BBC sets aside £150,000 for Northern sport docs

It is part of the BBC's continued investment in content made in the North, which has so far seen it offer more than £500,000 through its @North children's digital commissions and a similar 5 Live fund.

Carl Doran, the executive in charge of the fund, said: "The Sport North Kicker Fund is aimed at generating fresh and innovative ideas to further build the Inside Sport strand.

"We are looking for the compelling untold story, the unique perspective on sporting life or the editorial concept that will amplify the BBC's multiplatform coverage of major sporting events."

The fund is being made available ahead of the BBC's sport department moving to MediaCityUK at Salford Quays later this year.

Peter Salmon, director of BBC North, said: "With BBC Sport moving to Salford this year I felt it was important to make a tangible commitment to the great tradition of sports programme making from the North of England.

"This Sport North Kicker Fund, alongside the funding we have made in both children's and radio content in the last few months underlines how serious we are about supporting local creative talent and helping them to have their voices heard across the BBC's services."

In September 2009 the BBC launched the @North fund which saw £500,000 set aside to create digital content for CBeebies and CBBC.

The briefs went to Numiko and Brass in Leeds, The Workshop in Sheffield, Amaze in Manchester and Th_nk in Newcastle.

The Radio 5 Live Kicker Fund initially invested £40,000 in seven new commissions from independent radio producers.

The commissions were awarded to Made In Manchester, Savvy Productions, Input Media North, Pearl Works Productions, Woolyback Productions and independent producer Jo Meek.

An further £40,000 has been committed for radio commissions for 2011/2012.