ABOUT
BBC ALBA seeks to commission Gaelic content for audiences that is authentic, meaningful, and relatable. We are ambitious and outward-looking, determined to showcase our language and culture to a wider audience. We’re looking for proposals for impactful programmes that can win audiences of all ages, as well as creative ideas that can achieve critical recognition.
COMMISSIONING PRIORITY: FACTUAL
1: DOCUMENTARY STRAND: Series Brand, DÒCHAS: (HOPE)
Duration: 30, 45 mins
Slot: 8.30, 9pm
In an uncertain and divided world, where do we find hope?
BBC ALBA is looking for bold, contemporary and inspiring documentaries under the umbrella theme of Dòchas (Hope). A suite of films, from different companies, exploring the people, places, passions and unexpected moments giving reasons to believe in a better tomorrow. Forget nostalgia and sentimentality, this is Hope with its sleeves rolled up. We’re looking for distinctive, audience-grabbing ideas with the potential to engage a wide demographic across BBC ALBA’s platforms, including linear, iPlayer and YouTube, supported by bespoke digital content.
Tariff: up to £40k per 30-minutes
Delivery: By April 2027
NB: Companies are welcome to pitch for more than one film.
2: DOCUMENTARY SINGLE FILMS:Duration: 60, 75, 90 mins
Slot: 9.00, 10.00pm
BBC ALBA is looking for the stories that cut through the listings, stops the scroll, and gets everyone talking.
We invite ideas for bold, innovative one-off, hour-long documentaries with the ability to grip audiences, ignite conversations and keep everyone talking long after the credits roll. Share your extraordinary stories, introduce us to unforgettable characters and feel free to frame them in a fresh and fearless way. Scotland is bursting with stories, incredible characters and brilliant production talent. We want to commission documentaries that surprise us, move us, challenge us or change the way we see our world.
Tariff: up to £80k per hour
Delivery: June 2027
COMMISSIONING PRIORITY: FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT
3: FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT
Series with potential to be returnable
Duration: 6 / 8 x 30 mins
Slot: 8.30, 9.00, 10.00pm
BBC ALBA is looking for Fact Ent formatted series that tap into Scotland’s DNA and zeitgeist moments to create talk-about TV across Scotland and beyond. We want big ideas, engaging talent and a winning mix of real life and entertainment, with broad, family appeal, with the potential to run and run. A repeatable, recognisable series that builds a loyal audience, becomes a loved brand and acts as a shop window for BBC ALBA across linear, iPlayer, YouTube and digital platforms. Think entertaining, relatable and built to last.
Pitches should consider co-commission potential with Ireland and Wales.
Tariff: up to £240k for 6 × 30-min episodes, including bespoke digital assets.
Delivery: June 2027
COMMISSIONING PRIORITY: VODCASTS
4: VODCASTS (VIDEO PODCASTS)
Series
Duration: Various, according to subject matter
Platform: YouTube, iPlayer, BBC Sounds
BBC ALBA is looking for bold, colourful and seriously engaging new series of Vodcasts made for audiences who are watching, sharing and talking online.
We are looking for vodcasts with personality, pace, attitude and something to say. This is not television squeezed onto a phone. We want content that feels born for digital, visually inventive, energetic, funny, topical and impossible to scroll past. Think big conversations. Strong opinions. Unexpected guests. Brilliant characters. Culture. Music. Sport. Relationships. Identity. The stuff people are talking about.
Make us laugh. Make us argue. Make us think. Make us hit share.
Tariff: according to subject matter and duration
Delivery: by April 2027
COMMISSIONING PRIORITY: INTERSTITIALS / IDENTS
5: BBC ALBA IN FIVE
We want BBC ALBA to be unmissable, on screen, on your feed and out in the world!
We’re calling for a suite of minimum 20 x 20/30 second brilliantly visual, diverse idents built around one killer question: “BBC ALBA in Five!”.
Think attitude, humour, colour, personality and a healthy dose of irreverence. Punchy, artistically shot mini-films that pop up between programmes on linear, iPlayer and explode across TikTok/Instagram/YouTube. Festive / seasonal content considered.
Make BBC ALBA impossible to ignore!
NB: This call out will be awarded to one company only to ensure creative continuity.
Tariff: £20k
Delivery: By April 2027
COMMISSIONING PRIORITY: YOUTUBE FORMATS
6: YOUTUBE FORMATS
Duration: Series x various durations from 8 – 25 mins
Platform: YouTube, iPlayer
BBC ALBA seeks bold, entertaining and shareable ideas for YouTube formats aimed at 18-24 year-olds.
From talent-led factual formats, in the style of Somhairle Spins, to youth-focussed observational documentaries, like BBC Scotland’s The Bubble, BBC ALBA are looking for ideas with standout personalities, compelling stories and genuine appeal for young people.
We want contributors, presenters and creators with authentic access to the worlds young people care about. Bring us stories driven by people rather than issues alone, informed by audience appetite and viewing behaviour on YouTube, but delivered through an original, Gaelic lens.
We’re looking for bold, colourful, distinctive storytelling that creates conversation, builds communities around shared interests and feels native to YouTube.
Earn the click. Make us stay. Make us hit share.
Successful proposals will combine:
– Simple premise, Title + Thumbnail designed to ‘Earn the click’.
– An opening beat that delivers on the promise quickly, actively engages audience throughout, and builds to a satisfying payoff.
– Episodes should be formatted to stand alone, as well as within series.
Tarriff: according to series treatment
For those who are new to developing for YouTube, we recommend watching this ‘Best Practice’ video
ADDITONAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
CO-FUNDING
Additional funding sources are available, such as:
https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding/screen
https://www.bfi.org.uk/supporting-uk-film/british-certification-tax-relief
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Please follow this two-step process for submitting your ideas:
DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS
Deadline for ideas: Monday 9th November 2026 at 5pm.
The Commissioning Team will discuss each idea received in detail and shortlist the most compelling and suitable ideas for this round.
Meetings will be scheduled with producers of shortlisted projects. This will be an opportunity to explore the ideas in greater depth.
We aim to share final commissioning decisions by Friday 27th Nov 2026.
Idea submissions, forms and any questions on anything contained in this Commissioning Round should be addressed to Claire MacDonald and Jennifer MacKenzie at: bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
