Statements of Programme Policy
BBC HD Programme Policy 2009/2010
Service remit
The remit of the BBC HD channel is to offer a mixed-genre schedule of programming in high-definition (HD) format, most of which has been originated by the BBC's other television channels.
Delivering the BBC's purposes in 2009/2010
As BBC HD commissions only a very small proportion of its own output, its responsibility for contributing to the promotion of most of the BBC's public purposes relates in large part to ensuring that the relevance and appeal of the BBC's television programmes are maintained as consumer expectations for HD content grow. It aims to showcase in HD the full range of content produced for the BBC's other channels to ensure that the BBC's overall ability to deliver its public purposes is not damaged with shifts in viewing to high-definition content and channels.
Key developments
1 Delivering the benefit of emerging communications technologies
- BBC HD's specific contribution towards the delivery of the BBC's public purposes is in driving digital, in particular promoting and encouraging the take-up of high-definition television across all platforms through which it can be accessed.
- Priority: BBC HD will continue to showcase the best of the BBC's output made in HD, and work to further broaden range. We will prioritise those programmes which audiences value highly across the BBC's other channels, and develop the offer across all genres. Priorities for established programmes moving into HD include the drama Doctor Who, the comedy Outnumbered and the factual programmes Coast, Countryfile and Autumnwatch, in addition to the entertainment programme Dragons' Den. Sport and daytime programming will include the World Athletics Championship, Football League Coverage and Flog it!.
- BBC HD looks carefully at all new BBC programming to assess which programmes can benefit most from being made in HD and have the ability to enhance the range of BBC HD output and to attract new audiences. BBC HD will aim to include comedy and drama with The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, Emma and Small Island. Younger audiences will enjoy Just William and Waybuloo. There will be new landmark series made for both BBC One and BBC Two with Rivers, How The Earth Made Us, The Great Rift, South Pacific and Seven Ages Of British Culture.
- Thoughtful current affairs series which reflect contemporary Britain will feature, with The History Of The British Family, and, as in previous years, BBC HD will offer coverage of the BBC Proms, BBC Electric Proms, BBC music sessions through the year, and key UK sports events including Wimbledon and Six Nations Rugby.
- BBC HD will also continue to work with emerging and developing platforms to ensure the widest possible availability to audiences of the BBC's programming in HD. In addition HD programmes will be made available on demand, streamed and downloadable via iPlayer, and the BBC will explore making BBC HD available as a live stream online.
2 Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
- In addition to featuring some global content across all genres, BBC HD will work with BBC Global Channels as it continues to launch BBC HD channels around the world. BBC HD will also seek to showcase a range of international programmes acquired by the BBC and made in HD, such as Heroes, Mad Men, Damages and The Tudors.
Conditions: BBC purposes and HD commitments
Unless otherwise stated, all commitments are minimum percentages and include originations, repeats and acquisitions. All conditions are annual unless otherwise stated.
Delivering the benefit of emerging communications technologies
- Less than 20% of output to be first-run showings of sport and acquired feature films (except on occasions of major sporting events)
