MPs criticise BBC spending on US programmes over domestic content

Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has criticised the BBC for spending excessive public money on acquiring American television programmes rather than investing in domestic content. The committee said the broadcaster should stop engaging in what it calls "illogical practices" of outbidding commercial rivals for shows like Suits, Schitt's Creek and Scooby-Doo. Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage called for a leaner, more efficient BBC that delivers better value to the public.

The BBC spends approximately £87 million per year—roughly 4.8 per cent of the licence fee—acquiring American television content, which amounts to nearly £1 billion over the corporation's ten-year charter period. ITV has complained it regularly loses bidding wars for American imports, citing specific examples including Scooby-Doo and Schitt's Creek. The committee also recommended reducing the annual licence fee from its current £180 to encourage wider uptake, whilst supporting structural reform of BBC funding.