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Chris Evans will do 'wonderful job' on Top Gear, says BBC commercial boss Chris Evans will do 'wonderful job' on Top Gear, says BBC commercial boss
(about 2 hours later)
The BBC’s commercial boss Tim Davie said Chris Evans will do a “wonderful job” of reinventing one of its most valuable shows, Top Gear, as it looks to return a record £1bn to licence fee payers over the next five years.The BBC’s commercial boss Tim Davie said Chris Evans will do a “wonderful job” of reinventing one of its most valuable shows, Top Gear, as it looks to return a record £1bn to licence fee payers over the next five years.
BBC Worldwide reported a “solid” set of results in which its headline profit and sales were hit by the sale of 49.9% of its US channel, BBC America, to Mad Men and Breaking Bad broadcaster AMC last year.BBC Worldwide reported a “solid” set of results in which its headline profit and sales were hit by the sale of 49.9% of its US channel, BBC America, to Mad Men and Breaking Bad broadcaster AMC last year.
But the sale helped the corporation’s commercial arm returned £226.5m to the BBC in 2014/15. It will look to generate £1bn over five years to help offset the £750m cost of taking on free licence fees for the over-75s.But the sale helped the corporation’s commercial arm returned £226.5m to the BBC in 2014/15. It will look to generate £1bn over five years to help offset the £750m cost of taking on free licence fees for the over-75s.
Top Gear generates around £50m a year for BBC Worldwide and will return next year with the Radio 2 presenter at the helm following the axing of Jeremy Clarkson and departure of his former co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond.Top Gear generates around £50m a year for BBC Worldwide and will return next year with the Radio 2 presenter at the helm following the axing of Jeremy Clarkson and departure of his former co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond.
Evans is a familiar face in the UK but it remains to be seen how he will be appreciated by overseas audiences, with the show watched by an estimated 350 million viewers worldwide.Evans is a familiar face in the UK but it remains to be seen how he will be appreciated by overseas audiences, with the show watched by an estimated 350 million viewers worldwide.
Related: Presenting Top Gear post-Clarkson like being new Doctor Who, says Chris EvansRelated: Presenting Top Gear post-Clarkson like being new Doctor Who, says Chris Evans
Davie, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide and the BBC’s director, Global, said: “We’re very excited by the new Top Gear, we have got a great franchise.Davie, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide and the BBC’s director, Global, said: “We’re very excited by the new Top Gear, we have got a great franchise.
“Remember Top Gear is a show that sells not only the UK version but there are live events and a global version, this year we developed versions in France, China and South Korea and we have got more coming.“Remember Top Gear is a show that sells not only the UK version but there are live events and a global version, this year we developed versions in France, China and South Korea and we have got more coming.
“That is not to underestimate the importance of the UK show. I am very excited to be working with Chris who I am sure will do a wonderful job of leading the show. I think international audiences will enjoy a refreshed Top Gear.“That is not to underestimate the importance of the UK show. I am very excited to be working with Chris who I am sure will do a wonderful job of leading the show. I think international audiences will enjoy a refreshed Top Gear.
“We have a history of many brilliant UK people who are not that big outside our borders who have gone on to conquer the world.”“We have a history of many brilliant UK people who are not that big outside our borders who have gone on to conquer the world.”
Top Gear is part funded by BBC Worldwide and will return to BBC2 in the spring. Evans will also return to TV in the autumn to present a new run of Channel 4’s TFI Friday.Top Gear is part funded by BBC Worldwide and will return to BBC2 in the spring. Evans will also return to TV in the autumn to present a new run of Channel 4’s TFI Friday.
Davie said: “Top Gear is clearly a very important franchise for us but in revenue terms it has to be set into the context of BBC Worldwide being a business that is extremely broad based across hundreds of titles. We are very confident about the strength of the Top Gear brand globally.”Davie said: “Top Gear is clearly a very important franchise for us but in revenue terms it has to be set into the context of BBC Worldwide being a business that is extremely broad based across hundreds of titles. We are very confident about the strength of the Top Gear brand globally.”
BBC Worldwide’s biggest shows included Doctor Who, The Great British Bake Off, which was sold to countries including Turkey and Israel, and Top Gear.BBC Worldwide’s biggest shows included Doctor Who, The Great British Bake Off, which was sold to countries including Turkey and Israel, and Top Gear.
Doctor Who, with Peter Capaldi in the lead role, was its top-selling show having been licensed to 189 territories.Doctor Who, with Peter Capaldi in the lead role, was its top-selling show having been licensed to 189 territories.
BBC Worldwide saw headline profits drop 11.9% to £138.6m following last year’s sale of a 49.9% stake in BBC America to AMC. The sale also impacted on revenues, which were down 3.9% to just over £1bn.BBC Worldwide saw headline profits drop 11.9% to £138.6m following last year’s sale of a 49.9% stake in BBC America to AMC. The sale also impacted on revenues, which were down 3.9% to just over £1bn.
Headline sales on on-going operations were up 0.4% to £948.1m, with profits up 4.1% to £127.2m.Headline sales on on-going operations were up 0.4% to £948.1m, with profits up 4.1% to £127.2m.
Davie, who was paid a total of £640,000 last year, including a base salary of £400,000 and a £201,000 bonus, said the business was going through a “big transition” from physical sales and a traditional broadcast operator to a digital, non-linear business. Davie, whose total remuneration of £640,000 last year including a base salary of £400,000 and a £201,000 bonus, said the business was going through a “big transition” from physical sales and a traditional broadcast operator to a digital, non-linear business.
BBC director general Tony Hall warned against any more to privatise BBC Worldwide, saying it had a growing role to play in funding BBC programmes at both home and abroad, financing 71% of BBC2’s David Attenborough series, Life Story.BBC director general Tony Hall warned against any more to privatise BBC Worldwide, saying it had a growing role to play in funding BBC programmes at both home and abroad, financing 71% of BBC2’s David Attenborough series, Life Story.
“To fund great programmes in an era of global competition for talent and ideas, we must work even harder at the partnership between the licence fee and our commercial arm, BBC Worldwide,” said Hall.“To fund great programmes in an era of global competition for talent and ideas, we must work even harder at the partnership between the licence fee and our commercial arm, BBC Worldwide,” said Hall.
“The licence fee paid for less than half the budget of some of our biggest dramas last year. [BBC] Worldwide makes its money by taking BBC programmes and exploiting them commercially.“The licence fee paid for less than half the budget of some of our biggest dramas last year. [BBC] Worldwide makes its money by taking BBC programmes and exploiting them commercially.
“It’s an integral part of the BBC and gives licence fee payers better content for less investment. So, any proposal to remove it from the BBC simply doesn’t make economic sense.”“It’s an integral part of the BBC and gives licence fee payers better content for less investment. So, any proposal to remove it from the BBC simply doesn’t make economic sense.”