Production Guide

You can download our submission guidelines in pdf format here.
You can download our submission release form in pdf format here.

OVERVIEW

• HardTV is an entertainment & information network presenting programming that will appeal to and reflect the wide diversity of people, interest, tastes, & lifestyles of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community, as well as being of interest to heterosexual family & friends.
• HardTV programming focuses on the mainstream GLBT community, but is inclusive of the more alternative & fringe interest groups as well.
• HardTV reflects the racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, economic, & political mosaic in its programming subject matter, and by its selection of on-camera personalities.
• The programming features in-house, acquired and commissioned one-offs and series from many different regions of Canada to showcase stories, events, personalities, and talent all across our nation.
• HardTV reaches isolated gay & lesbian people in smaller communities, who are especially in need of quality information & entertainment relevant to their sexual orientation.
• HardTV showcases foreign programming not yet seen in Canada, and produces its own indigenous original programming. 
• The programming is primarily, but not necessarily exclusively, that which involves gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans-gendered characters, hosts, or situations. HardTV includes other types of programming that transcend sexual orientation, and would also appeal to this community.

GENRES of PROGRAMMING

HardTV will present a wide diversity of genres of programming including:

• lifestyle: cooking, travel, decorating, fitness, health, fashion, finance etc.
• comedy: Canadian, American & British sitcoms, stand-up, sketch
• drama: dramatic series, specials, mini-series
• feature films: made for tv and theatrical movies, Hollywood & independent, foreign & Canadian
• documentary: one-offs, series, biographies, compilations, video diaries
• shorts: one-offs, series compilations
• interview shows: current affairs, informal talk shows, phone-in shows
• news: news magazine shows
• arts & variety
• game shows
• interstitials 
• animation for adults
• late nite erotica: same sex male and same sex female erotica programming

WHAT THE INDEPENDENT PRODUCER SHOULD HAVE:

• a proven track record of creating professional television programs;
• an established production partner if a first time producer; 
• the ability to complete the financing beyond a HardTV license fee;
• passion for the project.

DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

• at this time HardTV is not able to provide development funding

SUBMITTING A PROGRAM PROPOSAL TO HardTV

Program proposals may be submitted to HardTV and/or its affiliated companies including, without limitation, any present or future affiliated U.S. services (collectively “HardTVTV”) at any time throughout the year. HardTV WILL NOT REVIEW ANY PROGRAM PROPOSAL UNLESS IT HAS FIRST RECEIVED AN EXECUTED HardTV SUBMISSION RELEASE IN PRESCRIBED FORM. Submissions should be addressed to:

Wendy Donnan
Director of Programming
6166954 Canada Inc. "HardTV"
200 - 491 Church St
Toronto, ON
M4Y 2C6

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, and the financial request to HardTV. Dollars are limited, so producers are encouraged to seek outside sources of funding.

HardTV has no formal guidelines for proposals; rather, we encourage sending as much relevant information about each project as possible. Suggestions for elements to include are:

PROJECT PROPOSAL/NON-COMPLETED PROGRAM

• Program description, including treatment and approach. If project is a series, episodic descriptions are necessary.
• Detailed production budget
• Project timetable
• Identification of key project staff and talent, including resume information
• Business Plan, indicating approach being taken to secure funding from underwriters
• Examples of producer’s previous works

COMPLETED PROGRAM

• Program description, including treatment and approach. If project is a series, episodic descriptions are necessary.
• VHS cassette of program
• Identification of key project staff and talent, with résumé information for each.
• Information on how the program was funded
• Indication of rights available

The evaluation process takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
Specific questions regarding proposal submission may be directed to Wendy Donnan at (416) 979-2900, extension 209.