Commissioning Brief - BBC

Version 2.0

Commissioning Brief

Commissioning Brief No.: 109011

Production of Audio Books for Radio 4 / BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 4 Podcast Network starting in April 2022

RADIO COMMISSIONING

BBC Radio Commissioning Brief_ V2.2_2021_September

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CONTENTS SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY ....................................................................................... 3

1. Network: Radio 4 Podcast Network ........................................................................................ 4

2. The Opportunity ......................................................................................................................... 4

3. Diversity and Inclusion .............................................................................................................. 6

4. Key Deliverables........................................................................................................................ 7

5. Success Measures .................................................................................................................... 8

6. Risk Management ..................................................................................................................... 8

7. Additional Information / Requirements ................................................................................... 8

8. Compliance and BBC Editorial Guidelines ............................................................................ 8

SECTION B: PROCESS, ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION ..................................................... 9 1. The Four Stages ........................................................................................................................ 9

2. Assessment Criteria ................................................................................................................ 10

SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE .................................................................. 12

SECTION D: FULL PROPOSALS AND REFERENCE INFORMATION .......................... 13

APPENDIX 1: Production Eligibility & Experience ...................................................................... 14

APPENDIX 2: Diversity & Inclusion .................................................................................................... 16


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SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY

Commissioning Brief ID / Title: 109011 - Production of Audio Books for Radio 4 Podcast Network / BBC Sounds

Commissioning Owner Rhian Roberts

Commissioning Contact Charlie Taylor

Commissioning Brief Title Production of Audio Books for Radio 4 Podcast Network / BBC Sounds

Network Radio 4 Podcast

Guide Price £1,000 - £1,500 per episode

Genre Any, for example: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Comedy or Factual Biography etc.

Duration Average 15 - 25 minutes per episode

No. of Episodes 5 – 10 (10 – 15 titles per annum, for up to 3 years)

Transmission Period N/A

Slot Day N/A

Slot Time N/A

Production Location We will look favourably on proposals that support the BBC’s strategic rebalancing of production away from London, either from the outset or with a credible transition plan in the first year of the contract.

Important Points to Note:

• All proposals must be submitted via Proteus and will go through production eligibility checks.

• The Production Eligibility Questionnaire can be found in Appendix 1.

o This is the first part of your submission that the BBC will consider as part of the process.

More information relating to all commissioning briefs and rounds, regardless of Network can be found on the ‘Pitching Ideas’ page of the Radio Commissioning Website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/pitching-ideas/


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1. Network: Radio 4 Podcast Network

About Radio 4 / Radio 4 Podcast Network

Radio 4 is unique in the breadth and quality of its informative, educational and entertaining programming.   Every day, on air and online, Radio 4 has more original content than any other broadcaster in the world.   Its authoritative news and current affairs journalism is complemented by programmes exploring many areas, including science, arts, history, religion, ideas, drama and comedy, offered through regular strands, one-off programmes and special seasons.

Radio 4 reaches a weekly audience of well above 10 million, with an average age of 57.

The station is always seeking to understand and reflect the changing nature of the UK, and the changing consumption of audio content. We want to find new ways of reaching beyond our existing base, to extend our journalism and storytelling to audiences that might be poorly served by other media, right across the social and geographical landscape. We are passionate about letting as many people as possible in on the Radio 4 secret, by finding imaginative new ways to engage them.

You can see the Radio 4’s Network latest audience figures here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/audiences/station/10040/bbc-radio-4

About BBC Sounds

BBC Sounds is our personalised mobile app and website which gives listeners live and on-demand radio, music and podcasts, where and when people want. Available on mobile devices, smart speakers and connected TVs, BBC Sounds makes it easier for audiences to discover and enjoy quality, entertaining and highly creative audio from across the BBC. The aim in these commissions is to be distinctive and appeal to a wide audience.

Marketing Promotion Plan

Radio 4 and BBC Sounds are committed to a run of high profile, engaging audio books. These will be supported by appropriate levels of promotion including across marketing, publicity, social media and on-air.

2. The Opportunity

Editorial Opportunity

The BBC is looking for a supplier or suppliers to produce and deliver between 15 and 20 audio books per year for BBC Radio 4 to be available on BBC Sounds first.

If this is awarded to more than one supplier we will split the amount of audio books between them.

Editorial Brief

We’re looking to expand our series of stand-out audio books. We’re after more books that capture a moment of real cultural significance for: younger, or more diverse, or harder-to- reach audiences in the UK. The books could be fiction and non-fiction. Books that speak to

https://www.bbc.co.uk/audiences/station/10040/bbc-radio-4


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a particular audience about how the way we understand the world is shifting, or how it shifted in the past.

