The BBC is set to air two significant live events over the next eight days that will cost approximately £125m ($157.1m) in total, which includes the Coronation of King Charles III and the Eurovision Song Contest. The events represent the biggest week of live programming that the BBC has had in more than a decade. Senior executives from the news, radio, and digital divisions have come together to form steering groups to organize both events. The BBC has worked closely with stakeholders such as the Culture, Media, and Sports Department, the Royal Household, and the European Broadcasting Union. The cost of the events will be shared among multiple organizations, including the BBC, Sky, and ITN.
The Coronation will take place tomorrow, featuring a slimmed-down ceremony that King Charles III has reportedly requested. The BBC will provide around eight hours of Coronation coverage on Saturday and a Coronation Concert on Sunday featuring Tom Cruise, Ncuti Gatwa, and Joan Collins. The BBC will also be the host broadcaster for the Saturday ceremony, providing the feed for all networks from inside Westminster Abbey. During the ceremony, a King’s Procession will journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, followed by the newly-crowned King and Queen greeting crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
BBC Studios Creative Director Claire Popplewell, who has overseen the likes of the Queen’s funeral and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, will oversee the Coronation. The BBC will deploy remote technology to capture footage as intimately and unobtrusively as possible. The broadcast will have a solemn and intimate tone, with the team focusing on storytelling to make the event accessible to all. The BBC is also providing accessible coverage for people who are blind or partially sighted via the Red Button.
The Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place on May 14, will also be hosted by the BBC. The UK took on hosting duties after winning the competition last year. The BBC has spent months gearing up for both events, which will have little impact on the corporation’s plans to cut 1,000 hours of shows this year. Kate Phillips, Director of Unscripted, is overseeing the events, saying it is her biggest challenge, but the adrenaline is pumping. She points out that the coming week will be the BBC’s biggest in more than a decade and she has been getting to work earlier and leaving later to ensure a successful outcome.
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