NG
That's not how most UK TV shows work. Granada didn't make it then sell it to the BBC, Granada will have been commissioned by the BBC to make it.
Granada may have funded some initial development work in order to pitch it to the BBC - but the actual show will have only been made because the BBC paid Granada to make it for them.
There are acquisitions - where a show is made for someone else, then bought by a broadcaster (this is how most US productions, and a lot of the BBC Four Nordic Noir stuff gets onto UK channels).
There are co-productions - where multiple broadcasters and production companies agree to co-fund the production of a show (this is different to buying it after it's been made)
There are commissions - where a broadcaster pays a production company to makes a show for them, and owns some of the rights to that show for a fixed period of time, before they revert to the production company. In the UK - when you see a 'XXYY production for the BBC/ITV/C4/C5' on the end board - that is almost certainly a commission from the BBC/ITV/C4/C5. (*)
In some cases co-productions can be commissions.
(*) Some BBC shows like Mastermind, Songs of Praise etc. are exceptions to this - as they are BBC formats that the BBC has tendered to third party producers. The independent production company will not retain any rights to the shows and are just paid as 'producers for hire' to make them, with the BBC retaining all rights.
noggin
Founding member
Never made sense that Granada made it, then sold it to the BBC instead of airing it themselves.
That's not how most UK TV shows work. Granada didn't make it then sell it to the BBC, Granada will have been commissioned by the BBC to make it.
Granada may have funded some initial development work in order to pitch it to the BBC - but the actual show will have only been made because the BBC paid Granada to make it for them.
There are acquisitions - where a show is made for someone else, then bought by a broadcaster (this is how most US productions, and a lot of the BBC Four Nordic Noir stuff gets onto UK channels).
There are co-productions - where multiple broadcasters and production companies agree to co-fund the production of a show (this is different to buying it after it's been made)
There are commissions - where a broadcaster pays a production company to makes a show for them, and owns some of the rights to that show for a fixed period of time, before they revert to the production company. In the UK - when you see a 'XXYY production for the BBC/ITV/C4/C5' on the end board - that is almost certainly a commission from the BBC/ITV/C4/C5. (*)
In some cases co-productions can be commissions.
(*) Some BBC shows like Mastermind, Songs of Praise etc. are exceptions to this - as they are BBC formats that the BBC has tendered to third party producers. The independent production company will not retain any rights to the shows and are just paid as 'producers for hire' to make them, with the BBC retaining all rights.