So you’ve readied the perfect pitch for your nonfiction or factual project and you’re ready to present it to the right broadcaster. But who’s looking for what? Playback is kicking off the first of its pitch lists to help narrow your targets. We’ve compiled a small list of broadcasters who’ve given us the details on what they’re looking for, how to reach them and what not to pitch to help you figure out how to find the best home for your project.

BRAVO!

Affiliation: CTV
Isme Bennie, VP and GM
Looking for: Bennie is open to receiving any good ideas, but is primarily looking for series with an arts base that will sustain an audience in primetime, as well as Canadian content.
Strong performers: Performance specials with big-name artists (Susan Boyle, Peter Potts) always perform well. Programming with a nostalgia component (Monty Python: Almost the Truth, Here I Am: Denny Doherty and The Mamas and the Papas) also do well.
Avoid pitching: Food, real estate, exercise, how-to in general
Market/Festival circuit: MIPTV, MIPCOM and Banff
Hours commissioned annually: About 100
Preferred approach: Proposals should be addressed to Charlotte Engel (charlotte.engel@ctv.ca), production executive, documentaries and alternative programming, who handles Canadian independent production for Bravo! Initially, Bravo! is interested in a few sentences that clearly outline the idea, or format, and its appropriateness to the channel.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Affiliation: CTV
Ann Harbron, director of commissioning and production
Looking for: Harbron says her team is always on the lookout for new series, especially those with evergreen potential. She’s also on the hunt for 1 x 120 specials for the Discovery Presents slot. She’s looking for original, fresh narrative approaches wrapped around a great story, and is open to various narrative styles: hosted and/or constructed formats, observational documentaries with strong, compelling characters as well as high-concept recreations and animation.
Strong performers: Discovery has had success with its Canadian slate, both series and specials. Recent hits include Canada’s Worst Driver, Canada’s Worst Handyman, Licence to Drill, Cash Cab, Mighty Ships, Mayday, Junk Raiders and Journey to the Edge of the Universe.
Avoid pitching: Sports-related shows, medical shows, surveys, profiles or biographies
Hours commissioned annually: Approximately 150
Market/Festival circuit: Realscreen Summit, Hot Docs, MIPTV, MIPCOM and regional film festivals
Preferred approach: Submit proposals to Heather Williamson, manager of development, Discovery Networks Canada, via e-mail (heather.williamson@ctv.ca) or post at 9 Channel Nine Court, Scarborough, ON M1S 4B5. There is also a Producers Guide at
www.discoverychannel.ca under the ‘Producer Enquiries’ tab.

FASHIONTELEVISIONCHANNEL

Affiliation: CTV
Jay Levine, supervising producer, FashionTelevision/FashionTelevisionChannel
Looking for: FTC is looking for series and specials that are related to design, style and/or architecture and photography design.
Strong performers: Specials about popular designers (Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Chanel)
Avoid pitching: Anything that is not fashion or design related
Hours commissioned annually: Approximately 13
Preferred approach: Send an e-mail to Levine directly at Jay.Levine@ctv.ca.

FOOD NETWORK

Affiliation: Canwest
Leslie Merklinger, director of original programming
Looking for: Merklinger is in the market for both half-hour and one-hour series, particularly with a broad appeal for primetime audiences. She’s not picky about whether a program is hosted, though adds that she’s always on the lookout for good talent, and accepts tapes to feel them out, whether or not there’s a series concept.
Strong performers: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, the Gordon Ramsay series, Iron Chef, Top Chef. Instructional series with Michael Smith and Anna Olson also do well.
Avoid pitching: Anything that presents food in a negative way, or one-offs
Hours commissioned annually: Merklinger did not want to comment on hours, but mentioned that Food Network commissioned five new series this year, an increase over last year.
Market/Festival circuit: Depends on the year, but Food usually sends reps to Banff, Realscreen Summit. Canwest has reps at MIP, CFTPA and Hot Docs.
Preferred approach: Pitch on the website with submission guidelines, or reach out to production co-ordinator Brynn Tschirhart at (416) 966-7208 or via e-mail at btschirhart@canwest.com.

