Introduction

The BBC R&D Department is the core of the corporation's effort to be at the cutting edge of media technology, and drives the exploration of exciting new tools for the production and distribution of programming.

In this section we outline the role and structure of the R&D department, and take a look at 'The Royal Charter' and the 'The Agreement'; the documents that set the constitutional terms for the Research & Development function of the BBC.

Matthew Postgate Interview

  • Part 1

    Part 1 of a three part interview with Matthew Postgate, Head of Research & Development, with Quentin Cooper - they discuss the general role of R&D in modern broadcasting, what the department does for the BBC and what we've done over the years

    WatchDuration: 07:55

  • Part 2

    Exploring the range of projects that the department has worked on over the years from focussed development to blue sky research, and from the open, shared, collaborative domain to more closely guarded work.

    WatchDuration: 08:48

  • Part 3

    The reasons for the move and the future place of R&D in London and the BBC's future Northern base at Media City are explored, and they also look at the culture and the people who make R&D tick. The discussion closes with an exploration of the future relevance of R&D, and the fundamental value of the dept to the BBC and the wider industry.

    WatchDuration: 08:31

Our Structure

Our Locations

R&D in the BBC Charter

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