BBC Studios scraps physical Showcase event for 2022 & moves ‘fully digital’ again

BBC Studios (BBCS) will not hold a physical version of its annual Showcase event in 2022, with next year’s sales extravaganza set to again run only online.

The UK pubcaster’s commercial arm normally welcomes more than 700 buyers from around the world to Showcase, which has most recently been held in Liverpool. However, the company cancelled 2021’s physical event as the pandemic spread and replaced it with a fully digital offering.

BBCS has now confirmed it plans to do the same again in 2022, with the 46th iteration of Showcase set to use the virtual platform rolled out last year.

The decision, which comes just a month since TBI revealed BBCS would not be attending MIPCOM in October, was made after last year’s event became the most attended in Showcase history, with more than 1400 partners watching shows and masterclasses online.

A BBCS spokesman told TBI that the company is “currently focused on 2022 and not beyond that,” with no decision made on future editions of the physical Showcase.

Paul Dempsey

Dates & details

The 2022 version will again offer online screenings as well as interviews with talent and masterclasses, with the three-day programme running from 28 February to 2 March.

Buyers will also be able to hear from programme makers and key commissioners about their latest projects, while production panels will offer insights and latest footage from the cutting room. There will also be the chance for co-pro and finance partners to hear about a range of new projects at very early stages of development.

Key shows for 2022 include Penelope Skinner and Ginny Skinner’s thriller The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies from Sister, as well as natural history epic Frozen Planet II from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, and police drama Blue Lights, from Two Cities Television and Gallagher Films.

Also on the slate is BBCS Production series The Greatest Show On Earth (working title), which explores nature’s most spectacular phenomena and attempts to pture them.

Paul Dempsey, president of global distribution at BBCS, said: “We’re proud that BBC Studios Showcase has made the UK a key destination for the world’s content buyers but the pandemic has accelerated changes in the way we can help them discover our shows.

“Their terrific response to our virtual Showcase earlier this year, coupled with continued uncertainty around international travel means that we will once again bring our content to customers digitally next February. Of course, there’s nothing like meeting face to face and we are very much looking forward to the time when we can get together again.”