This installment of realscreen magazine’s annual Radarscreen global pitch guide profiles Vibika Bianchi, VP of original programming for lifestyle, reality and factual entertainment, Corus Entertainment.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND:

In the fall of 2010, Bianchi was named VP of original programming and took unscripted programming under her wing across Corus networks, including W Network, Cosmo TV, kids net YTV, CMT (Canada) and now OWN (Canada), which launched in March of 2011.

W Network

 WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

For W Network, Bianchi says that there is a shift to reality and entertainment, away from lifestyle and informative programming. “Instead of experts we’re looking for personalities – be [they] people with [an] existing profile, larger than life personalities or [people with] a passion for something that exaggerates their character, which we’re calling ‘passionate fanatics.’”

She says W is not looking for specific genres and is instead building a commissioning slate of “unscripted comedies and dramas,” under the umbrellas of home, work and play. Examples of titles under those categories include Love It or List It, Cupcake Girls and Come Dine with Me Canada. Currently she is looking for five to seven more series to round out the coming season.

OWN Canada

WHAT IT’S LOOKING FOR:

For new network OWN Canada, Bianchi says, “In general we remain primarily responsive to the performance of the U.S. output and in this first year are looking to do three to five series of eight to 10 episodes each.” She says OWN Canada is currently staying away from dark or heavy programming and has been exploring programs dealing with money and finance, and health and weight loss, as well as community and family. The net has also greenlit its first two series for an early 2012 start.

Million Dollar Neighborhood is a large scale social experiment, while in the other, Vancouver business owners hope to invigorate Canada’s poorest postal code, the downtown east side.

HOW TO PITCH:

There’s a new online submission process for all Corus networks. Details can be found at www.corusoriginalprogramming.com/factual.aspx, and producers should submit to Danielle Berger, unscripted original production coordinator (unscriptedoriginals@corusent.com). Bianchi also advises a maximum of five pitches per meeting and if you’re pitching talent, bring video and not the talent themselves.

WHAT IT PAYS:

The average license fee is CDN$60,000-$90,000 per half hour.

WHERE TO FIND HER:

Realscreen Summit, Banff World Media Festival.