New contest results in dozens of innovative ideas
The Broadcasting Board of Governors sponsored its first-ever Pitch Fest to help drive and cultivate innovation through an internal competition of programming and technical ideas. A panel of judges and broadcast executives selected four winners from more than 80 submissions designed to contribute to the next generation of agency programming.
Sixteen semi-finalists were announced in June, and now the four winning entries have been chosen by BBG network executives who factored in production resources and programming needs. Trending themes in the entries were health, technology, English learning, Q&A shows, immigration, short form shows with mobile-ready content, entrepreneurship, issues involving women, sports, and game shows.
“The high caliber of talent within our media family really shines through in the many creative submissions to our inaugural Pitch Fest,” said Susan McCue, co-chair of the BBG’s Communications and Outreach Committee. “We are eager to move to the next stage: turning these ideas into reality. And we’re working on a number of projects to pursue innovations that will enhance our ability to inform, engage and connect with our audiences around the world.”
Shirine Hossaini, Jeff Blagg, Vidushi Sinha, Nancy Coviello, and Tim Wang submitted the winning Pitch Fest ideas in the inaugural competition.
The Pitch Fest initiative is a by-product of the BBG Commission on Innovation launched in September 2011 to tap the expertise of visionary leaders to respond to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The Commission brings together leaders who have proven success in digital media to help shape world-class platforms to reach U.S. international broadcasting’s unique overseas environments.