{{Short description|1979–2018 commercial subsidiary of the BBC}} {{Distinguish|BBC World Service}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Use British English|date = March 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = BBC Worldwide Ltd. | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | logo_caption = Final logo, used from 1997 to 2018 | former_name = BBC Enterprises Ltd. (1979–1995) | type = Subsidiary | industry = Broadcasting | fate = Folded into BBC Studios | predecessor = BBC Enterprises | successor = BBC Studios | founded = {{start date and age|1979|05|15|df=y}} | founder = Henrietta Hurford-Jones | defunct = {{End date|2018|04|01|df=y}}<br>8 years ago | hq_location = Television Centre | hq_location_city = London | hq_location_country = England | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Tony Hall (chairman) <br> Tim Davie (CEO) | parent = BBC | website = {{URL|https://www.bbcstudios.com/}} }} '''BBC Worldwide Ltd.''' was the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor '''BBC Enterprises''' in January 1995. The company monetised BBC brands, selling BBC and other British programming for broadcast abroad with the aim of supplementing the income received by the BBC through the licence fee.
The company merged with BBC Studios on 1 April 2018, to form a new licensing, production, and distribution company under the BBC Studios name.
==History== ===Origins=== In addition to broadcasting, the BBC has for much of its life also produced additional materials for sale, the profits of which would be returned to the corporation to aid in the financing of these services. The highest profile of these early products was the listings magazine ''Radio Times'', but the net revenue gained from this in 1928 (£93,686, 10s, 1d) only equated to 10% of total BBC income.<ref name="BBC 70 years book">{{cite book|last=Cain|first=John|title=The BBC: 70 years of broadcasting|year=1992|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|location=London|isbn=0-563-36750-4|pages=116–119}}</ref>
Prior to 1979, several BBC departments dealt with the exploitation and sale of BBC brands and programmes. BBC Publications, which produced magazines, books and other supplementary materials, had expanded rapidly in the late 1960s but still had difficulties with finances. In 1974, the division made a loss of £14,000.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/> This was rectified however as the economic situation eased and by 1982, BBC Publications had a trading profit of £4.7 million.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/> BBC Transcription Services licensed BBC Radio material to overseas broadcasters.
The selling of television programmes was at first handled in 1958 with the establishment of a business manager post.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/> This gradually expanded until the establishment of the Television Promotions (later renamed Television Enterprises) department in 1960 under a general manager.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/> In its first year, the department saw the sale of 550 programmes overseas with a turnover of £234,000,<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/><ref name="1970s BBC Story"/> with a further 1,200 programmes sold the following year.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/> Radio programmes were only exploited on the same level with the creation of the Radio Enterprises department in 1966.<ref>{{Citation |year=1967 |title=BBC Handbook 1967 |publisher=BBC |publication-place=London |page=43 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/BBC/BBC-Annual/BBC-Year-Book-1967.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref> The two departments were merged to form the BBC Enterprises department in October 1968.<ref>{{Citation |year=1970 |title=BBC Handbook 1970 |publisher=BBC |publication-place=London |pages=44–45 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/BBC/BBC-Annual/BBC-Year-Book-1970.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref>
===BBC Enterprises=== On 15 May 1979, the department became '''BBC Enterprises Ltd.''', a subsidiary company wholly owned by the BBC.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/><ref name="1970s BBC Story">{{cite web|title=1970s|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc/resources/factsheets/1970s.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126230419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc/resources/factsheets/1970s.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2012|work=The BBC Story|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> By 1982, the division were expanding with divisions responsible for home video (under the brand BBC Video), recorded audio (under the brands BBC Records and BBC Cassettes), film and merchandising. At this point the company had a turnover of £23 million.<ref name="BBC 70 years book"/> On 1 April 1986, all commercial activities of the corporation, including BBC Publications, was merged into BBC Enterprises Ltd.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cain|first=John|title=The BBC: 70 years of broadcasting|year=1992|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|location=London|isbn=0-563-36750-4|page=150}}</ref>
In 1991, BBC World Service Television became the first commercially funded BBC broadcasting operation after the Foreign Office refused to pay for it.<ref name="crisell1997">{{cite book | title=An Introductory History of British Broadcasting | publisher=Routledge | author=Crisell, Andrew | year=1997 | page=24 | isbn=0-415-12802-1}}</ref> BBC Enterprises Ltd was subsequently reorganised on 1 January 1995 as '''BBC Worldwide Ltd'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pubopinions.org/directory/the-2016-2017-global-500-sustainable-development-agencies-winners/664-british-broadcasting-corporation-bbc.html|title=British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – Public Opinions International|website=pubopinions.org|access-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010161605/https://www.pubopinions.org/directory/the-2016-2017-global-500-sustainable-development-agencies-winners/664-british-broadcasting-corporation-bbc.html|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> A review of the BBC's commercial activities took place in 2004 and concluded that the sell off of BBC Worldwide's assets would not be as advantageous as keeping the business and driving it harder. Instead, some changes to its remit, focus, structure and governance were made, e.g. that it would only publish titles in the UK linked to BBC programmes or key genres.
