Over the years, the partnership between BBC and Discovery has produced acclaimed programming events such as Life, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and Wonders Of The Solar System. Although the formal relationship is coming to an end, the BBC and Discovery will continue to work together on a number of forthcoming projects, including Hidden Kingdoms and How To Build A Planet.
Bal Samra, BBC Commercial Director, said: “The BBC and Discovery have enjoyed a longstanding and successful relationship and although this phase of our partnership is now coming to an end, we look forward to working together on a number of projects in the future. Science and Natural History programmes have always been a core part of the BBC’s DNA and we have ambitious plans for the future, with an exciting range of new content in the pipeline. International demand for our content has never been higher and we continue to enjoy a collaborative and fruitful relationship with a wide range of co-producers.”
Discovery’s EVP, Production & Development, Landmark Series and Specials, Andrew Jackson commented: “As Discovery’s global audiences continue to flourish, they demand the very best science and natural history programming. This is taking us in exciting, new directions, creating these essential shows for numerous cutting-edge platforms. We look forward to working with the many talented production companies around the world, including the BBC, with whom we have enjoyed a long and successful relationship.
BBC Worldwide CEO, Tim Davie, has unveiled a new vision to build the BBC’s brands, audiences and commercial returns across the world.
At its heart lies an uplift in content investment to secure the position of BBC Worldwide’s premium programme assets; the launch of three new core consumer brands propositions; and a greater focus on digital innovation to extend the company’s reach and routes to market.
In addition, the organisation will launch British scripted content channel BBC First, which will provide drama and feature high quality first-run British programming. BBC First is a new BBC Worldwide brand that will be rolled out globally, with the first channel launch confirmed for Australia’s Foxtel in August 2014.
Some of the early titles confirmed on BBC First include The Musketeers, Young Doctor’s Notebook, Dead Boss, The Village and The Fall.
Tim Davie said: “BBC Worldwide has a good track record of taking British content to the world, benefiting international audiences, licence fee payers and the wider industry alike. But the time has come for a step-change, reflecting the rapid development in our markets. In particular, we will invest more into everything we do that powers our entire business, and realise the full potential of the BBC brand with audiences around the world.”
In an address to employees, Davie confirmed BBC Worldwide’s intention to grow content investment commitments by £30m pa to £200m. This will result in closer collaboration with its content partners, including BBC Productions, indie relationships and BBC Worldwide’s own production base, through more first-look deals, BBC Worldwide funded commissions for BBC Worldwide channels, co-productions and development of content for non-linear channels. BBC Worldwide will look to invest in distinctive premium British content of the highest quality.
As part of this initiative, BBC Worldwide announced it would become the principal co-production partner of the BBC’s Natural History Unit.It announced other investments such as new drama series Intruders,commissioned by BBC AMERICA from BBC Worldwide Productions in Los Angeles.
Tim Davie commented: “Significantly higher content investment will underpin BBC Worldwide’s third party sales, as well as our own BBC branded services. As part of our ambition to take high quality BBC and British content to the widest possible audience, we also intend to expand and upgrade our successful flagship annual global sales event. BBC Showcase 2014 will be bigger and better than ever, with record buyer numbers.”
In addition to a strengthened content pipeline, BBC Worldwide plans to introduce three new genre brands to its portfolio of branded channels and services around the world. The new brands will be introduced through a variety of new channel and non-linear digital service launches and re-brands. These will be launched on a market-by-market basis from 2014.
As home to the best British content in premium factual, factual entertainment and drama, the new brands will build on the BBC’s world-class reputation in these genres, spanning channels and digital platforms alike, and creating new opportunities for consumer connections. BBC Worldwide will keep a number of its existing channel brands in some markets, including BBC AMERICA.
Davie confirmed that BBC Earth is to become the company’s brand for premium factual content, from natural history and the human world to outer space and science.
Unveiling his three-year vision for BBC Worldwide in London overnight, Chief Executive Tim Davie, explained: ‘The BBC has a world-class reputation for drama and this new global brand builds on it. With drama at its core, BBC First will offer international audiences an unrivalled opportunity to view a wealth of original and unforgettable British content.’
Jon Penn, Managing Director BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand, said: ‘BBC First captures the essence of the channel perfectly. It is synonymous with the quality BBC brand, delivering the best British drama and comedy to audiences before they can see it anywhere else in Australia. We’re delighted that our new channel, announced in April, is to become a BBC Worldwide brand that will be recognised and cherished around the world.’
Foxtel Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, said: ‘This is another historic moment for Foxtel and a landmark television partnership. BBC First extends our un-rivalled commitment to securing the best premium programming for our subscribers. From August, every coveted BBC drama and comedy will premiere in Australia first on Foxtel.’
Launching as part of the Foxtel Drama & Lifestyle package in August 2014, BBC First will feature quality premiere programming from the BBC and other great British producers, which will not be available on terrestrial television for at least 12 months.
A further brand will be announced in the months ahead, targeting male audiences with a blend of content that raises the bar in the factual entertainment space and an approach which captures the maverick spirit of the BBC’s best shows.
“BBC Earth is a compelling way for us to share premium BBC factual content with audiences around the world. It has already proven itself through a YouTube channel, in an amazing live event partnership in Japan and as blocks of programming on linear and digital platforms around the world. There are plans to launch a BBC Earth block on BBC AMERICA in 2014.” Davie said. “This is the moment and the means to position the BBC as a true, global leader in all things factual from anthropology and animals to science and the solar system.”
“We are also in the process of developing a new offering in BBC First. With drama at its core, BBC First will offer international audiences a first chance to view a wealth of original and unforgettable British content.”
Furthermore, BBC.com, the international version of the BBC’s online site, will be transformed over the next three years, supporting the BBC’s recently stated goal of doubling global reach from 250m to 500m per week by 2022. This transformation will see a greater focus on video content, bringing together all BBC commercial online offerings in one destination. The new BBC.com will include a long-form video player and will represent a single digital route to market for BBC.com’s partners and advertisers. As part of this move, the existing trial of the global iPlayer app, currently testing in 16 countries, will not be extended to any new markets, and it is proposed that the service will be integrated into BBC.com over time.
As part of this BBC.com initiative, and as announced by BBC Director-General Tony Hall, BBC Store, a new commercial service is to be launched by BBC Worldwide, giving UK consumers the chance to buy, watch and keep a selection of BBC programmes, consistent with BBC Worldwide’s focus on extending consumers’ enjoyment of BBC content in the BBC’s home market. Davie shared a further ambition to launch an international version of BBC Store.
Davie said: “The plans outlined today for the next phase of BBC Worldwide’s development will underpin our success over the next three years and beyond. They combine an increased commitment to content investment with new BBC content brands alongside a more powerful and unified digital engine. Taken together, these three investment priorities will serve to grow the BBC’s footprint across the world, both via our own services and our important third party sales, resulting in greater access by audiences to BBC and British content and sustainable cash flows back to the BBC.”