They don’t all have to be brand new books, they could be books that take a while to find their audience, or books you feel would have resonance with that newer audience. They don’t have to all come out of the UK either – they could have found popularity in the USA first. You’d expect to hear great books we could promote to the Sounds audience over and over again.

Some books in the series would also capitalise on the overwhelming interest in how people with influence and fame live their lives, by landing biographies that otherwise may not find a slot on our linear networks, but still have the literary, subject or creative merit we seek always at Radio 4.

We’re very interested in providing some more books from the world of Sport and Music.

We want those books that might make someone try an abridged audio book for the very first time on BBC Sounds.

Some of our titles will continue to find their way on to the Radio 4 linear schedule too.

We are looking for suppliers who have experience of working in a more experimental way with audio; who know their way around digital rights and presenting things in a fresh and modern way.

We are looking for an approach that is open to new and younger audiences. Our supplier must have the capacity to deliver these titles in timely fashion to catch them at the moment of their relevance. The supplier should be used to working with young voices and spotting the next big thing. We would expect the supplier to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of digital assets, syndication and promotion in achieving success for these titles.

Your Full Proposal

Your proposal should demonstrate the following:

Strategic fit

You’ll need to demonstrate how you will address our strategic priorities for this commission regarding new, younger audiences and diversity (on- and off-air) in all its aspects.

You should also be able to demonstrate extensive knowledge of what appeals to these audiences to help attract new listeners via the audio books offer.

We are committed to ensuring that Radio 4 represents the whole of the UK and, to that end, we are seeking to make more programmes outside the M25. This will be a critical element in our evaluation, as will diversity, in all its guises. However, the most important thing, as always on Radio 4, is creative and editorial vision.

Experience of delivering best in audio books and reading for digital platforms

You’ll need demonstrable experience of delivering audio books for on demand audiences showing knowledge of how the format and structure of the audio can create a fresher creative storytelling experience.


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You’ll need to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the latest book trends, trending topics and emerging authors. You’ll also need to demonstrate experience of negotiating digital rights for your content. Please provide us with three possible audio book titles which would meet the criteria of this brief with a wide range of authors and topics.

Please list who will be producing and who you will be using as abridgers, and briefly tell us about their experience in readings.

As evidence of your track record please supply one MP3 featuring three complete episodes of separate audio books that you have produced or submit examples of speech based works, documentaries or talks. This should demonstrate your editorial and production strength. It should:

• Be readings that your department or company has produced, made by someone who will be producing/abridging in the period of the contract; and

• Include details of titles, authors, publishers, abridgers, producers, performers and any presentation details that help set it up.

Talent management experience

You’ll need to demonstrate an understanding and experience of talent management. You’ll need to be able to demonstrate your awareness of emerging talent and show that you can secure new voices as talent.

To be successful in this tender you will have to demonstrate that this is an area in which you have considerable and current production experience. That you have experience of producing and directing readings. Also, that you have cast and directed professional actors.

Understanding of promotional opportunities

You’ll need to demonstrate experience of producing creative ideas for digital assets and creating a buzz around your commission.

Production capacity and risk management

You’ll need to demonstrate how you will staff the production of the audio books and manage the budget to ensure you are able to deliver the listed output requirements. Specific titles are submitted and commissioned on a rolling basis, to ensure the slot remains current and relevant; production deadlines are often tight – you’ll need to demonstrate your proficiency here.

You’ll need to demonstrate an understanding of our expectations at the BBC – including a thorough understanding of the BBC's editorial guidelines and health and safety procedures.

3. Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion is a priority for ALL of us. We want BBC Radio & Music to be demonstrably the best organisation in the audio sector to work for and with; one which reflects the diversity of the UK; and where people feel welcomed, appreciated, respected, and can be themselves and produce their best work.

Radio 4 Podcast Network is looking for new approaches to evolve listener engagement which will broaden the appeal of the show to new audiences. We are interested to hear your inclusive content ideas and how they might be expressed across the music played, stories


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told and scenes explored. You may wish to consider how your proposal might contribute to the expanded 50/50 Diversity initiative and how your company already aligns with our new D&I Commissioning Commitments, or could do so in future (See Appendix 2).

4. Key Deliverables

Digital Deliverables

These are the key deliverables:

(a) Audio Book content and production: Entertaining and fresh, authentic audio books. Read by the author if possible and/or desirable. Suggested number of between 5 and 10 episodes to be delivered as a boxset for digital audiences on BBC Sounds, but open to alternative ideas for releasing this offer. Additional rights for up to 5 years should be sought where possible and while these audio books will be primarily be offered on BBC Sounds exclusively as DRM downloads as a UK offer, we would welcome any offers for wider distribution globally for download. Rights for R4 linear transmission, if required, would need to be negotiated separately.

