RADIO COMMISSIONING FRAMEWORK

Commissioning Brief

Commissioning Brief No: 98464

For production of Asian Network’s Weekend Daytime Shows (Talent: AJD / Gagan Grewal / Dipps Bhamrah) from October 2019

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CONTENTS

SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY ................................................................ 3

SECTION B: THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS ..................................................... 9 1. TIMETABLE.................................................................................................... 9

2. THE FIVE STAGES ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

3. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ............................................................................ 12

SECTION C: FULL PROPOSALS ........................................................................... 13 1. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU ..................................................................... 13

2. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US..................................................................... 14

3. IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE .................................................................. 16

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SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY Commissioning Brief: 98464 Weekend Daytime Shows

(Talent: AJD / Gagan Grewal / Dipps Bhamrah)

Commission contacts Robert Gallacher (Robert.Gallacher@bbc.co.uk) and Khaliq Meer khaliq.meer@bbc.co.uk

Duration One year with two separate options for the BBC to renew for a further year on the same terms after both the first and second years (1+1+1)

Number of programmes available 3 per week / 153 per year

Transmission period From October 2019

Guide Price per episode £825 per ep excluding presenter fees and studio costs which will be paid by the Network

Commissioning Year 2019/2020

Commissioning Slot Sat 1600-1900, Sun 1000-1300, Sun 1700-1900

Commissioning Round 2019/2020 Round 2

All proposals must be submitted via Proteus and go through Production experience checks first. Please make your short proposal using no more than 500 words, covering your ideas.

Important Notes:

Short Proposals and your responses to the Production Questionnaire (see Appendix 1, page 15), must be submitted via Proteus before the deadline at noon on Tuesday 16th July 2019.

During Stage 1 of the process we will first evaluate the responses given in the Production Questionnaire. We will then assess your Short Proposal.

Shortlisted suppliers will be asked to submit a Full Proposal. This should not exceed five sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11.

Producers are not permitted to contact on-air talent, without prior approval of the commissioner. Any producer found to be in breach of this will be excluded from the commissioning process.

The BBC reserves the right at any time prior to the award of a commission, and without incurring any liability to the affected suppliers, to accept or to reject any proposal, or to annul the commissioning process rejecting all Full Proposals. More information relating to all commissioning briefs and rounds, regardless of Networks can be found on the Pitching Ideas page of the Radio Commissioning Website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4fC4NcVXqkZntJv8ZHpClD8/pitching-ideas

We strongly advise you to submit your Proposals in good time to avoid the possibility of difficulties caused by unforeseen network or transmission problems. No late submissions will be accepted

BBC Asian Network

Asian Network aims to bring new, young and diverse audiences to the BBC with a distinctive mix of contemporary music, entertainment and speech.

We produce great content for young British Asians - inspired by their heritage - to listen to, watch and share. Alongside BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, the Network is at the forefront of BBC Radio’s efforts to reinvent and grow radio, and plays a key role in helping showcase the wider BBC to each new generation. Network Strategy

Our primary focus in 2019/20 is to grow overall awareness of Asian Network and drive reach to our linear radio programming.

We employ DJs and presenters who are acknowledged leaders in their fields and are passionate about youth culture and music.

Our on-air programming is complimented by key multi-platform visual and social content, designed to appeal to both existing audiences and those who stumble across it with the aim of converting this latter group into regular consumers of content across relevant BBC platforms.

Asian Network is also synonymous with original journalism; comedy and music events. These allow us to maintain and grow vital connections to both the British and Asian cultural scenes throughout the year.

In addition to outreach work, individual programmes and presenters are encouraged to build close relationships with relevant music communities and act as ambassadors for the station.

Producers who are shortlisted should include any thoughts on how their specific programme proposal can assist in delivering this strategy.

Editorial Opportunity

AJD – Saturday 1600-1900 Birmingham

This show should lead the Network’s transition from Saturday daytime into evening

specialist with a populist DJ sound similar to Radio 1’s Dance Anthems on a Saturday

or Mistajam weekdays on 1Xtra.

AJD won this slot in May 2019 by demonstrating his passion for music, live DJing

skills and energy from his time covering the former AN Residency show. He’s still at

the beginning of his radio journey and we invite you to share a plan to help develop

this club and party DJ into a credible music broadcaster.

Programme Content This show should project the ‘weekend’ through well-crafted links and an uplifting music sound track.

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We would like the sound to be mix-heavy - making most of AJD’s skills. We would like relevant guest DJ mixes that surprise and excite. Music Policy This will be play-listed by AJD and his programme team.

