Over 600 industry professionals have signed an open letter criticizing the BBC's commissioning strategy, labeling it as "unaccountable, inexperienced, and failing." The petition, organized by Reform The Industry, calls for significant changes in how the broadcaster greenlights new shows, citing "a disgraceful amount of wasted resource."
Producers, actors, and independent production companies have voiced concerns that the current systems do not ensure senior commissioners meet consistent standards or demonstrate recognized industry leadership. The letter highlights a lack of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for BBC commissioners, leaving a gap in measurable accountability. Furthermore, it asserts that many commissioning staff lack the "cutting-edge expertise" required for evolving audience needs and are entrenched in outdated practices.
Organizers, five producers with existing BBC projects, are advocating for an independent body to scrutinize major commissioning decisions. They point out that some senior commissioners earn six-figure salaries without published targets.
The campaign emerges as the BBC plans to reduce originated programming by 100 to 150 hours annually by the 2027-2028 financial year to save £500 million. This reduction follows recent program cancellations, including "Blankety Blank," "Celebrity Mastermind," and "Live At The Apollo," as well as the scrapping of the Sunday episode of "BBC Breakfast" and several Radio 4 programs.
Producers involved in the campaign, speaking anonymously, expressed fear of being blacklisted or facing negative impacts on their businesses for raising concerns publicly. One producer described dealings with BBC drama, comedy, and film as a "laborious process and all too often ill informed."
In response, a BBC spokesperson stated that the suggestion of no KPIs, scrutiny, or accountability is "simply wrong." The spokesperson emphasized that BBC Content is subject to oversight from the BBC Board, Ofcom, the National Audit Office, and Parliament. The broadcaster publishes annual reports on audience performance, commissioning outcomes, diversity, regional investment, and public commitments, operating within a framework of independent regulation and governance. The BBC stated that while it values constructive feedback, any reform debate should be fact-based, asserting that the BBC has "one of the most transparent and accountable commissioning systems in the world."
The criticism follows a previous controversy last year regarding the narrator of the documentary "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone," whose father was identified as a senior Hamas official. A subsequent review found the documentary breached BBC editorial guidelines, prompting an apology from the then Director-General Tim Davie.