Nations and Regions

Network television spend based on Ofcom definitions by calendar year

* Multi-region covers programmes made outside London but which cannot be attributed to any one region or nation.

** The BBC Local Radio and nations radio hours of output only includes BBC original programmes and excludes any repeat programmes. The comparative hours have been restated to be on a consistent basis.

Television, radio and online teams across English Regions responded to the severe winter weather by providing an unmatched service of local news updates, essential information and special programming for local communities. We have worked hard to develop our reputation for delivering and leading high-quality, locally rooted accountability based journalism and debate, and we launched one of our biggest ever editorial projects – telling the stories of World War One at Home across every part of the country. Complementing our established output, we are developing exciting, fresh ways of bonding with existing and new audiences through our online and social media presence.

It was a record year for BBC Wales with programming for BBC One Wales/BBC Two Wales reaching their biggest audiences in a decade. A more contemporary flavour to output saw the drama Hinterland (co-produced with S4C) winning international acclaim and a special season of programming on lifestyle and obesity – Live Longer Wales – reaching almost 40% of adults in Wales. BBC Radio Wales produced another strong performance and a public consultation on the future of Radio Cymru resulted in major schedule changes. BBC Wales produced arguably the biggest programming moment of the year – Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary (part of a slate of network drama made in Wales spanning Casualty, Sherlock, Indian Doctor, Wizards vs Aliens, Atlantis and Hinterland).

In a year in which network television spend in Scotland rose to record levels, there was significant critical appreciation for the range and quality of BBC Scotland programmes. Hebrides – Islands on the Edge reached nearly one in three of the population in Scotland. The darkly atmospheric drama Shetland returned, achieving an average audience for the series of close to 6 million.Mrs Brown’s Boys was the most viewed programme across the UK on Christmas Day and our Investigations Team, for the second year in a row, collected a Scottish BAFTA and a UK Royal Television Society Award for their work. Coverage of the Queen’s Baton Relay launched our 2014 Commonwealth Games programming and live debates and documentaries, across all of our television and radio services, enabled a range of voices to be heard in the referendum debate on Scotland’s future.

BBC NI delivered a rich mix of TV, radio and online covering major anniversaries and events. Over 50 projects marked Derry~Londonderry, UK City of Culture which included the Sons and Daughters gala concert, the Radio One Big Weekend, Music City Day, the All-Ireland Fleadh and, from the Guildhall, a BBC Radio 4 Reith Lecture from artist Grayson Perry. Bespoke documentaries and series also reflected cultural and community life in the North West to wider audiences. Other large scale events in partnership with the Ulster Orchestra included Proms in the Park and a St Patrick’s Day concert. We launched new documentary series True North, investigative journalism series Spotlight reached 40 and we produced The Disappearedabout those killed and secretly buried during the Troubles. Network television provision increased with success in returning crime drama series, The Falland Line of Duty.