These activities generated revenue of £ 1.2 billion(€ 1.6bn) in 2016-17 and employed 4,900 staff.

Overall, the BBC’ s total revenue from its commercial subsidiaries was broadly stable at more than £ 1.1 billion in each of the five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17. However, among the subsidiaries, only Worldwide made profits throughout the five years. Its profit after tax was £ 40.4 million in 2016-17, 68 per cent lower than in 2012-13(£ 127.6 million), though this was largely due to two one-off costs incurred in 2016-17.

The BBC’ s main subsidiaries operate in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive market. Audiences are increasingly accessing content digitally, including via fast-growing global subscription video on demand services such as Netflix. The BBC’ s commercial subsidiaries face increased competition and costs to secure the valuable Intellectual Property( IP) that underpins the contemporary media business model. In response, Worldwide has entered into more co-productions, partnerships with other international companies, and other projects. These actions could deliver greater

The BBC must notify Ofcom if any commercial line of business is not making a commercial rate of return. financial rewards for the company, and the BBC as a whole, but also entail greater risks. Simultaneous with these developments, advertisers are spending more of their budgets online, putting pressure on the traditional business model for running TV channels, a development that affects both Worldwide and Global News.

A principal focus for Ofcom, the BBC’ s regulator since 2017, will be the relationship between the BBC’ s licence fee-funded PSB divisions and its commercial subsidiaries. The BBC is required to ensure that its commercial activities do not, as a result of their relationship with UK PSB divisions, distort the market or gain an unfair competitive advantage. The BBC must notify Ofcom if any commercial line of business is not making a commercial rate of return. Ofcom can also assess material changes in the BBC’ s commercial activities. It is currently considering the BBC’ s plan to merge Worldwide and Studios in April 2018. The BBC Board has already determined that this development is not material, but Ofcom may reach a different view. The BBC wants to merge Worldwide and Studios to create a more integrated commercial business in order to compete in the increasingly competitive and consolidated global market. The NAO highlights a number of challenges and risks the BBC faces. It is developing new BBC-owned IP, primarily in the form of TV series and formats, to drive growth. It will need to manage risk carefully to ensure that the funds it invests in such projects have the greatest impact possible in a crowded marketplace. The NAO has signalled that the BBC may also wish to consider whether Worldwide’ s financial returns target, of £ 1.2 billion over five years, remains relevant, given the planned Worldwide and Studios merger and other changes that have occurred.

“ The BBC’ s expanding commercial activities are undertaken on behalf of licence fee payers and exploit the significant assets that licence fee payers have paid for,” advised Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office.“ The public interest in holding the BBC to account for these activities is therefore clear. Granting the NAO access to the commercial subsidiaries for the first time is an important step in improving the transparency of the BBC’ s operations. We will continue to scrutinise the BBC’ s commercial activities to inform Parliament and to help the BBC optimise the value for money it delivers.”