BBC Studios names Liz Baldwin to lead ANZ streaming and channels

The creation of this role signals BBC Studios' shift toward high-level regional consolidation as it matures its ANZ digital footprint. By recruiting a veteran with experience at major commercial streamers like Paramount+, the BBC is prioritizing profit and loss discipline for BritBox Australia during a period of rising subscription costs and market saturation. Baldwin’s oversight will be critical in balancing legacy linear revenues from Foxtel and Sky partnerships with the expansion of FAST channels and premium SVOD growth. This move aligns with the company's global strategy to double its business size by 2028 through aggressive digital and streaming investment. Success in this region will be measured by BritBox’s ability to convert its high-growth trajectory into sustainable, high-ARPU subscriber tiers.

The appointment follows a Period of structural realignment within BBC Studios. In November 2025, per B&T, the company formally integrated its Australia, New Zealand, and Asia media businesses into a single APAC region under President Robi Stanton. This consolidation was designed to streamline international operations and accelerate a global target to double business size by 2028. According to a November 2024 report from the UK National Audit Office, BBC Studios' broader growth plan involves moving a larger share of income to digital services, supported by its total £272 million acquisition of BritBox International earlier that year.

In the Australian market, BritBox has faced a shifting competitive landscape marked by aggressive pricing and content expansions. Per TechAU, in June 2025, BritBox Australia increased its monthly fee from A$9.99 to A$13.99 and added 1080p linear streams for BBC First and BBC Earth to its app. This pricing pivot arrived as media analyst Telsyte reported in September 2024 that BritBox was the fastest-growing SVOD service in Australia among platforms with over 100,000 subscribers. FlixPatrol estimates placed BritBox Australia’s subscriber base at roughly 800,000 as of early 2025.

Simultaneously, BBC Studios is ramping up its regional production presence to support its streaming ambitions. Per Broadcast, in March 2026, the company announced it would increase global development spending by 25% to expand its scripted originals slate. Notable ANZ productions include the Western Australian series 'Breakers' for Netflix and the local remake of 'Ghosts' for Network 10. This dual focus on local production and platform management reflects a strategic effort to retain intellectual property rights while driving high-margin revenue through its own direct-to-consumer channels.