy Tiernan Show, Mrs Browns Boys, The Young Offenders and Callan Kicks The Year, we are committed to the development of new comedy voices through new programming such as Clear History.

Making people laugh is an unusually Irish vocation. We have an extraordinary level of writing and performing talent, production and editorial skills, and Irish audiences have an unquestionable appetite for quality comedy.

Comedy production is one of the most pure forms of creativity, and it requires taking bigger risks. But when these risks pay off, they can generate the biggest wins for RTÉ, such as channel defining content like The Tommy Tiernan Show.

We are committed to the development of new comedy voices (e.g. Joanne McNally and Doireann Garrihy), and in 2021 comedy is a pillar of the schedule and our development slate is incredibly exciting.

We are looking for proposals that break new talent or generate new opportunities for existing talent.

Proposals that have the potential to support Irish talent in front of and behind the camera in the international TV market are of particular interest.

Coherent development phases will be prioritized, as will pragmatic budgets and finance plans - including BAI and international co-production opportunities, especially with the UK Comedy Industry.

So what are we looking for?

RTÉ ONE

We are looking for half hour scripted comedy that will reach a broad mainstream audience. Projects that have or will attract co-production finance and or an international broadcaster will be prioritised.

Big talent, strong writing, confident warm tone and contemporary family appeal are key. We are interested in finding and developing new projects in these spaces.

We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the e-commissioning system. http://www.rte.ie/commissioning under the programme category “Comedy – RTÉ One.

 

RTÉ2

In Scripted we are looking for uniquely Irish comedy that stands out in the crowded multi-channel and SVOD environment and engages primarily with 25 – 44 year olds.

Recent projects such as The Young Offenders are at the core of the channel's brand and crucially they respond to the increasingly multi-platform viewing habits of the audience.

Non Scripted We are interested in new Studio or Location based, formatted and talent-driven comedy for the 25 – 44 year old audience, focusing on the core channel brand.

Studio based comedy ideas that well thought through, different and realistically resourced are of particular interest.

We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the e-commissioning system. http://www.rte.ie/commissioning under the programme category “Comedy – RTÉ 2.

We are happy to discuss a variety of budgets and production timeframes, on a case-by-case basis. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis.