BBC Struggles to Fund 70% of Scripted Shows

The BBC is facing financial challenges, with multiple scripted shows on its slate that it cannot fund, according to UK super-producer Jane Featherstone. During a UK parliamentary inquiry, Featherstone revealed that the BBC often gives a “soft greenlight” to shows, meaning they are approved but require producers to find the majority of the funding. For instance, a show by Utopia scribe Dennis Kelly received a greenlight with only 30% of its budget covered by the BBC, leaving a 60% funding gap. Featherstone highlighted that Public Service Broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4 are funneling more money into higher-cost content, which might not reflect British values. She also noted the difficulty in selling British content abroad, citing ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office as an example. Featherstone expressed concerns about the sustainability of her company, Sister, especially after closing its U.S. office and experiencing a lack of profitability despite doubling turnover. She called for an improved tax credit to support the industry, echoing sentiments from other industry leaders like Doctor Who producer Jane Tranter.

Source: deadline.com