(b) A package of different types of promotional content to help promote the on-demand content on and off the BBC, on a weekly/monthly basis: The main aim of this is to drive the target audience to the new content. The types of content might include audio trails, images or articles. The different places they would be used could be Twitter, Facebook, BBC website, external websites (e.g. iTunes, Instagram), podcast feeds (e.g. Books and Authors podcasts, other non-BBC podcasts) and on-air.

Responsibilities and Dependencies

BBC is responsible for:

• Providing one Assistant Commissioner or Commissioning Executive to lead this commission which will be overseen by the Radio 4 Digital Commissioning Editor. They will be the point of contact with the supplier and the digital team.

• Uploading social media, managing the website and building related features;

• Signing off compliance of all material before publishing; and

• Signing off any design for the Audio Books web pages.

Supplier is responsible for:

• All aspects of the audio books’ production, delivery and compliance;

• Contracting presenters and relevant rights for the audio books and agreeing any presenters with the digital team;

• Managing all operational activity and costs involved in the production process from the ideas stage to final delivery;

• Managing studios;

• Clearing any rights on any material used and music reporting;


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• Taking responsibility for overseeing the scripting of links, announcements and back announcements making sure all scripts align with the BBC Editorial Guidelines;

• Clearing visual elements for use on social media platforms;

• Regular and frequent updates on progress;

• Compliance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines;

• Regular review meetings; and

• Contributing online ideas; and content to promote Audio Books on the Radio 4 website and BBC Sounds.

Applications should be submitted into the Radio 4 Podcast Network in Proteus.

5. Success Measures

Audio books will play a significant role in engaging new audiences.

The success of the audio book offer will be measured by download figures with particular focus on younger listeners. Targets will be discussed with the winning applicant.

6. Risk Management

We require you to show evidence that your team can manage various risks around programme production. That your team has the ability to deliver the commission consistently, showing technical and personnel resilience. That they are aware of any conflict of interest risk, and have the ability to comply with all relevant UK legislation and BBC Policies (not limited to Editorial). You need to demonstrate evidence of your understanding of the BBC Editorial Guidelines.

7. Additional Information / Requirements

Additional Information / Delivery Requirements

• The ‘Guide Price’ must cover all aspects of the production including presenter fees, travel and accommodation and technical equipment needed on-site etc.

• The contract will be offered as a ‘fixed price’ deal and the BBC will assume that any elements included in proposals can be successfully delivered within the guide price given.

• Production teams will be expected to adhere to all relevant editorial and copyright guidelines in place; and deliver all necessary production-related paperwork in a timely fashion – e.g. Compliance Forms, Music Reporting Forms etc.

• All of the programmes will be offered first on digital platforms and may be broadcast at a later date (costs for clearances for later TX will not be covered by this contract).

Out of Scope

Building pages and features.

8. Compliance and BBC Editorial Guidelines

You will be required to deliver programmes that are in line with the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and be able to adapt to the BBC’s changing editorial and business needs during the period of the commission.


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SECTION B: PROCESS, ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION

1. The Four Stages

All incumbents will automatically go through to Stage 2: Full Proposal

STAGE 1: Production Experience, Full Proposal and Shortlisting

Step 1: Production Experience

• Complete the Production Experience Questionnaire in Appendix 1 using no more than 100 words per response. Please note the questions used in this brief may differ from those used in other (insert network) briefs.

• Enter your responses in the ‘Add/Edit Notes Here’ section in Proteus.

The questionnaire is designed to allow the BBC to understand more about your company and your experience of producing (insert network) style programmes.

Commissioning Editor Rhian Roberts and Business Affairs Manager Katie Pollard, together with others from the evaluation team, will review all production questionnaires against the editorial brief set out in Section A before evaluating the Full Proposal.

Note: your short proposal may be declined at this stage if the information provided indicates you do not meet the criteria, so please answer these questions carefully.

Step 2: Producers will be invited to provide a Full Proposal, via Proteus, responding to this commissioning brief, which includes all the elements outlined in Section C (“Full Proposals”). For guidance, your Full Proposal should not exceed two sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11.

In addition two complete running orders should be included (these can be in addition to the 3-side limit).

Production Experience answers will only be considered during Stage 1 of the commissioning process. Producers may wish to consider repeating some, or all of the information given in the Full Proposal.

