As part of Playback sister publication realscreen’s annual Global Pitch Guide, released each fall, Playback over the next several days will feature a series of profiles with leading Canadian factual commissioners; they will include intel on what they’re looking for now, how to pitch, and what they pay.

CORUS ENTERTAINMENT

Vibika Bianchi, VP of original programming, lifestyle, reality, factual entertainment

NETWORKS IN HER PURVIEW: W Network, Cosmo TV, kids net YTV, CMT Canada, OWN Canada, HBO Canada.

CONTACT INFO: unscriptedoriginals@corusent.com

TREATMENT OR TAPE: One-pagers and tape.

WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR: For W, Bianchi’s looking for a range of reality programming containing big characters, high stakes and drama with a touch of humour. Recent successes include Love It or List It, Property Brothers, Come Dine with Me and Undercover Boss Canada.

“Love It or List It and Property Brothers represent our home programming but we are always looking beyond the home, as evidenced with Undercover Boss, which has opened a whole new world for us,” she says.

“We are exploring concepts that could work as companions to Undercover Boss Canada. At the same time we recently launched a hidden camera game show format, Deal with It, that we are also very excited about.”

She’s not in the market for weddings, relationships, fashion or beauty programming. For OWN Canada’s second year, true-crime doc series bring in viewers, as proven by the programs Devil You Know and Murder She Solved, both currently in third season production.

In addition, social experiment reality programming, such as Million Dollar Neighbourhood, has performed well for the network. “Now in our second year we have a better sense of what has worked for our audience and will continue on that path,” says Bianchi. “We’re not looking for anything too ‘on the nose’ for the OWN brand. There needs to be an element of the unexpected.”

Both W and OWN Canada target women in the 25-54 age demo.

HOW TO PITCH: All pitches must be submitted via email, as Corus is no longer accepting mailed pitches. Corus Original Programming has a submissions website (corusoriginalprogramming.com) that has information for outside producers wishing to submit their proposals.

Original programming coordinator Danielle Berger handles all the new submissions that come in for the unscripted networks.

WHAT THEY PAY: From $50,000 per half-hour and up depending on the concept.

SIZZLE REEL TIPS: “The sizzle must sell the concept but it doesn’t have to cost a lot. If your concept features specific talent, show us what they do, why they are the best choice.”