Inside huge BBC auction as fans line up to own a piece of Eurovision history
COSTUMES and props from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool are being sold by the BBC.
More than 60 items including posters, props, outfits and parts of the M&S Bank Arena stage will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
The proceeds will be largely pocketed by BBC Studios, with just 20 per cent of the proceeds earmarked for charity.
The corporation said the sale was part of its sustainability efforts.
Even patterns used in the creation of the costumes will be up for grabs after the UK act, Mae Muller, ranked in 25th place at the grand final on May 13.
Sally Mills of BBC Studios said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at BBC Studios, both on and offscreen.
“We have a responsibility to operate with as minimal an impact on the environment as possible, and are always looking for innovative ways in which to further engage audiences with our content, and extend the life of our sets and costumes.
“What better way to do this than to give fans the opportunity to own a piece of Eurovision history?”
Bidding for the auction will begin at 10am on May 30, with 20 per cent of the proceeds being split between ACC Liverpool Foundation and BBC Media Action.
The remainder of the money made will be given to BBC Studios, “whose profits are returned to the BBC to help fund programmes and services”, the broadcaster said.
It comes as the Beeb looks to bundle news, audio and long-form video as a single service when it relaunches its digital presence in the US.
Developed under the internal codename BBC X, the corporation’s commercial arm is revamping BBC.com, and merging its news and sports mobile apps into a single package.
The relaunch – said to be inspired by The New York Times – will take place in the autumn, before a wider international rollout.
To support the plans, the BBC is doubling the size of its north American digital journalism team, with the aim of boosting visitors to the site and attracting more advertising.
The site receives some 50 million clicks weekly.
Director-general Tim Davie has shared ambitions to surpass £1.6 billion in sales.
The service will remain advertiser-funded, but it was reported that serious consideration is being given to including subscription elements.
In the US, BBC Select offers a $4.99-a-month documentary service including the likes of Louis Theroux: Forbidden America and a $2.99 podcast arm.
This week the BBC unveiled a separate money-making scheme as it moved popular audio shows including Desert Island Discs into its commercial division.
A BBC Studios spokeswoman said: “We are looking at the best ways to bring our trusted, world-class journalism to international audiences, enhancing the design of our global news website and app and bolstering the digital news team, starting in North America
“While we routinely consider future opportunities across all our lines of business, we have not made any commitment beyond these plans.”