YouTube commissioning

Our rolling commissioning brief, new opportunities and contacts

This page covers YouTube commissioning opportunities led by BBC Content. Find links to other relevant commissioning areas below.

We’re commissioning original content designed specifically for YouTube. Our ambition is to build distinctive public service brands that reach younger audiences where they already spend their time, while introducing new audiences to BBC content.

Alongside specific commissioning briefings and time-limited opportunities, we operate a rolling commissioning route for selected YouTube priorities. These priorities will evolve over time and will be updated on this page.

At present, our rolling commissioning focus is BBC deepwatch, outlined below.

Developing ideas for YouTube

We're looking for ideas that are conceived for YouTube from day one, with a clear sense of the 16-24 year-old audience they’re for and why that audience would choose to watch. The strongest proposals will combine:

a compelling premise, with a title and thumbnail that work together to ‘earn the click’
a simple mission or central question, with escalating stakes, visible progress and a satisfying viewer pay-off
contributors, presenters or creators with authentic access and genuine relevance to the target audience on YouTube
evidence of audience appetite, informed by viewing behaviour and high-performing examples on YouTube, with a clear and original treatment
stories built around people rather than issues alone
formats or films that can build communities around shared interests
distinctive BBC public-service storytelling delivered in a way that feels native to YouTube

Proposals should develop the title and thumbnail alongside the idea. Together, they should make one clear promise to the viewer that makes them click. The opening needs to quickly ‘validate’ that promise made in the packaging, establish the central question/journey and move into the video without unnecessary set-up.

Proposals should also show how the video will actively earn and sustain viewers’ attention from beat to beat. The central questions and storylines should lead to a satisfying resolution/pay-off, with the ending delivering on the promise made in the packaging.

We're less interested in television ideas repackaged for digital, companion content or promotional extensions of existing programmes.

If you're new to developing for YouTube, we recommend watching our webinar recording below.

YouTube best practice briefing

How to create 'platform-first': YouTube best practice briefing

Watch a recording of our latest briefing with Fred Bhat, Executive Producer, Digital and Creator Content, and Adam MacDonald, Editor, BBC Factual YouTube, for tips and insights into developing content for YouTube.

How to create 'platform-first': YouTube best practice briefing

Rolling briefs

We are currently asking companies to pitch us ideas for BBC deepwatch on a rolling basis.

Occasionally, we also release specific commissioning briefs and time-limited opportunities. These will be available on this page and the latest opportunities page.

BBC deepwatch brief

deepwatch is the BBC's YouTube-first documentary destination for 16-24 year-olds, exploring the people, communities and experiences shaping the UK.

Commissioning priorities

We are commissioning standalone documentaries that combine exceptional access, compelling characters and clear storytelling that interest and resonate with 16-24 year-olds.

We expect films to be at least 25 minutes in length, with an indicative tariff of £50,000 per documentary for production and delivery.

We are specifically looking for stories related to the following themes:

Online culture and the digital worlds that make up the everyday lives of 16–24 year-olds: eg gaming, streaming, emerging subcultures, creator culture and viral/topical online stories
Hidden systems and underworlds: deep dives into obscure worlds, networks, economies and power structures operating beneath young people’s everyday lives, with hard-to-believe stories spanning hidden online activity, crime and exploitation
Coming of age: stories about the foundational issues and experiences shaping the lives of young adults in the UK

The strongest ideas:

have a clear reason why 16 - 24 year-olds would choose to watch
feature stories, contributors or creators with genuine relevance to their lives and interests
offer revealing access to people, places or communities viewers couldn’t normally reach
turn an interesting subject into a clear question, mission or journey
have real stakes, discoveries and a satisfying pay-off
show the story through strong visual evidence and lived experience
bring distinctive BBC storytelling to subjects young audiences already care about

Projects should be capable of being produced and delivered within approximately three months, using lean teams and simple production set-ups. Ideas requiring extended access, complex legal negotiations or significant archive clearance are therefore unlikely to be suitable.

We want to hear from both established production companies and the next generation of digital creators and creator-led companies.

What to include in your pitch

a clear rationale for why this story matters to 16-24 year-olds and why they’d watch it on YouTube
a short synopsis setting out the premise, central story and likely pay-off
your central presenter/creator/contributor(s)
a proposed YouTube title
an example thumbnail image
why it belongs on deepwatch
the access you have secured
links to contributors, access material or other relevant footage if available

How to send ideas

Ideas for deepwatch should be submitted via the PiCoS ‘TV YouTube' area to the contacts listed below.

If your company does not have a PiCoS account, please email PiCoS support outlining your relevant experience.

Eligible companies should demonstrate relevant digital-first and factual production experience, alongside the capability to meet BBC editorial, compliance, duty of care and delivery requirements. Individuals and digital creators that don’t meet the eligibility criteria can partner with an established production company that can meet compliance, duty of care and delivery requirements.