ITV Online Drama

The Stage reports that ITV plans to commission new drama and comedy especially for its revamped broadband website.

Tanya Lidstone, responsible for all new commissions on the site, said the broadcaster was looking to develop original formats in several genres and was already talking to ITV Productions about an idea for a new comedy-based series.

She said the series could take the form of a talent search show aimed at finding new comedians, but said discussions were at an "early stage".

This week, the broadcaster launched its first made-for-broadband commission with real life soap opera Web Lives.

Made by Films of Record, Lidstone said this would pave the way for other commissions and added: "We are trying to break the mould and I have a budget specifically for commissioning broadband programmes. I can definitely see a drama series working online and I am very keen to do one.

"We will definitely be looking to do a comedy series too and I am hoping more pitches from production companies will come in that are like that."