Source · National Audit Office

BBC Studios

Published: 20 Nov 2024 Recommendations: 10 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 10 Department: Unknown (358)

This report looks at the financial and non-financial performance of BBC Studios, and if it is on track to meet its strategic objectives.

Dept: Unknown (358) Topics: Arts and cultureSociety and culture nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

10 items
10 accepted 8 implemented 2 in progress
Rec Recommendation Addressee Acceptance Implementation
1
The BBC should: a) develop a clear plan for closing the cultural gap between the production and distribution arms of BBC Studios, including milestones and indicators for measuring its progress in achieving this.
Ref Page 10, paragraph 19, point a · Implemented 04/2021
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
10
BBC Studios should improve the consistency and effectiveness of its internal performance reporting. It should ensure that it strikes the proper balance between allowing flexibility in its performance framework to respond to market developments and corresponding changes to its plans, while maintaining sufficient consistency so that it is possible to track and compare progress and trends over time.
Ref Page 13, 21d · Implemented Q2 2025-26
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
2
b) review the effectiveness of recent improvements to governance over BBC Studios, including whether the September 2019 changes to relevant terms of references have successfully clarified the respective roles of the main BBC Board, BBC Commercial Holdings Board and the Commercial Group strategy sub-committee in setting BBC Studios’ strategic objectives and the BBC’s commercial strategy, and in holding the BBC and BBC Studios to account for the delivery of these.
Ref Page 10, paragraph 19, point b · Implemented 03/2022
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
3
c) finalise the performance indicators for the regular reporting to the BBC’s boards of BBC Studios’ non-financial performance in early 2020 as planned, while ensuring that this set includes adequate measures to enable board monitoring of: • BBC Studios’ performance in winning new work and creating new IP against what it expected;
Ref Page 11, paragraph 19, point c, first bullet point · Implemented 04/2021
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
4
• the size and strength of BBC Studios’ content delivery pipeline;
Ref Page 11, paragraph 19, point c, second bullet point · Implemented 04/2021
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
5
• the management of significant risks to BBC Studios achieving sustainable margins and returns; and
Ref Page 11, paragraph 19, point c, third bullet point · Implemented 04/2021
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
6
• BBC Studios’ management of its staff, development of organisational capacity and delivery of cultural change.
Ref Page 11, paragraph 19, point c, fourth bullet point · Implemented 04/2021
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
7
BBC Studios should review the risks associated with not meeting its targets for generating new BBC Studios? owned IP. It should consider whether it fully understands the risks to the delivery of its long-term strategy associated with its current mix of income from ?work for hire? and from the production of new content whose IP it owns, and whether any action is necessary to ensure long-term, sustainable returns to the BBC.
Ref Page 12, 21a · Implemented Q1 2025-26
BBC Accepted Implemented ✓ NAO
8
The BBC should review its published financial targets for BBC Studios. As part of the intended review of its commercial activities, the BBC should consider whether its December 2018 profit margin targets for BBC Studios of between 9% and 11% and its March 2021 target for returns to the BBC of £1.5 billion need updating in light of the significant changes to its business model and the market in which it operates, and its future plans.
Ref Page 12, 21b · Implemented Q3 2026-27
BBC Accepted In progress ✓ NAO
9
The BBC should ensure that BBC Studios? strategic plans for delivering the growth ambition continue to evolve to reflect market developments. The BBC should include within the intended review of its commercial activities an examination of whether BBC Studios? growth strategy is still likely to deliver success in a dynamic and challenging market.
Ref Page 13, 21c · Implemented Q3 2026-27
BBC Accepted In progress ✓ NAO