HGTV

Affiliation: Canwest
Michelle Kosoy, acting director of original programming
Looking for: Kosoy is interested in series with repeat factor, and is always looking for great hosts and great personalities. She’s big on shows with co-viewing appeal (see below), simple formats, and unique twists on ideas that broaden the scope of the definition of home.
Strong performers: Kosoy notes hybrid shows with male/female co-viewing appeal that cover design, real estate, renovation, income property, such as Sarah’s House and Home to Flip, perform well. Simple formats also do well, like Property Virgins or House Hunters.
Avoid pitching: One-offs, and Kosoy is less interested in shows with a series arc – while they perform in their first run, she says they don’t repeat as well. That said, she wouldn’t be completely closed to hearing a series arc pitch.
Hours commissioned annually: About 120 hours
Market/Festival circuit: Canwest sends reps to Banff and the Realscreen Summit.
Preferred approach: Send pitches electronically to Ailis Hamilton at ahamilton@canwest.com.

HISTORY TELEVISION

Affiliation: Canwest
Michael Kot, VP of factual content
Looking for: Currently commissioning half-hour and one-hour, six- to 13-ep series, and only in HD. History Television does very few one-offs, and tends to get pitched the same topics from multiple sources, so it looks for projects that stand out and include some or all of the following elements: relevance (at least one strong contemporary storyline and/or character), investigative and hands-on (active and hands-on storytelling, depicting hosts and investigators uncovering history before your eyes), newsworthy (new discoveries, new research and new perspectives on iconic historical people, places and stories), use of science (the audience likes trial-and-error use of physics, chemistry, psychology and biology to give new perspectives on history), innovative CGI (a la Greatest Tank Battles), and access – what do you have that no one else can get?
Strong performers: Underworld Histories, Outlaw Bikers, Ancients Behaving Badly, Aftermath, Convoy, Ice Pilots NWT, Urban Legends
Avoid pitching: Linear recounting of history and ‘stock and talk’ style programs (majority archival mixed with talking heads), biographies, history of sports, arts and music
Hours commissioned annually: About 100
Market/Festival circuit: Kot says it varies each year – this year it’s History Makers, Realscreen Summit, MIP and Hot Docs. Reps from Canwest will be at Banff this year, and Kot has also been known to attend Science Congress and AIDC in the past.
Preferred approach: Head over to www.History.ca for more info or drop Patricia DiGiovanni, co-ordinator of factual and drama content, an e-mail at pdigiovanni@canwest.com.

MTV, MUCHMUSIC, MUCHMORE

Affiliation: CTV
Ben Rotterman, executive producer, MTV field and docs
Looking for:
MTV: Unscripted talk show and talk-related content, and interview-based series and specials
MuchMusic: Music-related programming targeting young adults, with a focus on content speaking to today’s optimistic, millennial generation. Looking for authentic series and specials reflecting viewers’ lives.
MuchMore: Music-related content, appealing to today’s
adult/contemporary viewers
Strong performers:
MTV: MTV Live, The After Show, Peak Season
MuchMusic: disBAND, My Date With…, Degrassi: The Next Generation
MuchMore: Where You At Baby?
Avoid pitching: Shows that don’t fit the nets’ Conditions of License, as well as different versions of shows that have already been done – think of great new and original ideas.
Market/Festival circuit: N/A
Hours commissioned annually: The majority of production is done in-house, but the nets are starting to explore more acquisitions.
Preferred approach: For MTV, contact Rotterman directly via e-mail (ben.rotterman@ctv.ca). As for MuchMusic/MuchMore, the stations were currently hiring for this position at press time. Reach out to Amy Doary (amy.doary@ctv.ca) for the proper contact information.

