Producers in formal complaint to BBC

The BBC faces the prospect of investigation by the Office of Fair Trading over claims it is unfair to independent producers behind some of the most popular programmes in British television. An alliance representing the programme makers has made a formal complaint that the BBC is abusing its dominant position in the marketplace.

A spokesman for the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact) said: "The independent sector has been a huge creative sector but the BBC's terms of trade are stifling it and preventing it from reaching its full potential."

Independent production companies have been responsible for some of the biggest hits on the BBC from Have I Got News For You to Ground Force. But the sector complains that if the BBC pays the production costs, it invariably insists on retaining all the rights, including further transmissions on its main and digital channels and worldwide sales.

An Office of Fair Trading spokeswoman said it was deciding whether the corporation would be formally investigated.

A BBC spokeswoman said it had not yet seen the substance of the complaint and was therefore unable to comment.