===Acquisitions and restructuring=== On 12 July 2004, BBC Worldwide and Woolworths Group announced they had entered into a joint venture to form 2 Entertain (stylized as '''2 | entertain'''), which would combine BBC Worldwide's video publishing unit (BBC Video) with Woolworths Group's video publishing, music publishing and video production unit (Video Collection International). BBC Worldwide would hold 60%, while the Woolworths Group would hold 40%, additionally, both BBC Worldwide and Woolworths Group wanted 2 Entertain to better compete with the major studios.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/woolworths-bbc-strike-video-music-tv-deal/216165 | title=Woolworths and BBC strike video, music and TV deal }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Anticipated joint venture between BBC Worldwide Limited and Woolworths Group plc |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/555de461ed915d7ae2000131/bbc.pdf |publisher=Office of Fair Trading |date=30 September 2004}}</ref> The deal was completed on 27 September with Video Collection International being renamed 2 Entertain Video Ltd. in October.<ref name="CH">{{cite web |date=1985-06-21 |title=2 Entertain Video Limited overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01924997 |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Companies House}}</ref>
In 2005, the company sold ''Eve'' magazine to Haymarket Group<ref name="eve sale">{{cite news|title=BBC Worldwide announces sale of eve magazine to Haymarket |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2005/01_january/eve_sale.shtml |access-date=22 June 2012 |newspaper=BBC Press Office |date=11 January 2005}}</ref> and in 2006 the company sold a majority stake in BBC Books to publisher Random House.<ref name="BBC Worldwide BBC Books sale">{{cite news|title=The Random House Group acquires majority shareholding in BBC Books|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2006/06_june/bbc_books.shtml|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Press Office|date=22 June 2006}}</ref>
In 2007, BBC Worldwide purchased a 75% stake in the travel guide publisher Lonely Planet,<ref name=theage>{{cite news |title=BBC buys Lonely Planet |url=https://www.theage.com.au/business/bbc-buys-lonely-planet-20071002-ge5y81.html |newspaper=The Age |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=1 October 2007}}</ref> acquiring the final 25% of the company in 2011.<ref name=smh>{{cite news |title=BBC takes last slice of Planet |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/bbc-takes-last-slice-of-planet-20110219-1b09f.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=20 February 2011 |access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref> The acquisition was part of the BBC's strategy to grow its online portfolio and to increase its operations in Australia and the USA.<ref name=bbc-pr-2007>{{cite web|title=BBC Worldwide acquires Lonely Planet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2007/10_october/lonely_planet.shtml |work=BBC Worldwide Press Release|publisher=BBC Press Office|access-date=19 March 2013|date=1 October 2007}}</ref>
In January 2009, it was announced that Ofcom had put forward the recommendation that Channel 4 merge with either the commercial network Five or BBC Worldwide. Channel 4's preferred option of a partnership with the latter was confirmed by chief executive Andy Duncan, who added: "We're in discussions with BBC Worldwide at the moment and they're really very exciting."<ref>{{cite news | title= Channel 4 'must form partnership' | url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7841607.stm | work=BBC News | date= 21 January 2009 | quote= Channel 4 should become part of a bigger organisation through a merger or partnerships, Ofcom has recommended. | access-date= 29 March 2009}}</ref> In the same year, the company was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of the companies growth and success.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shearman|first1=Sarah|title=BBC Worldwide wins Queen's Enterprise award|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/bbc-worldwide-wins-queens-enterprise-award/900033|publisher=MediaWeek|access-date=9 February 2015|date=21 April 2009}}</ref>
In 2012, the company began to reorganise their divisions from a product based system to a location-based system, resulting in Jana Bennett leaving the company.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jana Bennett to leave BBC Worldwide|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18555355|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=22 June 2012}}</ref>
