BBC drama threatened by cutbacks

November 11, 2008 Outgoing BBC drama head Jane Tranter warned Monday that BBC drama budgets have been cut back to "near breaking point" and that U.K. production is being endangered by cost-cutting and cutbacks. Speaking at the Media Guardian Changing Media summit in London, Tranter (pictured) said that economies across the board at the BBC have left commissioners "on the floor in terms of what we can ask producers to do -- there is not much more that we can cut back," she told an audience of media execs. Tranter, who will arrive in Los Angeles in January to head BBC Worldwide's scripted and reality production business, said she is excited about the U.S.-based position but will take time to find her feet.

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