The newly created BBC Studios officially launched today (3rd April 2018), heralding a new chapter for the BBC’s content creation and exploitation activities.
In an environment of increasing competition for viewers, the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios brings the BBC Group into line with the rest of the industry and ensures the creative and commercial success of the organisation. BBC Studios will see content through the full life cycle of development, commissioning, production and co-production, sales and distribution and will underpin the creation of new BBC-owned IP.
The newly formed BBC Studios will build on the unique heritage and global success of both organisations, with British creativity and outstanding content forming the cornerstone of the company.
Leading a staff of around 3000 and overseeing an annual turnover of £1.4bn, Tim Davie, Chief Executive Officer and Mark Linsey, Chief Creative Officer officially assumed their new roles today and unveiled the organisation’s new vision, purpose and strategy.
And following last month’s announcement to set up a production office in Sydney, Australia, BBC Studios is developing new production opportunities in Beijing, China. Award-winning executive producer Matthew Springford, who has over 20 years’ experience in factual programme-making, will be based at the BBC office in Beijing alongside the BBC Studios’ distribution team and will be working with Chinese TV stations and digital platforms to co-develop and co-produce original content and new formats across all factual genres.
Tim Davie, CEO, BBC Studios, said: “BBC Studios exists to inspire audiences globally, strengthening the BBC financially and creatively, working with the very best British talent. Bringing together the UK’s most awarded production business, a world-class content sales business, our unique portfolio of brands, and a network of premium indie partners, BBC Studios has what it takes to create and export quality British programmes in this new age of content.”
Mark Linsey, CCO, BBC Studios, said: “Today is an important and exciting day for the BBC. For me, it’s all about BBC Studios’ outstanding creativity and the brilliant programmes that we and our indie partners make, so it’s even more thrilling that I can announce today that Shakespeare & Hathaway, our break-out daytime drama hit, has been recommissioned.”
###
NOTES TO EDITORS:
BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including six production bases in the UK, and a further seven wholly-owned and production partnerships internationally. The company, which makes 2,500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.
Commissioning announcement
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/shakespeare-and-hathaway
Matthew Springford
Matthew Springford is an award-winning executive producer, series producer and producer/director. With over 20 years’ experience in factual television, his work includes documentaries, specialist factual, science and history. Working exclusively for the BBC for over 12 years, he has overseen many of the BBC’s flagship arts strands including The Culture Show, Artsnight and Imagine. His recent credits include An Art Lovers’ Guide, Handmade by Royal Appointment, and The Art of Japanese Life. In 2013 he produced and directed a feature documentary on the Chinese pianist Lang Lang – Do or Die: Lang Lang’s Story – which followed the pianist on a tour across China, America and Europe.