The Commissioner MARK BELL
Searching for inspiration T
he BBC has always been at the forefront of arts broadcasting, but now it’s coverage is under
pressure from all sides – not least its own internal cost-savings process, Delivering Quality First. And while main competitors Chan-
nel 4 and Sky Arts are ploughing more money into the sector, BBC4 appears to be heading for widespread cuts, with rumours and leaks suggesting the “home of arts and culture” is at risk of severe budget cuts at best, and outright closure at worst. So how do you commission arts
programmes when the channel with the biggest emphasis on arts is facing diminishing budgets and fewer hours dedicated to original content? “I can’t comment on budgets being
cut, but I know that the BBC is utterly committed to arts and cultural con- tent, so I proceed on that basis,” says arts commissioner Mark Bell. Though he declined to comment
on what could come out of DQF, he did acknowledge that the cause of much of this debate has been the differentiation – or lack thereof – between BBC4 and BBC2. There has been talk of reducing comedy and drama on BBC4, and given the recent success BBC2 has had in both genres, travelling in that direction would make sense. However, all signs so far point to the BBC retaining its multi- genre channels.
Distinctive content Instead, Bell says, it’s about differenti- ating what exists through tone and scale. “Richard Klein, Janice Hadlow and I discuss it a lot because it’s important to understand the differ- ence. Some talent runs across both channels, but the approach needs to be distinctive. If it’s not distinctive to people outside, we need to do more.” This all comes down to strategic
commissioning. Bell has a clear vision for what sits on each channel, albeit one that takes a path well trodden within the BBC. Unsurprisingly, he wants broad
ideas for BBC1 that incorporate a new 14 | Broadcast | 1 July 2011
www.broadcastnow.co.uk
format idea or have an established name talking on a subject they are passionate about. “Talent is very important for BBC1.
We probably wouldn’t try out new pre- senters there, but do send me taster tapes of whatever quality. You can fi lm it on your phone as long as the pre- senter is great,” he says. The tone changes for BBC2, with
Bell looking for concepts that offer a fresh perspective for audiences with a basic knowledge of a subject, though presenters are again key – think Paul Merton’s Birth Of Hollywood. “I’m always looking to broaden the pool of people who can explore their passions on BBC2,” he says.
MARK BELL ON...
BBC1 under Danny Cohen “Danny (below) and Jay [Hunt, former channel controller] are different people so the conversa- tions are different. But they are both arts enthusiasts, so there won’t be a great change in the programmes you see.”
Sky Arts/BBC4 “The arts are a big subject, so there is room for more than one broadcaster in
this area. I celebrate what Sky Arts does, but it’s very different to us. All our channels are mixed-genre, and I wouldn’t expect our audiences to exclu- sively watch culture. BBC4 has always had an emphasis on arts, but it is very much richer than that, which is right and good. “There are always
discussions going on about how best to embody that empha- sis, but there are no
plans I’m aware of to turn BBC4 solely into an arts channel.”
3D “I would be interested in exploring new things with this technology, and we are having conversations in that area. It’s interesting that Sky has focused mainly on sports so far, and innovations with arts are only just coming through, but I would applaud that move. So far, we have done experiments, but I can’t talk about that just yet.”
FACT FILE
Career 2009-date: commissioning editor, arts, BBC; 2007-2009: commissioning editor of independent specialist factual in knowledge commissioning, BBC; 2004-2007: channel executive, BBC4/2; 2002-2004: series producer, specialist factual, BBC; 2001-2002: producer, Newsnight, BBC; 1989-1990: editor, Chatto; 1994-1997: researcher, The Bookworm Favourite shows The Killing, The Crimson Petal And The White, Today and Newsnight – “though my 12-year-old daughter makes me watch Gok Wan’s shows and Britain’s Got Talent”
Despite the threat of cuts, it’s business as usual for the BBC’s arts commissioner – with ideas for BBC3 and more partnerships high on his wishlist. Catherine Neilan reports
On BBC4, Bell is hunting for singles
and three-parters that can make up part of a season, and is keen to fi nd “something that hasn’t really been tried before”. BBC3, which appears to have the
safest future of the two digital chan- nels, presents a different challenge. Currently, the output is “all pointed towards festivals”, and both Bell and channel controller Zai Bennett are keen to bring more diversity to the overall coverage. “There is no doubt that the demographic is interested in arts and culture; we are just looking for the right approach. The audience like arts, but they wouldn’t necessarily watch Landmark.” He highlights Frankenstein’s Wed-
ding, which won Best Live Event Coverage at last month’s Broadcast Digital Awards, as something he would like to see replicated, chiming with Bennett’s desire to have more live content on the channel. But for all programmes, his ambi-
tion is to leave the viewer wanting to hunt down the art form themselves – whether it’s drama, painting, fi lm or sculpture. “We are looking for more link-ups with institutions and exhibi- tions – we want people to see a pro- gramme about an artist and go and see the art. Nothing will ever replace seeing it in the fl esh.”
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