The BBC is on track to hit its three-year diverse commissioning target after spending £44m with 48 indies in the initiative’s first year.
Under its Creative Diversity Commitment, which commits £100m of its TV commissioning budget to inclusive programmes over three years, the corporation ordered 67 shows that hit at least two of three diversity criteria, concerning stories and portrayals; production leadership; and company leadership.
These included BBC2 drama Then Barbara Met Alan (a collaboration between Dragonfly and Jack Thorne’s One Show Films), BBC3’s Glow Up: Britan’s Next Make-Up Star (Wall to Wall), Krept and Konan: We Are England (Acme Films) and Dreaming Whilst Black (Big Deal Films), and CBeebies’ Magic Hands – Black History Songs (Flashlight Media).
Almost three quarters - 73% - of the indies commissioned have diverse leadership and 10% secured their first BBC order under the initiative.
The BBC also spent £4m on 90 radio shows, a third of its £12m target.
Meanwhile, the BBC’s £2m Diverse Talent Development Fund supported 146 shows, including BBC1 drama Everything I Know About Love.
In its separate TV Commissioning Supply Report, the BBC states that it spent £1.4bn on original content last year.
New producers accounted for 59 of the 334 companies it commissioned.
This is down from 66 new suppliers in 2020, when the corporation worked with 343 indies.
However, it worked with four more indies from outside London, a total of 36.
In all, regions and nations accounted for 64% of BBC network hours last year and 54% of network commissioning spend was outside of London, up from 48% the previous year.
