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BBC Studioworks

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Set up as a commercial company in 1998,[1] BBC Studios and Post Production Ltd (previously known as BBC Resources Ltd) provides TV studio and network post-production facilities in London, UK. Until March 2008 it also owned outside broadcast facilities based in Langley (close to the M4/M25 junction) and Salford.[2]

As one of the largest production facilities in the UK, it employed around 1,100 staff (approx. 960 plus 165 in admin.) and had an annual turnover of around £125 million - although it does not own any studios[3] - its assets being staff and equipment.

It was the first of the BBC's commercial business-to-business divisions to be set up as a limited company and is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC. Template:Wikinewshas

On 1st April 2009 it became known as BBC Studios and Post Production Ltd.[4][5]

Organisation

BBC Studios and Post Production provides production facilities to programme makers, and is now made up of two active businesses under BBC control:

Two others have been sold:

  • BBC Outside Broadcasts[8] - since 1st April 2008 has been owned and operated by SIS.
  • BBC Costume + Wigs[9] - Ceased trading in February 2008 while attempting to sell the collection as a going concern[10]
Costumes sold in March 2008 to Angels and Bermans.
Hairpiece collection sold in March 2008 to The Wig Store.[2]

Privatisation

The company made an operating profit of £6.1m for 2005-06, down from £7.4m the year before, with the BBC accounting for 83.3% of its turnover, down from 87.4% for 2004-05.[11] The figure for 2006-07 was £5.2 million - with BBC business at 80% of turnover.[12] Leaked figures show a reduced profit of £2.3m for 2007-08[13] and that £3.4m had been spent on "consultants, legal and internal costs" during the sell-off.[14]

Andrew Thornton was appointed as project director in early 2007 for the sale of the company, and in April Ernst & Young were named as external advisers.

The team responsible for this privatisation have been named as: Ed Murray, Victoria Custerson, Peter Ranyard, Grant Welland, Dominic Warren, Paula Hornby, Mike Goodie, Ali Jeremy,- other expertise "will be brought in as required".

This sale team is accountable to a BBC steering group consisting of: Zarin Patel, Nicholas Eldred, Stephen Kelly, Peter Salmon and John Smith.

On 16 August 2007 advertisements were placed in the Financial Times, The Times and Broadcast inviting expressions of interest for the acquisition of this commercial subsidiary, and stating that "it is expected that the sale of the business and transfer of BBC Resources staff to the successful bidder will take place by the end of March 2008, subject to contract negotiations and approvals".[15]

On 6 November The Guardian reported[16] that the privatisation could be left with a shortfall of up to £15m to cover the transfer of the pensions of BBC Resources staff to a potential new employer.[17]

The BBC has never released the names of the short-listed companies,[18] with The Guardian reporting - in early 2008 - more leaks over concerns about pension obligations and asbestos exposure.[19] On 7 March 2008 it was announced that the outside broadcast division would be sold, as expected, to Satellite Information Services[13][20] for £19.3m[21] - with a surprise announcement that the studios operation (employing around 350 staff at Television Centre and Elstree) would remain in BBC ownership.[22]

In early June 2008, the fate of the third business was put on hold with the BBC stating that "for the time being, we are no longer actively in discussion with a buyer for Post Production" and that "like Studios, Post Production will remain within BBC Resources, which will continue to operate as a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC". The staff newspaper Ariel had reported on 18 March that Post's 400 staff had been told that the BBC "may need to look at other solutions if the business is not sold at this stage".

On Dec 1st 2008, BBC Resources management announced a large scale reduction in staff. Nearly 200 jobs will go by June 2009 in a restructuring move. Among those affected will be up to 38 Editors, 26 Assistants as well as operational staff, administration and support staff.

Mark Thomas - Head of BBC Resources has said: In the event that we are not able to achieve the required reduction through volunteers, subject to consultation, we will propose a selection exercise," Thomas said.

