History
The company was originally established as the much broader BBC Resources Ltd operation in 1998,[6] making an operating profit of £1.3 million in its first full year.[7] It was divided into four business units: BBC Studios, BBC Post Production, BBC Outside Broadcasts, and BBC Costume and Wigs.
A team led by Andrew Thornton was appointed by the BBC to manage the sale, with Ernst & Young acting as external advisers. The team were accountable to a BBC steering group including Zarin Patel and Peter Salmon. Advertisements were placed in the Financial Times, The Times and Broadcast on 16 August 2007 inviting expressions of interest for the acquisition of this commercial subsidiary, with the aim of completing the transfer of engagements by the end of March 2008, subject to contract negotiations and approvals.[8]
On 6 November 2007 The Guardian reported[9] that the privatisation could be left with a shortfall of up to £15m to cover the transfer of the pensions of BBC Resources staff to a potential new employer.[10]
The BBC has never released the names of the short-listed companies,[11] with The Guardian reporting – in early 2008 – more leaks over concerns about pension obligations and asbestos exposure.[12] On 7 March 2008 it was announced that the outside broadcast division would be sold, as expected, to Satellite Information Services – with a surprise announcement that the studios operation (employing around 350 staff at Television Centre and Elstree Centre) would remain in BBC ownership.[13]
The BBC Costume and Wigs division closed in February 2008, as it was no longer commercially viable and the costumes were sold as a going concern to Angels Costumiers.[14] Following a lengthy sales process, which was announced in December 2005 but delayed until August 2007, BBC Outside Broadcasts was sold in March 2008 to SIS Communications.[15]
In August 2008 Mark Thomas became CEO of BBC Resources.[16] On 1 December 2008 the management team announced that nearly 200 jobs would be lost by June 2009 as part of a restructuring move to make the business smaller, more flexible and resilient to changes in demand.[17] This affected up to 38 editors, 26 assistants, as well as operational staff, administration and support staff.[18]
In early June 2008, the fate of the third business was put on hold with the BBC stating that "for the time being, we are no longer actively in discussion with a buyer for Post Production" and that "like Studios, Post Production will remain within BBC Resources, which will continue to operate as a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC". The BBC staff newspaper Ariel had reported on 18 March that Post's 400 staff had been told that the BBC "may need to look at other solutions if the business is not sold at this stage". Figures show that £3.4m had been spent on "consultants, legal and internal costs" during the sell-off.[19] The sale of BBC Outside Broadcasts generated a profit of £7.7 million.[20]
In April 2009 the company announced it was merging the Studios and Post Production Ltd businesses, changing the company name to BBC Studios and Post Production and appointing a new leadership team.[21] The company made a small trading loss in 2008–09. However, it made a small operating profit in 2009–10.[22]
In 2010, BBC Studioworks made a stereoscopic 3D Strictly Come Dancing trail for Children in Need at Television Centre. Its 3D team, along with 3Ality Digitals Stereographer Scot Steele, provided full studio and post production services for the three-minute 3D film featuring an Argentinean tango.[23]
In September 2012, Anna Mallett joined BBC Studio and Post Production as CEO[24] and led the company through the move out of Television Centre into two new locations – Elstree Studios and South Ruislip.
In October 2014, Anna Mallet left the company to take the lead in developing production proposals within the wider BBC. David Conway was appointed Managing Director of BBC Studios and Post Production from the role of Chief Operation Officer, which he held from May 2012.[25]
In March 2017, BBC Studioworks announced that they and Elstree Studios will continue their partnership for at least another three years, until March 2020.[26]
On 25 November 2019 BBC Studioworks confirmed that they have renewed their partnership with Elstree Studios, and have extended the current arrangement to continue until at least March 2024.[27]
In August 2022 it was announced by BBC Studioworks that they had extended their deal with Elstree Studios until 2029, with the agreement for BBC Studioworks to operate Stages 8 and 9 until March 2029, with BBC Studiosworks taking full control of the George Lucas Stage 2 until at least December 2024[28]
As of June 2024, the BBC Studioworks deal with Elstree Studios had to be adjusted, due to the closure of Stages 8 and 9 due to those studios being unsafe to be used, and are set to be demolished. BBC Studioworks now operates the George Lucas Stage 1 alongside their already operating the George Lucas Stage 2. They have also opened a new 2,500 Sq Ft studio named Studio M.[29]
