Northern Ireland Screen: Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund

Overview

The overarching aim of the USBF is to ensure that the heritage, culture and language of Ulster-Scots is expressed through moving image. As a support to the primary aim, the USBF is also open to supporting radio content produced for BBC Radio Ulster; other local commercial stations and/or community radio.

For details on the latest priorities of the USBF, please read the USBF Priorities document.

Specific calls will be announced throughout 2025-26, details of which will be available in the Funding section.

OBJECTIVES

• The objectives of the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund are as follows:
• To deliver at least 10 additional hours of Ulster-Scots moving image programming per annum;
• To deliver at least 1 Ulster-Scots radio project per annum;
• To deliver at least 1 digital content project per annum;
• To broadcast 90% of the USBF funded programming within 9 months of delivery;
• To reach a significant Northern Ireland audience, primarily but not exclusively through broadcast television, with an average per programme audience target of 40,000;

General information on applications to the USBF

• The USBF will organise a minimum of two funding calls in 2025/26. Please refer to the Funding section for further information on call dates.
• Normally production companies must submit applications to the eligible broadcasters in advance of submitting applications to the USBF.

For further information on the USBF please refer to the USBF guidelines and USBF Priorities document.

General guidelines

Applicants to the USBF must be registered independent companies with a permanent agency in Northern Ireland. The only exception is if a specific call for applications is open to individuals. 

The USBF will accept co-production arrangements where the co-producer does not have a permanent agency in Northern Ireland provided the project and the coproduction clearly fulfil all of the stated criteria and the project.

INVESTMENT LEVELS

The USBF will not invest more than £400,000, up to a ceiling of 75% of total production costs, in any given project or series (although given the size of the fund, it is envisaged that project funding will be limited to £250,000 in all but the most exceptional circumstances).

MATCH FUNDING

• The USBF will provide a maximum of 75% of the overall agreed project costs. The broadcaster must provide the balancing 25%.
  • This 25% must have a minimum of 15% cash into the project but may include a fixed 10% overhead cost.
• Where the USBF is investing between 5% and 50% of the overall agreed project costs, full match funding to cover 100% of the costs must be clearly committed with a minimum of 25% being provided by the broadcaster.