BBC increases drama output

Published Tuesday 3 July 2007 at 15:25 by Matthew Hemley

Drama output across the BBC’s entire portfolio of channels increased last year, with BBC1 in particular benefiting from more investment in Saturday nights and midweek pre-watershed programming.

According to the Corporation’s annual report for 2006/7, the number of hours of drama programming shown on BBC1 was 1,088, compared with 1,038 hours in 2005/2006.

The report said: “In drama, output has increased across the portfolio, particularly on BBC1, with more investment on Saturday evenings, including Doctor Who and Robin Hood, and midweek pre-watershed shows like Waterloo Road.

“Our audience research shows that BBC1 is seen by viewers as the best channel for drama, and they want more high quality original drama on the channel.”

It said BBC1 had enjoyed its most successful Christmas for years, thanks to drama productions such as The Wind in the Willows and an adaptation of Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke.

However, the report admitted that not every BBC1 drama series had performed well for the Corporation, and said The State Within and The Innocence Project had “not attracted as many viewers as we would have liked”.

On BBC2, the number of hours of drama broadcast in 2006/7 jumped from 174 in 2005/6 to 226.

The report said BBC2 had experienced “mixed fortunes”, with Shoot the Messenger doing well, but political series Party Animals failing “to make impact beyond a small and loyal audience”.

It also said This Life +10 had failed to “please fans”.

On BBC3, the hours of drama broadcast rose to 390 from 285 in 2005/6, with the report naming Torchwood as one programme that had helped the channel have a strong year.

On BBC4, the hours of drama broadcast increased from 305 in 2005/6 to 358.

The number of hours of drama broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3 also increased.

The report said the cost of making an in-house drama production at the BBC for its analogue channels was £473,000 an hour, slightly less than the £486,000 in 2005/6.