Broadcasters from the UK gathered at the Banff World Media Festival on Tuesday to wax on programming strategies and the opportunities they see in Canada.

Joining panel moderator David Jenkinson of C21 was John Kay Cooper, controller of entertainment, ITV, Kate Harwood, controller series and serials, BBC, and Steve North, channel head, UKTV’s Dave.

Noting that BBC1 and BBC2 are both fairly closed environments when it comes to drama acquisitions, Harwood said while she’s proud that BBC viewers appreciate (and watch) homegrown content, the changing international production climate has given her pause.

“Sitting here in Canada, I’m so aware of the opportunities here,” she said, noting that it can be frustrating the BBC typically supports only six episodes of a series at time.

“I think that in order to work closer with coproducers, we’re going to be looking at longer runs. We’re always open, genuinely, to [working with other people].”

In looking at the international coproduction market, Harwood said the focus would be on finding stories based on shared experiences, because the British public would likely balk at taxpayer funds going toward outwardly foreign programming. She also noted that the BBC’s full hour of programming (as opposed to shorter ad-supported programming) poses some challenges in coproductions.

Careful to note that longer runs and increased coproductions are just a few of the BBC’s many strategic goals, she also said the current trend is hard to ignore.

“We’d be fools not to take advantage of the marketplace.”

John Kay Cooper of ITV also said the UK network is eyeing up a more international approach these days with a global brand extension planned over the next 18 months.

“Recently we’ve been looking at transforming ITV into being more of a global brand,” he said, explaining that ITV has dedicated budget to “push forward global formats and brands on a pretty big scale.”

Home to such reality juggernauts as X Factor and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, ITV has had a lot of success exporting its formats to the American market. What he’d like most to see next on the ITV main network slate is a Just For Laughs-style hidden camera show, he told the audience.

“I would love to find the definitive hidden camera show, that would rival the success of the Beatles About show. The hidden camera genre is the hardest to get right,” he added, noting that Beatles About built whole, complex storylines behind the different choices the unknowing participant might make in a given scenario. “I’d love to find the 21st version of that.”

On the Dave front, channel head Steve North explained that channel is firmly focused on maxing out its comedy mandate, always seeking new and innovative ideas to take to the UK’s top comedy talent, and keep its male-skewing audience in stitches.

“We are now talking with comedy producers and talent about ways we can involve them in the channel,” he said, noting the importance of finding formats the talent is genuinely passionate about.

He also added that Canada’s tax credits make it an attractive partner, but Dave’s format can prove a bit challenging in international outreach.

“Copros in comedy are hard, but if one could be found, we’d be excited to talk about it.”