BBC Studios

Production’s Coming Home? | RTS Cambridge Convention 2021

A panel of leaders from the UK production sector and Netflix consider the rapid changes in the market and explore their possible longer term impacts on audiences, broadcasters and producers.

Chair

Lorraine Heggessey, Chair, Grierson Trust and Advisor, Channel 4 Growth Fund

Speakers

Ralph Lee, Chief Executive, Production, BBC Studios

Brandon Riegg, VP, Unscripted and Documentary Series, Netflix

Sanjay Singhal, Chief Executive, Voltage TV

Jane Turton, CEO, All3Media

Wanted: more staff, studios and gear - the TV industry's scarcity problem

"Fist fight” and “a perfect storm” are how producers are describing the current scarcity of crew, kit, studio space and talent in the British TV industry. The situation has arisen primarily due to the pre-Covid-19 content boom driven by the expanding streaming market and the post-lockdown rush back to production. And it is putting production schedules under strain. 

BBC Studios launches Assistant Producer Accelerator Programme for researchers

If so, check out a BBC Studios’ initiative which is offering 14 one-year contracts to researchers who have a minimum of three researcher credits.   

The successful 14 people will be employed and paid as assistant producers and work on productions as well as receive training. 

The 14 roles are for different genres and are based throughout the UK. Applications must be in by January 31.  

The genres include natural history, history and documentaries, science and arts, factual and factual entertainment, and entertainment and music. 

RTS Futures CV Masterclass

Daniell Morrisey, Senior Editorial Early Careers Schemes Manager, Carrie Britton, Scripted Talent Executive for Drama and Comedy at BBC Studios, and Caroline Carter, Talent Executive for The Documentary Unit at BBC Studios, guide you through each section of the CV, giving their top tips on what to include – and not, and how to make your CV stand out for your next TV job.

 

UKTV's global ambition

Dad's Army (Credit: UKTV)

Marcus Arthur may be a BBC veteran, but the winds of change blowing through UKTV these past nine months or so have been like no other in his lengthy BBC career.

Last June, he succeeded Darren Childs as the outfit’s CEO. His appointment followed the end of the joint venture with Discovery, which finally gave BBC Studios full control of UKTV and its seven-channel portfolio (its three lifestyle channels were acquired by Discovery as part of the separation) and the online hub, UKTV Play.

Inside No.9 creators sign exclusive deal with BBC Studios Comedy Production Team

The two-year deal will involve the development of new comedy and comedy drama projects from the duo for the UK and international market.

Pemberton and Shearsmith, who also wrote and starred in Psychoville, commented: “We are delighted to continue working under the umbrella of BBC Studios.

“As a large and colourful umbrella it affords us the creative freedom to develop new and exciting ideas to shape the future of international television and keeps our skin from burning on hot days”. 

Tony Hall stresses the importance of the BBC in an age of uncertainty

Tony Hall (Credit: RTS/Richard Kendal)

Earlier, the RTS convention had been told that, as a brand, Netflix today enjoyed the same high levels of public trust as the BBC. As for the TikTok-using, mobile-addicted members of Generation Z, the BBC looked to be completely under the radar.

Now it was the time for Tony Hall, the BBC’s Director-General, to respond. He did so in a wide-ranging, troop-­rallying speech, and argued that, in today’s age of uncertainty, characterised by propaganda and disinformation, the BBC and public service broadcasting were more important than ever.

Werner Herzog: TV sentimentality is rampant, I can't stand it

Werner Herzog (Credit: Alberto Rodriguez/WireImage)

For a straight-talking man, it’s hard to define Werner Herzog. “Legend” is perhaps the easiest way to describe the 76-year-old, at least based on the reverential whispers that run around Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre ahead of his appearance at the city’s annual DocFest. Best known as the writer, director and producer of more than 60 films, Bavarian-born Herzog is also an author, actor and opera director.