Despite RT╔'s current troubles, the national broadcaster is still recruiting for high-profile staff members to join its ranks. This week - both here and abroad - RT╔ advertised the newly created position of development executive in the television entertainment department. This new role is designed to maximise the international commercial potential of RT╔-produced entertainment programmes. The entertainment department is responsible for The Late Late Show, Winning Streak and Bull Island, as well as more recent productions such as The Fame Game and The Jason Byrne Show.
Current strategy within the department favours expanding revenue streams from home-produced programmes through seeking co-production deals, forming alliances with other broadcasters and developing programmes that have retail potential. One of the department's recent commissions was for a television programme and sell-through video capturing the AprΦs Match comedy team on stage at the Olympia. The hour-long programme will be broadcast over Christmas while the 90-minute video goes on sale next week. Another recent commission was The Fame Game, a version of which is soon to be produced by one of the UK's major independent production houses.
Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Packie Bonner joined the list of soccer players-turned-presenters on TV3 on Tuesday night, when he anchored the channel's coverage of the Champions League. The nation's favourite penalty-saver was joined in studio by his current boss and ex-playing colleague, Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Bonner, who is goalkeeping coach for the Republic of Ireland team, has previously appeared on TV3 as a "pundit", but this was his first time presenting the Champions League show. He said he enjoyed the experience and "got a buzz from it," but admitted he was very apprehensive beforehand. "On live television, you're always going to be nervous but it gets the adrenalin going and that's a good thing. I've learned that from football," Bonner said. He said presenting was very different from being a panellist: "having now done both, I think answering questions is the easy part. Asking the questions and keeping everything flowing is much more difficult". TV3 was said to be "delighted" with his performance and confirmed he would present one of this year's two remaining Champions League programmes in December.
RT╔'s Independent Productions Unit (IPU) has short-listed a number of proposals from its September commissioning round and letters have now been sent to the successful and unsuccessful applicants. More than 300 applications were received for funding for documentaries in the True Lives series. The department of factual programming within the IPU looks likely to be badly hit by the current round of cutbacks in RT╔, with at least one high-profile lifestyle series already cancelled.
The 14th International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA) got under way in the Netherlands last Thursday and runs until December 2nd. For the first time, an Irish documentary, Freedom Highway, is being shown at this prestigious festival. The 90-minute film, which is directed by Philip King of Hummingbird Productions, charts the great struggles of the 20th century through music and song. There are 12 Irish independent production companies attending the festival, supported by Enterprise Ireland and Film Makers Ireland. Two companies, Mint Productions and Ferndale Productions, will be pitching ideas at the FORUM, which is Europe's largest gathering of television commissioning editors. This intimidating process entails standing in front of the assembled commissioners (45 are due to attend), pitching an idea in five minutes, before literally being timed out by a bell. All this in front of an audience of a few hundred observers. Those who have attended the FORUM in previous years are adamant it's "definitely not for the fainthearted". Kevin Dawson, RT╔'s commissioning editor for factual programming, will attend a separate European Broadcasting Union pitching session for public service broadcasters seeking co-production partners.
BBC Northern Ireland is inviting submissions from writers with an Irish background for the second Tony Doyle Bursary Award. The award was launched last year in memory of the late actor, Tony Doyle, who starred in many television dramas, including Ballykissangel and Amongst Women. The aim of the bursary is to encourage Irish writers to write specifically for television and to encourage long-term creative links between broadcasters and writers in Ireland. Writers should submit an outline of an original idea for television, as well as an example of some previous work. The judging panel includes Liam Cunningham, Alan Moloney, Peter Norris, Lorcan Cranitch, Tina Kellegher, Sally Doyle and Robert Cooper. Six finalists will participate in a residential workshop run by experienced television producers, directors, actors and writers. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of £2,000 sterling. Further details and entry requirements are available from BBC Northern Ireland's drama department. The closing date for submissions is January 31st.
mkearney@irish-times.com