BBC Studios’ Factual Head Kate Ward on Making Changes, Working With David Attenborough
variety.comK.J. Yossman Kate Ward joined BBC Studios, the corporation’s commercial arm, last year to oversee its factual portfolio. Ward moved over from Vice Studios, where she was global president, and has jumped into the challenge of stewarding one of the world’s most powerful factual brands, which includes 66-year-old leader in the space the BBC’s Natural History Unit (NHU).
Ahead of Ward’s trip to Mipcom, she sat down with Variety to discuss the changes she’s implemented over the past year and what she’s looking forward to spotlighting in Cannes. How would you describe your remit as head of BBC Studios’ factual portfolio? I’m in the really, really lucky position that BBC Studios Factual is one of the pillars of our production business.
We are working across an incredible range from natural history, specialist factual, docs, popular factual and formats, so we’re really reaching across the whole of that factual genre.
We’ve been born from an incredible heritage and legacy — the NHU was founded in 1957 — and maintains its market-leading position as the home of both breath-taking quality, purpose and innovation.
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