Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) and the NYTVF today announced the fifth annual FOX-NYTVF Comedy Script Contest. The contest once again invites aspiring television writers to enter their scripts for original half-hour comedy TV pilots for the opportunity to win $25,000 and a development deal with FOX. Scripts must present an original idea for a potential half-hour comedy series. The opening date for script submissions is Monday, April 16, 2012, and the winner will be announced at the 8^th Annual New York Television Festival, being held October 22-27, 2012, in lower Manhattan. 

“Five years ago FOX took a chance on the NYTVF when they partnered with us to offer a guaranteed deal to a talented writer in our community,” said NYTVF Founder Terence Gray. “The network’s support and continued commitment have fundamentally changed the way in which we work with the industry and paved the way for artists to access opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. We are thrilled and honored to continue this partnership with FOX and look forward to the creative response from our community.” 

“Comedy is so vibrant and exciting right now, and our annual collaboration with the NYTVF to discover, cultivate and support new comedy writers is as important as ever,” said Suzanna Makkos and Marcus Wiley, Senior Vice Presidents and co-heads of Comedy Development for Fox Broadcasting Company. “We are so grateful to the NYTVF and the artists who have participated in the contest for the last five years. It's incredibly gratifying to help break down traditional barriers so that original voices can be heard.” 

The script contest is open to U.S. residents age 18 and over who do not have any contractual commitments preventing them from entering into an exclusive development deal with FOX. Scripts not currently under development at a network, studio or major production company and meeting all other criteria in the Official Rules located at http://nytvf.com/2012_fox_rules.html are eligible for the competition. Scripts must be between 25 and 35 pages in length in a proper screenwriting format to be eligible.  

Writers can enter by submitting a copy of their script online to the New York Television Festival. Scripts must be saved in a PDF file format and uploaded to the official contest Web site located at http://nytvf.com/2012_fox_contest.html. The NYTVF will begin accepting uploaded scripts at 12:00 PM ET on April 16, 2012. The deadline for submissions is 12:00 PM ET on April 30, 2012, or when 1,500 submissions are received, whichever comes first. 

A screening committee of NYTVF officials will narrow the pool of entrants down to 25 finalists. These finalists will be presented to FOX development executives. One winner will be selected by FOX, and he/she will receive $25,000 and a development deal with the network. Additionally, FOX may elect to enter into development agreements with the remaining finalists. All 25 finalists will be invited to the 2012 New York Television Festival as Official Artists where those not subject to a FOX development agreement will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in NYTVF Connect, the Festival’s comprehensive industry track serving artists and top-tier entertainment executives, with multiple opportunities to pitch, network and collaborate.

In addition to the FOX Comedy Script Contest, in 2012 the NYTVF previously announced development partnerships with IFC, MTV, Syfy and VH1 inside the annual Independent Pilot Competition, as well as with BIO Channel, Hasbro Studios, Logo, SevenOne International, Sundance Channel, and the U.K.’s Channel 4 as NYTVF Pitch Partners. A&E is returning for the second annual A&E Unscripted Development Pipeline, while Comedy Central offered a guaranteed deal through the Comedy Central Short Pilot Competition. Finally, NYTVF London, the organization’s first international event, was hosted last November in partnership with BBC America, BAFTA and PACT. During the event, Fox Television Studios (in conjunction with Apostle) and Warner Bros. International Television Production, announced the first-ever NYTVF development opportunities exclusively for U.K. Producers.

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About the NYTVF

Established in 2005, the NYTVF is a pioneer of the independent television movement, constructing new and innovative paths of development and talent identification, while simultaneously complementing the traditional television development model. Its annual New York Television Festival – held each fall in New York City – is recognized as the industry’s first independent television festival, which provides a platform to elevate the work of artists creating for the small screen. Through the Festival and other year-round activities – including NYTVF London, which launched in 2011 – the NYTVF’s mission is to connect its community of over 10,000 independent creative artists with leading networks, studios and brands by cultivating relationships that lead to new opportunities. For more information on the NYTVF, the annual Festival and these initiatives, visit www.nytvf.com.

About Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) is a unit of News Corporation and the leading broadcast television network among Adults 18-49. FOX finished the 2010-2011 season at No. 1 in the key adult demographic for the seventh consecutive year – a feat that has never been achieved in broadcast history – while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming a week as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.