COMMISSIONERS


Simon Downing SVP, Head of Factual & Sport


Victoria Noble VP Original Content, Factual


Rob Holloway Executive Producer


Jeremy Phillips Executive Producer


Richard Hammond’s Workshop, Chimp Productions DISCOVERY


Discovery in the UK splits its commissioning between lifestyle and entertainment, and factual. The commissioning team finds content both for the new streaming service Discovery+ and linear channels, primarily Quest, Really, Quest Red, the Food Network and HGTV.


In the last year, with Discovery+ up and running, the UK commissioning budget has doubled. The media company is working with over 40 UK productions across their channels and with a wide range of tariffs and genres, including reality, lifestyle, crime or paranormal.


In launch mode, content for the streamer has needed to generate noise, to establish the brand and drive subscriptions. There’s been a focus on higher tariff, short run series, such as Mentorn Media’s five-parter Children of the Cult, four-parter from Dragonfly, Anni: The Honeymoon Murder and Richard Hammond’s Workshop from Chimp Productions, as well as loud one- offs, such as Shearwater’s Faking It: Jimmy Savile and ITN Productions What Killed Maradona?


18 See the Televisual Factual Films at televisual.com


Recently announced is two-parter Johnny vs Amber about the troubled marriage of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, from Optomen.


EXTREME JOBS AND OPTIMISM


The Discovery commissioning team is looking for strong, compelling stories that can stand out, alongside returnable formats, talent-led factual and ways to extend its successful franchises. The ideal is to find shows that can work across both linear and streaming.


It’s pulling back from expensive single features, most notably in the sports and topical space.


The world of extreme jobs has delivered audiences, providing authentic characters and high stakes drama, in shows such as Aussie Gold Hunters from Electric Pictures and Sandbox, as well as Outback Opal Hunters from Prospero. Both Australian productions continue to deliver big numbers in linear and streaming.


With a number of established franchises on linear channels – such as Salvage Hunters, Say Yes to the Dress, Wheeler Dealers – Discovery is extending these brands, while looking for the next returnables. Recent wins have included Really’s Yorkshire Auction House from STV Studios; Outline’s Michel Roux’s French Country Kitchen on Food Network; and Jimmy Docherty’s Builds on Wheels, from Betty, on Quest.


Food, home renovation, feel-good, real-life content are the bread and butter of Discovery’s linear channels. During the pandemic, there’s been a shift towards a more heart-warming, optimistic tone, an escape from the everyday.


Blink Films’ Tom Kerridge Barbeques for Food Network and CTVC’s Born Mucky: Life on the Farm, a reality show on Quest that follows the stories of three British farmers, both aim to deliver that reassuring, uplifting tone.


Paranormal has also brought audiences. Recent commissions


Jon Stephens Executive Producer


Oliver Wilson Producer


for Really and Discovery+ include Tern TV’s 10-part Spooked: Scotland with Gail Porter and Hello Mary’s eight-parter Trapped Underground. Upcoming is The Curse of the Highgate Vampire from Big Little Fish TV.


In the lifestyle space, Yorkshire Auction House is returning with a double order for 20 episodes, plus five celebrity specials. New commissions in 2021 included Dales for Sale from Air TV, which follows a Yorkshire estate agent and The Big Clean with Jo & Al (w/t), where Jo Cooke and Al Law from Curvy Brides’ Boutique transform homes with a deep clean. Meanwhile It’s Me or The Dog, from Ricochet, features dog trainer Victoria Stilwell as she helps desperate dog owners.


Discovery’s stand-out reality hit 90 Day Fiancé is getting a UK version, from CPL Productions, starting off with a run of 12 parts.


LOCAL AND UNIVERSAL


Diversity and sustainability are central to commissioning. Discovery


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52