PitchDoctorPitchDoctor
BroadcastersSign in
Broadcasters / RTE / Rte Prime Time

RTE

Rte Prime Time

Format

Investigative documentary / Investigative report

Length

30–60 min

Timeslot

Irregular / Primetime on RTE One

Exposé length

3–5 pages

Editorial tone

Investigative, tenacious, public interest. Prime Time Investigates is Irish television's journalistic heavyweight. The films expose wrongdoing, challenge power structures, and give voice to the voiceless. Tone is factual-serious, never sensationalist. Research is watertight and court-proof — Irish media law is strict. Confrontational interviews are part of the repertoire, but always fair. The films have societal impact — Prime Time Investigates has changed laws and triggered resignations.

What this format covers

  • ●Institutional failure: Church, State, health system
  • ●Housing crisis and homelessness in Ireland
  • ●Political corruption and cronyism
  • ●Consumer protection and white-collar crime
  • ●Abuse in institutions (historical and current)
  • ●Social inequality and poverty
  • ●Irish diaspora and migration
  • ●Northern Ireland and the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement

What this format does NOT want

  • ●Topics without Irish connection
  • ●Lifestyle, travel, or entertainment
  • ●Historical documentaries without investigative core
  • ●Science formats
  • ●Protagonist-driven portraits without systemic context
  • ●Speculation without solid research
  • ●Topics that cannot be legally secured

Visual expectations

Journalistic and clear. Mix of research sequences (documents, databases, files), interviews with victims and those responsible, observational passages, and confrontational conversations. Hidden-camera footage in justified cases. Archive material and graphics for contextualization. No auteur-film ambition — the investigation is the focus, not the aesthetics. Professional but sober visual language.

Expected exposé structure

  1. Title (clear, direct, no wordplay)
  2. Logline (2–3 sentences: What is being exposed, why is it relevant)
  3. The story: What is the wrongdoing, who is affected
  4. Research status: What is already proven, what still needs investigation
  5. Sources and access: Victims, whistleblowers, documents
  6. Legal assessment: Is the story legally secured?
  7. Societal impact: What should change?
  8. Author, production company, contact

Example productions

  • Prime Time Investigates: Behind Closed Doors (Pflege-Missbrauch)
  • Prime Time Investigates: The Great Irish Sell-Off (Wohnungskrise)
  • Prime Time Investigates: Mission to Prey (Missbrauch in der Kirche)
  • Prime Time Investigates: Cardinal Secrets
  • Prime Time Investigates: Creches — Behind Closed Doors
European perspective required

Editorial notes

Prime Time Investigates (formerly Prime Time) has been RTE's investigative flagship since the 1990s and has exposed numerous national scandals. RTE is Ireland's public broadcaster. The films often have direct political consequences — parliamentary debates, commissions of inquiry, legislative changes. Irish media law (Defamation Act 2009) is strict — every claim must be defensible. The commissioning desk works closely with RTE Legal. External production companies can pitch but need demonstrable investigative experience. Co-productions with BBC, Channel 4, or European broadcasters are possible for cross-border topics. Pitch language: English.

Ready to pitch to RTE?

PitchDoctor generates a format-compliant exposé tailored to Rte Prime Time's exact editorial expectations.

← All 98 broadcaster formats