The Stage

Salmon and Tranter join Bennett’s BBC Vision team

Published Tuesday 5 September 2006 at 13:50 by Liz Thomas

Peter Salmon and Jane Tranter will be BBC Vision director Jana Bennett’s lieutenants, helping spearhead the new multimedia content, commissioning and channels group.

Tranter, who now heads the Corporation’s drama department, assumes the newly-created role of controller, BBC Fiction, leading a group which covers drama commissioning, comedy commissioning, programme acquisitions and BBC Film. She will build connections between comedy and drama and draw up a more cohesive strategy between BBC Films and Programme Acquisitions, making the most of the planned increase in British film investment.

Following on from comments made by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant about their intention to move into drama, inspired by US style productions such as The Sopranos and 24, this move would help stars hoping to transfer skills while also ensuring talent stays at the BBC. Similarly, earlier this year, the Corporation comedy and film department, signalled that they would work more closely together in order to allow performers to develop projects for the big screen. Lucy Lumsden will continue to commission the comedy slate.

Meanwhile, former BBC1 controller Peter Salmon, joins the venture next month taking on the role of chief creative officer, BBC Vision Studios. He will lead in-houses programming, which is being billed as the biggest integrated multimedia production group in the world.

Bennett said: “Peter and Jane are formidable creative forces and I’m delighted to have them on board. Peter brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in both programme-making and broadcasting across all genres, both inside and outside the BBC. He has a tremendous energy and flair, so is the perfect person to shape our BBC Vision studios and in-house programme making as we develop the world’s largest multimedia content group. Jane is an outstanding commissioner who has transformed BBC Drama over the last five years. She has a keen eye for developing range across all channels, nurturing both in-house and independent production, and is the best person to build the BBC’s Fiction genres across all platforms.”

BBC Vision was announced in July as part of the BBC’s organisational change to meet the challenges and opportunities of its ‘Creative Future’ content strategy. It will be responsible for in-house multimedia production, commissioning and audio-visual services, including the TV channel portfolio and digital developments such as high definition and interactive television.

Salmon said: “I am a passionate supporter of BBC programmes and content. This new job is unparalleled in its scope and range and offers the biggest challenge of my career to date. To bring together programme makers from comedy and entertainment, children’s, factual, learning, features, drama and documentary from up and down the UK for the first time as one of the great creative powerhouses of the world.”

The pair, who take up their posts next month, will report to Bennett. The initiative still needs to appoint a controller of entertainment and of knowledge, as well as an executive to head the portfolio and multimedia services.