STAGE 2: Interview / Pitch

Step 1: You may be invited to an interview/pitch meeting via Zoom with the evaluation team. We will notify you which members of the evaluation team will be attending this meeting and you should expect to be asked to discuss and elaborate on your proposal, and answer questions about it.

Step 2: Following the interview/pitch, the evaluation team will re-evaluate your Full Proposal against the assessment criteria outlined on page 10, taking into account the responses given during the pitch, and any additional material requested. The evaluation team may then decide to award the contract to the producer(s) which best meets the assessment criteria;

Note: At any stage of the process, we may need to come back to you to seek clarification. Your answers will be factored into the evaluation process as appropriate.

Step 3: Or we may decide to hold second interviews, for example, in the event where we need more information to be able to differentiate between proposals.


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STAGE 3: Contract Signed

STAGE 4: Feedback

Feedback may be requested by suppliers on unsuccessful proposals that reach Stage 3. Once notified of the result you have two weeks to request feedback. Requests for feedback should be made to Charlie Taylor ([email protected]). Feedback will be provided within two weeks of receiving the request.

2. Assessment Criteria

We will assess your Full Proposal and pitch according to the main criteria below (editorial proposal and capability, strategic priorities, value for money and risk).

Assessment Criteria Weighting

Strategic fit

To include indicative elements such as:

• Ability to address strategic priorities regarding new, younger audiences and diversity (on- and off- air) in all its aspects

• Evidence of extensive knowledge of what appeals to younger audiences to help attract new listeners via the audio books offer

• Proposals that support the BBC’s strategic rebalancing of production outside London, either from the outset or with a credible transition plan in the first year

• Strategies to evolve diversity in its broadest sense, representing the whole of the UK today and reaching the widest audience

15%

Experience of delivering best in audio books and reading for digital platforms


• Evidence of experience of delivering audio books for on demand

• Ability to format and structure audio

• Ability to generate a fresher creative storytelling experience

• Evidence of knowledge of the latest book trends, trending topics and emerging authors

• Evidence of experience of negotiating digital rights for your content

• Recommendations of three possible audio book titles which would meet the criteria of this brief

• A list of who will be producing and who you will be using as abridgers, and briefly tell us about their experience in readings

• MP3 examples

50%

Talent management experience


• Evidence of understanding the issues surrounding talent management

• Ability to secure emerging talent and new voices

• Evidence of experience producing and directing readings, and working with authors to deliver their work in audio spaces

10%


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Assessment Criteria Weighting

• Evidence of experience of cast

Understanding of promotional opportunities


• Ability to produce creative ideas for digital promotion

• Two examples of ideas for supporting digital content e.g. supporting features and social media

5%

Production capacity and risk management


• Ability to staff the production of the audio books and manage the budget to ensure you are able to deliver the listed output requirements

• Ability to work to tight deadlines

• BBC reputation

• Conflict of interest

• Ability to comply with all relevant UK legislation and BBC Policies (not limited to Editorial) and health and safety procedures

10%

Value for Money


• Price per episode

• Budget

• Acceptance of key contract terms (which includes compliance with all applicable UK law)

• Efficient production process including budget breakdown

10%

Up to a maximum of three top scoring tenderers submitting their proposals and tasks will be invited to present their proposals to the team.

Evaluation Team

The following people may be involved in the evaluation of your proposal at various stages:

Rhian Roberts – Radio 4 digital Commissioning Editor

Paula McDonnell – Radio 4 digital Commissioning Executive

Raluca Albu – Senior Procurement Manager, Strategic Contracts – Procurement

Charlie Taylor – Project Manager, Radio Projects & Platforms

Subject matter experts (e.g. production experts, visual content specialists, network management or finance advisors etc.) may also be consulted. See Section B for information on the commissioning process, timetable and assessment criteria.


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SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE

The commissioning process for this opportunity consists of a number of stages, as set out in the timetable below:

Stage Timings

(all midday)

Activities

Launch Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Publication of commissioning brief documentation and round opens in Proteus.

Full Proposal and shortlisting

Tuesday 8th March 2022

Opportunity to discuss commissioning brief with Commissioners prior to submitting Full Proposal.

Tuesday15th March 2022

Deadline for Full Proposal to be submitted via Proteus. Evaluation panel shortlists Full Proposals.

Friday 18th March 2022

Successful suppliers may be invited for interview / pitch.

Interview / Pitch

w/c 28th March 2022

Interview / face-to-face pitches with shortlisted suppliers.

** Please make sure you are available for pitching this week **

Conditional Commission and Contract

Friday 1st April 2022

Commission award decision made, commissioning specification completed and contract issued.