PET NETWORK

Affiliation: Stornoway
Rosemary Fusca, head of programming
Looking for: Mainly seeking out half-hour series and documentaries, whether host-driven or narrated. Fusca wants edgy programming, but also looks for family-fun entertainment and bizarre and outrageous programming, depending on the daypart.
Strong performers: Vet-style, vet programming and rescue. Films are always popular, as is magazine format. Specific series include Pet Central and Pet Fashion. Some BBC series such as Dog Borstal and Vets in Practice also perform well.
Avoid pitching: Drama and animal-centric series. Not looking at first-window opps, usually second and third window, but will look at anything, as long as it’s pet-friendly.
Hours commissioned annually: Fusca says PN has just started commissioning and is hoping to build on it. Acquires about 300 hours annually.
Market/Festival circuit Mainly Hot Docs, occasionally NATPE
Preferred approach: E-mail (rfusca@stornoway.com) is the best method of contacting, with a paragraph to outline the program’s description along with budget expectations.

ROGERS – BIOGRAPHY, OLN, G4, CITYTV

Alain Strati, VP, specialty TV and development
Looking for: Innovative ideas that are able to connect to large and diverse audiences. Strati says because Rogers commissions for Bio, OLN, G4 and Citytv collectively, he’s also interested in concepts that best reflect the nature of the programming on one or more of the services.
Biography: Focus is fascinating people living interesting lives.
OLN: Ideas that reflect a spirit of adventure are the focal point.
G4: Gaming, pop culture and entertainment are the central themes.
Citytv: A conventional service, City also features original scripted, factual and reality shows.
The aim is to find projects that have mainstream appeal. For the most part this has involved commissioning series across all the platforms, but Strati has also licensed various documentaries and specials for each of them as well.
Strong performers: Factual series have done extremely well, including Conviction Kitchen, Mantracker, Survivorman, EP Daily, Reviews on the Run, Departures.
Avoid pitching: Concepts involving extreme sports and travel
Market/Festival circuit: Includes Banff, IDFA, Hot Docs
Hours commissioned annually: More than 250 hours in total for all channels
Preferred approach: Submit online at www.rogerstvsales.ca/submission/. Alternatively, pitches can be sent to: Jackie Samuels, Rogers Broadcasting, 545 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto, ON M5V 1A3, or e-mailed to Jackie.Samuels@rci.rogers.com. Phone: (416) 764-3226.

SLICE

Affiliation: Canwest
Lisa Godfrey, director of original productions
Looking for: On the hunt for series, including half-hour and hour-long formats, with a preference for episodics, not docusoaps. Godfrey is always looking for hosts with a specific expertise who are big, bold characters. Shows with takeaway are also good, as well as those that are pure entertainment. Strong reality formats are a plus.
Strong performers: Finance shows like Til Debt Do Us Part, wedding shows such as Rich Bride Poor Bride, over-the-top shows like Party Mamas and the Real Housewives franchise
Avoid pitching: Currently not seeking makeover and fashion genres.
Hours commissioned annually: About 120-150
Market/Festival circuit: Banff, Realscreen Summit
Preferred approach: Send a treatment of your series with a one-line focus statement to Godfrey’s attention via post to Slice – Content Department, 121 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 3M5. Proposals are reviewed every few weeks.

TVTROPOLIS

Affiliation: Canwest
Lisa Godfrey, director of original productions
Looking for: Since it’s not a host-driven network, Godfrey is currently looking for half-hour and hour-long format series. She prefers episodic series with strong characters with strong stories, but is open to docusoaps with an episodic feel.
Strong performers: Series that are big and bold like Wipeout Canada, and U.S. acquisitions such as Hoarders, Parking Wars, Rescue Ink
Avoid pitching: Pop culture or celebrity-driven pitches, or retro look-back-at-the-past type of programming
Hours commissioned annually: About 100
Market/Festival circuit: Banff, Realscreen Summit
Preferred approach: Send a treatment of your series with a one-line focus statement to Godfrey’s attention via post to Slice – Content Department, 121 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 3M5. Proposals are reviewed every few weeks.

