BBC shifts commissioning to nations

BBC national headquarters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are to gain network commissioning powers under sweeping reform proposals designed to ensure that programme spend in each area is consistent and proportional with the percentage of the total UK population living there.

Three new commissioners will be based at BBC Scotland in Pacific Quay; one will be responsible for factual, one for daytime, and one for entertainment. At least one new commissioning role is planned for Wales and Northern Ireland.

Decisions made by the national commissioning teams will ultimately be agreed with the relevant genre commissioner in London before being passed to channel controllers.

According to Broadcast, the BBC is planning to move the production of some network shows to Scotland, and may even network Scottish soap River City, to ensure that the increased spending is "sustainable".