India production business is a big opportunity: Matt Forde of BBC studios

There is a need for noisy, high-impact shows that can get to the screen quickly, Forde tells Vanita Kohli-Khandekar

What exactly does international production and formats do?

It is about re-imagining original scripted IP (intellectual property) from the UK. Previously, local producers would take scripts, or buy licences, from us and make a local version of some of the most successful BBC Studios’ shows. Now we (BBC Studios India) pitch to make our own shows for local broadcasters. For example, we produced Nach Baliye, Khatra Khatra Khatra, India Banega Manch and many such. We have international productions in France, Germany, South Africa, Los Angeles and India among other countries. In France, for instance, we have produced two series of Infidèle, the French version of Dr Foster, for TF1. Out of Love, the Indian version of Dr Foster, went out on Hotstar last month. The Indian version of Criminal Justice, a BBC show made by Applause, also went out on Hotstar. The idea is to tell relevant stories and to serve the traditional media groups so that the full cost of development and production can be reduced. In India, the issue is not budgets but speed. There is a need for noisy, high-impact shows that can get to the screen quickly. The India production business is a big opportunity because it is a multi-genre market. There is no reason why we can’t double our India business in the next few years. 

What makes for a great format?

Strictly Come Dancing (Jhalak Dikhla Jaa produced by BBC Studios in India) or Sony’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (Kaun Banega Crorepati) are examples of a great format. A great format has universal appeal, so it could be around shared passions like cooking, dancing, music. The good ones are very structured; so you can move bits and pieces here and there but can’t move too far from the essence of the original programme. In the past, some producers have made rip-offs of formats like Strictly Come Dancing (a BBC show) and we were very upset by this but we realised it wouldn’t last, because they were pale imitations. We have a creative exchange in London every year for Dancing With The Stars (Strictly Come Dancing in the UK) and other international formats. More than 80 people from different markets, where it is being produced or aired, come together to share stories and it helps the format evolve. We also talk about the 7-8 things that mustn’t change. This year, one idea for change came from the Czech Republic where the team incorporated an online street dance competition that ran in parallel with the main series.  This attracted a younger audience demographic to the local version. 

How does India differ from other markets?

Outside of India, shows such as The Great British Bake Off and Top Gear do well. In India, scripted is growing very fast and the speed of this market sets it out. In Australia, too, there is a rise in scripted while there is a continued appetite for unscripted. The US has taken a number of scripted shows. So, there are parallel themes in other markets especially in the rise of scripted, but in India it is faster and the ability to create locally for the market is very important. There are no English people in the production team in the BBC Studios office in Mumbai, all locals who know the market well. 

How does the production eco-system vary in the countries you operate in?

The pool of talent in India and the UK is limited. Even if you doubled the number of talented commissionable writers with a track record, there is only a limited number to go around. However, the BBC can provide the training. Also the cost of production is increasing, even as the demand for quality goes up. People expect to see film quality CGI (computer-generated imagery or special effects) on TV. 

In a market dominated by the large Hollywood studios, where does BBC Studios stand?

In a good place. BBC Studios is the most-awarded UK producer of content, and produces more hours (around 2,000) than any other UK company as well as a further 500 hours (approximately) around the world. BBC Studios is also the number one distributor outside of the US, reaching 200 territories through the sale of finished programmes or formats. We have a presence in 16 countries, with seven production bases and 18 international offices.