BBC - Commissioning - Who we are

How We Work

• How we commission
• Who we are
• Business Requirements
  • Business Requirements
• Statement of Operation
• The WoCC
• Complaints about the commissioning process
• Regional production for the BBC

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Who we are

BBC TV and online content within BBC Vision, Sport and Children's.

Just over a third of the licence fee comes to BBC Vision. In return, licence payers get a multimedia powerhouse which is unique in the world. We commissioned over 20,000 hours of programmes last year, and invested an estimated £1.1 billion in this country's creative industries.

This page contains details of the senior management team, service controllers and commissioners.

If you wish to contact us with a TV idea, please use our contacts database which will provide you with the appropriate first point of contact for proposals from independent TV production companies and BBC producers. 

 

Director, BBC Vision

   

 

 

George Entwistle, Director, BBC Vision. Heads BBC Vision, overseeing the service controllers, genre commissioning, in-house production and operations teams for BBC ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, the UKTV channels and BBC America. George also represents BBC Vision's interests on the BBC Executive Committee.

 

Service Controllers

The service controllers are responsible for setting the long-term strategy and vision for their service(s). This list also includes Sport and Children's that sit outside BBC Vision: 

Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC ONE	Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC TWO
Zai Bennett, Controller, BBC THREE	Richard Klein, Controller, BBC FOUR
Liam Keelan, Controller, Daytime	Joe Godwin, Controller, Children's
Barbara Slater, Director of Sport

 

Genre Commissioning Controllers

The genre controllers manage the genre teams that commission video content and deliver the programme slate across all platforms/services.

In each team, online content executives support the genre commissioners, providing expert advice on online content and products, including the editorial and technical implications of projects.

The genres are Entertainment, Knowledge, Children's and Fiction. 

 

Mark Linsey, Controller, Entertainment	Emma Swain, Controller, Knowledge
Joe Godwin, Controller, Children's	Ben Stephenson Head of Drama Commissioning, Fiction
Cheryl Taylor, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, Fiction

 

Programme Acquisition

Steve Jenkins, Head of Films, Programme Acquisition

Sue Deeks, Head Of Series, Programme Acquisition

 

Business Affairs  

Bal Samra, Director of BBC Rights & Business Affairs and Vision Operations

 

 

 

Bal Samra, Director of BBC BBC Rights & Business Affairs and Vision Operations, has overall responsibility for the business and financial affairs of Vision and oversees the genre business teams.

You can find all Genre Heads of Operations and Business Affairs in the Who's who section.    

Commissioning Management

Helen Blenkinsop, Head of Network Supply

 

 

 

Helen Blenkinsop is Head of Network Supply and oversees BBC Vision's strategy and relationship with all its suppliers.  She also leads on the strategy for supply Pan UK and is a member of the UK Network Production Board.

Helen is responsible for promoting a strong, transparent and effective dialogue between the Corporation and its suppliers, ensuring that our commissioning processes are fair and effective for all producers.

Angela Chan, Independent & Diversity Executive

Angela Chan manages the relationship between BBC Vision and the independent sector representing the views of suppliers and diverse audiences back into the BBC to help inform decisions and processes. In her dual role she also provides editorial diversity advice and resources to programme makers and commissioners working for BBC Vision, both in house and externally. As Independents and Diversity Executive she doesn't commission, but helps to build the relationship between the independent sector and BBC Vision, to ensure that we are the broadcaster that companies want to bring their best ideas to. You can contact Angela if you have any concerns or questions about working with the BBC.