BBC criticised over long running formats

British public broadcaster the BBC has been criticised by its governing body for airing too many long-running factual entertainment formats.

This move could have a negative impact on UK indie producers as well as international distributors, which rely on long running returnable formats.

The BBC Trust, which unveiled its interim conclusions on its strategy review, also said that the broadcaster needs to be more “ambitious and distinctive ” in access primetime and more “creative” during its primetime schedule.

The Trust highlighted property and antique formats; the BBC’s daytime schedule is filled with series including Bargain Hunt, Lion Television-produced Homes Under The Hammer, To Buy or Not To Buy and Leopard Films-produced Cash In The Attic.

“Some viewers believe parts of our schedules on each channel lack quality and have become too weighted towards long-running factual entertainment strands with similar formats and covering similar subject areas, characterised as ‘collectible hunting’ and property,” the Trust noted.

However, the Trust applauded the commission of series including BBC One’s Small Island, BBC Three’s The Autistic Me and BBC Four’s political comedy The Thick of It. “The BBC Executive has started the process of changing its programming mix [for BBC One and Two], but we have asked it to explore further how daytime output can improve its quality and distinctiveness with current funding levels,” it added.