Ben Stephenson knocks Sky’s niche dramas

Sky’s increased fiction output has irked the BBC Drama boss.

It must have rattled the bosses at the old beeb, Sky injecting money into quality drama without a remit by Ofcom to do so, as its rather dampened their boasting that the unique way the BBC is funded solely provides the best drama productions in the world. Clearly no longer the case, the corporation’s drama boss is fighting back with a raft of productions and a little public bite at Sky for competing with aunty.

Ben Stephenson, current drama boss at the corporation, took the opportunity at the launch of the BBC’s 2013 Drama highlights event to have a dig at Sky and also attempt to woo the creative talents back to the beeb.

“I want you, the best talent in the world. I hope we’ll be more welcoming, more fun, we are a weighty institution, we’re working on it… we’re the adventurous ones… and we are not about niche!”

Of course BBC One can command bigger viewing figures by being a terrestrial network over the smaller viewing figures of Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts, however popularity does not always equate to quality. But it wasn’t just low audience figures Stephenson had on his hit list.

“I am looking at you Sky and your ‘original British drama’ tagline.”, which the BBC also use, and seemingly used first.

Long gone are the days when the BBC, and ITV to some extent, were the provider of innovative and original art documentaries. Sky continue to prove that they are capable of providing top range content with their commitment to increase investment in home-grown programming up to £600 million by 2014 – while the BBC faces cost-cutting in the wrong departments, with programme cut-backs rather than management layers.

Today, as if to remind Stephenson of the fact, Sky Arts revealed their latest specially commissioned production Inside the Mind of Leonardo. Based on the artist’s private journals dating from the Italian Renaissance, the inspiring world of Leonard da Vinci is brought to life by acclaimed BAFTA winning actor Peter Capaldi in a unique 3D dramatised documentary.

“Leonardo’s journals are an extraordinary body of work, highlighting Da Vinci’s position at the vanguard of ideas, thought and design. It’s wholly fitting therefore, that his works are being brought to life in such a creative way with the use of Sky’s cutting edge 3D technology,” comments James Hunt, Channel Director of Sky Arts. “Sky Arts and Sky 3D customers will be captivated by the stunning visualisations of his work and by Peter Capaldi’s performance which impassions the eclectic and brilliant mind of this 15th century genius.”

Inside the Mind of Leonardo airs Sunday 24th March at 9pm, Sky Arts 2 HD and Sky 3D.