Hogmanay Live to be produced by Multiplatform Productions for BBC Scotland

While the rest of the UK enjoy the Beeb’s big event from London, Scotland airs its own special gig.

“Scotland is the home of Hogmanay around the world. This show has been a constant companion in the living rooms of Scotland, heralding in the New Year for generations, and it will continue to do so under this new contract. We will announce programme details in due course.” – Steve Carson, head of multiplatform commissioning at BBC Scotland

BBC Scotland today announced that after a competitive process Multiplatform Productions, the ‘indie’ company of BBC Scotland, has secured the tender to produce Hogmanay Live.

The bid from the company was considered to be the strongest from a very competitive field of eligible producers who submitted proposals. The contract for 2019 and 2020 will include a lead-up programme to play on the BBC Scotland channel and the main show, which will simulcast on BBC One Scotland and the BBC Scotland channel.

The Invitation to Tender (ITT) was for the first of BBC Scotland’s programmes to be put out for competitive tender as part of the Charter requirement to open up more of the BBC’s TV programmes to competition.

In order to find the best outcome for the BBC’s audiences, all bids were assessed against four criteria: strength of editorial proposal and capability, value for money, strategic priorities and risk. MP scored highest against these criteria amongst the eligible producers who submitted bids

As an established BBC format, the BBC will retain all intellectual property rights for programmes.

“What is the point of BBC Scotland if BBC One Scotland is going to show the same? I’m sure last year many Scottish viewers would have loved to have seen Madness as the rest of the UK did. Instead it was Jackie Bird and a bagpipe.” – TV Critic Vivian Summers