Genres > Doc Zone

Who We Are

Doc Zone is about our world, our journey. It explores the forces and trends that shape our generation. Its story mandate is wide: from the broad sweep of economic, political and social changes that impact our lives to the deeply personal and intimate stories of family and relationships, Doc Zone always has our viewers at the heart of the matter. Our documentaries are evocative, appealing and visually stunning, presenting a panoramic view of what matters most to Canadians.

Doc Zone airs Thursday nights at 9 PM on CBC Television, and also airs on CBC News Network. The series features both independently produced documentaries and CBC in-house productions.

How To Work With Us

Your proposal should be as complete as possible, and should clearly outline story focus, themes and characters. Each proposal should be accompanied by information about your creative team, production company, and if possible, financing structure. If there is interest in your proposal, you may be asked for additional information. We will respond within 4-6 weeks.

Funding

The CBC pays a license fee that is a percentage of the approved budget. This license fee will trigger the various funding agencies and other sources of financing available to producers across Canada. We do not participate in projects that have NGO financial backing.

Co-production

Normally, we are the first window broadcaster. We engage in productions with independent Canadian producers in conjunction with the Canadian Media Fund. The CMF has provisions for international co-productions, so occasionally we do engage in international co-productions subject to the quality of the story, Doc Zone requirements, the production personnel and the relevance to our viewers.

HD

Doc Zone is the flagship documentary series of CBC Television. As such we require the highest technical standards. All documentaries must be shot in High Definition. Our typical production window is 6 months to a year, but timely subjects may require a quicker turnaround.

What We Are Looking For

Doc Zone's story mandate is broad: from the collapse of the financial markets and a portrait of the RCMP in crisis, to the drop in male birthrates and how to divorce and not wreck the kids.

Doc Zone is intelligent and edgy, but at all times its stories must be accessible, popular and pertinent to a broad prime-time audience.

Although it is diverse in its subjects, it is unified in style. Doc Zone's style is a briskly- paced, well-written journalistic narrative that always seeks the human drama, and builds around human stories. Doc Zone has a single presenter who narrates each episode and the show follows a multi-act dramatic documentary structure.

Doc Zone episodes are all originally produced for the series, drawing on the best staff and independent documentary producers and directors.

CBC Submission Release Form

Materials will not be reviewed unless accompanied by a signed CBC Submission Release Form, downloadable here: Submission Release Form (PDF).

We will respond to all submissions within 4 - 6 weeks of receiving a signed CBC Submission Release Form. We cannot return materials submitted.

All submissions should be e-mailed to: doczone@cbc.ca

A hard copy can also be forwarded to:

Doc Zone
CBC Independent Documentary Unit
205 Wellington St. W.
Toronto, ON
M5V 3G7
Fax: 416-205-8842