W NETWORK/VIVA

Affiliation: Corus Entertainment
Vibika Bianchi, director of original programs
Looking for: Lifestyle, reality and docusoap series that appeal primarily to the broadest female audience but can also be inclusive of other family members. Bianchi prefers programs that are not serialized and can be repeated throughout the schedule as a series or standalone. For the most part, programming should have a fun, friendly and smart tone, not earnest.
Strong performers: Shows with strong, likeable experts/hosts at the helm, and shows that focus on entertainment and story first, information second. Love It or List It and Anna & Kristina’s Grocery Bags reflect the kind of appropriate programming for W Network/Viva.
Avoid pitching: Anything too focused on a particular life stage for women such as dating or relationships, parenting, weddings or marriage. Not looking for one-offs or scripted programming.
Market/Festival circuit: Banff, Realscreen Summit
Hours commissioned annually: About 150
Preferred approach: All submissions and meeting requests should go through Camille Djokoto (camille.djokoto@corusent.com), original productions co-ordinator for women’s networks. One-sheet pitches are preferred. New producers to W Network should also submit company bio, and video is required if pitching talent or characters.

BRAVO!

Affiliation: CTV
Isme Bennie, VP and GM
Looking for: Bennie is open to receiving any good ideas, but is primarily looking for series with an arts base that will sustain an audience in primetime, as well as Canadian content.
Strong performers: Performance specials with big-name artists (Susan Boyle, Peter Potts) always perform well. Programming with a nostalgia component (Monty Python: Almost the Truth, Here I Am: Denny Doherty and The Mamas and the Papas) also do well.
Avoid pitching: Food, real estate, exercise, how-to in general
Market/Festival circuit: MIPTV, MIPCOM and Banff
Hours commissioned annually: About 100
Preferred approach: Proposals should be addressed to Charlotte Engel (charlotte.engel@ctv.ca), production executive, documentaries and alternative programming, who handles Canadian independent production for Bravo! Initially, Bravo! is interested in a few sentences that clearly outline the idea, or format, and its appropriateness to the channel.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Affiliation: CTV
Ann Harbron, director of commissioning and production
Looking for: Harbron says her team is always on the lookout for new series, especially those with evergreen potential. She’s also on the hunt for 1 x 120 specials for the Discovery Presents slot. She’s looking for original, fresh narrative approaches wrapped around a great story, and is open to various narrative styles: hosted and/or constructed formats, observational documentaries with strong, compelling characters as well as high-concept recreations and animation.
Strong performers: Discovery has had success with its Canadian slate, both series and specials. Recent hits include Canada’s Worst Driver, Canada’s Worst Handyman, Licence to Drill, Cash Cab, Mighty Ships, Mayday, Junk Raiders and Journey to the Edge of the Universe.
Avoid pitching: Sports-related shows, medical shows, surveys, profiles or biographies
Hours commissioned annually: Approximately 150
Market/Festival circuit: Realscreen Summit, Hot Docs, MIPTV, MIPCOM and regional film festivals
Preferred approach: Submit proposals to Heather Williamson, manager of development, Discovery Networks Canada, via e-mail (heather.williamson@ctv.ca) or post at 9 Channel Nine Court, Scarborough, ON M1S 4B5. There is also a Producers Guide at
www.discoverychannel.ca under the ‘Producer Enquiries’ tab.

FASHIONTELEVISIONCHANNEL

Affiliation: CTV
Jay Levine, supervising producer, FashionTelevision/FashionTelevisionChannel
Looking for: FTC is looking for series and specials that are related to design, style and/or architecture and photography design.
Strong performers: Specials about popular designers (Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Chanel)
Avoid pitching: Anything that is not fashion or design related
Hours commissioned annually: Approximately 13
Preferred approach: Send an e-mail to Levine directly at Jay.Levine@ctv.ca.

