BBC America
This chapter explores the corporate state of transatlantic television via a case study of BBC America, which is co-owned by the British BBC Worldwide and the American AMC Networks. The chapter details BBC America’s shift from an independent cable channel oriented around Britishness to an asset in AMC Networks’ portfolio, with a programming strategy more AMC than BBC. The study thereby illustrates that the value of a cable channel is no longer just in its individual brand; now its worth lies in the larger corporate network of program ownership and access to transnational platforms. BBC America’s prime-time scripted drama strategy is driven accordingly by the overarching goal to reach upscale, engaged viewers on both linear TV and video-on-demand platforms, in line with the global aspirations of its corporate parent.