The BBC will attempt this week to reassure independent TV producers fearful that last week’s loss of The Great British Bake Off will lead to a flood of popular shows leaving the corporation. In return, the government will let the BBC commercialise its programme-making arm, BBC Studios. The corporation will tell the independent producers it plans to open up competition for 40% of the network drama, comedy, entertainment and factual programmes currently made in-house over the next two years. Some producers think the balance of power may be shifting away from broadcasters to format owners and the channels may fight back. A BBC source said: “It’s nonsense to say a deal couldn’t be done [for Bake Off].

Source: The Guardian September 17, 2016 23:03 UTC