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Programme Commissioning Procedures

2011/12 submission of programme proposals has been closed. The detail of 2012/13 will be announced soon.

A. Programme Commissioning
B. Eligibility
C. Commissioning Funding
D. 2011 / 12 Topics for Commissioned Productions
E. Procedures of Commissioning
F. Enquiry

Download Forms

Download Application Form
Short-listed proposals must submit production budget in the format provided herein.
Download Drama Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Documentary Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Animation Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Agreement (for Single Episode / Mini Series)
Download Agreement (for Animation)

A. Programme Commissioning

Programme Commissioning is an open platform for independent producers to exhibit their creativity. By doing so, we aim to help building up Hong Kong's independent television programme production industry. Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) provides 100% funding in the form of equity and owns 100% copyright.

The types of programme RTHK will commission are:
i) Drama
ii) Documentary or Factual Programme
iii) Animation

B. Eligibility

In order to be considered eligible to apply to RTHK's Programme Commissioning, an applicant must be a company with major business activities related to film or television programme production or distribution and registered in Hong Kong. Such company does not hold any broadcast license and is not affiliated to any broadcasters.

C. Commissioning Funding

1. Single episode

-	Main theme of single episode will be decided by RTHK.
-	The duration of each episode will be 30-minute except animation which is 6-minute or 12-minute in length.
-	The programme shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.
-	No fixed production budget and its size will depend on production theme and merit. The selection criteria will consider if the production merits warrant such RTHK's investment.
-	The production budget for each episode of drama shall be no more than HK$300,000. For documentary shall be HK$180,000.
-	The production budget for each episode of 6-minute and 12-minute animation shall be no more than HK$75,000 and HK$150,000 respectively.

2. Mini-Series

-	Topic may be provided by RTHK or proposed by applicant.
-	Free topic is allowed to attract new programme ideas or innovative programme format.
-	Each series will consist of no less than 5 episodes of the same theme and each with a duration of 30 minutes.
-	The series shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.
-	Production budget and its size will depend on production theme and merit but will be no more than HK$1.3 million. The selection criteria will consider if the production merits warrant such RTHK's investment.

D. 2011 / 12 Topics for Commissioned Productions

A. Single-episode Drama
	Topic: Life’s Hard (Submission's closed) It’s self-explanatory: “Life’s Hard” refers to the pressure and hardship presently faced by Hongkongers in daily life. The impoverished at the bottom-end of society are, of course, most exposed to this choking plight; but “Life’s Hard” is not confined to economic problems faced by the impoverished; family relationship and general inequality in society may give every class its “Life’s Hard” moment as well. We look forward to let the audience review our present life from a new perspective and consider the possibility of finding another way out. We are inviting proposals with the following contents: A 22-minute HD drama episode Depicts the livelihood of Hongkongers who feel “Life’s Hard” in the form of a realistic social drama; the script may be adapted from real-life stories. Meanwhile, in cultural terms “Hongkongers” are no more confined to long-time Hong Kong residents possessing an ID card; they can also be new immigrants holding two-way entry permits, Hong Kong citizens residing in the Mainland, Mainland students studying in Hong Kong, southern Asians having lived in Hong Kong for a long time, and so forth. Production budget: no more than $300,000. Suitable for primetime TV.
B. Single-episode Documentary
	Topic: Angels on Earth (Submission's closed.) In every corner of this world, there are always some moving and laudable events happening. The protagonists may not be doing something magnificent, but to some others their deeds will be remembered forever. These people may be less than perfect, but what they do have brought colours back to some people and some places, or maybe even benefiting everyone. “They” are even not humans in some cases; but they can be heartening and intimate with us, like family members. We are inviting proposals with the following contents: A 22- minute HD single-episode documentary. Real stories with real characters; filming location may be Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macau, Taiwan, or any Chinese community around the world. Preferably stories taking place outside Hong Kong. Production budget: no more than HK$180,000. Suitable for primetime TV.
C. Documentary Series
	Topic: Free topic We are inviting proposals with the following contents: A documentary series of at least 5 episodes on a same topic. HD production of 22 minutes per episode. Production budget: no more than HK$1.3 million. Suitable for primetime TV.
D. Underwater Documentary Series
	Topic: Documentary series related to the underwater world or the ocean We are inviting proposals with the following contents: A documentary series of at least 5 episodes on a same topic. HD production of 22 minutes per episode. Production budget: no more than HK$1.3 million. Suitable for primetime TV.
E. Animation
1. A 6-minute episode
	Topic: Free topic We are inviting proposals with the following contents: Production budget: no more than HK$75,000. Suitable for primetime TV.
2. A 12-minute episode
	Topic: Free topic We are inviting proposals with the following contents: Production budget: no more than HK$15,000. Suitable for primetime TV.

E. Procedures of Commissioning

Submission of programme proposal is open all year round and evaluations take place in four sessions, with deadlines on 29th April (Friday), 30th June (Thursday), 30th August (Tuesday) and 30th November 2011 (Wednesday). The sought topics, programme formats and requirements, as well as the deadlines for application, are listed in the RTHK webpage ( http://rthk.hk/tvcommissioning ). Application forms, standard production budget forms and production budget guidelines are also available for download in the above-mentioned RTHK webpage. Proposals to be accepted each session:

	Single-episode Drama	Single-episode Documentary	Documentary Series	Underwater Documentary Series	Animation
1st Session
2nd Session
3rd Session		---
4th Session	---	---

Applicants need to submit their application with programme idea and synopsis at this stage. Proposals received will be given a reference number, acknowledged and kept sealed until the deadline of each session.

Proposals will be assessed on creativity, content originality, proposals' relevance to the theme and insights on the topic.

For proposals that have been short-listed, producers will be given one month to submit detailed programme proposal which includes preliminary research report, programme concept, shooting locations, list of interviewees (for documentary) and lists of casting and full script (for drama or animation), etc.; production budget; full list of key production team members and their CV; production schedule; specification on technical aspect; copy of the company's business registration certificate.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview. External members namely academics from universities' communications department, executive producer or producers from television or film industry, professionals related to the commissioning topics, may be invited to the assessment panel to assist in the evaluation. Assessment will be based on creativity, content originality, enhanced ideas to illustrate the theme, production feasibility, relevant expertise, track record, crew members' profile and experience, equipment and facilities support, suitability for prime time broadcast, budget and producer's performance during interview.

All applicants will be notified of the results within three weeks after interview.

F. Enquiry

Documentary / Animation : docucomm@rthk.hk

Drama : dramacomm@rthk.hk