This week, the delegates of SuperSizer (the smiling folks in the above photo) are in London to meet with top names in television.
SuperSizer is a seven-month programme that supports the development of Out of London indies to win returning series and commissions of scale.
This week the group of development executives will visit Channel 4 (16th January) and Channel 5 (17th January). At C4 they will meet with teams from Audiences, Production, Business Affairs and Legal as well as All 4’s Charlie Palmer and commissioners Danny Horan and Becky Cadman. The following day at Channel 5 will see a similar schedule of commissioning and business meetings, along with the opportunity to secure £3k in development funding in a pitching challenge with Director of Programmes Ben Frow. In February the delegates will meet with senior BBC personnel including commissioners Jo Street, Clare Mottershead and Beejal-Maya Patel.
SuperSizer is funded by BBC Nations and Regions, Channel 4, Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland and supported by Channel 5.
The programme launched in September 2018 and will wrap in March 2019. Contributors to this year’s programme have so far included Channel 4 commissioner Ramy El-Bergamy and BBC Studios Creative Director of Development Martha Housden as well as leading industry trainers. Future contributors include Phil Edgar Jones (Sky), Luke Hymans (YouTube Originals), Priya Singh and Peter Tierney (ITV).
Claire Scally and Margaret Scott, Joint Managing Directors of TRC, said:
“There are a multitude of factors that contribute to winning a returning series – a great idea is only one piece of the puzzle. This in-depth contact with commissioners and senior personnel at broadcasters is hugely valuable, allowing regional and national producers to speak candidly with decision makers and address the issues of returnable series and commissions of scale. The support from broadcasters has been incredible and we’re excited to see what will come from these initial meetings.”
Find out more about SuperSizer and this year’s delegates here.