It is open-format and multi-genre. Programme Strategy This is a ‘Gateway’ show - lead the Network’s transition from Saturday daytime into evening specialist. Measure of Success Growing live listening numbers in this daypart – as measured by RAJAR On-going presenter development.

Additional Deliverables Accurate programme descriptions and track-listings updated online as soon as practicable. Where appropriate, we also want the production team to creatively deliver the Network’s wider weekly and monthly editorial messages and work collaboratively with other suppliers to help cross-promote the full range of our shows and output. Editorial Opportunity: Gagan Grewal – Sunday 1000-1300 Birmingham This show is celebration of nostalgic retro Bollywood and the very best Classics from the Indian and Pakistani movie worlds. Gagan has presented a number of different shows for the Network and in recent years has grown into this show. We are looking for a team with proven experience of managing and developing established talent. Programme Content: We are looking for editorial ideas on how to develop and modernise the existing format. It should reflect what ‘retro’ and ‘classic’ mean to our growing younger listeners whilst appealing to existing listeners. Music Policy: This show is play-listed by the programme team in collaboration with the music team.

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Programme Strategy This show forms part of the weekend Daytime sound. Measure of Success Growing live listening numbers in this daypart – as measured by RAJAR Create one regular, repeatable and successful format for radio and social Additional Deliverables Accurate programme descriptions and track-listings updated online as soon as practicable. Where appropriate, we also want the production team to creatively deliver the Network’s wider weekly and monthly editorial messages and work collaboratively with other suppliers to help cross-promote the full range of our shows and output. Editorial Opportunity: Dipps Bhamrah – Sunday 1700-1900 Birmingham This is an established Bhangra music culture show – a must listen for fans of Punjabi music – for both new and emerging as well as classic and heritage. Programme Content: As well as ideas to freshen up the format, we would like to see an approach on how this programme can inspire a new generation of listeners and become even more pivotal in the scene. We welcome ideas on how to better connect with AJD on a Saturday. Music Policy This programme will be play-listed by the presenter and programme team. It has a broad remit of new and emerging as well as classic ‘anthemic’ music. Programme Strategy This show is a Gateway music show – sitting between daytime and specialist music Measure of Success Growing live listening numbers in this daypart – as measured by RAJAR Create one regular, repeatable and successful format for radio and social

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Additional Deliverables Accurate programme descriptions and track-listings updated online as soon as practicable. Where appropriate, we also want the production team to creatively deliver the Network’s wider weekly and monthly editorial messages and work collaboratively with other suppliers to help cross-promote the full range of our shows and output. Presenter during commissioning process

Following submission of a Full Proposal, production companies who have been

shortlisted for a face to face pitch will be invited to have a short phone chat with

the presenter to discuss ideas.

Additional information / delivery requirements:

The ‘Guide Price’ does not include presenter fees or studio hire, which will be paid directly by Radio 1.

The contract will be offered as a “fixed price” deal and the BBC will assume that any elements included in proposals can be successfully delivered within the guide price given.

Production teams will be expected to adhere to all relevant editorial and copyright guidelines in place; and deliver all necessary production related paperwork in a timely fashion – e.g. Compliance Forms.

We expect these shows will usually be live.

Access to all necessary broadcast production systems, as well as studios to enable the broadcast of the show (including an hour of pre and post show preparation time where possible), will be made available in The Mailbox, Birmingham, at no cost to the successful supplier throughout the contract.

THE EVALUATION TEAM

The following people may be involved in evaluating your proposal at various stages:

Ben Cooper – Controller, Radio 1, 1Xtra & Asian Network

Mark Strippel – Head of Programmes, 1Xtra & Asian Network

Khaliq Meer – Commissioning Executive, Asian Network

Robert Gallacher – Commissioning Editor, Pop Radio Networks

Joe Harland – Head of Visual Radio, Digital, and Social, Pop Radio Networks

Mark Waring – Senior Commercial, Rights and Business Affairs Manager

Raluca Albu – Senior Procurement Manager

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Subject matter experts (e.g. production experts, digital content specialists, network management or finance advisors etc.) may also be consulted.

See Section B for information on the commissioning process, timetable and assessment criteria.

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SECTION B: THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS

1. TIMETABLE

The commissioning process consists of five stages, as set out in the timetable below:

Stage Timings (all midday)

Activities

Launch Tuesday 18th

June Publication of commissioning brief documentation

1. Eligibility, Short Proposal and initial shortlisting

Tuesday 16th

July Deadline for submission, via Proteus, of Short Proposal

Tuesday 23rd

July Producers shortlisted notified of outcomes and asked to prepare a Full Proposal.