In 2013, BBC Worldwide sold Lonely Planet to Kentucky billionaire Brad Kelley's NC2 Media for US$75 million (£51.5 million)— significantly less than the £130.2 million the BBC had paid for the company, at an £80 million loss.<ref name=nc2sale>{{cite news|title=BBC Worldwide sells Lonely Planet business at £80m loss|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21841479|access-date=19 March 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=19 March 2013}}</ref>
In December 2016, BBC Worldwide and ITV plc announced BritBox, an international subscription streaming brand focusing on British television. The service was planned to launch first in the United States in 2017, with AMC Networks as a local partner.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 December 2016|title=BBC, ITV, AMC pact for BritBox US SVOD service|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2016/12/14/bbc-itv-amc-pact-for-britbox-us-svod-service/|access-date=3 January 2020|website=Digital TV Europe|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2017, under revisions to the BBC Charter and subsequent BBC Trust approval, the broadcaster formed a second commercial subsidiary known as BBC Studios, to hold most of the broadcaster's in-house production units (including Factual, Entertainment, Scripted, and Music & Events). In return for the restructuring, which also allows the BBC to produce programmes for competing broadcasters to fund its public services, the BBC agreed to allow BBC Studios and third-parties to bid on tenders to produce its in-house non-news programmes over the next 11 years.<ref name="rt-bbcstudios">{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-12-21/bbc-to-begin-making-programmes-for-other-broadcasters/|title=BBC to begin making programmes for other broadcasters|work=Radio Times|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/12/20/bbc-studios-wins-go-ahead-commercial-production-push/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/12/20/bbc-studios-wins-go-ahead-commercial-production-push/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=BBC Studios wins go-ahead for commercial production push|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Christopher|last=Williams|date=20 December 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://realscreen.com/2016/12/20/bbc-studios-approved-to-launch-comercially/|title=BBC Studios approved to launch commercially|work=Realscreen|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc-studios-takes-shape/5098564.article|title=BBC Studios takes shape|work=Broadcast|first=Hannah|last=Gannagé-Stewart|date=7 January 2016}}</ref> On 29 November 2017, the BBC announced that BBC Worldwide would be merged into BBC Studios in April 2018, which gave the broadcaster an integrated division involved in both the production and sale of programming.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/global/bbc-worldwide-bbc-studios-merge-single-operation-1202625590/|title=BBC Worldwide, BBC Studios to Merge into Single Operation|last=Chu|first=Henry|date=29 November 2017|work=Variety|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/bbc-merge-bbc-worldwide-bbc-studios-into-1-9bn-company-1202216337/|title=BBC To Merge BBC Worldwide & BBC Studios Into $1.9B Company|last=White|first=Peter|date=29 November 2017|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref>
==Profit and sales (1995–2012)== right|500px|Figures adjusted using RPI to 2012 prices right|500px|Profitability of BBC WorldwideIn 2013/14, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £157.4m and headline sales of £1,042.3m and returned £173.8m to the BBC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/annual-review-2014.aspx |title=BBC Worldwide – Annual Review 2013/14 – Annual Review 2014 |access-date=14 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814145651/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/annual-review-2014.aspx |archive-date=14 August 2014}}</ref>
In 2012/13, it made a profit of £156.3m on a turnover of £1,115.8m.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/annual-review-2013.aspx |title=BBC Worldwide – Annual Review 2012/13 – Annual Review 2013 |access-date=14 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707224255/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/annual-review-2013.aspx |archive-date=7 July 2014}}</ref> The company had made a profit of £104m on a turnover of £1,085m in the previous financial year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/annual-review-2012.aspx |title=BBC Worldwide – Annual Review 2011/12 – Annual Review 2012 |access-date=6 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905041153/http://bbcworldwide.com/annual-review/annual-review-2012.aspx |archive-date=5 September 2013}}</ref>
