The Wales and Sky Vision Entertainment and Factual Fund

What is The Wales and Sky Vision Entertainment and Factual Fund?

  • A discretionary development and production fund set up by the Welsh Government and Sky Vision to support the creation and production of factual and entertainment TV programmes and formats.
  • The fund is open to independent production businesses in Wales, and to other production businesses in the UK that produce in Wales, with Welsh talent.
  • The Welsh Government and Sky Vision have set aside a total of £400,000 to be allocated to qualifying projects. There is no expiration date for deployment of the fund although we anticipate it will be deployed within 18 months of launch.

What is the purpose of the Fund?

  • Promote Welsh talent and innovation in factual and entertainment television programming.
  • Support the growth of independent television production in Wales, in the factual and entertainment genres.
  • Create on-going revenue streams for factual and entertainment producers spending their production budgets in Wales.

What are the benefits of the Fund for Independent Producers?


The Fund will provide financial support for qualifying Independent Producers in the following areas:

  • The development of factual and entertainment programmes and formats.
  • The creation of development assets, such as tasters and pilots, to improve the commissioning potential of projects.
  • Increase the commercial potential of television projects and programmes created in Wales by providing top-up funding for commissioned content.
  • Provide access to, and insight into, the international content market.
  • Maximise financial returns to producers through the distribution of programmes and formats supported by the Fund

What are the benefits of the Fund for The Welsh Government?


The Fund is part of the Welsh Government's commitment to support the growth of the independent television sector in Wales, specifically in the following areas:

  • Encourage producers and broadcasters to produce more in Wales, and with Welsh creative and production talent.
  • Develop the skillset of Welsh talent in the creation and production of factual and the entertainment television.
  • Establish on-going revenue opportunities for producers in Wales through the exploitation of IP both nationally and internationally.

What is Sky Vision?

  • Sky Vision is the production and international distribution arm of Sky.
  • The distribution arm represents around 5,000 hours of quality primetime programming from Sky Originals and independent third party production, across all key primetime genres (drama, entertainment, factual entertainment and factual).
  • The business also has equity investments in seven production businesses in the UK and US; Love Productions, Blast! Films, Sugar Films and Sky Vision Productions in the UK; and in the US, Jupiter Entertainment, Talos Films and Znak & Jones.
  • In addition to its equity investments, Sky Vision works extensively with independent producers throughout UK and US and has development deals with a number of production companies.

What are the benefits of the Fund for Sky Vision?

  • Establish and develop relationships with producers operating in Wales.
  • Support the development of content with ancillary revenue potential and to maximise that potential through the international distribution of programmes and formats supported by the Fund.

What types of content will be considered for funding?


Projects can be developed for any broadcaster, but must be non-scripted and must fit one of the following creative criteria;

  • high-end blue-chip factual series (e.g. Loch Lomond; a Year in the Wild)
  • returnable factual series (e.g. 24 Hours in A&E, The Island)
  • returnable factual entertainment series and formats (e.g. Come Dine With Me, Undercover Boss, Married at First Sight)
  • returnable entertainment/studio series and formats (e.g. Ninja Warrior, Take Me Out)

All projects must have ancillary revenue potential, primarily via programme or format distribution, although other forms of ancillary revenue potential will be considered (e.g. interactive, merchandising).

Distribution rights in any project will be licensed to Sky Vision in consideration of the funding. Sky Vision will represent all ancillary rights in the projects, but not the primary broadcast rights as retained by the originating broadcaster.


What projects are eligible for which parts of the Fund?

  • Development funding (excluding the production of a Pilot): any producer with a registered office and substantial business presence in Wales who can demonstrate either actual or potential commitment from a broadcaster can apply for this funding:
  • Funding for a transmittable Pilot : any producer who can demonstrate actual financial commitment from a broadcaster can apply for this funding on the condition that 40% of the overall budget is spent on Welsh Expenditure
  • Top-up (refinement or deficit) Funding for commissioned content : any producer who can demonstrate commitment from a broadcaster can apply for this funding on the condition that 40% of the overall budget is spent on Welsh Expenditure. To access this funding, the producer must have a confirmed commissioning agreement from a broadcaster.

Sky Vision has sole discretion on the deployment of the Fund to producers and projects that meet the Welsh presence criteria (for development funding) and the Welsh Expenditure* criteria (for other funding). Sky Vision will base its decisions on the creative and commercial viability of the qualifying applicants.


*Welsh Expenditure is expenditure on goods and services supplied by businesses and individual freelancers located in and operating from or within Wales. In the case of a Pilot, in circumstances whereby the broadcaster is insistent that, with regard to the resulting series, 40% of the overall budget will not be spent on Welsh Expenditure, the Welsh Government funding will be repayable by default.


What are the funding levels per project?


The funding levels vary, as does the contribution ratio from Welsh Government and Sky Vision, depending on the stage of development:

  • Development Funding. Up to £10,000 per project. Funding ratio: 70:30 Welsh Government: Sky Vision.
  • Pilots Funding . Up to £50,000 per project. Funding ratio: 50:50
  • Top-up Funding for commissioned content. Up to £75,000 per project. Funding ration 30:70 Welsh Government: Sky Vision.

Does the Fund need to be repaid?

  • The Welsh Government portion of any investment does not need to be re-paid, except in the event that a resulting series from a pilot does not meet the Welsh Expenditure* criteria or if certain events of default happen.
  • The Sky Vision portion of the Fund is 100% recoupable against revenue collected by Sky Vision from the exploitation of the ancillary rights in any project.

How will Sky Vision distribute the projects and on what terms?


Sky Vision is based at Sky in London, with offices in Munich, Madrid and Singapore. It represents content from a variety of sources, including Sky's own channels, other UK and European broadcasters, and producers in the UK, the USA, Australia, Germany, France, Holland and South Africa.


Sky Vision's catalogue comprises a wide range of genres, from high-end drama to all forms of factual programming, from specialist factual documentaries to shiny floor entertainment formats.


Sky Vision's sales team has worldwide reach, through attendance and representation at all major international markets, including; MIPCOM, MIPTV, NATPE and Real Screen, although programmes are launched onto the international market throughout the year.


Sky Vision's standard distribution terms include a flat commission of 28% for finished programmes and 30% for formats, subject to contract. Our standard terms and conditions will be made available on application to the fund.


How can I apply for the Fund?


Sky Vision manages the fund and funds can be applied for via its website at www.skyvision.sky.com/fund. Successful applications will satisfy both the Welsh Government's production spend criteria and Sky Vision's commercial criteria based on potential return against spend.


How will I receive the Fund?


100% of the funds will be made available to successful applicants on signature of a deal memo, and the supply of a valid invoice. Payment may take up to 45 days from receipt of a valid invoice.