BBC Children’s has appointed a head of YouTube as the division gears up to launch seven channels - and is also inviting pitches for a young-male skewing factual channel for the streaming platform.
The division’s head of digital media, platforms and planning Lydia Mossahebi steps up to the role, which will encompass content and programming strategy as well as commercial activity with BBC Studios.
Under the BBC’s deal with YouTube, it is initially launching seven children’s channels, including The Epic Facts [main picture], which hosts content from CBBC shows Horrible Histories, Horrible Science, Deadly 60 and Operation Ouch.
BBC Children’s is also hiring for a YouTube-first commissioning executive and assistant commissioner to identify, develop, commission and deliver original content that will premiere on the platform’s channels.
Since joining CBBC four years ago, Mossahebi has rebranded the CBeebies Parenting website, lead on CBeebies YouTube originals and brought the BBC to the Roblox gaming platform with Wonder Chase, a game spanning sport, drama and natural history.
She has previously overseen digital content for the Beano kids brand as head of editorial at Beano Studios.
Deepwatch
The BBC has outlined details of Deepwatch, its YouTube-first male-skewing factual channel for 16-24 year-olds.
It will commission 20 standalone documentaries of at least 25 in minutes in length and budgeted at £50,000, with the order split equally between Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions.
In its briefing note, the BBC said each film should "feel like a backstage pass into a hidden or under-explored world, told through one person’s experience".
Fims should fall into one of three pillars: 'access and underworlds', 'systems and power' and 'coming of age/navigating adulthood'.
Pitches are due by 7 May, with commissioned docs set to deliver in the week beginning 31 August.
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