What success looks like...

Increasing amounts of BBC management time are being given over to pats on the back. Take this lot from the BBC Board meeting in April.

3.1 The Director-General summarised some of the creative highlights of the past month. Line of Duty had returned to BBC One with the biggest season launch of the year and Fleabag was attracting an impressive audience for its post-News slot, and on iPlayer. Race Across the World had performed well with younger audiences in particular. Audience interest in news about Brexit has been consistently high. Last month, interest peaked at 66%, meaning two-thirds of UK adults claimed to be closely following news about Brexit. This was the highest it has been since the referendum in 2016, and the effect was consistent across all demographic groups.

3.3 The Board noted the launch of a new Comedy Foundation to be led by Shane Allen, BBC Commissioning Controller, Comedy, intended to encourage new voices and further the
impact of British comedy.

3.4 The Board noted an update on the performance of BBC Content. There had been a significant decline in total TV time spent across all broadcasters. The 10.35pm BBC Three Zone was starting to have an impact with audiences and new comedy was doing well with Don’t Forget the Driver attracting a series average of 1.35 m viewers per episode. 

3.5 The Director of BBC Radio and Education provided an update. Content highlights this month had included Drake live on Radio One on Saturday night. The BBC had  secured live Premier League radio rights for a further three seasons, ensuring listeners could follow the biggest games and best match coverage until May 2022.

3.6 The Director, News and Current Affairs, provided an update on the performance of BBC News with audiences. Whilst interest in Brexit was driving a strong performance for News, the Notre Dame fire was the biggest news online story so far this year. The Ofcom Review of News and Current Affairs was underway.

3.8 The Director of Nations and Regions provided an update on audiences and activity across the UK. BBC Three would be forming a new collaborative, creative partnership with the Nations and Regions. The Scotland Channel had recorded a weekly reach of 28% across the first three weeks it had been on air.