BBC Sport is a self-commissioning division within the BBC.

BBC Sport produces and, in conjunction with the network TV channels and Radio stations, broadcasts a range of live sport and related content to audiences across the country.

Commissioning areas

• BBC Sport buys its own sports rights and then produces the programming around those sports rights, either in-house or through an external supplier.
• The output for individual sport rights (eg Snooker or Bowls) is usually looked at as a production package, often across several years. Producers therefore necessarily need to build up expertise in individual sports production.
• BBC Sport produces self-commissioning content across all platforms and does invite tenders from independent producers as appropriate. Sports-related content is also created for and broadcast by BBC TV, BBC Radio, bbc.co.uk and local, national and regional services but is commissioned within those specific areas.

Commissioning process

• The contracts offered to Independent suppliers are therefore significant - both in terms of hours and length of contract.
• The key factors that drive the selection of a supplier is likely to be not on a cost basis but on the relevant skill base.
• The commissioning of Independent suppliers is more often than not likely to be via limited tender.
• Commissioning for factual, entertainment or other cross-genre programming around sports or sports events is managed by those specific commissioners and controllers of the genres.

Roles

The tender process for self-commissioning content produced by BBC Sport is managed by the Dominic Coles, Director, Rights and Finance, and the Head of Development, Niall Sloane.

All other enquiries for content ideas in the entertainment and factual genres that are outside of the mandate of BBC Sport should be directed to specific commissioners or controllers.

Page last updated 2 September 2009