BBC signs new contract for technology services

The BBC has inked a new five year deal with Atos to provide technology services. It supports the BBC’s digital transformation and will provide staff with simple to use, quality tools and systems, helping them continue to make programmes and services. The new contract, it is claimed, delivers substantial savings of over a third of current costs to the BBC.

It is the final contract to be procured under the BBC’s Aurora Programme, which has now re-sourced the Corporation’s core technology services and saved hundreds of millions of pounds across the project. The BBC has now fully moved to a multi-supplier model, which will see services delivered by a combination of third parties and BBC in-house teams, giving the BBC better value, greater flexibility and access to new technology as it emerges.

Anne Bulford, Deputy Director-General of the BBC, said: “The BBC has made significant savings over the past Charter to ensure as much of our money goes straight into the programmes and services people love. With this contract we’re once again cutting the cost of running the BBC so we can continue to fund quality programmes and improve services for audiences.”

The new contract with Atos covers a range of core technology and services staff use in their everyday work, including laptops, phones, business applications, hosting services and a technology helpdesk. It also gives the BBC more control and flexibility over its technology choices, enabling the broadcaster to adopt new technology as needed, giving staff the tools they need while continuing to make the organisation more efficient.

The contract follows an exhaustive public procurement process and is for five years, with an option for the BBC to extend for up to a further three. New services will begin going live later this year.

Matthew Postgate, Chief Technology and Product Officer at the BBC, said: “The BBC is reinventing itself for a new generation and the technology we use is critical to that mission. Today’s deal allows us to improve the way we work, making our systems and tools simpler and more efficient. It completes a major piece of work re-sourcing our core technology services, allowing us to drive the use of IP technology in broadcasting and make the BBC internet-fit.”