The BBC has begun the sale of its BBC Resources subsidiary, a leading provider of broadcast production facilities and services.
On Thursday 16 August, the BBC advertised the sale of the business, which comprises BBC Outside Broadcasts, BBC Studios and BBC Post Production, in the Financial Times, the Times and the British trade magazine Broadcast. The BBC has already sold BBC Technology to Siemens and the play-out, design and branding department, BBC Broadcast, to Australian private equity group Macquarie.
The sale of assets is based on the Commercial Review which concluded the BBC should only own commercial businesses that either export or exploit the BBC brand or content. The Review stated that while the services supplied by BBC Resources to the Corporation are important, they do not need to be owned by the BBC.
According to Andrew Thornton, project director at the BBC who is leading the sale this is “a unique opportunity for any potential bidder; it’s not everyday such a treasure trove of outstanding expertise and skills comes on the market’.
The sale of the business and transfer of BBC Resources staff to the successful bidder is expected to take place by the end of March 2008.