2. Full Proposal From Tuesday 23

rd July

Opportunity to talk to commissioners about the programme brief.

Tuesday 3rd

September

Deadline for Full Proposal to be submitted via Proteus

3. Interview/ Pitch w/c 9th

September All producers shortlisted and who submit a Full Proposal may be invited to attend an interview/ face to face pitch.

4. Commission decisions made and contracts signed

w/c 16th

September

Either: Commission award decision made, commissioning specification completed and contract issued.

Or: Producers invited to second interviews.

Or: Pilot commissioned

September Agreement of all programme related deliverables and technical specifications (for further information on Asian Network’s requirements, please see the BBC’s commissioning website).

Full contract signed.

5. Feedback Two weeks after publication of the results

Shortlisted producers may request feedback.

We will assess your proposal according to this timetable. Late submissions cannot be accepted. If you have any questions about these commissioning briefs that need answering before you submit your Short Proposal and Production Experience responses, please ensure you email them to Khaliq.Meer@bbc.co.uk by Friday 12th July at the latest.

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2. THE FIVE STAGES

STAGE 1: PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE, SHORT PROPOSAL AND INITIAL

SHORTLISTING

Step 1 : Production Experience

Complete the Production Experience Questionnaire in Appendix 1 using no more than 100 words per response. Please note the questions used in this brief may differ from those used in other Asian Network briefs.

Enter your responses in the ‘Add/Edit Notes Here’ section in Proteus. The questionnaire is designed to allow the BBC to understand more about your company and your experience of producing Asian Network style programmes. Commissioners Robert Gallacher and Khaliq Meer, together with others from the evaluation team, will evaluate all production questionnaires against the editorial brief set out in Section A before evaluating the Short Proposal. NB: your short proposal may be declined at this stage if the information you provide indicates you do not meet the criteria, so please answer these questions carefully.

Step 2: Short Proposal

Suppliers who performed best on their eligibility stage (by best demonstrating their experience and capability in producing Asian Network style programmes) will then have their Short Proposal assessed and a shortlist will be compiled.

Your Short Proposal should be no more than 500 words and summarise your specific ideas for ALL programmes within the brief. It should demonstrate your ability to produce the programme, set out your editorial ambitions and address the requirements set out in Section A of this brief.

Enter your proposal in the ‘Short Synopsis’ section in Proteus before the deadline at noon on Tuesday 16th July.

Step 3: Shortlisting notification

You will be notified of the outcome of Stage 1. Shortlisted suppliers will be asked to submit a Full Proposal. No feedback will be provided for unsuccessful proposals at this stage.

STAGE 2: FULL PROPOSAL

Step 1 We may issue further relevant programme production information to all producers proceeding to this stage. If sensitive information is being released then producers will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Step 2 Producers proceeding to this stage will be invited to provide a Full Proposal, via Proteus, responding to this commissioning brief, which includes all the elements outlined in Section C paragraph 1 (“Full Proposal”). For guidance,

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your Full Proposal should not exceed five sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11.

STAGE 3: INTERVIEW / PITCH

Step 1 Those shortlisted at Stage 1, who successfully submit a Full Proposal via Proteus before the closing date, may be invited to discuss their ideas at a pitching meeting. This may happen if your proposal is highly complex or high risk, if separate companies propose very similar ideas and more information is required or your proposal is over a financial limit.

Should you be invited to a pitch meeting, we will notify you which members of the evaluation team will be attending this meeting and you should expect to be asked to discuss and elaborate on your proposal, and answer questions about it. It is also possible we may ask you to bring additional relevant material to this meeting – for example, a sample playlist.

Step 2 Following any pitches, the evaluation team will score your Full Proposal against the assessment criteria in Section B3 (page 11), taking into account the responses given during the pitch, and any additional material requested.

Step 3 We may hold second interviews, for example, in order to gather more information about your idea.

Step 4 We may commission a pilot – see page 6, above.

STAGE 4: CONTRACT SIGNED

STAGE 5: FEEDBACK

If you’re unsuccessful after you have submitted your Full Proposal, you may request feedback. Once notified you have two weeks to request feedback. Requests for feedback should be made to khaliq.meer@bbc.co.uk

Feedback will be provided within two weeks of receiving the request.

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3. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

We will assess your Full Proposal (and pitch should we require one) according to the main criteria below (editorial proposal and capability, value for money and risk). More details on how we will make our assessment will be given to all those shortlisted at the same time as they are invited to submit a Full Proposal.

