The BBC has won over a sceptical independent TV production community to its plan to spin-off BBC Studios, offering the community the chance to produce programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders and Doctor Who.

Independent studios will be allowed the opportunity to pitch to make 40% of in-house BBC shows by 2018 and BBC commissioners will have discretion to pitch out a show if it needs “freshening up” reports The Guardian.

Pact, the body that represents the independent TV production sector, had previously raised “serious concerns” about the regulation and transparency of the BBC spinning off its production business, objecting to the BBC refusing to open up enough of it’s programme budget to competition, including the contracts to some of the Corporation’s most popular shows such as Doctor Who.

The BBC relented in it’s stance in order to gain industry approval for the studio plan, agreeing to allow independent studios the chance to pitch to make 40% of BBC in-house shows by 2018. Previously, the BBC had stated that none of their flagship shows produced in-house would ever be pitched to outside production companies.

James Purnell, the BBC’s director of strategy and digital says:

“We welcome the agreement reached with Pact. Creative competition is in the best interest of audiences and BBC Studios is an essential part of the BBC’s future.”

John McVay, chief executive of Pact says meanwhile:

“Pact is pleased that we have been able to negotiate a progressive agreement with the BBC that will result in even more competition at the BBC for the best programmes, regardless of who makes them”

The rights to shows that are made by outside production companies will remain with the BBC.