BBC Worldwide's profit rate was 11.2% in 2011/2012, up slightly from 9.6% the previous year, down from a peak of 21.5% in 2002/2003, contrasting with 7.8% in 2003/2004.<ref name="www.bbcworldwide.com annual-review">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review.aspx|title=Annual Review|access-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914232601/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annual-review.aspx|archive-date=14 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! Date !! Headline sales (2014) || Profit (2014) || Sales (cash) || Profit (cash) !! Profit rate |- | 1995/1996 || £527m || £84m || £332m || £53m || 15.9%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/report/ |title=BBC Worldwide Annual Report and Accounts |access-date=6 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818210658/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/report/ |archive-date=18 August 2000 }}</ref> |- | 1996/1997 || £630m || £115m || £409m || £75m || 18.3%<ref name="www.bbcworldwide.com annual-review"/> |- | 1997/1998 || £640m || £120m || £430m || £81m || 18.8% |- | 1998/1999 || £726m || £120m || £495m || £82m || 16.5% |- | 1999/2000 || £798m || £136m || £560m || £96m || 17.1% |- | 2000/2001 || £885m || £148m || £632m || £106m || 16.7% |- | 2001/2002 || £881m || £169m || £640m || £123m || 19.2% |- | 2002/2003 || £879m || £188m || £657m || £141m || 21.4% |- | 2003/2004 || £917m || £71m || £706m || £55m || 7.7% |- | 2004/2005 || £991m || £112m || £784m || £89m || 11.3% |- | 2005/2006 || £992m || £135m || £810m || £111m || 13.7% |- | 2006/2007 || £1,076m || £138m || £916m || £118m || 12.8% |- | 2007/2008 || £1,134m || £116m || £1,004m || £103m || 10.2% |- | 2008/2009 || £1,219m || £164m || £1,074m || £145m || 13.5% |- | 2009/2010 || £1,256m || £204m || £1,158m || £188m || 16.2% |- | 2010/2011 || £1,119m || £107m || £1,085m || £104m || 9.5% |- | 2011/2012 || £1,115m || £125m || £1,115m || £125m || 11.2% |- |}
Historical price conversion as per RPI figures from {{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/data-selector.html?cdid=CHAW&dataset=mm23&table-id=2.1|title=Office for National Statistics – Dataset selector|access-date=24 August 2013}}
==Operations== [[File:BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London W12 - geograph.org.uk - 686894.jpg|thumb|Television Centre in London, BBC Worldwide's headquarters]] thumb|BBC Worldwide's London headquarters prior to its 2008 move to Television Centre In 2013, BBC Worldwide reorganised the company along geographical, rather than divisional, lines to better serve its audiences around the world and to position itself to take advantage of opportunities in high growth markets. The seven geographic markets are grouped into three regions: North America; UK, Australia and New Zealand; and Global Markets (Asia, CEMA, Latin America and Western Europe). The two global business areas – Content and Brands – set the strategic framework and parameters for activities within the regions and keep a close connection into BBC Worldwide's parent, the BBC. Digital is embedded throughout the business.<ref name="BBC Worldwide Regions">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/about-us.aspx|work=BBC Worldwide|access-date=14 August 2014}}</ref>
BBC Worldwide was responsible for a wide range of commercial activities, primarily connected in some way with the output and public purposes of the main BBC. In the past, the business was divided into five operating businesses which covered the entire operations of the company: Channels; Content and Production; Brands, Consumers and New Ventures, Consumer Products and Sales and Distributions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}
The Channels division was formed in 2005<ref name="BBC Worldwide channels">{{cite web|title=Channels|url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/channels.aspx|work=BBC Worldwide|access-date=22 June 2012}}</ref> and is the company's largest generator of revenue and growth. It operates the broadcasting of several international channels and domestic networks:<ref name="BBC Worldwide channels"/> * BBC America – AMC Networks owns the channel and licenses the BBC brand * BBC Entertainment * BBC First * BBC Brit * BBC Earth * BBC Lifestyle * CBeebies * CBBC * British UKTV network of 10 channels (for a time owned 50/50 with Discovery, Inc.) * BBC UKTV in Australia and New Zealand * BBC Kids Australia
It was also involved with the now defunct: * BBC Canada – 20% with Corus Entertainment owning 80% * BBC HD * BBC Kids Canada – 20% with Knowledge Network Corporation owning 80% * BBC Japan - JV with SKY PerfecTV! * BBC Living * BBC Knowledge
