Category:Media Production Companies

BBC sheds, others reap

As part of the restructuring of the BBC during the early 1990s BBC producers were given the flexibility of acquiring external (non-BBC) programs. This was sold as "producers' choice" and the consequences were dramatic. Most BBC producers saw this as a threat but also an opportunity. The threat was that in-house production would be progressively scaled down, and job security at the BBC would be undermined. Furthermore, in-house production costs would be slashed -- hence undermining the possibility of quality or innovative productions. The opportunity that arose was for independent companies to produce content for the BBC, and in response most of the BBC top producers set up their own production companies (while in many instances remaining at the BBC). Most of the initial content contracts were obtained by the former BBC producers through the informal in-house "old boy" network agreement. (Initially, opportunity to sell to the BBC was not accessible to non-former BBC producers). The BBC's restructuring created conditions for the emergence of dozens of companies. Although most of the companies are centered in London around the White City area (surrounding the BBC), several other companies have arisen in the other BBC broadcasting areas. These companies can be described as either commercial operations (companies set up for profit) or content production for political purposes (companies which aim to sell a specific message). While in the past the BBC retained editorial and quality control, the reliance on the outside producers has enabled producers to sell a message that otherwise would not have been broadcast. An example: Israeli interests bought into several production companies set up by former BBC producers, and this enabled them to market documentaries with an Israeli-slant.

Other shake-ups

While the BBC was shaken up, the remainder of the UK TV/media market also underwent major restructuring. The main media companies, ITV, Granada, etc. were suddenly subject of takeovers and inevitably this put pressure on managers to improve profits, thus reduce costs, which inevitably led to outsourcing of content acquisition. Again, developments in the TV media landscape in the UK gave rise to independent companies that could sell content to the remaining commercial broadcasters.