Price of BBC shows likely to rise
- Published by David Knox
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While the ABC fathoms the impact of the BBC taking over the UKTV Channel, there are concerns the move will push up the price tag of programme acquisitions.
“I am absolutely confident that we will still be the major outlet for first-run quality BBC material, but it will have some pricing impact,” Kim Dalton, ABC’s Head of Television told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“They now own the outlet here and they will be showing that content … It will have an impact on quite possibly pushing up the price for some of this material, which will have an impact on us as a public broadcaster.”
The recent move will eventually see five BBC channels on subscription television.
Darren Childs, from BBC Worldwide Channels, said the new pay TV channels would not have an automatic first right to the best BBC programs.
“We have to maximise returns for that content, so it’s a pretty level playing field.”
The article claims the ABC acquired more than 200 hours of content from the BBC in the year to March, with the commercial broadcasters Seven, Nine and Ten taking individual programs that were not part of that output deal.
“Even our own channels can’t absorb the full volume of our output.”The BBC has also bought Lonely Planet for about $250 million and taken a 25 per cent stake in the TV production company Freehand.
Freehand is currently producing Top Gear Australia, The Nest, Missing Persons Unit and Escape from Scorpion Island.
Source: smh.com.au
3 Responses
slugga – I agree while a lot of ABC show don’t appeal to the demographic likely to DL the shows, some do like Doctor Who and having an Christmas special at the end of June is just stupid!
BTW I just found out that starting next week after Doctor Who the ABC with be showing a “Cut Down” version of the Confidential Files about 10 minutes long, UKTV did similar when they aired the Season 2-3 marathon a few weeks back.
‘”I am absolutely confident that we will still be the major outlet for first-run quality BBC material, but it will have some pricing impact,” Kim Dalton’
Ahem…has Kim never heard of the internet? Or the perils of taking 6 months to screen a show that appeals to a certain, internet-savvy demographic?
Or stuff that’s three years old being touted as ‘new’? Doesn’t seem right…
So does this mean for future seasons of shows like Doctor Who?
David can I ask, do you know why we don’t get the “Confidential” episodes from Doctor Who which air right after each episode on the BBC?
They are fantastic and sometimes better than the actual program giving you real insight into the show, maybe that could air them on ABC2 in the hour after the episode on ABC1? Like they do in the UK.