BBC Proms coverage moves to independent producer

Image: BBC / Chris Christodoulou
Coverage of the 2019 and 2020 BBC Proms is to be handled by independent production company Livewire Pictures, the BBC has announced.

The broadcaster, which has been opening up more of its flagship shows to outside companies, stresses that the Proms will still be staged and produced in-house and that the contract awarded to Livewire only covers the TV coverage.

Coverage of the corporation’s flagship musical event was previously handled by its in-house production studio, BBC Studios.

Under its new contract, Livewire will provide coverage of a minimum of 24 BBC Proms concerts including 22 concerts on BBC Four, First Night of the Proms on BBC Two and Last Night of the Proms on BBC Two and BBC One.

It will also handle Proms in the Park, but the BBC Proms events in the Nations, and seven weekly critical review shows, currently known as Proms Extra on BBC Two.

Jan Younghusband, Head of Music TV Commissioning, says: “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.”

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