BBC Plans Investment In Programme-Making Outside The Capital

The BBC has announced it is to invest £45m in programme making outside London. An additional £5m funding will be made available for local sports rights across the UK.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, money will be pumped into the creation of new entertainment, comedy, drama and popular factual programming. New programme “zones” will be created on BBC 2 digital instead of the current opt-out on BBC Choice, while in the English regions, local BBC Online sites, which have already launched in eight areas, will be extended across the country, reaching 50 sites within two years.

Look North, which currently provides regional news for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire is to develop two separate news services for different areas and more of the local radio output will be localised. The capital investment will also go towards a programme of property and technical refurbishment across England, including new digital editing and transmission systems at 22 local stations within the next year.

The decision to make this allocation of funds was agreed by the Board of Governors. Chairman Sir Christopher Bland said, “This further extension of resources and decision-making away from London will increase the range of programmes available and strengthen the BBC’s overall service to its viewers and listeners, locally and nationally.”

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