BBC Worldwide Channels is aiming for a threefold increase in the number of original hours ordered for BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV (BBC Worldwide’s general entertainment channel in Australia and New Zealand) this year. In line with the roadmap developed by Tracy Forsyth, Vice President of Commissioning, the plan will also see the business commissioning 100 hours a year by 2014 as the international portfolio diversifies from a largely acquisitions-based content pipeline.

Forsyth’s plan has a twin track strategy for original programming: firstly, to create global productions which will run in all markets (EMEA, Asia, India, Latin America and Australia & New Zealand); and secondly, local commissions targeting individual markets.

Underlining the brief to producers is a requirement to match the quality of shows acquired from the BBC for BBC Worldwide’s international audiences.

BBC Worldwide Channels is also seeking to make a long term investment in high volume formats, with the potential to run up to 50 episodes. Forsyth’s brief to producers includes factual entertainment formats with strong British connectivity, which might be through talent, subject matter, or irreverent wit and humour, but still with a tangible takeaway for the audience.

BBC Worldwide Channels will also be looking to fully fund and co-produce projects, working with the independent production community as well as the BBC’s in-house production teams. In addition to ordering news shows from the BBC, Forsyth will commission international versions of some of the corporation’s flagship shows, tailored for audiences outside the UK.