The BBC has established a new commissioning structure for entertainment under Ed Havard, built around studio entertainment, constructed reality, and features and events.
The new structure follows the creation of two director roles for entertainment and factual. Havard serves as director of entertainment at the pubcaster.
“Commissioning needs to evolve so we can serve our audiences and the creative community, right across the U.K.” said Kate Phillips, chief content officer. “The new structure will give us clearer creative focus and simpler routes into commissioning for the hundreds of producers we work with. It also puts us in a strong position for the future by driving digital growth both on and off platform. Our new director of entertainment, Ed Havard, will be carrying this work forward to ensure we keep delivering memorable and much-loved content that brings people of all ages together.”
Studio entertainment encompasses live or as-live shows such as Strictly, Gladiators, and quiz formats; the constructed reality encompasses the likes of The Apprentice, Race Across the World, and The Traitors; and features and events is devoted to “passion-led” shows in the gardening, good and antiques spaces, daytime, and key national events. The BBC will create three new commissioning heads for each genre, with two in either Salford or Glasgow.
“A simpler and faster entertainment structure sets us up for continued success across the entire slate,” Havard said. “These new genres will provide clearer remits for our suppliers and for our partners–both internally and externally. By removing any overlap, we’ll be able to increase our focus on developing the very best ideas in each genre, and simplify our operations to work at pace to deliver for audiences right across the U.K.”
The existing model, structured around entertainment, fact-ent and events, and daytime and early peak, will end in the fall.
