BBC Studios to launch a new Global Entertainment arm

BBC Studios will merge its Entertainment & Music, Factual Entertainment & Events, and International Productions & Formats, and is fully integrating its worldwide network of production bases to create a new Global Entertainment business.

The Global Entertainment division will also oversee BBC Studios’ network of production bases in Los Angeles, India, Australia, South Africa, and Europe. Moreover, it will house the company’s invested indies Mothership Productions and Mettlemouse Entertainment, and continue to work closely with indie partners including Magnum Media, Final Straw Productions, Rebel Rebel Pictures, and Hungry Bear Media.

The new business will be led by Matt Forde, who will assume the role of Managing Director of Global Entertainment. Forde is currently Managing Director for International Productions and Formats, a responsibility he will maintain. Meanwhile, Suzy Lamb and Hannah Wyatt will continue to lead the UK based divisions Entertainment & Music and Factual Entertainment & Events as Managing Directors, respectively, reporting to Forde.

Forde has overseen BBC Studios’ International Productions and Formats business outside the UK since 2018, and in the last three years the business has more than doubled, with wholly owned bases in the United States (Los Angeles), India, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa, and most recently, the Nordics. Some of the most successful shows during this period include “Dancing With The Stars,” “The Great Bake Off” and “The 1% Club.”

“Taking our formats' success to another level is key to our long term growth, and this move is in response to the substantial changes in the global market, where there is a very high demand for more familiar and trusted brands. Matt’s track-record in recognising the global appeal of our shows and overseeing their successful adoption by partners in multiple territories is second to none, and I am delighted he has agreed to lead this new business,”  said Ralph Lee, CEO of BBC Studios Productions.

“As the Global Entertainment market continues to evolve at pace, bringing our UK businesses into the centre of what we do will help us to continue creating, selling and adapting the best shows and brands from the UK working with the amazing talent in our local BBC Studios offices to deliver the next generation of entertainment and reality programmes to the world,”  Matt Forde added.