Reality & Entertainment

Introduction

In Reality & Entertainment we commission award-winning, channel-defining unscripted content across Channel 4, E4 and our streaming platform, working with an array of new and established talent both on and off-screen. 

Our growing Reality slate includes some of the channel’s biggest and most established hits including The Great British Bake Off, Married at First Sight, Made in Chelsea and Celebs Go Dating, alongside new distinctive formats like Tempting Fortune, Love Triangle and The Underdog: Josh Must Win. 

In Entertainment we are the home of gold standard comedy entertainment formats including Taskmaster, The Last Leg, I Literally Just Told You, 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown and Late Night Lycett. 

We are looking for the next wave of Reality and Entertainment hits that drive healthy streaming views and have big broad linear appeal. We want formats that have Channel 4’s unique tone of voice, standing out as distinctive and innovative with a fresh take on the familiar.

What are we looking for? 

Reality

Reality is at the heart of our Fast Forward strategy and we have multiple opportunities to find and develop new series in 2024 for TX in 2025 and beyond. We want to build a new slate of returnable franchises that feel uniquely British, with alluring and relatable toplines and authentic storytelling that compels viewers to return to watch every episode on streaming. Crucial to every format is a range of emotion from the cast, we want heart and humour.  

Channel 4 Reality 

For linear launch on Channel 4 and to drive VOD viewing we want formats with broad inter-generational appeal, but it’s important they are bold and can stand out in a crowded market. We are always interested in social experiments that feel fresh, with formatted beats that create hooks and cliff-hangers. We are particularly interested in formats that place the viewers ahead of the gameplay, allowing them to judge the actions of the contributors. 

We are aiming for tariffs around £450-500k per hour for orders around 6 and 10 episodes and we are open to funding partners, perhaps with another territory or broadcaster.

Here’s what we’re seeking for Channel 4 Reality:  

• Bold formats that feel British and stand out in the market
• A broad & relatable topline with a sense of purpose 
• A fresh take on the familiar with a Channel 4 irreverent twist 
• Authentic action where the format avoids a mean mechanic at its core
• Compelling narrative arcs across a series that build to a dramatic finale
• Gameplay that is unpredictable and where viewers are ahead of the action
• Hooks and cliff-hangers that fuel binge viewing
• A range of emotion, with humour and heart 
• Formatted beats that create talkability and noise on social media
• A relatable and likeable contributor cast for the first series. Celebrity versions can come later
• Returnability is key from the start, think about how the series can scale and grow

E4 Reality

For linear launch on E4 and to drive VOD viewing we are looking for the next wave of scalable Reality hits to complement Married At First Sight, Celebs Go Dating and Made In Chelsea, formats that feel tonally similar and create ‘content families’ that compel viewers to keep watching on streaming. 

E4’s demographic is aimed at 16-34’s, but the biggest and broadest shows with inter-generational appeal bring in the biggest share of this demographic. They should have the look and feel of glossy Reality with natural drama, authenticity and inspire emotional investment from the viewer. We want humour, drama, real world jeopardy and a topline rooted in a legitimate question or a truth. 

Ideas need to be scalable and returnable that we can envisage growing into a large volume order. For the first series we would be looking at a tariff around the £300k-£350k mark for orders of between 10 and 15 episodes.  POP

Here’s what we’re seeking for E4 Reality: 

• Primarily formats within the romance and dating territory
• A topline that is relatable and authentic 
• Heart and humour - we don’t want formats that have a mean mechanic at their core
• Casting with a mixture of age ranges, that are broad and relatable (not Celebrity)
• Authentic storytelling with natural jeopardy 
• Dramatic characters arcs that can evolve across the series and drive viewer engagement 
• Packed with hooks and cliff-hangers
• Set in an escapist world that feels alluring
• Shockable and shareable moments, that viewers will be compelled to post their opinion on.
• Returnability is key, think about how the series can scale

Channel 4 Entertainment 

Comedy Entertainment is a channel defining genre for us, but it is a challenge to find formats in this area that drive VOD viewing. Taskmaster is one of the top streaming titles on our platform and we are looking for formats that can emulate that success, so we want Comedy first formats that have engaging gameplay for viewers and a narrative arc across a series that drives viewers to streaming. 

Talent is key and we always welcome your recommendations of who is the next rising star to champion. All ideas should be vehicles for high profile established talent and training slopes for new, breakthrough talent.

For the first series we would be looking at a tariff around the £250k-£300k mark for orders of between 6 and 8 episodes.

Here’s what we’re seeking for Channel 4 Entertainment:  

• Evergreen comedy, we don’t want topical or quiz 
• Formats where comedians can react to events unfolding, that is unpredictable 
• A mixture of new and established talent in a blended cast
• Viewer gameplay, where they can judge the actions of the comedians and remain engaged
• Fresh worlds and settings, reinventing the look and feel of the traditional panel 
• A VOD driving narrative arc across a series, perhaps soft competition

Get in touch

Please note that we do not accept ideas from members of the public. We commission production companies to make our programmes, therefore we only accept ideas from PACT registered production companies, as they hold the Intellectual Property rights. If you are sending an idea that is not from a PACT registered company, or you are a member of the public, we suggest contacting a relevant production company with your idea and they can submit it on your behalf.

Please copy all ideas to a Commissioning Editor and the Reality & Entertainment Inbox at RealityandEnts@Channel4.co.uk

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