BBC Entertainment


BBC Studios wins first tender commission

BBC Studios has won the first competitive tender for a BBC series. The new-look production arm of UK pubcaster the BBC will produce the long-running gameshow A Question of Sport, which was one of three shows put out to tender. The BBC altered its production guidelines last year, removing in-house guarantees as part of a […]

BBC plots Mrs Brown’s Boys spin-off

UK pubcaster the BBC has commissioned a pilot of All Round to Mrs Browns, an entertainment show spin-off of its hit comedy series Mrs Brown’s Boys, TBI has learned. The core comedy series, which is filmed in front of a live audience and recently went out as a live show, has been a huge hit on […]

BBC launching drama channel in Middle East

BBC Worldwide has struck a deal with OSN and will roll out its drama channel in the Middle East and North Africa region on the regional pay TV platform. BBC First is one of Worldwide’s key channel brands after it rejigged its offering last year, and has already rolled out in Australia and parts of […]

Tyler replaces Linsey at BBC Entertainment

Alan Tyler has replaced Mark Linsey as acting controller of BBC Entertainment after the latter became interim director of television. The move was triggered by Danny Cohen’s departure as the BBC’s television chief, with former BBC Entertainment boss Linsey stepping up to replace him while a full-time replacement is sought. Various internal and external names […]

ITV Studios indie poaches BBC producer

ITV Studios-owned factual prodco Shiver has poached Richard Hastings from BBC Entertainment. Hastings (pictured) will become creative director, factual entertainment, formats and daytime at the UK-based Come Dine With Me producer. He joins ITV’s production arm from the entertainment wing of UK pubcaster the BBC, where he was head of factual entertainment development. His new […]

BBC Worldwide in largest Taiwan deal

BBC Worldwide claims it has closed its largest-ever programming deal in Taiwan through an agreement with Chunghwa Telecom-backed channel operator ELTA TV. The deal includes channels, programme sales and VOD platform from the factual, lifestyle, light entertainment, news and current affairs wings of the BBC’s commercial arm. Following the agreement four BBC-branded channels – BBC […]

FremantleMedia poaches former BBC exec for US programming role

The US division of FremantleMedia has recruited former BBC Entertainment exec Sean Hancock as its new VP, alternative programming. At FremantleMedia North America Hancock will develop and produce reality competition, gameshow and other unscripted content, reporting to the company’s recently appointed executive VP of alternative programming, Toby Gorman. As commissioning editor at the BBC, Hancock […]

BBC Worldwide confirms international channel changes

The BBC’s commercial arm has confirmed its new premium content channel brand will be known as BBC First, ahead of the net’s first launch on Australian pay TV platform Foxtel next year and a major investment in new programming. BBC Worldwide CEO Tim Davie said the service would be launched on linear and non-linear platforms, […]

Doctor Who special to simulcast globally

The upcoming fiftieth anniversary episode of British sci-fi series Doctor Who will launch with a global simulcast to more than 75 territories in November. One-off special The Day of the Doctor (pictured) will go out globally on November 23 at the same time as the UK launch on BBC One, the pubcaster’s commercial arm BBC […]

BBC Entertainment to launch on new Romanian platform

BBC Entertainment is among three BBC Worldwide channels launching on a new Romanian DTH TV service. BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge and BBC World News will be carried on the Universe HD tier of the newly launched Orange Romania platform. Entertainment has been in Romania since 2009 when it launched a pan-European feed. Knowledge, which runs […]