Producing for WUCF TV

Thank you for bringing your ideas to WUCF. We are very proud of our mission as Central Florida Storytellers. We seek your support in telling the untold stories of our community and sharing them through the power of public media.

Steps for Submitting a Proposal
Click here to access WUCF TV’s online application.

Program Criteria:

There are many factors that determine which projects WUCF accepts for broadcast, co-production or national distribution. The submissions that have the best chance of success have content related to WUCF's mission and priorities, have experienced television producers working on them and come fully funded.

Good questions to see if your program will fit:

• Does this tell a good Central Florida story?
• If so, does it have state/national appear?
• Does the topic add value to our community?
• Is this program telling the story from a diverse perspective?
  

Please note that WUCF TV does not currently have dedicated funding for the production of independent projects, or the staff capacity to help you raise funds.

Resources WUCF TV can offer include:

• Distribution*
• Consulting
• Letters of support
• Broadcast or streaming on our platforms

Independent productions may be presented as series, stand-alone programs, or utilized in some of our current productions as full length or interstitial/short programming. WUCF TV is also looking for content of varying lengths for use in our current broadcast platforms and our other digital platforms.

Topics or types of programming we are not interested in include:

• advocacy programs
• commercial or promotional programs
• religious programs
  

Step 1: Your proposal materials must include a submission summary and electronic terms of use agreement acknowledgment. WUCF TV cannot review a proposal until you agree electronically to the producers submission release form. A preview of the submission release form can be found here.

Step 2: Assemble your materials, before beginning the online application process.

A Project Proposal or Completed Program Proposal as outlined below are expected:
Project Proposal

• Synopsis: Briefly outline the subject and story of the program or the larger context out of which the story evolved.
• Treatment: Clearly communicate how the television program will unfold from beginning to end. Include details on story structure, theme, style, format, voice, and point-of-view.
• Episodic Descriptions: If the project is a series, summarize the content of each planned episode.
• Project Timetable: Provide a schedule of all phases of production.
• Interactive Elements: If applicable, explain how you plan to enhance your project through a companion website, video-on-demand, or podcasting
• Budget: Include an itemized list of project costs, i.e., staff salaries, talent, post-production expenses, outreach, insurance, etc.
• Funders: Include an itemized list of any funds and in-kind support raised to date, as well as a list of those funders you are planning to contact.
• Key Personnel: Provide detailed biographies or resume information of the key project staff, i.e., producer, director, writer, cinematographer, editor, as well as experts, consultants, and talent.
• Business Plan: Explain the current status of the project; discuss your plans for completing it; identify potential funding resources; and indicate the approach being taken to secure funding.
• Sample Work: If possible, include links to samples of previous work that best exemplify your production ability and are relevant in style and subject to the current project. This can be a trailer, rough cut, or finished program. All samples must be watchable online. No DVDs or tapes will be accepted. Also, proposals will not be considered without a work sample.
• Educational Materials: If you are submitting a proposal for a children’s program, the materials offered should reflect solid, age-appropriate educational goals, which incorporate the work of educational advisors and/or research to support the program’s specific objectives. Program proposals should include plans describing how the educational and entertainment value of the program content will be extended through online, outreach, and print activities.
• Any other relevant information that will assist us in our review.

Production Completed Program Proposal

• Link to a copy of the program. All samples must be watchable online. No DVDs or tapes will be accepted.
• Synopsis: Briefly outline the subject and story of the program or the larger context out of which the story evolved.
• Episodic Descriptions: If the project is a series, summarize the content of each planned episode.
• Interactive Elements: If applicable, explain how you plan to enhance your project through a companion website, video-on-demand, or podcasting
• Funders: Include an itemized list of any funds and in-kind support raised to date, as well as a list of those funders you are planning to contact.
• Indication of rights available
• Key Personnel: Provide detailed biographies or resume information of the key project staff, i.e., producer, director, writer, cinematographer, editor, as well as experts, consultants, and talent.
• Problematic content: i.e., List language, nudity, violence, etc. with timecode.
• Business Plan: If an ongoing series, explain the current status of the project; discuss your plans for completing it; identify potential funding resources; and indicate the approach being taken to secure funding.
• Educational Materials: If you are submitting a proposal for a children’s program, the materials offered should reflect solid, age-appropriate educational goals, which incorporate the work of educational advisors and/or research to support the program’s specific objectives. Program proposals should include plans describing how the educational and entertainment value of the program content will be extended through online, outreach, and print activities.
• Any other relevant information that will assist us in our review.

Step 3: Prepare your materials for submission utilizing the electronic submission form found here.

Step 4: Proposals are evaluated on an ongoing basis. They are judged on many criteria, including (but not confined to) the quality of the proposal or completed work, the credentials of the production team, the needs of the schedule. All projects for consideration will fall within the process that is described below.

The submission process begins with an initial review by our program development team. Because the number of proposals we receive varies greatly, we do not have a standard time-frame in place for a response. We usually try to contact producers about their proposed projects as quickly as possible, usually within 4-6 weeks.

Following the initial review, if a program meets our standards and mission, then it is forwarded to our cross-disciplinary team. This group then discusses the proposals, identifying any outstanding questions and/or materials, and determines which projects should move forward to a commissioning round.

During the commissioning round meetings, programs and proposals are approved for broadcast, and/or selection as program candidates to present to national program distribution outlets for national distribution consideration. Producers are notified shortly thereafter.

Feedback

We regret that we cannot offer detailed feedback on every project received.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Programs that are approved for distribution and/or local broadcast will require the producer to acquire and pay for a policy of errors and omissions insurance.

FAQs

Do I need to present a completed program or a rough cut for evaluation? Do I need a treatment or a script? Can I submit just a concept?

We look at programs and proposals in various stages of development, from treatment to completed program. Basic concepts alone are not sufficient for our team to make well-informed decisions. For a list of other elements required of all submissions, please visit our steps for submitting proposal process section.

Does WUCF TV fund projects?

We recommend that producers come to WUCF TV with full-funding or with a fundraising strategy to approach foundations and corporations for support. Funding requirements may also include costs above program production including distribution costs, insurance, tape duplication, closed captioning and other miscellaneous program distribution/distributor fees.

How do I submit a proposal to WUCF TV?

Our steps for submitting a proposal process section will provide comprehensive information on how to submit your materials to WUCF TV for consideration.

When producing for WUCF TV and/or national distribution are there any standards, requirements, or policies (i.e., packaging, underwriting, technical, etc.) that I need to know?

The PBS Production Guidelines contain information needed to ensure programs meet all of PBS’s on-air standards, including information on packaging, underwriting, product offers, formats and delivery. It is not necessary that your submission meet these requirements for submission and initial review. The WUCF TV Program Element Format Guide can also guide you in packaging your program elements.

When are programs scheduled?

It is also important to note that the WUCF TV schedule is determined 4-6 months in advance, so please keep this in mind when submitting programs that are timely in nature.

Do I need insurance?

Yes if your program is approved for distribution and/or local broadcast. WUCF TV and any national distributor will require the producer to acquire and pay for a policy of errors and omissions insurance.

*Distribution fees may be required

Resources

WUCF TV Program Element Format Guide

PBS Production Guidelines