The Eurovision Creative Forum in Berlin (Photo: Harry Schnitger)

A special funding arrangement to support the development of new TV formats is to be made available to the EBU broadcasting community.

The announcement by Head of TV Bettina Brinkmann and Marcus Sterky, (SVT) Chairman of the Formats' Core Group, was made in Berlin (10 September) during the afternoon session of the  Eurovision Creative Forum - the annual showcase for the best-licensed public service broadcasting formats produced by Active and Associate Members of the EBU. 

Ms Brinkmann said that in the new year, Members will be invited to submit formats from any genre for potential development. The best three ideas selected by a Board of EBU Commissioning Editors from different geographical regions will be presented to next year's Eurovision Creative Forum.

"The experience will be very much like entering the 'Dragon's Den,'" said Ms Brinkmann. "Broadcasters will pitch their ideas to a panel of expert Commissioning Editors who will have the option to split the development pool as they see fit. The money may be divided equally, or one broadcaster could walk away with the lot. The purpose is to give talented format creators a financial pot to get their ideas up and running. "

Ideas worth development will be announced during the 7 Best Awards ceremony, an annual highlight of the three day Eurovision TV Meetings. Winners will have twelve months to develop their formats and present a pilot to their television peers during the Creative Forum the following year. 

"The formats in development will screen alongside established formats, potentially catching the eye of commissioning editors, who in turn, get exclusive opportunities to license fresh ideas before they reach the market," Ms Brinkmann said. "Innovation is a hallmark of public service media. By offering funding support, the EBU is demonstrating the community approach it takes to ensure good ideas don't languish on the drawing board."

The winners of this year's 7 Best Formats will be announced tonight (10 September) at a ceremony in Berliin from a pool of 25 submissions.