BBC Global News Limited will come under the management of BBC Studios as the BBC looks to build its commercial income.
Global News, which includes the BBC World News channel had been kept separate from the Studios operation when it merged with BBC Worldwide in 2017. It says the move will allow the BBC to structure its international audience in “a more holistic way”.
Editorial control and operation of the BBC World News channel will move to the public service news operation, with its international advertising and distribution provided by GNL.
Production of BBC Childrens’ output will also move into BBC Studios.
Speaking at the Deloitte and Enders Media and Telecoms conference, BBC director-general Tim Davie said international income was “utterly critical in terms of cold hard cash”.
BBC Studios is now looking to develop digital business plans in areas including audio and news, where the BBC believes it has a unique proposition.
There are plans to further expand BritBox, the joint venture streaming service run with ITV, into 25 additional markets and develop SVOD channel BBC Select, for culture, politics and ideas, which launched last month in the US and Canada.
