BBC Worldwide Channels Commissioner Outlines Wish List

LONDON: Julie Swanston, the VP of commissioning for BBC Worldwide Channels, has set out her priorities for the new genre brands BBC Earth and BBC Brit.

Swanston is charged with commissioning a minimum of 83 hours of content across the two brands. For BBC Brit, the aim is to commission four original, male-skewing factual entertainment series. There are four core themes for BBC Brit content: camaraderie, expertise, wit and jeopardy.

“The BBC Brit audience has a deep appreciation of British humor and the quirks of our culture,” said Swanston. “These are intelligent blokes who enjoy having a laugh and we’re looking to meet their desire for entertaining content that is underpinned by substance and feels uniquely British.”

For BBC Earth, Swanston is looking for original content to fill a new Earth Unplugged slot, which she described as “natural history with its hair down.” This includes adrenaline-fueled, fast-paced and visceral adventure series that have British talent at their center.

Swanston said: “We are looking for series which have a clear mission and sense of purpose for BBC Earth, the Earth Unplugged slot will be exhilarating, lean-forward television. Expertise is critical but it must be matched by entertainment; they are of equal importance in the content we are seeking for BBC Earth.”

She added: “We are looking for authentic, real-life adventurers who are immersed in the experience, rather than at the end of a long lens.”

The BBC Earth and BBC Brit brands will launch as international channels in 2015, rolling out globally throughout the year.