The Content and Production division was formed in 2006 and invests the company's money into new productions by both the BBC and other independent productions.<ref name="BBC Worldwide content">{{cite web|title=Content & Production |url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/content--production.aspx |work=BBC Worldwide |access-date=22 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704064159/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/content--production.aspx |archive-date=4 July 2012}}</ref> It also exploits the formats of BBC programmes and alters them to be suitable for an international audience – an example is the exploitation of the ''Strictly Come Dancing'' brand to become ''Dancing with the Stars'' – maximising revenues by receiving a production fee from the local broadcaster as well as a sum from selling the initial re-versioning rights.<ref name="BBC Worldwide content"/> The division works alongside the Sales and Distribution division, which sells the broadcasting rights to completed programmes made by the BBC and other producers – an example being the Red Production Company drama ''Mine All Mine'' for the ITV network in 2004. It includes the selling of individual clips through the BBC Motion Gallery to other broadcasters. In the financial year 2010/11, this division sold the rights to over 74,000 hours worth of television content.<ref name="BBC Worldwide sales">{{cite web|title=Sales & Distribution |url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/sales--distribution.aspx |work=BBC Worldwide |access-date=22 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704064851/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/sales--distribution.aspx |archive-date=4 July 2012}}</ref>
The other two divisions of the company deal with the individual programme brands: Global Brands focuses on the international recognition of the brands<ref name="BBC Worldwide BCNV">{{cite web|title=Global Brands |url=https://bbcworldwide.com/global-brands.aspx |work=BBC Worldwide |access-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003122351/http://bbcworldwide.com/global-brands.aspx |archive-date=3 October 2012}}</ref> while the Consumer Products division produces a variety of goods based around these brands. The work of the former includes expanding the brands into new areas – the Top Gear Live tour is a key example of this.<ref name="BBC Worldwide BCNV"/> The latter creates and sells a variety of consumer products, occasionally as a stake or partnership in another company, including VHS and DVD releases, spoken word and music audio products, CD-ROMs, video games, books and magazines.<ref name="BBC Worldwide Consumer">{{cite web|title=Consumer Products |url=https://www.bbcworldwide.com/consumer-products.aspx |work=BBC Worldwide |access-date=22 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609091150/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/consumer-products.aspx |archive-date=9 June 2012}}</ref>
==Assets and brands== * Owned video publishing company 2 Entertain with products dual branded 2 Entertain and BBC. * Owned Demon Music Group. * The BBC Shops closed in 2016, although Worldwide still retains ''Doctor Who'' and ''Top Gear'' branded online shops. * Operated the BBC Motion Gallery. * Operated the BBC Store until its closure in November 2017. * Held 12.2% stake in production company Left Bank Pictures.<ref>"The Telegraph" [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/9496037/Sony-takes-stake-in-Left-Bank.html Sony takes stake in Left Bank] ''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved 7 September 2012</ref> * Held 25% stake in House Productions, an indie production company<ref>{{cite web|title=Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell Build House Productions With BBC WW & Access Ent|url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/tessa-ross-juliette-howell-launch-house-productions-bbc-worldwide-access-entertainment-danny-cohen-1201800047/|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=August 6, 2016|access-date=May 2, 2024}}</ref> * Held 45% stake in Clerkenwell Films, a film and television production company<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Ups Stake in 'The End of the F***ing World' Producer Clerkenwell (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bbc-the-end-of-the-world-lovesick-clerkenwell-films-1202671613/|website=Variety|date=January 22, 2018|access-date=May 2, 2024}}</ref> * Held 25% stake in Cliffhanger Productions, an independent production company.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Worldwide buys into Cliffhanger|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2007/11_november/cliffhanger.shtml|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Press Office|date=22 November 2007}}</ref> * Held 25% stake in BBC Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Group who hold a 75% stake.