Genres > Factual Entertainment

How To Work With Us

One-page pitches should be sent to the contact below, along with a signed copy of the CBC's Submission Release Form which can be downloaded from this website. Producers can expect a response from the department within 4-6 weeks.

All proposals are reviewed by the Factual commissioning team every other week. If there is interest in a project, the producer will be contacted for further discussion and refinement of the program proposal.

Each month the Factual Entertainment Department presents promising proposals to the Content Planning Office. If the Network is interested in the concept, we embark on a phase of development, the deliverables of which are agreed upon by the producer and the CBC. Development funding is determined by the deliverables.

What We Are Looking For

• Hour and/or half-hour concepts
• Continuing and repeatable series, no less than 10 episodes
• Social experiments, constructed reality
• Shows that can use our assets as a national broadcaster with operations in every region across the country
• Shows that we can build a movement around
• Shows that have multi-platform possibilities
• Shows that appeal to a broad audience: adults 25-54 and families.

The Branded Entertainment Development Initiative

CBC calls on marketers and independent producers to collaborate on multi-platform strategies and partnership opportunities with CBC's daytime and afternoon programming schedule

CBC announces the creation of The Branded Entertainment Development Initiative, a unique opportunity for marketers and independent producers interested in collaborating on CBC's daytime programming schedule. It will provide the chance to be part of the creation and development of new daytime programs that incorporate strategic partnerships with outside brands, in an effort to create opportunities that go beyond traditional broadcast avenues.

"We know there are strong ideas already percolating out in the Canadian independent production communities that would fit well with our existing lifestyle and cooking shows," said Jennifer Dettman, head of Factual Entertainment, CBC Television, "We look forward to hearing more from the industry and providing a platform for brands and products to be integrated seamlessly and organically into our programming."

Announced today at the inaugural BCON Expo presented by Strategy and Playback
magazine, The Branded Entertainment Development Initiative will be managed and
developed through a combined effort of CBC's Studio & Unscripted team and the CBC
Revenue Group Client Marketing department. The full criteria and details of the new initiative will be released April 5, on CBC's Independent Producers website.

"It is extremely rare for marketers and their brands to be at the table while a project is in this stage of development - we are thrilled to be offering this 'first of its kind' opportunity to the Canadian marketing and advertising community," said Gaye McDonald, director of Client Marketing, CBC Revenue Group.

How To Submit Your Series Concept - Producers

We are interested in branded entertainment concepts that possess all of the following characteristics:

• Daytime afternoon programming (strippable M-F)

• Built and developed with 'brands/brand categories' in mind . Please note, CBC is not asking producers to approach brands - we will provide the partnership and are looking to the independent production community for their best creative concepts.

• Hours or half-hours, studio-based or field-based with limited local travel

• Complements and matches the tone of CBC's existing afternoon lifestyle talk and cooking shows (ie: bright, engaging, informative, fun)

• Subject matter that is appropriate for the CBC and relevant to a family audience with slight female skew, 25-54

• Includes multi-platform strategies beyond traditional broadcast avenues

• Programming that not only entertains audiences but also can unite them in a national conversation or collective experience

• Subject matter that we are not considering include dating, international travel, wilderness adventure, exercise shows and docusoaps

Please submit the following to brandedpitch@cbc.ca by Tuesday, May 21, 2013:

• 1-2 page detailed synopsis of your series concept

• Signed submission release (downloadable below)

• Your contact information, including phone and email details and name of primary contact

How To Submit Your Brand Interest - Brand / Product / Marketer / Agency

We are interested in working with brands that fit well with the characteristics of the
programs as described above.

Please submit the following to brandedpitch@cbc.ca by Tuesday, May 21, 2013:

• Information regarding the brand, and your contact information, including phone and email details

Any specific questions regarding The Branded Entertainment Development Initiative can also be sent directly to brandedpitch@cbc.ca.

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.

Contact Information

Jessica Schmiedchen
Manager, Development, CBC Factual Entertainment
Email - factualpitch@cbc.ca

Postal Address

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
PO Box 500, Station "A"
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5W 1E6

Shipping Address

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
205 Wellington Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5V 2G7