More than 600 professionals from the television industry have signed an open letter expressing strong criticism of the BBC's content commissioning strategy, which they describe as "unaccountable, inexperienced and failing." The petition, initiated by the group Reform The Industry, calls for significant changes in how the broadcaster selects programs for greenlighting, citing what they deem a "disgraceful amount of wasted resource."
According to Reform The Industry, the current systems lack consistent standards and recognized industry leadership among senior commissioners. The group noted that no BBC commissioner operates with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), creating a gap in measurable accountability. Many within the industry feel that a majority of commissioning staff lack the necessary expertise to meet evolving audience needs and are employing outdated practices.
The campaign, organized by five producers with active projects at the BBC, advocates for an independent body to scrutinize major commissioning decisions. They highlight that some senior commissioners earn six-figure salaries without published targets. The industry professionals also expressed a sentiment that regulatory bodies like Ofcom are ineffective.
A source close to the campaign indicated that the initiative stems from numerous meetings among concerned producers across the UK, who believe the BBC should be the starting point for industry change. The timing of this critique coincides with the BBC's announced plans to reduce originated programming by 100 to 150 hours annually by the 2027-2028 financial year to save £500 million. This reduction has already led to the cancellation of programs such as Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, and Live At The Apollo, as well as the scrapping of BBC Breakfast's Sunday episode and several Radio 4 programs.
Producers participating in the campaign have expressed fear of professional repercussions, such as being blacklisted or negatively impacting their businesses, for voicing concerns publicly. One anonymous producer stated a reluctance to raise legitimate issues due to the potential for future commissions or development work to be jeopardized.
The BBC has refuted these claims, with a spokesperson stating that the suggestion of "no KPIs, no scrutiny and no accountability" is incorrect. The broadcaster asserts that its content commissioning is subject to oversight from the BBC Board, Ofcom, the National Audit Office (NAO), and Parliament. The BBC also highlighted its annual publication of extensive reports on audience performance, commissioning outcomes, diversity, and regional investment as evidence of its transparent and accountable system.
"While we will always listen to constructive feedback from the sector, any debate about reform should be grounded in facts and the BBC has one of the most transparent and accountable commissioning systems in the world," the spokesperson said. The BBC maintains its commitment to putting audiences first and collaborating with producers nationwide to enhance its commissioning processes and support the creative economy.