BBC has committed to investing £3million on Scottish productions amid an agreement extension with Screen Scotland. The partnership has been extended for a further three years. “Working in partnership over the last few years with Screen Scotland has helped us produce some great new drama, comedies and documentaries for our audiences while also enhancing the skills base," Tim Davie, BBC Director-General said. "On top of this week’s Kelvin Hall TV studio announcement, it’s further evidence of the BBC’s desire to invest and produce more programmes across all parts of the UK. I am pleased that the new MOU sets ambitious goals to create even more outstanding programmes and develop the creative industries.”
The renewed Memorandum of Understanding will lead and support the production of new TV drama, entertainment, scripted comedy, documentary and factual formats on the BBC’s network television network for Scotland. The collaboration extension is projected to strenghten both companies' production slates, and increase the overall representation of the country.
Under an existing partnership the BBC and Screen Scotland have jointly invested in a number of productions over the last few years including drama Guilt, Killing Escobar, The Hermit of Treig and One Night at the Museum, while a series of writing and skills initiatives for film and television have also been supported. “The first MOU between Screen Scotland and the BBC has seen us work together to deliver new talent development initiatives, cement strong relationships between the BBC’s commissioning teams and producers in Scotland, and launch new hit shows that reflect and represent modern Scotland across the BBC," Iain Munro, CEO at Creative said.
Signed by BBC Director General Tim Davie and Creative Scotland’s Chief Executive Iain Munro, the tems of the deal will allow BBC to invest at least 8% of network TV spend in Scotland, and from the BBC’s Across the UK Strategy, which will drive its investing spending to £700m cumulatively across the UK by 2027/28. "This new, extended three year collaboration agreement will build on our strong relationship, focus on developing more new work from Scotland for all of the BBC’s channels and platforms, driving inclusive training opportunities and showcasing Scotland’s writing, directing and performing talent across the BBC and beyond," Munro said.