The BBC produces television, radio and audio-cassette material in conjunction with Open University academic and other course design staff.
Producers are full members of course teams.
The Government, through its grant to the University, pays the full cost of the BBC's services to the University. Currently, over 1,500 Open University television programmes are transmitted each year on the BBC's national television networks. The University funds a small research group to investigate the use of audio-visual media in the University. The research group carries out studies of programme utilisation across the 140 different courses, to assist with the planning and allocation of production and transmission resources. It also carries out more detailed research into individual programmes and course strategies for using television.