In the Public Interest

Spotlighting strategies, pain points, and opportunities for factual content at the BBC, Channel 4, SBS, and PBS.

While breakouts like The Traitors (BBC), Alone Australia (SBS), and Virgin Island (Channel 4) illustrate the continued power of public media to command large, engaged audiences, the sector is facing systemic threats, from engaging with young viewers to funding challenges. Speaking at Realscreen Summit’s public broadcasting panel last week, BBC’s Fiona Campbell, SBS’s Bernadine Lim, Channel 4’s Shaminder Nahal, and GBH’s Chris Schmidt weighed in on the greater reliance on co-pros, moving to digital-first strategies, revenue diversification, and driving engagement.

Funding sustainability was a common thread, as all four face different pressures, from PBS losing all government aid to the BBC prepping for its charter renewal. Success is often tied to properties that can deliver significant cross-platform engagement, social media amplification, and societal impact. Collaboration and exploring new funding sources are paramount, as these programmers aim to deliver on ambition and impact on-screen and future-proof their businesses.

Below, you’ll find bullet-pointed insights from each panelist on content strategy, collaboration, social media approaches, and current and future challenges.

BBC: Fiona Campbell is the interim director of unscripted and the controller of youth audiences

· Content Strategy & Successes: The BBC saw immense success with The Traitors, particularly in live viewing figures of some 8 million per episode. The accompanying visual podcast also delivered for iPlayer. The BBC is actively commissioning from a wide range of independent producers (300-plus last year) across the U.K.

· Collaboration: Campbell sees considerable innovation in the co-pro space and emphasized the importance of cooperation in meeting Storyville’s content needs. She also referenced the BBC’s partnership with NBC for entertainment concepts. In the works: “We’re looking at working with a co-production partner who actually isn’t from broadcasting or media at all.”

· Social Media: The BBC recently announced a new partnership with YouTube to expand its presence across verticals such as music, sport, and documentaries.

· Current & Future Challenges: The BBC charter renewal is coming up.