Editorial independence and commissioning power was taken away from the producers. All programming slots had to be 'bid for' by a selected panel of approved suppliers. Another important factor in any decision to commission has been the ability of a radio drama production to generate additional income through merchandising in the cassette, book, television, multimedia and video markets. Applying the capitalist dynamo has the effect of keeping innovative production as cheap as possible. The measured effects of this change in the economic equation of BBC radio drama production is that economies of scale have been reduced by trimediarisation- combining BBC drama production in radio, television and film into one unit.
Innovation tends to be in the short form of programming content.
Monologues and low cast productions have increased. This trend substantially reduces the costs of paying original writers and engaging producers with the dramaturgy of working with writers to develop an original script to completion and suitability for production.