Assessment Criteria Weighting

Editorial proposal and capability

Key Indicators

Editorial Fit: Fit of editorial proposal to Asian Network’s strategy and music policy, as well as BBC Radio’s overall vision and objectives

Creative challenge: Response to specific creative and editorial challenges set out in brief

Specialist knowledge: Demonstrable specialist music knowledge and industry contacts as well as depth of knowledge of British Asian lifestyle & culture

Format: Format and structure of the programme Agility: Ability to innovate and evolve programme in line with changing

audience habits Other Indicators

Plans for engaging audiences via social media and interactive content Experience of creating genuine 'appointment to listen' features and

content Proposed production team’s track record in producing programmes for a

diverse range of youth audiences Ability to work collaborative with other production teams and suppliers Ability to manage and develop high profile on-air talent Ability to identify and book suitable artists for live music sessions and

events

75%

Value for Money

Budget: the financial plan for the production, including a full budget breakdown showing production and overhead costs.

Price: confirmation that the price per episode (for both the audio and visual content) is in line with the brief

Efficiency: efficiency of the production process, ability to deliver additional value to the BBC

Contract terms: acceptance of key contract terms (including compliance with applicable UK law)

10%

Risk

Transition: the ability to run a smooth handover of the production from the incumbent production team

Production: the ability to produce shows of large scale and volume with a consistent and experienced production team

Business continuity: adequacy and robustness of business continuity plans; ability to continue the production in case of business disruption

BBC reputational: the ability to produce a programme which poses limited / no risk to the reputation of the BBC

Legislation and policy: the ability to comply with all relevant UK legislation and BBC policies (not limited to editorial policies)

Conflict of interest risk

15%

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SECTION C: FULL PROPOSALS

1. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

Your Full Proposal must be entered into the main ‘Synopsis’ section (under the FULL heading) in Proteus by noon on Tuesday 3rd September; late submissions cannot be accepted. It should adopt the structure below and, for guidance, should not in total exceed five sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11.

Part 1 – Your detailed Full Proposal, showing your response to the BBC’s requirements outlined in Section A of this commissioning brief.

Part 2 – a section containing the following information:

(i) The name and contact details of your nominated representative (a single point of contact within your organisation who will be responsible for all communication related to the commissioning brief).

(ii) The planned location for the production team who will produce the show should you be successful.

(iii) Evidence that you have the skills to deliver, or the ability to acquire the skills to deliver, the production of the programme in line with this commissioning brief.

(iv) Details of third party suppliers. You may want to work in partnership with third parties to deliver the brief. If so, you should include:

o responses on behalf of each partner o details of the responsibilities of each partner o an outline of the main personnel who will be responsible for the

production and delivery of the programme o an explanation of how working in partnership would be successfully

achieved, including a proposed legal structure (e.g. one lead contractor and sub-contractors).

(v) Details of your proposed total programme and per episode cost, broken down by price to BBC Public Service and any other funding sources. As part of our strategic priorities the BBC is making a commitment to the real living wage (as described by the Living Wage Foundation – see livingwage.org.uk). The per episode cost of the programme should be budgeted to account for the real living wage and the Full Proposal should include details of how compliance with the real living wage will be achieved. And all details should be included in a template as below:

Production Costs Daily Rate Days/Week Total

Executive Producer £0.00

Producer £0.00

Assistant Producer £0.00

Production Manager £0.00

Total: £0.00

Overheads @ %

Production fees @ %

Grand Total – ex VAT £0.00

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(vi) As the BBC is looking for an original programme format, and not development of an existing programme/series, the BBC’s view is that TUPE will not be relevant or applicable to this commission.

Appendix A – Confirmation of acceptance of the BBC’s key contract terms.

Appendix B – Risk management. You should identify specific risks e.g. production risk, business continuity etc.; and the processes or systems that will be put in place to manage these.

Please note, the contract will be offered as a “fixed price” deal, with you being responsible for any overspend and entitled to keep any underspend. Whilst you are welcome to include proposals to deliver levels of content over and above that set out as required in Section A, this will need to be funded from within the published guide price.

If you have any questions regarding the submission of your Full Proposal, please ensure you email them to Khaliq.Meer@bbc.co.uk by Friday 31st August at the latest.

2. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US

NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVE

The BBC’s nominated representative for this commissioning brief are Khaliq.Meer@bbc.co.uk and Mark.Strippel@bbc.co.uk No individual other than the BBC’s nominated representatives (or their delegates as advised by the BBC) is authorised to discuss the contents or the substance of this commissioning brief with you. We’ll let you know of any change or addition to the BBC’s nominated representatives.

RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS

In the interest of fair competition, where we feel it’s appropriate, anonymised questions and responses will be circulated to all producers.

