BiggerStage looks to attract production to Ireland with format pilot scheme

MIPCOM: Irish production company BiggerStage is launching Pilot Plus, a scheme to develop and test unscripted formats at Troy Studios in Limerick, with plans to produce up to six pilots a year.

Pat Kiely

BiggerStage, led by CEO and founder Pat Kiely, said it will run the initiative through its Format Factory programme, giving producers funding and production support to develop new IP.

The scheme will also offer access to Ireland’s 20% unscripted tax credit, which was introduced earlier this year, with pilot costs eligible for the incentive if incurred within six months of filming a full series in Ireland.

Kiely said the scheme aims to address buyer reluctance to commit to formats based on paper proposals alone.

BiggerStage launched Pilot Plus at Mipcom this week and is preparing to select its first production partners.

Ireland’s unscripted incentive, which marks a first in Europe, is a 20% tax credit on qualifying production or development spending, up to a limit of €15m (US$16.8m) per project.

“Betting on a paper format in today’s climate is a risk that increasingly few buyers are prepared to take. Pilot Plus will help producers bring their work to life in a high-quality, highly cost-efficient location,” said Kiely.

“With the added benefits of a sophisticated, experienced and talented crew base – and Europe’s only unscripted tax credit – we are delighted with the interest in creating new formats in Ireland already, following our launch this week at Mipcom. We are looking forward to selecting initial partners and bringing their formats to life over the coming weeks.”