TV coverage of BBC Proms to be produced by independent company for first time

The TV coverage of BBC Proms is to be produced by an independent production company for the first time.

The coverage of the concerts in 2019 and 2020 will be produced by Livewire Pictures, rather than BBC Studios, although it will still be televised by the broadcaster.

The move follows the corporation’s charter agreement under which the Government asked for all existing BBC Studios network TV output to be put out to competitive tender over the next 11 years.

The tender process for the BBC Proms began in June 2018.

The BBC said that Livewire Pictures, which was launched in spring last year as a co-venture between Hat Trick Productions, talent agent Anita Land and MD Guy Freeman, was considered the “strongest” candidate from six eligible producers.

The team behind Livewire has previously been responsible for producing the One Love Manchester broadcast, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert and talent show Let It Shine.

The BBC will retain all intellectual property of the BBC Proms, a leading world classical music festival, and the commissioning and production of the concerts remains with the BBC Proms team.

Jan Younghusband, head of music TV commissioning, said: “There was a very competitive field for this tender but we believe this bid will deliver the best coverage of the Proms on television for our audiences.

“The BBC’s Proms Concert Season itself will be unaffected by this change.

“The winning bid offered the appropriate mix of innovative new ideas and respect for the rich history and traditions of the BBC Proms.”

The contract covers TV coverage of the concert series in 2019 and 2020 for a minimum of 24 BBC Proms concerts and includes 22 concerts on BBC Four, the First Night Of The Proms on BBC Two and the Last Night Of The Proms on BBC One and BBC Two.

The Proms coverage on BBC Radio 3 will not be affected by the tender, the BBC said.