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BBC Studios is considering winding its content production biz down due to the local landscape.
The potential exit comes amid industry-wide consolidation and shrinking content budgets from TV broadcasters and OTT platforms, India’s Economic Times first reported. No final decision has been made.
BBC Studios’ Indian production outfit has made Indian adaptations of The Office and Criminal Justice, as well as shows like Out of Love, Gaalivaana and sports docu-series Sons of the Soil. It also has content pacts with ITV Studios and All3Media.
“We regularly review our business operations to ensure they are as efficient and effective as possible and are currently undertaking a review of our production operating model in India. However no decision has been made,” a BBC spokesperson told Deadline.
BBC Studios also distributes a wealth of its biggest hits in India such as Dancing with the Stars and Luther. The commercial outfit has production hubs around the world including in the U.S, Australia and the Nordics.
The news comes amid a tricky time for the TV landscape in India and just two weeks after Sameer Gogate stepped down as general manager of Indian productions for BBC Studios. His place has been temporarily taken by Deepa Nair and Sachin Mahajan.
In India, the BBC also owns TV and digital news platforms, along with running BBC Earth in a joint venture with Sony Pictures Networks India. Two years ago, it launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video.
In 2023, the BBC’s offices in India were raided by income tax authorities, coming soon after a controversial BBC documentary titled India: The Modi Question, which was critical of the country’s President.
