MPs Urge BBC to Stop Overpaying for Overseas Hits Like Suits and Schitt's Creek

The BBC should stop paying above the market rate to secure the rights to popular international programmes such as Suits and Schitt's Creek, according to a group of influential MPs. The recommendation forms part of a broad new report examining the corporation's funding model and long-term future, published by the House of Commons cross-party culture, media and sport committee.

While the BBC commissions and produces the majority of its own content, it also acquires a number of overseas titles for its television channels and the iPlayer streaming service. The committee argues that, at a time when the corporation's finances are under strain, it could exercise greater restraint when competing for such programming.

The report states that the BBC could "spend more wisely when competing for programming," and criticises the practice of entering bidding wars with commercial UK broadcasters for foreign hits. MPs singled out Suits, Schitt's Creek and Scooby Doo as examples of programmes the BBC secured after the previous rights deals held by other networks or streaming platforms had lapsed.

The committee said it did not believe that outbidding domestic commercial rivals for overseas content represented good value for money for those who pay the television licence fee. It described such spending as an "illogical practice" that should be brought to an end, particularly given the constrained resources available to the corporation.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, who chairs the committee, framed the report as arriving at "a pivotal moment for the BBC." She noted that the broadcaster is simultaneously navigating profound shifts in how audiences consume media, a steady decline in its income, and ongoing negotiations with the government over the mechanism by which it is funded.

She called on the government to guarantee that the BBC has "a universal and sustainable source of funding," while also insisting that the corporation itself has a responsibility to act prudently. According to Dame Caroline, the BBC can "play its part by sweating its assets and boxing clever for the licence payer," rather than engaging in contests with commercial operators for imported shows.

In response to the criticism, the BBC defended its acquisition strategy. The corporation said that less than five per cent of its content budget is devoted to buying in programmes, a smaller proportion than that spent by other broadcasters. It also argued that acquired shows represent a cost-effective means of delivering high-quality content, and that audiences drawn in by such titles often go on to discover homegrown programming.

The report was published as the government weighs its options for the next BBC Royal Charter, the framework that will determine how the broadcaster is governed, regulated and financed from 2028 onwards. The charter review is widely viewed as a critical juncture for the corporation, given the rapid technological and behavioural changes reshaping the media landscape.

Beyond the question of overseas acquisitions, the committee raised fundamental concerns about the television licence fee itself. It described the current system as "outdated and no longer fit for purpose," pointing to the gap between the proportion of the public that uses the BBC and the proportion that pays for it.

MPs noted that roughly 94 per cent of individuals engage with the BBC in some form each month, yet only around 80 per cent of households hold a TV licence. They recommended that the fee should be reformed so that it is no longer tied to the consumption of live television or to a specific device such as a television set.

The committee suggested that expanding the base of contributors while simultaneously reducing the cost borne by each individual household could make the change more palatable to licence fee payers. The BBC's director-general, Matt Brittin, has previously characterised the existing model as "a busted flush" and "yesterday's model," and has indicated that the price could be lowered if more people contributed under a redesigned system.

The report also set out a series of further recommendations aimed at both the BBC and the government. It urged the corporation to explore the possibility of introducing an international television licence to boost revenue and expand its global audience, to work more closely with independent production companies that own the rights to many of its programmes so that more titles remain available on iPlayer, and to develop its premises with facilities capable of harnessing new media and supporting the creator economy.

On the government side, the committee recommended legislating to require a dedicated BBC button on smart TV remote controls, pressing YouTube to give prominence to content made by the BBC and other British public service broadcasters, and restoring full funding for the BBC World Service, which it described as "the UK's number one soft power asset."

The committee also backed the idea of opening up BBC iPlayer to content from other public service broadcasters, such as Channel 4. Earlier in the week, Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra indicated publicly that she was open to her network's programming being hosted on the platform.

In addition, the report called for an end to political appointments to the BBC board as a means of improving governance and maintaining public trust. It recommended that the corporation be given new public purposes relating to innovation and technology, as well as to combating misinformation and disinformation.

The BBC welcomed the report, describing it as containing "some important and interesting recommendations on the future of the BBC." A spokesperson reiterated that the corporation has consistently argued the current funding model is outdated and in need of reform, echoing the committee's central conclusion about the licence fee.

Dame Caroline struck a notably affectionate tone in summarising the committee's overall assessment. She said that despite its faults, the BBC drives the UK's creative economy, supports democracy through media sovereignty, and delivers world-class entertainment that brings the nation together. Comparing the corporation to a much-loved family member, she added that while people may criticise and grumble about the BBC, they would miss it enormously if it were no longer there.