Title Role’s Helen Tonge

Navigating the factual space while budgets are under pressure and broadcasters, streamers and audiences are in a state of recalibration can be a challenge, but it also presents a unique opportunity for producers to collaborate and branch out. This reset is especially evident within true crime, where key industry players have formed the Association of True Crime Producers (ATCP) to promote and maintain protection standards in the genre. Helen Tonge, CEO of Title Role and an ATCP committee member, talks with TV Real about the bright spots in the unscripted space, what makes the ATCP so crucial now and in the future and where Title Role is headed as it approaches its 20th anniversary.

TV REAL: What motivated you to co-found Title Role?
TONGE: I was thinking about this, and it took me way back. I loved coming up with ideas when I was at ITV before I set up Title Role, and a few of them got commissioned. Following on from that, I got the opportunity to start an independent, and it was one of those moments where you either stay where you are with a broadcaster or you go and jump. I got the opportunity with [co-founder and chief technical officer] Ian Bradshaw, who I worked with at ITV, and I loved the fact that we could take on the world. We had lots of passion, energy and stamina. We built the resilience along the way. That was that. There was a desire to go out there and creatively try to make our mark with worthwhile, compelling shows. From those early beginnings, we developed one of our prime formats that still goes today, Crimes That Shook…. It airs in over 150 territories, so we must be doing something right. Title Role will be 20 next year.

TV REAL: What’s been the key to creating unscripted content that stands out in such a crowded market?
TONGE: It’s a tricky time, isn’t it? Just when you think [you know] the broadcasters and the channels inside out, they change and pivot. It’s harder than ever to get an understanding of what will be successful. We’re hearing some similar themes, though. Top-level access is what’s rising to the top in these uncertain times—the bold, adventurous ideas. Scripted is having a bit of a heyday, [along with] reality and tried-and-tested formats. Those are key areas at the moment that will cut through.

TV REAL: Let’s talk more about Title Role’s strategy for dealing with the industry circumstances you’ve touched on.
TONGE: We have been, just like everybody else, finding new and different ways to collaborate, be that in the financing of projects or branching out into new areas. For example, the premium docs space is a “new” area, but it’s not a new area for us. We’re building on the skills that we’ve had for years, looking into how we can utilize them to cut through in a time like this. We’re trying to understand the fundamental changes in the industry. Traditional TV is changing, and we’re pivoting with that. We’re also exploring other areas of the digital space: the streamers, FAST channels and creating content in different ways. We’re keeping an eye on how content is being consumed and what that means for how we’re creating it.

TV REAL: You are a committee member of the ATCP. What do you feel is the importance of the organization, and how do you implement its core principles at Title Role?
TONGE: An association like this is brilliant. It’s absolutely critical as true crime is becoming more and more popular. I was keen to establish the association with Kate [Beal, chair of the ATCP and CEO of Woodcut Media] and the team. The principles behind it, such as the duty of care, have been the fundamentals of Title Role from the [beginning] because we started off producing true crime. I want to continue and work on those key pillars. Our duty of care to the contributors and the crew is paramount. I’m so pleased that more and more is being done in this space. As an industry as a whole, we’re getting better, but there’s a lot of work to be done. I’m pleased that I’m part of the committee that not only helps shape the guiding principles of the duty of care but also continually learns. You never know everything, do you? We frequently check in with our teams and the contributors. We’ve got very robust systems in place that we are on all the time, but whenever something new comes out or arises, we’re keen to bring that back to the team. We make sure that we’re doing the best we can. It’s such an important association, and I’m proud to be part of it.

TV REAL: What’s next for Title Role? Let’s look ahead to the next 12 or 24 months, if we can imagine them.
TONGE: If we can! We’re doing a lot of work in the premium doc space. That’s a big area for us. True crime continues. We are investing in the formats side of things more. Formats aren’t an area we’ve done much of in the past, but we are growing that within the company. We’re growing our digital presence. It’s all about knowing where the platforms are and pivoting. We’ve also got our eye on the U.S. Our content goes worldwide, and we film in the U.S. a lot, but we are actively moving into there as well, which is hugely exciting. Finally, we’re thinking about our rights and collaborating with new partners in terms of ideas, rights and funding. It’s a collection; there is a lot going on. In the end, we try our best to do the work that we do and continue to make great programs.