BBC One

Boris Johnson coronavirus address becomes one of the UK’s most watched programmes ever

UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on March 23 was historic in more ways than one, with the British prime minister not only introducing unprecedented measures to address the coronavirus pandemic but also setting viewing records. The brief pre-recorded broadcast was watched by 27.1 million British households on linear TV. The official […]

England-France attracts 6 million viewers

England’s Six Nations opener to France drew an average of 5.9 million viewers on BBC One. The match, which finished as a 24-17 victory for the French, saw a peak of 7 million and an audience share of 41% in the UK. France Télévisions’ France 2 saw an average of 5.7 million viewers, representing a […]

BBC to create BBC Three strip on BBC One

The BBC is to create a dedicated slot devoted to the best of BBC Three programming on its flagship channel. From March 4, programmes from the BBC’s youth-focused online-only channel will air on BBC One from 22:35 from Monday to Wednesday after a truncated News at Ten. The Question Time discussion show will continue to […]

Netflix co-production among raft of BBC drama commissions

The BBC has announced a raft of new drama series including Duty/Shame, a co–production with Netflix about a Japanese detective who travels to London looking for his missing brother. The series was one of eleven new dramas for BBC One and one apiece for BBC Two and internet service Three. BBC drama controller Piers Wenger joined from […]

Salmon exiting BBC Studios for Endemol Shine

BBC Studios chief Peter Salmon is leaving BBC Studios to become chief creative officer of Endemol Shine Group. He will in part replace the outgoing Endemol Shine president Tim Hincks, who has been the group’s creative chief since its creation at the end of 2014. Salmon’s appointment comes as Big Brother and Masterchef owner Endemol […]

BBC clashes with ITV over public broadcaster role

UK public broadcaster the BBC has slammed commercial rival ITV, rebuking a number of claims made over the running and structure of the organisation. Debate of the future of the BBC is raging as concerns over its budget, public service remit and relationship with government emerge ahead of charter renewal next year. ITV CEO Adam […]

BBC Trust imposes new current affairs obligations

The BBC Trust, the public broadcaster’s governing body, has introduced what it describes as new protections for the amount of current affairs programming on BBC One, the broadcaster’s flagship channel.  A change to the BBC One service licence now requires the BBC to broadcast at least 40 hours of current affairs programming in peak time […]

BBC should take more risks, appeal more to minority viewers, says Trust

The BBC’s TV channel output should be more distinctive, collaborative and should appeal more to young, black, Asian and minority ethnic viewers, according to a BBC Trust review.  The BBC’s governing body, which yesterday published the conclusions of its review of BBC One, Two, Three and Four, said that it believed the BBC could continue […]

BBC ‘plays it too safe’ says acting Trust chair

The BBC’s flagship channel, BBC One, can “sometimes feel too predictable” and “plays it too safe in parts of its peak-time schedule,” according to the acting chairman of the BBC Trust, Diane Coyle. Delivering a lecture called ‘A 21st Century BBC’ at the London School of Economics last night, Coyle admitted that the BBC faced […]

BBC names acting controller of BBC Two and Four

The BBC has named Adam Barker as acting controller, BBC Two and BBC Four. BBC director of television Danny Cohen named Barker as acting controller of the two channels following Janice Hadlow’s move to become controller, special projects and seasons. Barker, who is currently editorial executive for the two channels, will take up his new […]

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