S4C Partners With Consortium Media Cymru

S4C are working in partnership with media innovation Consortium Media Cymru to offer a free, specialist training programme on creating, financing, packaging and selling global formats that will appeal to television viewers around the world.

In addition, a contestable fund will be open to participants, with up to £10,000 in research and development (R&D) funding available for eight different projects.

The opportunity, developed by Media Cymru partner University of South Wales, will focus on non-scripted format ideas. Following recent format successes with shows like The Great House Giveaway (Tŷ Am Ddim), Reunion Hotel (Gwesty Aduniad) and Take a Hike (Am Dro), S4C is working with the Consortium to find and develop the global format hits of the future.

Successful applicants to the programme will receive training from Grand Scheme Media as well as targeted briefings and market intelligence. Further stages of the scheme offer opportunities to bid for substantial, contestable development funding and additional support, with an eye to getting at least one successful idea to pilot stage.

This programme is fully funded by Media Cymru, and is delivered in partnership with Grand Scheme Media and S4C.

Iwan England, S4C's head of Unscripted, said: "We've recently seen growth in the global sales of UK formats, and producers in Wales have shown an appetite for developing and producing unscripted series that can work for local audiences and travel to other territories. I'm excited to be working with Media Cymru to ensure programme makers are supported with training, market intelligence and most importantly an investment in development."