S4C is inviting indies to pitch for a 28-hour package of factual programming that is worth £1.5m over two years.
Given the volume of output, the Welsh broadcaster is opening the tender both to individual indies and to collective bids from producers who want to share the load.
Chief creative officer Llion Iwan said that all factual genres are up for grabs, with a particular emphasis on potentially returnable contemporary history, lifestyle and specialist factual formats, as well as single docs on contemporary topics.
At least 10 of the 14 hours of annual output – a mix of 30- and 60-minute shows - must be for linear broadcasting, with at least two reserved for a digital series on YouTube.
S4C will be open for discussion about which platform should host the remaining two hours.
Speaking to Broadcast, Iwan said he designed the package to help provide medium-term financial stability for the indies making the shows.
“[This is] a block of work that a company – or companies if they choose to work together – can pitch for and, if they secure it, would give them a two-year contract to produce that volume of work,” he said.
“Having that gives the company security: they can plan for it and put a team in place, look to develop and possibly invest in training as well.”
S4C is accepting submissions until noon on 26 January 2026, with the first shows expected to air from next summer.
