Programme Commissioning Procedures

Deadline for 2008/09 (Phase II): 30 June 2008 (Monday)

A. Programme Commissioning
B. Eligibility
C. Commissioning Funding
D. 2007 / 08 Topics for Commissioned Productions
E. Procedures of Commissioning
F. Enquiry

Download Forms

Download Application Form
Short-listed proposals must submit production budget in the format provided herein.
Download Drama Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Documentary Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Animation Budget Form (Inquiry Password)
Download Agreement (for Single Episode / Mini Series) （Inquiry Password）
Download Licence Agreement (for Independent Production)（Inquiry Password）
Download Agreement (for Animation)（Inquiry Password）

A. Programme Commissioning

The objective of the new Programme Commissioning is to provide an open platform to independent producers and to help building up Hong Kong's independent television programme production industry. In addition to equity financing, Programme Commissioning will also include licensing to encourage independent producers to invest and own their productions.

The types of programme RTHK will commission are:
i) Documentary and or Factual Programme
ii) Drama
iii) Animation

B. Eligibility

In order to be considered eligible to apply to RTHK's Programme Commissioning, an applicant must be a company with major business activities related to film or television programme production or distribution and registered in Hong Kong. Such company does not hold any broadcast licence and is not affiliated to any broadcasters.

C. Commissioning Funding

1. Single episode

-	RTHK provides 100% funding in the form of equity and owns 100% copyright of the production.
-	Main theme of individual episode will be decided by RTHK.
-	The duration of each episode will be 30 minutes.
-	The program shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.
-	No fixed production budget and its size will depend on production theme and merit. The selection criteria will consider if the production merits warrant such RTHK's investment.
-	The production budget for each episode of Drama shall be no more than HK$300,000. For documentary shall be no more than HK$180,000 (depict the streets of Hong Kong) and $220,000 (outside Hong Kong).
-	The production budget for each episode of 12 minutes Animation shall be no more than HK$150,000.

2. Mini-Series

-	RTHK provides 100% funding in the form of equity and owns 100% copyright of the series.
-	Topic may be provided by RTHK or proposed by applicant.
-	Free topic is allowed to attract new programme ideas or innovative programme format.
-	Each series will consist of no less than 5 episodes of the same theme and each with a duration of 30 minutes.
-	The series shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.
-	Production budget and its size will depend on production theme and merit but will be no more than HK$1.3 million. The selection criteria will consider if the production merits warrant such RTHK's investment.

3. Independent Production

-	RTHK provides part of the production funding in the form of license fee. RTHK will ask for an exclusive license for Hong Kong all television and internet rights for the period of protection of copyright (RTHK's rights). Independent producer will ask RTHK for a fee in exchange for this right. The size of the license fee will in essence be subject to the selection criteria where pricing and other merits are considered. Independent producer owns the production 100% and is free to distribute the production to other media and territories while subject to RTHK's rights.
-	Proof of financing (including grant, financial commitment from producer, other broadcasters and investors) shall be submitted to RTHK before the execution of the contract between RTHK and independent producer. Prior to signing the contract, once the proposal has been approved, RTHK and producer may sign a "Letter of Intent"or "Letter of Commitment"with a 6 months validity for producer to solicit further financing.
-	RTHK retains the right to negotiate an RTHK credit on other versions of the production.
-	No fixed amount of production budget and the fee RTHK pays for RTHK's rights will depend on the size and scope of the production but the fee will be no more than HK$1.3 million.
-	Topic may be provided by RTHK or proposed by applicant.
-	Free topic is allowed to attract new programme ideas or innovative programme format.
-	Each independent production will consists of no less than 5 episodes of the same theme and each with duration of 30 minutes.
-	The series shall be suitable for prime time broadcast on Chinese language television channel.

D. 2008 / 09 Topics for Commissioned Productions

a) Drama

1)	Single Episode
	Topic: Modern Marriages It has never been an easy task for two persons to get along with each other, and to live together as a couple is of course much harder. There are people who could not find their other halves after much searching; couples who love each other for a long, long time; people going north to seek love; and people who love beyond the limitation of country borders. Some people prepare their weddings merrily, while others end up falling out with each other. Besides love, there are many social economic factors affecting marriages: some couples divorce as frictions arise in daily lives, while many at marriage age would step back from marriages as they have neither money nor property. You can portray stories of present-day love and marriages and put them on screen. The title “Modern Marriages” is adopted to invite proposals of 10 half-hour drama productions, each with 22 minutes in duration. The production budget for each episode of Drama shall be no more than HK$300,000.

2)	Independent Production
	Free topic. The creativity, depth and uniqueness of the production shall prevail.

b) Documentary

1)	Single Episode Topic: Street Scenes Streets are the blood veins of a city, full of vitality. On normal weekdays, we walk by too hastily to notice its appearance. We would be bewildered to find a completely different view if we just stop and see. Careful observations would uncover the uniqueness of each and every street, the vitality of which is a kind of organic evolution. Walking along the street is not the same as visiting a shopping mall, different people's livelihood is observed as we pass through different streets and lanes, which are a manifestation of the cultural sense of the entire community. This documentary aims to portray different types of people found on the streets, and can also serve as an argumentative essay to explore the issue of town planning in Hong Kong, or a street-corner style episode – each street having a life and a style of its own. The title “Street Scenes” is adopted to invite proposals of 6 half-hour documentary productions, each with 22 minutes in duration. Content can either depict the streets of Hong Kong (production budget – maximum $180,000) or the streets of places outside Hong Kong (production budget – maximum $220,000).

2)	Mini-Series Topic: Underwater World The documentary has to be related to diving or the underwater world.

3)	Independent Production Free topic. The creativity, depth and uniqueness of the production shall prevail.

C) 12-min. Animation

Free Topic. Free Format. The production budget for each 12-min. animation shall be no more than $150,000.

E. Procedures of Commissioning

1.	Submission of programme proposal is open all year round and is evaluated thrice a year. Announcement of topics, programme format and requirement, deadlines for submission are posted on RTHK's website http://www.rthk.org.hk. Application form, standard production budget forms together with production budget guidelines are available for download from the RTHK website.
2.	Applicants need to submit their application with programme idea and synopsis at this stage. Proposals received will be given a reference number, acknowledged and kept sealed until the deadline of each session.
3.	Proposals will be assessed on creativity, content originality, proposals' relevance to the theme and insights on the topic.
4.	For proposals that have been short-listed, producers will be given one month to submit detailed programme proposal which includes preliminary research report, programme concept, shooting locations, list of interviewees (for documentary) and lists of casting and full script (for drama or animation), etc.; production budget; full list of key production team members and their CV; production schedule; specification on technical aspect; copy of the company's business registration certificate.
5.	Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview. External members namely academics from universities' communications department, executive producer or producers from television or film industry, professionals related to the commissioning topics, may be invited to the assessment panel to assist in the evaluation. Assessment will be based on creativity, content originality, enhanced ideas to illustrate the theme, production feasibility, relevant expertise, track record, crew members' profile and experience, equipment and facilities support, suitability for prime time broadcast, budget and producer's performance during interview. For Independent Productions, level of financial commitment from producer or producer's ability to obtain other funding and its plans to distribute productions are also criteria for assessment.
6.	All applicants will be notified of the results within three weeks after interview.

F. Enquiry

Documentary / Animation : docucomm@rthk.org.hk

Drama : dramacomm@rthk.org.hk