BBC Studios Exiting Indian Production Business & Signs Banijay Asia Deal

deadline.com:

BBC Studios has confirmed it will cease producing in India, with Banijay Asia gaining access to its formats catalog in the country.

The BBC’s production and sales arm has been mulling an exit from Indian production for several weeks and today confirmed it will “cease its own production activity locally, once current and contracted commitments are delivered, to focus on this new model in India.” A BBC spokeswoman said four full-time staff members and 30 fixed-term contractors will lose their roles as a result of the move.

In place of BBC Studios’ own local production, an agreement with Banijay Asia described as “multi-year” has been struck. It will see Banijay Asia gaining access to all of BBC Studios scripted and unscripted formats, including The 1% Club and The Great Bake Off, and looking to place them with India’s broadcasters and streamers.

Last month, it emerged the BBC was considering an exit from Indian production, with issues such as industry-wide consolidation and local market contraction impacting the biz.