In a further industry move, Zai Bennett, currently managing director of content at Sky, has been appointed to head BBC Studios’ production arm. He starts at the corporation in November, running the department responsible for creating shows like Planet Earth, Strictly Come Dancing, and Doctor Who. With his innovative stripes in programming and strategic vision, Bennett is likely to reinvigorate BBC Studios’ content slate, adding to its appeal both around and outside the UK.
The Studios’ boss Tom Fussell said he was thrilled to bits by Bennett’s appointment and stated that the latter has extensive genre and platform experience “and, under his leadership, the studio would take a significant step forward toward its ambition in drama, entertainment and natural history programming.” This is another crucial move in the ongoing BBC Studios strategy to build the company’s in-house production capability and grow its international footprint.
Bennett’s background is firmly embedded in years spent creating and developing television. He expressed clear enthusiasm for joining BBC Studios in that regard. He said he valued the heritage of BBC Studios and had a very strong desire to help build upon accomplishments to date. Bennett’s departure from Sky, where he had a strong influence on the broadcaster’s content strategy, represents for him a new beginning and for BBC Studios alone, a bright future.
All this, of course, is in the midst of the most competitive of landscapes in television, with streaming services among traditional broadcasters all vying to command the audience’s attention with the best in content. Through this experience, Bennett is keen to help BBC Studios navigate its way through these challenges and take advantage of newly emerging opportunities in the fast-changing media space.