Programme Planning & VOD Manager

Job Description

This position requires you to be in the office 4 days per week.

The Programming team is responsible for creating, developing and planning exciting monthly programme schedules for both our linear factual channels and our non-linear VOD portals. We inform and entertain audiences with outstanding factual content from the National Geographic brand, a premium provider of content in the factual media space.

The role is for the National Geographic Core UK channel and requires a demonstrable passion for factual programming. You will need strong editorial knowledge of long and short-form programmes and the way audiences are consuming media in the ever-evolving media landscape. You will be comfortable in handling, using and interpret audience research data to adapt and change schedules in what is a highly competitive marketplace. In addition, to creating Monthly Schedules, the Programming & VOD Scheduler will prepare and maintain all long-term content plans.

As a natural self-starter, you will be quick at identifying winning programming and scheduling strategies and opportunities, while anticipating problems before they arise. You will need to become very familiar with the activities of competitor channels and their programming strategies and of audience behaviour in general.

You need to be able to clearly communicate all relevant information and plans to the Programming Director, and to our internal teams, including Marketing & PR, Promo Production, Audience Research and Affiliate Sales in the UK and to our partners across EMEA and the central team in Washington DC.

The Opportunity & Responsibilities

Scheduling & Planning
• Create monthly programme schedules from scratch. Input new programme deals and monthly schedules into BSS; produce all required listings documents.
• Develop both short and long term schedule strategy, including production of 6 month detailed forward plan and 12 month long-term plan based around key priorities, including creative, innovative stunt strategies, events and competitors programming launches (e.g. sporting, entertainment, film launches, anniversaries etc) to aid in scheduling decisions; maintain up-to-date knowledge of competitor channel initiatives, key strengths and weaknesses.
• Monitor performance of the channel and the direct competitive set. Initiate schedule adaptations where and if necessary.
• To screen priority programming and make best recommendations for key series launches on the Nat Geo Core channel, aiding in localisation and highlighting them to presentation in BSS.
• Fulfil and maintain key priorities for the channel brand by communicating detailed information (such as TX dates, times & key info) to promo teams, media planners and Marketing.
• To keep all files and databases associated with the channels up to date and maintain a good level of knowledge of the programming inventory for the channels. Must have the ability to ''own'' processes and explain them to non-specialists.
• To work closely with the Washington DC Programming teams to feedback on new programming for the channel.
• Preparing the Monthly promo briefs
• Act as out of hours contact for any occasional schedule/presentation issues that may arise, eg as a result of a news event.
• Maintain and ensure channel's contingency plans are valid and up to date.
• Supervise the Factual Programming Intern where necessary to assist in the preparation and release of all UK linear and VOD schedules.
• Cover for managing the Nat Geo Wild Programming & VOD Schedule where necessary.
• Run a monthly Factual highlights meeting and present channel schedules at internal meetings where required.

VOD (working with our Client Services team in London and VOD team in Madrid)
• To plan the catch-up, box set quotas – including In-Season Stacks, UHD/4K etc. for the platforms, and responsibility for delivering these to our affiliate services through planning and completing metadata.
• Create a monthly Affiliate Sideloading, StartOver and Replay file and update after each amendment
• Fulfilling contractual obligations to SKY and Virgin Media regarding UHD content; creating UHD schedules and completing metadata; updating stocklist; liaising with the Ops teams in DC and London regarding files delivery; holding regular update meetings (VC/Skype) with the UHD team at SKY
• Holding monthly VC meetings with Top Pics team at Sky, informing about all upcoming priorities, catch ups, boxsets, securing Top Picks tiles and the EPG takeovers for the biggest launches

Sponsorship
• Liaise with ad-sales for potential sponsorship deals, advising ideal sponsorship strategies to hit key stakeholder targets.

Audience Research
• Assist in the maintenance of competitive trackers to monitor forthcoming programming events and competitor activity in order to aid schedule decision-making .Have quarterly meetings with the director of European programming to share and align direction with other EMEA markets.
• Use key software such as TechEdge to inform key scheduling decisions, as well as with Research & Insights team.

Compliance
• Work with Compliance & Operations teams to direct content that is required for localisation etc. to foster a more enjoyable viewer experience.

Presenting & Communication
• To liaise with internal and external departments to ensure key programming highlights and schedule strategy are communicated effectively

Management
• Supervise and manage the day-to-day UK elements of the Factual Programming Intern.

The Experience We Require From You
• A demonstrable passion for factual programming and content in general and an interest in new trends
• Strong editorial judgement in relation to programming
• Highly organised, with an attention to detail
• Numerate – able to spot trends, interpret data and make recommendations based on these
• Good communicator, ability to interact with numerous departments
• Works well under pressure and can multi-task using a structured approach.
• Knows how to use Excel (including pivot and look up tables), Word and Powerpoint and has an appreciation of visual flair.
• Computer literate and experience with Broadcast systems, preferably BSS
• Proactive, with the ability to use your initiative
• Positive can-do attitude, with a willingness and interest to learn
• Experience within a broadcast environment, preferably Programming
• Collegiate attitude and ability to see the big picture as well as the finer details.
• Strong resilience, commitment to the role and a determination to succeed.
• A competitive spirit and a will to win.

This position is with The Walt Disney Company Limited, which is part of a business we call Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution.

The Walt Disney Company Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gm284m-216-73-216-118-42 in your application.