"Restructuring decisions are always difficult. We are absolutely committed to resolving the restructuring as soon as possible and providing people with the support they need.

"The Resources board is convinced that these plans reflect what is needed to be done to identify a successful future for the company."

[23]

BBC Costume + Wigs

Costume and Wigs - trading as part of BBC Studios - was the second largest collection of its kind in the UK, after the leading suppliers Angels The Costumiers. It was not included in the privatisation, however in early October 2007 it was announced that the business was to close within six months and the entire stock sold as a complete collection.[24]

This sale fell through - the interested party was thought to have been prop hire company Superhire - and on 14 February 2008 the department ceased trading,[25] with a BBC spokeswoman adding that "the arrangements [the corporation] was pursuing have not worked out and BBC Resources is currently inviting interested parties to consider making an offer to purchase."[26]

The costume collection - consisting of over 1 million items - was eventually sold to costume house Angels and Bermans on 30 March 2008.[27]

The collection of wigs was sold separately to The Wig Store Limited [3] a management buy-out put together by Philippa Devon and Alan Godleman.[28]

References

  1. ^ "BBC to launch new commercial subsidiary following DCMS approval (BBC Press Office)". Retrieved 2007-09-08. In its first full year the company made an operating profit of £1.3 million [1]
  2. ^ "BBC OB's move to mediacity:uk". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  3. ^ Wells, Matt (2007-01-11). "Here's one we made much, much earlier - and now it's time to move". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  4. ^ Strauss, Will (2009-03-31). "BBC Resources to be re-named". Broadcast. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  5. ^ "BBC Resources becomes 'BBC Studios and Post Production'". Retrieved 2009-04-08. BBC Studios and Post Production
  6. ^ "BBC Studios website". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  7. ^ "BBC Post Production website". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  8. ^ "BBC Outside Broadcasts website". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  9. ^ "BBC Costume + Wigs website". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  10. ^ "Props section shuts despite resurgence in period drama (Times Online - 15 Feb. 2008)". Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  11. ^ "Bectu lobbies BBC over Resources sale (Media Guardian - 22 Nov. 2006)". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  12. ^ "BBC Resources Ltd (Annual Report for 2006-07)" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-09-08. (PDF)
  13. ^ a b Conlan, Tara (2008-06-17). "BBC Resources revenue and profits down". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  14. ^ Conlan, Tara (2008-06-27). "BBC Resources spends £3.4m on consultants to advise on sell-off". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  15. ^ "BBC kicks off sale for BBC Resources Ltd (BBC Resources website)". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  16. ^ "BBC sell-off hit by £15m hitch (Media Guardian - 6 Nov. 2007)". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  17. ^ "BBC Resources sale could be unprofitable (Wikinews - 8 Nov. 2007)". Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  18. ^ "MP raises fears over BBC Resources (Media Guardian - 14 Jan. 2008)". Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  19. ^ "BBC Resources poised for breakup (Media Guardian - 8 Feb. 2008)". Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  20. ^ "BBC announces successful bidder for BBC Outside Broadcasts". BBC Press Office. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  21. ^ "BBC outside broadcast sale raised £19m (Media Guardian - 9 July 2008)". Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  22. ^ "BBC Resources to be split up (Media Guardian - 7 March 2008)". Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  23. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/01/bbc-resources-job-cuts
  24. ^ "Weekend TV - Fancy one of Cranford's frocks? (Times Online - 19 Nov. 2007)". Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  25. ^ "BBC costumes arm in limbo (Media Guardian - 14 Feb. 2008)". Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  26. ^ "Sale of BBC costumes on hold as buyout fails (Independent - 15 Feb. 2008)". Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  27. ^ "New home for BBC costume archive (BBC News Online - 30 March 2008)". Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  28. ^ "Angels the Costumiers purchases BBC's costume collection (The Stage - 2 April 2008)". Retrieved 2008-04-20.

External links

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