BBC Studios has promoted Robert Schildhouse to CEO of a newly renamed Direct to Consumer business, bringing BritBox in North America and documentary streamer BBC Select under a single leadership structure.
The move formalises Schildhouse’s oversight of both services and is positioned as a platform for the company’s future direct-to-consumer ambitions in North America. Schildhouse was previously President of BritBox.
BBC Select, which was moved under Schildhouse’s leadership last year, is now being managed alongside BritBox to sharpen BBC Studios’ streaming focus and create economies of scale across operations.
The announcement follows the launch of BritBox Premier in North America last year, which BBC Studios says has helped cement BritBox’s position as a premium destination for British programming in the market.
BBC Studios also claims BBC Select is now the third largest documentary streamer in the US and the fastest growing among its peer set, with subscriptions up more than 50% year-on-year.
Tom Fussell, CEO of BBC Studios, said the appointment underlined the “scale of opportunity” for its direct-to-consumer operations in North America and their strategic importance to future growth and investment.
Schildhouse said he was “excited about what’s to come” as the services build on recent momentum and expand their reach with North American audiences.
