Latest in BBC Studios

BBC Studios has announced that CFO Tom Fussell will act up as CEO following Tim Davie’s promotion to director general of the BBC. Davie will move across to the top job on September 1, at which point Fussell will take on his responsibilities at the Doctor Who and Top Gear producer until a successor is found. BBC…

UPDATE: Minutes after we dropped the news of Fremantle’s exit from Mipcom, ITV Studios also confirmed it will not attend. Instead, the studio will host the ITV Studios Fall Festival, a series of virtual content sessions for buyers held over three weeks from September 14. ORIGINAL EXCLUSIVE: Fremantle has joined BBC Stu…

EXCLUSIVE: Dancing With the Stars is looking to waltz into production in September as ABC and BBC Studios work through the health and safety protocols that will allow the competition format to light up the dance floor this year. The show, which is based on the BBC format Strictly Come Dancing, is entering its 29th…

The hit British import and international game show format Weakest Link is making a comeback with Jane Lynch as host and executive producer. NBC has greenlit 13 episodes of the rapid-fire quiz show, with production to begin later this year. Co-produced by BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm and Universal Television…

His Dark Materials and Greenland backer Anton is teaming up with former BBC Studios executive Tobi de Graaff to launch London-based high-end TV development and packaging company Beiboot Representation. The joint venture is fully backed by Anton with a “significant development budget” and will look to partner with…

A few weeks after it acquired rights to 12 notable author estates, London/New York management outfit International Literary Properties has set a first-look deal with BBC Studios. Under the pact, both BBC Studios Production and its portfolio of independent producers will have the opportunity to explore the intellectual…

BBC Studios has extended its use of the British government’s furlough scheme for fixed-term contract and PAYE freelancers until the end of August. The production arm started making use of the scheme — which pays 80% of a individuals’ salary up to £2,500 a month — in April. Around 600 freelancers were furloughed after…

Rob Smith, Netflix’s former director of unscripted, has left his role as general manager at BBC Studios' L.A. production unit after just nine months. Smith was only hired last September, but has now been replaced by Valerie Bruce, a longtime BBC Studios executive who has helped the BBC commercial arm forge…

The BBC’s commercial arms are reducing their costs by £140M ($172M) over the next year after the coronavirus pandemic took a painful toll on revenue. The BBC’s commercial units primarily comprise BBC Studios, BBC Global News, and studios business BBC Studioworks, with BBC Studios accounting for nearly 90% of their…

Top Gear was one of 80 shows BBC Studios was forced to shut down in March after the coronavirus ripped through the business at break-neck speed. More than eight weeks on, the BBC is now gearing up to put the keys back in the ignition and get the wheels turning again on its global brand. Top Gear producer BBC Studios…

BBC Studios has promoted Ding Ke to become its senior vice president and general manager for Greater China. Ding is currently the BBC commercial arm’s head of content sales and formats in China and, from June 1, will oversee the company’s activity in the country, including distribution, co-production, format sales and…

Wayne Garvie could see the tsunami coming as early as January, but he was still not prepared for the speed with which coronavirus ripped through the TV industry. Sony Pictures Television’s president of international production watched as his colleagues in China were forced into self-isolation. Korea came next and…