BBC Studios Posts $2.7 Billion Turnover and Boosted Profits, Major Dip in Channels and Streaming Business

The UK’s influential Culture, Media & Sport Committee has written to both the BBC and The Sun over investigations into Huw Edwards and Dan Wootton.

BBC newsreader George Alagiah has died, it has been announced. His agent confirmed the sad news on Monday (July 24) in a statement almost 10 years after Alagiah was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Decades before Christopher Nolan set his sights on a movie about J. Robert Oppenheimer, a science-obsessed BBC executive ventured to America in 1979 to make a $1.5 million TV show about the father of the atom bomb. Peter Goodchild began his career at the BBC in radio drama, but eventually migrated to the storied “Horizon” science unit to put his chemistry degree to some use. The division began experimenting with factual dramas in the 1970s, and after delivering a hit series on French-Polish physicist Marie Curie, Goodchild set his sights on the New York-born Oppenheimer. “I’d seen a play on J. Robert Oppenheimer at the Hampstead Theatre Club way back in 1966,” the 83-year-old tells Variety from his home in Exeter, southwest England, where his Zoom background reveals a room teeming with books on heaving shelves.

Naman Ramachandran BBC director general Tim Davie and acting chair Elan Closs Stephens answered searching questions from the U.K. Lords Communications and Digital Committee on Tuesday on the corporation’s funding model. The BBC’s main source of revenue is annual license fee of £159 ($202). The BBC annual report, which was published last week revealed that the number of people who bought a license fee fell by 500,000 to 24.3 million. Consequently, BBC revenues dipped from £3.8 billion to £3.74 billion. The license fee, which is currently frozen for two years, is set to rise significantly in April 2024. It emerged on Tuesday morning that a review into the BBC funding model could be ordered this fall. “The evidence that there is a growing unwillingness to pay is shown by figures each year. The licence fee model is becoming unsustainable,” the London Times said, quoting a government source.

The BBC has been in touch with the family of the person at the centre of allegations surrounding presenter Huw Edwards, according to Tim Davie.

The BBC has drafted in a senior partner from Deloitte to help with its high-profile review into protocols following the Huw Edwards scandal, which Tim Davie revealed should complete in the late Autumn.

EXCLUSIVE: BBC employees failed to express complete confidence in the corporation’s bullying and harassment processes just weeks before the Huw Edwards scandal plunged the corporation into turmoil.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International A new documentary about Richard Williams, the father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams, has sold into major markets. “On the Line: The Richard Williams Story,” which had its U.K. premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June, has been sold into Sky (U.K. and Italy), Canal+ (France), MNET (South Africa), Paramount+ (Australia) and TVNZ (New Zealand). The film paints a complex portrait of the life, career and impact of Williams — the family patriarch and tennis coach to Venus and Serena Williams, who was also portrayed by Will Smith in the 2022 movie “King Richard.”

The BBC has resumed its investigation into the allegations against one of their presenters, which has now been revealed is newsreader Huw Edwards, after the Metropolitan Police said no criminal offence had been committed. It comes after they were asked to pause their internal inquiries by the police force whilst officers decided if there was any justification for a criminal investigation - which they have decided against.This decision means that the BBC are free to resume its own protocol, with Director general Tim Davie saying they will "assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation." While the investigation will look into Huw Edwards' conduct.

BBC Director General Tim Davie has warned that it will be complex for the corporation to get to the bottom of allegations against Huw Edwards while being mindful of its duty of care to the presenter.

The BBC is facing increased pressure after fresh claims emerged about an unnamed presenter who has been facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit photos. Now, The Sun has shared details of messages allegedly sent by the presenter to a teenager, who was 17 at the time.The reports detail how the presenter began the conversation with a love heart emoji, despite having no previous contact with the stunned teen.They go on to describe a conversation between the two, which shows the presenter sending kisses at the end of messages and asking the teen questions about their day.

To say the mood is grim at the BBC would be an understatement. In a long line of recent crises, a messy, murky, seemingly sordid scandal involving a top presenter could prove to be its gravest in a decade.

The BBC’s top earning stars have been revealed - and now you can see how your salary compares using our new gadget. The BBC has once again published the salaries of its highest-earning stars as part of its annual report.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said claims made against an unnamed BBC presenter will be investigated “swiftly and rigorously”.

BBC Director General Tim Davie has admitted that complaints procedures could be improved amid questions over how the UK broadcaster responded to allegations that one of its top presenters paid a young person for sexual images.

BBC Studios has posted another record financial year, the BBC annual report reveals, as the Corporation’s production and sales wing continues its aggressive commercial push.

Naman Ramachandran The BBC has paused its investigation into allegations that a top BBC presenter paid a teenager for explicit photographs after being asked to by the London Metropolitan Police. Speaking at a press briefing held to discuss the corporation’s annual report, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Clearly, any affair of this nature is serious in terms of the BBC and its reputation. Trust is absolutely fundamental to the BBC.” “We constantly need as the BBC, and with myself and our senior team, to be seen to be navigating what are complex, fast moving issues with care and diligence and doing that properly and calmly. And if we do that, then I have faith that people will see that the BBC as an institution is precious, and doing the right thing,” Davie added.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International BBC Studios has taken a minority stake in Sarah Tyekiff’s unscripted production outfit Mettlemouse Entertainment. The production and distribution powerhouse, which announces its annual earnings on Tuesday, has taken a 25% stake in the company, which was set up by the former Lime Pictures unscripted boss. Tyekiff’s credits include “The Only Way Is Essex,” “Geordie Shore” and “Celebs Go Dating.” She also developed and produced a number of new formats including “Dance Monsters” (Netflix), “Stand Up and Deliver” (Channel 4) and “Who Do You Believe” (ABC).

The young person at the centre of the BBC controversy said "nothing inappropriate or unlawful" took place between them and the presenter.

The cop who exposed Jimmy Savile as a paedophile has insisted that the BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teenager for sexually explicit pictures should be identified.