TLC is one of Discovery Communications’ big three brands. A female-skewing network, it is in 99 million homes and is being rolled out aggressively around the world.

Click here to browse more extracts from Broadcast’s Factual Commissioning Report

ORDER NOW: Factual Commissioning Report

What is the TLC audience and brief?
The TLC demographic is primarily adults aged between 25 and 54 with a female skew. We offer entertaining Discovery Communications non-scripted programming. A key word for us is “genuine”.

What are the key slots and what do you want?
We are always looking for big characters. We have an interest in shows that feature families, and family businesses are something that has worked for us. The thing I always suggest to producers is to look at our successful programmes and develop companion shows that can run with or after them. We’d also be interested in event programming, be it specials or series. It is easy to say no, so I encourage producers to pitch it if they think it can fit somewhere in our schedule.

What have been your hits and misses?
We have had a very successful year, with hits in much greater numbers than misses. Our most recent hit was Sister Wives, which documents the life of a polygamist family living in Utah.

What are your recent commissions and what is in production?
Our schedule is almost entirely original programming and we need to fill 365 days a year. New seasons of our hit shows are in the works. New series in production and airing soon include Next Great Baker and Homemade Millionaire.

How and when should producers submit?
We have development executives in Silver Spring and Los Angeles and we attend all the major markets. There is a submissions portal that all proposals must go through before we officially look at them (http://producers.discovery.com). In terms of key commissioning times: always!

What are your top shows at the moment?
In no particular order:

  • Little People Big World;
  • Cake Boss;
  • Kate Plus 8;
  • Fabulous Cakes;
  • Little Couple;
  • 19 Kids And Counting;
  • Toddlers And Tiaras;
  • I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant;
  • LA Ink;
  • the Police Women franchise;
  • American Chopper;
  • BBQ Pitmasters;
  • the Say Yes To The Dress franchise;
  • DC Cupcakes;
  • Four Weddings;
  • What Not To Wear;
  • Hoarding: Buried Alive;
  • Freaky Eaters;
  • Sister Wives.

Topics