News BBC to reveal value of WoCC BY ALEX FARBER


The BBC is to publish the “size of the prize” and AI figures by genre for the first time as it shakes up its Window of Creative Compe- tition (WoCC) following the release of this year’s data – which saw indies edge further ahead of in-house compared with last year to win the lion’s share of orders. Overall in 2010/11, the share of


the WoCC won by BBC Vision Pro- ductions slipped by 2% to 28%, with indies scooping up the remaining 72% of hours available. There were steep declines for


in-house in the children’s, drama and entertainment genres, but they were mitigated by an improved performance in the wide-ranging knowledge category, where its share increased from 30% to 34% (see box). The decline was sharpest in


entertainment, which tumbled 16% year on year, partly due to the failure of several ‘big bets’ includ- ing Totally Saturday. Indies also strengthened their grip on drama, winning 86% of the WoCC hours. The BBC has responded to


recommendations by the BBC Trust further to a WoCC review by agreeing to publish the size of the WoCC by genre, in terms


WOCC’S GOING ON - THE THREE-YEAR TREND 2008/09


2009/10


ENTERTAINMENT In-house Indies


DRAMA In-house Indies


KNOWLEDGE In-house Indies


CHILDREN’S In-house Indies


COMEDY In-house Indies


TOTAL In-house Indies


41% 59%


41% 59%


25% 75%


30% 70%


24% 76%


27% 73%


36% 64%


21% 79%


30% 70%


50% 50%


23% 77%


30% 70%


2010/11


20% 80%


14% 86%


34% 66%


43% 57%


21% 79%


28% 72%


Totally Saturday: the entertainment genre saw the sharpest decline in in-house production, falling by 16%


of both hours and money, for 2013/14 buying. Vision director of operations Bal


Samra said it was part of the broadcaster’s drive to improve its transparency and help its suppli- ers plan more strategically. “For bigger indies, it will provide more information to enable them to think about the areas in which they might want to grow.”


This will be backed by a move to


publish its audience qualitative research for the first time on a twice-yearly basis from July via its commissioning site. The corpora- tion will reveal more details of the plan next week. Samra said the WoCC figures


underlined the healthy competi- tion between indies and in-house. “The WoCC is built on a strong


sector at both ends. It’s there to ensure audiences get the highest- quality shows at the best price.” Pact chief executive John McVay


said: “The recognition that more clarity and transparency could be delivered around individual genres is to be welcomed. We are also pleased to see the commitment to sharing more audience informa- tion with indies.”


Tinopolis on hunt for next US indie acquisition BY LISA CAMPBELL


The ink is barely dry on its £60m deal with US producer A Smith & Co, but Tinopolis is already on the lookout for more US compa- nies to acquire. Tinopolis completed its pur-


chase of the LA-based producer of Hell’s Kitchen USA this week, with the Welsh super-indie expect- ing to almost double its size as a result. According to Broadcast’s Indie


Survey in April, turnover at Tinop- olis, owner of Mentorn, Sunset + Vine and Pioneer, was £72m in 2010 – putting it in sixth position in the table of consolidators.


www.broadcastnow.co.uk Hell’s Kitchen USA: flagship show Ron Jones, executive chairman


of Tinopolis, said the deal means it now has a strong base in both key territories and will help fuel rapid growth. “We’re not looking to build a British company in the US,


do real damage Ron Jones, Tinopolis


transatlantic company that will


We’re looking to build a


looking to have a progressive, if not an aggressive, strategy in the US.” A Smith & Co, headed by former


but a genuinely transatlantic company that hopefully will do some real damage.” Jones, who has been looking to


acquire a US indie for several years, believes there will be a round of consolidation in the US market that he wants to be part of. He said: “It doesn’t stop here. We’ve made a statement of intent that we are


Fox Sports vice-president Arthur Smith, is a leading producer of reality TV. Output includes Paris Hilton reality series The World According To Paris for Oxygen and the US versions of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Tinopolis’ Paradise Hotel. Jones also said the deal, which


was managed by About Corporate Finance, would increase its access to the US sports and entertain- ment markets. In 2008, Tinopolis was sold


to venture capitalist Vitruvian for £44.7m.


1 July 2011 | Broadcast | 3


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