BBC Worldwide to commission 100 hours of originals in 2014

BBC Worldwide said it will be ramping up the number of original programmes that it commissions and will order 100 hours of originals the year after next.

The channels division of Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK public broadcaster, has unveiled a new commissioning strategy, which will be executed by Tracy Forsyth, vice-president of commissioning.

She will oversee fully-funded shows and coproductions for Worldwide’s growing bouquet of international channels, which includes BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV. The focus will be on long-running formats with runs of up to 50 episodes.

Forsyth will have 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 and New Zealand, and secondly, local commissions targeting individual markets.

Forsyth said, “Since joining the business in January this year, I’ve been working with the regional programming teams within BBC Worldwide to clearly identify the gaps in our schedules that can’t be filled from our acquisitions pipeline.”
She added: “I look forward to working with independent producers as well as the BBC’s in-house teams to create a brand new slate of shows that will celebrate the best of British talent and creativity, and inform, educate and entertain audiences around the world.”