BBC Studios Bosses Tout ‘Conclave,’ ‘Bluey’ and Long-Term Investments

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In the challenging financial landscape of the post-peak TV era, BBC Studios‘ CEO Tom Fussell and Zai Bennett, head of BBC Studios Productions, remain optimistic and determined, keeping their sights set on long-term triumph.

BBC Studios, the business division of the UK’s public broadcaster BBC, announced substantial funding committed towards content creation during its last financial year. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Fussell stated, “We continue to invest. Why? Because we have a long-term mission. We can make creative investments over the long term. It’s wonderful that Zai has come on board, and I’m truly excited to collaborate with him.

Bluey is one of the major successes produced by BBC Studios, which seems to be an endless source of enjoyment. According to Fussell, “Bluey” is the most-watched program in the U.S., outstripping all other shows in terms of viewership.

This week being the Oscars, he’s excited to bring attention to a detail that has been understated during this awards season. “Our movie Conclave garnered eight Oscar nominations,” a fact worth noting since it also won four BAFTA Film Awards, with ‘Best Film’ among them. “We were the ones who created that film” through our own label, House Productions. We collaborated on its production with FilmNation Entertainment and Indian Paintbrush.

Including Netflix’s popular title “Baby Reindeer” along with smaller productions highlights the impressive range the company possesses, which Fussell praises as “extraordinary breadth.” As Fussell explains, “We cater to a variety of budgets and audiences. We are storytellers, and our goal is long-term prosperity.

The long-awaited revival of “Walking With Dinosaurs” following a 25-year absence is anticipated to be another captivating tale of success. On the BBC Studios Showcase stage on Monday night, Bennett – who recently joined the company from Sky and is responsible for developing valuable intellectual property, maintaining returning BBC series, and expanding international format pipelines – unveiled a lifelike replica of a Spinosaurus’ skull to promote the series, which will showcase this magnificent creature.

This six-episode series blends modern scientific discoveries and insights from paleontology with advanced visual technology, allowing it to narrate captivating tales of distinct dinosaurs in each installment.

Apart from his prominent performance on the Showcase stage, Bennett has been actively involved off-stage as well. In his first two and a half months on the job, he spent much of his time getting acquainted with our teams, our creative personnel, our customers, and everyone else. As he puts it to THR, “This is an exceptional environment for long-term growth. We’re not focused on short-term share prices or this quarter’s earnings; instead, we can say: ‘This creative individual shows great promise. Let’s nurture them over five years, ten years, however long it takes.’

According to Bennett, the company is focusing on three main aspects: maintaining creative progress, managing its existing product lines and brands, as well as investing in content. In regards to this strategy, he expresses his viewpoint that “We should be more willing to assume risk and make bold moves.

As a fan myself, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have predicted ‘Baby Reindeer‘ to be a blockbuster. Not a single soul. However, it turns out that the shows that truly shine are often those we least expect. That’s why it’s crucial for us to maintain a diverse portfolio, ensuring we don’t miss out on any unexpected gems.

Bennett is confident that his strategy aligns with broader industry patterns, particularly within scripted and unscripted entertainment. He explains to The Hollywood Reporter, “In scripted content, it’s more about how we strategically invest in and back shows due to a market contraction.” Regarding unscripted entertainment, he adds, “We haven’t seen as many fresh format successes as we’d like, so we are putting our focus on nurturing creativity there.

The partnerships between BBC and BBC Studios have played a significant role, particularly in ensuring that projects reach their financial goals. BritBox stands out as a crucial partner in U.K. productions, providing the necessary push to get them completed. Fussell acknowledges its importance, stating that “BritBox is an integral part of the system, playing a key role.

Instead of sticking exclusively to a single partner, he and his team adapt their collaborations based on what’s most suitable for each unique scenario. As Fussell sums up, “We collaborate with Warner Bros., we collaborate with NBC, we collaborate with Disney, among others.” They strategically combine these different partners as they assess diverse projects and opportunities.

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2025-02-26 03:25