Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
Capturing the energy of creative and cultural life is integral to BBC Four.

In music, we will work with other parts of the BBC, in particular BBC Two and BBC Radio 3, to reflect the musical life of the nation in an exceptionally broad range of music – classical, jazz, folk, world music, adult-oriented rock and light music – and to bring the best available performance and performers from across the nations and regions to a broad UK audience.

This range and depth is matched in arts and culture from painting, architecture and photography to literature and ideas. In collaboration with others, we will make an active contribution to the UK’s literary and artistic life.

We are committed to new originated programming from a diverse range of suppliers across a wide mix of genres.

Specifically this year, BBC Four will:

• Offer a British Silent Film season.
• Back the Choir of the Year event with a Choirs season.
• Examine the life of Evelyn Waugh in The Waughs – Fathers and Sons.

Bringing the world to the UK and the UK to the world
BBC Four aims to be the home of the best in international and foreign language feature film, television and documentary.

We set a distinctly global tone across our output, supporting greater understanding of world events, people and cultures, and put UK culture in a global context. We give voice to people from around the world, allowing their stories and experiences to be heard, and give peak-time placings to subtitled programmes.

In the entertainment genres we have a unique role in showcasing the best creative culture from around the world and in engaging audiences with it. Through Saturday Cinema and the Storyville strand, we remain committed to being the established UK television home of the best in international film and documentary.

Specifically this year, BBC Four will:

• Complete its North Korea trilogy with Crossing the Line.
• Present a six-part series on the Palace of Versailles.
• Continue to grow the impact of its annual World Cinema Awards.

• Examine in depth the impact of the 18th century – The Century That Made Us – with a season of programming.
• Explore the history of anthropology with a season of programming.
• Continue Journeys from the Centre of the Earth to investigate how geology has affected the culture of the Pacific Rim in Ring of Fire.

Building digital Britain
BBC Four is a digital channel. Our programme mix is designed to appeal to an older age group which has historically been more resistant to digital take-up. We will continue to provide a schedule that is rich in challenging and enriching content across a broad range of subjects and styles.

Our website and online discussion groups will also continue to encourage these virtual communities to exchange views and ideas.

Specifically this year, BBC Four will:

• Build on the success of the multi-platform interactive Digital Picture of Britain series.
• Stimulate engagement in the Climate Change season by encouraging audiences to donate computer time to a local climate modelling project.

Reflecting the UK’s nations, regions and communities
BBC Four is a place where audiences of all kinds can explore specialist passions – from folk music to foreign language cinema.

We will continue to provide exposure for occasions that bring people together and express local culture, including our ongoing commitment to Celtic Connections.

BBC Four also helps audiences celebrate the diversity of Britain and British society by reflecting that society in its entirety.

Specifically this year, BBC Four will:

• Cover Shetland’s Viking fire festival Up Helly Aa.
• Examine the cult of British science fiction with Sci Fi Britannia.

Sustaining citizenship and civil society
BBC Four satisfies people’s need to understand current events in their proper context.

At the heart of the channel’s news and current affairs output is The World, every weeknight in peak time. This and current affairs strands such as Storyville provide a distinctive international outlook.

Debate and long-form interview remain an important part of the channel’s mix.

Specifically this year, BBC Four will:

• Strengthen its commitment to long-form interview with a new Mark Lawson Talks To... series.
• Examine rural life with The Perfect Village.
• Examine the problems of ageing in the third of Ray Gosling’s personal documentaries.

• Continuing to broaden the appeal of BBC Four with innovative comedy, a strengthened drama offer and a broader range of theme night treatments across a choice of subjects.
• Commission bigger seasons of related programmes: building on the success of The Lost Decade, BBC Four will create 18th Century and Anthropology seasons in the coming year.

• Approximately 70% of hours and 50% of hours in peak to be originations (original productions include all BBC commissioned programming, excluding repeats of programming first shown on another BBC public service channel).
• At least 70% of the BBC Four schedule will be programmes made in the EU/EEA.

• To spend at least 30% of relevant programme production budgets, representing 25% of hours of productions by volume, outside the M25.
• To maintain the current broad range of programmes produced outside the M25, and broad range of different production centres used across the UK.