RTÉ, NRK strengthen format ties

Irish pubcaster RTÉ and its Norwegian counterpart NRK have partnered to offer €10,000 (US$11,000) development funding for a new format.

The extension of RTÉ’s Format Farm initiative, which opened last week, comes after the two pubcasters linked up last year to co-develop formats for the international market.

This has already resulted in the show #Missing You, which explores the pressures of maintaining long-distance relationships.

RTÉ and NRK are now offering development funding for a show that can be broadcast in both the Irish and Norwegian markets.

They are looking for an original format which has not been previously commissioned, produced and exploited on any platform and for which all worldwide rights are available.

The format should be innovative, original, able to travel, returnable and creatively distinctive, they said.

The deadline for entries is March 18, when five finalists will be chosen to pitch at the Celtic Media Festival in Ireland on April 21.

A panel comprising Adrian Lynch, channel controller of RTÉ One; Janet Frawley, head of formats at RTÉ; Petter Wallace, head of commissioning at NRK; and Unni Ødegård, NRK’s commissioning editor independents will choose the winner.

The panel will be adjudicated by Michelle Spillane, director of RTÉ Global, the Irish pubcaster’s distribution arm.

“Global partnerships are essential in a world of ever-increasing media fragmentation. The 10k Format Farm Pitch at the Celtic Media Festival further cements RTÉ and NRK’s commitment to partner in finding outstanding content for our channels and platforms,” said Spillane.

NRK’s Wallace added: “In the future, public service broadcasters, particularly in smaller countries, need to cooperate more to create great content.”

“Hopefully we will develop ideas through this competition that enrich the output for audiences in both Norway and Ireland, and perhaps open up opportunities for production companies in both countries to broaden the market for their ideas.”