BBC Cymru Wales’ Format Fund to support indies making YouTube-friendly content

The BBC’s Welsh operation, BBC Cymru Wales, is launching a new development initiative for digital-first factual entertainment as the UK public broadcaster continues to pivot towards YouTube-friendly content.

Nick Andrews

The Format Fund is designed specifically for audiences aged between 16 and 24. The Format Fund will support five indies which will each receive £7,000 (US$9,000) to create and develop an original pilot for digital platforms.

The fund seeks to encourage creative risk-taking and “to explore what the next generation of factual entertainment formats can look like in a digital-first landscape,” according to the pubcaster.

BBC Cymru Wales said it is seeking ideas that embrace YouTube-native storytelling, rather than traditional linear TV projects. It wants clear, engaging concepts, strong pacing, repeatable format mechanics and visuals that immediately capture attention.

Successful concepts will have the opportunity to be developed further with BBC Cymru Wales, with the potential to scale the projects into returning series. The deadline for applications is midnight on July 3.

The Format Fund aligns with the BBC’s wider strategy of leaning into digital-first content as younger audiences continue to migrate to YouTube and social media. In January, the broadcaster announced a partnership to produce bespoke programming for the platform.

Nick Andrews, head of commissioning at BBC Cymru Wales, said: “As part of a busy summer of piloting and commissioning YouTube content of all shapes and sizes across scripted and unscripted we’re delighted to be heading into this super fun genre. We’d love to be in a world where we can scale up these fact-ent pilots into something for the whole of the BBC to enjoy – wishing everyone all the best as they get stuck into it.”