www.broadcastnow.co.uk
14 June 2013
INTERVIEW
BEHIND THE SCENES
PRODUCT PLACEMENT
Page 22
Page 28
Page 24
Malcolm Gerrie: live TV must up its game
Four days to make a date go right
Where is the promised windfall?
Discovery to end BBC tie-up Corporation’s natural history shows at risk as US broadcaster calls time on co-pro deal BY JAKE KANTER AND LISA CAMPBELL
Discovery Networks International (DNI) is set to pull the plug on its £150m co-pro partnership with the BBC, putting funding for the corporation’s blue-chip natural history programming at risk. Broadcast understands that the US broadcasting giant is about to end the relationship, under which it has formally co-produced landmark factual series including Africa and Brian Cox’s Wonders Of The Solar System with the BBC since 1998. The agreement, which also gives DNI first-refusal on some BBC programming, was extended to 2014 in 2010, but negotiations about it being discontinued are said to have been all but concluded. Although no value was attached to the deal at the time of the extension, with then BBC director of television Jana Bennett arguing it provided “exceptional value for licence fee payers”, it is thought to be worth around £35m a year. One source close to the corporation said the partnership had “made the BBC a world leader in science and natural history programming”, adding: “Discovery paid a very good percentage of the budget that went above and beyond the usual co-pro. Although the BBC will try to protect these crown jewels, it’s hard to see how the sheer number of hours can be supported at this level, and some projects will fall by the wayside.” It is understood that Discovery wants to walk away because it now believes the BBC gets the lion’s share of value from the partnership. DNI is also reviewing its content-
Africa: landmark series with David Attenborough was one of many co-produced by the BBC and Discovery
It’s hard to see how the number of hours can be supported. Some projects will fall by the wayside Industry source
acquisition strategy, with one source suggesting there is now “a mismatch of content needs” between the company and the BBC. DNI has begun to see more success with character-led observational documentaries, such as Gold Rush, rather than in its former heartland of landmark factual series, such as Frozen Planet, one industry exec said. “The view is that Gold Rush has become the gold standard and the channel would rather invest in more of these longrunning reality series because they
have such a positive impact on Discovery’s performance.” Another source added: “Discovery has pulled the plug, thinking that the BBC is getting all the benefit and it is not.” However, Bennett, who is set to join A+E in the US, said the move was “a natural parting of the ways”, citing the restrictions on the rights each partner could exercise globally. “Both now have big global ambitions but the BBC would find it difficult to launch its own branded VoD channel around BBC Earth, for example, despite being famous for natural history and science. But we shouldn’t forget the many amazing series this partnership gave birth to.” DNI has also shown an ambition to go it alone on major natural history programming after commissioning Silverback Films to make seven-part series North America.
Sources have suggested the BBC will look to bridge any gap in financing created by DNI’s exit by working more closely with BBC Worldwide to provide extra windowing opportunities for players such as Netflix, or by striking a similar deal with another broadcaster, such as National Geographic. The BBC and DNI have collaborated since the Discovery Channel launched in 1985, but formalised their relationship in 1998 by signing what the New York Times described as a “$565m alliance” to create programmes and cable channels around the world. The BBC pulled out of the channels business in 2010, selling its 50% share in Animal Planet and Liv to Discovery for $156m (£117m). The BBC said it would continue to make “landmark” factual content, but refused to comment on the deal. Discovery also declined to comment.