Last updated November 2006
Category: Senior Staff
Printable version
Bal Samra was appointed Director of Vision Operations and Rights at the launch
of BBC Vision in November 2006.
Around 1,000 staff work in the new Operations area.
It includes production management and modernisation, commissioning management,
rights and business affairs, commercial & business development, planning &
business strategy and finance.
Previously, Bal was both Chief Operating Officer, Television and Controller,
Rights and Business Affairs across the BBC.
He took up the second of these
roles in September 2005, overseeing Business Affairs, Commercial Agency and the
Contributor and Talent Rights Group.
Before that Bal had responsibility for BBC
network Television's finance and business activities and then interactive
programming.
Bal Samra played a pivotal role during the Charter Renewal period leading the Content Supply Review which was one of four BBC reviews. This review led
to the introduction of the Window of Creative Competition (WOCC).
He was also
instrumental in successfully negotiating the Terms of Trade agreement which
will allows the BBC to offer viewers programmes on demand on different
platforms within a seven day window of their broadcast or download.
Bal joined the BBC in corporate finance in 1990.
During his time at the BBC
highlights include leading the business aspects of a number of BBC launches,
including Radio Five Live, BBC News 24 and BBC News Online.
Bal also led the
finance & business affairs team across Radio during which time the suite of Networks
were successfully re-positioned.
Bal moved to BBC Television five years ago.
Before joining the BBC, he worked at Ford Motor Company, Unilever and GEC in
Technology, commercial and finance roles.
He is married with two children and lives in London.
