BBC ALBA – Commissioning Call Out: Children’s Versioned Animation

Children’s Versioned Animation

BBC ALBA is a BBC licensed television service managed in partnership by MG ALBA and the BBC.

This commissioning round contains an invitation for submissions from suitable companies interested in the delivery of Gaelic language versions of animations for children.  Gaelic versioned animations are a key part of the children’s offering and add variety and texture to our service. The animations will be acquired by the BBC and supplied to the production company.

Children’s Versioned Animations

Broadcast slot: 5-7pm weekdays and 4-6pm weekends

Primary Digital Platform: BBC iPlayer

Format: Series of programmes of various duration

Audience: Children, Pre-school and Children up to the age of 12

Duration of supply contract:  1 year, Summer 2025 – Summer 2026, with an option to renew for a second year

Hours: up to 30 hrs per year, offered as one commission of 30 hours to be produced by a single company,

or 2 x packages of 15 hrs, which may be produced by separate companies

Budget per annum: up to £10k per hr (fixed price)

The submission should include:

1. Company background and track record, including a short showreel of previous work in the Gaelic language and with other clients
2. Proposed key production, post-production, writing and voice talent
3. A plan for the development of new and existing Gaelic language writers and voice talent
4. Company policies towards the Gaelic language, diversity and sustainability
5. Hours per annum envisaged by the production company
6. Demonstrate a clear understanding of current writer and voice artist arrangements and fees

Supply contract/s will commence from Summer 2025.

Supply contracts will cover a period of 1 year with an option to renew for a second year.  Programme delivery will generally be from November 2025 onwards but some titles may be required earlier.

BBC ALBA executives will make themselves available for short meetings with prospective applicants.  In addition any questions raised during the submission process that are not specific or commercially sensitive to a particular production company may be published as FAQs to enable all production companies access to the same level of information.

For information on how to set up a meeting or if you have questions regarding any aspect of this commissioning round, please e-mail bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk

Deadline for supply submissions: Monday March 31, 2025 at 5pm.

BBC ALBA partnership decision: Tuesday April 22, 2025 by 5pm.