<ref>{{cite news|title=Penguin Books and BBC Worldwide form new venture for BBC Children's Books|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/04_april/penguin.shtml|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Press Office|date=30 April 2004}}</ref> * Licensed the publishing of magazine titles to the Immediate Media Company. The titles were formerly published in-house by BBC Magazines. * Licensed audio content to Penguin Random House UK for global sales and distribution.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Worldwide partners with Random House Audio for new publishing and distribution deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/ww-random-house-audio.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224031638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/ww-random-house-audio.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2013|publisher=BBC Media Centre|date=20 December 2013|access-date=31 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Penguin Random House UK extends relationship with BBC Worldwide to become the global publisher and distributor of BBC Audio content |url=http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/news/2015/05/penguin-random-house-uk-extends-relationship-with-bbc-worldwide-to-become-the-g |publisher=The Random House Group |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=9 December 2015}}</ref> Titles were previously published in-house by ''BBC Radio Collection'' and ''BBC Audiobooks'' and later by AudioGO, in which BBC Worldwide held a 15% stake.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Worldwide announces sale of majority shareholding in BBC Audiobooks|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2010/07_july/bbc_audiobooks.shtml|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Press Office|date=14 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sweney|first=Mark|title=BBC Audiobooks sold|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/14/bbc-worldwide-audiobook-business|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 July 2010}}</ref> * Held minority share in BBC Books, with Random House Group taking majority share.<ref name="BBC Worldwide BBC Books sale"/> Books published using BBC Books brand. * Held minority stake in BBC Active, with Pearson plc taking the majority share.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Active signals new partnership for BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2005/10_october/pearson_partnership.shtml|access-date=22 June 2012|newspaper=BBC Press Office|date=13 October 2005}}</ref> The brand publishes educational material. * In partnership with ITV, launched a US SVOD service, BritBox, launching in March 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/worldwide/2016/BBC-Worldwide-and-ITV-partner-to-bring-new-SVOD-service-BritBox-to-US|title=BBC – BBC Worldwide and ITV partner to bring new SVOD service BRITBOX to the US – Media Centre|website=BBC|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britbox-usa-idUSKBN16E2A9|title=BBC, ITV launch BritBox video streaming service in U.S.|date=7 March 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>
These commercial activities allow BBC Worldwide to return profits and dividends to the BBC to re-invest in its broadcasting operations. In 2007/08 BBC Worldwide invested £75.1m in in-house and independent programmes commissioned by the BBC. However, the BBC has often been criticised for the amount of money it makes from BBC Worldwide. Some commercial rivals protest at the advantage the company has from being associated with and being able to exploit the programme catalogue and resources of the BBC to provide its goods and services.<ref>{{cite web | title= About BBC Worldwide | url= https://www.bbcworldwide.com/about-bbc-worldwide.aspx | work= BBC Worldwide | year= 2008–2009 | access-date= 10 September 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091006173911/http://www.bbcworldwide.com/about-bbc-worldwide.aspx | archive-date= 6 October 2009 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|BBC}} * International BBC television channels
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.bbcworldwide.com/}} * {{YouTube|u=BBCWorldwide|BBC Worldwide}} * [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01420028 BBC Studios Distribution] (formerly BBC Worldwide) at Companies House
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Category:BBC Worldwide Category:Mass media companies established in 1979 Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2018 Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom Category:1979 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:2018 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham