The BBC's offer to put a sale of BBC Resources on hold for two years following last week's strike has been welcomed by the industry but has rekindled concerns over BBC sweeteners.
The BBC's offer to put a sale of BBC Resources on hold for two years following last week's strike has been welcomed by the industry but has rekindled concerns over BBC sweeteners.

Under proposals presented by BBC bosses to the unions last week, BBC Resources will not be sold, in part or as a whole, before July 2007. The pitch was seen as "a good thing" by Nicky Sargent, managing director of The Farm Group, who said: "It will give [the BBC] time to sort out what it's doing and interested companies more time to evaluate BBC Resources."

Although facility bosses may be relieved that they don't have to entertain the thought of a big player stepping in to buy BBC Resources for a couple of years, it has not ended concerns that the BBC may commit post contracts to the outgoing business.

UK Post, which welcomed news of a deferment, has submitted recommendations to the government that any sale of BBC Resources should not come with guarantees of ongoing work, a move that would increase the price and desirability of the post-production arm.

One London managing director said: "It's a bit of a nightmare for them as it doesn't seem viable to sell [BBC Post Production] unless it has contracts attached but it can't make those promises under current BBC procedures."

A breathing space of two years may prove enough time to change the producer's choice protocol - if that decision is made - and to attach lucrative contracts to BBC Post Production.

Simon Peach, managing director of TSI, said: "A change on producer's choice would have an impact on us and many others. I don't believe there's a danger [from the sale] unless there's a directive to keep post in-house."

Paul Tracey, managing director of VTR, isn't as worried about the talk of "conspiracies". He said: "Generally speaking I think that any interference with a free market is not good news, although as it's connected to a public body there should be a level of protection supplied."

The BBC declined to comment.

The sale of BBC Broadcast is still set to ago ahead despite the anti-privatisation strike pressure. The sale of the promotion and distribution division has been cut down to four last companies; Apax Partners, Exponent Private Equity, Macquarie Group and Thomson/Technicolor.

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