This installment of realscreen magazine’s annual Radarscreen global pitch guide profiles Christine Shipton, VP of original content, Shaw Media

A BIT OF BACKGROUND:

Shaw Media owns conventional broadcaster Global Television as well as 18 specialty channels including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada and History Television. In January of 2011, Christine Shipton, previously senior VP of drama and factual content, had her duties expanded to the commissioning of original content across the board at Shaw.

Global Television

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

Global Television commissions hour-long documentary series and formatted reality programming for adults 25 to 54. Previously, the channel had opportunities for docs via its character-driven doc strand ‘Global Currents’ but now that strand has morphed into ‘Sub Cultures.’

The strand needs one-offs concerning different subcultures that exist in Canada. “It’s a really nice opportunity for documentary makers in Canada to come and pitch us a one-off,” says Shipton. “So much of what we’re working for is series on the factual side so this will be a nice opportunity.” They are taking pitches until the fall of 2011, ahead of the strand’s launch next year. Global is also interested in broad appeal formats, such as Canada Sings.

History Television

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

Shipton and team look to commission six -to 13-episode factual series, either half-hours or 60 minutes. Aimed at adults 25 to 54, the net covers archaeology, ancient history, war and conflict, the history of science and technology, and innovative social history.

The net is on the hunt for relevant, newsworthy stories, told in a hands-on, active style, with high-quality, CGI-driven series also of interest. History Television does not commission linear recounting of history and “stock and talk”-style programs, and also isn’t looking for biographies, or histories of sports, arts, and music.

HOW TO PITCH:

Email pitches are the norm for submissions, and can be sent to patricia.digiovanni@shawmedia.ca. DiGiovanni handles factual series and one-off documentaries and reality series. She advises that it is essential to have tape if you’re pitching talent, and “we will get back to you regardless of whether we are moving forward or not with a show, so please don’t bombard us with follow-up emails.”

TVTropolis

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

This specialty channel looks for inter-generational documentary series, fun reality shows and competition formats. For it, Shipton commissions half-hour and one-hour 13-part factual and doc series.

HOW TO PITCH:

Again, email pitches are the norm for submissions, and can be sent to patricia.digiovanni@shawmedia.ca.

Food Network

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

Food Network Canada’s commissioning strategy is entertaining, primetime formats that have multiple season potential for an adult 25-54 demo. Series volumes can range from six to 26, half-hour to one-hour eps. Dynamic hosts and characters, and new formats are current priorities.

WHAT IT’S NOT LOOKING FOR:

Don’t pitch instructional cooking shows, travelogs, wine/drink series, celebrity-oriented projects, docu-soaps, kids working with food or overtly health-related food shows.

HGTV

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

HGTV commissions half-hour and one-hour, six to 26-episode, home-related lifestyle series. The current strategy focuses on entertaining, highly-formatted, repeatable primetime programming. Come to the table with a dynamic host, compelling characters and fresh faces. Shipton and team are also looking for new formats that stretch the audience and potentially get new viewers to HGTV.

Slice

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

The focus is on what women want to talk about at this lifestyle network. It’s looking for entertaining, dramatic, emotional and sometimes hard-hitting programming that connects with adults 25-54. Slice commissions half-hour and one-hour, six to 26-episode series on topics such as relationships, finance, dating, and fashion.

HOW TO PITCH:

Submissions for the lifestyle-oriented nets can be sent to Brynn Tschirhart via brynn.tschirhart@shawmedia.ca.