BBC original content spend hits $2.1bn as UK pubcaster exceeds diversity commitment

The Sixth Commandment

UK pubcaster the BBC increased its original TV content spend to more than £1.6bn ($2.1bn) over the past year, according to a new report.

The spend over 2022/23, announced in the BBC Commissioning Supply Report (which can be read in full, here) was up from £1.4bn in the previous year.

The Sixth Commandment and Silent Witness broadcaster said that this spend amounted to 28,000 hours of original TV content, working with 351 independent production companies, including 65 that it had not worked with before.

The report also revealed that £61m had been spent on commissioning diverse TV content over the 2022/23 period, with the pubcaster having now surpassed its Creative Diversity Commitment by investing £128.5m across both TV & radio in just two years, exceeding the original commitment of £112m into on-screen and on-air diversity and inclusion over three years.

The BBC said it had also put 258 companies into paid development, working with producers to take an idea from pitch to commission and that its speed on decision making on active ideas increased up to 97% shows receiving as decision within 20 weeks.

“This year has been a year of creative excellence, in which we won more than 150 awards across TV and Radio. We are so proud of the suppliers, talent and partners we work with in delivering such an incredible range of brilliant output for our audiences – which has kept us as the UK’s number one brand for media,” wrote BBC CCO Charlotte Moore in the report.