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Sector: Legal
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Description
The BLA team provides all the business and legal affairs support for the UKTV business from commissioning and content acquisition through to distribution of our television channels and our on-demand service, U (formerly UKTV Play). The team is fully integrated within the business and works very closely with colleagues through Digital, Commissioning, Programming, Acquisitions, Commercial, Technology & Operations, Finance, Strategy and Marketing. The team is involved in all the key deals and projects for the business and is known for its expertise and collaboration. It's a fun and inclusive team to be part of, but also one that is learning and improving all the time. The team is also part of the wider BBC Studios BLA family and as such works across broader global matters, including programme acquisitions for BBC Studios Global Channels across EMEA, Asia and North America, and has access to a fully developed professional learning and development programme.
Purpose of the role
This position is for a qualified Lawyer within the BLA team and will primarily focus on programme acquisitions for both UKTV's channels and services in the UK and BBC Studios Global Channels and services internationally. As such it is responsible for providing business and legal affairs support and advice (and all associated contract drafting and negotiation) to our colleagues in the Acquisitions team across a range of programme acquisitions and facilitating first-class rights management.
In addition to UKTV's linear channels, there is a strong emphasis in the business on supporting the company's digital transformation. Accordingly, in addition to UKTV's suite of linear channels in the UK, and those of Global Channels abroad, fundamental to the role will be to provide support in the area of programme acquisition for UKTV's on-demand service, U (formerly UKTV Play), as well as the numerous and growing number of digital services (such as BBC Player) of the Global Channels in the many territories in which they operate.
Whilst the role is certainly focused on programme and rights acquisitions, with an emphasis on digital transformation, all parts of the BLA team (and the Content division within it), work closely together, with an intention to cross-fertilize knowledge and skills within the team, and to develop lawyers within it, including expanding their experience and horizons. There is therefore a possibility over time of working in certain other areas, such as commissioning and other BLA matters, when circumstances permit (or require) it.
The post reports to a Senior Lawyer within the Content BLA team at UKTV and will work very closely with the Programme Acquisitions teams at UKTV/BBC Studios. The role would suit someone who is curious, driven and passionate about programming and the television and media industry. This is a great opportunity to work across a high-profile slate of programming, and work with a broad range of external content suppliers and internal stakeholders, making a significant contribution to the growth strategy of UKTV and its parent, BBC Studios, and to build relationships across the UKTV business and the BBC Group as a whole.
We are a team that works very flexibly and would welcome applicants who want to discuss different working patterns. We are also a team that champions inclusion and are committed to bringing diverse voices to the table. We welcome applications from everyone and will do our best to help you feel your authentic self and to grow and develop in our team.
What we would like you to bring to the role: Key experience, Knowledge, Skills & Personal qualities
Experience
1. Qualified lawyer with at least 2-4 years' PQE or substantially equivalent.
2. Recent experience of working in-house for a media organization, within the area of programme or rights acquisitions is essential, although relevant experience in Distribution and related commercial rights transactions will also be looked upon favourably.
3. Experience of working with US Studios, mini-majors, and larger independent UK/international content suppliers would also be considered a pre-requisite.
4. Other forms of transactional commercial legal work experience, at the relevant level of legal qualification, in both a UK and international context, would also be considered valuable.
5. Also important is experience as a strong communicator, a lawyer who can clearly and succinctly advise commercial teams and provide legal support and advice to non-lawyers.
6. Experience in dealing with intellectually complex and fast-moving deals in a professional manner with an ability to prioritize sensibly and effectively.
7. Experience of using your own initiative with confidence and using judgment to escalate where necessary.
Knowledge
1. Essential to be able to demonstrate a strong working knowledge of IP law (especially copyright), contract law, and media law more widely; the various forms of digital communication technology and issues/challenges these present; and the TV industry with its current issues and challenges in the digital age.
2. Useful to understand broadcast/media regulation; blanket music licenses and other collective talent union agreements; current terms of trade relating to UK independent production and other relevant industry standard terms.
3. A good understanding of the workings of the programme distribution/acquisition commercial market would also be considered valuable.
4. Candidates should use their industry knowledge and experience to take a pragmatic and intelligent approach in negotiations with distributors and programme suppliers making, selling and distributing content to achieve the best outcomes for the business.
Skills & personal qualities
1. Demonstrable ability to draft and negotiate to a high standard all contracts relating to programme acquisitions from a range of international distributors/suppliers.
2. Ability to lead complex negotiations and to understand and draft complex and intellectually challenging agreements.
3. Ability to develop new, innovative and creative solutions to business and departmental challenges.
4. Skills to foster successful, collaborative and supportive relationships externally, within the team and with key contacts around the business (such as in the commissioning, acquisitions, finance and channel departments).
5. Excellent communication skills, in particular ability to explain and analyze complex concepts or situations clearly and succinctly and adapt communication style as appropriate for the audience.
6. Takes a proactive and flexible approach to work and is comfortable in a dynamic environment with constantly changing priorities.
7. Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, requiring excellent organization.
What you will get to work on: Key outputs and responsibilities of the role.
1. Work with a great team of lawyers providing business and legal affairs support for the Programme Acquisition team.
2. Work across a high-profile slate of programme acquisitions making a significant contribution to the growth strategy of UKTV and BBC Studios.
3. Work collaboratively and build strong relationships with a range of colleagues from across the company at UKTV and across the BBC Group.
4. Work within the BLA team primarily (but not necessarily exclusively) on acquired programmes, across all 8 UKTV channels and services and genres as well as BBC Studios Global Channels internationally.
5. Negotiate, review, draft and project manage a range of programme acquisition/licensing agreements with a range of content suppliers in the UK and abroad.
6. Contribute to improving, maintaining and updating policy, process and templates both within the team and the wider business.
7. Maintain and demonstrate expertise in all relevant fields of law and the broadcasting industry.
8. Assist with rights audits and other non-transactional projects.
9. Work collaboratively and constructively with everyone in the BLA team, from experienced lawyers to paralegals, and assist the wider team to manage overflow and spikes in other business requirements including general commercial agreements and special projects, subject to capacity.
10. Live, embrace and role model UKTV's values.
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, Gold, Alibi and Eden - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview and Freesat; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV's content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media.
UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
Company
Company info
Telephone: 1234567891
Location: 10 Hammersmith Grove
London
United Kingdom
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