COPYRIGHT

The BBC is a signatory to, and will abide by the principles of the APC Code.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Subject to Section 2, paragraph 5 (Freedom of Information Act), the BBC will keep confidential all commercially sensitive information included in responses to this commissioning brief and will only use this information for the purposes of evaluating the Full Proposal, provided that you have identified the confidential nature of any such information in your response documents.

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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

As a public authority, the BBC is required to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”), which came into force on 1 January 2005. The FOIA is intended to deliver greater accountability for decisions and spending across the whole of the public sector. It requires public authorities to strike a balance between achieving transparency and protecting genuinely confidential or commercially sensitive information.

You should be aware that, under an FOIA request, the BBC may be required to disclose information contained within the Full Proposal or future contractual information. Following a request, the BBC may take the views of organisations submitting proposals into account when deciding what information will be disclosed.

For more information on the Freedom of Information Act see bbc.co.uk/foi.

COSTS

As outlined in Section D, paragraph 6 below, you submit responses to this commissioning brief and take part in this process at your own cost.

A FIXED PRICE DEAL

The contract will be offered as a “fixed price” deal; with you being responsible for any overspend and entitled to keep any underspend.

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3. IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE

All Full Proposals should be submitted using Proteus by noon on Tuesday 3rd September. For guidance, it should not in total exceed five sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11.

We strongly advise you to submit your final responses in good time to avoid the possibility of difficulties caused by unforeseen network or transmission problems. No late submissions will be accepted.

If additional supporting material is requested prior to the pitching meeting, we will notify you of how and when to submit this in good time ahead of that meeting.

This commissioning brief is not a contract. However, the information contained in this commissioning brief, together with your responses, will form the basis of the final contract between you and the BBC.

The BBC reserves the right to exclude any producer that is found to either:

a) have provided information which is untrue, or b) be in breach of any of the terms of the non-disclosure agreement.

IMPORTANT: Producers wishing to submit a proposal under these briefs are not permitted to contact BBC production staff, seeking further information without prior consent from the commissioner.

Producers are not permitted to contact on-air talent or their producers, unless shortlisted, and with prior approval of the commissioner.

Any producer found to be in breach of this clause will be excluded from the commissioning process.

The BBC may modify the commissioning brief (including the timetable as outlined in Section B.1) at any time prior to the submission deadline. Any such amendment will be notified in writing to all prospective producers. To allow time for such amendment to be taken into account, the BBC may, at its discretion, extend the deadline for receipt of submissions.

The BBC reserves the right at any time prior to the award of a commission, and without incurring any liability to the affected producers, to accept or to reject any proposal, or to annul the commissioning process rejecting all Full Proposals.

By submitting your proposal, you confirm acceptance of the key contract terms.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the following instructions.

Proposals not complying with these instructions may be rejected by the

Commissioner whose decision in this matter will be final.

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APPENDIX 1: EXPERIENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

GUIDANCE

The Experience Questionnaire is the first part of your submission the BBC will consider as part of the process. Once completed, please copy and paste your responses into the Add/Edit Notes Here section of the Create Proposal page in Proteus – as per the screen grab below.

You MUST complete Section 1 ONLY if you plan to submit a full proposal as part of a partnership. Please list each partnership and describe the responsibilities each partner will take. [Insert details] Please indicate the lead company with whom the BBC will contract. [Insert details] Please include the key personnel responsible for the production and delivery of the programme and details of the partnering company they are currently contracted to. Part 2: Production Experience You MUST complete these Production Experience questions. In no more than 100 words per response, please outline your relevant production experience, using recent examples, in the following areas: 2.1 Asian Network is focused on serving young, 15-29 year old audiences and is passionate about youth culture. Please outline your company’s experiences of producing programmes aimed at this audience. [Insert details]

Copy and paste Eligibility Section below into this field in Proteus.

Proteus Screen Grab

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2.2 It’s critical on-air talent is relevant to our core audience at all times. Please outline your company’s experience in coaching and developing this aspect in both established and emerging presenters. [Insert details] 2.3 Young audiences love their phones and the ability these allow to interact via social media. Please outline any relevant experience you have in producing engaging interactive and social content. [Insert details] 2.4 We require a production team with a realistic understanding of the pressures involved in producing high-quality programmes over a sustained period. Please give an indicated of your experiences in this area and the depth of production talent within your company. [Insert details] Please note: the answers given in response to the above questions will only be considered during Stage 1 of the commissioning process. If you are shortlisted and invited to submit a Full Proposal, you may wish to consider repeating some, or all of the information given in your Full Proposal.