Friday 15th April 2022

Agreement of all programme related deliverables and technical specifications (for further information on requirements, please see the BBC’s commissioning website).

Full contract signed.

Feedback Friday 15th April 2022

Feedback on rejected Full Proposals, provided in Proteus. Suppliers have two weeks to request further feedback.

We will assess your proposal according to this timetable. Late submissions cannot be accepted.

If you have any questions about this commissioning brief that need answering before you submit your Short Proposal and Experience responses, please ensure you email them to Charlie Taylor ([email protected]) by 1st March 2022 at the latest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio

mailto:[email protected]


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SECTION D: FULL PROPOSALS AND REFERENCE INFORMATION

Please refer to this important information on the Radio commissioning website, regarding submission of your full proposal, including guidance on how to set out your budget.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements contained in this commissioning brief and on the commissioning website. Proposals not complying may be rejected by the Commissioner whose decision in this matter will be final.

All the information required should be included in the (maximum) two pages of your proposal.

The BBC reserves the right at any time prior to award of a commission, and without incurring any liability to the affected suppliers, to accept or reject any proposal, or to annul the commissioning process, rejecting all proposals.

By submitting your proposal, you confirm acceptance of the key contract terms.

More information relating to all commissioning briefs and rounds, regardless of station, can be found on the Pitching ideas page of the Radio commissioning website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/full-proposal-submission-supporting-information

https://www.bbc.com/commissioning/radio/contract-terms

https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/pitching-ideas/


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APPENDIX 1: Production Eligibility & Experience

Guidance

The Production Eligibility Questionnaire is the first part of your submission that the BBC will consider as part of the process.

Once completed, please copy and paste your responses into the ‘Add/Edit Notes Here’ section of the Create Proposal page in Proteus – as per the screen-shot below.

Note: The answers given in response to the above questions will only be considered during Stage 1 of the commissioning process. If you are shortlisted and invited to submit a Full Proposal, you may wish to consider repeating some, or all of the information given, in your Full Proposal.

Copy and paste Eligibility Section below into this field in Proteus.

Proteus Screen Grab


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Questionnaire

Complete Part 1 ONLY if you plan to submit a full proposal as part of a partnership.

Part 1: Partnerships

Please list each partnership and describe the responsibilities each partner will take.

[Insert details]

Please indicate the lead company with whom the BBC will contract.

[Insert details]

Please include the key personnel responsible for the production and delivery of the programme and details of the partnering company they are currently contracted to.

[Insert details]

You MUST complete this section:

Part 2: Production Eligibility & Experience

In no more than 100 words per question, please outline your relevant production experience, using recent examples, in the following areas:

We require a production base with an understanding of the importance of multi-platform content, and recent company/production team experience of producing engaging content for online and social platforms.

Part 3: Diversity & Inclusion – please see Appendix 2


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APPENDIX 2: Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion is a priority for ALL of us. We want BBC Radio & Music to be demonstrably the best organisation in the audio sector to work for and with. We are fully committed to making this a place where people feel welcomed, appreciated, respected, and that they can be themselves and produce their best work.

We are interested in working with companies that share our Diversity & Inclusion values. BBC Radio has committed itself to spending £12m in the three years from FY21/22 on newly competed commissions that support at least two of the three priorities set out below. This is in addition to the many proposals that we will commission which meet only one of these priorities, as well as those that meet none of the three.

Please tell us whether, and how, your proposal and/or your company and/or (if yet known) the production team meet any of these three diversity priorities:

i. diverse stories and portrayals, covering the nine protected characteristics plus social mobility

ii. diverse production leadership – where ‘diverse’ includes ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability.

iii. diverse company leadership – where ‘diverse’ includes ethnicity, socio-economic background and disability.

The full definitions supporting each priority can be found here and some FAQs here. For clarity, proposals will not be accepted or declined simply because they do or do not meet these diversity criteria. What you write in relation to them will be considered alongside all the other factors we evaluate when awarding commissions. Proposals that don’t meet the diversity criteria may still be commissioned on the strength of meeting the other assessment criteria in this brief.

If you are shortlisted and invited to submit a Full Proposal, you may wish to give us more detailed information with regard to the diversity priorities at that stage.

Our D&I commitments will help create an inclusive culture for all, increasing gender, ethnicity, socio-economic and disability diversity, and helping to deliver on the BBC's new 50:20:12 diversity targets for Gender, BAME and disability representation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/diversity-inclusion/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/diversity-inclusion-12m-targeted-investment-faqs/

Commissioning Brief - BBC

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