Invitation to tender for ‘The Michael Ball Show’ bbc radio 2 Sunday Evenings

The remit of Radio 2 is to be a distinctive mixed music, entertainment and speech network, targeted at a broad audience, appealing to all age groups over 35. We offer distinctive, entertaining popular music and specialist programmes and speech-based content including news, current affairs, music documentaries, religion, arts, comedy and social action output.

The music should cover a broad spectrum of music formats in which the soundtrack of the older listener’s life is celebrated, explored and contextualised.

The emphasis will be on melodic, light music, light classical, nostalgic pop classics, crooners, jazz vocalists, music from the shows, songs from the films, contemporary vocalists working in the appropriate genres. The format will provide context to the music and there will be opportunities for music-focused interviews, exploring artists and listeners’ relationships with the music they love.

The Digital proposition should reflect and support the ambition to create community on Facebook, linking to other relevant Radio 2 programmes (EPOS, Parkinson, FNIMN etc, where possible).

The producer should be able to comfortably contextualise the programme playlist and work with the presenter to build the programme as a recognisable and defining guide through the musical focus as outlined.
There will be scope to discuss and develop the programme format with the network.
The contract will be for an initial period of 12 months - with the potential to extend up to a maximum of two further years - and will be contracted on the BBC’s standard terms for radio independent productions where the format belongs to the BBC.
Radio 2 has existing studio space and resources within BBC Western House, London, although producers are not required to use these resources. Independent companies wishing to make use of non-BBC studios are welcomed.
It is intended that the production will start on air on the 13^th January 2013.


FINANCE & CONTRACT DETAILS
The strand is being put to tender for 1 programme a week – Sundays, 50 weeks a year to include all interactive content (ie Programme Descriptions, playlists etc). The contract will be offered initially for a period of 12 months (with the potential to extend up to a maximum of two further years) = 50 shows per year / in total.
The Guide Price for the production should be £950 per show. This will include any costs for content, pre-production - and post-production where relevant. The presenter fees and studio facilities are exclusive of this budget.
The guide price will increase to £1,150 if alternative, non BBC, studios are proposed; however, if this is the case then the submission must include full evidence of the studios technical integrity, suitability and robustness as well as details of back-up plans and ability to link into the BBC’s Transmission network in full broadcast quality in a cost-effective manner.
Tenders submitted in excess of this guide price on this basis are extremely unlikely to be considered further. The price remains at the same level for programmes that are pre-recorded.

TERMS OF TRADE
These production contracts will be offered under the new (2005) BBC Terms of Trade for Independent Radio Commissions (a copy of which is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/busaffairs.shtml para 2), amended to reflect that the existing BBC format and programme copyright remains with BBC.
THE TIMETABLE
Tender Round opens: November 15th 2012

Tender Round closes: November 29th 2012 @ noon

Shortlist decision announced: November 30th 2012

Shortlisted Pitches heard: December 7th 2012

Decision announced: December 10th 2012

1st On-Air date: January 13^th 2013

1. 
   The relevant BBC Health & Safety questionnaire must be completed and returned in advance (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/busaffairs.shtml para 5)
   

2. 
   There is the requirement that all production staff working on this commission (producer & executive producer) have completed the BBC 'Safeguarding Trust' Compliance course prior to attending any pitching meeting (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/compliance.shtml
   
   
   

3. 
   The relevant programme proposal(s) must be submitted via the PROTEUS system only and it should cover all the points outlined in this document.
   (For PROTEUS access: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/busaffairs.shtml para 6)
   
   
   
4. 
   Accurate proposed episode prices must be submitted in Proteus – NOT the Network Guide Price
   
   
   
5. 
   Tenders must be submitted against the following PROTEUS commissioning brief:
   

3. 
   If alternative studios are proposed the submission must include full evidence of the Studios technical integrity, suitability and robustness as well as details of back-up plans and ability to link into the BBC’s Transmission network in full broadcast quality in a cost-effective manner.
   
   
   
4. 
   NO additional materials should be submitted at this stage and anything sent will be disregarded
   

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  Evidence of considerable company experience and staffing depth in national music-radio production, particularly within a melodic heritage music themed format
  

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  Evidence of considerable production experience and depth in national music-radio production, particularly within a melodic heritage music themed format
  

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  An ability to understand and represent Radio 2 as a whole, its remit and purpose within the wider BBC Radio portfolio
  

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  A detailed understanding of the musical wants and needs of the audience
  

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  A detailed understanding of BBC Editorial Guidelines in relation to the delivery of music, particularly with reference to dealing with possible conflict of interest and broadcasting contentious artists and/or lyrical content
  

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  An understanding of the issues surrounding talent management
  

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  A realistic understanding of the pressures, staffing and infrastructure involved in producing weekly shows over a long period
  

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  The ability to provide accurate financial information
  

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  An understanding of the importance of multimedia content in modern radio and the ability to provide rich data and content for multiplatform environments
  

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  An understanding of relevant Health and Safety issues for both studio-based and outside broadcast programmes
  

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  An understanding of relevant HR / employment issues relating to long-running strand production