FOOD NETWORK

Affiliation: Canwest
Leslie Merklinger, director of original programming
Looking for: Merklinger is in the market for both half-hour and one-hour series, particularly with a broad appeal for primetime audiences. She’s not picky about whether a program is hosted, though adds that she’s always on the lookout for good talent, and accepts tapes to feel them out, whether or not there’s a series concept.
Strong performers: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, the Gordon Ramsay series, Iron Chef, Top Chef. Instructional series with Michael Smith and Anna Olson also do well.
Avoid pitching: Anything that presents food in a negative way, or one-offs
Hours commissioned annually: Merklinger did not want to comment on hours, but mentioned that Food Network commissioned five new series this year, an increase over last year.
Market/Festival circuit: Depends on the year, but Food usually sends reps to Banff, Realscreen Summit. Canwest has reps at MIP, CFTPA and Hot Docs.
Preferred approach: Pitch on the website with submission guidelines, or reach out to production co-ordinator Brynn Tschirhart at (416) 966-7208 or via e-mail at btschirhart@canwest.com.

HGTV

Affiliation: Canwest
Michelle Kosoy, acting director of original programming
Looking for: Kosoy is interested in series with repeat factor, and is always looking for great hosts and great personalities. She’s big on shows with co-viewing appeal (see below), simple formats, and unique twists on ideas that broaden the scope of the definition of home.
Strong performers: Kosoy notes hybrid shows with male/female co-viewing appeal that cover design, real estate, renovation, income property, such as Sarah’s House and Home to Flip, perform well. Simple formats also do well, like Property Virgins or House Hunters.
Avoid pitching: One-offs, and Kosoy is less interested in shows with a series arc – while they perform in their first run, she says they don’t repeat as well. That said, she wouldn’t be completely closed to hearing a series arc pitch.
Hours commissioned annually: About 120 hours
Market/Festival circuit: Canwest sends reps to Banff and the Realscreen Summit.
Preferred approach: Send pitches electronically to Ailis Hamilton at ahamilton@canwest.com.

HISTORY TELEVISION

Affiliation: Canwest
Michael Kot, VP of factual content
Looking for: Currently commissioning half-hour and one-hour, six- to 13-ep series, and only in HD. History Television does very few one-offs, and tends to get pitched the same topics from multiple sources, so it looks for projects that stand out and include some or all of the following elements: relevance (at least one strong contemporary storyline and/or character), investigative and hands-on (active and hands-on storytelling, depicting hosts and investigators uncovering history before your eyes), newsworthy (new discoveries, new research and new perspectives on iconic historical people, places and stories), use of science (the audience likes trial-and-error use of physics, chemistry, psychology and biology to give new perspectives on history), innovative CGI (a la Greatest Tank Battles), and access – what do you have that no one else can get?
Strong performers: Underworld Histories, Outlaw Bikers, Ancients Behaving Badly, Aftermath, Convoy, Ice Pilots NWT, Urban Legends
Avoid pitching: Linear recounting of history and ‘stock and talk’ style programs (majority archival mixed with talking heads), biographies, history of sports, arts and music
Hours commissioned annually: About 100
Market/Festival circuit: Kot says it varies each year – this year it’s History Makers, Realscreen Summit, MIP and Hot Docs. Reps from Canwest will be at Banff this year, and Kot has also been known to attend Science Congress and AIDC in the past.
Preferred approach: Head over to www.History.ca for more info or drop Patricia DiGiovanni, co-ordinator of factual and drama content, an e-mail at pdigiovanni@canwest.com.

MTV, MUCHMUSIC, MUCHMORE

Affiliation: CTV
Ben Rotterman, executive producer, MTV field and docs
Looking for:
MTV: Unscripted talk show and talk-related content, and interview-based series and specials
MuchMusic: Music-related programming targeting young adults, with a focus on content speaking to today’s optimistic, millennial generation. Looking for authentic series and specials reflecting viewers’ lives.
MuchMore: Music-related content, appealing to today’s
adult/contemporary viewers
Strong performers:
MTV: MTV Live, The After Show, Peak Season
MuchMusic: disBAND, My Date With…, Degrassi: The Next Generation
MuchMore: Where You At Baby?
Avoid pitching: Shows that don’t fit the nets’ Conditions of License, as well as different versions of shows that have already been done – think of great new and original ideas.
Market/Festival circuit: N/A
Hours commissioned annually: The majority of production is done in-house, but the nets are starting to explore more acquisitions.
Preferred approach: For MTV, contact Rotterman directly via e-mail (ben.rotterman@ctv.ca). As for MuchMusic/MuchMore, the stations were currently hiring for this position at press time. Reach out to Amy Doary (amy.doary@ctv.ca) for the proper contact information.

