BBC Studios

BBC Studios teams with indies for short-form scripted

BBC Studios, Clerkenwell Films and Anton are partnering on premium, short-form scripted content. BBC Studios boss Tim Davie revealed during a keynote speech at the IBC conference in Amsterdam today (13 September) that the trio will develop and fund a slate of high-end, short-form drama and comedy projects. The End Of The F***ing World (right) […]

BBC announces new comedy from Benidorm creator

BBC Studios has ordered a 6×30’ series from the creator of Benidorm, Derren Litten. Scarborough, which filmed a pilot earlier this year, will begin production on location early next year and air on BBC One in summer 2019. The show follows the lives and loves of a handful of residents in the sometimes sunny beach […]

BBC Studios signs partnership with Freedom

One of Scotland’s leading independent producers, Freedom Scripted Entertainment has signed a co-development and production agreement with BBC studios. Freedom, founded earlier this year by former BBC Drama, World Productions and STV development executive Mike Ellen (right), is based in Glasgow. As part of the deal, BBC Studios will have a first look on distribution […]

BBC Studios appoints C4’s Ralph Lee as content director

BBC Studios has appointed Channel 4’ s creative officer Ralph Lee as director of content. In the newly created role, Lee will have overall control of BBC Studios Production’s creative strategy in the UK. He will take up the new role, which reports to CEO Tim Davie, in October, and will sit on BBC Studios’ […]

BBC Studios extends beIN partnership

BBC Studios is set to develop its partnership with Doha-based beIN Media Group by signing a memo of understanding that establishes a strategic partnership between the two companies, “to explore opportunities for the co-development, co-production and distribution of content in Qatar, the Middle East and Turkey.” The partnership will run for three years from this […]

BBC’s Linsey expands role to head content partnerships

BBC Studios has revealed that from September chief creative officer Mark Linsey (pictured) will take charge of its portfolio of production relationships. Linsey will now manage partnerships with indies and BBC Studios Production, while remaining in his role as chief creative officer. He will relinquish his responsibilities as BBC Studios Production lead, however. A new […]

BBC3 ploughs extra investment into factual entertainment

BBC3 has announced the first two commissions to benefit from a recent boost in funding for the channel’s original output. They are BBC Studios’ Couples On The Couch and Wall to Wall’s Glow Up. BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh (pictured), said: “When we announced that we were extending the focus of our commissioning on BBC Three, […]

BBC faces ‘significant risks’ due to changing audience behaviour

The BBC faces “significant risks” to future performance due to changing audience behaviour, according to a House of Commons select committee. The Public Accounts Committee report flagged risks relating to people spending less time watching TV channels and DVDs, and spending more time watching subscription VOD services from commercial competitors like Netflix and Amazon. The […]

BBC Studios takes 100% control of Lookout Point

BBC Studios has increased its stake in indie scripted studio Lookout Point to 100%, in line with an option agreed in 2016. Following completion, Lookout Point will continue to be led by joint CEOs, Simon Vaughan and Faith Penhale, and will operate independently. Tim Davie, CEO, BBC Studios, said: “Increasing our investment enables us to […]

Denmark’s DR1 picks up BBC Studios’ Meet The Humans

BBC Studios has licensed the format for Meet The Humans to Danish public service channel DR1. The six-episode series will be produced by Mastiff and is currently in production for an Autumn TX. Meet the Humans was originally commissioned for the global BBC Earth channel and presented by Michael Mosley (Trust Me I’m A Doctor). It puts humans […]