PET NETWORK

Affiliation: Stornoway
Rosemary Fusca, head of programming
Looking for: Mainly seeking out half-hour series and documentaries, whether host-driven or narrated. Fusca wants edgy programming, but also looks for family-fun entertainment and bizarre and outrageous programming, depending on the daypart.
Strong performers: Vet-style, vet programming and rescue. Films are always popular, as is magazine format. Specific series include Pet Central and Pet Fashion. Some BBC series such as Dog Borstal and Vets in Practice also perform well.
Avoid pitching: Drama and animal-centric series. Not looking at first-window opps, usually second and third window, but will look at anything, as long as it’s pet-friendly.
Hours commissioned annually: Fusca says PN has just started commissioning and is hoping to build on it. Acquires about 300 hours annually.
Market/Festival circuit Mainly Hot Docs, occasionally NATPE
Preferred approach: E-mail (rfusca@stornoway.com) is the best method of contacting, with a paragraph to outline the program’s description along with budget expectations.

SLICE

Affiliation: Canwest
Lisa Godfrey, director of original productions
Looking for: On the hunt for series, including half-hour and hour-long formats, with a preference for episodics, not docusoaps. Godfrey is always looking for hosts with a specific expertise who are big, bold characters. Shows with takeaway are also good, as well as those that are pure entertainment. Strong reality formats are a plus.
Strong performers: Finance shows like Til Debt Do Us Part, wedding shows such as Rich Bride Poor Bride, over-the-top shows like Party Mamas and the Real Housewives franchise
Avoid pitching: Currently not seeking makeover and fashion genres.
Hours commissioned annually: About 120-150
Market/Festival circuit: Banff, Realscreen Summit
Preferred approach: Send a treatment of your series with a one-line focus statement to Godfrey’s attention via post to Slice – Content Department, 121 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 3M5. Proposals are reviewed every few weeks.

TVTROPOLIS

Affiliation: Canwest
Lisa Godfrey, director of original productions
Looking for: Since it’s not a host-driven network, Godfrey is currently looking for half-hour and hour-long format series. She prefers episodic series with strong characters with strong stories, but is open to docusoaps with an episodic feel.
Strong performers: Series that are big and bold like Wipeout Canada, and U.S. acquisitions such as Hoarders, Parking Wars, Rescue Ink
Avoid pitching: Pop culture or celebrity-driven pitches, or retro look-back-at-the-past type of programming
Hours commissioned annually: About 100
Market/Festival circuit: Banff, Realscreen Summit
Preferred approach: Send a treatment of your series with a one-line focus statement to Godfrey’s attention via post to Slice – Content Department, 121 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 3M5. Proposals are reviewed every few weeks.

W NETWORK/VIVA

Affiliation: Corus Entertainment
Vibika Bianchi, director of original programs
Looking for: Lifestyle, reality and docusoap series that appeal primarily to the broadest female audience but can also be inclusive of other family members. Bianchi prefers programs that are not serialized and can be repeated throughout the schedule as a series or standalone. For the most part, programming should have a fun, friendly and smart tone, not earnest.
Strong performers: Shows with strong, likeable experts/hosts at the helm, and shows that focus on entertainment and story first, information second. Love It or List It and Anna & Kristina’s Grocery Bags reflect the kind of appropriate programming for W Network/Viva.
Avoid pitching: Anything too focused on a particular life stage for women such as dating or relationships, parenting, weddings or marriage. Not looking for one-offs or scripted programming.
Market/Festival circuit: Banff, Realscreen Summit
Hours commissioned annually: About 150
Preferred approach: All submissions and meeting requests should go through Camille Djokoto (camille.djokoto@corusent.com), original productions co-ordinator for women’s networks. One-sheet pitches are preferred. New producers to W Network should also submit company bio, and video is required if pitching talent or characters.